Career consultants and placement agencies say those who are over-qualified for their new jobs and have to take a pay cut often do well in their new careers and are promoted more quickly.

The centre manager for employment and training services at the South East Community Development Council (CDC), Mr Vengadesh Naidu, said their experience from other jobs could have helped them 'value-add and contribute meaningfully in their new jobs'.

He added that soft skills such as effective communication and supervisory skills could also be positive contributing factors in career progression.

Mr Dhirendra Shantilal, the senior vice-president for the Asia-Pacific at recruitment agency Kelly Services, said PMETs (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) usually fare well because they are able to apply their existing skills to their new jobs. But they must 'maintain an open and positive mindset'.

Mr Vengadesh highlighted a case of a job seeker who had been an administrative officer for more than 15 years. He had to undergo training before he could take up a new job as a security officer. He also had to get used to shift work, which he had not done before.

But his hard work paid off. Within nine months, he was promoted to general manager of the company.

Another job seeker who hopes to follow a similar path is Mr Mohd Zainudin, 57, who has held many posts in various industries - finance, hotels and security.

As a hotel director, he used to earn about $3,500 a month, but he was made redundant after a change in management and became unemployed in December 2007.

Last February, he approached the South West CDC for help and, in August, he was offered a post as a library assistant at Juying Primary School.

Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.