Consulting and Professional Services

Singapore’s Consulting and Professional Services sector remains a highly attractive option for ambitious graduates, serving as one of the key growth sectors in the country.

The consulting and professional services sector powers Singapore’s position as a world-class business hub. Driven by the nation’s bold ambitions, there are national initiatives to boost the sector’s innovation and digital capabilities to meet evolving demands.

Within this diverse sector, activities span a wide spectrum from human resource management and professional services to niche services. One domain that is constantly evolving is human resource (HR) management. HR practitioners are increasingly assuming the role of business partners, where they are called upon to provide strategic input and data-backed recommendations for their recruitment efforts. Meanwhile, HR consultants are expected to value-add by sourcing, screening, recruiting, as well as onboarding new hires for their clients, sometimes taking on the entire function of the clients’ HR department.

Professional services such as relocation services, accounting and auditing, research services, and other business support services, have experienced significant expansion and are expected to be on a growth trajectory. In particular, graduates will benefit from the growing need for research, and accounting and auditing firms to boost their productivity and digital adoption, and demand from large organisations to tap on such services allows them to focus on their core businesses and make strategic business decisions.

Companies offering niche services in areas like intellectual property will also be ramping up their recruitment with rising demand in technology and innovation with companies trying to protect their inventions and patent rights.

TYPICAL ROLES FOR FRESH GRADUATES

Accounts Executive
Business Development
Business/Market Analyst
Client Success Associate
Consumer Insight Consultant
HR/Recruitment Consultant
IP Administrator
Product Knowledge Specialist

CAREER PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Long-term prospects in professional services remain bright. Graduates who join this sector will enjoy an abundance of opportunities for career growth as companies here look to become global leaders in specialist services.

Graduates considering a career in the Professional Services sector should have deep interest with global business, economic trends, strong business acumen and the ability to analyse and build rapport with clients. One way to increase one’s professional profile is through demonstrating thought leadership and extensive networking in the industry. With the increasing adoption of data science, analytics and artificial intelligence, practitioners will also need to upskill in these areas and deliver value to clients in these domains.

There will also be a growing demand for those with regional experience as companies here look to expand internationally. Hence, graduates who are proficient in an ASEAN language will have an added advantage.