In recent months, I came across some comments in SIM Confessions that is so negative about the future career prospects of distance learning degree holders like SIM-UOL and the complaints about discrimination against distance learning. It is annoying to be frank that they are creating negative impact on others while you have been volunteering your time to help improve things for them and create a better image of the community.
Here are some common complaints:
- Pay lower than Diploma holders
- Could not get pay equivalent to local graduates
- Could not get the expected salary hence decided to keep on looking
In my mind is like "hello... wake up your idea". To address those complaints, here are my arguments on those complaints in hope that mentality will change:
1) Pay Lower than Diploma Holders
Which diploma holders are you comparing with? They read news articles that claim average diploma holders post-NS earns like $2.5k and argued what is the point of studying a degree?
Hello... do you know what does 'average' in statistics mean? It is the 'mean' which is affected by outliers. You should look at median, the 50th percentile which is around $2,250!
And have you ever wondered why would any employer bother to pay $250 extra to someone just because they have done NS? Employers are not doing charities! It could be that they give NS recognition pay because they are Government-linked or their NS experience is relevant to their job. And you are using a private company that does not have NS recognition pay and a job that has nothing to do with your NS role and compare with that? Is it even a fair and reasonable comparison?
If you can't even reason or understand statistics, why should employers pay you high when you do not have the abilities to analyse and understand things to make yourself worth that much?
2) Could Not Get Pay Equivalent to Local Graduates
Earning less than local graduates generally is expected. Local uni graduates are consistent performers. If you are an employer, be objective and ask yourself this: would you place your trust more on someone who is consistent or one that is not? And so your answer why local graduates earn more.
Sure there are discrimination (unjustified) against distance learning degree holders but do you rather complain and wait for good jobs to drop from the sky (which won't) or buck up and show the world that you can do it too? Some sacrifice at the start (like earning lesser but gaining relevant work experience for your career like I did as explained here) is nothing when you have the eagerness and passion to strive, and with the use of strategy on your career path, you still can excel better than those hares that look down on the tortoises in the long run (I'm a tortoise myself but I am back on track now and faster than some hares)! Listening to the story of the hare and tortoise countless times in childhood seems like it means nothing to them.
3) Could Not Get the Expected Salary Hence Decided to Keep on Looking
Ya... as if jobs will drop from the sky and bow to you solely because you have a degree. If you can't match the requirements, who cares you have a degree? Plenty of degree holders out there who are eager and show that they are contributors and not with entitlement mentality. Keep on dreaming and the longer you are jobless, the less bargaining power you have over salary while all your knowledge just depletes as you do not use them and your worth just drop as time goes. You know, I went to some of the local universities for their career fairs as an employer (I'm in HR role) and there are even students so willing to take a gap year just to get internship! If you are not hungry enough, just keep on waiting...
Employers usually will mark down your salary when the gap between your last job and current applied job is too big. If after 2 months no invitation to interview yet, you have to do something already. Change your CV format base on what the employer really wants (look at here for ideas and market yourself well as mentioned here) or even lower expected salary!
Why I'm a Little Upset
I do not see people being eager to network (there are some minorities that are and I did see some who turned up at University of London's 7th Apr 2016 career networking session at Singapore which is delightful and I believe these are those that will excel in their career). Some thinking of the registration fee for lifetime member at the Alumni Association as high. For fresh graduates, I can understand that. But for those already working for quite some time, $50 is really nothing. They just did not see the value of networking that I have mentioned here. You ask some of them to consider joining alumni, some argue it is elitist group that they feel out of place but then they complain about discrimination and the inability to get good jobs and excel.
I have shared with two of my juniors today after the career networking session of my intention to become a lecturer not at poly but at private uni because I do not see it as mere teaching but as someone that's transforming the life of another, giving them hope and when you see them successful, it is a great feeling! I wanted to be in the corporate world, gain relevant work experience and be up there first before lecturing so that I can show myself as a role model of 'been there, done that'. Many people who entered private uni in Singapore will feel discouraged because they could not enter local uni, believing they are 2nd class citizens. That was the case for me too in the past but I bucked up and worked my way back on track! I wanted to show people that you as a private uni graduate can excel too! All you need is just to buck up and work on it!
However, many are saying "none of my friends got good jobs, got into Big 4 accounting firms or get good pay". But surprisingly, my surrounding friends do get good prospect. One went to LSE got distinction and went Chicago Booth for her PhD. One went Oxford for his Masters and working in London now. One went LSE and in EY now (got EY even before LSE with his 1st class). One went LSE and in IDA getting very good pay. I, myself got into a graduate programme in a Forbes Global 2000 company. How come? You see, you are applying convenience sampling that is not representative of the true nature of the population. Sure, people who excel are rare and not common. But when you mix around with the right group (e.g. the Alumni who usually are filled with eager people who has a goal and vision), you will just hear more success stories, be motivated and even gain ideas from those who are successful on how to excel. You are equipped with the knowledge that LSE students get at London campus itself and you do not use the critical thinking ability to think for yourself?
Hello... if you do not fight for opportunities, will jobs drop from the sky?
Think again.
