prospects of a scholar

[bongewj]

Hi all, thanks once again for your feedback. will have to sit down and think about this issue properly. but i do wonder how important is it to compare your salary to peers. got to do alot of reflection and discussions with more people. think it's abit hard to decide which area i'll really like 10-15 years down the road at the moment. after all, 10 years is almost my life up till now.

Originally Posted by bongewj

Hi all, thanks once again for your feedback. will have to sit down and think about this issue properly. but i do wonder how important is it to compare your salary to peers. got to do alot of reflection and discussions with more people. think it's abit hard to decide which area i'll really like 10-15 years down the road at the moment. after all, 10 years is almost my life up till now.

since you aren't sure, it's better not to get yourself into a bond.

Well I am a JC student and my views (hopefully not naive) are:

I always thought DSTA is a good place to start off one's career... as there are chances to utilize your engineering skills in defense systems (be it in DSO or DSTA, coming up with our unique defense technology etc...).

There are also chances for project management, using your technical skills plus managing people. Being a scholar, one will be given high profile projects, sent to courses and opportunity to rise faster than others. Though 6 years is long, at the end of it one should be in mid-management? Staying there long term maybe can rise to the position of director?

Even if one decides to leave, wouldn't the skill sets that he acquired there in terms of managing projects be sought after in the private sector? (though technical skills might not be relevant as defense systems are very niche and specialized in nature). What about being a technical consultant? CIO/CTO/COO of some organizations? or starting your own business engineering some products and selling it back to the SAF/DSTA? Aren't all these feasible career paths given's one good profile?

Well those are my thoughts, though i am not too sure whether those are right given my very young age. Is there any comments and advices on my views? is dsta scholarship really not worth taking up? it is a scholarship i am considering for too.

DSTA scholarship is very hard to get.

* Have at least 11 'A'-Level units
* Achieve 'A' grading for at least three H2 content-based subjects (Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry & Biology), and a good grade in General Paper (GP) or Knowledge Inquiry (KI)

Plus most likely need H3 at least merit... for smart ppl who are top of their cohort zz

DSTA scholars should be able to lead a comfortable life. Not lucrative, but comfortable.

These scholars will likely be groomed to succeed the current generation of appointment holders just one rung below the elite administrative service.

I would estimate that the Chief Executive of DSTA to be Superscale B in the old grade (approximately $800k to $900k p.a.) and you can work downwards from there.

You can refer to the post by whoever on 1 April 2011 at 09:34 AM and 02:32 PM, obviously an insider who knows what he is talking about.

When you pursue a career with an organisation, you should not be thinking of leaving, as a large part of your paycheck is tied to the uniqueness of your skill related to that organisation. In the same way, a banker cannot suddenly pop in to head a department specialising in radars.

Although the pay won't be as high as those at the apex of the financial industry, it is more stable and you can work till around 60, whereas many in the private sector are usually let go in their mid 40's and quickly turn to teaching just before they are axed so they can claim that they are taking a pay cut.

Hence if you compare lifetime earnings, it's not that much different compared to those who succeed in the private sector (that is, those who have succeeded in the first place).

Somebody mentioned the phrase 怀才不遇 in an earlier post. The definition of 才 is very different in different settings. The 才 of a DSTA scholar is more academic in nature but the 才 in the private sector (especially the engineering private sector) is very different.

Which 才 will be more likely to be promoted to General Manager if, after signing a multi-million contract, your big boss asks "Which one of you will bring Chen Lao Ban out to relax?"

Will it be the "academically smart 才" who can write a thesis on Landau's prime numbers, or the "street smart 才" who can write a thesis on Geylang's odd and even numbers, like the one below?

Mar 3, 2011
Probation called for poly student who was a pimp
By Khushwant Singh, Court Reporter
A NANYANG Polytechnic student pleaded guilty on Thursday to living on the earnings of three Geylang prostitutes in January this year.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

DSTA scholarship is very hard to get.

* Have at least 11 'A'-Level units
* Achieve 'A' grading for at least three H2 content-based subjects (Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry & Biology), and a good grade in General Paper (GP) or Knowledge Inquiry (KI)

Plus most likely need H3 at least merit... for smart ppl who are top of their cohort zz

it may be hard to get, but even so it doesn't mean it's good. as someone said earlier, go talk to DSTA scholarship holders who are still in service - if you like what you see, then by all means sign up.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

These scholars will likely be groomed to succeed the current generation of appointment holders just one rung below the elite administrative service.

I would estimate that the Chief Executive of DSTA to be Superscale B in the old grade (approximately $800k to $900k p.a.) and you can work downwards from there.

You can refer to the post by whoever on 1 April 2011 at 09:34 AM and 02:32 PM, obviously an insider who knows what he is talking about.

How to work downwards from there? Whats DS, PS?

Anyone care to share the pay scale for stat boards, particularly DSTA? how far will a stat board scholar go? Considering stat boards have a very different career scheme compared to the civil service? they do not use MX/SR/MR?

tks

How to work downwards from there? Whats DS, PS?

Anyone care to share the pay scale for stat boards, particularly DSTA? how far will a stat board scholar go? Considering stat boards have a very different career scheme compared to the civil service? they do not use MX/SR/MR?

tks

Originally Posted by Unregistered

How to work downwards from there? Whats DS, PS?

Anyone care to share the pay scale for stat boards, particularly DSTA? how far will a stat board scholar go? Considering stat boards have a very different career scheme compared to the civil service? they do not use MX/SR/MR?

tks

DS is deputy secretary
PS is permanent secretary
They are the highest paid civil servants in the world, paid multiple times more than their counterparts in the lower ranked country.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

DS is deputy secretary
PS is permanent secretary
They are the highest paid civil servants in the world, paid multiple times more than their counterparts in the lower ranked country.

Yes, please join for the right reasons. The money is good.