well-paying industries fresh grads might want to think twice
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Every fresh grad's dream is to clinch a job offer that puts them on the fast-track to the high life.
As you send out your resume, you fantasise about receiving a starting pay higher than your own parents' salary after 30 years in the workforce.
With starry eyes, you read newspaper articles about young whippersnappers just like yourself making their first million, like this 26-year-old property agent. Imagine the shock, then, when after three or four years of university you emerge into the real world, only to realise that fresh grads in your industry are struggling, shattering your dreams of a smooth-sailing start to your career.
Here are 3 traditionally high-paying industries you might want to shy away from if you're allergic to hardship:
Law
Once upon a time, law graduates in Singapore were pretty much guaranteed a job paying at least $4,500, with many receiving much more, upon getting called to the bar.
Firms were so desperate for trainee lawyers that most law students received multiple training contract offers before graduating university.
But recently, things took a drastic about-turn, and don't look like they'll be getting better anytime soon.
There is now an over-supply of lawyers, which has led firms to cut their starting pay by a significant $1,000 to $2,000.
These days, even law graduates with above-average grades are finding it hard to get a spot at one of the big-four firms, or indeed any firm at all.
The upshot is that while the legal services industry is growing, getting a job at a "prestigious" firm, or any job at all as a fresh grad, is way harder than before.
And even if you do get a job fresh out of uni, when you're pulling 16 hour work days for the same wages as your friends in less stressful industries, don't say we didn't warn you.
Real estate
Every Singaporean has that one real estate agent friend who never seems to work, but is always opening bottles at clubs and generally living the high life.
It doesn't help that the local newspapers seem to love publishing stories about real estate agents either making it big, or running amok with their money.
Becoming a property agent is also a favourite mid-career choice for disillusioned former PMETs, perceived as one of the only jobs that allows a capable newbie a shot at attaining a 6 figure annual income.
Unfortunately, the Singapore property market has been in a slump since the first round of cooling measures, and many property agents in Singapore are throwing in the towel and moving on to other trades.
Sure, it's still possible to succeed, but at this point in time it's way, way easier to fail, especially if you're a rookie with few contacts.
Engineering
Save for those who study business and finance, most Singaporeans tend to prefer professional degrees because they offer a more clearly-defined career path, preferably one that leads to a high-paying job.
While medicine, dentistry and law are the most obvious choices, engineering is a hot favourite amongst those students who like math. Just graduate, become an engineer, work at it for a few decades and finally retire in senior management.
Right? Well, these days engineers are feeling the heat from overseas, as the engineering industry is one of the readiest to take in overseas graduates who can do the same job, sometimes for less, especially in fields like civil engineering.
In addition, a lot of would-be engineers have little idea what the job really entails.
I've met engineers who quit their jobs because they didn't realise that they'd have to wear jumpsuits and be in a hot, stuffy, unglamorous environment for long periods of time, or stand under the hot sun on a construction site. The hours can often be gruelling and a 5.5 or 6 day work week is not uncommon.
A friend of mine became a civil engineer for a while, working 6 days a week with only 7 days of annual leave, until he finally quit in frustration.
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I never ever knew engineering was a high paying industry in Singapore.
Everyone who had ever asked about the prospects of engineering in Singapore, are generally told to consider finance, law, or some other softcore career.
Because its a known fact that engineers are lowly paid, with stupid working hours.
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I never ever knew engineering was a high paying industry in Singapore.
Everyone who had ever asked about the prospects of engineering in Singapore, are generally told to consider finance, law, or some other softcore career.
Because its a known fact that engineers are lowly paid, with stupid working hours.
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Haha.
Singapore needs super big companies to increase engineers pay.
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Yes. Engineer is actually technician now