Engineer graduating soon
 

Hi all,

I'm an undergrad studying EEE at NTU. I will be graduating soon, probably with a gpa of about 2.95 (yes, I tried my best to get 3rd Class Honours but wasn't successful).

My original plan was to work for 2-3 years in an Engineering firm, then do MBA and then go into Banking, as I don't think I would want to stay in Engineering. But now, seeing as I will not be getting Honours, doing MBA will be difficult.

For now, I'd like to take things step-by-step. I am quite clueless about the job market. I just feel that since my GPA is quite poor, I will probably have to make do with a low-paying engineering job for now. Please correct me if I am mistaken in thinking that way.

I'm a newbie at this so please bear with me, but I need your advice on what I should do, and what jobs should I look for, and what kind of starting pay I should expect. Please do note that I am a PR (been in Singapore for almost 12 years) and I wish to get SG citizenship ASAP (I can't apply now as I have to be working in Singapore to be even eligible for citizenship). Therefore, it's important for me that I find a job ASAP so that I can apply for my citizenship.

Please help me out and advise on what kind of jobs I should apply for, and if I should apply in the Government sector or the private sector. Thanks!

Are you interested in butler position? Send your resume to [email protected].
Starting pay will be good. I promise ...

Please answer this question.

Have you serve NS or national service?

Do engineering sales.

Nope, I haven't. I called them up and they said I don't need to do NS.

Fellow engineerring grad
 

hey man...
to tell the truth, i got just 'PASS' grade upon graduation too (2.00- 2.99).

However, i've secured a job with top-tier investment bank's IT department, whose salary
offered was above the Graduate Employment Survey 75th percentile...

They MAY have looked at my grades, however, I passed their numerical & psychometric
tests, and were given a chance at interviews (4 rounds at that).

SO, all i'm saying is: don't close your doors. Apply for whichever job you would WANT
to work at and work with.

Cheers!

PS: I've been in SG for more than 10 years and I've NOT even bothered to apply for PR.
This country has got too many narrow-minded asses, so I will be here ONLY until Tuition
Grant bond ends in 3 years. Sayonara, Singapura.

Yup narrow-minded asses who provided you a good job in spite of your terrible grades (in a nation supposedly so fixated on grades no less) and yet you couldn't help yourself but bite the hand that feeds you. Never mind you want to leave, that's your prerogative but to in the same stroke tarnish the people who gave you a chance, to elevate your own ego, just reeks of ungratefulness even if you had been privy to a number of incidents that you felt unjustly done by. What? Did someone physically assault you bcz you're not from around here? Killed/raped your relative/friend perhaps? Destroyed your property?

And yet, here I try to convince myself and others that the problem is not the people that we are welcoming into our country, just the policies that need to be called into question. Its loose statements like these that paint foreigners in a bad light, that make it difficult for neutrals to accept others like you. I really hope people take your opinions with a bag of salt. The sooner you leave the better.

Hmm may I know what course did you study? My friend got 3rd Class honours but all the banks rejected him without any interviews. Anyway, thanks for your reply!

And...well, every country has a few people who'd despise us foreigners. But, that happens in every country. I am an aussie national and some people really despise the fact that their universities are filled up with asians. I'm extremely happy to be in Singapore and I love this place, so I am pretty sure I would wanna settle down here. And contrary to popular belief, people are actually quite accepting here. Almost all my friends are Singaporeans and they have never let me feel out of place.

hi, suggest you get something additional. Either qualifications etc.. or consider moving to non banks but commerical related.

At the present moment, it will be tough call for a bank to hire a fresh eng grad unless u got some connections etc.

I am graduting with a GPA of 2.5 (Mechanical Eng) and looking for a banking job!!!
When I see the no of ppl cosidering banking jobs it's mind freezing !! Cnsider doing some finance stuff such as cfa.

Ermm.. but 20% or less are Singaporeans. Many are PRs and many more are foreigners.
and this country didn't give me job, I seek for it. Singaporeans didn't give me job,
as the HR recruitment team are ALL non-Singaporeans, and the bosses (VPs & Ds)
I had interviewed with were NOT Singaporeans. So What's there to say about
"the hand that feeds you" as I'm doing everything to feed myself, I have my own loans to
finance.

...Gosh...


To Starchild: I did information systems with minor in Economics. As i'm more inclined to
CCAs and part-time jobs, my grades weren't fantastic. But I'm good with what I do
and I leverage on the skills I have learnt and acquired to secure the job.

Cheers

[QUOTE=Unregistered;12768]Ermm.. but 20% or less are Singaporeans. Many are PRs and many more are foreigners.
and this country didn't give me job, I seek for it. Singaporeans didn't give me job,
as the HR recruitment team are ALL non-Singaporeans, and the bosses (VPs & Ds)
I had interviewed with were NOT Singaporeans. So What's there to say about
"the hand that feeds you" as I'm doing everything to feed myself, I have my own loans to
finance.

...Gosh...

So there is truth that the "job creation" in Singapore, has benefited mostly the foreigners. Foreigners hiring foreigners. Foreigners using Singapore as nothing but a springboard to other countries e.g. US. Foreigners who refuse to integrate into our society.

The company you work for, the foreigners employed by that company, they are all located here in my country. Enjoying the infrastructure in Singapore. Benefiting in some way from my country and the work that we Singaporeans have done to build up this country to attract you here in the first place.

The policies here may welcome people like you, but not all Singaporeans are happy about it, especially with such lofty attitudes by a foreigner.

That's a terribly myopic point of view. Ironic isn't it when you accuse others of being narrow-minded? It doesn't matter if the entire bank was entirely made up of foreigners, what more only those who interviewed you. Do you think the HR department in your IB created this piece of island, complete with all manner of infrastructure, resources, networks, political structure, etc etc? Why is that IB even in Sg to begin with, or the existence of that particular job that which you hold? By your decree? By HR's? Did the IB fund the entire development of Sg, so as to provide job vacancies to FWs such as yourself?

Could it be a miracle perhaps or pure coincidence then?... Neither of them. Everyone here, from the Sg govt who approved your work visa to the FWs who built the building you're working in had a role to play. Even to a small extent, the elderly Sgn uncle/aunty who accept their depressed wages to clean the toilets you use, if you are willing to widen your gaze. Please... Don't presume that only your own efforts were sufficient to ensure your place in this society, that the work that you do fully compensates the sacrifices made, past, present and future, to allow you the current lifestyle you think you own. That it can be completely encompassed in just the financial loans that you owe. Think harder.

starchild,
I'm sorry that I may have hijacked your thread here (as well as earlier) bcz I felt it was important. I was a fresh ME/IE grad myself and I got in primarily because I did well both in school and outside of school (school was overseas), so it is possible w/o any connections. I would advise not just being one-tracked (only banking) but to apply as widely as you can too. You never know if you might find something else more interesting, especially since you're still young. I do believe there are some consulting companies that employ lots of Aussies who moved over here. They might be able to relate with you better come the interview. I wish you the best of luck bcz I think Sg needs more people like you. Keep us posted on what happens.

Thanks for all the replies! they are great help, really.

I was quite set on pursuing MBA, but since now I know I don't have honours I think it'd be quite hard for me to be able to do MBA in a good university. My friends suggested CFA so yes that option is certainly on the table.

I should make something clear that I am not just fixated on banking. I am open to all options (except perhaps research. I did my internship at a research company and realised it's totally not my cup of tea). I just want to have a better idea on what my options are with such a low GPA, so thanks once again to everyone for their suggestions!

I graduated 2 yrs ago, same course, same school. I didn't do well in studies either. Lowest Honours. But I tried to get an engineering job. Turned out I was coping quite ok. Infact, I enjoyed work more than studying. I am learning alot of things at work, and I worked hard. Though far from being a star performer, but at least I can say, I find it challenging and fulfilling to be developing something.