Finance, manufacturing and tech companies lead LinkedIn’s 2023 Top Companies list in Singapore

• Banking & financial institutions top LinkedIn’s 2023 list
• Finance represent key pillar of Singapore’s economy & biggest employers 

LinkedIn recently launched the 2023 Top Companies list for Singapore. The third annual edition reveals the 15 best workplaces where professionals in Singapore can grow their careers and which are currently hiring.

In a statement, the professional network said, to put together this list, it leveraged its data to rank companies based on eight pillars that have been shown to lead to career progression such as the ability to advance, skills growth, company stability, external opportunity, company affinity, gender diversity, educational background and employee presence in the country.

It said banking and financial institutions dominate the list, with DBS Bank (#1) leading the pack followed by Standard Chartered Bank (#2), Mastercard (#3) and Citi (#5). 

The strong showing by the finance players mirrors how the industry is a key pillar of Singapore’s economy, and are some of the country’s biggest employers, it added.

According to LinkedIn, Singapore is positioning itself as a fintech hub in the world, via the Smart Nation initiative, which suggests that there will continue to be long-term growth and job opportunities for professionals in areas from sustainable finance to data analysis. 

Compared to last year, there are ten new companies that made this year’s list, including, Procter & Gamble (#4),  Singtel (#6), Medtronic (#8), and SAP (#14), which come from diverse industries, namely in telecommunications, healthtech and software respectively.

Notably, DBS Bank (#1) has risen up the ranks through the years, from #15 in LinkedIn’s inaugural Top Companies list in 2021, reflecting its consistent efforts to better meet the needs of its employees, the firm added. 

For example, they launched a career development platform powered by artificial intelligence to provide employees with personalised career advisory services last year.

Mastercard (#3) on the other hand also spearheaded a company-led training programme in partnership with Infocomm Media Development Authority to help fresh and mid-level information communication professionals acquire relevant technical skills and competencies through on-the-job training.

LinkedIn said its data reveals that the in-demand skills that the top companies in Singapore are looking for in the finance sector include software development life cycle and commercial banking. 

It added that companies in the tech sector are looking for skills such as Partner Development, Artificial Intelligence and Mobile Application Development.

Some of the largest job functions that these top companies are investing in include Information Technology, Business Development, Sales and Engineering, it said, adding that Business Development Officer and Software Engineers are some of the most common job titles. 

Pooja Chhabria (pic, right), LinkedIn career expert and head of editorial for APAC said as the world of work continues to transform, professionals are looking for guidance on the companies to work for that offer career growth and will set them up for long-term success. 

“LinkedIn’s Top Companies list for 2023 is again filled with actionable insights and resources to help professionals at all levels discover job opportunities,” she added. 

“Those interested in a specific company can now easily identify the skills and roles they are hiring for, connect with employees they know in their network, and follow the company to stay informed about future opportunities,”  Chhabria said.

Meanwhile, Charlotte Thng (pic, left), head of HR, Singapore, Australia and ASEAN Markets, Standard Chartered Bank said for professionals keen to join the bank, their advice is to be curious, be bold in coming forward with ideas that can enhance the customer and employee experience. 

“Be future ready, so start planning early for the development of professional skills that can help drive you further in your career,” she added. 

Below are tips from Chhabria on how to land a job at a top company based on interviews with hiring managers:

• Research the company: Get to know the company on LinkedIn by researching its company page, following key executives in the company, reading articles and engaging with their LinkedIn posts. Leverage your network and chat with people you know who are current or former employees. Get a feel for the culture, values and benefits to see if they align with what you’re looking for.
• Show integrity and be authentic: Like most employers, leaders from the the top 15 workplaces value integrity, so be honest and transparent. Talk about your strengths, as well as where you’d like to grow and develop — and how the company might be able to help you achieve your goals. Authenticity is key so be yourself. These companies value candidates who are not only a culture fit but also a culture add. 
• Demonstrate intent: Leaders from our top companies list encourage job seekers to apply for roles that align with their skills and career aspirations, even when they may not meet all the requisite criteria listed for the role. Demonstrate how you can contribute to the company and your willingness to learn and grow. They see the potential in people and have the tools and resources to provide on-the-job training to help them grow in their roles.
• Be curious: A common misconception among candidates is that if the top company is in the tech industry, they will hire people only from a technical background. While some roles might require these skills, they also hire from a variety of backgrounds and create opportunities for career mobility. If you are passionate, curious, action-oriented, and want to work at a place that is constantly changing and growing, they want to hear from you.
• Learn in-demand skills: If you want to land an opportunity quickly, keep an eye out for skills that are in demand that the top companies are hiring for. You can do this by following the top companies on LinkedIn and learning new skills on LinkedIn Learning.
• Don’t give up: Sometimes not getting a role can often be a matter of timing, rather than a reflection of the candidate’s skills or qualifications. So, if things don’t work out with your first application, don’t let that stop you from subscribing to job alerts and applying to other roles in the future. In some top companies, candidates applied for various roles before they eventually made it to the shortlist for interviews.

The top 15 companies that made it to the 2023 Top Companies Singapore list include:

1. DBS Bank 

2. Standard Chartered Bank 

3. Mastercard 

4. Procter & Gamble 

5. Citi 

6. Singtel 

7. Amazon 

8. Medtronic

9. Grab

10. Bank of America

11. A.P. Moller - Maersk 

12. Apple 

13. Alphabet

14. SAP

15. Roche