Advice on career path (biz development/strategy/operations) - Salary.sg Forums
Salary.sg Forums  

Go Back   Salary.sg Forums > The Salary.sg Discussion Forums: > Income and Jobs

Income and Jobs Discuss jobs, career options and of course salaries




Advice on career path (biz development/strategy/operations)

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 29-11-2014, 06:33 PM
ss1 ss1 is offline
Verified Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 18
ss1 is on a distinguished road
Default Advice on career path (biz development/strategy/operations)

Dear all,

I am a fresh grad with mechanical engineering who has just started to work for a while.

Despite technical background, I always has interest in business strategy, planning , and I think that BE in engineering with a MBA could help in getting such role in engineering mnc, or become a biz consultant for engineering companies.

I am currently doing sales support in an engineering equipment company, which make use of my engineering background and at the same time allow me to look upon sales/ biz operations.

Appreciate if anyone can advise the career path, and perhaps experience sharing? =D

Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 29-11-2014, 09:18 PM
Unregistered
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Dude there are a lot of jobs that are just basic analysis and report writing that call themselves strategy this strategy that.

Unless you are referring to those BS titles, you can hardly expect to just go buy some MBA with hardly any work experience and except companies to hire you to advise them on strategy right after school...

Fresh grad just start work already thinking of wanting to be formulating strategy is usually a sign that either he knows nothing about what strategy means or has an usually high opinion of himself. If it's the latter, I hope you have some solid tangible business achievements to back that.

Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 29-11-2014, 10:15 PM
Unregistered
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ss1 View Post
Dear all,

I am a fresh grad with mechanical engineering who has just started to work for a while.

Despite technical background, I always has interest in business strategy, planning , and I think that BE in engineering with a MBA could help in getting such role in engineering mnc, or become a biz consultant for engineering companies.

I am currently doing sales support in an engineering equipment company, which make use of my engineering background and at the same time allow me to look upon sales/ biz operations.

Appreciate if anyone can advise the career path, and perhaps experience sharing? =D
there are many kinds of strategy & planning -sales, marketing, technology, manpower, supply chain, finance etc. nowadays many companies inflate titles to make the JD sound strategic for some jr associate job.

the more senior and close to the leadership in the company you are, the more involve in strategy you become. studying a mba w/o any experience is waste of money & time as it just get you another jr analyst job.

it takes at least 10 years even for a high flyer in a mnc to be involve in some sort of real strategy work, so spend more time building up your career and network than waste time studying a mba. without work exp, you will not understand what you learn anyway.

Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 29-11-2014, 11:49 PM
ss1 ss1 is offline
Verified Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 18
ss1 is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
Dude there are a lot of jobs that are just basic analysis and report writing that call themselves strategy this strategy that.

Unless you are referring to those BS titles, you can hardly expect to just go buy some MBA with hardly any work experience and except companies to hire you to advise them on strategy right after school...

Fresh grad just start work already thinking of wanting to be formulating strategy is usually a sign that either he knows nothing about what strategy means or has an usually high opinion of himself. If it's the latter, I hope you have some solid tangible business achievements to back that.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
there are many kinds of strategy & planning -sales, marketing, technology, manpower, supply chain, finance etc. nowadays many companies inflate titles to make the JD sound strategic for some jr associate job.

the more senior and close to the leadership in the company you are, the more involve in strategy you become. studying a mba w/o any experience is waste of money & time as it just get you another jr analyst job.

it takes at least 10 years even for a high flyer in a mnc to be involve in some sort of real strategy work, so spend more time building up your career and network than waste time studying a mba. without work exp, you will not understand what you learn anyway.

Thanks for the advice. Indeed work experiences still matters.
I never expect to use MBA only to get in the role.
However I believe MBA might be useful when get in the role after several years of working experiences.
So, at least I wanna be clear on the career path and see if I am on the right track on building up my career and network.

Of course I have no high biz achievement as a fresh grad.
However back in my old days in uni I was quite active in organizing event and club activity, which requires planning, marketing strategy, budget planning, and I actually quite enjoy that.

Thanks!
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 30-11-2014, 12:24 AM
Unregistered
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ss1 View Post
Thanks for the advice. Indeed work experiences still matters.
I never expect to use MBA only to get in the role.
However I believe MBA might be useful when get in the role after several years of working experiences.
So, at least I wanna be clear on the career path and see if I am on the right track on building up my career and network.

Of course I have no high biz achievement as a fresh grad.
However back in my old days in uni I was quite active in organizing event and club activity, which requires planning, marketing strategy, budget planning, and I actually quite enjoy that.

Thanks!
Very few MBAs are really useful in terms of professional development and network building, other than the usual international biz schools which are exorbitant, in terms of local unis I recommend only the eMBAs which require min 10 years credentials.

Think about it, if a course can accept any Tom Dick or Harry for MBA with a few years of junior experience, what are the kind of students you will get? Likely a whole bunch of youngsters without any leadership experience or oldies who have mediocre careers. Are these the kind of classmates to learn from or develop professional networks?

Also the fact that you can equate organizing a ECA activity in school to business strategy work shows that you have gross misconception of the whole idea of enterprise strategy planning in a global MNC. The school club stuff you are interested in doing is probably done by HR Execs or Marketing/Promotion co-ordinators in a MNC, nobody would equate that with business strategy work.

My advice is just spend the next 10 - 15 years gaining exp across companies and functions. If you are lucky, befriend a few global / regional directors in large MNCs and they can probably share with you what strategy is all about. Maybe after a while you will gain at least awareness of this whole thing. Trying to hone in on a hard answer on what is the career path to do "strategy work" when you just left school ain't gonna get you anywhere.


Primary School English Grammar and Vocabulary Drills
Primary School English Grammar and Vocabulary Drills


SG Bus Timing App
SG Bus Timing App - the best bus app - available on iOS and Android


Bursa Stocks Android App - check share prices
Bursa Stocks [Android] App - check latest share prices on the go


SGX Stocks Android App - check share prices
SGX Stocks [Android] App - check latest share prices on the go


SGX Stocks for iPad - check latest Singapore share prices
SGX Stocks [iPad] app
| SGX Stocks [iPhone] app
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 30-11-2014, 06:42 AM
Unregistered
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ss1 View Post
Thanks for the advice. Indeed work experiences still matters.
I never expect to use MBA only to get in the role.
However I believe MBA might be useful when get in the role after several years of working experiences.
So, at least I wanna be clear on the career path and see if I am on the right track on building up my career and network.

Of course I have no high biz achievement as a fresh grad.
However back in my old days in uni I was quite active in organizing event and club activity, which requires planning, marketing strategy, budget planning, and I actually quite enjoy that.

Thanks!
Uni planning, ccas, and excos are all ******** pls.

even a simple assistant treasurer can get inflated titles like "Assistant Financial Director"
Reply With Quote

  #7 (permalink)  
Old 30-11-2014, 09:52 AM
Unregistered
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ss1 View Post
Of course I have no high biz achievement as a fresh grad.
However back in my old days in uni I was quite active in organizing event and club activity, which requires planning, marketing strategy, budget planning, and I actually quite enjoy that.
u should join a events management outsourcing company if that is ur interest.
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 30-11-2014, 05:38 PM
Brian
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

TS can you elaborate what you mean by business strategy? Which part of your current job as a sales support executive or your studies as an engineer is it that you don't like and think being in a strategic planning career path will be better for your interest?

I am asking because my gut sense is you are just throwing out big words without understanding what they mean.
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 02-12-2014, 12:41 PM
Unregistered
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Another just left school youngster who just started work already fantasizing of being the strategy guy. If you really have the potential, you would be in 1 of those big MNC as a Management Trainee or in ministry as an Administrative Officer, not languishing as some sales support staff in an equipment company.
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 02-12-2014, 05:43 PM
Unregistered
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
there are many kinds of strategy & planning -sales, marketing, technology, manpower, supply chain, finance etc. nowadays many companies inflate titles to make the JD sound strategic for some jr associate job.

the more senior and close to the leadership in the company you are, the more involve in strategy you become. studying a mba w/o any experience is waste of money & time as it just get you another jr analyst job.

it takes at least 10 years even for a high flyer in a mnc to be involve in some sort of real strategy work, so spend more time building up your career and network than waste time studying a mba. without work exp, you will not understand what you learn anyway.
Strategy refers to overall management strategy of the company, not just a department. You usually report direct to the CEO and your work involves the long term strategy of the company. This means you are heavily involved in m&a, business planning, project finance and other major projects.

My advise to the aspiring TS, try to get into commercial management or business development (the real kind, not sales), the "revenue centers", or finance. It will be tough to get into strategy by doing operations or support roles.


Primary School English Grammar and Vocabulary Drills
Primary School English Grammar and Vocabulary Drills


SG Bus Timing App
SG Bus Timing App - the best bus app - available on iOS and Android


Bursa Stocks Android App - check share prices
Bursa Stocks [Android] App - check latest share prices on the go


SGX Stocks Android App - check share prices
SGX Stocks [Android] App - check latest share prices on the go


SGX Stocks for iPad - check latest Singapore share prices
SGX Stocks [iPad] app
| SGX Stocks [iPhone] app
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Please advise on my career path plan seablue Income and Jobs 15 05-04-2020 11:37 AM
Dead End. Need advice on career path. Rodon_Tan Income and Jobs 50 30-07-2019 03:47 PM
Which career path should I go? Fugutaiten Income and Jobs 21 04-10-2013 06:18 PM
Regarding corporate treasury as career path JTJF Income and Jobs 4 25-07-2013 11:17 PM
Required tutor- $100/hr (Corporate Strategy and Human Resource Development) gratifytuitionagency Marketplace and Find Work 0 22-07-2012 09:04 PM

» 30 Recent Threads
Q: Big4 - Yearly salary increment ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
15,320 Replies, 4,985,049 Views
MAS for Mid Career Professionals ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
1,806 Replies, 1,045,463 Views
ITE Polytechnic Scheme ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
310 Replies, 369,406 Views
Career as Teacher ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
10,851 Replies, 6,671,423 Views
Why Is Having a Google Virtual...
1 Replies, 6,777 Views
How is life as a doctor in... ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
7,240 Replies, 3,399,905 Views
JP Morgan ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
199 Replies, 173,491 Views
GovTech ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
5,163 Replies, 2,164,886 Views
Shopee fresh grad pay ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
1,050 Replies, 440,812 Views
Mining Industry ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
80 Replies, 74,522 Views
Civil Service Performance Bonus ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
5,340 Replies, 4,772,726 Views
Civil Service Current Estimated... ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
171 Replies, 309,595 Views
LTA (Land Transport Authority) ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
680 Replies, 388,842 Views
Compare civil service salary ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
16,343 Replies, 12,458,270 Views
Lawyer Salary ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
21,015 Replies, 10,331,433 Views
ST Electronics ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
3,768 Replies, 1,545,471 Views
UOB Management Associate Program ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
1,457 Replies, 784,826 Views
Is getting a PMP worth it ?
4 Replies, 7,174 Views
Visa Graduate Development Program ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
207 Replies, 134,729 Views
SIM-UOL fresh grad starting pay ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
6,922 Replies, 2,903,587 Views
Nparks ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
39 Replies, 34,436 Views
MINDEF DXO (All FAQ on it) ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
5,828 Replies, 4,657,650 Views
Constituency Manager (People... ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
989 Replies, 814,037 Views
Julius Baer Graduate Program 2023 ( 1 2 3)
21 Replies, 14,835 Views
Roles in accenture singapore ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
7,385 Replies, 2,325,082 Views
HTX (Home Team Science and... ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
752 Replies, 358,828 Views
DSTA (under Mindef) ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
1,464 Replies, 1,375,797 Views
IMDA (under MCI) ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
1,260 Replies, 613,928 Views
Civil Svc/ Statboard - Typical... ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
6,123 Replies, 3,739,141 Views
MX12 reappointed at MX11
8 Replies, 852 Views
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2



All times are GMT +8. The time now is 03:59 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.3.2