DSTA (under Mindef)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Serious !?!? DSTA paying so much for a fresh grad? Can anyone please verify this info? I'm not trying to doubt his credibility just that i am quite amazed. (No offense)

Yes, it is accurate.
DSTA has always paid well.
The staff bear a lot of responsibilities.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Yes, it is accurate.
DSTA has always paid well.
The staff bear a lot of responsibilities.

Hi there, do you mind elaborate more on their responsibilities? It seems like a work balanced jobs as described by the past forumers. (8-5 no OT, flexible working hour, leave and etc)

Official working hours is 8.30 to 6. But most people arrive between 8.45 - 9.15, depending on your office culture. and usually people leave right on the dot at 6.

breaks are not officially given, so it still depends on your office's culture. I've seen people going for:

Breakfast from 9 to 10.
Lunch from 12 to 1330.
Tea break from 3.30 to 4.30.

There are many different kinds of leaves given, often organised events that promote family life. But there are many scholars in there.

you have to be really cautious with how to safekeep all the confidential documents well (not leaving them unattended), laptops issued should never be lost, and the way you handle emails also have to be well managed (you cannot send out things without thinking).

All in all, i believe dsta is a good place to work, people seems to be happy as shown on their face.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Official working hours is 8.30 to 6. But most people arrive between 8.45 - 9.15, depending on your office culture. and usually people leave right on the dot at 6.

breaks are not officially given, so it still depends on your office's culture. I've seen people going for:

Breakfast from 9 to 10.
Lunch from 12 to 1330.
Tea break from 3.30 to 4.30.

There are many different kinds of leaves given, often organised events that promote family life. But there are many scholars in there.

you have to be really cautious with how to safekeep all the confidential documents well (not leaving them unattended), laptops issued should never be lost, and the way you handle emails also have to be well managed (you cannot send out things without thinking).

All in all, i believe dsta is a good place to work, people seems to be happy as shown on their face.

Thanks for the info! DSTA seems like a good env to work in but have to keep in mind of confidential docs and regulations.

How about the career prospect and merit increment?(Previous posts mentioned that no one stay beyond 30-35 years old, turnover rate so high is it due to career prospect issue?)

May i know the "time-frame" for each promotion? From what i gathered in previous post it uses a diff scheme as MX, am i right?

Thanks in adv !

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks for the info! DSTA seems like a good env to work in but have to keep in mind of confidential docs and regulations.

How about the career prospect and merit increment?(Previous posts mentioned that no one stay beyond 30-35 years old, turnover rate so high is it due to career prospect issue?)

May i know the "time-frame" for each promotion? From what i gathered in previous post it uses a diff scheme as MX, am i right?

Thanks in adv !

For the first 5 years at least, I believe the increment and progress are excellent. You will probably out earn 80% of your peers in pte sector. After the first 5 years or so, your promotion and increment will most likely slow down unless you're a scholar or somehow a high flier. Your renumerations will probably still be quite a fair bit higher than average for your remaining career because of the better start though. This is also why many people will consider a job hop nearing or after their first 5 years. Taking advantage of their relatively high pay to get a good offer from the pte sector. Go ask around regarding CEP and etc, it will give you an idea of what civil and public service careers are typically like.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I dun think that the salary for 2 yr ago is accurate.

Yes, he is a guy. Think that there is an downward/smaller adjustment on the first class hons salary because according to my another friend, dso is also offering about the same salary for first class hons with diff of around 100 between 1 and 2.1. Maybe to attract more 2nd class grad?

Hope that some other first class hons from dsta can verify?

What I heard is that DSO actually pays quite a bit lesser. They are paying what used to be DSTA's starting salary 3 - 4 yrs back. It might be that my info is outdated though.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

For the first 5 years at least, I believe the increment and progress are excellent. You will probably out earn 80% of your peers in pte sector. After the first 5 years or so, your promotion and increment will most likely slow down unless you're a scholar or somehow a high flier. Your renumerations will probably still be quite a fair bit higher than average for your remaining career because of the better start though. This is also why many people will consider a job hop nearing or after their first 5 years. Taking advantage of their relatively high pay to get a good offer from the pte sector. Go ask around regarding CEP and etc, it will give you an idea of what civil and public service careers are typically like.

could your give some example to illustrate your comment?

let say a fresh grad in 2013, 2nd lower NTU engineering degree with NS join as land system engineer,

starting salary @ $3770

you mention the progression for the 1st 5 years,

2013 - grade 6 (fresh grad) = $3770
2014 - wat grade = $xxxx
2015 - wat grade = $xxxx
2016 - wat grade = $xxxx
2017 - wat grade = $xxxx
2018 - wat grade = $xxxx (end of 5th year)

could you pls fill up the info, also include any promotion like in 2015 or 2016 after 2-3 years to senior engineer?? Pls assume this guy to be "average" performer throughout the 1st 5 years.

Also, for "average" performer, how much is the annual package?

Is it 12month + 1aws + minimum 3months bonus = making a total of 16mth annual package, for "average performer" a norm??

please advise.
Thank you

upzzzzz

anyone applied for the position of corporate communications in dsta?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

could your give some example to illustrate your comment?

let say a fresh grad in 2013, 2nd lower NTU engineering degree with NS join as land system engineer,

starting salary @ $3770

you mention the progression for the 1st 5 years,

2013 - grade 6 (fresh grad) = $3770
2014 - wat grade = $xxxx
2015 - wat grade = $xxxx
2016 - wat grade = $xxxx
2017 - wat grade = $xxxx
2018 - wat grade = $xxxx (end of 5th year)

could you pls fill up the info, also include any promotion like in 2015 or 2016 after 2-3 years to senior engineer?? Pls assume this guy to be "average" performer throughout the 1st 5 years.

Also, for "average" performer, how much is the annual package?

Is it 12month + 1aws + minimum 3months bonus = making a total of 16mth annual package, for "average performer" a norm??

please advise.
Thank you

The person posting this is always the same guy. C'mon. no one will share with you up to this details.