Associate Programme

The EDB Associate Programme is designed to prepare you for success and equip you with the skills and competencies for a fulfilling career as an EDB officer. Over the course of 10 months, you will receive structured training, personalised mentorship, and rotational opportunities across different business functions in EDB.

2026 application will open soon

What You Can Expect

Build A Strong Foundation For Success

Start the Associate Programme with our structured 3-week Bootcamp training which will equip you with the fundamentals of what it takes to be an EDB officer. From online and classroom learning to a 2D1N outdoor adventure, Bootcamp sets the foundation for your success in EDB.

Gain Global Business Insights and Exposure

Post-Bootcamp, you will rotate across various business functions, from client engagement to policy and strategy, with the opportunity to engage with senior management, industry leaders, and other government agencies. This exposure will broaden your understanding of EDB's mission whilst gaining exclusive insights into global businesses. You will also be supported with Foreign Language Training (FLT) to enhance your global readiness and communication capabilities.

Access Personalised Mentorship

Throughout the Associate Programme, you and your fellow Associates do not walk alone. Each of you will be assigned an experienced mentor whom you can count on for advice, insights, and in navigating opportunities for growth and development in EDB.

Experience our Collaborative and Supportive Culture

EDB is a place where teamwork is a key driver of our success. Throughout the Programme, you will work alongside talented colleagues who share a passion for securing Singapore’s economic future, creating meaningful connections while contributing to impactful projects that shape Singapore’s growth.

Gain Global Business Insights and Exposure

Experience our Collaborative and Supportive Culture

Learn More

Eligibility
Application Process and Timelines

If you are purpose-driven and eager to make an impact for Singapore and Singaporeans, we want you! As an EDB Associate, you should:

Be an individual motivated by a greater mission
Possess strong analytical and critical thinking skills
Have a high level of initiative, drive, resourcefulness and adaptability
Be a dynamic team player with the ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders

Intake

The Associate Programme commences mid-August every year and concludes mid-June the following year (10 months).

Eligibility

You should fulfil the following criteria:

Have a degree in any discipline (we welcome candidates from diverse disciplines of study)
A fresh graduate or working professional with less than 2 years of work experience
Singapore Citizen/PR

Foreign language abilities are an added advantage but not mandatory.

Application Period

29 September 2025 – 31 March 2026

2026 application will open soon

You are encouraged to apply early as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interviews will take place between October 2025 – June 2026.

FAQ

The application process typically takes 8 weeks or longer, from submission to final outcome. We recommend completing all to-dos at every stage promptly when you receive them and being flexible with interview scheduling to help expedite your application. We will keep you informed of your progress throughout the process and provide estimated timelines at each stage.

Rather than specific work experience, we look for individuals who are purpose-driven and eager to make an impact for Singapore and Singaporeans, who possess strong analytical and critical thinking skills, have a high level of initiative, drive, resourcefulness and adaptability, and are team players with a strong demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders. Use your past experiences and concrete examples to demonstrate that you possess these qualities. Foreign language abilities would give you an added advantage but not mandatory. However, we offer foreign language training (FLT) to Associates who are keen to pick up a new language (Japanese, French, Bahasa Indonesia).

We encourage applications from diverse disciplines of study including STEM, humanities, social sciences, and beyond. You do not need a degree in Economics or Business to apply! Regardless of discipline of study, you should have a curiosity for global business and the broader macro-economic environment that Singapore operates in.

Associates will go through a stint selection process where you would indicate interest in divisions that you would like to rotate to. The eventual stint placements will take into consideration our overall business needs and your preferences. The duration of each stint is 13 to 14 weeks.

Your performance will be evaluated through a structured appraisal system designed to provide regular feedback and support your development throughout the programme. Your performance will be appraised during each stint, and an aggregate performance appraisal will be conducted towards the end of the programme.

Associates who successfully complete the programme and meet our performance standards will be offered to join EDB as full-time Senior Associates. There will be an exercise to determine your placement with a division as a full-time Senior Associate, which will take into consideration our overall business needs and your preference.

Your career pathway and progression in EDB is dependent on your performance and aspirations. There is no difference in how we evaluate the performance of Associates who have completed the programme, and other full-time hires. We believe in fair treatment for all officers based on merit.

Life @ EDB

Discover the values that drive us, opportunities for professional development, and the culture that makes EDB a great place to work.

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Hear From Our People

Denise Lim

Associate (2019)

Manager, Hub Services & Connectivity

“The Associate Programme was a valuable transitionary period from school to a professional setting. The various assignments and rotations allowed me to build confidence and gain new skills in a fast-paced yet nurturing environment. With the opportunities to work on multi-agency and cross-divisional strategy work pieces, the exposure to different parts of EDB during the programme has helped me in understanding needs of various stakeholders and sharpened my decision-making skills. Given the collaborative nature of work at EDB, the programme also created opportunities to build relationships across divisions, and it is always reassuring to have batchmates who continue to look out for one another both at and outside of work!"

Sairesh Pillai

Associate (2021)

Senior Associate, Chemicals & Materials

“It was naturally quite nerve-wracking to join EDB as a fresh graduate, given the stellar reputation that it had built up over the years for delivering good jobs to Singaporeans. The Associate Programme was therefore very useful to initiate me into the culture and intricacies of working in such a driven and fast-paced organization, and I had a great time learning not just on-the job during my division attachments but also from my peers during the bootcamp. Even after completing the Associate Programme, it was heartening to know that no matter the challenges faced, you could always rely on your batchmates in other divisions who were ready to share their diverse experiences and lend a helping hand. Such friendships and camaraderie are what keep me going in EDB today.”

Andy Lua

EDB Scholar (2018)

Associate (2019)

Account Manager, Consumer

"During the Associate Programme, the rotations across various business functions gave associates a good sense of the broad scope of work in economic development. It’s also a good litmus test for understanding what your interests and inclinations are, the skillsets and experiences you would like to acquire, and make an informed decision of how and where within EDB you would like to launch your career."

"Even though I was fresh out of university, I was given the chance in the programme to co-engage global c-suite leaders. I also learnt a lot from seeing my teammates ‘in action’, and benefited from nurturing colleagues who would invest significant amounts of time to share their own experiences and learnings. You can tell that they’re genuinely vested in you and your personal development and are taking steps to set you up for success both in and outside work."