Career Choice of Undergraduates and SMEs in Singapore

Abstract

Small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) are generally perceived as more nimble because of their small size compared with multinational corporations (MNCs). They are corporations therefore seen as more entrepreneurial. Thus for a country to succeed, SMEs should be encouraged. In order for SMEs to thrive, among other things, they should be perceived by prospective job seekers as presenting attractive career opportunities. Presents the views of a particularly important group of job seekers, namely university undergraduates, relating to their career intentions, including working for SMEs as against MNCs. The survey of 270 first‐year accountancy and business undergraduates found that SMEs are less favourably perceived than MNCs when it comes to employment. In this light, SMEs need to reassess their recruitment and human resource strategies, as well as to project a new image to match the changing demands of the business world. Also suggests implications for policy makers.