Really that bad for engineers?

If u enjoy mech. eng. then go for it. work for 2 years and apply for MBA for management skills and business operations. If u into product development, then sub major in it or do sub major finance to be financial literate! As u progress, u can continue into master of finance to enter finance industry as a finance specialist! At the end of these 10 years of hard work, ur salary will be relatively high and skills in demand not only in Singapore, but the rest of Asia!

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!

Thanks to happyman29 for sharing his engine-to-bank story. Inspiring!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks to happyman29 for sharing his engine-to-bank story. Inspiring!

He nvr mention how exactly did he manage to jump to his bank job

Really depends what kind of engineer you are...

If you are a civil/mechanical engineer who works in a shipyard/manufacturing plant, I bet life will suck.

I'm a computer engineer graduated in 2010. I work for a US MNC in the city. Pay is 80k+ SGD. I'm sure the pay I'm getting for my experience is a lot better than an average junior analyst at many local/foreign banks. ( my sis works in a foreign bank as an analyst and makes 2.5k less than me a month).

However only about 10% of my colleagues are Singaporeans. Sometimes i wonder, my pay not bad, office is sleek, work-life balance is excellent, free lunch perks, but why are there no qualified singaporeans who want to do this job? Yet there are so many Singaporeans who fight over bank jobs that pay 3k-5k a month?

Mind sharing your qualifications? first class hons? I guess 99% of your com engin cohort are not making the kind of pay you're getting?

Did you include your bonuses, allowances etc in the 80k+ figure?

Thanks for sharing

80k+ base salary. Doesn't include bonus. This year's bonus has not been announced but CEO has already sent companywide email saying it will be good due to good results last year.

2nd lower degree in Comp Engine from NUS.

Perks:
Free lunch
Nice Pantry filled with snacks
everyone gets a company phone(mine is iphone 5) with company paid subscription

Work life balance is excellent. During my division's town council meeting held recently, management top goal is "improving work-life balance". Really speaks volumes of the companies' culture.

[haiz1234]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

99% chance SME pays less than MNC.

But again depends on which MNC, german/japanese MNC dun pay super...

So its almost like sure lesser la, is by how much only.

Worst case scenario: local start up vs US MNC
or
long history local Small E vs US MNC

can be like more than 100% difference if you calculate the bonuses, perks, etc etc

and if you really want to know, you can start by posting your stats

I am working in a global leader company German firm but my pay is peanut and the things I do don't justify the pay I am getting..

Originally Posted by Unregistered

80k+ base salary. Doesn't include bonus. This year's bonus has not been announced but CEO has already sent companywide email saying it will be good due to good results last year.

2nd lower degree in Comp Engine from NUS.

Perks:
Free lunch
Nice Pantry filled with snacks
everyone gets a company phone(mine is iphone 5) with company paid subscription

Work life balance is excellent. During my division's town council meeting held recently, management top goal is "improving work-life balance". Really speaks volumes of the companies' culture.

Nice. Do share which company? Is it Google?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Nice. Do share which company? Is it Google?

Cisco System?