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Being an MA
Mr. Wong Choo Sin
Assistant Director, Trade Division
Ministry of Trade and Industry
Having just completed my degree in Communications Studies at Nanyang Technological University, I was looking for a job that will provide me with the opportunity to explore new experiences. That was exactly what caught my eye about the Management Associates Programme (MAP).
Why I chose the MAP
The programme offered opportunities and the potential to grow on the job. I know there are many other management associate programmes by big corporations and Multinational Corporations (MNCs) out there, but I think the MAP stands out distinctively in one respect – having the opportunity to be involved in policy-making at the governmental level. What’s more, the dual-ministry structure of the MAP also gives me a shot at two different portfolios, which means I get to experience two different jobs in one career!
My given portfolio is entirely different from what I studied…
In fact, I was exposed to the exciting possibilities of exploring my potential in other areas immediately upon starting on the MAP. Although I majored in Journalism and Publishing in the university, I was given the opportunity to join the Trade Division at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in my first posting. I was excited about having the chance to observe and participate in the world of international trade and finance. While I know it will be a tough assignment that promises a steep learning curve since I have no formal training in economics; I was heartened when the directors at MTI assured me that I would get ample opportunities to learn on the job. Given the immense scope of portfolios available to MAs, we need to be able to adapt to unknown and new situations without much notice. Even though we have our on-the-job training to fall back on, it is still a “sink-or-swim” scenario. So having another stint at an external Ministry gives you the chance to start afresh and rediscover another perspective on work in the Civil Service.
Why not an MNC?
Some people have asked me whether this experience that I have in the Civil Service would be any different than if I had pursued a career in the private sector. The way I see it, any job, whether it is in the public sector or the private sector, demands the same thing – results. The only difference between the work you do in the private and public sector lies in the definition of success. While the focus of your work in the private sector is about making your company stronger; in the public sector, it is more about the people you are working for.
Do I think the MAP is for me?
I believe that what you do as a civil servant has the potential to affect, for better or worse, a lot of people. Success comes when the work you do and policies you help implement empower the people of Singapore to lead life the way they want. To be an effective civil servant, not only do you have to be good at handling your job, but you should have a sense of mission in wanting to make Singapore a better place. That is what I hope to contribute in my role as a Management Associate. Also, as one of the first few candidates to be accepted via the “Greenharvesting” route - the selection of university graduates who are not Public Service Commission scholars, I hope to prove that whether you are a scholar or not, once you are in the programme, you are given every chance to showcase your talents and contribute to Singapore’s future. |
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| Last Updated on
28 Jul 2009
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