The Graduate Employment Survey (GES) is an annual survey on the employment conditions of graduates, 6 months after their graduation. The results of this survey is published by the Ministry of Education with the aim to provide prospective students with timely and comparable data to assist them in making informed decisions on the undergraduate courses that they intend to pursue.
In the latest survey findings released on 12 March 2012 (2011 Graduate Employment Survey), SMU graduates have registered a robust employment rate of 95.6% and higher starting salaries across five of the university’s degree programmes*. 60% clinched job offers before they graduated. 62% received multiple job offers, with two to eight offers per person. These healthy results were achieved despite the uncertain economic conditions which had a dampening effect across several sectors, including the banking and finance sector during the second half of 2011.
Professor Arnoud De Meyer, SMU President said : “Our 2011 graduates have proven once again that their education at SMU has paid off and nurtured them into well-rounded, confident and articulate individuals ready for the marketplace. Our broad-based, holistic undergraduate educational experience provides a distinctive interactive pedagogy with personalised attention for every student. The multi-disciplinary perspectives and a culture of rigorous learning and innovation provide them with the breadth and depth, and versatility needed in the work place. Through community service, public speaking and leadership skills, coupled with the valuable work experience that they gained through their industry internships, SMU students have a distinctive edge in the job market and make them highly sought after by employers.”
*SMU's sixth degree programme – Law - graduated its pioneer cohort in 2011. These graduates were not included in the survey as they were undergoing training in the first six months of their graduation. The School of Law had indicated that almost all of the 106 students in the pioneer cohort had secured practice training contracts in prestigious local and international law firms three months before graduation.
A combination of CCAs, practical knowledge and the knowhow of handling projects and people put me where I am today.
