“Ah boy, go uni major in Chinese? Harh, liddat how to find job?”
“Graduate liao do what? Chinese teacher arh?”
I believe these questions are not unfamiliar to those who are majoring in or considering to major in Chinese Studies/Language (and by extension, most humanities subjects). After working for slightly over 1.5 years as a Chinese Studies graduate and translation minor, I’ve come to realise that the future job prospects for us is not as bleak as it seems. Therefore I’m writing this post to share the different possible jobs and industries, the approximate starting salary range, and job application process for a Chinese Studies/Language major.
I. Type of Jobs for a Chinese Studies/ Chinese Language Graduate
- Education: If teaching is your passion and calling, then go for it! You can apply to MOE, tuition centers and schools, universities, and research institutions as teachers, tutors, curriculum planning, research assistants, and teaching assistants. I have never applied to MOE before, but I’ve heard from my friends that it is better to apply early in year 2 or 3 instead of waiting out till the last year, because they are not exactly short on teachers (?) so if your application gets rejected, you can always try again next year. Tuition teachers, be it private or at tuition centers, have always been in high demand so you don’t have to worry about insufficient openings. I’ve also seen job postings for research assistants at various departments under NTU and NUS, but most of these positions appeared to be part time or contract based. Teaching assistants should be more for graduates with at least a Masters’ degree. (Side note: I have just met up with my classmates recently, where half of them are currently teaching under MOE or at tuition centers. Having listened to their encounters and experiences with students, I was once again reminded of the resilience, patience, and passion required to take on such a demanding yet extremely important job. If you don’t feel that inclined towards teaching, you can also consider the other jobs below.)
- Media & Digital:
- SPH, being Singapore’s largest media company, offers a stable supply of job opportunities at its affiliated newspapers ones include Zaobao, Straits Times, Business Times, and its multiple magazines. Other popular media and internet companies like Mothership, The Smart Local, Seedly, and various large Youtube platforms (NOC, Nas Daily, even Twoset Violin HAHA) also post job openings from time to time. Some of the roles include journalist, writer editor, producer, social media manager, content creator, subtitler, copywriter etc. For these jobs, having video editing and photoshopping skills, social media management experience, and SEO optimisation experience is a bonus, or sometimes even essential.
- You can also check out the “Career” page of various e-commerce shops, F&B restaurants, furniture and home design platforms, and various service industry companies. Apart from front-end servers and supply chain-related jobs, they are often in need of (part-time and full time) bloggers, writers, content creators/writers, video producers and photographers to promote their brand and create a steady flow of content. Honestly I feel that this is the most direct yet overlooked way to find jobs.
- Translation: Some sectors include the government (MCI, State Court, MHA), translation houses (All sorts of translation, but probably focuses on immigration, finance, and legal translations), game translation (may include quality assessment), and pop culture-related translators (online fictions & manga). Observing my LinkedIn job postings, I would say that game translators are in demand right now, with the next being finance-specific translations (crypto is on a rise). In addition, for Japanese-speakers, Japanese-English translators are also very popular because many Japanese brands set up companies in Singapore. I heard that fiction and manga translation are popular among students as part-time job, but one must be mindful that the quality may vary between works.
- Writing: This section overlaps slightly with [Media & Digital], but I’m referring to more of technical research & writing-centric jobs in finance, business, medical & health, or even paralegals and secretaries in law firms (yes some are willing to train law noobs). This sector also includes junior writers and editors in publishing houses for mainstream publications and academic specific journals (but from what I see the latter is more centred towards mathematics, sciences, and medicine).
- If you’re talking about literary writing, then of course it is admittedly difficult to sustain a living on that alone, be it in Singapore or anywhere in the world really, especially when you’re just starting out. However, you can still make it a side hustle (view Section IV for more details) by submitting works when you’re free, applying for writing-centric jobs like journalist, producers, or script writers (View [Media & Digital] section), or working in publishing houses or book shops to learn and build connections.
- Event Planning, Management, and Administration: Despite the pandemic, event planning is essencial for many companies, so having relevant CCA planning and organization experiences helps a lot. Some of those jobs include event planning and management at various arts institutions (music, dance, theatre), exhibition planners, project organisers, and archivers and cataloguers at local museums and libraries (don’t forget school libraries!). The arts scene has been severely impacted by the pandemic but some job postings would surface every now and then. Since physical concerts, exhibitions, and event planning work are replaced with digital events, some of the positions might be similar to that of the ones under [Media & Digital]. Archiving and cataloguing are also in demand due to the need to digitalise everything (even before covid). Note that some librarian-related jobs do require a Masters’ in Library Science.
- People-related jobs: Lastly, I’ve had a few encounters with financial advisory and recruitment jobs (head hunters), either through LinkedIn or phone calls (heaven knows how they got my number…). I can’t say much about the actual job itself, but the benefit is that these jobs usually do not have a specific degree pre-requisite or require prior background knowledge, so the bar is not too high even for fresh graduates without much prior experience. These positions would be hence suitable for those who want to get a temporary job to make a living, or for those who who enjoy people-interactions, and have the tenacity to endure rejections.
Keep in mind that these jobs listed above are only based on my limited experiences so far, and I will definitely update this list when I have seen more in life. A cross-disciplinary minor would most probably broaden your job search as well.
II. Approx. Starting Salary
“Chinese Studies/Language degree – can earn money anot?”
Ah, the one big questions that we all wonder.
Short answer – “Yes”. Got job of course got money lah.
Next question – “How much?”
Answer – “It depends.”
*Wait please don’t click away let me explain*
According to a survey done by MOE to 6,894 NUS fresh graduates and 853 follow-up graduates 6,894 in November 2020, the basic median salary (before CPF deduction) for is SGD 3,100 for B.A. and SGD 3,500 for B.A. (Hons) in 2020. (You can also view this article by Seedly for a very nice compilation of 2020 median salary across six universities in Singapore.)
Wahhh that’s not bad, right?
But wait! Before we get too optimistic, keep in mind that the an arts degree comprises of a loooottt of majors, which branches into many different types of jobs that pay a wide range of wages.
Obviously I’m not going to disclose my own salary, duh, but based on the salary negotiations I have experienced with (non-government) corporate companies, I would say the starting salary ranges between SGD 2,500 – 3,000. Starting salaries in the government sector would likely be higher – from what I’ve heard in that ONE instance, the range is SGD 3,000 – 3,500 in the education sector. Some companies would let you give a number then negotiate, while others would already have a fixed range and value that is sometimes based on your academic results (YES IKR so boys and girls go study okay don’t nua in your bed all day if not later you regret).
Here’s a break-down of the actual salary range mentioned in my own interview experiences, A.K.A., that ONE job from ONE company in the industry, which means that it is NOT AT ALL an accurate reflection of reality, so please take it with a pinch of salt:
- Digital – $2,400-2,500
- Event Planning – $2,600
- Legal – $2,800
- Translation – $2,600-$2,900
- Technology – $3,000 (this one big company so quite rich)
Companies balance your salary by looking at a mixture of things – your portfolio and past experiences, your school and results (for some), how you carry yourself during the interview, your salary negotiation etc. Starting salary also depends on the industry, size and strength of the company, their management style, their expectations (of you), and how much value you can bring to their company (wow look someone’s been working for 1.5 years and it shows). Also keep in mind that employers have to make the 17% CPF contribution to your account each month, so they would probably factor this in as well.
So yes, the starting salary for a humanities student is indeed on the lower side, if compared to engineers, lawyers, doctors, dentists, and programmers. My first job’s salary was also between SGD 2,500 – 3,000, and as a low-maintenance, unmarried, debtless person who lives with my healthy working parents, this range was quite okay for myself at that time. After all, starting salary is just the beginning, and it will definitely increase with hard work, time, and experience! 🙂
III. Some Interview Probability Numbers Just for Reference
I’m going to provide some figures from my job search experience just for reference. Do note that this figure is extremely limited and highly personal, and that it was before the covid period so things are probably quite different now.
Background:
I applied as a B.A. (Hons) in chinese studies with translation minor, an ok GPA, insubstantial writing & translation portfolio (was just starting out), some internship/work experience (but mostly in school environment), some awards (no scholarships), decent CCA experience in event planning, beginner skills in photoshop and premiere pro (still learning). My applications were primarily centered around three types – translation, writing, and event-planning. I did not apply to any teaching or media-related applications (except for 2 mediacorp ones) because I did not feel ready to take on the responsibility of teaching, and because the work cycle in the news industry is just too irregular and hectic.
My commencement was officially in July 2019, but I have started looking for jobs since late April, and finally accepted the offer for my first job in late August 2019. During these four months, I have:
- Applied for approx. 39 positions;
- Received calls for interview from 6 companies;
- Attended to 5 of them;
- Received 2 requests for further interviews (declined),
- Received 1 rejection, 1 verbal offer, and 1 confirmed offer.
- Received 2 requests for further interviews (declined),
- Attended to 5 of them;
- Received calls for interview from 6 companies;
This means approximately a 15.4% chance of receiving a call for interview, and a 2.5% chance of receiving a confirmed offer.
My second job took four months to find as well. This time, with a clearer idea of what I wanted to do (translation and writing-related jobs), I have:
- Applied to 39 positions (pure coincidental);
- Received 9 calls for interviews and/or tests;
- Ghosted by 1 + declined 1 + proceeded with 7;
- Rejected (with or without response) by 3 + 2 didn’t work out;
- Received 2 confirmed offers —> Accepted one of them (my current job!)
- Rejected (with or without response) by 3 + 2 didn’t work out;
- Ghosted by 1 + declined 1 + proceeded with 7;
- Received 9 calls for interviews and/or tests;
In the second round I had approximately 23% chance of receiving an interview invitation and a 5% chance of receiving a confirmed offer. Looking at the statistics I would say it is not too bad for a fresh graduate without a lot of skills or a mature portfolio at that time? Those with more advanced skill sets (PSD/PR/AI, coding etc.), better portfolio, and more relevant work experience will definitely stand a higher chance!
IV. Preparation for Job Search
How to prepare for job search as a Chinese Studies/Language/humanities student?
- Start Looking Early! Looking is also a form of action since you’re informing yourself on the possibilities out there. Get a LinkedIn account as early as possible, build on it, set yourself notifications for interested jobs, look at the job descriptions and requirements, see what you lack and work on it. It’s basically like scrolling through Facebook but without the memes. LinkedIn is definitely one of the largest professional networking websites, but don’t limit yourself to one, you can also check out other platforms like JobStreet, Instead, Monster, and Glassdoor, for different jobs and internships. Also check out career.gov for government-related positions, as well as the Career tab of various websites for positions not listed on professional websites.
- Build a Portfolio: Language (bilingualism), research and data collection, writing skills, and by extension, critical thinking, are often expected of a Chinese Studies/Language major. The employers don’t know you, they don’t take the same class as you, so they won’t know all your strengths just by talking to you during the interview. What’s a better way to show case your skill sets than a tangible, visible portfolio? For myself, since I’m interested in translation and language-related jobs, I’ve created a blog (ya this one) and would post writings, assignments, and translations from time to time. If your interest lies in the arts, music, video making, coding, financial advisory (wow!), then by all means, create your own platforms like a Youtube channel, an Instagram account, podcasts, or even your own website! Whatever it is that you’re interested in, start early, keep doing it, and don’t stop.
- Join Some CCAs but Not Too Many: Be it banters, laughters, the camaraderie, or arguments and fall-outs, the excitement of exploring new hobbies or the experience of working alongside with like-minded friends…… these can easily be one the most memorable part of university life. Not to mention, joining CCA executive committees to organise events would be extremely helpful in developing your leadership and people-skills (and will also help with job application). However, one has to be mindful of their time constraints – for the sake of your sanity, try to avoid grapping with too many CCAs at once. Also, I feel that if one is to major in humanities subjects, it is necessary to dedicate extra time to reading and writing beyond of the curriculum scope. I joined two CCA committees in my second and third year. Looking back, although I do not regret the friendships forged and experiences gained, the CCAs really took up a huge portion of my time and I was left with almost no extra time to read and write extensively after completing my school work. If given a chance to re-prioritize, I would definitely tone down the CCA hours, better manage my time, and block out fixed time sessions each week to focus on actual self-learning.
- Join Internships Outside of School: Don’t get me wrong, some great and unique opportunities are offered in school, and the internships are more likely to be structured and well planned. In fact, my part-time job and internship were all in school. While I have learnt a lot and had a great time with everyone, I do feel that working in school environment can actually shelter you from the reality of the corporate world. Taking part in external internships may better bridge you from school to work.
- Take Initiative, Don’t be Passive: I used to be a somewhat passive person, but the job-seeking process (and the stress of ensuring livelihood) have really pushed me to learn to put myself out. Do not wait for things to happen – take actions first, and reach out to companies even if they don’t have openings, ask for updates if you receive no replies (but don’t harass them), ask (politely) for feedbacks after receiving rejections, and ask for help.
That is all I have for seeking jobs as a Chinese studies/language major. Best wishes to my juniors who are about to look for jobs! You will survive! 🙂
afloatingeyot 