TWO years ago, Bernard Chen, then a finance student at the Singapore Management University (SMU), interned at hedge fund Tribeca Global Management (Asia), where he assisted portfolio managers in coming up with trading ideas and research analyses.

That experience broadened Mr Chen's perspective on the financial markets and sparked off a keen interest in trading. 'It was very different from what we read in school textbooks,' he recalled.

Mr Chen, 26, is now a full-time foreign exchange trader at Citibank. 'The trading industry is like a game of survivability - how you survive in the market and deal with the fluctuations, choppiness and emotional stress,' he said. Despite the challenges, he is 'enjoying the job and learning a lot' from his colleagues, he said.

Mr Chen is among the 700-odd SMU graduates who secured jobs within six months upon graduation last year. According to the university's annual Graduate Employment Survey, almost 100 per cent of the graduates - who formed the largest batch - got offers earlier than their seniors. They are also drawing higher starting pay, with one in eight graduates landing jobs which pay between $4,000 and $10,000 a month - an 8 per cent rise from the previous batch.

In addition, those whose transcripts show a 'Cum Laude' (Distinction) or above command higher monthly starting salaries of $5,600, the survey shows. The graduates are hired across various professions, including the financial, accounting, consulting and service sectors; most of the highly paid ones are in investment banking or management consulting.

Seetoh Zhi Min, who graduated with a double degree in Accountancy and Business Management, is now with the Boston Consulting Group. The strategic consultant believes that when it comes to job selection, it's not merely about the salary or a firm's prestige. 'For me, it's about the learning experience and whether I enjoy the job,' she said.

Mr Chen added: 'I think it's important for a graduate to be focused on what he or she wants to do and go for it, rather than apply for, say, five different positions.'

This article was first published in The Business Times on May 12, 2008