Engineering career anyone?

[Kiadaw]

Below is my 2 cents worth of thoughts. Happy to get it off my chest:

 

Being a R&D engineer for almost 8 years in 2 Japanese MNCs taught me that Singaporeans have little to no chance of surviving for long in R&D environments. The long hours demanded meant the immediate family must be understanding and supportive, which is often lacking. I used to be so happy when I could see daylight when I am leaving my office! And the many many weekends wasted in the office rushing to complete work be it circuit design, PCB drawing, troubleshooting, evaluating, solving production issues, etc, etc, have been vividly etched into my mind. I am always reminded of those times when I pass by the premises even after many years. It was really impossible to have balance family life back then regardless of seniority.

 

Back then there were already a lot of FT, mostly from Philipines and Malaysia. We have no fight against them as their families with them here are depending on them to survive, so when their husbands need to be in office over weekends they will not complaint but only encouraging words. The situation was also worsened by ever shorter product cycles resulting in much stress. So much so that even a top FT engineer then had to leave the company as his wife threatened to divorce him if he kept spending ALL his time in office. And you think local people got chance under such condition? And who do you think the management will promote to fill the senior positions?

 

And there was always the fear of being obsoleted by the ever advancing technology, not helped by the fact that R&D was fast becoming a sunset industry. You can't help but got more and more worried when you see a lot of R&D companies relocated their design facilities and manufacturing plants to neighbouring countries, and thinking when will be your turn to be given the boot and how you are going to cope.

 

It really took a lot of courage to leave the environment but it was definitely worth it for my case. Though not everyone is so lucky.

 

But then again, I won't be able to land my current job if not for the hard work put in during the early years. So the early years definitely are time well spent for my case. Just lucky, I always remind myself.

 

So what do you do now, just a question.

[Scoots]

What I meant to say is, being in Engineering isn't as bad as people think, especially if one is open to job option outside Singapore. But its only my opinion. But one is is clear, like any job, you must strife to be the very best in your field to have the option of worldwide possibilities or go far in general.

 

But isn't this exactly out of context wrt to the topic that's being discussed here? The issue here is about engineering career/prospect within Singapore

Edited February 11, 2014 by Scoots

[Watwheels]

There are so many disciplines in Engineering. What exactly is ppl talkinig about?

 

If we are talking about those "traditional" disciplines like Mechanical or Electrical engineering or so called under Manufacturing sectors those are no takers coz the pay after so many decades has hardly moved up or increased over the years. It's no wonder coz it's all about costs when it comes to manufacturing. Every cost is kept low including the ppl's pay. It's one of the worst job to hold nowadays. Dun even talk about what prospects.

[Wind30]

Does the government knows what is the problem with engineering??

 

To be the biggest issue is because the skills you learnt are so specialised, when industries moved out, you end up with a situation with a lot of engineers with a specific skillset but not enough jobs....

 

This is something that professions like accounting or lawyers will not face. the job market for such people is pretty stable....

 

Example, previously is manufacturing. now is electronics. next will be biotech. then aerospace. Our government keep pushing for the "new" and hot industry and just give up on the old. What is a guy in his 40s with 20 years of experience in wafer fab going to do when foundries pull out of singapore???

 

For engineers I think the main problem is that the job is not really "secure".

 

I don't think it is really the pay... the pay is not too bad I think. The job is interesting. And frankly not many bright students go engineering nowadays so the local competition is pretty bad....

 

Both me and my wife are engineer trained. My wife is doing program management now. I am still doing technical stuff because I like it and am good at it. But one is really at the mercy of MNCs.... if they pull out of singapore to china.... I probably need to retire early... or do something totally different like a part time photog or something...

Edited February 11, 2014 by Wind30

[Heartlander]

So what do you do now, just a question.

Still in engineering fieLd is all i willing to divulge, my technical knowledge what got me there in the first place. More sane working hours, less stress haha, but wont be possible without my early years toiling definitely. So not wasted at all.

 

I will definitely ask my kids to try other fields when it is time to specialise, and to be aware of the costs if they are still keen to take up engineering.

[Little_prince]

Big 4 Auditor salary progression

Associate Year 1 - 2700 - 2900
Associate Year 2 - 3000 - 3200
Audit Senior Year 1 - 3500 - 4000
Audit Senior Year 2 - 4500 - 4800
Assistant Manager - 5100 - 5400
Manager - 6000 - 8000
Senior Manager - 8000 - 11000

http://forums.salary.sg/income-jobs/1506-q-big4-yearly-salary-increment-4.html#.Uvo-yvmSwRo

 

just for comparison....

actually also not that fantastic compared to engineers. given that their hours are quite jialat .

Edited February 11, 2014 by Little_prince

[Happily1986]

 

I don't really want to slam you but your shitty a$$ statement really sticks out like a sore thumb. Tell me who doesn't want to progress and make more money especially in a country where cost is rising exponentially versus pay raise?

 

Why don't you come back here and work with your low salary expectation?

 

Yea, one up for your karchng.

[Kiadaw]

 

But isn't this exactly out of context wrt to the topic that's being discussed here? The issue here is about engineering career/prospect within Singapore

Of course this topic is about jobs in Singapore. But I do not think saying if you are opened to oversea venture, Engineering is actually not too bad, is really off-topic.

 

I mean, if you are an engineer, & if you think your industry or job prospect is not doing well, & wanted to change job. Finding job opportunities as engineer oversea, or staying in Singapore to another fields are both options. Obviously there are people who are unable/un willing to move oversea for various reasons. But I nothing wrong to say such option exist, & should not be dismissed.

 

If people wanted to learn more about working environment etc oversea as Engineer, I am more than happey to share. If people are not interested & only wanted to speak about Engineering situation in Singapore, I am cool as well.

[Super7]

 

How cum never mentioned used car dealers?

 

 

Might as well ask about Loansharks... btw, they do provide a much needed service.

 

Housewives la.

 

You go see those ancient cave drawings always depicting men hunting wild animals and women folk sitting around fire cooking or doing stuff mah.

 

Until present day sama sama so should be oldest profession loh, tio bo?

 

 

LOL

 

In this case, hushand counted as a job also?

[Super7]

 

There was a time in the late nineties or early twenties when many opted for this field.

 

I knew because one young chap then became my colleague and he was from that era.

 

Straight A student but disillusioned when in this industry.

 

Now a teacher in a school (should be a HOD by now) and HLF.

 

My time though engineering was a dumping ground...

 

 

Actually it's the engineering teams that make possible the cars we drive, and new car models keep appearing in the market because of their work. Car design and manufacture are pretty much supported by these engineers in the fields of mechanics, production, aerodynamics, electronics, etc etc for most of the cars in the world. Unfortunately this industry doesn't exist in SGP.

[Super7]

There are many driving taxis, selling property and insurance now.

 

 

They have to put food on the table for the families, no choice.

[Super7]

ho ching also engineer

 

 

Not too sure if she got her present job because of her eng deg, or any deg for the matter?

[Super7]

The local civil engineering consultancy services industry is plagued by low fees as it is very competitive here. Clients will not normally consider your design if your rivals can provide "cheap & good" rates no matter how sound it is. There are often folks out there willing to take a big obscene cut in order to secure the job.

 

Thus one must be really passionate to practice engineering, especially in the civil line.

 

 

 

 

These consulting firms rely on 'cheap' imported engineers they employ to secure and survive with low-paying projects, local engineers are too "expensive". The developers/contractors who use these firms are more than happy to pay low consultant fees.

[Super7]

All go sell house better

 

 

of course, of course:-

 

prop agent gets better fees than the engineer who designs the house. the engineer has to study 4 years to become one, prop agent any tom dick harry also can. (no disrespect intended)

DNT, Maths and i know of Engineers teaching Sciences (Physics and Chem).....no different! They will be trained in NIE on the relevant subject!

Most teachers with a degree starts with the same pay (minus whatever adjustment the gov give) but usually after NIE roughly around 3.5ks. Annual increment is yearly (ceiling max at grade) and promotion to subsequent GEO level is somewhat fixed (unless u really corkup) the good ones(hardworking and efficient) and those angkat bola ones can becomes LH, SH, HOD. Those are management level...different ballgames!

 

 

Teachers can have a good "second career" working as private tuitors if they build up a name for it ---- flexible working hours, income tax paid or not, we don't really know.

Edited February 11, 2014 by Super7

[LoverofCar]

Nowadays...si mi Lang working in a bank also call himself a banker...

[Vulcann]

The reality is young people want fast if not instant gratification.

 

Engineering is not glamorous at all and salaries are lower than other more glamorous jobs. The pitch by IES is just plain bs and will be slammed as evident from the responses to date LOL

 

I am not sure why some bros say initial years very tough for engineers but when they are more senior or older life will be better. That true? I very much doubt it.

 

Unless the bugger went on to manage non-engineering aspects of the business otherwise if he is still involved in technical issues, life will not be better as he is still burdened with legal responsibilities and still fully answerable to the authorities if he is a QP.

 

And it is time to stop gloating those political leaders and business world's who's whos who were once trained as engineers.

 

None of them got to be what they are today while still practice engineering.

 

That's pure hard truth...

[Knoobie]

 

"In reality, engineering is an exciting, promising and greatly rewarding profession."

This is really bull nonsense lah. In reality, you just need to pay better salaries to attract people into the profession. Telling young people that engineering is an exciting, promising and greatly rewarding profession isn't going to entice them to enter the industry.

This is at the end of the day, a bread and butter issue. If the bank pays better and has better working conditions, it does seem sensible to choose a job at the bank rather than at a construction site where there is exposure to quite a lot of danger.

 

on the bright side, if it is as rewarding as banking/finance, we will have a lot of half farked people trying to be in engineering.

[Chowyunfatt]

on the bright side, if it is as rewarding as banking/finance, we will have a lot of half farked people trying to be in engineering.

 

True Story. MNC Oil & Gas, many many Engineers from various countries … Not 1 could drill a hole straight … No kidding …