gradsingapore STEM Career Guide 2022 by GTI Media Asia

STEM

C A R E E R

G U I D E

The complete guide to graduate careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics MCI (P) 072/04/2022

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INTRODUCTION

STEM Career Guide 2022 Featuring insights on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduate jobs, careers advice, as well as emerging industry trends, this comprehensive guide aims to prepare students for their upcoming careers!

INSIDE THIS GUIDE Sector Overview Industries in the STEM Sector............................... 6 Is a Career in STEM for Me?.................................. 8

How to Get Hired

IT and Technology Sector Essentials

Getting a STEM Graduate Job.............................. 12

Top Three Trends That IT and Technology Graduates Should Know ................ 44

Choosing the Right STEM Career and Graduate Employer........................ 14

The Benefits of Working in IT and Technology......................................... 46

Perfect Your STEM Resume................................. 16

Finding Graduate IT and Technology Jobs in SMEs .................................. 48

Cover Letter Tips for the Graduate STEM Specialist................................. 18 Technical Interviews for Graduate STEM Positions.................................. 20 Assessment Centres for Graduate STEM Jobs.................................... 22

Top Five IT and Technology Jobs for Graduates ........................................... 50

Areas of Work Cybersecurity....................................................... 52

Technical Skills Needed in STEM to Seal the Deal................................... 24

Financial Technology (Fintech)............................ 53

Five Soft Skills for STEM....................................... 26

Games Development .......................................... 55

What Else Can I Do with a STEM-Related Degree?................................... 28 Considering a Postgraduate Degree in STEM................................................. 30

Financial Software Development ........................ 54 Hardware Development...................................... 56 IT in Investment Banking..................................... 57 IT in Manufacturing............................................. 58 IT in Retail ........................................................... 59

Science

IT in Telecommunications ................................... 60

Sector Essentials

IT Services ........................................................... 62

Future-Proofing Your Science Career.................. 34

Professional IT Services ...................................... 63

The Benefits of Working in the Science Sector......................................... 36

Technology Consulting ........................................ 64

Areas of Work Environmental Science........................................ 38 Food Technology and Safety................................ 39 Meteorology........................................................ 40 Research Chemistry............................................. 41 Science Writing.................................................... 42

IT Outsourcing..................................................... 61

Web Development and e-Commerce ................. 65

Engineering Sector Essentials Engineering: A Beginner’s Guide......................... 68 Top Three Trends in Engineering for Graduates to Know...................................... 70 Find Great Graduate Jobs in Small Engineering Firms ............................... 72

For tips on how to craft the perfect STEM resume, turn to page 16!

Page 26 details the soft skills you need for your dream STEM job.

What exactly does a meteorologist do? Turn to page 40 to find out!

Areas of Work Aerospace Engineering ....................................... 74 Automotive Engineering ..................................... 75 Chemical Engineering ......................................... 76 Construction Engineering ................................... 77 Control Engineering ............................................ 78 Defence Technology............................................ 79 Electronic Engineering ........................................ 80 Energy (Oil and Gas) ........................................... 81 Energy (Power Generation) ................................ 82 Engineering Consultancy .................................... 83 Engineering Design and Construction................. 84 Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG)............... 85 Food Manufacturing ........................................... 86 Materials and Metals Engineering ...................... 87 Pharmaceutical Engineering ............................... 88

Employers Are you a budding engineer? Page 68 contains all the help you’ll need.

If the idea of working for a large tech company doesn’t make you happy, page 48 will help you in your search for a smaller one.

STEM | SECTOR OVERVIEW

Industries in the STEM Sector An overview of the various industries in the STEM sector.

he world of STEM is diverse. It includes brilliant scientists studying the world and sharing their discoveries, innovative technologists putting their digital skills to use through their latest inventions, analytical engineers making the world move with practical applications and mathematicians using numbers to form life-changing equations. In this guide, we focus on graduate areas of work in STEM to help you find your ideal career and employer.

Science

IT and Technology

Employers

Graduates in the field of science have their pick of employers across a wide range of industries, such as academia, chemical research and even meteorology. An upward trend in environmental science has also resulted in demand for graduates in that area, and the health science sector in Singapore has generated a need for science writers among universities and clinical laboratories.

In IT and technology, employment can be found in a variety of firms ranging from IT giants and tech start-ups, software and hardware makers, as well as data-driven companies. Products and services are both consumerfacing and tailored for business solutions, such as telecommunications and cloud platform services. Furthermore, both multinational corporations (MNCs) and public agencies alike require IT and technology talent to keep up with cybersecurity threats and the ever-changing landscape.

Challenges Keeping up with current trends, new discoveries and updated methodologies will be vital in this highly dynamic sector. As new findings and innovations are made every year, graduates in this field must learn to adapt to new modes of working, and constantly acquire new skills to stay on top of their game. Perks Breaking new ground is common in this industry, and many enter for the rigorous mental stimulation involved. Some roles, such as food safety and meteorology, even allow professionals to play a crucial role in public safety, while chemical research encourages scientists to flex their ingenuity and creativity. Expect competitive benefits, as skills in the sciences will always be in demand due to the need for constant innovation. Many graduates are also expected to pick up highly transferable skills, such as critical thinking and research and analysis.

STEM Career Guide 2022

Challenges Technology evolves constantly, with new products and services regularly rolled out at a fast pace. Moreover, the race for innovation has also brought on cutting-edge competition as people strive for the newest and most innovative discoveries. Additionally, cybersecurity issues, exposure to potentially unknown threats and frequent updates to regulations are also some challenges that technology professionals will need to face. Perks Being surrounded by like-minded, inspired and creative professionals with problem-solving strengths, and embedded in a culture of growth and innovation, will ensure that work is never boring. In addition, with every industry today requiring specific technology specialists, there’s the chance to marry a zeal for technology with other interests, such as healthcare or entertainment. Lastly, technology professionals are in high demand and generally enjoy comfortable compensations for their services, skills and expertise.

STEM | SECTOR OVERVIEW

Engineering

Mathematics

Employers

Employers include industrial manufacturers in key areas such as the energy, infrastructure and medical sectors. On top of that, technology firms, marine engineering firms, oil and gas companies and research institutes hire engineering talents, too. Engineers are also sought by construction companies, environmental NGOs and public agencies in charge of building infrastructure, much like airports and waterworks.

Although many employers are in sectors that deal with risk, statistics and numerical data, there are others in more specialised fields, such as medicine or law. Other sectors not normally associated with a degree in mathematics are available too, such as the gaming and cybersecurity industries. Alternatively, there’s the popular academic option, where graduates can explore and indulge in theoretical mathematical knowledge.

Challenges

Change is the only constant in this ever-changing field, so engineers need to embrace a love for continuous learning and the ability to listen to feedback to thrive. The engineering industry also bears heavy responsibility to real world applications as they’re developed and implemented in this sector. Job transitions are commonplace as well, as the best way an engineer can learn is to plan strategic moves. However, this also means that they have to be highly adaptable to new work environments, and quickly pick up on new skills and technologies. Moreover, engineering as a profession involves large-scale, complex problems that are an entirely different ball game compared to engineering in university, so young engineers need to pick up the skills quickly.

Entry-level professionals may only be assigned to more mundane tasks, such as working with modelling software and spreadsheets as they continue to learn the ropes of the industry. On the other end of the spectrum, the more senior positions tend to come with highly stressful business environments as they rely on mathematicians to analyse data and maintain profit margins, although they do receive generous remunerations in return.

Perks A career in this field is often said to be satisfying, given the intellectual stimulation offered by interesting and unpredictable challenges. Beyond the prestige that comes along with the profession, engineers also get to make the world a better place even as they enjoy financial security for their hard work.

Perks A mathematically-inclined person may enjoy a career deeply involved in analyses and assessments as it makes full use of their skills to solve real-world problems. And although the market may be small and competitive, actuary and risk professionals are often privy to attractive remuneration packages. As numbers are a universal language, having good certifications and advanced numeracy skills can lead to posts abroad, as well as easier transitions to accountancy firms, trading, or other non-actuarial roles in banks.

STEM Career Guide 2022

STEM | SECTOR OVERVIEW

Is a Career in STEM for Me? Fast-growing and financially rewarding, the STEM sector welcomes fresh graduates and young professionals. But how do you know if it’s the right career path for you?

A career in Science Careers in science include physicists, pharmacists, materials scientists, pharmacologists, along with roles in medical research. Fields such as marine biology and environmental science and conservation also come under the umbrella of scientific careers too. However, on top of being well-versed in your area of specialisation, you’ll have to be ambitious, logical and passionate about your chosen field in order to succeed.

A career in Technology Through efficient energy usage, building designs and transportations, technology has helped improve lives by providing conveniences to many. Career paths here include computer programming, systems and database administration, as well as information security. Information technology, on the other hand, delivers value to users from data. Talents will need to be technically skilled with programmes and software, keen to solve problems and able to communicate and work effectively in a team.

A career in Engineering While scientists create theories and focus on concepts, engineers implement science to solve practical problems, look out for new breakthroughs and invent novel ways to do and make things. Fields of engineering include aerospace, biomedical, civil, electrical and even environmental and petroleum, among many others. Other than being educated in their chosen field, successful engineers are strong in mathematics and science, highly analytical and enjoy working in teams.

STEM Career Guide 2022

STEM | SECTOR OVERVIEW

A career in Mathematics Careers in this area include roles in statistics, quantitative finance, operations research and actuarial science. Cryptographers, economists and investment analysts all pursue careers in mathematics too. Valued traits for those looking to enter mathematics include a knack for analysing and interpreting data, skills in critical and logical thinking, as well as abilities in organisation and teamwork to pave the way for collaborative problem-solving.

A quick checklist Are you creative and collaborative? Do you crave hands-on work? Do complex challenges intrigue you? Are you cool with documenting processes for making things? Are you convinced using statistics and data can help you make important decisions? Are you committed to making a difference in the lives of others and the future?

STEM Career Guide 2022

HOW TO GET HIRED The STEM industries are full of exceptional professionals, extraordinary roles and unparalleled opportunities. But how can you enter these unique fields? What’s the best way to get past technical interviews and assessment centres? What skills do employers in these sectors even look out for? There’s no need to worry; we have you covered. Just read on to find out!

STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED

Getting a STEM Graduate Job Organisations in Singapore’s STEM sectors are always on the lookout for talent to boost the innovative economy.

he world needs scientists, technology professionals, engineers and mathematicians, and Singapore’s no different. However, competition’s stiff, with well-known graduate employers attracting plenty of applications, and smalland medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) also gaining traction. But before you kickstart your professional journey, you should have a basic idea of what to expect first! Here are just some of the most typical questions jobseekers might have on their minds.

What are the different areas of work?

How can I get a job with a STEM company?

What qualifications and skills do I need?

STEM graduates are welcome in many areas, ranging from aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, electronic and rail fields, to academia, research and development (R&D). They can even consider going for the telecommunications sector. However, depending on the industry, roles can vary in scale, from the development of nanotechnologies, food additives and electronic devices, to the construction of refineries or solar parks.

Employers greatly value graduates who can contribute a good mix of technical knowledge and commercial awareness. Larger recruiters generally bring newcomers on board through graduate training programmes, which can be competitive. Having previous work experience – whether gained through internships, industrial placements, or part-time jobs with related employers – can help give an edge over other applicants. Smaller firms, on the other hand, tend to hire directly into specific entry-level roles.

While graduates from all disciplines are welcome to apply for more commercial positions, specific roles may require a more relevant degree or certifications. Employers may be selective of the education level of their applicants as well. For instance, while some may be open to recruiting graduates with BEng or MEng degrees, others may only be on the lookout for graduates with a MEng. Graduates may also want to consider pursuing further studies and certifications. Keep in mind that recruiters are usually on the lookout for a variety of soft skills too, including: • Communication skills – written and verbal • Problem-solving ability • Analytical skills • The ability to work in a team • Interpersonal skills • Commercial awareness • An eye for detail • The ability to learn quickly • Flexibility and adaptability • Enthusiasm and motivation

STEM Career Guide 2022

STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED

What other jobs can STEM graduates do? What are the working life and hours like? What does the application process involve? Major firms typically prefer online applications via their careers page or job portals, whereas smaller firms do accept resumes and cover letters via email. Applicants who successfully pass the first round will usually be invited back for a series of interviews, oftentimes both general and technical. Tests – usually numerical, personality or verbal reasoning, among others – and/or assessment centres may also be utilised.

When should I apply? Although many employers have open recruitment cycles where they accept applications until all vacancies have been filled, a number of them do keep annual deadlines, especially if they coordinate regional, or international, graduate programmes. Smaller firms, on the other hand, lean towards hiring graduates directly into specific positions as and when they’re needed, so be sure to monitor online portals, job boards and companies as much as possible.

What training and development opportunities do employers offer? Training and development is a high priority in the STEM sector, with employers typically offering professional courses or graduate schemes. The government also refreshed the Continuing Education and Training (CET) programme in 2014.

It can depend on the field. Some are deskbound, clearing tasks such as calculations and preparing proposals all day, while others either oversee work in a manufacturing facility or construction site, or meet with clients. Depending on the role, graduates may also have a relatively good work-life balance, although extra hours are usually put in whenever deadlines approach. Mobility’s another important aspect of working life, and graduates may find themselves having to travel for client meetings, business trips, or extended placements abroad.

What are the highs and lows?

As many graduates in STEM disciplines are often exposed to a range of transferable skills, such as problem-solving, logical thinking and high-level numeracy skills, they’re very desirable candidates not just in the sector, but the finance, gaming and consultancy industries, too.

Graduates can opt for commercial roles in technical sales, operations management, investment management and logistics fields.

However, another option is to start out in a technical position to gain more experience before moving on to senior management or various business functions in the future.

+ One of the highlights of the industry are the many different careers a graduate can choose from, and which often come with the chance to explore cutting-edge technology as well. Many roles offer intellectually and technically-challenging problems too.

However, on the flip side, depending on the role, graduates may be required to travel often, which can be both exciting and taxing at the same time. The sector’s also beset with strict regulations and standard operating procedures, often leading to tedious paperwork. More than that, work can also get frustrating as projects may be abandoned halfway through due to sudden withdrawal of funds or other reasons.

STEM Career Guide 2022

STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED

Choosing the Right STEM Career and Graduate Employer There are plenty of good employers in Singapore, so how do you choose one? Take some time to think about the sector you want to work in, the career you want to have and the life you want to lead.

etting employed is one thing. Getting satisfactory employment, however, is a whole different ball

game. Most firms present a good mix of specialist and management career opportunities – each of which offers a very different type of career springboard. While this may not necessarily determine your future career pathway, it certainly does influence your professional growth as a graduate. For this reason, it’s important that you put some thought into applying to the right employer and position:

What are your priorities? Do you want to develop your technical knowledge to become an expert in a particular field, or would you prefer to throw yourself into the thick of the action in, for example, a manufacturing plant?

What type of function suits you best? Find out what you’re most comfortable with. Perhaps a customer and product-oriented role in supply chain management aligns with your personality? Or is a strategy planning-related position in project management a better fit for your temperament?

STEM Career Guide 2022

These are only broad guidelines for you to ponder over, however. If you’re still unsure, you may want to try applying to rotational training programmes some companies offer. These are mostly offered by larger organisations, allowing you the opportunity to “sample” a variety of duties across different departments, including commercial and technical ones. Depending on the employer, though, the structure of these courses may or may not be role-specific. Some firms will want their graduate hires to experience the best of both worlds, offering programmes that cross technical and non-technical fields. Others are more particular, sorting applicants out into “streams” upon admission. On the other hand, smaller businesses prefer recruiting directly into specific roles, so make sure you know what you’re aiming for if you want to apply to such firms.

Choosing your working environment Start by considering whether you’re better suited for a fast-paced or researchbased working environment. Factories and manufacturing plants tend to be more exciting, requiring a lot of immediate attention and action. Inversely, R&D and design departments provide more chances for you to work with technology, but tend to be less speedy. If you prefer to spend most of your working hours outdoors, look at positions that require you to travel and perform your duties out of the office, such as in construction or oil extraction. If you’re the opposite of both, consider other fields,

such as design engineering or statistics, which are mainly office-based. The working environment may also affect the type of opportunities and projects offered. Larger corporations with structured training schemes will usually let you participate in big international projects, supported by a good network. Smaller organisations, in contrast, are more selective with their projects, usually going for specialised niches. On top of that, less manpower at such firms means that you’ll be given more early responsibilities, which, in turn, can translate to faster growth and more experience. While this may mean that the learning curve has the potential to be quite steep, you may achieve early acknowledgement if you can pick things up fast enough!

What are you prepared to do? Before you decide on who you want to work for, think about how far you’re willing to go for your work – both literally and metaphorically. Consider these: Are you prepared to move around the region for work, or travel overseas on secondments and long-term project assignments even during this climate? How long will you be willing to do so? Or are you more comfortable being rooted in the office, where you can build positive working relationships with your team members?

STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED

Oil and gas professionals, for instance, are usually required to be particularly mobile, and they can often be found travelling offshore to oil rigs and refineries. Process controllers, on the other hand, may find themselves tied to a specific manufacturing plant, monitoring its operational efficiency day in and day out. Moreover, think about the hours that you’re willing to clock in as well; it’s not uncommon for meteorologists to have to do shift work, while those involved in maintenance sometimes pull unusual hours. If keeping ordinary working hours from 9-to-5 is a priority, then perhaps other specialisations, much like science work in a laboratory, may be better for you.

Make the match Don’t neglect the culture fit between yourself and your prospective employer! See if you can request a tour around the workplace during the interview process to get a feel for the company culture or the kind of work that inspired you to apply to this employer in the first place. If you have the chance, try to speak with current employees or any connections that you may have within the company to get some insights. You can also use this time to observe your potential colleagues. More often than not, if you’re comfortable talking to them from the get-go, you’ll be able to work well with them if you do get hired.

Obtaining additional professional qualifications Another area of concern you may want to keep in mind is the educational support you can get from your employer. Are you aiming to become professionally qualified as a chartered engineer? What about further studies? Many recruiters do provide such support and opportunities. Be sure to clarify, however, as some employers may only be willing to support your education to a certain level. In addition, be sure to ask about alternative training opportunities – both internal and external – and other forms of sponsorship that can benefit you or help you with your career progression.

STEM Career Guide 2022

STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED

Perfect Your STEM Resume Write the ideal resume to hook recruiters at first glance.

resume should be no more than two sheets of A4-sized paper, but what information should you include? How can you fit all the information you need into a single document? Remember that the main purpose of a resume is to not only market yourself, but to show recruiters that you’ll be a great fit for the job role. In other words, a well-written resume is key to landing an interview with prospective employers. Make a positive first impression by crafting an effective resume with our tips and the following sample.

The golden rules

Tailor your resume to each employer. Keep a master copy on hand, but tweak it accordingly for each application.

Ensure your resume is easy to read – choose a clear font in a reasonable size (such as Calibri, font size 11), word your headings clearly, and consider using bullet points to break up text.

Use a skills-focused or chronological format for your resume, depending on what sells you best.

Resumes commonly follow the reverse-chronological format, which focuses primarily on work history and education. If you follow this approach, make sure the chronology is clear and there are no major time gaps to confuse or worry employers.

STEM Career Guide 2022

Resumes often follow the chronological format, and are particularly useful if you’ve held a couple of positions in the past. This format is best for highlighting work experience and lessons learned.

A skills-focused resume, on the other hand, is useful if you’re applying for a highly-specialised role that requires a specific skill set. It’s also a good format to follow if you have very little prior experience.

Do graduate resumes need personal statements? Many students start with brief personal statements that outline their abilities and aspirations. It’s also advisable for graduates to include a short profile in their resumes that quickly summarise their motivations for applying to the position and why they would be a good fit for the company. Be specific and keep it relevant to the position in question. For instance, it’s a waste of space to put down: “Student with great teamwork skills seeks challenging job”. Instead, it’s far better to state: “Finalyear mechanical engineering student with particular interest in mathematics seeking graduate role in the defence industry”.

Educational history – how much details do companies want? Your educational history from your university years should include your predicted or actual degree class, information on group projects and your dissertation, any modules relevant to the job and related academic awards. Keep in mind that employers don’t need to know the specifics of modules that don’t pertain to them, so be sure to check over which modules to include and those you can safely leave out.

What experience should I include in my resume? Many employers look very favourably on achievements and experiences outside of STEM. These can be a real boost if you haven’t been able to secure any STEMrelated work experience – and can give you an extra edge. Examples worth mentioning include fundraising, voluntary work, or taking a leading role in a university society. You can also mention part-time work or summer jobs, but don’t go into detail. Instead, summarise your achievements and any transferable skills developed that’ll be useful in your career.

STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED

Crafting an effective resume Here’s a sample of a resume detailing the information you should include in order to convince recruiters that you’re the right candidate for the job.

Jeremy Wong Email: jeremy_wong@gmail.com

Give contact details at which recruiters can easily get hold of you. Ensure your email address sounds professional.

Include university modules that are relevant to the job instead of listing them all.

Devote plenty of space to relevant work experience, highlighting what you achieved and how it benefitted the company.

Where relevant, summarise what you learned from an experience.

Include part-time jobs, emphasising transferable skills obtained, but devote less space to these and more to relevant experience.

Many employers will be interested in your IT skills, but do not exaggerate your abilities.

Mobile: 8765 8903

EDUCATION 2019 – Present Singapore University, Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, Honours • Relevant modules: Circuits and systems; signals and communications; microwave systems and circuits. • Final year project on auto intensity control of street lights. WORK EXPERIENCE 2021 (July to September) Future Electronics Singapore, Intern • Actively sourced for potential Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) suppliers of key components in the Southeast Asian region. • Identified more cost-effective alternatives to key components used in company products. Theoretically reduced production costs by 5% as a result. • Communicated directly with senior management during the sourcing process, and submitted reports of findings to them. 2020 (June to August) Research Assistant, Fibre Optics Lab, Singapore University • Assisted in research on power fibre laser systems and their practical industrial applications. • Set up, maintained and catalogued equipment used in research experiments. • Coded programme to filter and analyse gathered data, in order to assist with interpretation of research findings. VOLUNTARY WORK 2020 (June to September) Volunteer Vocational Trainer, Craft a Change Organisation • Volunteered as a trainer for a robotics vocational programme for underprivileged teenagers. • Taught a class of 26 teenagers. Successfully designed and taught programmes such as building and programming a pet bird robot and a race car. • The experience taught me the value of patience and good communication. It also gave me a lot of satisfaction knowing I imparted knowledge to underprivileged individuals who may use these skills to potentially better their future. FURTHER EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE 2017-2019 Customer Service Assistant, Tesco (part-time) • Duties included working on the checkout counter and at the customer service desk. • Helped develop my commercial awareness and interpersonal skills. ADDITIONAL IT SKILLS • Able to programme in C# and Java. • Proficient in Microsoft Office applications. REFERENCES

Including references on your resume is optional. If you cannot fit them in, write “References available upon request”.

Dr Edwin Wong Senior Lecturer Faculty of Engineering, Singapore University

Mr Thomas Kumar Operations Manager, Future Electronics Singapore

Tel: 9085 6721 Email: edwin.wong@su.edu.sg

Tel: 9983 7832

Email: kumar.thomas@future-e.com

STEM Career Guide 2022

STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED

Cover Letter Tips for the Graduate STEM Specialist Convince employers that you’re the right person for the job with an attractive cover letter.

any STEM graduates have a fairly wide range of career options open to them, and are highly sought-after for their numerical skills and problem-solving abilities outside the STEM sectors. Within it, however, there are a wide range of fields they can choose from. Your cover letter, therefore, is a chance to convince your prospective employer that you want to work in the industry, for their specific organisation, and in the job role advertised. Here are some tips on how you can successfully sell yourself to recruiters with a cover letter.

Research matters! The trick is to have a clear idea as to what the company does and what the job entails. From there, draw out evidence of your own skills, interests and experience that relate to this. At the same time, keep in mind that flattery such as “I am applying to you because you are a vibrant, international company that is a market leader in the automotive industry” won’t get you anywhere. A far better approach, however, is to: Clearly state your career aim Specify what attracts you to the employer. For instance, you could mention a couple of projects that the company was involved in that piqued your interest Mention a work placement, project, or module you enjoyed that relates to the position you’re gunning for Showing an understanding of the organisation in your cover letter will illustrate that you’ve done your research. Additionally, pick out key bits that fit in with your application and connect them to yourself.

STEM Career Guide 2022

Accuracy and professionalism Careers in the STEM industries demand not just professionalism, but accuracy too, whether for communicating effectively with clients, suppliers and nontechnical colleagues, or even ensuring that calculations are correct. Make sure your use of written English in your cover letter reassures recruiters that you have these qualities. If writing isn’t your strong suit, refresh your knowledge of punctuation and grammar before you begin, and run draft copies of your cover letter through trusted friends or career advisers.

STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED

What an ideal cover letter should include

Dear Ms Jones, I am writing to apply for the Graduate Water Treatment Engineer vacancy (ref A123) advertised on gradsingapore.com. I graduated earlier this year with a BEng in Chemical Engineering from Singapore University. I am seeking my first role in the water industry, and enclosed is my resume for your consideration. I am interested in the Graduate Water Treatment Engineer role at XYZ Water Consulting as I wish to apply my knowledge of the waste management industry, as well as my understanding of chemical processes and biotechnology developed during my undergraduate degree. I wish to join a consultancy as I particularly enjoy working on projects that provide a clear business benefit and am keen to work with clients and stakeholders. To that end, during a three-month placement with BioChem, I produced a report outlining how the organisation could reduce the waste from its processes by 30%. In addition, on a sixmonth industrial placement with Western Electric, I produced a report on how by-products could be harnessed to create more energy, which is now being implemented. I have also completed an optional “Waste Management in Business” course in Singapore University, learning about business skills and functions, and have strong customer service skills developed through working as a Customer Service Assistant. I also have a basic understanding of InfoWorks CS, strong programming ability in C# and Java and good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel. I am available for an immediate start, and am also able to attend an interview at any time. Yours sincerely,

Address the recipient by his or her title and surname. If these are not stated in the job ad, get in touch and ask. Never use “Sir or Madam” or “To whom it may concern”.

State clearly which position you are applying for. If the job ad specifies a reference number, include it. Very briefly mention your qualifications for this position.

Mention why you are applying to this specific position. Focus briefly on why you would be the right choice for the role, and that you have taken time to understand the company. Link the job requirements to your skills.

A cover letter is a chance to add clarity and detail to certain points on your resume. If you have achieved something specific in your work placements, highlight your relevant achievements here.

If you have additional, specific skills that are relevant to the job, mention them briefly as well.

Benjamin Low State your availability for an interview, as well as when you can start work.

Sign off professionally. “Yours sincerely” is always a safe bet.

STEM Career Guide 2022

STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED

Technical Interviews for Graduate STEM Positions With the right preparation, you can feel confident enough to talk technical in job interviews and land your coveted dream STEM job.

mployers want to assess your technical abilities, so they have to draw out your experience and knowledge to see how well you match the role and how easily you can get your head around unfamiliar scenarios. On top of that, graduates applying for STEMrelated positions should expect some competency-based questions to ensure their experience and background is as stated on their resume. The most likely technical assessment is a technical interview, but you may also face: • A short test • A presentation • Some technical questions within a more general interview • A technical exercise, such as a case study group exercise at an assessment centre

STEM Career Guide 2022

STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED

What forms do technical interviews take? It depends on the employer, but recruiters typically test your technical competence and basic understanding of principles. They’ll also gauge how well you can explain technical concepts that you are familiar with – in front of an audience who aren’t. Technical interviews usually begin in familiar territory, starting with modules and projects in your curriculum that you found interesting or relate directly to the organisation’s work before moving on. Preparation is essential, so be sure to do the following: • Brush up on your basic knowledge, particularly on subjects that tie in with the recruiter’s line of business, as you may be tested on this • Get insights into the employer’s activities and take note of any issues that may be of concern to the industry • Find out what sort of work the organisation does. From there, you’ll be able to anticipate the kind of questions related to the firm’s work you may be asked. For instance, an employer that constructs oil and gas facilities may ask you about steel structures, so you may have to refresh your general knowledge about steel

It’s not about getting the right answers! In many ways, technical interviews focus on how you can communicate technical ideas and information rather than whether you know everything or not. As such, it’s perfectly all right to ask for further clarification if you need it. If you need a sketch or diagram to help you explain something, don’t be afraid to ask for a piece of paper as well. Real-world projects rarely present textbook problems, so your future employer will want to see how you approach and address issues.

Can you recover if you get stumped? Don’t let it faze you. Pause, perhaps ask the interviewers some questions of your own, and try to work things out. If you don’t know the answer, honesty’s the best policy. Recruiters don’t always expect candidates to know the answers to all the questions, especially when they’re not meant to test technical knowledge, but rather the ability to think on your feet. Don’t try to guess or make things up. Rather, it’s better to own up if you’re unsure about something.

Can you ask your own questions during a technical interview? If approached the right way, a technical interview can be a valuable experience, allowing you to learn more about the employer, as well as the other way around. Most interviewers are happy for candidates to ask questions about how the company works and have a two-way conversation. If you’re lucky enough to receive more than one job offer, this may even help you decide on which one to accept. Being proactive and asking questions will also make a good impression on recruiters – it shows that you’re thinking seriously about whether you’re suited for the role or not.

More top tips for technical interviews • Avoid jargon and acronyms • When talking about your experience and achievements, focus on your personal contributions • Listen to the questions properly before diving into your answer

STEM Career Guide 2022

STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED

Assessment Centres for Graduate STEM Jobs Elements such as group activities, presentations and tests are a mainstay of assessment centres. Find out what you should expect.

any major recruiters use assessment centres as part of the selection process for their graduate schemes. The content varies from company to company, but there are numerous common elements. For instance, many assessment centres are designed around a corporation’s core competencies, so they usually focus on the skills most needed from graduate hires. Having technical competencies is obviously important, but having the right soft skills will really make the difference. After all, there’s really no point in designing a brilliant new product or system if you can’t communicate the concept to colleagues, convince them of its potential value, or adapt your ideas in light of practical or commercial considerations.

Typical activities at assessment centres Common tasks at assessment centres generally include the following: • Interviews: There may be technical interviews, competency-based interviews, or both. • Group activities: These often involve discussing and making decisions around a given business issue in small group. • Giving a small presentation: Some recruiters give applicants the topic for the assessment centre presentation in advance so they have a chance to prepare, much like discussing a technical project they may have previously been involved with, for example. Others give candidates their topic on the day itself. This often relates to the employer’s business and may involve candidates doing fact-finding or decision-making before presenting their conclusions. • Tests: These can include psychometric tests in reasoning or numeracy. Other tests include personality questionnaires and quizzes to check if the candidate understands the basic principles of the area in which the firm works.

STEM Career Guide 2022

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The social side of assessment centres On top of formal exercises, most assessment centres include opportunities to chat to recruiters or current employees. Use the chance to learn more about the business, keeping in mind that their opinion of you is important. Genuine enthusiasm, interest in the company and good manners will take you far!

Dealing with assessment centre nerves Remember that recruiters will be marking you against their selection criteria, and not by pitting you against the other candidates. As such, keep the employer’s criteria in mind throughout the session instead of thinking of other applicants. It’s not a competition! No matter how nervous you may be, keep in mind that to succeed at an assessment centre, you need to participate fully. You may have great technical skills, but if the assessors don’t see or hear anything from you, they can’t assess you. If you have something to say that could have an important effect on the outcome of the group exercise, it’s important to get your point across – but make sure to do so without being overbearing or rude. One key advantage of assessment centres is that you have the opportunity to demonstrate your skills in a variety of situations. Rather than being judged on your performance in one interview by a single interviewer, you’ll be observed in various situations by multiple recruiters and professionals, providing a much more accurate picture. It’s also a chance for you to find out about the organisation – so just relax and be yourself!

STEM Career Guide 2022

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Technical Skills Needed in STEM to Seal the Deal Soft skills are just as important as technical skills when it comes to getting a job.

hile different employers prioritise different competencies depending on their organisation’s vision, values and culture, there are several common soft skills, or transferable skills, that they look for in graduate candidates. Here are eight typical soft skills that are highly valued by employers, and how recruiters assess applicants to find out if they possess these skills.

Communication skills

What is it? Communication skills include both written and verbal abilities, as well as interpersonal skills. In your working life, you’ll have to deal with different people of varying levels and backgrounds. Sometimes, you’ll even have to deal with people of diverse nationalities based in other countries, across various time zones. As such, it’s important for you to adapt your style of communication when necessary.

Leadership potential

What is it? Assessors for many graduate schemes will be interested in whether you have an aptitude for leadership. It’s important to be able to identify vital facts and communicate these clearly, concisely and enthusiastically to a team. Being organised and aware of time constraints while remaining courteous and respectful in stressful situations are also important leadership qualities.

How you’ll be assessed Group exercises may be a key tool for assessing your leadership potential, but this doesn’t mean that you should try to take charge of your group from start to finish. A pushy candidate forcefully taking the lead will be viewed negatively, hurting your chances at the job role. However, it’s still important to speak out when you have something productive to say, or challenge a view that you think is incorrect.

How you’ll be assessed In group tasks, you may find that other candidates have been given dissimilar information from you, and that you need to negotiate and decide among yourselves which aspects are most important. Recruiters are impressed by hopefuls who appreciate and respect each other while still getting the task done. Apart from ensuring that everyone is able to speak up, candidates will also be assessed on how they handle disagreements and conflicts among each other.

STEM Career Guide 2022

Able to work in a team

What is it? Working in a team makes up a huge part of working life, so recruiters look for applicants who realise that they can achieve more as part of a team, rather than as individuals, and focus on working towards common goals.

How you’ll be assessed Employers value graduates who actively participate, are open, honest, respectful and are willing to support others. For instance, behaviour such as listening to what others have to say, building other candidates’ confidence, and encouraging quieter teammates will be noted.

Problem-solving skills

What is it? At its core, it’s about finding innovative solutions to challenges the company’s facing.

How you’ll be assessed At assessment centres, you may be given a task involving a lot of information, so it’s wise to note down what you think are the most important points in a fashion that works for you, perhaps in a chart or flow diagram. Remember, your notes may be collected and analysed afterwards by the assessors. This can count in your favour if you’re on the right track, but unable to get your points across to other team members. In an interview, you may also be asked to think of an example of a problem you solved, describe how you tackled it, what the outcome was and what you took from the experience.

STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED

Planning skills

What is it? At work, you may have to plan your own day-to-day tasks and those of others, as well as organise long-term projects. How good are you at breaking down tasks, monitoring progress and making contingency plans? Do you typically take the lead in planning and organising how to progress with group work or social events?

How you’ll be assessed You may be asked in an interview about how you planned a project or event – for example, a university activity, sporting event, academic assignment or personal project – and look at what you did right, and what you learnt from it. The leadership and problem-solving behaviours you show in group tasks, such as considering who’ll be responsible for what, are also relevant here.

Adaptability and flexibility

What is it? Some positions may expect you to be flexible geographically, especially if the job requires you to travel and work in new environments. Even if a job requires less travel, employers will still keep an eye out for a flexible mindset keen to deal with and adopt new methods and processes. Having the open mind to doing new things and a willingness to take on tasks or roles that may not have their structure mapped out are other traits employers keep an eye out for.

How you’ll be assessed Doing your homework when you apply will help. In group exercises, assessors may throw in challenges to see how you adapt. For example, they may wait until the task is well under way before saying that the customer has changed their mind about what they want.

Motivation and enthusiasm

What is it? Having enthusiasm is important when it comes to your work with others. You need to believe in yourself to be able to sell it to others, after all. Additionally, having that positive attitude will make it easier for recruiters to view you favourably.

How you’ll be assessed

An ability to build relationships

What is it? Professionals must be able to understand and build relationships with their customers, suppliers, teams, managers and other key stakeholders. It’s often not possible to choose who you work with, so you need to be able to assess others’ behaviour and adapt to them accordingly.

How you’ll be assessed Again, recruiters will observe how you interact with other hopefuls in group exercises, and may ask you relevant questions in interviews. For instance, they may ask you to give an example of a time you dealt with a difficult person.

Recruiters will be keen to identify genuine enthusiasm and preparedness. Help yourself by doing your homework on the organisations you’re applying to. Ask yourself these questions: what do they do? Where are they located? Are the roles on offer really what you want? In group exercises, showing enthusiasm can help bring the team together and lead it forward. In interviews, make sure you mention projects, roles or interests you are particularly passionate about, even if they’re not directly related to the position.

STEM Career Guide 2022

STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED

Five Soft Skills for STEM While the STEM sector places an emphasis on technical skills, you still need valuable soft skills to succeed in the industry.

s a graduate fresh out of university still riding on the unique high of convocation, you may have found an innate tendency to rely solely on your academic skills. However, keep in mind that recruiters are looking out for more than just paper qualifications. When it comes to standing out from your peers, you’ll have to depend on your soft skills to succeed in the long run. On top of that, these soft skills will be incredibly vital once you start work. Most areas of work in STEM necessitate multiple teams across different disciplines, and making complex analyses may even require working in a large group. In other words, cooperation within a team is one of the deciding factors of a project’s success – or its failure. That said, here are five soft skills you need in the STEM sector.

An ability to work in a team

Many positions in the STEM sector involve team-based work, and this is why most employers will specify, at some point or another, that they’re looking for candidates who can work well in teams. Effective skills in teamwork means knowing how to operate smoothly and efficiently with others as a collective group. This will call upon your capacity of being a team player – or even a team leader – and requires good communication and social skills, as well as the ability to compromise and negotiate in a professional manner. Still, all this talk about teamwork doesn’t mean that you should forgo your individualism in your applications! Do your best to strike a balance between your individuality and your aptitude for teamwork during your applications and interviews.

STEM Career Guide 2022

Interpersonal skills

The ability to communicate effectively, accurately and clearly with clients and colleagues alike is a vital skill to have in the professional sphere. As such, having solid interpersonal skills and being a good communicator means that you can deliver a message in a conspicuous and efficient manner. These skills are especially important in some consultancy roles as expert technical information may need to be conveyed in non-specialist language, and many research-based jobs in the sector will also have you presenting findings and papers to a crowd with minimal jargon. However, communication is a twoway street, and a big part of it is being an active listener. Try to process questions fully before responding to them in order to not only avoid miscommunication, but also to ensure that your answers are thoughtful and address any concerns or uncertainties. If you feel like you’re unclear with anything, there’s nothing wrong with asking them to repeat the question (although try not to overdo it). Interpersonal skills include non-verbal communication too. Take note of your body language and remember to have good etiquette at work; stand up, greet and exchange handshakes with others, especially if it’s your first time meeting them.

STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED

Adaptability

Being adaptable is essential in today’s world, given how quickly industries are changing thanks to rapid developments in technology. In STEM, change may come in the form of a new instrument that revolutionises laboratory work; advances in methodologies that result in modified work protocol; or even access to big data, transforming the way information is used in research. Adaptability also means being quick to adjust to new and challenging situations, and employers greatly value graduates who’re able to familiarise themselves with new environments swiftly. Be receptive to new ideas and working with diverse groups of people as well, and keep pace with developments by putting in the effort to pick up new skills or programmes. In addition, challenge yourself by pushing the limits of your comfort zone by working in unfamiliar environments. Most importantly, never forget to showcase examples of your adaptability in interviews to prospective employers in order to give them a glimpse into how you’ll adjust to changes in the future.

Problem-solving and critical thinking skills

Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities may not be some criteria employers explicitly state in job descriptions, but it’s something they keep an eagle eye out for in all applicants. Candidates with problem-solving skills generally have superior analytical and logical thought processes, along with the capacity to think out of the box to find solutions to issues they encounter. Most critical thinkers also tend to exhibit level-headedness and resilience as they handle stressful situations by remaining objective to assess the problem, consider solutions and possible outcomes and then take action in a decisive manner.

Emotional intelligence

No matter how bright you may be, you can’t get anything done well if you don’t know how to get along with your colleagues! This is why recruiters look out for emotional intelligence in graduate applicants. Emotional intelligence is all about your ability to perceive and evaluate other people’s emotions, and to assess and control your own under a variety of circumstances. In a workplace environment, this includes being empathetic, managing stress well, being aware of the impact of your words and actions and being understanding and accommodating in a professional capacity. Even if your job has you working in a lab or cubicle all day, employers need to be assured that they’re not hiring someone who doesn’t know how to deal with others, or – even worse – someone who’s abrasive and disruptive. The important thing is to keep cool and remain professional and objective no matter how much stress you may be under.

STEM Career Guide 2022

STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED

What Else Can I Do with a STEM-Related Degree? Having a STEM-related degree background doesn’t mean your opportunities are limited to the relevant industries forever. In reality, your degree actually opens doors to other sectors.

ust because your degree is related to STEM doesn’t mean that you have to be stuck in such a role forever! The best thing about these degrees is that it equips you with skills – in logical thinking, problem-solving and numeracy – that are technical enough for a specialised sector, yet general enough to be transferable to other areas of work. Many companies even have positions where STEM graduates can combine their existing technical skills with commercial, financial and management opportunities. Here are some alternative career options.

Logistics

Operations management

Procurement, purchasing, and buying

Whenever something has to be moved from one place to another – whether it’s the transport of raw materials to a manufacturing facility or distribution of retail products to consumers – it falls under the purview of logistics. You’ll be responsible for everything that’s related to the process: the planning and financial costs, processing and tracking orders, liaising with other departments, and so on. Two of your main concerns will be expenses and deadlines, so your job will include balancing quality service and timely delivery while minimising costs. Some of the skills needed include:

Operations management bridges the manufacturing and business sides of a company, linking them to form an efficient supply chain. As a result, work in this area is very diverse; you can be involved in nearly everything – from the purchasing of raw materials, to the delivery of a complete product to a customer. Because roles in this area are primarily occupied with planning and implementing strategies to increase productivity and reduce costs, these notable attributes are required in this type of work: • Analytical skills to deduce necessary information from compiled data

Procurement is all about scouting for, and purchasing, equipment, parts and materials for projects at the right price and quality. You’ll have to prepare a list of suppliers and quotations to select from; check on the quality, prices and schedules; and liaise with transporters and logisticians to ship purchases to the right place at the right time. Engineers tend to be well-suited for this job because of their familiarity with specific parts, equipment and materials, which means that they can help with quality control. However, this doesn’t mean that graduates in other areas of STEM aren’t! Here are other qualities that you’ll need for this line of work:

• Problem-solving and logical thinking skills to tackle urgent lastminute problems

• Critical thinking skills to solve problems that may have a huge impact on a process

• Meticulousness and accuracy in your calculations and handling of the purchases

• Cost-benefit analysis to consider the impact of your choices on the business as a whole

• The ability to see the overall picture and final objectives even as you focus on improving specific areas

• The ability to work under pressure and think fast because you may have to contend with tight deadlines and last-minute problems

• Good interpersonal skills – being clear and precise when managing colleagues and customers will be crucial, especially when you need to be firm with them

STEM Career Guide 2022

• Good communication and negotiation skills to bargain with vendors • Good technical understanding of the process that you’re purchasing for. You’ll need to accurately gauge timescales and the impact of any changes you make

STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED

Supply chain management

Supply chain management manages raw materials, production lines, manufacturing processes and logistics to maintain a steady supply of products to customers on top of ensuring that nothing is delivered late or lost. To succeed, you’ll have to strike a balance between providing good customer service and minimising costs. You’ll also need to understand the functions of other teams, as well as their individual roles, to improve processes and act as a liaison between different parts of the operation. Many STEM graduates branch out to this particular field because of its focus on quantitative skills, and their backgrounds help with picking up the necessary technical knowledge. This can, in turn, lead to better business decisions. Pay attention to these skills: • Analytical and investigative skills to seek out new opportunities and strategies that may boost profits

Technical consulting

Technical consulting offers broader business-oriented opportunities, and usually involves using mathematical and computational theories to troubleshoot problems that impact the profitability of a business. Graduates with STEMrelated degrees are sought-after after in this field for their technical knowledge. Newcomers typically start off in this line of work with researchbased duties, but eventually move up into performing data analysis and statistical modelling to help clients solve commercial problems. Other skills that’ll help you in this area are: • An eye for detail, superior logical reasoning and keen problemsolving skills. You’ll be dealing with tremendously large volumes of data, also known as big data • Excellent interpersonal skills for presenting technical information and analyses to audiences from non-technical backgrounds

Technical sales

A branch of sales that focuses on selling highly technical products or solutions to specialised clients, you’ll need to persuade clients that your organisation’s expertise and products can meet their requirements. This requires a solid understanding of both their business and their needs. A solid background in STEM is essential – you’ll need to understand clients’ technical issues and challenges, as well as how your firm and products can help them address those problems. Other skills that you may need as a successful technical salesperson include: • A disciplined nature. This will help you remain level-headed in a sales environment, especially when under duress • Good communication and listening skills, as well as an eye for detail. You’ll need to absorb and interpret information on a regular basis, and having good speaking skills will be useful when persuading customers and clients alike • Self-motivation and a positive nature will make you more approachable, and will also help with generating new business opportunities

• Specialist knowledge to advise others on the implementation of specialised technology or equipment

• Effective interpersonal skills, as you’ll be working with people from a variety of backgrounds – from business managers to line technicians

STEM Career Guide 2022

STEM | HOW TO GET HIRED

Considering a Postgraduate Degree in STEM Completing postgraduate studies can open up a plethora of new opportunities, but what are some of the things that you have to consider before making your decision?

hile a postgraduate degree doesn’t automatically lead to employment opportunities, it has the potential to greatly impact your career direction. It’s highly advisable, however, to spend some time gaining experience in your field of choice before pursuing a postgrad, so that you’ll know for certain which area to specialise in over your course of study. In addition, years of dedication to an employer might also lead to some form of support from the company. Here’s a brief outline of some of the certifications that STEM students may consider for their postgraduate studies, whether locally or overseas.

Master’s courses Most master’s courses typically take no more than a year for a full-time student, so this will give you the allowance you need to specialise in a specific area of interest. There are many types of courses available, and include options such as Master of Science (MSc), Master of Research (MRes), and Master of Philosophy (MPhil). Each degree provides you with in-depth knowledge of a specific subject, but also has very different course structures. For instance, MSc is course-based and may sometimes require the submission of a short dissertation. On the other hand, MRes and MPhil are usually research-oriented. These two degrees are better suited for you if you’re planning to continue with a doctorate, as they will help you build a foundation in research skills. Working adults may opt for part-time courses instead, although they may take up to two or three years to complete as a trade-off. However, if you already hold a job, you may want to speak to your employer before applying for your course of choice to gauge the level of support they can provide you with – for example, allowing you to adopt a more flexible schedule to accommodate both work and school, or any form of financial backing.

STEM Career Guide 2022

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Doctorate courses While all can pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), engineering graduates have the option of looking at a Doctor of Engineering (EngD) as well, and each caters to different needs. A PhD is the highest degree in STEM, and usually takes about three to four years to complete. Because there’s much intensive coursework, it also involves a lot of ground-breaking inquiries, and generally results in dissertations and academic publications. Because of this, though, it’s typically recommended for those drawn to a career in academia. You’ll primarily be guided by a supervisor as you conduct your research, although there’ll also be plenty of opportunities to work alongside other PhD students and researchers, too. While some may opt to do a purely academic PhD, many others incorporate industry-related training from an industry partner for a more practical and hands-on experience instead. On top of that, depending on university requirements, you may have to commit at least three months to working on the industry partner’s premises. An EngD course, on the other hand, usually focuses on researching contemporary industrial issues in the sector, and finding solutions to them. This can take up to four years to complete. While EngD students are required to go for external courses on specialist technical and professional development subjects related to the area of research, onsite industrial training will take up nearly 75 per cent of their time. Those who have graduated with an EngD also typically go on to become highly-specialised experts in their own fields, and guide others interested in their areas of expertise in turn.

Funding In Singapore, there are scholarships offered by universities, government bodies and companies to help postgraduate students. However, you’ll need to communicate with the respective departments for more information. For instance, the NUS Graduate School offers the Commonwealth Scholarship for Integrative Sciences and Engineering for students from any of the Commonwealth countries, whereas A*STAR has the National Science Scholarship and various collaborations with international universities around the globe. You may also want to keep an eye out for international scholarships offered by various third-party funding organisations.

Location Opting to study locally or at your alma mater is a good idea given that you’ll be familiar with the culture and staff in the university, and may also get special waivers or access to additional sources of funds. But don’t completely reject the idea of furthering your studies in a different institution, or even country, too!

STEM Career Guide 2022

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SCIENCE Graduates looking to enter the sciences will be in for intriguing and unique careers, with opportunities to impact lives with products like new additives and toothpaste, or maintain public health and safety with weather prediction. Before entering this exceptional industry, flip through the coming pages for some words of advice!

Discover the one-of-a-kind opportunities the science sector can offer STEM graduates.

Sector Essentials Future-Proofing Your Career............................... 34 The Benefits of Working in the Science Sector ........................................ 36 Areas of Work Environmental Science ....................................... 38 Food Technology and Safety................................ 39 Meteorology ....................................................... 40 Research Chemistry ............................................ 41 Science Writing ................................................... 42

SCIENCE | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

Future-Proofing Your Science Career Remain relevant in this era of automation and great change.

ith Industry 4.0 bringing about a paradigm shift in business and industry, the future of work in the sciences looks unsettlingly uncertain. But while it may be hard to tell what lies ahead for science graduates, fear not. Here are some tips to help you make the most of the opportunities that come your way!

Always keep learning More than ever before, it’s crucial to pick up a technical skill or two to give your resume an edge. Do some research to figure out which skills are sought in your field of choice, or simply go with your passion and take the first class that catches your eye. Think of these extra skills as new additions to your toolbox – although your job might not call for them on a daily basis, you may come across a few scenarios where they can come in handy. More than that, some acquired skills are universal. For instance, soft skills that make you a better employee and team player can be acquired from joining a club or society, or from taking on a part-time job. Don’t forget to make the most out of university presentations and use them as practice as well; there’s bound to be a time where you have to speak to a crowd for work. And with how rapidly things are changing in our time, adaptability is a key skill to have, and it’s one you can pick up by stepping out of your comfort zone and doing things you find to be challenging. These skills won’t only help you from the beginning to the end of the recruitment process, but will also see you through your career as they’re considered essential life skills too.

Conduct your own market research Naming your salary and negotiating it right may help you land you your dream position. Start by doing research to find out how much you should demand in monetary benefits, and then move on to find out how much you need to live comfortably. It’s also a good idea to provide a salary range before opening negotiations, though. At the same time, you must be sure that you aren’t demanding an unreasonably high salary as it may put off some employers. Take some time to read up on what other companies are offering for similar roles as well, and take stock of your own experience. This way, you can be sure that you’re asking for just enough.

Consider up-and-coming careers It would be wise to turn your attention to roles that’ll experience demand in time to come, rather than what’s currently successful. It’s also strategic to look at jobs that’ll be less affected by automation. Here are a few key areas that’ll be promising in the future: • Healthcare • Food technology • Data science

STEM Career Guide 2022

SCIENCE | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

Know what employers look for Recruiters are always looking for motivated employees; they want candidates who are genuinely interested in the job and in working for them. Before you even apply, you should look into the company to give yourself an idea of what they do and how you can fit in. If you’re invited for an interview, talk about what you read of them and ask relevant questions – it shows that you’ve done your research and that you’re a person who puts thought into their work. Employers love candidates who have some work experience and, as such, tend to prefer hiring their own interns for entrylevel positions.

6 Be open to advice Seek advice from everyone you know in your field, and absorb all the information you can. Hear what they have to say as everyone has some insights into the industry, regardless of seniority or whether or not their occupation’s one you’re interested in. They all have something valuable, and that’s their experience. Heed someone more seasoned and take their advice on how to be a better employee; listen to someone who’s still green about their newbie days. Even talking to someone who works in HR or sales can give you an idea of what other candidates are like or how the market is currently doing.

5 Hone your interview skills There are many articles in this guide specially geared to prepare you for interviews. Head over to the “How to Get Hired” section where you can read up on how to successfully navigate technical interviews and assessments in the STEM sector.

STEM Career Guide 2022

SCIENCE | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

The Benefits of Working in the Science Sector A career in the sciences that puts you at the very forefront of innovation.

dvancements in the science industry have made a crucial impact on everyday life, from the discovery of LEDs, which brought life to mobile devices, to the development of newer, more effective medicines. This was all made possible by the tenuous efforts of researchers in the sector. In the same vein, the sciences have always stood out from industries for the benefits it offers, so read on to find out why!

STEM Career Guide 2022

SCIENCE | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

Job security While demand for staff in certain fields, such as tourism, investment and real estate, often see peaks and troughs depending on market performance, the science sector offers a rare oasis of stability and security. For instance, although the effects of economic downturns and major recessions can still be felt, employment typically remains steady.

Monetary remuneration Benefits for professionals in the scientific R&D part of the industry are abundant, and one such perk is the pay, considered among the highest in the professional world. That’s not the only area where competitive salaries are also to be looked forward to; R&D in the pharmaceutical arena is another area, especially as the field expands and continues to observe a high demand for talents. In Singapore, you could even expect to earn up to $110,000 annually as a research scientist. On top of that, researchers with knowledge of machine learning are particularly in high demand as the industry evolves and incorporates the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in R&D.

Making a difference For many professionals, the ability to contribute towards research in significant areas of life gives them purpose. While the remuneration packages are attractive to some, the fulfilment gained from knowing that they’re doing important work with a real impact on people is what drives most of them. Finding gratification in a full-time role is often an overlooked aspect of getting a good job. Although it may seem like it’s an unattainable and abstract component of a position, if your passion lies in the sciences, follow it, and you might just find the best career for you!

Career advancement opportunities The sciences have always offered good career progression, regardless of experience. In fact, with some fields becoming more of a corporate endeavour these days, professionals may find that their experiences and areas of expertise can help them in career tracks outside of the laboratory, should they wish to expand their horizons. I n ad d itio n , w ith so m any opportunities within the same organisation, employers often take the initiative to offer training to maintain a high staff retention rate.

Continuous learning In this sector, nothing is stagnant, and everything develops at a fast pace. Methodologies and common practices can advance in time periods as short as a year or two, causing snowball effects that reverberate through the whole field; innovations in machine learning frequently alter the way data is used; and new instruments routinely transform the way scientists work. As a result, science professionals often find themselves picking up new skills and programmes regularly. Furthermore, in some arenas, it has led to a highly collaborative environment, so if you’re always keen to master something new – and learning from others is an enjoyable affair – you’ll fit into this industry well.

STEM Career Guide 2022

SCIENCE | AREAS OF WORK

Environmental Science Professionals in this industry ensure businesses are environmentally sustainable.

l l p ro fe s s i o n a l s i n t h e environmental science sector work towards the broad goal of achieving environmental sustainability by taking on different roles across numerous industries. They may be responsible for any number of tasks, including writing research papers, studying the environmental impacts of human activity, drafting programmes to reduce emissions, acting as public relations liaisons, collecting samples and enforcing regulations on emissions.

Career overview Environmental consultants and managers are in demand in diverse sectors, and advise businesses on ways to reduce their environmental repercussions, as well as develop and oversee impact reduction strategies. In a nutshell, their primary purpose is to ensure that companies comply with the current legislation and act as a liaison with regulatory agencies. Large corporations committed to being eco-friendly often hire environmental officers to conduct eco-office audits, as well as run workshops and training for their employees. Private consultancy firms are also often hired to conduct thirdparty Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on projects where manufacturing factories need to monitor and reduce emissions and waste.

STEM Career Guide 2022

Outside of the private sector, the government employs environmental officers to monitor and enforce regulations to ensure a healthy environment for all, and they’re typically responsible for conducting inspections, collecting samples, writing reports and ensuring that regulations are followed. There are also a number of research institutions that conduct independent studies on the climate, monitor the environment and propose new programmes and policies that protect the environment. Graduate hopefuls looking to work in this industry will soon face the reality that some duties can be similar to that of a scientist’s work, such as going to the field, collecting samples, analysing them and interpreting the data to determine if there has been excess emissions or waste, contamination or pollution. From there, they may have to produce a report or present their findings, and come up with a plan to mitigate the environmental impact.

Trends and developments Employment in this sector grows at a faster rate than average compared to other industries, largely due to increased public awareness about climate change and other major environmental issues in recent years. In addition, the political landscape is also now more receptive to climate change, along with what needs to be done to improve on it.

Career highlight Meaningful work The work done by environmental science professionals greatly impacts the health of the surrounding environment, and professionals, regardless of their sectors and positions, all take immense pride in playing a key role in ensuring that emissions and waste are kept to safe and to environmentally-sustainable standards.

Required skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills • Collaborative skills • Critical thinking and problemsolving skills • Keen observation skills

SCIENCE | AREAS OF WORK

Food Technology and Safety Food technologists and safety managers ensure food and beverage (F&B) products pass quality, health and safety checks before they reach the shelves.

acked by good growth projection, the ultimate objectives for food technologists in Singapore’s multibillion-dollar F&B service industry is to maintain strict hygiene and food safety guidelines to ensure consumer safety, while also optimising food processes.

Career overview Tasks assigned to food technologists vary according to the product they’re working on, as well as their location. In the office, the responsibilities of a food technologist include sampling products, going through packaging designs, following up on customer complaints and more. Some may also have to visit suppliers to review products and examine specifications to ensure food safety standards are met, or even inspect freezers. Most graduates either join companies through graduate schemes or start out with entry-level roles such as an “assistant technologist” or “trainee technologist”. During the course of a graduate scheme, hopefuls are more likely to learn about products in retail stores, and get to know the operations involved, too. Exposure in retail stores is aimed to give newcomers hands-on experience

that may lead to product development. Working upwards will eventually land graduates at product management, or with opportunities for advancement into senior technologist roles or managerial positions. Although those who wish to become food technologists will need a degree in relevant subject such as microbiology, chemistry, food science or technology, or chemical engineering, those with work experience in the food production line, or who have worked as technicians, tend to stand out and have a better chance of securing a position.

Trends and developments Singapore’s strategic location and flourishing innovation scene have shaken up the industry in recent years despite limited land mass and small agricultural output, and has contributed to steady growth. Coupled with more discerning shoppers, a rising demand for healthier food options, a skilled workforce and solid R&D capabilities, the food technology industry’s set to remain on its upward course.

Career highlight Impact of work The biggest reward for food technologists and safety managers is knowing that they’ve made a real difference in ensuring that the F&B products on the shelves of retail stores and supermarkets are of high quality and safe to eat.

Required skills

• An eye for detail • Adaptability (this industry often requires working in different environments) • Ability to work in a team • Problem-solving skills • Analytical skills

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SCIENCE | AREAS OF WORK

Meteorology Apply scientific techniques to study and understand the weather to make forecasts and predict upcoming events.

ost of us are acquainted with the part of a meteorologist’s job that entails sharing the weather forecast during the evening news. However, this is only one element of their role – in fact, meteorologists also predict weather conditions for marine and aeronautical use, which is crucial in keeping people safe. Previously, weather predictions were made based on past weather patterns until it was discovered that it was possible to make more accurate predictions by applying physics and using special instruments such as hygrometers and barometers. Computers are also used to make complex calculations which model the weather to help meteorologists with forecasting. Nevertheless, some meteorologists choose to go into R&D, with their work involving climate modelling or other atmospheric data instead.

Career overview Training is provided on-the-job for operational meteorologists, although a bachelor’s degree in a field such as physics, mathematics, meteorology or geosciences is a requirement. Being good with computer software is highly advantageous as well, as meteorologists work with supercomputers and sophisticated software. Additionally, as the job requires a lot of report-writing, being good at written communication is beneficial.

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Graduates can find employment with the National Environment Agency (NEA), the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), as well as a few other research institutions in the country. Networking and speculative applications are also recommended as vacancies may not always be advertised.

Trends and developments Although meteorology is a relatively small industry, employment in this sector has been growing at a fast rate. This international trend is rooted in a budding demand for meteorological services in the private sector as logistics firms and businesses sometimes rely on specialised weather information to plan inventory shipments. Demand for meteorologists is also expected to grow alongside the green energy sector as forecasting weather conditions is beneficial to solar and wind power farms for power management.

Career highlight A unique career This interesting sector offers on-thejob training, alongside other unique opportunities, much like interaction with members of the public – who may call to ask about the weather. Occasional collaborations with engineers and other meteorologists, to work on instruments and exchange data respectively, can also be looked forward to.

Required skills

• Analytical skills • Passion for the job • Collaborative skills • Solid written communication skills • Strong interpersonal skills • Good at mathematics • Adept with computers

SCIENCE | AREAS OF WORK

Research Chemistry Conduct research into chemical compounds used in a wide range of products such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, F&B and even electronics.

y studying chemical compounds and discovering ways to improve various products which range from consumables and medicine to microchips that go into electronics, research chemists are indispensable to the product manufacturing process.

Career overview Primarily based in laboratories and part of a team of researchers who carry out a myriad range of tasks such as setting up lab equipment, researching papers and conducting tests and experiments, research chemists also record and analyse data – though associates often present results to a senior before writing reports or other documentation. For example, research chemists in the F&B industry may look into new flavourings or food additives that can extend the shelf life of food while maintaining safety requirements, while those in the pharmaceutical industry develop and test new drugs. As for materials chemists, they may study the physical properties of materials and conduct research into improving them.

A chemistry-based degree is needed to work in this industry, and postgraduate degrees offer an advantage for promotion to more senior positions. In addition, research chemists have to keep abreast of new research methodologies and equipment to ensure research isn’t only current, but also incorporates emerging developments in the industry. Graduate hires typically start out as research associates, and career advancement usually includes either working upwards to becoming a senior researcher, or taking on positions with more of a managerial bent.

Trends and developments With the environmental impact of waste triggering increasing concern, the industry has been shifting towards green chemistry and eco-friendly practices in order to reduce harmful emissions and waste. This has resulted in a rise in demand for applicable knowledge of green chemistry in certain industries.

Career highlights Innovation Research chemists are at the forefront of innovation, and make great contributions to society by improving materials or creating new compounds. Work satisfaction Most research chemists appreciate the satisfaction of seeing their findings add to something larger than themselves, and often cite knowing that their work has the potential of being a significant inclusion to industries or people’s lives as a strong motivator.

Required skills

• Innovative • Scientific and analytical skills • Methodical about work • An eye for detail • Strong written communication skills • IT skills

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SCIENCE | AREAS OF WORK

Science Writing Research, write and edit articles related to science for various publications.

science writer’s main role is to communicate potentially complex science and technology concepts to readers in a clear and concise manner. Typically found in academia or the media industry, versatility is a must, as writers are usually tasked to work with professionals, students, or even the general public, and an ability to adapt to different writing styles is a boon.

Career overview As writing is a skill that can only be developed through practice, many science writers tend to get their start by gathering experience in general writing, such as journalism and copywriting, before moving into the field. Others, though, come from a more science-related role. Both avenues provide great insights into the editorial process, the way in which science-related subjects should be communicated, and the type of news important to professionals in the science industries. However, holding a degree in a science is usually a requirement. While it’s essential to have a strong grasp on the fundamentals of science, science writing is similar to any other writing job, and graduates will also be responsible for conducting research on the subject, fact-checking articles, providing background on the subject for context and writing the piece.

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Employment can be found in publications, journals and even science faculties in universities and clinical research laboratories. Be that as it may, it should be noted that while science writers in universities create content aimed at engaging students on websites and social media pages, those working in clinical laboratories communicate test analysis results in a way that’s easy for the general public to digest, as well as write papers of publishable quality for academic journals. If presentation materials are needed, writers may be involved in the creation process as well.

Trends and developments With technology continuing to move at a breakneck pace, there are many scientific publications and businesses on an upward path – such as biomedical or manufacturing companies – that need writers who’re not knowledgeable about the science behind new products or advances, and also skilled at copywriting. Moreover, as more universities look to maintain a more active social media presence, demand for social medialiterate writers able to create content for various platforms is going up.

Career highlights Working with cutting-edge innovation Being a science writer often translates to being one of the first to learn and understand about new breakthroughs in science, before introducing them to the world. A unique career Science writing effectively straddles two worlds, combining scientific knowledge and writing skills in order to make science accessible to the average reader by translating complex scientific discoveries into simple language.

Required skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills • Strong knowledge and curiosity about the sciences • Critical thinking skills • Research skills • An ability to explain complex ideas simply • Solid interpersonal skills

IT AND TECHNOLOGY Revolving around the research, development and distribution of all technologically-based products and services, roles in this sector are usually involved IT services, hardware manufacturing, software creation and even games development. One of the fastest-evolving sectors in the world, this field has many advantages graduates can take note of, and benefit from. Read on to find out what perks and areas of work there are.

Sector Essentials Top Three Trends that IT and Technology Graduates Should Know................. 44 The Benefits of Working in IT and Technology............................................. 46 Finding Graduate IT and Technology Jobs in SMEs .................................. 48 Top Five IT and Technology Jobs for Graduates ........................................... 50 Areas of Work Cybersecurity....................................................... 52 Financial Technology (Fintech)............................ 53 Financial Software Development ........................ 54 Games Development .......................................... 55 Hardware Development ..................................... 56 IT in Investment Banking .................................... 57 IT in Manufacturing ............................................ 58 IT in Retail ........................................................... 59 IT in Telecommunications ................................... 60 IT Outsourcing .................................................... 61 IT Services ........................................................... 62 Professional IT Services....................................... 63 Technology Consulting ........................................ 64 Web Development and e-Commerce.................. 65

IT AND TECHNOLOGY | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

Top Three Trends that IT and Technology Graduates Should Know Singapore is presently focused on the development and pervasive adoption of digital and smart technologies.

Trend #1

Trend #2

Cloud computing

What this means for graduates

Big data

According to Alibaba Cloud 2021, Singapore has become one of the top adopters of cloud computing in Southeast Asia, with almost nine in 10 tech decision-makers indicating their companies are already using cloudbased services. Furthermore, Alibaba Cloud’s Cloud in Asia 2020 survey found that seven in 10 companies felt that a hybrid cloud approach was instrumental in their company’s recovery following the lockdown and subsequent recession. In other words, this means that the industry can expect more intense competition, more consolidation among cloud service providers, and lower prices for small business and enterprise users. With cloud computing seen as an integral cog in Singapore’s Smart Nation plan, it’ll continue to be a central component in a majority of organisations in the coming years.

Since most jobs in the cloud have simply been taken up by employees already working in IT and technology, there hasn’t really been a huge demand for people with a cloud skill set. In addition, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have adopted cloud computing no longer need internal IT departments, as most systems come with after sales services, making companies less reliant on their own departments to maintain and fix issues. Still, this is the age of digital innovation, hence demand for graduates specialising in cloud computing is high. However, keep in mind that most roles require a profound knowledge of specific technologies, such as Open Stack or Amazon Web Services. Cloudcomputing candidates should also be adept in several programming languages and frameworks, such as Python and Java. Because it’s almost impossible to learn them all, it’s fine to focus on a couple of popular skills, such as Amazon Web Services, for instance, as it’ll likely continue to be a major cloud player over the next few years. But keep in mind that with how dynamic the industry can be, it’s possible that new entrants might cause shifts in dominances within the cloud scene.

Over the past few years, it’s evident that data has become the new oil of the digital economy – and it’s not hard to see why. By mining their millions of users’ data and utilising them to gain advertising revenues, companies like Facebook and Google have found themselves dominating the digital sphere as a result. They track the news clicked, any searches made and even how long cursors hover in a particular section of a webpage. Considering Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page and Sergey Brin are now billionaires, big data’s a lucrative business if a firm knows how to make full use of it. But it’s not just about getting advertising money. With today’s digital culture generating massive amounts of data, companies also use it to gain insights into customer behaviour, learn more about their workforce, improve decision-making and drive growth.

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IT AND TECHNOLOGY | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

Trend #3

What this means for graduates More companies are delving into big data, even SMEs. In 2017, the Singapore government set aside $80m under the SMEs Go Digital Programme to help local businesses with more advanced needs – such as data analytics and AI. In tandem with the government’s support, demand for such major datacentric roles have witnessed a sharp spike in the small country over the past few years, and will likely continue to increase together with wages for positions like data scientists and data analysts. However, the focus on big data isn’t uniform across all sectors, with telecommunications, IT development, life science and banking services employing most data specialists. Candidates keen on specialising in big data typically have backgrounds in computer science or mathematics. Despite that, though, it takes more than just skills in tracking and gathering large amounts of data; companies need their employees to have the business acumen to connect data with actions that will boost operations and profitability.

Cybersecurity

What this means for graduates

When Singapore went into lockdown in 2020 and remote working became the norm, the rate of cyberattacks quickly rose. As a new study by Barracuda reported, 51 per cent of businesses in Singapore said that they experienced at least one cybersecurity incident or data breach during the lockdown. This highlights the urgency of cybersecurity measures as enterprises rush to adapt to the new normal, and the number of cyberattacks are predicted to rise as more organisations move online to better facilitate new working models. Still, these cybersecurity incidents are only the latest in a long string of cases that occurred in Singapore over the years, with the most well-known a cyberattack in early 2017 that caused the personal details of about 850 national servicemen and Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) personnel to be leaked. But alarmingly, even though 41 per cent of SMEs implemented digitisation initiatives to drive revenue in 2020, the high costs of cybersecurity mean that 48 per cent of companies in the city-state still don’t have up-to-date cybersecurity solutions or strategies, leaving them vulnerable to future attacks. Although the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) launched the Safer Cyberspace Masterplan 2020 to close the gap by offering SMEs free cyber health screenings, many opportunities in the sector can still be found as demand for cybersecurity specialists remains high. Moreover, the government is pumping more than S$16m into the country’s cybersecurity R&D to strengthen the sector.

The government’s investments in this area mean that there’s a strong focus on the recruitment and training of skilled individuals who’re looking to pursue cybersecurity as a career option, especially within the public sector. MINDEF, for example, has introduced a short-term contract scheme whereby they train full-time national servicemen who have an aptitude for cybersecurity to be cyber defenders in the regular service. And with the law of supply and demand at work, IT and technology graduates, who start in the cybersecurity field, generally receive a starting salary that is 10 to 15 per cent higher than their peers from other faculties, according to IT security firm CyberArk. For those looking to take up a cybersecurity-focused role, look out for the following key phrases in the job description: penetration testing, malware testing, threat intelligence, security monitoring, security risk and security compliance.

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IT AND TECHNOLOGY | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

The Benefits of Working in IT and Technology A career in this sector offers much more than just a high salary.

ingapore’s IT and technology sector, which includes the infocommunications and software and hardware industry, is crucial in her transformation to a Smart Nation, and has led to a rise in the demand for talent in the area. However, pitted against “polished” and “prestigious” sectors like banking, accounting and finance, what are some of the benefits that IT and tech can offer?

Everybody needs IT and tech As businesses – both big and small – continue to integrate IT functions into their operations and automate services with technology, service providers are no longer the sole graduate recruiters. Many companies are now hiring IT and technology personnel to meet their needs, as it can be more prudent to have in-house experts instead of constantly having to outsource for even the smallest services. Depending on the size and requirements of the firm, its in-house team can range from having only one or two employees, to more than 100 professionals. For instance, finance and banking organisations are some of the largest graduate employers today as they need to maintain and secure their IT and technological infrastructure at all times. Employers from sectors such as defence, security and aerospace may need even more. Start-ups and e-commerce have also opened up a lot of new opportunities and roles, particularly in the mobile commerce space.

Constant innovation and exciting work Technology constantly evolves at an impressive pace, prompting new innovations nearly every other week or month. For example, the retail sector has been redefined through technology within a short decade, branching out from brick-and-mortar stores to include online commerce – and now mobile e-commerce. The financial sector has also benefited from cloud computing, digital currencies such as bitcoin, and a variety of other technological inventions. Logistics, telecommunications and manufacturing are all seeing improvements as well. Many experts cite the ongoing advancements and changes as factors that contribute to the exciting nature of their jobs as it gives them a varied career and plenty of learning opportunities.

Good monetary benefits The pay scale for IT and tech recruits can be rewarding, with surveys in 2019 showing fresh IT and tech graduates taking home approximately $43,000 per annum. This figure can increase depending on roles and responsibilities. Remuneration can increase quite significantly as you climb the corporate ladder, such as a promotion to the role of a consultant or manager. Past working experience and range of technical expertise can also greatly influence how much your pay scale rises, so be sure to start stacking up on skills in university.

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IT AND TECHNOLOGY | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

Great growth opportunities Employers in this industry are known to be extremely generous in providing training, opening up a wealth of growth opportunities and a range of interesting career paths for graduates. Even newcomers can make use of the training provided to specialise in a particular area before moving up to another role, or to switch specialisations to gain wider exposure. For instance, an IT analyst can take up training and professional certifications to become an IT manager or consultant, or even consult with his or her superior to switch over to cybersecurity.

Recession-proof Certain roles within the IT industry are considered recession-proof, such as those in cybersecurity. With cybercrime on an upward trend, IT graduates specialising in cybersecurity are constantly in demand. Software design, development and networking and systems administration are another two areas that graduates may want to consider. All organisations will need specialists to help in the design and maintenance of their communication systems, including information-sharing infrastructure and websites. Consulting is another area that’s expected to weather economic hardships well, thanks to functions that combine technical knowledge and commercial awareness. Consultants can utilise their business acumen to study fiscal drawbacks that afflict the firm, and apply technical knowledge to advise companies on the software that best suits their needs. Further duties include software installation and follow-up services such as staff training.

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IT AND TECHNOLOGY | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

Finding Graduate IT and Technology Jobs in SMEs Although there’s a certain allure to working in big companies, SMEs can still offer graduates plenty of opportunities and benefits.

GRADUATES WANTED!

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IT AND TECHNOLOGY | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

hile Singapore’s open economy makes it an attractive hub for MNCs, it has been found that many newcomers, including IT and technology graduates, are more likely to start their careers with SMEs rather than a large organisation. So don’t neglect SMEs when embarking on your job hunt, as these companies can offer plenty of growth opportunities, too.

Why SMEs? Because many IT and technology graduates set their sights on big tech companies such as Google or Facebook, and dream of rubbing shoulders with renowned names, the plentiful career benefits startups and middle-sized corporations can offer are frequently overlooked. SMEs typically have 200 employees or less, which makes it easier to foster a close-knit work environment with colleagues. There’s also the possibility of having a higher level of autonomy and early responsibility. Although the learning curve can be steep, it can also be a silver lining as that and the numerous opportunities to tackle crossdepartmental tasks will also help you pick up crucial skills at a faster pace and provide you with a well-rounded work experience. It may also be easier for your efforts to get recognised in a smaller company, as opposed to a larger one, which will lead to greater job satisfaction and motivation. Managers and directors usually have a higher level of involvement with the day-to-day running of the business too, giving you access and the chance to tap into their vast experience and expertise. Many IT and tech graduates have also noted that SMEs offer a greater degree of flexibility in the workplace as compared to large companies, and can offer benefits such as flexible work arrangements.

Track down smaller companies IT and technology SMEs don’t always put up hiring notices for various reasons, including high advertising fees, which translates into you needing to know exactly where to look. Here are some options to start you off: • Career centres: Often, your school’s career centre will have partnerships with IT and tech companies, and will be able to connect you with someone within the company. • Specialist IT job boards: Many university career services centres also provide students with specialised job listings, saving them from the trouble of trawling through a whole pool of unrelated jobs. Some online portals also offer such services. • Start-up meet ups: Attend start-up meet ups to gain more insights into their work culture, as well as approach company representatives to find out if they have any possible job or internship openings. • Networking: Speak to everyone about your job search – family, friends, lecturers and tutors, mentors and even course mates. You never know who’ll be able to link you up with a potential job opening!

Apply speculatively Many IT and tech graduates typically enter SMEs through speculative applications as smaller companies often prefer to hire through wordof-mouth. However, the onus will be on you to conduct your own research and pinpoint the skills the employer needs before writing up your resume and cover letter accordingly. Highlight any relevant skills and experience in your application to get a better hit rate, and always make sure to follow up with a call a few days later to check on the status of your application.

Training and progress Training programmes in SMEs tend to be more informal and less structured than those in large corporations. Instead of having an official graduate programme, training is mostly done on-the-job, though you can request for additional training as and when necessary. Many companies are quite willing to provide the required training if it can be justified. Additionally, if you show initiative in your work, you’ll be able to enjoy relatively quick job progression. Be proactive in mapping out your career advancement plan and decide on the skills required for your own personal development. Ensure that the skills you develop are useful across a range of roles or business functions. This will give you the flexibility to switch into new roles and gain enough experience to progress quickly.

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IT AND TECHNOLOGY | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

Top Five IT and Technology Jobs for Graduates Did you know that network engineers are also known as network designers? Don’t worry if you didn’t – we’ve described and defined five job titles for you!

onstantly growing and changing, the IT and technology sector has long cemented its place as a secure industry. Not only have new roles been created, some existing ones have also been rebranded with new names. Unfortunately, this also means that there may be times where these unstandardised job titles don’t leave much to the imagination about what they entail, which can be quite the hurdle for fresh graduates looking for jobs. For example, imagine that you applied for a position as a software architect thinking that it’s a novel job, only to find that you’ll actually be working as a software developer – just under a new name. So, we’ve described and defined some of the more common titles that you might encounter while job-hunting, as well as the aliases they might go by.

Software developer Also known as: Application programmer, software architect, software engineer, systems developer

Software developers are the creative force behind the designing, programming and testing of computer programmes. These range from operating systems, database systems and embedded systems, to bespoke systems that meet a particular need. Although work is primarily focused on software systems, knowing how hardware functions and its software compatibility is also essential, as software developers are expected to be able to write a programme from the ground up.

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Graduates will require a background in computing, software development, or other related qualifications. With such highly complex and technical work, you’ll need to be meticulous as well. Moreover, having solid communication skills is a must, since you’ll also be expected to work closely with clients and colleagues (typically system analysts) as you assess systems and propose solutions.

Systems analyst

moves at a fast pace, curiosity and a willingness to learn about new technologies is a must. Additionally, you’ll need basic knowledge of programming languages and hardware, though skills in coding aren’t necessary. As the job scope is close to that of a business analyst, some companies combine the roles to create the business systems analyst role.

Also known as: Systems developer, systems engineer, solutions specialist

Systems analysts can be described as the IT equivalent of auditors – they look into clients’ existing IT systems and evaluate if the hardware and software used are suitable for the company’s unique needs. If these systems are outdated or are no longer effective, it’s their job to propose solutions, whether by designing new keyhole IT solutions, or modifying and enhancing existing systems with new features/improvements. As systems analysis often includes an assessment of the cost and time needed to implement a project, successful systems analysts typically have a good mix of commercial and technical knowledge to propose feasible and relevant IT solutions. As such, work usually involves interacting with clients throughout the development process, so good communication and interpersonal skills are vital. If you want to pursue a career as a systems analyst, you should have the technical skills needed to work on computers – and enjoy it. As technology

Network engineer Also known as: Hardware engineer, network administrator, network designer, network support, network support engineer

Network engineers have a broad range of responsibilities. These involve the installing, setting up, administering, maintaining, troubleshooting and upgrading of systems and network infrastructure, ranging from firewalls and servers, to routers, LAN switches and even backup systems. They also maintain virtual private networks (VPN), and look into network connectivity problems. They can also be found in areas like network protection and disaster recovery strategies. Another area they’re active in is the maintenance and troubleshooting of storage networks. Work is demanding, so you’ll need a good grasp of technical knowledge. To this end, employers usually only take in graduates with telecommunications

IT AND TECHNOLOGY | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

or computer science-related degrees. However, as you progress in your role, you’ll be expected to pick up specialist technical certifications, and keep up-todate with new technologies.

While a technology-related degree isn’t compulsory, you’ll be expected to keep up with new technologies and techniques, as well as take courses to keep your knowledge fresh.

Technical consultant

Web developer

Also known as: IT consultant, information specialist

Also known as: Web designer, UX designer, multimedia programmer

Technical consultants must have broad technical knowledge and understanding of the whole technical product cycle, from inception to implementation and maintenance. After all, they can be involved in analysing client hardware, software and network, all the way to advising them on how they can improve their IT infrastructure to drive business and overcome obstacles, and even implementing plans to do so. That said, a consultant’s level of involvement is dependent on the client’s preferences. For instance, a client may only want their consultant to assess their existing IT infrastructure, or procure a contract with a company to upgrade their software. Other times, clients may want them to plan and execute the entire process, from designing and developing systems, all the way to implementing it and taking care of after-sales support and upgrading. As such, you’ll need a mixed bag of skills, qualifications and competencies. For example, you’ll need to quickly understand client needs and come up with practical solutions that are both financially viable to the company, and implementable within a feasible timeline.

typically involves specialist knowledge as it involves a lot of programming on the back-end, a good sense of creativity is vital when designing the website’s user interface. Soft skills like interpersonal and communication skills are crucial as well, as web developers need to liaise with clients to help them realise their website. An ability to work efficiently and within occasionally tight timelines is a boon as well.

As the name suggests, web developers use programming languages and technologies to design, create and maintain an organisation’s website. This includes ensuring the website design and layout is appealing to customers and userfriendly, and making sure the website’s performing well and up to capacity. There are three types of web developers – back-end web developers are the creators of the website’s structure who write and verify the code. On the other hand, the front-end maintains the user interface, from physical layouts of pages to adding graphics, and may use JavaScript or HTML to aid in the website’s effectiveness. Lastly, full-stack developers do the work of both types of web developers. They are the ones with the knowledge needed to build and maintain a complete website. However, take note that web developers aren’t webmasters – they manage the website, ensuring that applications and links on the pages work properly, along with updating content. Aspiring web developers need to earn a degree in computer science, as a strong understanding of coding and programming is essential. Although work

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IT AND TECHNOLOGY | AREAS OF WORK

cybersecurity A global increase in the number of cyberattacks has led to a growing demand for specialists.

ith companies and organisations becoming more and more reliant on IT and technology for transactions and communications, cybersecurity has grown to become a key concern. For this reason, specialists – who work to safeguard all systems connected to the Internet, including software, hardware and data, from cyberattacks, and aim to limit risk and protect assets through developing a range of technologies, processes and operations – are in great demand.

Career overview Job opportunities tend to fall under one of the following three roles in this sector: • Consulting: This involves providing clients with risk assessments before advising and counselling them on the various strategies that can help keep their businesses safe from harm • Engineering: Builders of the community, security engineers are responsible for planning and building IT systems strong enough to withstand any cyber threats • Operations: The “guards” of the system, operational security experts monitor the systems for any signs of threat While specialists are usually hired by firms that render their services to other companies, some organisations, such as banks and online-based businesses, do invest in their own in-house cybersecurity teams.

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Depending on the area of work, there are very different work styles. For instance, consulting and engineering work tends to be project or client-based, and can last between 12 to 24 months. Work is done in teams of varying size, and graduates often find themselves guided by mentors. The operational security side, however, can anticipate a steeper learning curve, especially if a talent for investigative work is shown. Work can be found at security operations centres, where constant surveillance over systems is run for clients. Digital forensics is an alternative. Here, infected machines or systems are examined; or penetration testing is conducted, running simulated attacks on systems to check susceptibilities. Work in this area tends to be more client-facing than other areas, however. For career progression, graduates are encouraged to invest in professional certifications or related courses.

Singapore has also taken a hard stance on cyberattacks, connecting incidents to loss of not just reputation, but also money, data theft and fraud. To that end, in 2019, the Government Bug Bounty Programme (BBP) was introduced with the goal of pinpointing vulnerabilities in selected systems. This initiative was quickly followed by the Vulnerability Disclosure Programme (VDP).

Pros and cons A dynamic industry Life in this sector is hardly ever dull; graduates have the chance to work with a variety of clients ranging from government bodies to commercial businesses. Irregular working hours Keeping one step ahead of cyber criminals can be difficult, and because problems and threats can pop up at any time, extra hours may be needed in times of emergency.

Trends and developments Where resources were traditionally concentrated on guarding vital system components and other parts were left open to less dangerous risks, the changing nature of cyberattacks have prompted a new, more proactive approach. Thus, with viruses and phishing attempts on the rise, and valuable data at stake, large and small organisations have begun changing their stance.

Required skills

• An eye for detail • Critical thinking skills • Problem-solving skills • Trustworthiness (discretion is tantamount to ensure client confidentiality)

IT AND TECHNOLOGY | AREAS OF WORK

Financial Technology (Fintech) Enhance the efficiency of financial services in banks and insurance firms with technological innovations.

he growth of financial technology, also known as fintech, has led to a time of innovation in financial services and in turn, has opened many employment opportunities in the industry.

Career overview Graduates keen on entering this field can look forward to working with technologies that are aimed at automating parts of the banking sector, and also programmed to lend support to functions such as handling data management, interactions and transactions between financial firms and their partners and clients. Employers generally come in the forms of established financial institutions, technology firms and start-ups, and typically falling under one of these categories: • P ro d u c t p rov i d e rs : T h ey ’re organisations that offer financial products, such as retail and online banks, investment management companies, as well as insurance and actuarial firms. They may also include other less conventional corporations that provide financial services and products • Service providers: These refer to companies that work hand-in-hand with product providers to offer advisory and other forms of assistance. Financial advisors, actuarial firms and other business consultancy organisations can be found in this category

• Technology providers: These range from technology “partners” to product and service providers that cater to their software and technology service needs Work for IT personnel, at times referred to as IT engineers, usually revolves around a few functions: • Application development: Where engineers develop applications and software to improve an organisation’s facilities • Infrastructure: Personnel build and maintain components – both hardware and software – required to host a firm’s programmes • Support: Engineers assist users and handle troubleshooting when required; compared to the other two roles, this area involves more client-facing responsibilities

Trends and developments Fintech in ASEAN markets has greatly benefitted from the Covid-19 pandemic. Digital banks have taken off, with three countries – namely Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines – now notably offering licences. Present banking players and non-fintech giants have entered the ring, and though the race is currently far from over, the winners will be able to exert significant influence over the region. Closer to home, according to the Singapore Fintech Report 2021, the small country maintained its fintech momentum, riding on the tailcoats of

fintech initiative, new regulations and new digital banks. Fintech investment even reached US$36m in 2020, making up 6.2 per cent of the total raised in Asia!

Pros and cons Work satisfaction Many IT personnel find satisfaction in being able to serve the finance community both on a national and global scale by contributing to more efficient banking experiences. Irregular working hours While a work-life balance is guaranteed most days, every now and then, engineers may be required to stay back after regular working hours for systems or network maintenance.

Required skills

• Passionate about technology and financial services • Aware of the latest trends in both the technology and financial services industries • An eye for detail • Good interpersonal skills • Problem-solving skills • Integrity and credibility

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IT AND TECHNOLOGY | AREAS OF WORK

Financial Software Development Software developers are crucial to the development of IT infrastructure in the finance industry.

hile not wholly dependent on them, financial organisations still rely heavily on their IT systems alongside a variety of software to provide their customers with smooth and efficient service. From data analysis to planning investments and trading activities, analysts, asset managers and traders trust in either customised or offthe-rack software to help them make informed decisions. Having recognised the importance of financial software development in order to stay ahead of other industry players, most financial institutions have invested in in-house software development teams to both maintain and develop the software needed. However, as the needs of financial organisations continue to grow and become more sophisticated, outsourcing software development tasks to specialised companies has become more common as well.

Career overview Specialist software companies and major financial institutions are the ones who usually bring in graduates looking to enter this industry. They’ll start them off with a training period – either in the form of a structured graduate programme with rotations, or training with mentorship – that generally lasts between three to six months.

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Developers tend to be involved in several projects at the same time, so if work on large back-end systems or new software aren’t in the cards, time would be spent on simpler projects like upgrading existing systems to make them more efficient and user-friendly. Depending on the complexity and scale of client requests, projects may take a few days, or even years, to complete – and may even affect other aspects of the working environment, such as the size of an assigned team. In terms of career progression, graduates can take advantage of the many opportunities available and opt to either develop themselves in a technical role, or aim for a managerial position.

Trends and developments As this sector is an intersection of sorts between IT and finance, projects usually consist of perplexing mathematical models, large data sets, distributed and high speed systems, as well as information security measures. As the fintech industry continues to grow by leaps and bounds in Singapore, application development is set to gain further traction, too. Players in the market will be looking for reliable, quality and flawless app performance that also offers enhanced user experience.

Pros and cons Best of both worlds Many financial software developers enjoy the fact that they effectively straddle two worlds: the IT and finance industries. Working in this field not only gives developers the chance to work with the latest technological developments as well as understand the latest financial market trends, but also see how both can impact each other. A challenging career Demanding clients are regular fixtures in this area, and work may be complicated by the constant development of technology. But if a challenge is craved, then this field will bring much joy.

Required skills

• Flexibility (as regulations and client requirements may change) • Problem-solving skills • Strong interpersonal skills • Updated knowledge on fintech

IT AND TECHNOLOGY | AREAS OF WORK

Games Development Work with people from a variety of disciplines who share the same passion.

here’s no denying the growth the gaming industry has been experiencing the past few decades, as well as the impact it has on the current generation. Singapore’s not exempted from this development, and as a result, the government has been very supportive of this relatively young sector within the country. Thanks to the country’s solid IT infrastructure, ease of communication and transportation and ready talent pool, many international players – such as Ubisoft, Gumi Asia and Tecmo Koei – have set up their regional bases here.

Career overview Game production is a very complex process that requires expertise from a variety of disciplines – including project management, music composition, programming and art and animation – which can be further broken down into more specialised roles. IT and computing graduates will be able to find plenty of employment opportunities here, but the sector’s still a competitive one and will require a lot of preparation. Despite the generally contending nature of the field, however, an increasing number of game companies, whether independent or focusing on mobile devices, have presented new entry-level positions for graduates. Graduate-level newcomers usually start out as junior programmers, working in a team with a mentor, and are expected to pick up key skills essential to the industry. Following that, recruits can become an authority in their chosen

area of specialty, or even choose to lead a team of their own. Alternatively, hopefuls can also take on a lead production role if they would like to oversee the whole process rather than focusing on just only one scope of the cycle.

Trends and developments While it’s considered one of the most profitable sectors in the world, the games industry is also very hard to predict. Games and gaming will never stop evolving, and the challenge is to stay ahead of the curve and keep consumers happy. Recent trends include augmented reality and battle royale, and games like Fortnite showed the possibilities and appeal of cross-platform play. Virtual reality and mobile gaming are other rising parts of the landscape, and are expected to continue gaining momentum as physical tours and the like become gamified to adhere to social distancing measures. Additionally, as people remained home over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, many turned to videogames as a way to meet up with their friends and spend time together, such as VRChat, Minecraft and Among Us. At present, the Southeast Asian gaming market is expected to have tripled what it was in 2017 by 2023. It’s well on track, as in Singapore alone, two-thirds of the market are now taken up by casual mobile gamers who recently hopped on the gaming train in order to kill time at home!

Pros and cons An exciting industry Working in games development can be a tremendously exhilarating experience as there’ll be constant exposure to new inventions and innovations. And with programmers all over the world willing to experiment with different ways to improve gamers’ experiences, there’s the opportunity to be part of a field that is constantly trying to push the envelope in terms of technological capabilities and user interfaces. Long hours Unfortunately, the field is also known for protracted periods of brutally long working hours – termed as “crunch” in the industry – that becomes especially pronounced as deadlines approach. It isn’t uncommon to hear news of such cases, even at highly coveted game development companies. While there’s greater dialogue now about having a better work-life balance, graduates should still be prepared to put in long hours if they wish to start a career here.

Required skills • Strong interest in technology • Solid understanding of trends and technology innovations • Interpersonal skills • Presentation and documentation skills • Analytical skills • Good business sense STEM Career Guide 2022

IT AND TECHNOLOGY | AREAS OF WORK

Hardware Development Upgrade existing systems or build new ones to accommodate clients’ needs.

very wide-ranging industry that covers a broad spectrum, almost all sectors around the world depend on it. Although key areas in Singapore such as the electronics, manufacturing, telecommunications, defence and aerospace fields benefit the most from the hardware industry, it also supports other less typical sectors, much like tourism. The recent boom in mobile and “smart” technologies have also invigorated the hardware industry.

Career overview Due to its inclusivity, hopefuls looking to join the industry can find numerous opportunities in various markets, primarily with IT employers who invest in hardware development divisions. On the other hand, there are also many specialist IT service providers that concentrate on hardware development solely for a select few sectors. These firms can serve as alternatives for graduate computer scientists, engineers and physicists. Entry into major organisations typically take place through graduate schemes, though some employers prefer to hire directly for a position. If recruitment is through a graduate scheme, there’s a high chance of rotation around sub-divisions and teams in the hardware development department. Newcomers are usually initiated with a small-scale project and a small area of responsibility – assisting team members with tasks while receiving guidance is common – before moving on to managing certain tasks and more formal technical projects later. 56

STEM Career Guide 2022

As many tasks involve the upgrading and improving of current configurations for machinery, specialists will need to review and analyse existing systems frequently to identify flaws, as well as come up with new designs that can be integrated to boost performance. Some clients do outsource projects, especially when they’re looking into developing completely new hardware. In these cases, developers are typically involved in the production process, and may be required to test prototypes on top of keeping an eye on quality control.

Trends and developments With the continued e-commerce boom in Singapore – which is expected to continue growing for a while yet – hardware products, as well as their development, are in high demand. Altering physical events to virtual affairs have driven hardware development in Singapore over the past year, and the Tourism Technology Transformation Cube (Tcube) was launched to help tourism businesses along their digital transformations. The Singapore Tourism Board has also extended its Tourism Accelerator programme to September 2023, aiming to consolidate the country’s position as a destination for both foreign companies and visitors alike when travel routes reopen, and, to that end, is planning to enhance the small country with new tourism hardware.

Pros and cons Diverse There’s a great variety of roles in this field, and graduates will be immersed in a wide range of positions and responsibilities, from electronic design and schematics to programming of software or software, and even mechanical design, testing, and design ergonomics. Slow career progression Progression is slower in this industry as compared to others, and education needs to be constantly furthered in order to remain relevant.

Required skills

• Knowledge of the industry’s latest developments • Interpersonal skills • Ability to work in in a team • Commercial awareness

IT AND TECHNOLOGY | AREAS OF WORK

IT in Investment Banking Many IT and computing graduates find their calling in the banking world.

nce upon a time, the typical career pathways that come to mind when talking about investment banking included positions such as analysts and associates before proceeding on to vice presidents and directors – most of which require a finance-related degree. However, with the rise of digital applications and e-commerce platforms within the sector, many investment banks are rapidly expanding their technology team to cope with various functions – such as online trading activities and transactions, risk management, information gathering, client interaction and 24/7 operations – making computing and technology graduates highly desirable.

Career overview Depending on the bank’s needs and recruitment policies, graduates can be engaged directly into specific IT roles, where they’re trained in the specific skills unique for the position; or rotational programmes with a chance to experience different positions and responsibilities in different areas of technology. IT specialists are traditionally brought on board mainly to build and maintain the bank’s technology infrastructure – such as system troubleshooting, web development, R&D, engineering and application development, among other others – while also providing support to all financial divisions within the bank. However, every now and then, they’re called on to support colleagues from other regions, as well as ensure processes are achieved on a global level to meet the

technological needs of every location the bank operates in. Many banks also involve their technology teams in the product development and business part of the job due to the increase in electronic and digital products, so graduates may even find themselves working alongside traders and analysts.

Trends and developments With banks riding the digital disruption, and beginning to divide conventional assets and move on to Open Banking, banks are taking a close relook at longestablished services, seizing growth and focusing more on back-office support to “re-bundle” their services. The cloud is another trend investment banks are hopping on, having shifted from simply evaluating benefits to effectively operating within it, and driving data quality and creativity as a consequence. New IT infrastructure will be needed if banks decide to write their own programmes, and graduates will have the opportunity to be on the forefront of this paradigm shift.

Pros and cons IT and technology advancements Working as an IT specialist in the investment banking sector can be immensely exciting, not just because of the dynamic and constantly changing environment, but also because of the rapid advances in technology.

However, graduates will need to constantly update themselves with the latest IT knowledge to stay relevant. Travel opportunities With most investment banks being global operators, there’s the chance to travel and work with people from different regions, offering plenty of learning opportunities and exposure. Potentially stressful The general working environment tends to be rather fast-paced and can be quite stressful, so an ability to perform under pressure is a must.

Required skills

• A basic understanding of the industry • Good interpersonal skills • Ability to work in a team • Problem-solving skills • Patience (as it’s needed in the troubleshooting and maintenance processes) • An eye for detail

STEM Career Guide 2022

IT AND TECHNOLOGY | AREAS OF WORK

IT in Manufacturing Use IT and technology to help companies create a smoother supply chain.

rom large MNCs to small organisations, any company actively operating in the manufacturing sector needs the support of a dedicated IT department to ensure that their business continues to run smoothly. On their part, IT and technology have often been credited for improving productivity and reducing costs of many manufacturing organisations, and proved essential in helping them refine their supply chains and data management processes.

Career overview The job scope as an IT expert in this area can revolve around a few primary duties, such as quality control, building and maintaining computer-aided design and manufacturing software, as well as data sensing and logging. Newcomers typically start out with technical duties as they learn from the mentor and team they’re assigned to, and usually deal with maintenance and troubleshooting that arise in the day-today IT networks or operations systems. In terms of career progression, there’s the option of specialisation in a certain technical area or skill through postgraduate education or professional certification. Alternatively, graduates can reach for the managerial ranks, and focus on planning, quality management and monitoring functions.

STEM Career Guide 2022

Trends and developments

Pressure

Unlike other industries where regular IT skills can be applied to a wide range of departments, roles in this sector can be quite specialised due to the type of knowledge and machinery used by each individual company. For instance, an IT expert in an oil and gas company will find it difficult to move over to the pharmaceutical line as technical industrial processes involved are very different. The manufacturing sector in Singapore is also aiming for 50 per cent growth by 2031, with a 16.4 per cent surge yearon-year in February 2021 following expansions across the electronics and biomedical manufacturing sectors.

A drawback of working in this field is the pressure graduates may potentially face when systems or networks fail. As system failures can greatly affect the supply chain, all-nighters may be needed in order to bring the systems back up as soon as possible.

Pros and cons Working with cutting-edge technology Depending on the size and type of the enterprise, there are chances for recruits to work with cutting-edge technology. For instance, large organisations are typically more willing to invest in the latest systems and IT infrastructure to streamline complicated supply chain procedures and processes.

Required skills

• Awareness of ongoing trends • Business and commercial awareness • Ability to multitask • Ability to work well under pressure • Organisational skills • Problem-solving skills • An eye for detail

IT AND TECHNOLOGY | AREAS OF WORK

IT in Retail It’s crucial in helping retailers serve their customers better.

early every function in the retail industry – sourcing of new products and managing distribution networks, to in-store point-of-sale systems and administration responsibilities such as HR and finance – requires the involvement of IT and technology to a degree. In most cases, IT’s used to achieve a couple of objectives: to improve the accuracy and availability of information on every level, and to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the business. The emergence of online retailers, however, have brought the use of IT in retail to a whole new level.

Career overview Many retailers, especially international ones, have their own in-house IT team or department to cater to their needs and projects. However, complex problems that require more advanced or specialised skills are usually outsourced to thirdparty IT services providers, with internal IT teams coordinating and assisting as and when needed, such as when identifying services, initiating interaction with service providers and merging new software with existing systems. Depending on their skills and preference, graduates may seek employment in in-house teams or thirdparty service providers. There’s also the option to move from one to the other in the future as well. Graduate hires can find themselves positioned anywhere along the chain of business to help improve the flow of information and integrate different functions within the business. However, responsibility-wise, there’s a lot of

programming involved, regardless of station. Most large retailers offer graduate recruitment schemes once a year, with these programmes lasting about a year or more. Rotations through several roles and departments are typical, and recruits will be able to gain a broader view of the business as a whole, as well as take in a variety of programming and business analysis skills before deciding on a permanent role. Teams are multidisciplinary, and career progression may take some time as quite a bit of experience is needed to move on to roles such as senior programmer or analyst. If a more people-oriented role is favoured, graduates can consider management opportunities.

Trends and developments The e-commerce disruption has resulted in a new playing field for IT specialists in retail as companies shift from concentrating on brick-and-mortar stores alone, to maintaining a complementary online presence to drive brand awareness. Big data has also made a splash in the industry, leading to more personalised services. Omni-channel retailing is a major trend presently driving the sector in Singapore, with physical stores increasingly enhancing customer experience with tech-enabled product personalisation and augmented reality, along with combining offline retail with online stores, social media and mobile applications. Still, this doesn’t mean that e-commerce is burgeoning in the citystate. On the contrary, localised malls

within heartland areas are still preferred for their accessibility and convenience. Instead, e-commerce expansions mostly take place with non-experiential products like household goods and groceries. Experiential retail is on the rise, too, and malls are increasingly incorporating elements of this retail trend to attract consumers and lure higher footfall. More recent developments include Funan’s indoor cycling track and rock-climbing facilities, and the NERF Action Xperience in Marina Square.

Pros and cons Wide exposure Programmers working in this industry often tout the variety in their work as one of the pros because they can move between functional areas relatively easily. Slow career progression On the other hand, a common grouse is that career progression tends to be slower compared to other sectors, although that may be eclipsed by a desire to make a difference.

Required skills

• Analytical skills • Commercial awareness • Ability to work in a team • Interpersonal skills • Adaptability STEM Career Guide 2022

IT AND TECHNOLOGY | AREAS OF WORK

IT in

Telecommunications Improve and reinvent global communications systems to better serve users.

elecommunications is all about connecting people, whether through traditional fixed-line telephones, computers and laptops, or mobile devices. A key enabler for various fields and regulated by the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA), telecommunications is vital in raising Singapore’s productivity and transforming business processes. As for IT, its involvement in this sector has become essential in Singapore’s bid to become a Smart Nation.

Career overview Job opportunities are usually divided into two categories: vendors and carriers. Put simply, vendors such as Apple, Samsung, Huawei and Agilent, provide the hardware and software the industry needs. On the other hand, carriers like M1, SingTel and StarHub deliver telecommunications services to end users. Graduates aspiring to break into the field can also find employment with IT consultancy providers, much like Accenture and IBM. What responsibilities are given to new hires early on depends on whether they’re working with vendors or carriers. In the former’s case, they’re usually put in technical roles, first assisting in hardware or software development before moving onto other positions to accumulate experience.

STEM Career Guide 2022

On the other hand, while hopefuls working with carriers have more roles to choose from, most of them will require specialist knowledge. In addition, most organisations in this category run graduate or management associate programmes with job rotations and mentorships to ease newcomers to the workforce. Work generally comes in the form of projects, and responsibilities tend to range from hardware and software R&D, product testing, setting up or maintaining the necessary infrastructure, technical sales and marketing and supporting customers and clients. In addition, except for when deadlines are fast approaching, extra hours usually aren’t needed. Thus, those working in this industry tend to enjoy a healthy work-life balance.

Trends and developments Although telecommunications make up a small percentage of the information and communications services industry in Singapore, it’s still one of the top contributors in terms of value added. A $30m fund has been introduced to accelerate the adoption and commercialisation of 5G solutions under the IMDA’s 5G Innovation Programme to create a vibrant 5G ecosystem, including developing talent and services.

Pros and cons A variety of responsibilities Work can be very interesting, due in a large part to the range of job responsibilities available, which also evolve in tandem with telecommunications’ rapid development of technology. Pressure Frustration can mount when networks go down, and the pressure to repair the system or infrastructure can come down hard. Constant and speedy development also translates to graduates needing enough self-motivation to keep up, or risk being left behind.

Required skills

• Awareness of latest IT and technology trends • Problem-solving skills • An eye for detail • Interpersonal skills • Research skills • Analytical skills

IT AND TECHNOLOGY | AREAS OF WORK

IT Outsourcing Benefit from exposure to a variety of business-focused technologies.

rapidly-growing area in the IT sector, IT outsourcing is encouraged by the speed in which technology evolves and changes. It’s also driven by companies that find it challenging to maintain an in-house team that keeps them abreast of advancements, and prefer outsourcing instead. Although most service providers cover many aspects of technology, ranging from hardware such as personal computers (PCs) and mainframes to software much like Microsoft/Apple packages and major Systems, Applications & Product (SAP) implementations, they also bring other supporting technology and training services to complement their offerings.

Career overview Many organisations offer training programmes that allow newcomers to try out a few areas of work and gauge their preference and capability. Following that, graduate hires are typically assigned to a service team working with either a client or on a particular function or area, usually in specific technical roles such as telecommunications support, network support, or programming. In some cases, hopefuls may even find themselves in the customer services department, providing clients and customers with technical assistance as part of a service desk operation. Career progression can take place in two ways: through specialisation in a particular technology or technical field, or moving into project or service

management. While the former requires as much in-depth knowledge as possible, the latter puts graduates in closer contact with clients and customers.

Trends and developments Already a high-powered industry experiencing constant and rampant growth, the Services and Digital Technology Roadmap has pinpointed Services 4.0 as one of the main drivers of Singapore’s digital economy. This has resulted in even more new opportunities in emerging technologies such as Advanced Interfaces and AI. Moreover, with new trends such as anything as a service (XaaS) enabling more seamless services, maturity of cloud deployment into multi-cloud and greater human-machine interactions is continuing to sweep through and target more and more high-value areas. Growth and development of this ever-changing industry is set to continue its upward trajectory for a long time to come.

Exciting but taxing Rapid technology developments are as exciting as they are taxing. It’s not uncommon to finish studying an upcoming trend or update a system to find it already outdated.

Required skills

• Enthusiasm • Strong interpersonal skills • Patience • Organisational skills • Ability to prioritise work effectively

Pros and cons Growth and opportunities Work in this sector promises a lot of excitement due to its exponential growth and dynamic atmosphere. As clients come from a wide variety of different fields, learning and networking opportunities are plentiful.

STEM Career Guide 2022

IT AND TECHNOLOGY | AREAS OF WORK

IT Services Provide clients with invaluable professional technology support and services to help them achieve their business goals.

usiness organisations often enlist the help of IT service providers to cut costs, improve service efficiency and gain access to a range of technological expertise. The process generally entails the assessment of the clients’ needs, followed by the implementation of a solution before moving on to support and aftersales services. Clients typically expect four things from a good technology partner: • Proactive and strategic advice during the implementation process that can help them make better decisions to improve existing IT infrastructure • Sharing knowledge of new technological upgrades that can benefit them • An ability to translate technological value of IT additions to economic value, such as shareholder return and revenue growth • To take charge of, and be involved in, the whole process. From purchasing solutions or upgrades to installing them, this also includes explaining the products to shareholders, implementation and providing postinstallation support In addition, the functions of IT services typically overlap with technology consulting to such an extent that IT services providers will need to match their services to clients’ needs, rather than just trying to sell them.

STEM Career Guide 2022

Frequency of travel, hours and pace of work tend to be role-dependent. For instance, those in consultancy positions keep very fast-paced schedules and are often required to travel to meet clients on very short notice. Technical teams, on the other hand, have more stable schedules and are less mobile. However, when things go wrong, all-nighters can be expected.

Pros and cons

Career overview

Incredibly fast-paced

Broadly speaking, work in this industry can be divided into several sections. These include client relations, consulting, support, and designing. Other roles may involve building, installing and testing technology solutions. Graduates generally start off as junior members of a team, assisting senior colleagues in their work and picking up essential skills over the first few months of employment. In this period of time, they’re normally asked to work on a small aspect of a big project, manage a client’s account, or perform a specific function in one particular technical area. Responsibilities will gradually grow, and progression to becoming a specialist in a specific function or area is common.

The speed at which technology evolves is extremely fast, and while some may see this as a positive lifelong learning opportunity, others may eventually tire of the constantly-rapid pace. Some roles, such as consultancy, even have lifestyles that can overwhelm and burn out individuals if they’re not careful.

Trends and developments With tech trends such as codeless development tools and more natural technology interfaces on the rise, along with widespread adoption of AI and blockchain, the IT services sector is set for even more growth on top of its already rapid expansion.

Diverse opportunities This industry promises not just diversity in terms of job scopes and people met, but also plenty of chances to network and learn. After all, working on different projects often translates into meeting various clients from different sectors and backgrounds.

Required skills

• Commercial awareness • Interpersonal skills • Ability to work in a team • Ability to prioritise work effectively • An eye for detail • Patience

IT AND TECHNOLOGY | AREAS OF WORK

Professional IT Services Help businesses safeguard their IT systems and maintain regulatory compliance with local regulations.

he industry – which focuses on assisting their clients with specialist expertise and advisory services – typically offers their know-how in several areas, such as audit, tax, accountancy, consulting, law, corporate governance, corporate finance and risk assessment. Some of the most recognisable professional services firms in Singapore include BDO, EY, Deloitte, KPMG and PwC – all of which are well-known for offering assistance when it comes to compliance with various legal requirements related to accounting and business processes. And with IT and data management now playing a big part in clients’ daily operations and business strategies, companies in this sector have now expanded their expertise to include technology. Typical services include: • IT audit: In this area, professionals assess the clients’ IT systems to determine effectiveness and integration with the business. They usually focus on issues such as possible security risks and increasing efficiency • IT governance: This service involves checking a clients’ IT systems to ensure that they’re operating and complying with Singapore’s legal and accounting regulations • IT project reassurance: Professionals evaluate the risk probability of an IT project before a client implements it, and then advises the organisation on ways to either manage or mitigate it

• Security and privacy: This part of the field includes checking a clients’ IT systems for security threats, and also handles crisis management in the case of any attacks

Career overview Graduates joining professional services firms usually do so through a specialist graduate programme, where they’ll be assigned to a team or project from the start. From there, mentoring facilitates acclimatisation to the work culture, and skills will be picked up over on-thejob training and exposure to different experiences through various assignments. Teams tend to be multidisciplinary, and the job involves a lot of client-facing responsibilities as most professionals work onsite alongside clients’ in-house IT departments or users, assessing risks and developing recommendations to improve systems. To progress in this industry, pursuing an internationally-recognised professional certificate in information systems auditing, control and security is strongly advised. In this regard, graduates can look to the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) certifications, among others.

Trends and developments With the boon of a sophisticated workforce and reliable regulatory framework, this growing and vibrant landscape has experienced continuous

innovation to harness opportunities in high-growth areas. Riding on the coattails of the successes of the Professional Services Industry Transformation Map (ITM), launched in 2018, the field is now set to see further upward trajectories in the upgrading and digitalisation of businesses.

Pros and cons Tiring but exciting Although the constant travelling may leave some individuals weary, professionals in the industry find excitement in being able to work in a variety of organisations and sectors. There are also plenty of networking opportunities, so if interacting with people while handling technical responsibilities is something particularly enjoyed, this job is the right one!

Required skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills • Ability to work in a team • Commercial awareness • Adaptability • Awareness of the latest industry regulations and services • Numeracy skills • Analytical skills

STEM Career Guide 2022

IT AND TECHNOLOGY | AREAS OF WORK

Technology Consulting Introduce IT solutions and strategies designed to help clients navigate business obstacles.

hile “tech start-up” is a common buzzword in the sector these days, venturing into any kind of business that involves introducing or implementing technology in the real world can be daunting. For this reason, businesses – especially successful ones – need consultants or industry experts to advise them on IT strategies and solutions.

Career overview There are various ways to classify the nature and services of a technology consultancy firm, but most of them fall into one of five categories: • IT strategy and design: Consultants in this area match their clients’ existing technology to their business strategy in order to help them stay relevant • IT operations and management: Here, consultants “renovate” and upgrade a client’s existing IT and business processes to improve their performance • Enterprise architecture: Where consultants help an organisation draw up an IT strategy roadmap, vision, corporate technology standards and a core technology catalogue to guide its growth in the future • Sourcing: In this field, consultants help streamline a client’s operations by assessing and advising if a corporation should outsource its IT functions

STEM Career Guide 2022

• Integration: Consultants here assist clients with complex business problems via IT software solutions, whether it’s creating tailored or using commercialoff-the-shelf solutions. Employers generally start new hires out with project support and analytical roles, where they look out for information and analyse data to contribute to projects handled by their assigned team. With enough experience, though, graduates may be put in charge of a client or function – such as reviewing, designing or building a system – before being placed in a position of leadership and tasked with a major transition project. There’s also the option to specialise in certain functions to become an industry expert, or reach senior management to manage others instead. As projects tend to be client-centric, it often entails being the middleman between clients and the firm, as well as building, installing and testing systems on the clients’ behalf. Much time will also be spent travelling and working onsite.

Trends and developments With the present technology disruption in full swing and rapidly gaining speed due to the global coronavirus pandemic and resulting reinvented business models, enterprises across all industries are being transformed in the face of automation and AI. This is especially evident in the Asia Pacific region, with Singapore having pushed through the National Robotics Programme (NRP) and deployed automation technology to areas such as logistics and manufacturing, and even

healthcare and construction in an effort to combat labour shortages. Technology is now also primed to position itself as the foundation of the new normal, from privacy concerns, remote working and even QR codes to track Covid-19 cases and notify persons who may have had close contact with them.

Pros and cons A wide range of opportunities As work tends to be either project or client-based, there’s wide exposure to many different sectors and companies, which in turn, promises variety and plenty of learning and networking opportunities. Many also relish the many different paths available for career development, ranging from developing technical skills to becoming an expert or managing a team. Work-life balance The constant travelling can go beyond the usual 9-to-5, so it might require some compromise on lifestyle.

Required skills

• A willingness to learn • Persuasion and presentation skills • Commercial awareness • Excellent interpersonal skills

IT AND TECHNOLOGY | AREAS OF WORK

Web Development and e-Commerce Focus points include building strong and reputable online and web presences for businesses.

he internet business sector, riveted on developing products and services for online consumers, has grown in size and importance to the extent that most major organisations aren’t considered complete without an online presence. Although there are other players, the field’s still dominated primarily by financial services organisations and online retail stores. The internet delivers win-win situations to financial services firms that benefit both bank and client, serving as a platform for users to perform basic banking tasks like bill payments and monetary transfers at any time, while allowing the bank to save on operation costs such as processing fees. Similarly, retail businesses reap cost savings when they shift their operations online, enabling them to offer consumers more competitive prices. Online systems have also helped retailers manage their supply chains more efficiently and effectively.

Career overview Given the high level of interest in e-commerce and the online marketplace here in Singapore, even pre-pandemic, recruitment opportunities are plentiful. However, they’re not often publicly advertised, as is the case for many tech start-ups. As most start-ups in this industry usually hire through word-of-mouth, recommendations, or internship conversions, graduates get a headstart in job-hunting while in university and pick up internships will have an edge when pursuing a full-time position.

Web development opportunities are more often available in larger, more established organisations like Amazon, Shopee and Lazada, though the hiring process may be more structured and formal. Rotations are the norm before newcomers are assigned to a position they’re comfortable with, and may take anywhere between three to 12 months, depending on the company. Career progression can be ensured with SkillsFuture, where there’s an option to upgrade present skills, increasing competency and productivity in this sector, as well as other related fields.

Trends and developments With a variety of grants and initiatives rolled out over the past few years to transform Singapore into a vibrant global e-commerce hub despite strong competition, retail e-commerce is set to boom under the Economic Development Board’s “Industry 21” blueprint, with the adoption of an internationallylinked e-commerce infrastructure and harmonisation of cross-border laws and policies. The numerous support schemes geared to drive e-commerce adoption among start-ups also paid off almost overnight when Covid-19 hit Singapore’s shores. The next big trend in this industry, though, is looking to be social commerce and shoppable posts, where users can buy products directly off social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Web development, on the other hand, will continue supporting e-commerce growth with chatbots and progressive web applications (PWA). Single-page

apps (SPA) have also made a return to the limelight with the advent of crossplatform apps. Blockchain has made its mark too, having quickly become indispensable to decentralised file storage, protection of intellectual properties and even supply chain auditing.

Pros and cons Fast-paced and challenging Those who thrive in such an environment will be able to see results almost immediately, and many in the industry take pride in transforming trade and transactions on top of having the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology. However, on the flipside, having to endlessly deal with rapid and unrelenting changes in technology and business can wear down even the best after a while, just as much as handling constant threats such as cybercrime and cybersecurity risks can.

Required skills

• Commercial awareness • Always abreast of latest changes in regulations and trends • Adaptability • An eye for detail • Ability to deal with ambiguity effectively

STEM Career Guide 2022

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ENGINEERING Responsible for innovations such as computers, smartphones and even bridges and hot showers, the world will be a vastly different place without engineers and feats of engineering. But before taking the leap into the industry, do some essential reading in the pages ahead.

Sector Essentials Engineering: A Beginner’s Guide......................... 68 Top Three Trends in Engineering for Graduates to Know...................................... 70 Find Great Graduate Jobs in Small Engineering Firms ................................... 72 Areas of Work Aerospace Engineering ....................................... 74 Automotive Engineering ..................................... 75 Chemical Engineering ......................................... 76 Construction Engineering ................................... 77 Control Engineering ............................................ 78 Defence Technology............................................ 79 Electronic Engineering ........................................ 80 Energy (Oil and Gas)............................................ 81 Energy (Power Generation)................................. 82 Engineering Consultancy..................................... 83 Engineering Design and Construction................. 84 Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG)............... 85 Food Manufacturing ........................................... 86 Materials and Metals Engineering ...................... 87 Pharmaceuticals Engineering.............................. 88

ENGINEERING | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

Engineering: A Beginner’s Guide Work experience will impress graduate recruiters and can even help you with career decisions.

STEM Career Guide 2022

ENGINEERING | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

e c r u i te rs va l u e wo r k experience. Accordingly, an engineering placement is the gold standard – it not only shows that you have hands-on industry experience to complement your degree, but it also demonstrates your commitment to the sector and that you know what to expect when you start your graduate job. It’ll also help you get a feel of where you want to work, and indicate to employers that your decisions about where to apply are based on more than guesswork. However, if you can’t manage an engineering placement or you‘ve left it too late, there’s no need to worry; work experience or part-time jobs in any environment – even if it’s in a different industry – can still help you develop the transferable skills needed, as well as give you some work experience. As such, they too, are well thought of by employers.

Engineering placements Some degrees incorporate a year in the industry; if yours doesn’t, take the initiative and look into arranging one. Placements will give you a sense of what life as a graduate engineer is like, help you build skills that are relevant to graduate positions and give you the chance to build up a network of contacts. A placement is also a great opportunity to get to know a firm better than by just reading company literature. This will give you a good basis from which to figure out whether it’s the sort of business you could work for on a long-term basis, and whether you feel the area of engineering and kind of role you’re considering are right for you. It also gives employers a chance to get to know you better as an employee. Many recruiters like to hire students who perform well on their placements, and some may even offer sponsorships to help you complete your degree.

Small engineering companies While small engineering employers may not run formal schemes, they can still be good sources of work experience. You could ask to shadow someone in an area or organisation that interests you for a couple of days, or look for paid, part-time work. Go to your university’s careers service for advice and contacts, and check job boards on online portals.

Non-engineering experience Many companies will happily consider your application for a graduate job even if you don’t have engineering work experience – as long as you have done something else worthwhile with your time that you can draw upon when discussing your background and skills. For instance: • Part-time work during university terms or vacations will help you develop interpersonal skills as well as the ability to work in a team. You may even be able to go a step further and come up with a suggestion or improvement that’ll help the business prosper. • Helping to run university clubs and societies also offers the opportunity to pick up skills, and you should provide examples of these. For instance, you may have led a team effectively, come up with innovative ideas and carried them through, solved problems, or organised events. • Charity work, volunteering and independent travel will also help you grow in ways employers may appreciate and give you something interesting to talk about in your applications and interview. Furthermore, having a range of interests shows you are a multidimensional person who is enthusiastic, motivated and likely to be an asset in the workplace.

What’s important is for you to use these as concrete examples of how you’ve developed skills useful for the graduate engineering job you’re applying for. After all, having these experiences on your resume isn’t enough if you don’t explain how they make you a good candidate for the job!

Tips for getting an engineering placement • Start figuring out where you can get work experience from your first year of study. Although most employers looking for placement students only take applications from the beginning of your second year, planning ahead is ideal. • Getting an industrial placement isn’t automatic, though employers will view your application favourably if you combine good academic results – first year results do matter! – with evidence of career commitment. Have something on your resume that’ll attract interest. • Career services centres on campus may be good starting points, but the more people who know you’re looking for an internship, the more help you can get. There’s always competition for advertised placements, so apply your networking skills if you’re on the lookout for alternatives. • If you really can only find a supermarket job, try to make the most of it by asking for additional responsibilities. Find out how the business operates and talk to your managers. That way, you might be able to get a bit of work experience in a more relevant job function.

STEM Career Guide 2022

ENGINEERING | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

Top Three Trends in Engineering for Graduates to Know The pressure’s on for the industry to embrace the digital transformation and keep up with market demands.

n recent years, the engineering industry has gone through exciting changes and seen ground-breaking developments, such as the rise of automation and the application of intelligent machines. These developments, combined with Singapore’s plan to transform itself into a Smart Nation, have led to a strong demand for a future-ready engineering workforce and people who are well-versed in new and advanced technology tools that can bring business value. Keeping up with what’s trending in the industry will not only provide graduates with an idea of the job opportunities that these advances have opened up, but also awareness of the skills needed for them to be more employable. Here are three significant industrial trends graduates should take note of – and impress engineering recruiters with!

Trend #1 Automation and robotics The rise of automation and robotics may not be a new trend, but they’re still revolutionising the engineering sector. Robots and machines are displacing workers, dominating workplaces and becoming the true backbone of many organisations while humans manage them on the sidelines. A notable example of a company that has integrated automation and robotics into their operations is SIA Engineering. The corporation deploys air tugs that allow ground crew to move an aircraft backwards wirelessly, as well as air casters to float heavy objects off the ground. Such devices help ensure that staff welfare is protected, and employees no longer have to perform such strenuous and manual tasks. Moreover, the use of automated machines and robots are key for fast-growing industries to manufacture products in high quality and quantity in the shortest possible time. This is important for industry stakeholders, as automating labour-intensive processes also leads to significant cuts in manpower costs.

What this means for graduates Engineers with technical skills and knowledge in manufacturing technologies and programming are highly sought-after. Employers are looking for engineers to design, install, programme, operate and maintain machines and robots used in their operations. Aside from technical skills, recruiters also seek engineers who are investigative and possess problem-solving abilities. To showcase these traits to prospective employers during the job application process, graduates can read widely about the issues stakeholders in the field face, and explain how they can contribute to the firm’s efforts to solve the problems. Employers also value applicants who possess foresight, as well as the ability to look at the bigger picture of how minute details can affect larger processes. These qualities often indicate a candidate’s potential to continually innovate and come up with new applications of technology to solve problems.

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ENGINEERING | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

Trend #2 The Industrial Internet of Things The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a branch of a larger technological development known as the Internet of Things (IoT), which refers to connecting devices to the Internet and to each other. This tech application has paved the way for “smart” processes, where intelligent devices with independent learning capabilities are able to communicate the collected data to one another within an integrated system. Imagine a world where your smart fridge is able to order groceries for you because it detected that your fresh milk has gone bad! This is one way in which IoT can be used in a consumer setting. IIoT, on the other hand, is the application of IoT technologies in the industrial world, where more is at stake, and a single error can lead to high revenue loss. For instance, a company dealing with the shipping of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical drugs can benefit from this technology by using real-time data to read the exact conditions the drugs are exposed to. This allows the organisation to keep track of whether the goods are exposed to very high or low temperatures. This way, if anything were to happen to the products, they can be notified as soon as possible as opposed to only when they arrive at their destination, saving the firm from potentially losing thousands of dollars’ worth of shipment.

What this means for graduates The introduction of IoT technology in the manufacturing sector has blurred the line between IT and engineering. Graduate engineers seeking employment in the manufacturing industry now need the necessary IT-related skills to remain competitive in the job market. Following the growing significance of data and automation in the engineering scene, recruiters now highly value technical skills, such as the ability to build machine-learning algorithms, as well as knowledge of AutoCAD, a design software for engineering applications, big data analytics and management skills. In terms of soft skills, employers seek applicants who are innovative and collaborative, and graduates able to transform ideas into precise or feasible solutions will attract recruiters from different industries. Enterprises also value candidates who are collaborative, not only in human-to-human relations, but human-to-machine interactions as well.

Trend #3 Sustainable engineering Sustainable engineering attempts to bridge social science with civic engineering and environmental science, and meld it with the technology of the future. For example, in Singapore, water scarcity is a real challenge. With the nation’s heavy dependence on imported water, occasional political issues between the city-state and Malaysia’s governments more often than not result in veiled threats of the latter cutting off the former’s water supply. Understanding that this wasn’t a sustainable water solution, the government commissioned the construction of a superhighway that collects every drop of used water for treatment and reuse. NEWater is the product of this deep tunnel sewerage system, and, as of 2020, there are five NEWater plants supplying up to 40 per cent of Singapore’s current water needs, with the fourth desalination plant opened in February 2021. More can still be done in order to encourage sustainability and self-sufficiency, though, and this is where engineers can make a difference. With energy efficiency a particularly pressing concern in the region due to expanding economies and growing populations, the Singapore government is also targeting a 35 per cent improvement in the area, as well as reductions in carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 2030. In other words, there’s simply no shortage of roles for graduate engineers today.

What this means for graduates Given how sustainability is a key consideration for most, if not all, engineering companies, employers do expect graduates to have an understanding of industrial regulations and ethical codes. In addition, do your own reading and research to understand other technologies and sustainability initiatives other companies and countries have introduced. Find out how you can use these existing solutions and tailor them accordingly to add value to the company that you are either working with, or want to work for. You should also be commercially aware that the economic feasibility of engineering processes plays a big role in the overall picture of sustainability as well. Take the initiative to attend networking events or employer talks to get insider insights and opinions on sustainability issues industry players face, and be ready to make sustainability the key objective in your job. If saving the environment’s your calling, this is the engineering focus for you! STEM Career Guide 2022

ENGINEERING | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

Find Great Graduate Jobs in Small Engineering Firms Big job opportunities for graduates aren’t just limited to big engineering companies, so why not check out smaller employers as well?

STEM Career Guide 2022

ENGINEERING | SECTOR ESSENTIALS

onsider this: nearly 99 per cent of all registered businesses in Singapore today are SMEs, which in turn employs 65 per cent of the workforce and contributes to approximately half of the national gross domestic product (GDP). By extension, this means that up to 70 per cent of engineering graduates will most likely end up launching their careers with smaller engineering firms. With so many graduates finding employment with small engineering businesses, it’ll be good to take a look at how applications to such companies differ from applying to bigger conglomerates. After all, big corporations aren’t the only organisations with impressive opportunities – SMEs can offer graduates very competitive prospects too!

Training and salaries While most SMEs won’t be able to provide internationally-approved training programmes, what they can promise is a lot of on-the-job training and a higher level of involvement. You’ll likely be given a variety of responsibilities right off the bat that’ll help you pick up a range of skills, and as a result, you may find yourself developing just as fast – if not faster – than in an actual rotating graduate programme. Recognition for your work may even come faster than you expect! Unfortunately, salary-wise, SMEs may not be able to offer as much as a large company. However, the gap isn’t so big that it deters graduates from working with them, and most do try to keep up with the market average, offering competitive remuneration through other nonmonetary benefits instead.

Finding a job in an SME Regrettably, this is no longer as simple as flipping open the newspaper or logging into a job search portal. When it comes to recruiting graduate engineers, most firms prefer a more financiallysustainable form of advertisement: collaboration with university career services centres.

That’s not the only reason, though. Many smaller businesses tend to have highly-specific needs, and career services centres can help them by pre-screening suitable students and graduates according to any requirements for both internships and employment opportunities. But due to the specialised nature of the work involved, students may even be exposed to a different form of industrial experience, rather than the kind offered by conventional giants. It should also be worth noting that being “small” doesn’t necessarily equate to being “nameless”; there are plenty of highly-specialised, worldrenowned engineering employers that operate in Singapore as SMEs, either because of their specialised work, or for the tax incentives they can get from being classified as a smaller business. You never know what hidden gems you may find if you take the time to look!

Applying to SMEs Applications to smaller businesses call for a proactive nature. As is the case with most other employers, smaller engineering firms favour experienced candidates who can offer immediate contributions. So, in order to compete with other job hunters, you’ll have to go the extra mile by gaining relevant work or internship experience to prove you can hit the ground running. This translates to starting early – and multitasking. Engineering employers especially like graduates who have demonstrated an ability to successfully manage several projects or responsibilities simultaneously. Pinpoint instances where you’ve juggled a few responsibilities with positive results, and highlight those in your resume. Don’t just focus just on selling yourself, though. Job searches are all about matching what you have to offer with an organisation’s needs, and it’s no different with SMEs. Make sure you also consider these other factors while applying as well:

• Find out as much specific information about the company as you possibly can, such as their corporate aims and objectives, the types of projects they usually focus on, along with any stances they may have on social responsibilities • Demonstrate that your existing knowledge can contribute to improving the enterprise’s performance • Indicate your enthusiasm by following up with a phone call or an enquiry email after submitting your application. Take note to not flood their inbox, though! Entrance requirements for smaller firms also generally tend to be less restrictive and structured compared to larger organisations, so expect a more interesting, personal interview process, too.

Graduate apprenticeships The occasional smaller engineering firm may have their own graduate apprenticeship scheme – usually a scaled-down equivalent of the formal training programmes at large engineering corporations – to initiate graduate hires into their jobs. Most apprenticeships typically consist of three parts: • An introduction to the basic engineering principles needed for the job and their application in daily circumstances • A n ex te n d e d e d u cat i o n component for any necessary academic qualifications • An industrial year where you earn credits towards your degree by working with the employer Your apprenticeship may also be enhanced by a variety of other benefits and activities that these companies can offer, such as training sessions and seminars, or even afterwork activities. With this in mind, don’t be afraid to look for opportunities to interact with staff at the organisations you’re interested in to find out more about what their apprenticeships have to offer.

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ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK

Aerospace Engineering Graduates working in aerospace engineering have the opportunity to take up diverse roles in technicallychallenging projects.

erospace engineering is an industry undergoing rapid growth in Singapore as the government strives to position the country as a regional aviation hub. With more than 100 international aerospace companies setting roots in Singapore – including major names like Rolls Royce, Goodrich and Pratt & Whitney – as well as the establishment of aerospace amenities, Singapore has become a major player of the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market in Asia. While services offered by these companies generally include extensive and thorough nose-to-tail MRO operations, a select few also dabble in aerospace design and manufacturing services locally.

Trends and developments

Wide scope of work

Sustainable development is a key point of focus in the aerospace industry these days. Most employers within this sector have had to adapt to global events such as environmental concerns related to the aviation field, rising fuel prices, a rampant apprehension of flights due to unnatural aircraft accidents and the unprecedented virus outbreak. Improving safety measures on aircraft, more stringent quality control on the production of aircraft parts and the search for both alternative fuel sources and more fuel-efficient aircraft engines are also making headlines in the sector.

Graduates can also expect to encounter a wide variety of job opportunities that’ll challenge their expertise and facilitate growth as a budding engineer within the aerospace industry – from cuttingedge research on aircraft components to overhaul services.

Career overview

This field requires a lot of creativity and thinking out of the box as graduates will often encounter issues and complications that don’t have a one-size-fits-all solution. While this may sometimes be demanding, it allows for ingenuity and gives opportunities to showcase resourcefulness.

The typical core responsibilities of aerospace engineers include a mix of researching, designing, manufacturing, as well as operating and maintaining aircraft. Between working on civilian and military aircraft, however, some may find the latter to be more exciting, as the military usually exposes graduate hires to more advanced and developed aviation technology, such as fighter jets, reconnaissance machines and automated vehicles.

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Career highlights Opportunity to display creativity

Required skills

• Ability to balance different project requirements simultaneously and effectively • Ability to discern details and think out of the box • Ability to work well in a team • Methodical logic

ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK

Automotive Engineering Meet customer expectations through superior technical performance, all while pushing this emerging industry to new heights.

hile the automotive industry is locally classified as an emerging industry and may not be as developed as the local public transportation and infrastructure sectors, it’s been seeing changes and growth in recent years as the Singapore government promotes efforts to develop the sector. This is because Singapore, with its position as an excellent trading hub possessing first-rate financial assistance, as well as a ready supply of skilled labour from electronics, infocommunications and mechanical engineering, has become a prime location for global automotive companies. Here, numerous organisations have established their regional headquarters to carry out strategic activities, distribution, as well as R&D.

Career overview Set to see great development and career opportunities over the coming years, the responsibilities expected of those either currently in, or looking to enter, the industry isn’t limited to just designing and manufacturing vehicles; there’s also the maintaining and repairing aspects of the field too. There are also a variety of peopleoriented roles in distribution, marketing sales, after-sales, regional procurement and even compliance with local regulatory requirements.

Trends and developments

Career highlights

At present, the global automotive industry is heading in the direction of electronics and software systems, where manual checks of automotive parts are becoming less common, and in-vehicle technology, such as human-machine interfaces and “carputers”, are on the rise. This is reflected in Singapore’s local industry, where there has been an increase in demand for software and hardware engineering expertise. Another significant development is the rise of environmental concerns, which have, in turn, led to efforts in the reduction of carbon emissions and interest in shared mobility. This process usually begins in R&D, and may include dabbling in attempts to boost fuel efficiency by manipulating the vehicle’s weight through its material make-up. During these instances, automotive engineering must work to strike a balance between standard safety measures, efficient energy consumption and responsibility to the environment.

Diverse learning opportunities The nature of the industry gives graduates the opportunity to work and learn from engineers in different fields of specialisation, as large teams work together towards one goal. Fast-paced and exciting There’s also the satisfaction of seeing creative automotive designs come to life, incorporated into a vehicle’s engineering, as well as the exhilaration of working in an industry that is always rapidly evolving.

Required skills

• Adaptability • Critical thinking skills • Enthusiasm • Up-to-date knowledge of the sector

STEM Career Guide 2022

ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK

Chemical Engineering Relish the challenge of overcoming environmental concerns and rising costs while driving pharmaceutical drug discoveries and process innovation.

he chemical industry in Singapore is centred chiefly in Jurong Island, a well-developed area housing companies such as BASF, ExxonMobil, Mitsui Chemicals, Sumitomo Chemicals, Shell and Lanxess, to name a few. Although small, the city-state was ranked the eighth largest exporter of chemicals in 2019. The chemicals and energy sector in Singapore also maintains a steady presence among the top 10 countries in the world. Oil, pharmaceuticals and polymers are some of the products these companies put out, along with fine chemicals and commodity chemicals.

Career overview Chemical engineering involves the challenge of solving society’s problems with chemicals and biochemicals. Those in this field strive to create and develop the best possible methods to process raw materials into useful, innovative goods to satiate the growing demand for new products, as well as improve the use of limited natural resources. Other career opportunities can be found in support businesses such as engineering contractors and technology development organisations, if specialisations in building chemical plants or development and patenting of new chemical manufacturing technologies are preferred.

STEM Career Guide 2022

Trends and developments

Mobility

The rising cost of oil, water shortages, environmental concerns and other relevant and prominent issues are driving the industry at present, drastically affecting it and giving companies good business circumstances that have translated to a hotbed of innovation and opportunity. Likewise, there are many opportunities for graduates, as the industry is always in need of highly-skilled specialists. It’s here that chemical engineers are trusted to find solutions that optimise processes, save on cost, and use fewer resources for the good of the environment.

There’s the chance to work anywhere in the world, whether permanently, on a secondment, or travelling from place to place when routes reopen. On the flip side, roles in R&D or production generally allow graduates to stay in one place.

Career highlights Continuous learning A highlight in this industry is the opportunity for continuous learning, and graduates will have the chance to explore new innovations or improvements to existing products. Flexibility A benefit many graduates look forward to in this industry, there’s enough flexibility accorded to explore a variety of specialised career opportunities, which can even include changes in career direction.

Required skills

• Ability to work in a team • Accountability • Adaptability • An eye for detail • Interpersonal skills • Numeracy skills

ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK

Construction Engineering Create a better world through real-world projects and marvel in your dreams coming to life.

rimarily related to infrastructure in the built environment such as roads, railways, harbours, airports, tunnels, buildings and even facilities within buildings – like power generation and ventilation systems – core employers tend to fall into two categories. The first are consultants, with organisations like Mott MacDonald, Surbana Jurong consultants and Arup counted within its ranks. Contractors such as Lendlease and Sembcorp Specialised Construction make up the second category. These aren’t the only employers in the industry, though. Graduates may also find themselves approached by developers, retailers and even the public sector in the form of Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Housing Development Board (HDB).

Career overview Fast-paced and with lots of teamwork, projects in this sector can vary in length from a scant few months to a decade from inception to completion. Moreover, depending on the complexity of the project, civil and structural engineers may find themselves being joined by specialists from other disciplines as well. Typically, engineers are based in one geographical region, and are expected to travel to sites and client meetings. Available overseas opportunities tend to be optional should you prefer to stay on home turf.

Moreover, increased global awareness regarding environmental sustainability and pollution has also given environmental engineers a boost in this sector.

Trends and developments Issues presently prevalent in this sector include cost efficiency and environmental sustainability. Clients, as well as the government, have also reduced their budgets for most projects, and the onus has fallen on engineers to find alternative solutions to minimise expenditure without compromising on quality and safety standards. Rising concerns over chronic water shortages, global warming and sustainable energy use have also prompted engineers to keep an eye out for new and environmentally-friendly materials and processes, particularly in regards to carbon emissions and footprints. Another trend is the growing use of advanced technology. 3D modelling technology, for instance, has burgeoned in popularity as it allows engineers to project and pinpoint setbacks in the planning stage, rather than encountering them after construction has begun.

Career highlights Making a visible difference Graduates working in this field tend to find great satisfaction in seeing their projects completed and making a difference to a local area. Wide exposure There’ll be opportunities to meet with, and learn from, engineers from other disciplines, leading to an enhanced understanding of the industry and engineering in general. Working abroad Certain positions with selected employers may also give graduates the chance to travel the world.

Required skills

• Ability to juggle several projects simultaneously and effectively • Ability to work in a team • Basic understanding of other engineering disciplines • Good interpersonal skills

STEM Career Guide 2022

ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK

Control Engineering Knowledge of software engineering is essential in developing and managing an organisation’s control systems.

onsidered an emerging discipline within the engineering sector, this field explores the different ways in which control systems can be successfully incorporated into an organisation’s operations to raise its efficiency and output. As nearly every industrial company needs a specialist to manage and supervise current processes, there’s a high demand for graduates looking to enter control engineering, with large employers such as ABB, Shell and General Electric jockeying alongside smaller companies that develop devices and equipment.

Career overview Control engineers work to increase a company’s competitive edge, give it a more consistent manufacturing benchmark and improve on meeting necessary environmental and quality control requirements. This is all typically done on top of boosting efficiency, reducing margin for error and cutting operating costs through automation. Because of this, however, graduates will need to be adept at handling vital complex and sophisticated control systems.

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Trends and developments

Diverse range of tasks

Advancements in processor technology has not only led to more powerful products filling the market at a lower cost, but also resulted in a higher number of systems and devices with built-in intelligent controllers capable of autodiagnostics. As such, control engineers may find themselves managing an entire network of interlinked auto-diagnosis systems on the job. From a business standpoint, rising energy costs around the world have also culminated in firms tasking control engineers with the responsibility of placing special care on lowering energy consumption at manufacturing plants and facilities. On the other hand, however, advancements in wireless technology and information transfer systems have also raised the pace on production plant floors, making real-time process enhancements part of a control engineer’s responsibilities.

From designing, developing and testing control systems to reporting on their effectiveness and efficiency, a wide and diverse range of tasks in this line of work face those either in, or looking to enter, control engineering.

Career highlights Flexibility and options Companies typically conduct their own recruitment schemes and training programmes in different areas, such as R&D, and production and maintenance. Graduates can choose which area suits their skills and aspirations best.

Ownership from start to finish Control engineers often claim that being able to observe a complete system come to life from start to finish – along with improved efficiency of processes – is highly satisfying.

Required skills

• Able to learn quickly • Adaptability • Critical thinking skills • Good time management skills • Knowledge of software engineering • Numeracy skills • Self-motivated

ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK

Defence Technology Experiment with emerging technologies alongside teams from other disciplines.

uch of defence engineering involves focusing on R&D to produce better support services and equipment for Singapore’s air, land and naval armies. Much work goes into advanced electronics and systems engineering, as the end product must meet extremely rigorous military requirements. Singapore’s defence technology is primarily managed by the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), and includes intensive development and acquisitions designed to strengthen and support the country’s “Total Defence” policy. There are also other commercial organisations that provide defence engineering services or defence technology, though they tend to be government-linked. Defence technology also brings the opportunity to work on some of the most technologically-advanced projects in the world.

Career overview

Career highlights

This industry’s one of the most dynamic in the world, and graduates have the chance to solve complex problems with emerging, cutting-edge technology. As most defence requirements need global solutions, some positions necessitate mobility. However, even when based in one site, it’s possible to have a very interesting career – sites tend to be large, hosting a variety of projects and encompassing a vast array of disciplines, with every engineer’s skills an intrinsic part of the team and project.

A variety of duties and people

Trends and developments Unmanned autonomous vehicles (UAVs) and weapons systems are becoming increasingly vital in defence technology, allowing soldiers to perform reconnaissance missions and dangerous missions with minimal risk. However, this wouldn’t be possible without an area many graduates keen on a career in defence technology often overlook; network security. In order for technologies across different mediums – such as electronic, land, air and marine – to function as a unified system, a comprehensive and well-protected defence communications network is key. This has become more crucial in an era where new projects and capabilities must now be conceptualised, tested, manufactured and rolled out within a much shorter timeframe than before.

One of the main draws of the industry is the diversity of duties and people; graduates may find themselves working in a laboratory one day, and assigned a research task onsite the very next. On top of making for a vastly interesting career, there’s also a wide range of professionals recruits have the opportunity to meet and learn from. Contributing to a larger cause The opportunity to contribute to the safety of the nation is another positive point, and many find supporting and strengthening Singapore’s security incredibly gratifying.

Required skills

• A solid engineering background • An open mind • Creativity • Critical thinking skills • Diplomacy • Trustworthiness and discretion

STEM Career Guide 2022

ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK

Electronic Engineering As one of the fast-rising disciplines in the field of engineering, graduates are highly sought after across different sectors, especially those who aim at specialising their skill set further.

hether it’s a manufacturer of high-volume consumer products like Samsung and Apple, or specialised medical equipment providers such as Accuray, electronics companies encompass many areas of expertise. Key players like Seagate, Broadcom and STMicroelectronics, for instance, have selected Singapore as their Southeast Asian centre of operations, thanks to the city-state’s advanced infrastructure and facilities. In fact, the electronics sector is a major industry that underpins the small nation’s economic growth. Moreover, the role of the electronics industry is rapidly changing, and there’s an increasing demand for devices, machines and systems to be more connected and “smarter”.

Career overview Although graduates can expect an exciting career full of innovation and developments, roles in the industry are very broad, and job descriptions in different areas of choice can vary greatly. With enough experience and expertise, electronics engineers may also opt to become specialised consultants later on in their career as there’s a huge market for independent contractors and consultants in the sector.

STEM Career Guide 2022

Trends and developments

Career highlights

Globally, miniaturisation is a constant pursuit, and manufacturers constantly strive to pack the best technology into the most compact size possible. On the subject of growing trends, the present focus is on “wearable” technologies, and development has moved past Apple’s smart watch and Fitbit to brain training under healthcare, and even social adventure photography. 5G is expected to open new possibilities in this area, too. Another new trend is the growing adoption of smart clothing, much like the Levi Communter x Jacquard jacket, that allows users to access Google services and control their phones through gestures. Some of Singapore’s key strengths in electronics manufacturing lie in semiconductors and integrated devices, but the government is also looking to expand into other areas, such as microelectronics. This translates to increased R&D investments in coming years along the production line, from componentlevel design and processes, to product designs, firmware development and even industrial design.

Diversity Many electronics engineers enjoy the diversity within the sector, where they get to explore a variety of fields, and also solve difficult technical problems in a creative way. Working with cutting-edge technology Another highlight is the opportunity to work with advanced technology, using it to manufacture other technologies. Work satisfaction Most engineers simply appreciate the satisfaction of seeing their finished products hit the market, and take motivation from bearing responsibility for their products capable of influencing daily life.

Required skills

• Ability to prioritise and plan effectively • Able to work in a team • Good decision-making skills • Good interpersonal skills • Problem-solving skills

ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK

Energy (Oil and Gas) There are many opportunities in a career in oil and gas, though it may require living abroad.

espite lacking oil reserves, Singapore’s economy still owes a great deal of its economic health to the oil industry, mainly due to its role as one of the world’s top three leading oil refining centres. Much of the local activity in this sector takes place in the refineries and plants on Jurong Island. Although Singapore primarily focuses on downstream services, oil and gas engineers can still expect to be employed in either upstream or downstream areas due to the international nature of the industry. Major employers like ExxonMobil, Shell, BP and Keppel Corporation tend to send their employees on international secondments and transfers as well. Engineers can also consider employment with small independent oil companies, oil services providers, specialised operators, contractors and suppliers catering to the various needs of this industry.

Career overview Engineers in this field are usually assigned to either upstream responsibilities in exploration and production, or other downstream duties, much like refining and marketing. The former revolves chiefly around the search and extraction of new oil and gas beds, whereas the latter is about processing crude oil into commercial products for trade. Timescales in exploration and production typically take five to 10 years, starting with the search for a new oil or gas field before beginning extraction, and the production phase can last for 30 years or more. Within this, there are also many

discreet, shorter projects. Engineers working for operators and contractors typically work on one project at a time, each lasting several years; in contrast, an engineering company employee providing flow assurance calculations may complete the jobs in as little as six weeks.

Trends and developments As technology advances, so does the international appetite for energy, and the search for new oil and gas beds has intensified as a result. Subsea explorations now go up to more than 2,000 metres beneath sea level, and are expected to stretch even deeper around the world. However, hydrocarbon resources are also growing increasingly scarce, leading to more research into alternative fuels. Singapore, in particular, has been very encouraging of this trend – with the government’s many investments into R&D, production and use of biofuels. Although the industry witnessed a drop in demand throughout 2020, opportunities are still plentiful as progressive recovery is expected over the coming years as consumption returns to pre-pandemic levels in mature markets. Emerging markets are also predicted to leverage on lower gas prices and global economic rebounds. Environmental issues continue to remain a looming concern in the industry, too. Engineers are urged to research ways to reduce the carbon footprint and environmental impact that comes with both the sourcing and consumption of fossil fuel products. Many companies

are now taking measures in preparation to pivoting to cleaner energy sources, as consumers have begun voicing beliefs that change isn’t happening fast enough.

Career highlights An ever-expanding sector Oil and gas engineers can look forward to a potentially exciting career because of the rapid growth and dynamism of this industry. Opportunities for international exposure Graduates who have joined international organisations may also get the opportunity to work with, and be mentored by, engineers from other parts of the world, gaining new insights as well as getting exposure to different technologies and systems within the industry.

Required skills

• Ability to work in a team • Ability to work well under pressure • Awareness and knowledge of any developments that affect the industry • Strong interpersonal skills

STEM Career Guide 2022

ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK

Energy (Power Generation) Address issues such as the rising demand for power, or join the search for sustainable sources of energy.

ower generation deals with the production of energy, its transmission and distribution to homes and properties, as well as its metering and sales. This privatised industry’s locally regulated by Singapore Power, and major players tend to be companies with fully integrated structures that have the capability to generate, distribute and sell power. Singapore’s strategic location within the Asian Sunbelt, as well as its strong logistics and R&D capabilities, have encouraged international companies to invest in clean energy research here as well.

Career overview Commercial availability and profitability provide challenges on a daily basis as short-term solutions need to be implemented quickly and safely. Longterm solutions must then be developed for the future. Circumstances can also change quickly, and engineers play a key role in managing this change. As a result, having mobility is often required and projects can last anywhere between days to years. Typically, engineers work in small specialist teams, either in isolation or as part of a larger project group, and it’s common to work on numerous projects simultaneously.

STEM Career Guide 2022

Trends and developments

Career highlights

Although Singapore has an overcapacity in the market, the small nation may require new power generation capacity from 2025, as plants come to the end of their service life. As the city-state imports almost all its energy, looking into alternative energy has become an increasingly prominent topic. Even though nuclear power is seeing a global resurgence as new energy generation assets are needed to avoid worldwide power shortages, Singapore’s small size means that it can’t be deployed safely. Additionally, while climate change issues are pressuring engineers to use new sustainable energy solutions, the race is still on for reliable clean energy systems that can be set up on a national scale and at an affordable cost to consumers. For example, despite investments in researching solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, Singapore may face difficulties generating a regular supply of solar energy due to rapid weather changes, and this unsustainability translates to increased cost for solar power. It’s problems like these that power generation engineers in the small nation and around the world are struggling to address.

Endless opportunities Graduates looking to enter this industry will find themselves various opportunities to tailor their roles to personal preferences and interests. They may either be sent individually to address day-to-day technical issues, or integrated with other teams into a larger group for more complicated projects – such as the building of a new power plant. Some engineers, on the other hand, may end up taking on specialised consulting roles instead, offering their expert opinions on power generation projects.

Required skills

• Ability to assess risks well • Ability to see the bigger picture • Ability to work in a team • Decision-making skills • Good interpersonal skills • Project management skills

ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK

Engineering Consultancy Use technical expertise to advise clients on complex engineering matters.

esponsible for providing advice specific to the sector as well as relevant projects, engineering consultants are usually hired by companies to assist in conceptualising and managing projects in-house experience may not be able to cover. For instance, a rail company that wants to adopt new tunnelling technology may need to engage the services of a consultant to assess the suitability of the new technology, alongside the organisation’s ability to use it for future projects. Bigger engineering consultancy firms like Surbana, Arup and Mott MacDonald generally comprise multidisciplinary teams of qualified engineers and other building-related professionals catering to multiple areas of expertise, from airport crosswind monitoring to urban planning. On the other hand, there are also medium-sized or smaller companies, which, in contrast, may instead specialise in a specific area, such as geotechnical, environmental or structural engineering.

Career overview Defining clients’ needs and translating them into designs for new facilities, equipment or systems; conducting initial fact-finding surveys, project inception, formulation and concept planning; and managing and supervising engineering projects for clients, sometimes internationally, are just some of the typical work activities common in this industry

But there’s more to this line of work, and engineering consultants can find themselves supervising subcontractors who provide specialist assistance for parts of the project, like organising the project’s logistics. This includes purchasing materials,overseeing the supply chain and liaising with others involved, such as architects and local authorities.

Trends and developments IIoT has exploded on the engineering scene in recent times, leading to a growing significance of data and automation. And while automation and robotics are definitely not new in the trends and developments department, constant technological advancements in 5G networking and cloud and edge computing mean that they’re continuously revolutionising the sector. Sustainable engineering, a mix of social science, environmental science and civic engineering also emerged not too long ago, propelled to the fore by Singapore’s water scarcity challenges.

Career highlights

Career progression As graduates continue to gain experience and skills, there’ll be the option to work towards a chartership and higher managerial positions. A wide variety of connections Engineering consultants often find themselves working with professionals from many different fields, from clients in non-engineering sectors to experts in related fields. The connections made can be diverse, which can be useful in knowledge expansion in other industries, as well as for future career opportunities.

Required skills

• Ability to work in, and manage, teams • Ability to work well under pressure • Creativity

Various learning opportunities

• Critical thinking skills

The opportunity to work on a variety of projects is one of the high points of a career in this sector. Graduates will constantly pick up new competencies, ski l l s a nd kn ow le d ge, all w h ile remaining at the forefront of technology development.

• Project management skills • Strong interpersonal skills • Strong theoretical knowledge in area of specialisation • Time management skills

STEM Career Guide 2022

ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK

Engineering Design and Construction Take the opportunity to work around the world on large-scale projects for multinational clients.

very company that produces ready products from raw materials may need the services of the engineering design and construction (EDC) industry, a sector that provides the necessary infrastructure and technology for manufacturing processes. Typically, EDC companies are appointed by major organisations to oversee large-scale projects that can be worth billions of dollars, such as building a new oil refinery or refitting an old chemical plant. Their job is to turn such requirements into commercial realities through the conceptualisation, procurement, construction and initial operation of the project.

Career overview EDC engineers are essentially contractors who cater to the specialised needs of clients such as petrochemical companies, chemical manufacturers and processed food producers. The industry is divided into two distinct divisions: “onshore” and “offshore”. This is further split into hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon-based sectors. EDC engineers working in the hydrocarbon field generally work on projects related to oil and gas production, but may also be contracted by manufacturers of chemicals and polymers. The non-hydrocarbon industry has more diversity, servicing areas of work such as pharmaceuticals, foods, minerals and metals, water treatment, industrial gases and environmental treatment.

STEM Career Guide 2022

Trends and developments

Foreign travel

As an area that caters to a variety of industries, the EDC sector is often affected by many of the vagaries that impact other sectors as well. These may include hot-topic issues such as commodity prices, energy scarcity, construction, development of sustainable energy sources and reducing carbon emissions. As such, EDC engineers need to pay special attention to such factors when working on projects. Another important issue in this industry is health and safety. It’s paramount for EDC contractors to ensure that all projects they work on adhere to international health and safety standards while still keeping costs as low as possible.

Plants are built in challenging places all over the world – including deserts and in the oceans – so foreign travel will be a routine feature of work. Although it may be challenging, the chance to travel and work in many different locations is often a highlight for many engineers in this field.

Required skills

• Ability to work in a team • Enthusiasm and drive • Leadership skills

Career highlights

• Numeracy skills

Training and support

• Self-motivated

Many employers have accredited training programmes that require engineers to experience all phases of projects and types of work. Moreover, future career direction is usually something a graduate engineer discusses in conjunction with their supervisor and mentor – for those on an accredited training scheme – to ensure that the right level of training and experience is planned and completed to match not only their aspirations, but the business needs of the company as well.

• Solid interpersonal skills • Strong aptitude for learning • Strong commitment to meeting scheduled timelines and delivering work

ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK

Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Develop and manage manufacturing processes to reduce costs and wastage while maximising productivity.

his industry provides consumers with essential products, such as household cleaning goods, toiletries, cosmetics and F&B, to fulfil daily needs and wants. With so many products and services, companies are commonly divided into two categories: corporate giants with a wide range of merchandise like Procter & Gamble (P&G) and Unilever; and organisations that specialise in a single category, such as L’Oréal in cosmetics and toiletries, and Nestlé, a renowned F&B behemoth.

Career overview Because thousands of product units can come off just one single production line every minute, engineers not only need to continually develop technology or improve processes to keep pace with consumer expectations and maximise output, but also manage manufacturing operations in order to reduce wastage and cost. Engineering graduates typically work alongside experienced engineers as part of a small team responsible for part of a process or project. As many FMCG companies tend to buy production lines off the peg, then customise and optimise them for their own purposes, engineers usually focus on improving lines or installing in-house technology.

Trends and developments While two major keywords among FMCG employers are “sustainability” and “reliability”, businesses are more

interested in keeping consistency by investing in machinery maintenance, automation, unmanned systems and programmable logical controllers to produce a consistent standard. As machinery breakdowns can incur huge losses in this sector, engineers spend a lot of time developing, improving and maintaining industrial manufacturing processes, machines and systems to accommodate the bulk and speed of production. The ultimate goal, however, is total automation, where machines and production lines can be left to run and operate almost full-time with little to no human intervention. In uncertain situations, such as the present pandemic, FMCG remains essential – especially when cases of panic-buying popped up around the world during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The industry is therefore expected to continue to face substantial challenges in meeting high consumer expectations and possible disruptions in the supply chain.

Career highlights Good training ground

Career progression opportunities Opportunities for career progression typically come in a year or two, and include management of a production line and its staff, as well as development and implementation of more effective systems technology. The dynamic nature of the industry, together with its willingness to embrace change, means that there are many opportunities to progress to interesting roles too.

Required skills

• Ability to work well under pressure • An eye for detail • Flexibility • Good interpersonal skills • Leadership skills • Sound decision-making skills • Updated and comprehensive knowledge of the industry

Manufacturing facilities may be highpressure environments, but they’re also brilliant training grounds for those able to keep up. Engineers face new challenges every day, and graduates will find themselves quickly learning about processes, equipment design and even people.

STEM Career Guide 2022

ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK

Food Manufacturing Engineers are the vital link in getting food onto consumers’ tables.

n alignment with one of Singapore’s biggest national pastimes, eating, the nation’s food manufacturing industry extends across a huge range, from flavours and sauces to ready-made meals, confectionery and beverages. As such, employers run the gamut, from major players like Nestlé and Suntory to fast food companies, food merchandisers and producers of edible additives. These companies maintain strong manufacturing presences in the city-state, especially as its position as a regional logistics hub allows for easy export to other ASEAN countries and global markets.

Career overview Engineers play an important role in this industry’s supply chain as the ones managing the processes, equipment, supplies and distribution channels to ensure that high-quality food products successfully reach consumers. In terms of job roles, graduates may end up in either the production or research divisions. Production roles tend to focus more on the manufacturing aspect of the supply chain, and there’s a lot of work with production machinery along with a concentration on optimising processes. On the other hand, recruits in the research division will be more focused on discovering better ways to produce specific food products, whether it’s lengthening the shelf-life of an item or looking into new chemicals that can reduce the amount of processed ingredients. 86

STEM Career Guide 2022

Trends and developments

Career highlights

“Unmanned equipment” and “automated processes” are the watchwords in this field, and it’s up to engineers to discover solutions to optimise production while maintaining constant quality. Increased automation has made it easier for major industry players to consolidate their operations, so hopefuls have to make it a point to keep up with such exchanges, along with staying abreast of who’s acquiring who, and consider the impacts that it may have on the sector in both the short and long terms. Another growing trend is the focus on organic ingredients or socially-responsible food processing, as the present, more health-aware and socially-conscious generation holds production practices along the food manufacturing supply chain up to deeper scrutiny. Moreover, in this field, conceptual shifts in the idea of convenience have resulted in the perpetual pursuit of timely yet hygienic delivery of products en masse – food items are highly perishable, and must be delivered in bulk with minimal risk of contamination. Further complicating matters are the drastically varying shelf lives of individual food products. Some products may only have a shelf life of a few hours, such as processed ingredients at fast food outlets, while others can be stored up to a few years, much like dried or canned goods.

Opportunity to work overseas Working for a global conglomerate may bag graduates the chance to work overseas and experience new working cultures. Japanese food companies, for example, typically require new staff to be seconded at their production headquarters in Japan for a period of time in order to immerse them in the company’s in-house production standards and culture. Good training ground Many larger employers in this field run graduate schemes, which provide graduates with excellent training and opportunities to experience working in different areas of the food manufacturing industry.

Required skills

• Ability to work in a team • Ability to work well under pressure • An analytical mind set • Good interpersonal skills • Good time management skills • Problem-solving skills

ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK

Materials and Metals Engineering Covering a broad range of disciplines, engineers in this sector have the chance to develop rare alloys or discover brand new materials.

ith almost everything in the engineering and technology industry dependent on materials and components to function, it’s no surprise that the materials and metals section is vital. After all, they are the ones who develop and supply these for companies and manufacturers alike. This field covers a broad scope, from the provision of raw materials and research into new compounds, to the manufacturing and sale of completed products. Due to the competitive nature of this industry, it’s common for materials suppliers to differentiate themselves through value-added approaches. One such approach is through specialisation – focusing on specialised products such as coated steel, rare metal alloys, or the development of materials for specific purposes.

Career overview Materials and metals companies serve numerous industries, developing new products and services and even solving problems for clients and customers. In both research and manufacturing roles, projects vary from short and quick turnabout projects, such as implementing general efficiency improvements in production, to longerterm strategic projects like expanding a product portfolio into new markets. Working in manufacturing facilities is fast-paced as engineers have to react to the daily challenges of keeping production facilities running. More than that, they also have to apply their

technical knowledge and communicate fresh ideas persuasively. Graduate opportunities in Singapore can be grouped into two broad categories. The first is production roles with companies running local materials production facilities, such as NatSteel. The other category, however, involves operational and sales roles with materials and metals companies running hubs in Singapore, such as BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.

Trends and developments An issue that continues to plague the industry is its harmful effect on the environment. Suppliers are thus constantly working on developing efficient production and waste management systems to address and alleviate problems such as industrial pollution. The high energy and material cost involved in each production cycle is another chief industrial concern, and many firms continuously re-evaluate their product portfolio and inventory to optimise their resources for maximum profit. A few major materials suppliers have even spun off certain items in their materials portfolio under separate subsidiary businesses in order to better focus on their core products. New and more durable commodities are also still emerging, such as bioand nano-materials, which may soon determine the growth pathway of the industry. Composites are another material with huge potential growth in this field.

Career highlights Large-scale production Most engineers working in the materials and metals field enjoy the opportunity to develop new products and compounds, especially considering the large-scale industrial applications of such items. Dynamic and exciting The sector’s fast-paced with a global reach – from mines in one continent to refineries and manufacturers in another – and there are also a variety of tasks at every stage of the production cycle. Graduates will be able to choose between back-end responsibilities such as developing new materials, products and processes, to front-end duties like liaising with clients or closing supply deals.

Required skills

• Ability to work in a team • Analytical skills • Commercial awareness • Effective organisational skills • Good interpersonal skills • Leadership skills

STEM Career Guide 2022

ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK

Pharmaceutical Engineering Engineers in the pharmaceuticals industry need strong interpersonal skills to work with people from varying backgrounds.

here’s a broad range of work in the pharmaceuticals sector. This includes drug manufacturing and development work, such as classic pharmaceuticals like prescribed medicines, biopharmaceuticals (like vaccines), medical technology and consumer business much like over-thecounter medicines. Singapore is also widely acknowledged as a top-rated clinical and biomedical R&D centre in Asia, with a growing pharmaceutical field – in spite of overall reductions in the manufacturing industry as a whole. Its continued growth and highly advanced status has managed to attract leading biomedical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis, which contribute to a highly innovative and competitive industry landscape. Pharmaceutical behemoth Sanofi Pasteur will be investing $638m over the course of five years and building a vaccine production centre in Singapore. The local government also formed the Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC) in 2019 to better integrate and organise the country’s pharmaceuticals ecosystem, and it has paid off – the industry is now worth an estimated $1.6b!

Career overview Pharmaceutical engineers are mostly engaged in the research and manufacturing of prescriptions and products. However, they may also work alongside pharmacists and chemists to develop active medicinal ingredients before synthesising them into consumable products, or maintain and optimise pharmaceutical production facilities. 88

STEM Career Guide 2022

Projects involving pharmaceutical engineers typically have long timescales, ranging from seven to 10 years to develop a product, run clinical trials and launch it to the public. Despite the length of the projects, though, less than 10 per cent of products put on trial ever make it to the market. This is because the industry is heavily regulated, and one of the side effects is that the rate of change is slow, though it can also be fast-paced and demanding at times, such as the race to find a vaccination to the Covid-19 virus. On a lighter note, however, as most pharmaceutical companies tend to be global giants, pharmaceutical engineers have the opportunity to work anywhere in the world.

Career highlights

Trends and developments

Because project teams are made up of different disciplines – research is the purview of scientists and chemical engineers, while engineers from other disciplines and more corporate positions are involved in industrialisation and commercialisation – there’s a high level of exposure that translates into chances to learn about other departments and disciplines.

Globally, the pharmaceutical sector is under pressure to make medication more affordable to patients in lower-income brackets and countries. Thus, companies are now investing in improving production efficiency and yields via automation to keep costs to patients low while still maintaining profit margins. Constant regulatory updates on drug manufacturing quality is also another challenge that organisations face, and engineers are indispensable in the face of developing increasingly sophisticated production line monitoring and measurement systems in order to maintain higher production standards. As there’s also an increased consumer demand for lifestyle- and age-related illness medication, focus on gene research and vaccine development has also heightened and led to trending growth in the production of biopharmaceutical and biological medical products worldwide.

Making a positive impact Pharmaceutical engineers are able to directly contribute to the betterment of people’s health as well as help improve quality of life. A dynamic industry Graduates have the opportunity to work in a rapidly-evolving field that encourages adoption of advanced medical technology, new products development and effective manufacturing strategies. They may even have the chance to work on developing cutting-edge technology never exploited before! Wide exposure

Required skills

• Ability to take on high levels of responsibility • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment • Ability to work in a team • Accountability • Adaptability • Patience (as projects have long timescales) • Solid interpersonal skills • Time management skills

EMPLOYERS Learn more about the leading employers with vacancies and internships in the STEM sector.

Citi Singapore .................................................... 90 Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) ...................... [IFC] 90 DSO National Laboratories ......................... [95] 94 Dyson ................................................................. 94 Foodpanda......................................................... 96 Ministry of Education (MOE)....................... [99] 96 NTUC Income ......................................... [2, 3] 100 OCBC ...................................................... [IBC] 100 The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) ............................ [104, 105] 102 The Singapore Army .............................. [OBC] 102 Singapore Police Force (SPF)................... [107] 106

[ ] = advertisement IFC = inside front cover IBC = inside back cover OBC = outside back cover

LISTINGS

Citi Singapore

Citi is more than a global financial services company. It’s an engine for enabling economic growth and progress. Students who join our programme will have the chance to get involved in progress in all its shapes and forms, right across the world. From the micro to the macro, from Australia to Vietnam, the work we do has a real positive impact. Asia Pacific is the fastest economic region with an emerging affluent consumer base. Citi is one of the best positioned banks to support these growth trends. Since 1902, Citi has had a presence in Asia, with operations across 16 markets and over 50,000 employees supporting 16M consumer and several thousand institutional clients. But it’s our unwavering focus on delivering opportunities for growth and development of our people that is best known within the industry. Here, opportunities

to progress are truly open to all. It all adds up to an exciting place to be for talented, ambitious people who want to build a truly remarkable career. Citi has over 200,000 employees worldwide. We serve clients in over 160 countries. We have a presence in 95 markets. Job Roles • APAC ICG Technology Production Support Summer Analyst • APAC ICG Technology Software Development Summer Analyst • APAC Global Consumer Technology, Full Time Analyst • APAC Private Bank (Personal Banking and Wealth Management team), Full Time Analyst Go to our website to find out about our summer programmes as well.

3 Changi Business Park Crescent, Tower 1, Level 4, Singapore 486026 Web https://careers.citigroup.com/ students-and-graduates/ @Citi

Sector • Banking and Financial services

Jobs available Graduate job

Internship

Minimum requirement Degree

Number of employees More than 100,000 employees

Application periods Graduate jobs: August - December Internships: August - December

Find out more at

Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA)

The Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) brings you to the forefront of cybersecurity, digital transformation and engineering. From working on software development and systems integration to unmanned technologies and artificial intelligence, you can have an impact on Singapore’s defence.

DSTA is recognised as one of the top 10 employers in the Engineering and IT sector, where our engineers and IT professionals work alongside procurement specialists to deliver state-of-the-art capabilities for Singapore’s peace and security. Internship opportunities and a meaningful career await you!

Achieve your fullest potential with opportunities to build your technical expertise and hone your competencies in diverse domains. You can also expect an immersive learning experience where you’ll work with bright minds and collaborate with global industry experts.

1 Depot Road, Singapore 109679 Web https://www.dsta.gov.sg Email hrjobs@dsta.gov.sg internship@dsta.gov.sg scholarship@dsta.gov.sg @SingaporeDSTA @SingaporeDSTA @DSTA

Sectors • Engineering, Design and Manufacturing • IT and Technology

Jobs available Graduate job

Internship

Minimum requirement Degree

Diploma

Number of employees 1,000 – 10,000 employees

Find out more at

gradsingapore STEM Career Guide 2022

Application period Applications are open all year-round

PROFILE

A DAY IN THE LIFE 7:00 AM As I graduated in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, I started my career working from home. I routinely wake at 7:00 AM, and by 7:10 AM I’m all settled in at my desk, and checking my email inbox to keep a close eye on any issues that may have arisen overnight. Being part of a global organisation means that I’m in contact with markets all around the world, and our NAM and EMEA counterparts may have highlighted issues when I was off-the-clock. After I’ve checked in from an overnight handover on major market moves, I’ll usually scan through the top news on Bloomberg. 7:30 AM

Matthias Ephraim Goh Wei Zheng JOB

Markets Analyst

EMPLOYER

Citi Singapore Matthias obtained his Bachelor of Science in Mathematical, Computational and Statistical Sciences from Yale-NUS College in 2021.

As an analyst on a trading desk, I support the desk in market making and risk management, and also research and back test trade ideas for the team. Because of this, mornings are usually the busiest. It’s when I’ll be running daily reports from the day before and morning of, and ensuring I identify any inconsistencies in these reports before sending them out to the team by 7:30 AM. 10:30 AM By the time I hit 10:30 AM, my morning starts to slow down as I usually send out my last morning report around this time. I then spend the next hour catching up on market developments and any trade flows that have occurred in the past few hours that are relevant to my product group. It’s my responsibility to make sure that I’m up-to-date with market moves during the day. Writing up my daily market summaries helps me stay on top of the news and helps my team adjust their trading strategies! In addition, if I’m not working on any timesensitive work related to the market, I’ll continue working on any desk/product projects that I’m responsible for. 11:30 AM To avoid the lunch crowds, I usually head down to get some lunch at around 11:30 AM, before going back to my desk for the afternoon. 1:00 PM I begin to collate midday commentary from various onshore and offshore traders to provide market colour to our London colleagues before the start of their day. I further assist in trade bookings throughout the afternoon and continue reading research articles on Citi Velocity, our market research platform, to better inform any market views and trade ideas that can help our global product team. During this time, I usually chat with other members of the team to get their feedback or thoughts as well, to ensure any market views or commentary can reflect our APAC team. 4:00 PM

“It’s my responsibility to make sure that I’m up-to-date with market moves during the day. Writing up my daily market summaries helps me stay on top of the news and helps my team adjust their trading strategies!”

Market activity starts to pick up near market close. The two main end-of-day tasks that I’m responsible for are profit and loss (P&L) reconciliation and P&L estimation. Both processes require thorough understanding of intra-day market movements and our risk exposure. This is another busy part of the day, as I tend to start having more trade bookings come in alongside other routine tasks required to be completed for my team after market close. 7:00 PM As team members begin to log off for the day, I typically take this time to scan through my inbox to check if I missed out on any emails during the day. I also take this time to complete any mandatory training and outstanding deliverables. After logging off for the day, I’ll head down to a fitness class before finishing the day with a dinner with friends or family.

gradsingapore STEM Career Guide 2022 | 91

PROFILE

A DAY IN THE LIFE 8:30 AM Since work starts at 9:30 AM, I usually wake up at 8:30 AM to do some light stretches. I also always make sure to drink a cup of tea every morning so that I’m energised for the day ahead. 10:30 AM

Nicole Tan JOB

Software Engineer

EMPLOYER

Citi Singapore

Nicole obtained her Bachelor in Information Systems from Singapore Management University (SMU) in 2020.

I keep myself busy by doing some Database or Java coding for the projects that I’m a part of, as well as replying to emails. As a software engineer, I’m responsible for researching, designing, writing new software to ensure that our applications are constantly being improved and solving the end user’s needs. As most of my time is spent analysing existing programmes and understanding the code base used, this allows me to debug when there are issues faced by those using our applications. 11:30 AM I get an Outlook reminder from the Citi Women Singapore Network in connection with International Women’s Day that there’s a Fireside chat event titled “Speak up, Be heard #BreakTheBias”. It’s wonderful to be in a company that stresses the importance of creating a diverse and inclusive workspace! 1:00 PM If I’m in the office, my team makes an effort to go for lunch with everyone else who’s there. We explore different restaurants and cafes nearby together. If I’m working from home, I usually have a homemade lunch with my mother, and use the lunch break to spend time with her. 3:00 PM Working in a global team, meetings are conducted with colleagues all around the world. Being in the Business Intelligence (BI) Team, we’re constantly interacting with stakeholders from various teams in the company. I attend our catch-up meetings where we all come together and voice out any potential issues or concerns on our various projects. When faced with any issue, my team members will brainstorm together for potential solutions, demonstrating one of Citi’s Leadership Principles of We Succeed Together. Being developers, we’ve an important role in these meetings, as we offer our technical perspective and expertise on the project. We also evaluate the soundness of any technical solutions proposed during these meetings. 4:00 PM I open sqldeveloper and do some PL/SQL coding for an automation project that I’m a part of. My task is to include some BI Application related conditions in the procedure code, so that when automation occurs, data can flow as expected and users will be able to raise Create/Modify/Delete Access to our application, as per required in an automated flow.

“When faced with any issue, my team members will brainstorm together for potential solutions, demonstrating one of Citi’s Leadership Principles of We Succeed Together.”

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5:30 PM I open my Zoom and Project Managers for different programmes and projects. I join the calls and provide updates for our Internal Governance Tracking purposes. Everyone is engaged on the call and unafraid to speak up if there are any issues faced or mistakes. It’s a good practice, as we’re always learning from our mistakes together, and improving our process to ensure all our projects are on track. 6:30 PM I usually end my day with a long run or a 45-minute HIIT workout to ensure that I incorporate some movement into my week, and can feel refreshed and accomplished.

PROFILE

A DAY IN THE LIFE 8:00 AM

Han Wei Chou JOB

Senior Engineer (Cybersecurity)

EMPLOYER

Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) Wei Chou obtained his Bachelor of Engineering in Information and Communications Technology (Software Engineering) from the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) in 2019.

“Even though my work isn’t seen by the public, I find it incredibly satisfying to be able to do hands-on exploration, and build products that can make a real impact to our nation’s defence.”

While commuting to work, I scan the internet to stay up to date with the latest news and trends in the digital space. As a cybersecurity engineer in DSTA, it’s important for me to stay abreast with the evolving cyber landscape, as it provides me with valuable insights and knowledge to better innovate and develop technological capabilities for Singapore’s defence. My work involves designing and developing solutions to enhance the security of mobile devices for the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). While mobile devices and apps are great enablers for enterprise functions and military operations, mobile malware is becoming increasingly rampant and sophisticated. My team explores and develops advanced cyber solutions to strengthen the security of these devices, and in doing so, safeguard our military information. 9:30 AM To ensure that everyone is synced up and our projects are on track, we hold regular team meetings to provide project updates and discuss the way forward. We also raise any challenges or roadblocks faced, and everyone works together to brainstorm for solutions and resolve issues promptly. DSTA has an open culture that supports collaboration and the sharing of ideas. This provides a conducive environment for us to bounce ideas off one another, expand potential solutions, and improve our products swiftly, which I really appreciate. 11:00 AM I hop on a call with my counterparts from MINDEF and the SAF where we discuss our project requirements. Working closely with our partners is critical to understanding their needs and ensuring our solutions add value to their work. It’s also really interesting to learn about the unique work that they do! 12:30 PM Food brings people together, and my colleagues and I enjoy connecting over lunch too. Our office cafeteria offers a range of delectable food options, which are complemented by other foodie-approved choices around our office’s vicinity. By exchanging knowledge and sharing our diverse experiences about our hobbies and interesting technologies, we are able to forge stronger bonds. 1:30 PM My team and I work on many of the latest and emerging areas across cybersecurity, be it performing forensics to understand malware behaviour, conducting research and developing code, testing the software developed, or performing vulnerability assessments and penetration testing. One of my projects is a secure mobility suite, which utilises in-house developed software and artificial intelligence to detect and analyse anomalous behaviour on devices. The solution leverages sensors that can monitor around 50 different aspects of devices, such as network activity, unauthorised connections and more. Even though my work isn’t seen by the public, I find it incredibly satisfying to be able to do hands-on exploration, and build products that can make a real impact to our nation’s defence. 5:00 PM My programme centre has a monthly initiative called Sports Hour, where we’re encouraged to leave work an hour earlier to exercise if we don’t have urgent work on hand. I take this time to do a short workout at our office gym. Beyond that, we also take time to bond over fun activities like virtual craft workshops and celebrate festive seasons together. I treasure the friendships and camaraderie we share. 6:00 PM I reserve my evenings for my family and for recharging myself, so that I’m prepared for the next day’s work. Working in DSTA is challenging, exciting and most meaningful as we get to evolve with technology and develop cutting-edge capabilities to meet Singapore’s defence and safety needs.

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LISTINGS

DSO National Laboratories

DSO National Laboratories (DSO) is Singapore’s largest defence research and development (R&D) organisation. Undertaking indigenous development of advanced defence and weapon systems for the last 50 years and counting, we provide the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) with the superior technological edge in the battlefield. While our primary focus is to support the SAF, DSO also extends its defence R&D capabilities to support homeland security. Join us and be a part of more than 1,600 defence engineers and scientists transforming ideas into reality and pushing the boundaries of science and technology across the domains of air, land, sea, space and cyberspace.

exposure with local and overseas scholarships and development programmes. This is more than just a career. This is where you make a real impact and shape the future of defence. Job Roles • Aerospace • Algorithm Design • Artificial Intelligence • Communications • Cryptology • Cyber Security • Data Analytics And more...

• Electronics Design • Embedded Systems • Physics • Robotics • Software Engineering

12 Science Park Drive, Singapore 118225 Tel (+65) 6776 2255 Web https://www.dso.org.sg/ Email campusrelations@dso.org.sg @dso.sg @discoverdso @DSONationalLaboratories

Sectors • Engineering, Design and Manufacturing • IT and Technology • Scientific Research and Development

Jobs available Graduate job

Internship

Minimum requirement Degree

At DSO, you’ll never stop growing – benefit from structured training programmes that enhance your soft skills and technical knowledge, and gain global

Diploma

Number of employees 1,000 – 10,000 employees

Application periods Find out more at

Graduate jobs: All year-round Internships: All year-round

Dyson

At Dyson we are focused on solving the problems that others have ignored; solving them first using our technology and ingenuity.

empowerment, development and equality in an inclusive environment for our people around the world.

In order to achieve this we need to pioneer technologies that are different and authentic. This is the core of what we do and who we are. We must strive to create the future, every single day by developing new things, different things, things that go against the grain with a diverse and global team of ingenious minds.

The future doesn’t just happen, we look to make it happen, to achieve leaps through pioneering new ideas.

Dyson employs over 13,000 people and is present in more than 80 countries. And while we are growing fast we want Dyson to remain a start-up in spirit with the freedom of experimentation and learning, constantly reinventing our products as well as reinventing how we work, how we sell and how we support our owners. Underlining everything we do in this diverse environment is the need to always show respect, supporting each other as one team to overcome whatever challenges we encounter. We drive

gradsingapore STEM Career Guide 2022

Job Roles At Dyson you’ll combine your technical expertise with creativity to solve problems others ignore. We have roles such as: • Electronics • Energy Storage Engineer Development • Design Engineer Engineer • Robotics Research • Manufacturing Engineer Engineering • Software Engineer • Machine Learning • • Cybersecurity • •

Find out more at

St James Power Station, 3 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098544 Web https://careers.dyson.com/engb/what-you-can-do/early-careers/ Email seagraduates@dyson.com

Sectors • Engineering, Design and Manufacturing • IT and Technology

Jobs available Graduate job Internship

Minimum requirement Degree

Number of employees 10,000 – 50,000 employees

Application periods Graduate jobs: Throughout the year Internships: December to March

WHERE WILL YOUR

CURIOSIT Y TAKE YOU?

how to build an impenetrable cyber system

Your search - how to build an impenetrable cyber system - did not match any documents. Suggestions: • • • •

Go to outer space and ask the aliens for answers. Go into cryogenic sleep until someone else figures it out. Go to the Birthplace of Knowledge and dig for an answer. Find your own answer at DSO National Laboratories.

LISTINGS

foodpanda

At foodpanda, we are on a mission to redefine how food, people, culture and tech are connected. Headquartered in Singapore, foodpanda offers a quick and convenient way to order food, groceries and more delivered to your doorstep at the touch of a button. Through our network of local restaurants, retailers and pandamart stores, we provide thousands of exciting on-demand options to customers in over 400 cities across 11 markets in Asia. Our panda family consists of problem solvers, designers and thinkers, working around the clock to make foodpanda the most powerful online tool for food convenience in the universe – and we are just getting started! With over 8,000 employees representing more than 50 nationalities in 11 locations across Asia, we are proud to celebrate the diverse cultures across our teams and are committed to ensuring that everyone feels valued and respected.

Together, we are united by a common goal to build the leading food delivery and q-commerce platform and provide the best user experience for millions of customers across Asia. Hungry to make an impact? Join us and feed your career with foodpanda! We are hiring for: • Accounting • Business Administration • Economics • Engineering • Finance • Humanities, Art and Social Sciences • IT and Computer Sciences • Law • Maths • Sciences

Afro Asia, 63 Robinson Road, Level 9-13, Singapore 068894 Web https://careers.foodpanda.com/ Email studentsandgrads@foodpanda.com @foodpanda

Sector • IT and Technology

Jobs available Graduate job

Internship

Number of employees 1,000 – 10,000 employees

Application periods Graduate jobs: Open all year-round Internships: Open all year-round (varies for different teams)

Find out more at

Ministry of Education (MOE)

Join MOE and our team of talents dedicated to building up our next generation as we work together to mould the future of our nation. Education Officer/Teacher Be the one who inspires and nurtures young lives. Join MOE as a teacher and embark on a journey of guiding students to reach their fullest potential. Motivate our students and equip them with the skills they need as they grow into lifelong learners and responsible citizens of tomorrow. Every teacher at MOE is important to us. You will be supported with the resources and professional development opportunities to develop and progress in your career. MOE offers the following three career tracks: the Teaching Track, Leadership Track, and Senior Specialist Track.

formulating, implementing and managing education-related policies which are pivotal to helping our schools run smoothly and creating a conducive environment for learning in our dynamic educational landscape. You can look forward to gaining varied experiences in areas such as policy formulation and implementation, organisational administration and operations. Excellent career opportunities at MOE headquarters (HQ) and in schools await you. Job Roles • Educator • Management Executive roles

gradsingapore STEM Career Guide 2022

Sector • Public Sector

Jobs available Graduate job

Number of employees 10,000 – 50,000 employees

Application period Please visit go.gov.sg/moeapplication to view available career opportunities and application timelines.

Management Executive Versatile and forward-looking? Join us as a Management Executive and be involved in

1 North Buona Vista Drive, Singapore 138675 Tel (+65) 6872 2220 Web moe.gov.sg/careers Email moe.gov.sg/contact-us @Ministry of Education, Singapore @moesingapore @Ministry of Education, Singapore (MOE)

Find out more at

PROFILE

A DAY IN THE LIFE 6:00 AM I’m up and about by this time, looking forward to what the day will bring me! A hearty breakfast is a must to energise me for the morning, which I know will be chock-full of activities the moment I hit the school gates. I also look into relief planning for the day, so that the teachers who are unable to be in school can take the day off with peace of mind. 7:20 AM

Emmanuel Chng JOB

Level Head (Lower Secondary Science), Compassvale Secondary School

EMPLOYER

Ministry of Education

Emmanuel obtained his Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Physics from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in 2012.

“No two days in the life of a teacher are exactly the same! This is one of the exciting aspects of teaching as a profession.”

The school is already buzzing at this hour. I make my way to my form class for assembly and form teacher guidance time. This daily interaction with my form class is precious. It’s important that I’m the trusted adult they can turn to whenever they need a listening ear. I spend some time chatting with a few students individually to find out how they’re coping. 8:00 AM Before I know it, lessons have begun. I have about three hours of lessons daily, including the Applied Learning Programme (ALP) lessons. Our ALP employs an active learning approach to the teaching of aeronautics. We expose lower secondary students to the principles of flight and developments in drone technology through a mix of theory lessons and hands-on activities. Students work in groups, which allows them to develop their competencies in social awareness and relationship management. 11:30 AM In between lessons, I look for the teachers in the teams under my charge to find out more about the classes they’re teaching. As lower secondary science is a mix of biology, chemistry and physics, I also seek out beginning teachers to provide them with support in teaching topics that fall under a branch of science that isn’t in their area of specialisation. These informal conversations in the aisles allow us to bounce lesson ideas off each other and discuss effective teaching strategies. As teachers, we’re always learning from one another! Around this time, I also take my lunch. Lunchtime varies daily, but our school’s timetabling team ensures that we have short breaks before continuing with lessons for the rest of the day. 3:00 PM Time flies! The school day has ended for most students. Meetings that involve teachers are usually scheduled after school dismissal. Today, I attend a meeting with my department to discuss the design of lesson resources to be mounted on online platforms like the Singapore Student Learning Space or Google Classroom. As we’re moving into a blended learning model, this encourages self-directed learning. Another item in our meeting agenda is the review of the national examination results achieved by our students last year. We discussed what worked well and what didn’t, so that we can better support the learning of our graduating students this year. Most importantly, we celebrate the good progress of our students, especially those who have overcome personal challenges. Grades do not define one’s success. Instead, it’s the grit and growth mindset demonstrated that we believe are important traits to see them far in life. When there are no meetings planned, I give feedback to my students’ work, and review my lesson plans for the next day and ensure that I have the resources ready. On the days with co-curricular activities, I drop by the Aeronautics Club, which I’m co-advisor of. It’s always a great pleasure to see my students engaged in their area of passion. 5:30 PM My day ends, and I head home to rest and recharge for the next day. No two days in the life of a teacher are exactly the same! This is one of the exciting aspects of teaching as a profession.

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PROFILE

A DAY IN THE LIFE 8:00 AM Timely communication is key to effective collaboration. I start my day by catching up with my colleagues over emails and collaborative platforms such as SG-Teams (Microsoft Teams for MOE) to provide updates on various pieces of shared work. 9:00 AM

Tan Shao Xun JOB

Gifted Education Officer (Curriculum Planning and Development Division), Physics Teacher

EMPLOYER

Ministry of Education, Curriculum Planning and Development Division, Gifted Education Branch Tan Shao Xun obtained his Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Physics from the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2013.

My current role requires me to look into the development of digital literacies in students. What we do at MOE Headquarters impacts a wider audience and requires planning and coordination over a longer period. I meet colleagues from the branch to discuss the refinement of learning resources and related programmes. Sometimes, the discussions also involve external partners from Institutes of Higher Learning to provide opportunities for extension of learning in authentic contexts. Authentic learning is a topic which is close to my heart—back in school as a teacher, I would be bustling around at this hour infusing scientific demonstrations and realworld examples in my lessons to pique students’ curiosity. They could be observing a demonstration on density using regular and diet soda in water and thereafter, they would connect their observations to theory on digital spaces such as the Singapore Student Learning Space. 11:30 AM After ensuring that all the necessary information has been shared with the various team members and that we are on track with the project deliverables, I get ready for another aspect of my current work which I enjoy thoroughly—school visits! Lesson plan for the lesson I would be observing? Check. Specific instructional objectives? Check. Lesson observation log? Check. 12:00 PM Depending on our work locations in the morning, my colleagues and I would arrange lunch plans accordingly. We may not be able to lunch together often now due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, but that doesn’t stop us from sharing with one another food recommendations and tips on brewing that aromatic cup of coffee. 1:00 PM My team and I are now at the school we’re visiting. What a privilege to feel the pulse of a perennially dynamic environment! We set off for the classrooms with our purpose etched firmly in our minds: to provide support and guidance on how learning experiences for students can be refined through these lesson observations, and at the same time, learn from fellow educators. Being a part of students’ learning and growth is always a meaningful and fulfilling experience. 3:30 PM

“Knowing that I have the support of knowledgeable, purpose-driven and caring colleagues makes me look forward to work every day.”

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I check in with another team who would be conducting an online workshop for teachers soon. Today, we’ll be sharing on e-pedagogy and the use of ICT tools. The adoption of digital tools at work now means that as soon as I complete my school visit, I can log in remotely and join this professional development session. Educators, too, need to learn continuously in order to improve our quality of teaching and learning. I’m always heartened by our educators’ tireless passion for their craft, as evidenced by their signing up for these virtual learning opportunities even after a long day at work. 6:00 PM I wrap up my tasks for the day and plan for the week ahead. Reflecting on my experiences with MOE thus far, I’m thankful for the diverse opportunities given to develop my strategic thinking and partner different stakeholders to develop our students holistically. Knowing that I have the support of knowledgeable, purpose-driven and caring colleagues makes me look forward to work every day. Not forgetting the crucial role work-life harmony plays in maintaining my physical and mental well-being, I head off for my thrice-weekly exercise routine. In fact, some of my best ideas are generated during this time!

TEACH LESSONS THAT OUTLAST CLASSES VALUES THAT LAST A LIFETIME. IT ALL BEGINS WITH A TEACHER.

Join us as a teacher. moe.gov.sg/teach

LISTINGS

NTUC Income 75 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189557 Web income.com.sg/careers/workingat-income NTUC Income is Singapore’s leading composite insurer, offering products and services that serve the protection, savings and investment needs of different life stages and for all segments of society. Income’s innovative, datadriven and omni-channel approach puts us at the forefront of customer-centric solutions that meet rapidly evolving needs and empower better financial well-being.

We are committed to create a positive social impact through our products, services and people. Today, we insure close to 1.7 million lives in Singapore across life, health and general insurance. Our financial strength and diversified investment portfolio is reflected by our strong credit ratings which underpin the delivery of our commitment to customers.

Income was established in 1970 and remains the only insurance co-operative in Singapore.

Sector • Insurance and Risk Management

Jobs available Graduate job

Internship

Minimum requirement Degree

Diploma

Number of employees 1,000 – 10,000 employees

Find out more at

OCBC

OCBC Bank is the longest established Singapore bank. It is now the second largest financial services group in Southeast Asia by assets and one of the world’s most highly-rated banks, with an Aa1 rating from Moody’s. We are committed to creating a conducive work environment – one that is inclusive, welcomes innovation and encourages continual learning and development. Whether you are an Engineering major, IT expert, Math whiz, or a people-person, we see each of your individuality and potential to shine with us.

We are hiring for: • Graduate Talent Programme • FRANKpreneurship Internship Programme • STEM @ OCBC Internship Programme • Business Development Managers • Customer Service Executives • Mortgage Specialists • Personal Financial Consultants

We provide career mobility opportunities across our different business units, subsidiaries or even country offices; from Consumer, Corporate and Investment Banking, to Fintech and Innovation, so you can discover your career interests and niche areas, all within the bank. We want you to enjoy and take pride in your work, be passionate, driven and have fun – after all, joy does bring out the best in people. And we want nothing less.

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Find out more at

OCBC Centre, 65 Chulia Street, Singapore 049513 Tel 1800 363 3333 Web www.ocbc.com/group/careers/ Email Weseeyou@ocbc.com @OCBC Careers @OCBC Bank

Sectors • Banking and Financial Services • Investment Banking and Investment Management • IT and Technology

PROFILE

A DAY IN THE LIFE 8:00 AM My usual day at work typically involves me getting some simple breakfast before work. Food is essential for the brain to function, and you wouldn’t want to work on an empty stomach! My morning ritual then continues with me browsing social media platforms and Google News for the latest updates in the tech industry – not just limited to banking, but also Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence and even Gaming! 10:00 AM

Vladimir Leoh JOB

Assistant Manager, Digital Transformation

EMPLOYER

OCBC

Vladimir obtained his Master of Science (Technology Management) and Bachelor of Engineering Science (Mechanical Engineering) from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in 2019.

Working in the Digital Transformation Team, we get to work on several interesting projects on a day-to-day basis. The projects are varied in nature and require me to engage with different people across the Bank – our product managers, branches and contact centre, our customer experience team, our AI gurus, technologists and even collaborate closely with my colleagues across in Malaysia. Currently, we’re in the testing phase for some of our projects. This means daily morning stand-ups with our tech and testing teams. Through these meetings, we identify and solve key issues before they reach the consumers. I’ve found this to be a great learning experience. Over time we learn to understand the bank’s IT infrastructure and our microservice strategy, which then allows us to make better design decisions for future projects. 12:00 PM This is my favourite time of the day, as it’s time for lunch! Because OCBC is situated in the Central Business District (CBD), there are tons and tons of great food available. Boat Quay sits directly opposite us, and there are rows of shophouses there which sell a vast variety of food. If we’re looking for more affordable options, there are famous hawker centres within a short distance from us. These include the Interim, Amoy Street Food Centre and Hong Lim Food Centre. Lunch is also a great time to catch up with my batch of Graduate Talents from other departments. We can learn about the other projects that are ongoing, and can often pick up new insights that we can take back for our own work. 3:00 PM Post-lunch, I would usually review different aspects of the customer journey together with the Customer Experience (CX) team. This is where we identify key customer pain points to smoothen the entire customer experience with the bank. Working with the CX team has been a pleasant experience overall, as it trains your attention to detail and to think from the customer’s perspective. Brainstorming sessions frequently occur where we would draw our journey maps and screen mockups. There’s most certainly no lack of creative juices here! 5:00 PM

“Even though I’m just starting out in the bank, there isn’t a single moment where I feel like my ideas and thoughts are overlooked.”

Some days I end the day with just sharing opinions and bouncing ideas off the team. I think OCBC greatly values the fresh mindset that fresh graduates have to offer. That’s why there are so many of us here! Even though I’m just starting out in the bank, there isn’t a single moment where I feel like my ideas and thoughts are overlooked. People are constantly looking for new ideas, and they’re looking for opinions on existing products from fresh graduates – the customers of tomorrow!

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LISTINGS

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)

As guardians of the sky, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is always there, keeping watch over our horizons. From patrolling our skies, keeping watch from the ground, being the eyes and ears in the command centre, or sustaining our state-ofthe-art platforms, every man and woman works together to achieve something that is truly beyond measure – peace.

The RSAF is founded on the core values and competencies of its World Class People. We are committed to the nation, the SAF, the RSAF and to one another. Together we will overcome adversity with courage and fortitude. Above all, our people are the heart of our organisation.

The RSAF is a First Class Air Force, always ready to deter aggression and defend Singapore and its interests.

3 Depot Road, #01-43 Singapore 109680 Tel 1800 270 1010 Web careers.rsaf.gov.sg Email airforceapplication@defence. gov.sg @TheRSAF @TheRSAF @TheRSAF @TheRSAF

Sectors • Aviation, Transport and Supply Chain • Engineering, Design and Manufacturing • Public Sector

Jobs available

We will respond decisively to the full spectrum of missions from peace to war as part of an integrated Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Graduate job

Internship

Minimum requirement

We will be superior in the air and decisively influence the ground and maritime battles.

Degree

Diploma

Number of employees 1,000 – 10,000 employees

Find out more at

Application period Graduate jobs: All year-round

The Singapore Army

Our Army is the bedrock of our nation’s defence. We draw our strength from our Regulars, NSFs (National Servicemen) and Operationally Ready NSmen. We thrive on the support of our Families, Employers and fellow Singaporeans. Ready in peace, we are capable of a full spectrum of operations.

Decisive in war, we will fight and win to defend our country. Respected by all, our Army is a trusted national institution. We forge the fighting spirit of our people to secure our future and protect our way of life.

Army Recruitment Centre, 3 Depot Road, #01-66, Singapore 109680 Tel 1800 687 2769 Web www.armycareers.gov.sg @oursingaporearmy @oursingaporearmy @oursingaporearmy

Sector • Public Sector

Jobs available Graduate job

Number of employees More than 100,000 employees

Application period Applications are open all year-round

Find out more at

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PROFILE

BUILDING UPON OUR MIGHT

ME5 Kristy Rose Ryan JOB

Air Force Engineer

EMPLOYER

Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)

Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical & Electronic Engineering), Nanyang Technological University, 2010.

Creating a first-class Air Force takes more than brute strength – it requires unparalleled ingenuity too, on top of a flair for problem-solving and expertise in state-of-the-art aviation and weapon systems, as well as providing innovative solutions that enhance and sustain our Air Power. The deciding factor

Growing up, my parents frequently brought me to the Singapore Airshow where the fascinating aerobatic displays and thunderous roar of the jet engines left a big impression on me. It was then that I decided to embark on a career in the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) after graduating, as it allowed me to combine my interests in engineering and airplanes. Challenges and opportunities

As an Air Force Engineer, we are held to very high standards to ensure the airworthiness of the aircraft and systems. As such, it is imperative that we continuously develop our technical competency and knowledge to do our job well. I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to attend numerous professional training courses, both overseas and local, which has helped deepen my engineering expertise. Experience and skills

“As an Air Force Engineer, we are held to very high standards to ensure the airworthiness of the aircraft and systems.”

I was the Officer Commanding (OC) of Communication, Navigation and Electronic Warfare Flight in 808 Squadron, where I led a team of Air Force Engineers to manage and maintain the systems on board the F-16D+. I lead the team to rectify aircraft and provide engineering solutions to ensure that the aircraft systems were fit for flight.

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F-15SG

Strike Eagle Maximum Speed: Mach 2.5 Ceiling: 19,200 m Maximum Range: 5,745 km Combat Radius: 1,000 km

AH-64D

C-130

Hercules Maximum Speed: 320 knots Maximum Range: 4,800 NM Endurance: 15 hours Service Ceiling: 40,000 feet

Apache Longbow Helicopter Maximum Speed: 147 knots Endurance: 3 hours

Heron 1

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Cruise Speed: 70 knots Endurance: Over 24 hours Maximum Range: 200 km Payload Capability: Multi-mission Optronic Stabilised Payload

Aerostat

Early Warning Tethered Balloon System Operating Height: 600 m Operating Duration: Capable of round-the-clock operations Sensor Capability: Detects air and maritime threats

SPYDER

Surface-to-air PYthon-5 and DERby Maximum Intercept Range: 15 km Maximum Intercept Altitude: 9 km

LISTINGS

Singapore Police Force (SPF) 178 Neil Road, Singapore 088889 Tel 1800-352-0000 Web www.police.gov.sg/career Email SPF_Career@spf.gov.sg Only one career grooms you to be an able planner, communicator, and a leader, ensuring that you rise above the challenge and can make a positive impact on those around you. The Singapore Police Force plays a critical role in keeping Singapore safe and secure with our mission to prevent, deter, and detect crime. We do this by working in partnership with the community to protect life and property, prevent crime and disorder, detect and apprehend offenders, and preserve our sense of security. Not many careers put you in the thick of action every day. As a member of the Singapore Police Force, you will face real-life situations where your resolve and leadership abilities will be put to the test. Responsibilities As an Inspector of the Singapore Police Force, you will manage and work with well-trained officers to combat and prevent crime. With opportunities for postings that involve frontline

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operations, staff work, as well as investigative work in Neighbourhood Police Centres, Land Divisions, and various Specialist Units, you will get to interact with people from all walks of life and be exposed to the many facets of law enforcement. Career with SPF The work of a Police Officer is not just to fight crime, but also to protect the vulnerable. You need to be tenacious and tough yet sensitive and empathetic when required. You must be able to think on your feet and remain calm in critical situations, but also be proactive and sincere when engaging the community. Join us as a Police Officer (Direct - Entry Inspector)! Applications are open to STEM students.

Find out more at

Sector • Public Sector

Jobs available Graduate job

Minimum requirement Degree

Number of employees 1,000 – 10,000 employees

Application period Graduate jobs: All year-round

FLICKING FROM THE BACK

GTI Media is the world’s largest careers and graduate recruitment publisher. Founded in the UK in 1988, GTI publishes and distributes more than 100 careers and recruitment products around the globe. GTI Media Singapore would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the 2022 issue of gradsingapore’s STEM Career Guide! Chief Editor Elliyani Mohamad Ali Editor & Editorial Sarah Si, Dawn Yip Design & production A’liah binti Abdul Rahim, Allysha Puteri Harfaz Advertising Ron Ong, Joey Ng, The GTI Media sales team Marketing & distribution Henry Ng, Siti Nurshabarna Anuar, Aisyah Sani Publisher Isaac Hee

Sector Overview

How to Get Hired

Science

IT and Technology

Engineering

Employers

GTI Asia Pte Ltd (Company number: 200301978M) 2 Sims Close #05-07 Gemini@Sims Singapore 387298 T+(65) 6294 6505 F +(65) 6294 1043 Printer Times Printer Pte Ltd 16 Tuas Ave 5 Singapore 639340 © GTI Asia Pte Ltd, May 2022 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means including, but not limited to, photocopying or storage in a retrieval system in any form without prior written consent of GTI. The views expressed in the articles are those of authors and their publication, and do not necessarily imply that such views are shared by GTI. Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this publication, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, or for consequential loss arising from such inaccuracies, or for any loss, direct or consequential, arising in connection with information in this publication.

Think Change. Think Future. Whether you are an Engineering major, IT expert, Math whiz, or a peopleperson, we see each of your individuality and potential to shape the future. The first step in your career is one of life’s important milestones – let us help you maximise your potential to deliver a difference.

www.ocbc.com/careers

We see talent. We see you.

LEARN MORE

OUR MISSION OUR FIGHT JOIN OUR CAUSE. PURSUE YOUR PASSION. www.armycareers.gov.sg

#OurArmyFamily

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gradsingapore STEM Career Guide 2022

Articles inside

Engineering: A Beginner’s Guide

for Graduates to Know

Technology Consulting

Web Development and e-Commerce

Professional IT Services

IT Services

IT in Telecommunications

IT Outsourcing

IT in Retail

IT in Manufacturing

IT in Investment Banking

Hardware Development

Games Development

Financial Software Development

Cybersecurity

Financial Technology (Fintech

Technology Jobs in SMEs

in IT and Technology

Jobs for Graduates

Technology Graduates Should Know

Science Writing

Research Chemistry

Food Technology and Safety

in the Science Sector

Meteorology

Environmental Science

What Else Can I Do with a STEM-Related Degree?

Five Soft Skills for STEM

Career and Graduate Employer

Graduate STEM Specialist

Industries in the STEM Sector

Assessment Centres for Graduate STEM Jobs

Getting a STEM Graduate Job

Technical Skills Needed in STEM to Seal the Deal

Is a Career in STEM for Me?

Technical Interviews for Graduate STEM Positions