Every year, thousands of young adults graduate from school and begin searching for their first job. Maybe this time, it's your turn. We're here to help you navigate the job market and find your dream job. Read on to discover what the top jobs are, and tips to finding the right job match and getting along in the workplace.
1: Singapore's top careers
A successful career begins with getting the right start and working your way up. But what is your final goal? We've compiled a list of the 20 best paying jobs that you can set as your target to strive towards.
- Managing director/Chief executive officer – S$29,102
- Foreign exchange dealer/Broker – S$22,302
- Marketing and sales representative (institutional sales of financial
products) – S$20,834 - Trade broker (including oil and bunker trader) – S$19,500
- Company director – S$17,142
- Financial/Investment adviser – S$15,500
- Chief operating officer/General manager – S$15,005
- Commodities derivatives broker – S$15,000
- Ship broker – S$15,000
- Creative director (advertising) – S$14,750
- University lecturer – S$14,000
- Real estate agent – S$13,952
- Software and applications manager – S$12,280
- Advocate/Solicitor – S$12,213
- Lawyer (excluding advocate and solicitor) – S$10,900
- Financial/Insurance services manager (e.g. financial institution branch manager) – S$10,250
- Chemical engineer – S$10,105
- Network and communications manager – S$10,024
- IT service manager – S$9,999
- General practitioner/physician – S$9,963
Though the numbers above may be tempting, remember that job satisfaction is more than just the paycheque. If you love your work, you will enjoy a smoother, more enriching experience, which will in turn lead to you performing better and being more successful.
2: How to find your dream job
Before starting your job search, do some soul searching to discover what you want from your working life. The three main questions you should ask yourself are:
- What do I want out of my life?
- What am I passionate about?
- How do I start doing work that I love?
The first step to finding your dream job is identifying what you're passionate about. Having a career that aligns with your interests means work that you'll enjoy doing and a job that you'll want to keep.
Ideally, your dream job should revolve around your strengths. Find out more about your skills and how they'll help you do your dream job. Having a job that recognises your talent will allow you to fully express yourself and explore your full capability.
Find out as much as you can on the organisations offering your dream job and the skills you'll need to do it well. Sometimes, learning new skills could give you a better chance of landing your dream job.
Of course, who could offer you better guidance than those who have already made it? Be sure to ask questions about how they landed their jobs, what it is like and what you can do to better your chances of getting your dream job.
3: Getting along in the office
If you've already started working, you're now in a completely different environment from school life. You'll see more of your colleagues than your friends or family, so it's important to maintain healthy relationships with them. Office dynamics are different from school friendships and here are some ways to get along with your new peers.
Always be approachable and polite with your peers. Find out more about them and you might just discover you share more in common with them than you thought.
Never hesitate to help a co-worker in need. Your colleagues will respect you for your dependability and when the day comes that you need help, they'll be more than happy to oblige.
Avoid passing judgement on co-workers based on first impressions and always respect their opinions and views. Show your appreciation by complimenting them on a job well done and they'll surely do the same for you.
Allow others to give their take on approaching a project. Exchanging methods and examining opportunities together can help you come up with the best solution to a problem.
Your work can truly benefit from listening. Accept criticism from peers and reflect on it. Many co-workers, especially seniors, started out just like you and can offer precious advice on improving your work.
On your mark, get set, goal!
| Start by setting job search goals that are smaller, measurable and attainable. Then keep track of your progress and stay motivated to reach your long-term career goals. | |
| Suggestions on setting manageable goals: |
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| • | Research 5 potential companies in the next week |
| • | Apply to at least 6 companies within the next month |
Complete your resume with social media
| • | Include your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles in your resume. Make yourself transparent to the potential employers so that they will be more comfortable in hiring you. |
| • | Use the information from your resume for social network sections like "work experience" and "about me" but do not copy and paste from your whole resume onto these sections. Select a few important phrases for your social profile. |
Activate your network
| Tell everyone you know the type of job you are looking for. Follow up on every lead you are given as you never know who can get you the job you want. |  |
Research, research, research
| •Before the interview, research on the company and the individuals who will be interviewing you. You'll make a much better impression when you know what the company is doing and how you might contribute to it. |
Get ready to ace it
| • | Make sure your interview attire is neat, tidy and appropriate for the type of organisation you are interviewing with. |
| • | Bring a nice portfolio with copies of your resume. Include a pen and paper for note taking. |
| • | Be at least 5 to 10 minutes earlier for the interview. |
| • | Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake |
| • | Stay postive and confident throughout the interview. If asked about a negative question, do not make excuses or provide elaborate explainations. Give it one sentence, and move on. |
Don't forget to say thank you!
| Always follow up with a thank you note reiterating your interest in the position. If you interview with multiple people, send each one a thank you note. |
Check out more tips on OCBC Career Fan Page on Facebook and be a step closer to your dream job.
Once you clinch your dream job, start saving up to fulfil your other dreams like travelling around the world or buying your first car. Credit your salary into the FRANK Account to set up savings goals and start saving now!