Singapore Expats

Ya , I am a singaporean from young we are taught must study and study.
to get highest level of education to get success.

even at workplace sometimes I see those people holding a high post with great certs but can;t get the work done.

Many people I see around me just study for the seek of promotion.
I think isn;t study is to learn new things? new knowledge?

but it seem not in here.

I always read up and saw many people in oversea able to success without any degree.

earn alot .

Whereas in singapore here seem like having a great certs even you don;t know how to get things will success too.Seem like is a "MUST" to have degree to go far in singapore?study for the seek of promotion?not for knowledge?

depends.... the answer more often than not is 'yes'.

in some work settings, however,.. getting promoted really comes down to seniority, how well you relate to others., track record, etc

Without knowing your specific circumstance, hard to give you a more solid opinion...

Splatted wrote:depends.... the answer more often than not is 'yes'.

in some work settings, however,.. getting promoted really comes down to seniority, how well you relate to others., track record, etc

Without knowing your specific circumstance, hard to give you a more solid opinion...

I always think of this ...

everyone having a degree...

one company how many senior position are there for you to fit in?

Remember there are still many contenders out there.The company "might" scout from outside instead inner departments.


well is good to continue upgrade yourself but in the same time is it worth it?

The time and of course the Money.

Nowadays is not cheap taking a degree and how long it takes to recover back my investment on that degree?

Another option is to simply expand your CV.

eg offer to help out with extra responsibilities (specifically in the areas you would like to see yourself in the future), that doesn't necessarily translate to more pay for you right now in the intermediate.

when it comes time that a position becomes available, you would have already shown a track record of reliability. Not only in the job itself, but more importantly with being a team player.

Occasionally also, some companies do sponsor further training if a person is suited for a role, but doesn't have the managerial training or whatever. If not, consider investing in yourself.

SGBoyxxx wrote:Ya , I am a singaporean from young we are taught must study and study.
to get highest level of education to get success.

even at workplace sometimes I see those people holding a high post with great certs but can;t get the work done.

Many people I see around me just study for the seek of promotion.
I think isn;t study is to learn new things? new knowledge?

but it seem not in here.

I always read up and saw many people in oversea able to success without any degree.

earn alot .

Whereas in singapore here seem like having a great certs even you don;t know how to get things will success too.Seem like is a "MUST" to have degree to go far in singapore?study for the seek of promotion?not for knowledge?

You need to study. But why not study what you like?
The probability that you won't be successful without degree is very high - it's like an entrance pass, unless you are a genius and know what you are doing.
Want to beat the system? Good luck with that.

In the US you dont really need a degree always especially in IT.
I know of people who were truck drivers for years before they did some courses and Microsoft certifications and became system administrators and database administrators.

But in Asia I guess its degrees are still necessary.

When my old man company board got together to discus entry requirement into their firm, turns out non of the board members had a degree. All got there by working up the ladder.

I often found in Asia its not so much what you know but who you know?

I haven't got a degree, in fact an A'level in music is the highest qualification I've got. Never done me any harm

I've had 2 very interesting discussions with a couple of mates of mine recently

Discussion 1

A mate of mine has been looking to recruit 3 or 4 local engineers, uni grads which a couple years experience, very good salary. He had lots of interest but they all rejected the job offers because the job title didn't include the word "Manager"!

Discussion 2

Last Saturday I was the opening night of a Bar at Resort World. It's own by a couple of mates of mine and they were saying how they were finding it so hard to recruit local bar staff. It got to the point they were offering a monthly salary of $5k but still no local would take up the positions because the job titles didn't include the word "Manager"!!!

Saint wrote:no local would take up the positions because the job titles didn't include the word "Manager"!!!

In other words,.... people are looking to ensure they don't end up in a 'dead-end' job, but instead one that can potentially be a stepping stone to a higher paid managerial job.

It's funny but true, Saint. I remember how I got my first Singaporean friends even before landing here. When I was explaining the kind of job I had accepted, and the conditions, everybody was shocked that I had agreed without knowing which would be my title!

Well, I can understand that is important in a CV, but not a main reason at least for me. My job description and my duties are more important. But here, it's almost everything.

And back to the degree thing, I understand the value, but not the MUST be. I mean, a degree means that you can learn, not that you are good in the work.

Just an example. You need to hire a translator. You can get a guy that just finished Uni with top scores, or a guy without degree that has translated some best-seller books and has 20 years experience. I think the answer is obvious, but not here...

This country doesn't have the highest percentage of myopia in the world for nothing.....

Pick up a skill, something real. Do not mistake academic qualification for skill and/or ability.

Is there something you are really good at sgboy? If not, go pick something up. Having a skill, even one that many people put down puts you ahead of most of them. Just try to make sure it's not in a field of criminality. If so, make sure it really pays!

The most successful (financially speaking) people on the planet are not the ones with the shiniest degrees, what they have is something not taught in schools.

I always thought university and degrees is an opportunity to buy a bit of time for people who do not know what they really want to do.

I have a couple of chums who are full time students. They finish one course on Philosophy, then study history of Art, after that move on to get a doctorate in the mating habits of a the sea cumber. Can these over qualified chums hold a steady job?

people, people. maybe we're missing that having real skills being important is not lost on sgboyxxx. i think his problem is it worth (time and money) getting a degree so that he could get his foot into the door and then be able to use the real skills he acquired?

undoubtedly, most people (and some execs) agree that real-world skills matter. however, most of the time in this country, needed skills to do a job are always equated with certificates and "badges." we all know this is not the case.

nakatago wrote:people, people. maybe we're missing that having real skills being important is not lost on sgboyxxx. i think his problem is it worth (time and money) getting a degree so that he could get his foot into the door and then be able to use the real skills he acquired?

while on that point.... don't bother getting a degree by distance learning... Kind of looked down upon in sg. they're considered as good as having found your degree in a box of cereal.