5 reasons why S'porean millennials want a degree

Try surviving without one in S'pore at your own risk.

Goh Wei Hao| May 09, 12:57 PM

To try and solve the graduate glut, the government has been trying to convince us millennials that a degree is not everything.

Their most recent effort is to hire graduates and non-graduates in the civil service under the same scheme, which simply means that candidates will not be judged solely on academic results for both employment and career progression.

However, we are still not convinced.

Here are five reasons why we are still not buying it.

1. The private sector remains the same

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Not everyone can work in public sector because it is not big enough to hire every Singaporean and as a capitalist society, we cannot possibly function without a private sector.

Also, the civil service is not encompassing enough to meet everyone's interest. What about those that want to do hospitality or finance or even journalism?

And in private sectors, "pay discrimination" still exists. Even from the get-go, despite doing the same job, employees will be paid differently based on their qualifications. Obviously, employees who graduated with a degree will be paid more.

Who wouldn't want to earn more money?

2. Faster career progression

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Sure, some may argue that my previous point is not valid because the time taken to earn your degree can be spent working while the money that will otherwise be spent on (the exorbitant) school fees can now be saved.

However, honestly, 10 years down the road, that money will become negligible.

With the verdict still out there on the government's new promotion scheme in civil service, it is still a well-know fact that degree holders get promoted faster at work.

A good example is the institution where everyone predominantly wears green. In there, you'll normally get promoted faster, regardless of what you studied. Also, the top-tier leadership is staffed by degree holders.

It'll be even better for you if you're their scholar because you'll be on a faster track.

This means that in 10 years, the difference in pay between a degree holder and a non-degree holder can be up to a few thousand dollars. Hence, you can basically earn back the abovementioned cost of studying in a year or two.

3. We are not risk-takers

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We, the strawberry generation, albeit self-entitled, are not foolish enough to believe we are special enough to be the lucky few who can make it big without a degree. Everyone of us are sane enough to know that Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates are anomalies, not the norm.

That is why we would rather take the safer route of getting a degree which increases our chances of finding a job that pays well and ensures faster promotions, especially since we are used to a certain lifestyle that is not cheap.

4. We are influenced by our parents

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We inherited this from our parents. Kinda.

Although my father managed to find a well-paying job without a degree, he still believes in the importance of a varsity education for my sister and I.

I once asked him why and he attributed this to the fact that all his life, his bosses were degree holders.

Also, having been in the workforce for so many years, he understands how harsh it can be. That is why he'd like to arm us with as many "weapons" as possible (i.e. a degree) before we start working.

5. Our teachers played a part too

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You'll never hear a teacher telling his or her class to quit school now and find a job.

Teachers are always encouraging students to better themselves and that includes further studies.

With basically our two biggest role models telling us everyday that getting a degree is important, it is no wonder that we think the same.

In hyper-competitive Singapore, the problem of a graduate glut will definitely not go away in the foreseeable future. That is why, in order for us to stand out, we need to go beyond classroom learning by building our portfolio: if you want to be a writer, write and if you are interested in law, then intern at a law firm.

Top photo from here

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