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Old 14-04-2012, 09:35 AM
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I happened to be researching for my son's university choices and I stumbled onto this thread. Being an engineer myself, I am very disappointed to see what many people said about engineers. Unfortunately, some of them is true. And there couldn't be more truth to the portion of engineers being undervalued in Singapore.

I hope that my many years of experience will straighten many perceptions out there.

I graduated from with a engineering degree in 1980, and worked in Singapore for about five years in automobile. Soon, opportunity came knocking on my door when I was approaching thirties. I was relocated to Germany.

I work for a Germany automobile. Automobiles have always been my love since young and my performance in work got recognized. I climbed up the ladder, getting good position, good pay, and a job with great gratifications.

I got lucky, I got paid really really well. I am paid 300k euros per annum. Living in Germany has got to be the best thing in my life. I own a really nice house by the lake much bigger than the bungalows you guys dream of getting in Singapore, completed with a nice garden. I drive big cars, own a bike collection, had a comfortable lifestyle of working from 10am to 3pm everyday. I've retired, now still getting company from the board I am in. I get to travel around the world quite a big, overseeing many offices around the world. I work with banks, know how they work, and I am probably the guy with the richest global experience here.

To be frank, I haven't been back to SG for quite some time, and is only recently back to accompany my son for his NS. However, I am disgusted by the culture in Singapore these days. When have we evolved into a culture of instant gratification?

Young man, this is not the way. You should be driven to do things you love, then the big bucks will come. Some people pointed it out right. You have to be the best in your field. Obviously many engineers are lamenting on their low wages and tough environment working with FTs. Well, let me put it across to you frankly, you are there because you suck.

A good engineer cares about products. He cares about consumer experience. He make great things, and companies love them. I'm not sure why one guy pointed that Singapore engineering follows a socialist system or some sort. No. That's not how the rest of the world is functioning. Engineering is a meritocratic and tough society in the west. If you are not good, you are out.

Ultimately, there are two things I strongly believe and I hope young men and women will remember for the rest of their live to make their big decisions.

One, love what you do. You have to love what you do. And once you do, you will be exceptionally good at what you are doing. THEN, the money will come.

Two, widen your visions. For heaven's sake, Singapore isn't the whole world. If engineering don't work in Singapore, venture out. Don't be afraid to move out.

Coming from a Singaporean living in Germany for two decades, Singapore is not the world. Venture out. Venture out. I can't emphasize enough on this, but please do.

Richard/

And one more thing...

To engineers: Stop playing Starcraft and get your ass to the library, read some books, and improve yourself. Remember, the best investment is to invest in yourself.

To business people: Watch where you are going. True that one finance guy is to five engineers. Are you going to make it to that ONE finance guy?

Life is like this. If you suck, you can't earn big bucks. Instead of making yourself unhappy by comparing, be contented that you have a roof over your head, think back on your past, and ask yourself why have you not worked hard in the past.


P.S. I am still very inclined to giving my son an engineering education. Peace.

Even though they may be good, engineers in SG don't earn that kind of money (300euros per annum). Put it this way: if ur son graduates with an engineering degree, and he is good. Would u encourage him to work in SG? Probably not.

You graduated in the 1980s, where even having a degree is rare. Speaking good English and a foreign language and employed by a German company in the 1980s? Even rarer. You got lucky. Nowadays things are different, graduates are common.

Its not easy to get a work visa to Germany, Australia, US, UK, France, Canada etc, those countries where engineers are respected and paid well. Those countries protect the job market for their own citizens. The routes I have heard of

1) Secure the overseas job first, the company may apply for a work visa for the Singaporean. Chances? Negligible.
2) Singaporean gets a job in an MNC, and then internal transfer overseas. Chances? Possible, but very rare.
3) Send son/ daughter overseas to study engineering. He/ she must secure a job within x months of graduating to get a work visa. Chances? Possible, but expensive for the parent because of the university fees.
4) If your engineering specialisation is in demand by the particular country (skills shortage route), they may have special concession for you, although other criteria may apply e.g. age, English proficiency, the need to secure a job BEFORE getting the visa, you have to go to this particular underpopulated region..... Heard that Australia needs software engineers.
5) Travel via sea rickety ship immigration. (ok , I jest)

Agree with you that Singapore is not the world. For an engineer, the better path in the long run may be to venture outside of Singapore. No matter how hard it is, give it a shot (or two or three or four shots and keep trying).
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