You NEED a DEGREE to work in SINGAPORE

last SG · 2004-09-01T07:52:17+00:00

FireIce got phd ? So intelligent.

FireIce SG

ya, i know of ppl who say they oni have O or A levels in order to get a job (even though they are degree-holders).....dun mind the low pay oso.....
and later, prove their worth and get promoted and pay-rise.....

u can comfort urself by recognising tt a lotta of our big-time entrepreneurs only have Os or diploma....but of course, they have good foresight and lotsa hard work.....

robertteh SG

If you want a job, you have to study hard, get a degree and stayed economically productive in the job market.

If you want to be an entrepreneur or be your own boss, try to make use of one of your best skills or knowlege instead of studying all the way to universities to earn a living for yourself.

Singapore is extremely short of the latter - entrepreneurs - so which course will you take should be decided by you when you are about to finish your "O'" or "A" level or ITE/Poly.

By the time a person reaches "O" or "ITE' he should have enough practical knowledge and be able to choose one field or skill to develop to make a living. Of course if one wants to work for people then it is better to go for further study.

If I were to discover something that really works and marketable while I am studying say at "A" or "O" level, I might seize opportunity to accept an offer to become an entrepreneur instead of trying to complete academic studies up to the U.

Goondu74 SG

The degree is just a stepping stone, if u do not have the ability, u will soon be found out and there goes your job. Even then as the number of degree holders join the job market, who will do the dirty work of the technicians, definately not the engineers! if u become an engineer and still does the job of a technician then won't the degree be a waste? Besides executive staff usually no OT pay.

Parka SG

As long as you have a mouth, finding a job isn't going to be that hard.

Medicated Oil SG

I am not saying that diploma holders cannot find a job.

But, I have observed that for some companies, the reason for not promoting a diploma holders that have years of experience is that they dun have paper qualification.

I dun dispute that some companies does recognise experience in a staff.

But, they will prefer getting pple with more paper qualification for the job.

Qitai SG

In those cases, you are either

(1) not capable enough and the boss is just trying to find an excuses
(2) in a big cooperation which actually has the stupid rule that only degree holders can be promoted (this is more likely in public sector or government owned private sector)
(3) have a mean boss who regconized your talent but just want to save $$

Solution - re-evaluate yourself to see if you have over-rated yourself. If
(1) Yes, you are not that good - then be happy and contend with what you already have, choosing to perhaps work not as hard.
(2) No, you are damn good - expand your contact, get the news out secretly, prepare to jump ship. No point staying in a place where you are not appreciated.
(3) No, you are damn good - Try to bypass direct boss and report to higher authority. Or ask for a transfer. If no one in the company appreciate you, then back to (1) - reconsider if you are really as good as you think. Go to (2) if you still think you are damn good.

paperchicken SG

As long as you have good brains and good attitude thats enough. Wink

FireIce SG

probably.....for civil service...

but it's a different picture and story for pte co.

Xenthar SG

I have been to a lot of interviews and I can agree with you. The fact is that since there are so many degree holders out there, most companies will hire degree holders for perm jobs regardless of whether they need the degree or not. I also agree that eventually depends on your performance. BUT PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WITHOUT A DEGREE, THERE WON’T EVEN BE A DOOR TO GO THROUGH IN THE FIRST PLACE FOR MANY OF US.

FireIce SG

if u insist on such pessimistic view, it's no wonder u wun go far Rolling Eyes

av98m SG

For the civil service yes. Not only do you need a degree, it must be the RIGHT kind of degree(as in those from NUS, NTU, or earned doing full-time on campus programme). You can forget about it if your degree was earned doing night classes at some private institution. Your capability at work is not part of the equation. Very rigid system.

devoid05 SG

I have been to a lot of interviews and I can agree with you. The fact is that since there are so many degree holders out there, most companies will hire degree holders for perm jobs regardless of whether they need the degree or not. I also agree that eventually depends on your performance. BUT PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WITHOUT A DEGREE, THERE WON'T EVEN BE A DOOR TO GO THROUGH IN THE FIRST PLACE FOR MANY OF US.

i can't agree more with you! Singapore is ultimately a paper chase society where everyone's worth is measured by a piece of paper. Not having a degree means lesser chances of a promotion and companies are more disposed towards employing people with higher educational qualifications. People tend to look at degree holders in a different light. Whether you like it or not... that's how superficial society is... having a degree does open many doors... let's face it!

chunyong SG

Engineering is a very specialised job. What polys cover and wat uni cover is very different.

larrenV2.003 SG

U forgot one thing...u don't need a degree to start a business....... Mr. Green

Xenthar SG

Its based on facts lor. The evidence out there speaks for themselves

Qitai SG

Well, you can keep blaming and complaining and it will not help you. Or you can try to learn to market yourself better.

The reality is this - People gain advantages with these - good looks, age, sex, race, language you speak, education, contact, health, presentation skill, cultural background, family background, experience, knowledge etc etc....

You can cry foul and say you are discriminated becuase of your race, education, ugly, sex etc etc.... and drown yourself in sorrow

OR you can realize that none of the above one point overrides everything else. People look at a combination of things. And if your other attribute is good enough, there will be a place for you somewhere. And if your other attributes are also not good or just normal, then what do you expect? Either go and improve yourself in areas that can be improved or if you are really lazy, learn to lower your expectation.

And improving here is not restricted to getting a degree. You can learn soft skills like people handling ability, presenation skill, new languages or refine your language skills. You can also learn specialised skills that help you get employed or maybe even become your own boss like learning to make a great dish, learning how to repair TV, air-cons, write a book, IT knowledge (programming, building a PC, learning to use new software) etc. etc....

Education is at least one area that all of us gets an equal chance. At least, none of us is born with a degree in hand.

TidalWave333 SG

I can't help but smile at the sensible reply that Qitai made.

While I sympathize with the frustrations many diploma holders have for failing to secure an interview because of the lack of sufficent paper qualifications, it is just as stereotypical to portray degree-holders as

"idiots at work. They can conceptualize, come up with good presentations...but cannot carry out anything bcoz they cannot get anyone to work for them...their socialising skills and PR farktup lah. Double standard...cannot carry out what they preach... " (Troy437, 30 Aug 2004)

It's simply a sweeping, ill-considered cliche to portray those who work hard in school to get to universities as incompetent, clueless and socially-inept.

I couldn't help but carry this illogical misconception a step further: does that mean that primary school dropouts also have a case against diploma holders? ("all these diploma holders all idiot lor! industrial attachment many, but hokkien damn lao ya, think they go poly waste time only!")

Academically, the same discipline (e.g engineering or accounting) is taught differently in the universities and polytechnics, in terms of depth, scope and focus. It doesnt take a lot of common sense to recognise this.

While a degree may open more doors, and secure the all important first interview, ultimately, it is like what many cool-headed people here have pointed out: it's the ability and performance that counts.

More and more people *around the world* are opting for a university education. This has stretched the operating budgets, manpower resources and facilities of many tertiary institutions including prestigious ones. These are regularly reported in international media (for example UK's Guardian Online under its Education column).

Singaporeans are no exception in recognising that a degree gives the holder a chance for a better life (improving lifestyle, self-fulfillment, more job security, opportunities to do more things they want). This is a reality that people who complain about their lack of formal qalifications should recognise quickly. It's pure naivety if people think degree-holders have an easier life at work and do not have their share of discontentment. Perhaps the fact that Singapore is a country with 4.2 million people crowded on a small land mass amplifies these frustrations, and makes the issue appear larger and louder compared to other much bigger countries. But really, which country's populace doesnt aspire to a better life for themselves and their families, or where materialism hasn't taken a foothold?

If diploma holders think they are being short-changed, there is no other alternative but to prove themselves (not only work performance, but in terms of training, certification and paper qualifications). Do something constructive, and stop whining.

Nelstar SG

Imagine you got a high paying job and you're with a diploma.

And you stop upgrading yourself after being in the job for years.

Do you think you're deserving of higher pay for things you've not promised to show qualities of handling? I'll rather give the chance to someone as promising as a diploma holder who has the paper qualification. It is the basic means that the person has at least minimal knowledge of the next level of things they're handling.

Don't be absurd.

Kismet SG

I can still remember a slogan from my old school days:

"Education makes sense" (cents)

Continuous education will help you to be a better person and become more equipped to survive in this world.

foxwalk SG

i agree too, i know it is to find a job too. and then i suspect its that the employers may have chosen a diploma grad over me. anyway what do you mean by finding job? is it a) finding any job that pays at least fairly decent (maybe 2k for fresh grad) or b) finding a job that one is genuinely and wholly interested in?

for me i think its hard to find a job in the b) way. what do you think?

« Previous Page Next Page »