What are the job options for a biology graduate in Singapore?

[miwashi]

Besides teaching, what else can a biology graduate do in Singapore? I've been job hunting for the last 5 years and had no luck. In fact, besides teaching or working in a lab doing repetitive lab work, where have most of the science graduates gone? I really need to see where I can fit into.

[blackswan]

Originally Posted by miwashi

Besides teaching, what else can a biology graduate do in Singapore? I've been job hunting for the last 5 years and had no luck. In fact, besides teaching or working in a lab doing repetitive lab work, where have most of the science graduates gone? I really need to see where I can fit into.

u can join biotech firms

Originally Posted by miwashi

Besides teaching, what else can a biology graduate do in Singapore? I've been job hunting for the last 5 years and had no luck. In fact, besides teaching or working in a lab doing repetitive lab work, where have most of the science graduates gone? I really need to see where I can fit into.

Miwashi, there are a lot of careers a biology graduate could do. While many biology grads move onto PhDs, I have met a lot of life sciences and biology graduates who have entered industries outside of research and teaching (because it seems from your post that is not what you are keen to do). Throughout my careers, I have seen biology graduates in financial services, consulting and consumer goods companies.

Like Blackswan said, you could try sourcing for positions at non-R&D divisions of consumer/pharmaceutical companies like - GSK, J&J, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Bristol Myers Squibb. They have leadership and development programs that hire a whole range of diverse candidates.

Alternatively, if you could look at an MBA program (since I gather that you have around ~5 years of working experience). Whilst an MBA program does open doors, it does not guarantee that you will be able to find a job after that. Also, it is likely that you will have to incur a significant investment into your MBA.


Good luck
Resume Shifu

[miwashi]

Actually, I'm doing a msc now, but it's in science communication, because my interest and expertise is in editorial and publications work. Unfortunately I think you can count the number of positions like this with one hand. Anyway thanks for the company list, I'll check up on them.

Originally Posted by miwashi

Actually, I'm doing a msc now, but it's in science communication, because my interest and expertise is in editorial and publications work. Unfortunately I think you can count the number of positions like this with one hand. Anyway thanks for the company list, I'll check up on them.

i beg to differ. despite the proliferation of the new media, the publishing industry has been facing a shortage of editors for a long time, particularly in niche areas. i doubt this will change anytime soon as websites by corporates/publishers would need to be edited as well

in fact, i know a literature graduate who is now a science editor for a MNC (after 5-6 years as a more junior editor), managing a team, producing very niche academic journals and publications. of course, the journals and publications would have their own panel of experts to ensure that the technical stuff are all okay

most trained in these specific areas either prefer to work in these fields, or they lack editorial skills & experience, so theoretically, you should be in an advantageous position

i'm not sure about specifics like pay etc., but i'm guessing that starting pay for a non-experienced fresh hire is not great. but you should definitely try to go talk to more people and network

miwashi, can I ask how old are you now? once you hit mid-thirties, changing career without a big pay cut is almost impossible. do bear that in mind and be realistic in your search.

this is why i'm saving up in a bid to strike out on my own soon. working for others just entails too much personal risk, more so than striking out in my opinion. though i'm making comfortable pay now, i'm not sure if this will still be the case 3 years from now, and i may have to take on more nonsense (read: sh*t) from others. i don't want to wait till i'm worthless before striking out.

when i look around me, the older people here, if they are still in low to mid levels, have to ensure abuse (white collar kind) and lower their pride just to earn that monthly pay. they've totally lost their ideals and ambitions. they just work for money, to sustain the lifestyle of their families. it's pretty meaningless survival. people in management are also not spared - they may suffer bad fate should they get a nasty boss who's keen on "restructuring" and "re-engineering" and "rejuvenating".

i mean "endure" abuse. typo.

After reading so much from this forum, I believe its time for me to contribute some of my experiences.

I came from an MNC background (a very huge one in fact) and I just want to highlight this. I have personally seen cases whereby Sporeans are given the miss when it comes to job opportunities? Reason --> too highly pay or increment asking too much. In fact, such a thing is happening within my dept and I am not shy to ask my manager why this is so.

Look at it this way, almost every MNC (esp those from US) are cutting their budgets unless you are in the revenue generating dept. (I may be wrong, but thats what I hear from a lot of my friends around me). Assuming one candidate comes from PH and one from SG and both are of the same calibre, guess u have the answer as to who they will hire.

Even when the co pays that FT the salary that he/she is asking for, its still much cheaper. Why? Because most of this FT comes on a local package and its way way much lower than what Sporeans are getting. No lie, go ask your HR on this.

Look around you these days, you will know what I mean. Anyway enough of this, to escape this condemn cycle either 1) You start your own business 2) Suck it up aka be content with what you have 3) Migrate

(FYI. dont tell me that by working in a IB/ or as a commodity trader etc I will be able to escape this condemn cycle -- you need to ask yourself, do u have the calibre to be one?

There are some degrees that add value to an individual, e.g. medicine, law and dentistry; and some that subtract, e.g. biology, volcanology and sociology, if the graduate stubbornly insists on pursuing a career based on the degree.

For the latter group of degrees, it's better to chuck aside and forget about them immediately after convocation and find something meaningful to do.

[miwashi]

I'm 34 now, unfortunately. Still earning less than $5000, but that's okay.. what scares me is the $800-$1000 pay cut that I got with my only 2 job offers, which I'm not likely to recover from anytime soon ie for around 5 years?