SINGAPORE: After graduating with distinctions from the Singapore Management University (SMU) in April, a quantitative finance major who wished to be known only as Ben was eager to make his mark in the financial technology (fintech) industry.

Normally, the 24-year-old who is fluent in both English and Thai and has internship experience at six firms, would be highly sought after.

But these are not normal circumstances.

After sending out more than 20 job applications in the last two months, his job search pretty much drew a blank amid the COVID-19 pandemic which has pummelled economies around the world.

The only offer he received was from a firm where he interned at last year, which offered him a salary that was “way below average” - S$2,800 to be exact.

“When they offered me the amount, I was speechless for a second. That was definitely a big difference in the pay I was expecting,” said Ben, who had expected to get a salary of at least S$3,800.

“I was talking to my former colleagues (at the same firm) who said that a future employer could ask what my last drawn salary was. If they learn that it’s that low, they might not want to offer me more,” he said, citing that as the reason why he put the offer on hold.

.. Read more at CNA here!

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