A LinkedIn study has revealed that 73 per cent of Singapore professionals with one to 10 years of work experience expect to be promoted within the first two years of their career.
This view is also highly shared by those working in India, at 82 per cent, followed by Australia at 76 per cent and Hong Kong at 59 per cent.
The study also found that strong ambitions take root from the start where 84 per cent of Singapore students and early professionals also carry the same view. The figures for those with under one year work experience in India is also highest at 82 per cent, 76 per cent in Australia and 69 per cent in Hong Kong.
The study also said that 50 per cent of Singapore professionals will consider a career switch within two years, just one per cent shy of the Asia Pacific figure that also includes India, Hong Kong and Australia.
In the same vein, 54 per cent of early professionals and fresh graduates also expect to switch jobs at the end of two years.
When it comes to salaries, professionals in Singapore view a high income as a mark of success. 82 per cent stated that a pay rise would be the most compelling factor to stay in a company. 84 per cent of fresh graduates in Singapore list high income as their top reason too. Hong Kong professionals fall behind at 78 per cent, Australia comes close at 77 per cent and 63 per cent of respondents in India prioritize pay as the most retaining factor.
68 per cent of professionals in Singapore count career opportunities as the second most important factor to stay in a job, while fresh graduates figure at 72 per cent.
48 per cent of Singapore mid-career professionals also cited recognition as a reason to stay while 63 per cent of fresh graduates reveal that having good colleagues will convince them to stay in their current job.
“Our study shows that mid-career professionals in Asia Pacific are ambitious and impatient to get ahead, a reflection of the region’s fast pace of life and strong desire for professional recognition,” said Mr Hari Krishnan, managing director, Asia Pacific & Japan at LinkedIn.
36 per cent of mid-career professionals across Singapore, Hong Kong and India said they work an average of 41 to 50 hours weekly. While 46 per cent of their Australian counterparts work 36 to 40 hours a week.
LinkedIn also found that 34 per cent of Singapore mid-career professionals cite social networking contacts as the most useful tool in a career switch. 29 per cent of these respondents use LinkedIn to search for suitable jobs as opposed to 26 per cent who would refer to a recruitment agency.
Generally, according to the study, 45 per cent of mid-career professionals are satisfied with their work-life balance, compared with 51 per cent of senior professionals and 45 per cent of early professionals.
