Career
In 1941, Tan began his career as a teacher in St Andrew's School, and later Raffles Institution. In 1956, he left and became a businessman, working in the textile industry, engineering firms, and granite quarries. In 1959, due to his experience with earthworks contracts, Tan was appointed as a commission of inquiry member to look into the capacity of the building industry, and propose possible expansions if needed.
In April 1963, Tan was appointed as a director of the newly-created Jurong Shipyard. In April 1968, he was appointed as a board member of the Public Utilities Board.
On 18 December 1970, Tan was appointed as a member of the Public Service Commission (PSC). In 1973, he became the chairman of Jurong Shipyard. On 31 May 1973, Tan announced the construction of the shipyard's third dry dock In Tanjong Kling, at a cost of more than S$30,000,000.
On 19 June 1975, Tan succeeded Phay Seng Whatt as chairman of PSC. In August 1977, after more than 200 British school teachers applied to teach in Singapore, he headed to London to interview 75 shortlisted candidates. In September 1978, Tan headed to New Zealand to interview 40 shortlisted candidates. The aim of both recruitment drives was to increase the teaching standard of English in Singapore.
In January 1981, Tan was appointed as a board member of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. In December 1981, he said that computer science was "too narrow" a discipline and that computer science students would only become programmers or computer operators. He believed that junior college students needed to study disciplines that granted broader career choices.
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