SMU Fresh Grads Make $4k to $10k

people actually believe in marketing. If local U is so good , how come the Lees are sending their children abroad

hihi, just to share, i am an SMU student about to graduate. I dont personally know of anyone whos got a >10k job but i do know a few ( arnd 10) who are say 7 or 8k. These people are almost surely in top 2-3% in SMU and tend to be either doing ib in big foreign banks or consulting in top tier consultancy firms. Most of these people have earned it though; the average or even "above average" smu student has no chance at these jobs. I would say that the standard "good student" in SMU ( roughly top say 15%, double degree, first class, good internships, probably a scholar etc) going into finance can expect to get at least 4 - 4.5k starting salary. Oh and i only know two people who are joining their fathers big company, it is not common at all.

I know 2 friends in SMU getting above $10k/month for their IB penultimate internship this summer. Of course they are among the top of my cohort.
I'm still looking for an internship...

don't get too hung up by your first pay. Your career stretches for at least 20 to 30 years or more. You should think further and focus on jobs that add value to your aspirations. For most of you who are starting out, plans will change and many people switch career directions along the way. You should ask the same question 20 years later and see how many are still employed and what is their pay. To me, that will be more meaningful.

That's one way. But the world is becoming more uncertain so it's always good to earn fast, get rich, and do the things you want to do early.

Heard about the advice that the earlier you started saving, the more you will have given the magic of compounding? Same applies. The earlier you earn more (and save more), the better. Further, when opportunities come knocking, like the crisis last year, you will have the spare cash to invest.

i got 105K/pa base right after graduation; and i made 160K post-bonus last yr, and will be earning 208K post-bonus this yr. I am from SMU and i work in an investment bank. it is entirely possible, even for a local grad. i've only been working for a little over 2 years now. my hubby, also in an investment bank, in a different function, will be making ~285K this year. He's from SMU, too.
Sure, the %s arent as high as the prestigious overseas unis, but trust me, i've worked with these ppl and alot are just rich kids / parents who went to these colleges and they cant do proper work to save themselves.

lol sure bo earn so much. no wonder the world is collapsing, thanks to all these money suckers who know nothing but generate hell notes for everyone. no diff from scammers nia.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

i got 105K/pa base right after graduation; and i made 160K post-bonus last yr, and will be earning 208K post-bonus this yr. I am from SMU and i work in an investment bank. it is entirely possible, even for a local grad. i've only been working for a little over 2 years now. my hubby, also in an investment bank, in a different function, will be making ~285K this year. He's from SMU, too.
Sure, the %s arent as high as the prestigious overseas unis, but trust me, i've worked with these ppl and alot are just rich kids / parents who went to these colleges and they cant do proper work to save themselves.

About $10K base is possible at a bulge bracket investment bank for a local Bachelors grad, although $6-7K is more likely. To get $10K, typically you would need to prove yourself through a previous summer internship or be a Masters/MBA local grad. You will also be competing against top foreign graduates from schools like Oxbridge, Harvard etc, so for the lucrative investment banking areas, only 1 or 2 local grads may be taken in per department. Some bulge bracket firms don't take local grads at the Bachelors level.

Investment banks do take in children of important clients so you will see some rich useless kids, but they fade pretty fast if they are no good and end up in sales/relationship roles or fired. Assuming you survive, the downside is that you are working or travelling all the time and have no social life and little sleep. Very few local grads make it beyond 3-4 years, with most falling out at about 2 years because Singaporeans by and large like their creature comforts, value their off-time and can't sustain the intense pace for very long. You also have to compete against very aggressive smart mainland Chinese and Indians in addition to a smattering of caucasian grads. Having both husband and wife working in top investment banks is typically a recipe for disaster. There are lots of divorce cases. A lot of high flying women investment bankers end up as old maids or finally marrying when they are close to 40. Its difficult to have it all....

Originally Posted by Unregistered

i got 105K/pa base right after graduation; and i made 160K post-bonus last yr, and will be earning 208K post-bonus this yr. I am from SMU and i work in an investment bank. it is entirely possible, even for a local grad. i've only been working for a little over 2 years now. my hubby, also in an investment bank, in a different function, will be making ~285K this year. He's from SMU, too.
Sure, the %s arent as high as the prestigious overseas unis, but trust me, i've worked with these ppl and alot are just rich kids / parents who went to these colleges and they cant do proper work to save themselves.

Wah...earn so much..I am a local grad that should be graduating in the top 3% of my class this year. Care to share more about what you do and how to get such high pay?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Wah...earn so much..I am a local grad that should be graduating in the top 3% of my class this year. Care to share more about what you do and how to get such high pay?

Get into FO.