hahaha. Is this for Engineers or Business side of DSTA ? I heard business side (i.e procurement - has alot of OTs).

It's for both.

For Mindef.
If you get posted to Mindef you'll soon realise that place is largely a wayang show. If you're an engineer. it's unlikely you will find romance with another engineer cos the capable engineers don't join DSTA. DUH!

You will meet loads of admin clerks. They earn about $1600. The smarter ones work in Mindef and then head for evening classes at SIM etc for further studies. After 3 years, they resign once they get their degree. I've seen a few return but in a much higher position. At least $1500 to $2000 pay jump.

If you're posted to Mindef there is transport from your home to there and vice-versa. You pay $80 monthly to the bus driver directly. It's really convenient. The only grievance is that sometimes the driver might drive off so it's good to have his hp number or some of the others who board the same bus as you.

Don't get into trouble with the military police and you'll be fine. Smoking points are conveniently located. Toilets are aplenty. Same with water dispensers. You have two floors of canteen food and if you don't like what's on offer then you can always head out to Bukit Panjang Plaza.

If you're posted to camps it's even better. You work alone or you have a partner. You basically eat snake everyday while earning an iron rice bowl. You might need to report to a uniformed officer but most of the time he doesn't bother you unless there's something urgent he needs from you.

DSTA/DXO is the same. The only slight difference can be the pay scale. Just take things easy. There are no jobs outside for local engineers given that so many engineers from 2nd and 3rd world countries are taking up private sector jobs for $2000 so for local engineers to join this sector makes sense.

Keep a low profile, keep your head down and earn the money. Clock your WITS suggestions, be punctual for work, don't take long meal breaks, don't get into trouble with the military police and you'll be fine.

seems to me like it is really department specific then. I see some other people saying procurement has long work hours no work life balance (many OTs) while some say they can leave work on the dot. Even the director and manager laughed and said "there isnt much work life balance, alot of OT to do" when i talked about work life balance.... hmmmmmm

It's all just one big wayang. It really depends on the environment and the culture. if you have a bunch of slackers then just follow suit. if you have one or two indian chiefs then make sure you up your game. after a month or two once these indian chiefs know that you're not the eat snake type then they will never ever bother you.

you will have so much of free time to daydream about that super hot girl you saw at the canteen or in the lift. all you need to do is stare at your monitor and place your hand on the mouse. so people passing by your cubicle will assume that you're busy trying to decipher some engineering code on your computer screen.

if you have people who are sitting beside you on either side of the cubicle then make sure that every now and then you
1) type on the keyboard
2) clicks on the mouse
3) use the telephone to make calls every hour etc so that the people on either side of you know that you're working.

mindef office space are pretty silent so much so that if you let off a fart, the people sitting beside you will know. so be warned! there will also be opportunities for you to be on outstation so you get to kill time by going to other camps for meetings or discussions. Again, these sessions are one big wayang cos important decisions have always already been made beforehand so whatever you guys are doing is just to talk nonsense, justify the reasons why the decision was such and such and then kill time till its 5pm to go home.

you will get to meet a lot of idiot who're basically clueless. and these will normally be people who're your superiors or senior colleagues. put your beliefs and opinions aside. just go with the flow. the civil service doesn't reward people with different mindsets or innovative ideas. the rule is simple. keep your head down, follow instructions, look forward to pay day and bonuses and take holidays with your family.

i guess the sad thing about DSTA/DXO/MDES or whatever silly scheme they will rename it is that if our loved ones such as gf, wife, parents were to be in invisible mode and they can see us in our offices and see the rubbish that we do day in day out, i think they will be sad. but oh well, must bring in the money then only can put food on table. I'm sure loved ones will understand, won't they?

wow. so much details in this man. appreciate your insights sir/ma'am (whoever you may be). sounds really like a retirement village lol.

There will also be times when you will need to meet foreigner engineers or officers (ang mohs). Do not be the type of singaporean that doesn't really speak good english, not very vocal, has poor PR skills and a lot of other negatives Im sure you're aware of them. It's unwise to display all these negative traits when dealing with ang mohs cos they dislike s h i t like that.

what are these negative typical singaporean traits that some singaporeans have? speaking singlish, speaking half arsed sentences, taking your finger and scratching the back of your head when you don't have an answer to a question and making a funny sound at the same time such as 'hmmmmmmmmmmmm', interrupting people when they are speaking, speaking in a loud voice as though you know everything and a lot more.

another reason why you should up your game with them is cos sometimes lets say you're sick of your mundane bureaucratic life and you want a fresh challenge, who's gonna give you a job with similar or higher salary? This is where the ang moh comes in. They have very good extensive networks. If they like you they will help you. Otherwise you can dream on and continue day dreaming in your office for the next 20 years before they change the system again and rename it with such power name but in essence its the same old thing.

it's a trend as history has shown us several times before. From NUSAF to DXO to MDES and goodness knows what else next time. you can be sure that the person that comes up with the new name for this scheme will get a promotion or perhaps some medal for his contribution.

you got any other questions then ask here.

hi guys,

would like to know what is the pay for guys with second upper?

As of july,

FCH =5K
lower=4.4K

Really ?

my time in july2007
1st class with NS = 3880
upper NS = 3580
lower NS = 3280

DUH! last time policemen wore short pants.

Last time 1 x pokka bottle drink 80 cent to 1 dollar. mee por $1.50 to $2, big portion!

Now 1 x pokka bottle drink $2 . mee por $3.50 to $5, small portion...

I like the candidness of that guy who posted all the details.

Excellent.

I'm second upper and I was offered 4900.

So is it finalise that for engineer in DSTA as of July2016, the starting pay is as follows:

All with NS
1st class >>> 5k
2nd upper >>>4.9k
2nd lower >>>4.4k

Anyone can confirm??

Why the difference between upper & lower is so much 500??

Wonder how much is the yearly increment like?

You my friend is also a one big wayang. I really pity those that believe in the words you said. Lol. You can't even differentiate between DSTA and MINDEF.

2570
 

Upper can study Phd, lower cannot

This increment is due to the recent news regarding salary increment for engineer. LTA engineers salary also increased alot

it seem like the engineer adjustment is 500?

Is LTA / PUB engineer also the same??

i have been working the private sector for 9yrs. Drawing 9k/month

Anyone know if dsta will match the salary?

Depends if you can bring over your experience. What is your annual remuneration package?

9k/month without any bonus..

Would like to know how Long did it take from the interview to the day of job offer? I am still waiting...

For mine, it was 5-6weeks. Procurement.

I heard procurement in DSTA is not easy to get in. Need some financial & contracts law background? May I ask your title/appointment and salary +-?

Does your team need to work very long hours?

thx!

Playing the waiting game as well now..

Filled up G50 form one week after interview (last week), reckon I'll have 5 - 6 more weeks to go :(

Cannot match ur monthly basic unless u are hired for a higher appt (proj, program mgr, principal egr). But likely to match ur annual package or even higher.

What is the basic salary one is getting now if he started at DSTA as fresh grad and work for 10 years?
How many months of bonus?

Depends on education qualifications, performance. A safe estimate is probably at least 7k, 16 mth package.

What is the camera phone policy like in DSTA?

I have a mechanical engineering pass degree from local U. Have six and half years experience in facility management and currently drawing close to SGD$115,000 per year. Will there be a chance for me join DSTA? I would like to have a career in public sector.

With pass degree, join public sector take large pay cut leh. Sure u want?

I believe I have more to offer than my pass degree with my 6 1/2 years of working experience in private sector. I am not expecting a pay cut just because of a pass degree. Have been liaising with public servants for various projects and get to understand that they have above average remuneration package with good benefits.

Any pass degree local grad in public sector achieving good results and earning very well?

To be honest, unless ur exp is quite unique, it is hard to enter dsta with a pass degree. After all, public service is quite particular about education qualifications. Even if u manage to enter, ur remuneration will be slightly worse off than those with better degrees. U might be better off in the pte sector.

Is it true that camera phones are not allowed in the office?

2016 salary for procurement exec
 

FYI

starting pay: 3300SGD
NUS, second lower, female

source: just got the job offer

How long did you wait for the offer to come since your interview?

Also, was the pay amount offered, or negotiated?

Thanks for the information!

Who are you trying to smoke?

Offer came about 3-4 weeks after interview+clearance
Pay offered, not negotiated

Govt job salary can nego one ah?

Thanks for the clarifications :)