SINGAPORE, Feb 17 — For up to four days a week, Mohd Jasmin works as a warehouse assistant in Jurong for an online retailer, getting goods ready for delivery.

However, his dream job lies miles away — the 25-year-old is gunning for a full-time position at Universal Studios Singapore on Sentosa Island.

For the past eight years, Jasmin has been working part-time as a "star guide” at the theme park, decking out mascots of popular movie or TV characters, from Minions to Shrek to those from the Sesame Street series.

Paid S$8 (RM23.74) an hour, he prepares the costumes that the characters put on for shows, and helps mascots into their outfits. The mascots’ movements and safety during meet-and-greet sessions are also his responsibility.

There is no full-time position available in this team yet, Jasmin explained, having been trying since he completed National Service about three months ago.

Around the same time he started working for the theme park back in 2010, he had also worked part-time handling customer service for another attraction on Sentosa, the Mega Adventure Park which houses South-east Asia’s steepest zipline or "flying fox”. There, he dabbled in outdoor rock-climbing and had to ensure guest safety.

He loves working at Universal Studios Singapore because it is "a happy place”, he said. He gets to be in the frontline meeting tourists and people from all walks of life, and makes everyone feel at home.

"Everybody has a smile and we’re glad to bring joy to people with the characters. I love to joke around with the guests… In other workplaces, the staff members must (put on) a serious face.”

He recalled an encounter with a six-year-old visitor from China who was afraid of the Shrek character, a green ogre from the 2001 movie.

Jasmin got his colleague, who was dressed as the Shrek mascot, to crack jokes with the girl and amuse her. The child ended up being comfortable enough to snap a picture with the mascot.

"I love to see my guests smile with me… If they have a moody face, I have to make them smile,” he added.

Asked whether he thought of becoming a mascot himself — they are chosen through auditions — Jasmin said with a laugh: "I tried (being in a costume), but it was a bit hot.”

Supporting his own needs

Jasmin’s love affair with the resort island started after his parents took him to Sentosa when he was just seven or eight.

His parents divorced later when he was 10. He went through a tough period at the time but had support from counsellors, he said.

Now, he meets his father, a dishwasher, at least once a month for meals.

He tries as much as possible not to burden his mother financially. She works as a cleaner, and mother and son live in a two-room Housing and Development Board flat in Bedok North.

"I don’t want to use anybody else’s money… (and) see my mum sad,” Jasmin said. "I want to be more independent myself and find my own money,”

That was why when the online retailer offered him full-time employment — with a fixed basic monthly wage of S$1,600, excluding overtime pay — he leapt at the opportunity.

It was his first day on the job when TODAY met him last Friday (Feb 9) on the first train at Bedok MRT Station along the East-West Line. He was going westwards to Jurong, and was cheerful despite the long journey ahead.

On that first day at work, he clocked more than 12 hours on the job.

To get to work by 7am, he rises at 4.30am and takes a bus to the MRT station in time for the first train, which leaves at 5.39am.

He gets off either at Paya Lebar MRT Station to catch a 6am company shuttle service to the warehouse, or at Lakeside MRT Station where shuttle buses are available, too.

 Jasmin has been supporting his own needs since he left the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) with a Nitec qualification in automotive technology about a decade ago.

During National Service, he snatched time at the end of the day to travel from Jurong Camp to Bedok, where he worked at a coffee-shop stall taking food orders.

While he has his sights firmly set on a full-time job at Universal Studios Singapore, he is also saving up for a possible return to school. He hopes to pursue a Higher Nitec qualification in automotive engineering at the ITE.

In the meantime, he is content with trying his hand at a job that is relatively new to him. At his company, he is paired with an experienced "buddy” in the warehouse who has been showing him the ropes.

"For now, I just want to think (more) about my career... I want to save up to help my family. If I have extra from my pocket money, I will give my mum some.” — TODAY