How have you done compared with the rest of your class ?

[Hermit]

I recently got re-connected online and on Whatsapp with my JC classmates. A lot of them seem to be still in MNCs and GLCs. One or two went into business. A couple of the girls are home makers. I would guess most of them are in the $150k-$250k, looking at their titles. I think only 1 did not make it to university, but still doing well in his company.

What was your background?

[Hermit]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What was your background?

Information Tech / Computer Science

I think in any cohort, there will be a bell curve distribution in terms of income. For Uni graduates, the bulk of them will end up upper middle income earners by the time they hit mid 40s to mid 50s. By that, I mean their income will range from $150k to $250k pa. There will be a few high flyers - both in corporate world and CS. Corporate big wigs like Singtel CEO reportedly earned $4.7m for last FY. Those high flyers in CS and military service aren't earning small change either. At 41, they are already 2 star generals earning more than $500k pa?

For my case, our re-union started off enthusiastically in the initial years. The interest tapered off eventually and only the more successful ones attend nowadays. I mean who would want to be reminded that they were not doing well in life at such gatherings, some more at such advanced age.

Although I think I didn't do too badly (at $250k pa), I also don't attend the reunion regularly as I find my closer friends not attending anymore.

Originally Posted by Hermit

I recently got re-connected online and on Whatsapp with my JC classmates. A lot of them seem to be still in MNCs and GLCs. One or two went into business. A couple of the girls are home makers. I would guess most of them are in the $150k-$250k, looking at their titles. I think only 1 did not make it to university, but still doing well in his company.

[mchan]

I attended a few gatherings but later got too busy. Most of my classmates are doing so so. I think it is hard to tell because maybe the really successful ones are not there either.

Originally Posted by Hermit

I recently got re-connected online and on Whatsapp with my JC classmates. A lot of them seem to be still in MNCs and GLCs. One or two went into business. A couple of the girls are home makers. I would guess most of them are in the $150k-$250k, looking at their titles. I think only 1 did not make it to university, but still doing well in his company.

47 years old male. I think I did better than most of my classmates. But I am not the top 3 earners.

Attending a reunion 2 years ago. Yes, only the more successful ones attended. And a few not so successful ones but were there to network and hope to find some lobangs through old friends.

The classmate who hosted the reunion was a specialist surgeon. Every can tell he just wanted to show off his house and his wealth. It was very interesting to watch everyone posturing subtly and not so subtly.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Those high flyers in CS and military service aren't earning small change either. At 41, they are already 2 star generals earning more than $500k pa?

Quite a sweeping statement. It depends on what pay scale you're under. A brigadier general not under the AO pay scale can only barely hit $300k pa including bonuses. Of course, that is by no means pathetic.

[RedOrangeYellow]

Am in my 30s. A couple of my friends have been progressing really well... Getting 15-30% pay increment by hopping jobs every 2-3 years. One works in the banking industry, drawing about $9k per month.

Compared to my peers, I am considered an under achiever.

Graduated from NUS in the late 90s with a B.Eng, majoring in microelectronics.
Along the way, studied for my M.Eng and obtained a PhD in the mid 2000s.

Thinking of getting out of the sunset semiconductor industry and make a career switch.

Not easy for someone in the early 40s to find another job. Any suggestions?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Graduated from NUS in the late 90s with a B.Eng, majoring in microelectronics.
Along the way, studied for my M.Eng and obtained a PhD in the mid 2000s.

Thinking of getting out of the sunset semiconductor industry and make a career switch.

Not easy for someone in the early 40s to find another job. Any suggestions?

Why not be an inventor that will revolutionize the semicon industry such as ceramic based chips superconductor?