9 Considerations for National Infocomm Scholarship

Disclaimer: Purely my personal opinion, after following a google ad link to infocomm talent portal 🙂

It’s scholarship season again, rules changed again, and every year students face themselves with the hard decision of what to choose, especially when there’s no basis of choosing – e.g. job prospect, pay, career choice etc. – plus, an education overseas might change one’s life, therefore making many scholars regret their early choices.

Here are 9 things you can think about – I’m writing this with respect to the NIS because it’s closer to heart, but might also be something you can consider for the other scholarships as well.

9. Is Infocomm your cup of tea?

Definition of Infocomm in Singapore is very wide, encompassing telecommunications, information technology, and much more. Plus, there are a variety of jobs in the field. Basically it’s not just about “programming”. For economist and lawyers, you might also want to consider working in IDA for a start. The manpower website tried to be inclusive and included as many jobs as possible. Nevertheless, going into Infocomm does come with some attitude that you have to embody, as it becomes more and more a commodity due to the strong competition around the world. In short, Infocomm is not Banking and Finance $$$$$!

8. Do you know someone working in the organization you’re applying to?

Find out about the work life, culture and other aspects of the company that you’ll be bonded with. Most of these are big companies / government organizations with deep pockets, but the working style will vary. Some operate like factories, others like slack silicon valley startups. If you can talk to someone to get an impression, then simply based on the fact that company culture here takes eons to change, you can expect the environment to be similar when you get back.

7. For foreigners: Do you understand the implications of being a Singapore PR?

Small thing eh? Son to go army, no HDB loan, different hospital rates for health care even though contribution to CPF medisave is the same, progress package absent, no effect on the political process, pay a bomb for lift upgrading, no subsidy for PAP kindergarten etc. are just among the few frequently brought up grumbles of the typical Singapore PR. With strong naturalization policies, one tend to be “sucked in” without measuring the opportunity cost of relinquishing one’s own citizenship. Think beyond the “work” part of the bond, and about the “living” part. Granted that many stayed back after the kindness is repaid, you might or might not find settling down here the best option, so keep this in mind.

6. Are you sure you want to return to Singapore upon graduation?

Although the companies here include MNCs, most of the bond will be IN SINGAPORE. Yes, 6 month attachment overseas for cultural immersion and the eroding “market rate” for bond years to 4 or 5 years instead of 6 are great news, but there is also some partial truth in Hong Yi’s advice to Hao Yi about opportunities abroad. Note that some MNCs in this scheme only run a sales shop – if business development is your thing this will be good news, but if you’re an engineer type person, be sure to choose one that gives you an opportunity to shine.

5. Do you know the difference between a salaried job and running your own shop?

Entrepreneurs beware. This is perhaps one of the most un-thought of consequence – the fact you have to run your passion “part time” while “bidding your time” in some government agency. This will be particularly true for geeks and wannabes as they are naturally attracted to NIS. You might say, hey, I don’t really have a passion, but you forget the fact that perhaps after going through uni life, you might hit on THE thing you want to do, and lo-and-behold, it doesn’t exists in Singapore, if not your bonded organization. You can’t be good at something you only do part time.

4. Do you actually want to do research?

I don’t know about you, for me, without going to university, I had no idea what research is all about. But by the 3rd year of my undergraduate education, I seriously wanted to go into academia, because the more I learn, the more I don’t know, and the more I don’t want to get out of school yet. None of the NIS scholarship will lead you to research, not even CSIT. Most technical work here are commercially driven. Check out A*Star’s I2R if that’s where you’re headed.

3. Is the Infocomm industry in Singapore going strong?

Like it or not, the prospect of your career also depends on the industry in general. A few years ago the talk in town was that Infocomm is a sunset industry while people flocked to biosciences, touted as the next big thing. Now there are signs showing that it’s building up to its next big bubble. Stay informed before and after applying for the scholarship, especially on the field that you have interests in, e.g. gaming!

2. For overseas applicants, can the school itself offer scholarships?

The uncertainty factor is sometimes worth considering, especially if you’re confident that you’re some outstanding dude. Talk to someone from that university (if the uni has a Singaporean Student Association, it’s time to get on their mailing list). Find out more about international student need-blind financial aid. Many European universities are free anyway.

1. With reputation comes responsibility – can you take it?

Even as the scholars tend to downplay the fact that they have someone sponsored their education, the society might not be as forgiving. There is going to be high expectations of you when you get back. If you’re unlucky, you might end up with a boss who will shove you twice the amount of work on the pretext that you’re a “scholar” and you’re supposed to “perform” extraordinarily. It’s all good for some, especially if you want to fast track your promotions and exposure, but in my experience I see more people who just want to draw a salary and often compare work load, complaining about the “ECA” (extra curricular activities) that their organizations slap on them as scholars. Oh, and if you happen to get into a break bond + Philip Yeo situation, be ready to appear to ST front page k?

That’s it. All the best!

The writer didn’t take NIS coz it didn’t exist last time. He’s on a currently discontinued EDB – S’pore Inc thing parented with SCS, currently seconded to IDA.