Jobs for Masters in Public Administration

[gadgetxx]

Dear all,

What kind of jobs can I go into?:

- 31-yr-old male
- Joined Police Force with a Diploma in Biz in 2004
- Was in a tactical unit as a ground-level supervior
- Graduated with a basic degree in Business with Psychology from UniSIM in 2010 (GPA: 4.23/5)
- Just left Police Force as a SSGT in 2012
- Embarking on a Masters in Public Administration at NUS now

I know I probably should have some plans before I have taken on this path. But I am really a bit clueless.

Initially, I hope to find a job with a stat board/ Ministry after my Masters. Now, I am not so sure whether I can compete with first degree graduates from the local universities (NUS/ NTU/ SME).

Can you help to give me some suggestions?

[gadgetxx]

Can anyone help?

Didn't you look at the MPA prospectus before you enrolled?

Have a look at the Saturday job section to see if graduates with your type of degree is in demand or not.

However, I feel that you have an edge over first degree job applicants.

[Hermit]

gadgetxx, you should just try to apply to jobs with quasi-govt agencies where your Public Admin postgrad will be appreciated. Good move to leave the police force where you will have a future.

[gadgetxx]

Thank you Hermit and "Unregistered" for your replies.

I hope to be able to find a $2000 plus to $3000 plus job with reasonable career prospects. I fear falling into the "jobless Masters degree holder" vicious cycle.

My strong points are:

- I have a good working attitude. I have received 2 "Best Trainee" awards for 2 long Police courses.

My weak points are:
- I do not have relevant outside working experience
- My first degree is from Unsim (a less reputable university)
- I am not so young anymore.

[Hermit]

Originally Posted by gadgetxx

Thank you Hermit and "Unregistered" for your replies.

I hope to be able to find a $2000 plus to $3000 plus job with reasonable career prospects. I fear falling into the "jobless Masters degree holder" vicious cycle.

My strong points are:

- I have a good working attitude. I have received 2 "Best Trainee" awards for 2 long Police courses.

My weak points are:
- I do not have relevant outside working experience
- My first degree is from Unsim (a less reputable university)
- I am not so young anymore.

The trick is to get going as soon as you can and prove your worth to your new employer. Once you become an asset to an organisation, your degree and certificates etc fade into the past. After that everything hinges on your experience, contacts, social skills and character.

P/s: There are 6000+ unemployed PhD holders in the USA.

Originally Posted by Hermit

The trick is to get going as soon as you can and prove your worth to your new employer. Once you become an asset to an organisation, your degree and certificates etc fade into the past. After that everything hinges on your experience, contacts, social skills and character.

P/s: There are 6000+ unemployed PhD holders in the USA.

Lemme guess: most of them are from China?

[gadgetxx]

Hi Hermit. Thank you for sharing your career advice: "academic qualifications only facilitates the entry into an organization. After entry, it is one's performance that counts."

Now, I have a few questions:
1) after one year, when I have completed masters degree, if I cannot find a job, should I go back to the Police force as a SSGT? The salary is abt $3200.

I am having that option as a back-up plan. It may feel insulting to some. But it is really ok to me.

I know my weaknesses: weak written and spoken English. I feel that in order to do well in the Public Service as a graduate, one's grasp of the English language is extremely impt. You need to write policy papers, reports, take minutes, write long e-mails and others.

I need to tap on your life experience: Do u think you think being able to speak and write well is important as a graduate in the Public Service?

I regret not going on to a JC after my 'O' levels. JC is where one's basic academic skills are polished.

[Hermit]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Lemme guess: most of them are from China?

Surprisingly No. Most of these are PhD in "soft" subjects like Anthropology, English, Ancient History and the like. The Asians tend to take the hard sciences.

[Hermit]

Originally Posted by gadgetxx

Hi Hermit. Thank you for sharing your career advice: "academic qualifications only facilitates the entry into an organization. After entry, it is one's performance that counts."

Now, I have a few questions:
1) after one year, when I have completed masters degree, if I cannot find a job, should I go back to the Police force as a SSGT? The salary is abt $3200.

I am having that option as a back-up plan. It may feel insulting to some. But it is really ok to me.

I know my weaknesses: weak written and spoken English. I feel that in order to do well in the Public Service as a graduate, one's grasp of the English language is extremely impt. You need to write policy papers, reports, take minutes, write long e-mails and others.

I need to tap on your life experience: Do u think you think being able to speak and write well is important as a graduate in the Public Service?

I regret not going on to a JC after my 'O' levels. JC is where one's basic academic skills are polished.

I am not you. But I won't go back. I usually mentally burn my bridges so that I have to succeed wherever I move to. You will find this even more important when you want to venture into business. If you keep looking back at your corporate life, you will give up sooner than later when the business gets tough.

English and report writing can be improved upon. Even more easily in this day and age of the Internet, Youtube etc. One search you can find a dozen sites that will show you samples of good writing. I went to JC. I don't think JC made me a better writer. I think it was more due to the stuff I read outside of school.

Even if your English remains the way it is, you might end up doing work that does not require that much paper writing anyway. I think there are many more job descriptions in the civil service that involves more managing projects, dealing with people, etc.