this!!! in a single decade, horses became obsolete because cars were introduced to the road. if you're still contented with a job that requires little education, understand your job is one of the first to be replaced with technology.

To OP on whether you should pick up programming.
I think the qn is do you want to be a software engineer? Do you like the idea of being an engineer where you solve problems with the tools you have (in this case is software).
When you start learning programming it can be all fun and games. But bear in mind that the more complex things can be abit dry and mundane. Also another key qn to ask yourself is do you like learning in your free time. Many engineers have a strong passion for this (of course not everyone), and enjoy spending their nights learning new technical things that interest them.

I guess if you were previously in non-technical role, the key things is software engineering is an entirely 'technical' role which can be a big change. There is no like fluffing your way through.

That's why someone earlier said...
Programmer are the modern age slave. Construction worker.
Garbage collector...

You can go into food industry or health care.
If anything. This two industry will always be there.
Finance also.. But finance can retrench etc.

Entertainment industry very risky. Tourism hotel all those dream job became nightmare...

Yep.
Food, delivery, health care, finance. And maybe tech also haha. Tech got richer during covid..
But definitely not programmer.

Cause programmer is bangla.

If you are working with MNC that has little exposure to modern tech, I agree the pay is peanuts. But I have seen many that draw 180k+ in 5 years, and 250k+ in 8 years. Talking about big tech here. For unicorns, the number is around 140k in 5 years and 180k in 8 years. I even saw job post for tech new grad from GS with starting salary of 7.5k.

Link below:

s://.mycareersfuture.gov.sg/job/banking-finance/2021-full-time-campus-analyst-%E2%80%93-engineering-goldman-sachs-d3f6787d15e998f523f2ca6784c5a880


Big tech even pays higher if you consider the stocks, around 120k of compensation package for fresh grad.

Sadly, the outdated guys misinformed others, but I dont see the trend to slow down. Singapore is at the early stage and salary for engineers will start to pick up with the other region like Japan, London, and US.

Sorry I went for byte dance interview they asking for a very niche skillswt which I don't have. And the job offer is only 4.5k for 5 years exp.

Not what 7.5k nonsense.

Use brain please. Bytedance is China company. So pay China salary.
Google Facebook etc is USA company. So they pay usd salary.

Which by conversion rate is already high. But within USA its normal...
E.g software developer in USA can hit 100k above annum. Not need in Google etc.

Singapore software developer can't even hit 60k per annum. Sgd. People is 100k per annum usd.
So ofc. Google Facebook etc will pay you higher.. Cause they are paying unless compared to their own USA programmer...

7.5k is only 90k sgd. So they already underpaid you compared to if they were to hire an American programmer.

Actly bytedance pay for software engineer in singapore is quite high. The fresh grads are getting arnd 100k/annum packages. Not sure what role you applied for but are you sure is software engineering, and not like testing or something?

Singaporean looks down on PRC.
But willing to work for PRC company.
In my opinion all those PRC in Singapore should try for the job and priorities given to them..

Long story short, how many people can actually make it to Bulge Brackets/Unicorns/Big Tech fresh from uni?

Just a handful.

Hmm... mostly because of the lucrative salary and the fact that the field is hard to automate. Which means 20 years down the road I won't be out of a job. Yknw? Future proofing myself.