Just as a general response to this thread. I first read this thread two years ago, and mostly it has motivated me to switch my career path from being an engineer to a finance professional.
I graduated in 2009 from NTU Engine (really bad recession era), however I believe I was the second person in my cohort to sign a job offer before graduation with a semicon firm as an engineer (didn't mean anything actually). Lo and behold, long working hours with stressful conditions (being on call 24/7, imagine stepping into the movie theater on Saturday afternoon with your date when you receive a call from the plant to say line is down, come back now and up systems). Getting blame pushed on you by slimy department directors who never want to take any responsibility for any scrapped wafers. And your KPI exactly depends on that.
Most of the time I dare say out of every 10 people you meet in the plant, at least 6 or 7 will be male foreigner from China PRC, Indian, Pinoy and Malaysian. Forget about meeting hot chicks in the workplace if you are single, maybe getting a glimpse of the occasional doe-eyed female fresh local grad that will probably think of resigning after 6-8 months of work due to the overly-dominated male work environment.
References :
http://www.singstat.gov.sg/pubn/pape...ep06-pg2-7.pdf.
Work compensation was terrible, about $2.7k monthly with no bonus and only AWS for a year. Not that I was ungrateful for having a job during a time where fellow grads still staying at home sending resumes, but it was really unhealthy to work with so many foreigners (my guess is there are so many applicants for the job because that they don't mind taking more depressed pay as they have FX benefits to remit home). As a employer running a semicon firm, I want lowest cost possible as my manufacturing overheads is already bloody high, imagine multimillion dollar equipment that need dunno how many years to have a decent ROI plus high usage of water and electricity. Manufacturing is basically run on debt - I guess that explains why there aren't any bonuses.
Fast-forward 3 years ahead, I am now working in a bank and already moving on to my next career path as a business analyst for a US MNC with pay package of $60K annual not inclusive of performance bonuses. Not that much definitely vs my finance seniors here who entered the industry earlier, but significantly more that my previous engineer job. But I am more than willing to accept that salary appreciation for better work-life balance (going out after work for drinks in the CBD area 2-3 times in a week with my colleagues and laughing so much more often), getting to wear nice tailored shirts with designer cufflinks and trousers and sleek work shoes (vs smelly safety helmets worn by so many foreign workers, irritating safety glasses, smelly safety vests and clown-like safety shoes). In addition, most of my work colleagues are singaporeans and US angmohs which are a different genre of people as with my previous job. Not to mention that working in a bank has its perks of getting to meet hot sexy office babes that usually dress up and put on make-up for work (I hardly think I saw any female engineers wear skirts, or even short skirts or heels for work for that matter). Like I said, that's not why I changed career path, but I'm stating that it is a perk, especially for single lonely men.
After typing so much, I just wanted to share with my fellow engine friends here who want to jump that there is still hope. Take the leap of faith and make the decision based on your personal evaluation of the situation. If you are willing to stomach the risk, it doesn't matter what you really do, but if you succeed, you may one day look back like me and say, damn! I should have done this years ago! I am not here to boast of anything, neither to say that my more established engine seniors made the wrong decision (engine bosses are probably definitely earning a higher and more comfortable pay package than me now due to being able to survive the tough run-in years), but I'm here to share that if you are where you are now and you aren't happy about it, then do something about it!
Gongxifacai! And may the year of the Snake bring you health and prosperity!
