With the last final exams held on Thursday evening, yet another school year has come to a close at Singapore Management University in the lively Central Business District.

For once, the library is dead quiet, study zones are completely empty and the queues at our school food court are virtually nonexistent. Instead, students are resting at home, partying at the popular nightclub Zouk and traveling the globe. Needless to say, it has been a crazy semester for all of us.

For many SMU students, however, the final step involves walking across that stage to take hold of their shiny, new degrees. Nearly 2,000 seniors from the six distinguished schools will be graduating from SMU on July 15, making plenty of room for the incoming class of 2019. With Singapore’s job market as competitive and cutthroat as ever, what’s next for these graduates?

Statistically, a large majority of SMU students will directly enter the workforce with their bachelor’s degrees immediately after commencement. Since students often complete interviews during the spring semester, most already have positions lined up prior to graduation.

In fact, many graduates begin working as soon as their last exam has been scored and grades posted online. Those who do not have a prospective job but desire to enter the workforce post-graduation tend to be limited in their choices. Oftentimes, these students fail to find positions with decent pay and go on to work customer service jobs, for example, until they do find something reputable.

Jackie Lin, a student in the School of Economics, thought she would be one of those with a terrible entry level. Luckily, this soon-to-be POSB Bank cash relationship officer received an offer she could not refuse.

“My interview was conducted about three weeks ago on site and I got a call back last Friday. Huge, huge relief I was not expecting,” she said. “I was really nervous because most of my classmates had already found something good.”

Starting salaries typically range between 30,000 and 40,000 Singapore dollars per year, though Singaporean jobs are listed by salary per month. On average, these first jobs will rake in around SG$3,000 per month. This is just enough to support one person for a full year, specifically covering bills and managing living expenses. Additionally, this money rarely goes toward covering housing costs, since new graduates commonly live with their parents for many years after snagging that first job.

Another option in lieu of working is to do a summer internship, conduct research or get involved with a volunteer program. In the United States, we have programs such as AmeriCorps, Teach for America and City Year. Singapore has similar programs, but these are not as common, because they are often unpaid positions. As a result, locals mostly apply to them to improve their résumés.

Life after graduation in Singapore is quite similar to what American graduates face. The biggest difference I have found is Singaporeans almost always go into their respective fields of study. Americans, on the other hand, have the option of easily switching careers. As someone going from economics to medicine, I highly value this unique freedom.

Few actually go on to graduate school — an exceptionally uncommon decision after graduation. The ones who do decide to pursue higher education generally attend schools out of the country, specifically in the U.S. or the United Kingdom. According to SMU’s website, merely 50 percent of graduates last year were Singaporean citizens compared to 89 percent of undergraduates. Graduate school is an unpopular choice due to the high expenses and lack of financial stability post-graduation.

Michael Seah, a student in the School of Accountancy, managed to score a spot in the prestigious Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, where he will be completing a Master of Accounting. He reflected on his acceptance and what his family thinks about his bold decision.

Said Seah: “I was shocked actually. Didn’t believe it at first. But sure, I’m excited to be furthering my studies, especially in the U.S. My parents, family and friends expressed their initial concern about the price tag. It’s very expensive, and I know that, but I also know it’s totally worth the investment.”

Zachary Gipson is a senior majoring in economics and linguistics. He is striving to fit in with the fast-paced locals of Singapore. To chat about life abroad, shoot him an email at ztgipson@syr.edu.

Published on April 27, 2015 at 10:16 pm