MINDEF DXO (All FAQ on it)

I have a question - why would someone want to join MINDEF DXO?

I mean for girls, perhaps they've not experienced how the military operates, the initial supposed higher starting pay seems to be attractive. But it's pretty much a dead-end job no? Even backoffice at a bank pays way better and the people here asking are all with second upper and above, surely getting an interview with any BO should be quite straightforward?

Getting a pay of what? 3.6K? That's not a lot. Anyone with a 2nd upper or even lower can probably get a job at the big4 not just an auditor but also consultant where you deal with real work.

Let's do the math, if the MINDEF DXO gives you 5% increment per year

F1 - 3600
F2 - 3780
F3 - 3969
F4 - 4167
F5 - 4375

At the end of 5 years, you don't even hit 5k. Whereas for a big4 employee

A1 - 2900
A2 - 3400
S1 - 4400
S2 - 4900
S3 - 5400

And about job scope? It's a mundane 8 to 5, no stress hardly anything to do - why would any fresh graduate aspire to do that? You studied 16 years to do nothing? It seems like a nice place to retire but to build your careers for starters, are you worried about having no worklife balance and so on?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I have a question - why would someone want to join MINDEF DXO?

I mean for girls, perhaps they've not experienced how the military operates, the initial supposed higher starting pay seems to be attractive. But it's pretty much a dead-end job no? Even backoffice at a bank pays way better and the people here asking are all with second upper and above, surely getting an interview with any BO should be quite straightforward?

Getting a pay of what? 3.6K? That's not a lot. Anyone with a 2nd upper or even lower can probably get a job at the big4 not just an auditor but also consultant where you deal with real work.

Let's do the math, if the MINDEF DXO gives you 5% increment per year

F1 - 3600
F2 - 3780
F3 - 3969
F4 - 4167
F5 - 4375

At the end of 5 years, you don't even hit 5k. Whereas for a big4 employee

A1 - 2900
A2 - 3400
S1 - 4400
S2 - 4900
S3 - 5400

And about job scope? It's a mundane 8 to 5, no stress hardly anything to do - why would any fresh graduate aspire to do that? You studied 16 years to do nothing? It seems like a nice place to retire but to build your careers for starters, are you worried about having no worklife balance and so on?

Let's do the real maths.

MINDEF DXO ANNUAL PACKAGE
12 months + 1 month AWS + 2 months Performance Bonus + 1 month July+Dec Bonus (low performer bonus)

F1 - 3600 x 16 months = 57600
F2 - 3780 x 16 months = 60480
F3 - 3969 x 16 months = 63504
F4 - 4167 x 16 months = 66672
F5 - 4375 x 16 months = 70000
Total = 318256

BIG 4 ANNUAL PACKAGE
12 months + 1 month bonus (low performer bonus)

A1 - 2900 x 13 months = 37700
A2 - 3400 x 13 months = 44200
S1 - 4400 x 13 months = 57200
S2 - 4900 x 13 months = 63700
S3 - 5400 x 13 months = 70200
Total = 273000 (-14.2%)

Also, you must be terrible at your job to get 5% increment for 5 years straight.

anyone for interview and got to go for all the unit preview? for me there were 3 post open and i was asked to go for all 3 preview. seems quite slow since most who were asked to go mention here that they were asked within a few days while i have waited more than 2 weeks.
anyone know what are my chances?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I have a question - why would someone want to join MINDEF DXO?

I mean for girls, perhaps they've not experienced how the military operates, the initial supposed higher starting pay seems to be attractive. But it's pretty much a dead-end job no? Even backoffice at a bank pays way better and the people here asking are all with second upper and above, surely getting an interview with any BO should be quite straightforward?

And about job scope? It's a mundane 8 to 5, no stress hardly anything to do - why would any fresh graduate aspire to do that? You studied 16 years to do nothing? It seems like a nice place to retire but to build your careers for starters, are you worried about having no worklife balance and so on?

From the girl's perspective - Not everything is about the pay and the opportunity to climb up the corporate ladder. I've got a friend working in the audit department, fresh grad and her starting pay is a couple hundred shy of 4k. Which is good enough for her, since she's engaged to a guy who's doing super well himself, and she'd rather have the stability and benefits that come with a government job.

Is the research assistant role under which DX scheme? And as compare to any other ministries/starboard, is it like an MX14 or MSO scheme?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

From the girl's perspective - Not everything is about the pay and the opportunity to climb up the corporate ladder. I've got a friend working in the audit department, fresh grad and her starting pay is a couple hundred shy of 4k. Which is good enough for her, since she's engaged to a guy who's doing super well himself, and she'd rather have the stability and benefits that come with a government job.

Therein lies the answer. A DXO's job is for someone with middling ambition who wants to walk out of the door at 5.30 sharp every day.

Just think, if your friend wasn't engaged to a guy who's "doing super well", I'd doubt she would settle for DXO.

There are government/civil service positions that offer greater challenge and prospects for developing transferable skills, and with hours just marginally longer than a DXO position.

I agree somewhat with the poster above that it seems a bit of a waste to study for 16 years to do something so insipid, esp. if you went to a local uni and went through the whole fairly competitve grind of local education.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Therein lies the answer. A DXO's job is for someone with middling ambition who wants to walk out of the door at 5.30 sharp every day.

Just think, if your friend wasn't engaged to a guy who's "doing super well", I'd doubt she would settle for DXO.

There are government/civil service positions that offer greater challenge and prospects for developing transferable skills, and with hours just marginally longer than a DXO position.

I agree somewhat with the poster above that it seems a bit of a waste to study for 16 years to do something so insipid, esp. if you went to a local uni and went through the whole fairly competitve grind of local education.

Personally, I agree with you guys as well. After studying for 16 years, I better be doing something that fulfils me in ways other than "enough pay and knocking off on time". But in her situation, I think it's fair enough that she chose that option, which is why I offered her situation to the guy who asked.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I have a question - why would someone want to join MINDEF DXO?

I mean for girls, perhaps they've not experienced how the military operates, the initial supposed higher starting pay seems to be attractive. But it's pretty much a dead-end job no? Even backoffice at a bank pays way better and the people here asking are all with second upper and above, surely getting an interview with any BO should be quite straightforward?

Getting a pay of what? 3.6K? That's not a lot. Anyone with a 2nd upper or even lower can probably get a job at the big4 not just an auditor but also consultant where you deal with real work.

Let's do the math, if the MINDEF DXO gives you 5% increment per year

F1 - 3600
F2 - 3780
F3 - 3969
F4 - 4167
F5 - 4375

At the end of 5 years, you don't even hit 5k. Whereas for a big4 employee

A1 - 2900
A2 - 3400
S1 - 4400
S2 - 4900
S3 - 5400

And about job scope? It's a mundane 8 to 5, no stress hardly anything to do - why would any fresh graduate aspire to do that? You studied 16 years to do nothing? It seems like a nice place to retire but to build your careers for starters, are you worried about having no worklife balance and so on?

It's a mistake to think DXOs leave at 5.30pm sharp. I work weekends, work at nights. Monitor emails all the time. My colleagues forfeit their off, etc. And this is my second job inside here, same thing for my first job. Why compare a policy executive position to an admin supervisor or a research analyst?

It's the wrong mindset to come in and expect those dead-end jobs. Sure, there are those available, but this is the case for every organisation. I have seen people leave because they can't take the stress or the pace here. It is just bad for prospective hires when this kind of myth of a super-slack culture is perpetuated, it just gives people the wrong impression and they end up leaving disillusioned.

For what it's worth, the pay is good compared to the outside. I don't expect to get rich and stay in condos, but it's an attractive incentive to keep working and bettering myself, and I am comfortable.

My advice - join because the job is something you want to do.

My two cents.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Therein lies the answer. A DXO's job is for someone with middling ambition who wants to walk out of the door at 5.30 sharp every day.

Just think, if your friend wasn't engaged to a guy who's "doing super well", I'd doubt she would settle for DXO.

There are government/civil service positions that offer greater challenge and prospects for developing transferable skills, and with hours just marginally longer than a DXO position.

I agree somewhat with the poster above that it seems a bit of a waste to study for 16 years to do something so insipid, esp. if you went to a local uni and went through the whole fairly competitve grind of local education.

What is your idea of a "DXO's job"? Last I checked govt/civil service positions like psychologist, comms, policy exec are supposed to fulfil the same functions as their counterparts in MINDEF, which is also a ministry btw.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

anyone for interview and got to go for all the unit preview? for me there were 3 post open and i was asked to go for all 3 preview. seems quite slow since most who were asked to go mention here that they were asked within a few days while i have waited more than 2 weeks.
anyone know what are my chances?

i went for a unit preview too, and HR called after like a week plus.. did you go on a Monday? im quite worried too as it's only verbal offer for now