One question I frequently encounter from readers is, “As a recent graduate or a young professional, should I consider a career in public service, a multinational corporation (MNC), or a startup?”
In this post, I aim to provide some insights based on my experiences, research, and discussions I’ve had along the way.
To give you a bit of context about my journey, I’ve had the chance to explore all three types of organizations. I completed internships in the civil service, gained experience at a Series C startup, and am currently employed at a US technology MNC. My hope is to share an objective viewpoint drawn from these varied encounters.
Please keep in mind that this overview is intended to offer a general comparison. I recognize that each organization within these categories can differ significantly. For example, a Japanese MNC may operate quite differently from a Korean or an American one. Similarly, government agencies like the Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) each have their own unique characteristics. There are many nuances, making broad generalizations challenging.
I also want to clarify that I’m not an expert; I’m just a regular Singaporean who is eager to deepen my understanding and learn alongside others.
If you notice any inaccuracies or have additional insights to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Your input would be invaluable as I continue to refine this article.
1. Working for the Public Service or GLC
I grouped Public Service and Government Linked Companies (GLC) such as ST Engineering, SMRT and Keppel Corp in the same category. My reasons for doing so is because there tends to be quite a lot of movement between the two. Also, they tend to have similar cultures and adopt similar HR practices.
Generally, if you start your career in the public service, you tend to be able to get a higher starting salary.
When I graduated in 2014, many who entered yhe private sector were earning around $2k-$3k while those who entered the public service earned above $3000 or even $4,000. Even as a trainee in NIE under the Postgraduate Diploma in Education Programmes (PGDE), the starting salary ranges from S$3,100 to S$3,500 per month.
In some roles, there is even a sign-on bonus which could range from $8,000 to $30,000! Not bad at all!
For your reference, here is a salary chart which I found on Salary.sg. I cross checked this with two other public servants and they mentioned it was more or less quite accurate. However, do bear in mind that there are other schemes as well. For MINDEF, it is the DXO scheme. For Foreign affairs, it is the FSO scheme.
Another benefit of having all these bands is because there is not that much wage disparity between two people of the same rank.
In many firms, especially startups, the bands may not be so clearly well defined. This is because in the growth stages, they may not have properly put in place bands. Therefore, two people doing the same role with similar experience could have a huge pay difference.
Beyond the numbers you see here, public servants also get to enjoy a broad range of variable components to their salaries which include performance bonus, annual variable component, end year bonus and mid year bonus.
In many private sector firms, you may sometimes only get the 13th month bonus, or simply just a performance bonus, or in many cases – no bonus at all.
You also get a steady increment every year though in small amount – which is also not the case for many firms in the private sector.
In addition to having a stable income, a public service job is also one that is meaningful and a platform for one to make a difference in the lives of others.
That is also a reason why many, especially the older generation, have a lot of respect for the work that public servants do.
When you are working for HDB, you are building vibrant and sustainable towns. When you work for Ministry of Manpower you are developing a productive workforce and progressive workplaces. When you are a teacher, you are moulding the future of our nation. You get the drift.
For many who work in the private sector, unfortunately, no matter how nicely the mission is being packaged and marketed, sometimes, your role does not really add massive value to society.
A public service career, like many of our parents have told us, is also stable and more or less recession proof. If one sees a public servant on Coffee Meets Bagel or Bumble, it just just screams stability and reliability — appealing qualities to many who are looking to settle down.
What are the drawbacks?
If you are a woman, generally you may start off earning less than your male peers because of NS.
There could also be less diversity as these companies tend to mainly hire Singaporeans.
Also, I have heard and read that some factors such honours, type of university and degree influences salary and promotion. I recalled that when I was doing an internship with the civil service in late 2011, there were a panel of directors who were holding a town hall session with some employees.
During this event, the inexperienced, naive and younger Jeraldine asked “I heard that civil service promotes based on scholarship. Just wanted to do a quick survey to validate this – out of the 12 of you, how many of you are scholars?”
Only one lady did not raise her hand.
If this is really true, then it may not be the most favourable circumstances for those looking to accelerate their earnings. You may refer to this thread on Reddit and this other one for some insights.
If you are interested in joining the civil service, I would also recommend you to read “Neither Civil nor Servant: The Philip Yeo Story“. It was a very inspiring book and I learnt many interesting tidbits about former EDB Chairman Philip Yeo and his journey in the public sector. You may purchase the book here.
2. Working for a Startups and SMEs
One of the great things about working in startups is the exposure you get. For instance, if you’re an account manager, you might find yourself covering an entire region like APAC and working directly with enterprise customers. This level of involvement not only allows you to make a bigger impact but also adds meaningful experiences to your CV.
Startups often offer the chance to wear multiple hats because job scopes are typically more fluid. This can help you develop a wider range of skills, which is invaluable early in your career. As Jack Ma once advised:
“Before 30 years old, follow somebody. Go to a small company. Normally in a big company, it’s good to learn processing. You are part of a big machine. But when you go to a small company, you learn the passion. You learn the dreams. You learn how to do a lot of things at one time.”
— Jack Ma, Founder of Alibaba
In addition, startups are often in growth mode, which means you could see quicker career progression compared to more established organizations. As highlighted in the article Things Fresh Graduates Should Know Before Joining Startups:
“If you are working on a small team from the very beginning, you will be the one who contributes hugely towards business growth. If the business grows bigger and they recruit more people, you will be the one who will get promoted easily. That’s why most of the strategic roles in startup companies are filled by young people.”
Similarly, The Woke Salaryman emphasizes the flexibility startups can provide: “Despite what all the recruitment campaigns might say, large organizations can have pretty structured promotion and increment systems. Conversely, SMEs and startups might not pay as well, but they tend to be more flexible with progression and job responsibilities.”
That said, it’s important to go in with your eyes wide open, as there are challenges too.
For one, some startups may adopt a “cult-like” culture centered around their leaders or brand, which can blur boundaries between work and personal life.
Phrases like “passion is more important than money” are sometimes used to justify underpaying employees while expecting extraordinary effort. The notion of “doing what you love” can be manipulated to glorify long hours and undervalue basic needs like fair compensation, healthcare, or retirement savings.
If this topic interests you, I’d recommend reading about Miya Tokumitsu’s Do What You Love: And Other Lies About Success and Happiness. These resources explore how “passion” can sometimes be exploited in workplace settings.
Another thing to keep in mind is that many startups and smaller companies have less developed HR processes, which could impact your employee protections.
As one of my readers advised, always ensure that terms and benefits are clearly outlined in your contract—even for part-time roles. If you’re offered a freelance or engagement contract, consider signing as a PTE LTD to protect yourself from liabilities.
Finally, if you’re considering a family-run business, be aware that promotions or strategic roles might prioritize family members over other employees.
Additionally, not all SMEs are digitally advanced, which could limit your exposure to future-ready tools and processes. Before accepting a role, assess whether the company’s technology and systems will help you stay competitive in the job market.
3. Working for an MNC
In my view, the biggest advantage of working for an MNC is the network you get the build because of the number of employees they have.
If you work in one of the best in your field, you get to network with the best and brightest in your industry. I look at the quality of fresh graduates who enter my company’s Management Associates Program and honestly, I have never ever seen a concentrated group of such bright, driven and passionate young people before.
As Co-Founder of LinkedIn, Reid Hoffman, described in his recent commencement speech to the class of 2020, one of his regrets in life was not joining Netscape. Back then, Netscape was the central node of the consumer Internet industry, “and that meant it was the best place for making high-value connections that could have had a major impact on my overall career arc and professional interests.”
If you have not read Reid Hoffman’s book, The Startup of You, I highly urge you to do so as it will share with you many valuable insights on how you can you accelerate your career and take control of your future.
If you invest in strengthening your network, you’ll have a better chance of spotting trends when they happen. You’ll be better positioned to take advantage of the opportunities it creates.
There are many other advantages to starting your career in an MNC. Often, you get to learn the best practices in terms of processes.
Training is also often structured and well thought out as they have a team internally that is responsible for it.
On the down side, you may sometimes feel like you are a cog in the machine, not much able to make much impact or get much recognition. It can also be harder to stand out because everyone is so capable and competent. This means sometimes the best opportunities may not go to you.
Sometimes, in some firms, there could also be discrimination against locals.
Many have witnessed incidents whereby the person in leadership brings in people of his own nationality to join the team. The practice of hiring and promoting one’s own kind has been around for many years.
I find it truly unfortunate that such situations occur to our fellow Singaporeans. This is our home, and to face discrimination in your own country is deeply disheartening.
I’d like to stress that my observations are intended as a general comparison. I fully recognize that within each category—be it public service, MNCs, SMEs, or startups—there are significant variations.
Each career pathway has its own pros and cons. Building a fulfilling and rewarding career is about more than just passion—it’s only one part of the equation. Other factors also play a key role in shaping our work satisfaction and long-term happiness.
To determine the best fit for you, I suggest using this time to reflect on a few key questions:
Define what a job means to you. Is it a source of meaning and central to your identity, or is it a means to earn an income to achieve your other life goals? For me, it’s the latter.
Identify what factors matter most for your job satisfaction. I’ve personally experienced the toll of dreading work every day and how dissatisfaction at work can spill into other parts of life.
For example, I don’t prioritize things like a “fun culture” at work. I don’t need my colleagues to be fun as long as they’re team players and pull their weight.
Your priorities might differ, and that’s okay—each of us values different things in a job.
