Job or Higher Education?: Which is the Best Career Option for Graduates?

by Pace Staff Singapore Pace Academy

You must have thought about landing a decent paying job before during your college days. And why not? A job allows you to apply the concepts you learned in college and pays you for your hard work. Moreover, you meet competent professionals and learn to survive in a fast-paced environment.

But what if you could get paid and upskill yourself simultaneously? Wouldn't you love an opportunity where you get mentored by industry leaders, work with corporate professionals and get a salary too?

A SkillsFuture Work-Study Programme (WSP) makes it possible. In this blog, we will compare getting a Job and enrolling in a WSP and also help you decide why a WSP could be a better option.

Job

After graduating from college, you may want to start working and fulfil financial obligations like helping out with a home loan. And there's nothing wrong with that. Getting a job is a viable option if your family seeks financial help and you're expected to start earning as soon as possible.

Here are some benefits of getting a job:

● You will get industry exposure: When you start working, you will get to interact with professionals and learn about the inner workings of the corporate world.

● You can start earning: Perhaps the most significant advantage of getting a job, you will start earning a salary. This will help you manage your finances better.

● Your communication skills will improve: You will need to communicate with people from different departments in a corporate setup. This will help you hone your communication skills.

Now that we have looked at the benefits of getting a job, let us see how a WSP can be advantageous over a full-time job.

Work-Study Programme

Under the WSP, you can study and gain work experience simultaneously. The programme is designed to help the course participants who want to deepen their skillsets and knowledge in specific work areas. As this is a work and study programme, you will enjoy the above-mentioned job benefits.

However, there are additional benefits worth considering:

● Learn while you earn: The programme allows you to upgrade your skills and, at the same time, get paid for it. You will receive a salary similar to any full-time employee. This will help meet your lifestyle requirements, just like having a full-time job.

● You will have a better work-life balance: The work and study hours will be specified. This will ensure better time management. You will be able to spend more time doing things you love, as you won't have to work for extended hours in the office during your WSP tenure.

● You get mentored by industry experts: You will work with corporate professionals who are experts in their respective specialisations. This will help you pick their brain and get better at your skills.

● More discipline: Your working and studying times will be specified to you in advance. This order will make you a disciplined person as you follow a routine for set days in a week.

● Enhance your resume: You can add work experience, skillsets and new learnings to create a promising resume. It will help you land high paying job opportunities in the future.

So, Which is the Better Option?

Getting a job after graduation ensures no gaps in your resume which you may have to explain to the recruiters later. You get industry exposure and a salary to support your lifestyle requirements.

A Work-Study Programme, like an advanced diploma, offers all these and more. There is nothing better than getting paid for upskilling yourself. Our recommendation will be to opt for a WSP. It will accelerate your career growth compared to a job.