Penning some of my thoughts on the economic downturn in Singapore
As an about to graduate who’s soon to join the group of unemployed if I still cannot get a job soon, everywhere I go I hear everyone complaining about the economic downturn and how difficult it is to get a job. Is getting a job really that difficult now?
The issue with graduates is that they are inexperience. If you’re leading a passive life in the university, you have no internship, your CCA records suck, you do not partake in community work and you have no final year attachment to any company. When writing resume, you have nothing much to write and you can’t outshine the others since what you have, the others probably have them too. You have no edge. That’s my situation.
Grand Avenue by Steve Breen
Public vs Private sector
During school career fairs, some of the private companies have freeze hiring. It’s the employer’s market now where employers are the ones who choose their employees. Graduates can send in their resumes but whether they’re selected or not is up to the employers. A plus point for joining the private sector is that there is no fixed scheme for pay but if you sell yourself too high, you won’t get employed.
I visited the government site and noted that despite the downturn, they’re still employing in large numbers (thousands). Ministries like the Ministry of Education (MOE) and MINDEF have thousands of vacancies waiting to be filled but what’s stopping graduates from applying?
Interest Vs Money
This is a common issue face not only by graduates but by everyone out there. Should we settle for a job that gives us good pay kick start or get a job where we enjoy but earn peanuts? Sometimes reality is harsh and one cannot get the best of both world. The start off pay in the government sector is what I would argue rather fixed according to the schemes that the various ministries have to offer. If you’re a degree holder of particular class, you get this particular amount of salary per month along with a list of benefits. I personally feel that the starting pay is rather attractive for starters.
PC and Pixel by Thach Bui
But the catch is that you’re bonded for a particular number of years.
Bonds! The word that strikes fear into the hearts of some. However consider the shaky economic situation we’re in, shouldn’t one be happy to be bonded for at least a year or two? New graduates also need the work experience to build credibility and most importantly, our portfolios.
Paperwork, tests, interviews and many more interviews
Depending on the job position, processing takes time and clinching it will require 1 to more than 3 months. My friend holds the record so far with 5 rounds of interviews that spread over a period of 3 months for a particular post.
from cartertoons.com by Jon Carter
Short term vs Long term
Thus are graduates willing to wait this long? A way out would be to work part time while scouting for a long term job. Then again if a private company offers you peanuts for a job in a industry where you plan to stay long term, would you take up the offer?
My thoughts
I personally feel that there are still jobs out there despite the economic downturn but we must be willing to settle for them. Applying early is a more comforting move as graduating with a job assured definitely rids one of . Having a degree does help in determining the starting pay for some jobs but what’s more valuable would be the work experience. Retrenched workers in niche areas definitely have an edge over graduates. If it’s an industry where one is determined to stay for long, the pay should not be top priority for graduates. Of course, the pay must be enough for survival. When the economy improves, the big plans can come later.
To my pals who are job hunting, please stay positive and don’t burn out.
Reality Check by Dave Whamond
What do you think? Is getting a job difficult nowadays?
you know, as much as i would like to partake in ccas and engage in a pro-active lifestyle in uni, the humongous pile of homework i get every week is really what’s keeping me from doing so. it’s a fine act to balance the two.
to me it’s either one or the other, and a seemingly increasing number of undergrads are opting for fun rather than studies. (except for the prcs of course ^^) that and coupled with the fact that i am an introvert in nature :(
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I think it has its ups and downs.
In the meantime enjoy with your studies..
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Getting a good job is always hard, and the worldwide shrinking of hires is only going to make that harder. As an art student, I don’t really get the advantage of having a leg up for having a degree alone. My degree isn’t going to mean anything when I graduate; it never would have. It’s all about ability and self-marketability. The money/interest thing has always been a horrible debate for me, but now even moreso. Money has become infinitely more important since it’s come in short supply, and I can’t really see art supporting me when I graduate. It’s disheartening, I guess. It doesn’t help that there had been an influx of people going to art school just prior to the economy downturn. The job hunt has gotten harder because of supply and demand. Too many kids wanting to draw things for a living and not nearly enough jobs to support them all.
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not all public sector posts have bonds… moe is special cos they’re afraid of ppl quitting halfway. and there’re many private companies who’d hire history grads and understand their value. it’s just that they won’t place them in concentration specific posts like accounting or engineering… overall, it’s just how you market yourself, and if one doesn’t aspire towards posts which need specific qualifications, (i mean, if i’d wanted to be a freakin engineer[which i'd never ever want to be], i’d have decided early on to get an engineering degree, for example) it’s pretty ok.
plus. digging for artifacts are what archeologists do la. and there are artifacts in singapore. you just went to fort canning, rmbr -_-
plus. government ministries understand the value of arts students. really.
Yoo buddy, there are artifacts in fort canning but no one is digging for them, why? History students are not into digging artifacts, let’s leave it to the archeologists. But really many peeps out there cannot differentiate historians from archeologists, which is discouraging. Its true that the government is employing history graduates and I’m happy about this but what about the private sector? Its a little discouraging but I’ll stay positive.
Yoo Kiri, I face similar situations too.
My number 1 barrier is the preconceived perspectives of employers. As I’m a history major, most would assume that I’m sure to be a history teacher or a historian because what can a history major do in Singapore? Dig for artifacts (assuming there are)? It’s true that I’ve knowledge of what might be happening in certain countries in the past but that does not mean that what I’ve acquired from history is irrelevant to the present. The peeps seem to miss out on the point that history equips students with the research capabilities, the ability to analyze issues thoroughly and to view an issue from various perspectives. Such skills are applicable in real life or say are what detectives have in the police force.
Adding to my limitations, history-related jobs are not many in Singapore and most are government based. However, I might settle for something unrelated to history but still continue reading on the history of x, y, z nations as past times over the weekends. We need to be flexible to survive.
Hi Pyoro, thanks for commenting.
There’s the school holidays despite the hectic school schedule, especially that long 3 months break that you can make use of in the universities. I wonder what I did with them when I had them back then.
Definitely! I feel that this last semester is my most enjoyable and fulfilled one though it’s also the busiest.
the first years are crucial . u mentioned that u want to try something unrelated to your studies, well, the problem most people faced when moving on is that they find it hard to apply for higher position due to lack of 3 to 5 years of experience required in related field. so if u were to try something unrelated, do keep in mind that if u change job within the next 5 years , do consider a job that is related to your previous job so u will accumulate the required 5 years for a senior position.
good luck and all the best! may the force be with u!
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IMHO, flexibility is key.
Many people don’t end up working in a field related to what they majored in anyway, and no matter what you end up with as your first job, it doesn’t mean you’ll be stuck there forever. In this bleak economy, it’s probably a good idea to cast your nets wide. Teaching is a always a good option to tide over the rough times. So is giving private tuition, which I suspect may be somewhat recession-proof, since there will always be desperate PSLE/O-Level takers every year. Heck, my own parents still splurge on $40/hour tuition for my younger brother even though their business isn’t doing well.
Since you’re learning Japanese, I assume you’re interested in Japan. You can try out for the JET programme! (It’s my backup plan for when I graduate
) The renumeration is 3 600 000 yen per year, which works out to be ~S$4600 a month – not bad at all. 
MOE = Ministry of Education?
So thats what the occupation of all those cute girls is!
I just had a hard time myself finding a new job. Ive been unemplyoed for approxiamtely 3 months.Many of my applications didnt even get an answer and it was a really unsatisfying situation.
Theres no right way to find a job.Nowadays you need quite some luck to get a good job.
Cant wait to start my new job on Aprils 1st
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Nice website, I found you while looking for some blog related search and want to give you a compliment while I was here.
Oh man, I really need a job too. Still in high school, but I’d like to volunteer at an animal shelter, but there aren’t any near where I live. Or I could work in a Magic Shop … but I don’t think they accept applications and it’s like an apprentice thingy. /Sigh. Oh well.
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Yup MOE is the acronym for Ministry of Education (MOE).
And congratulations!!! Your first day of work is on April’s Fool? What a coincidence. Keep us undated on how you’re doing ya!
Thank you for commenting. I’ve dropped by your blog too and felt that the site’s content is handy for all, especially during times of economic crisis. Thanks for some of the useful tips! (:
A magic shop? You’re kidding right blissmo…
Enjoy your high school days, make it one filled with fun. Internship and voluntary work are practical moves but erm…magic shop? Perhaps interning something closer to what you’re practicing might be a more reasonable move.