The rate of unemployment among fresh graduates has reportedly worsened in the slowing Singapore economy. Recruiters have shared tips on how college grads can improve their job hunt.
It was previously noted that fresh graduates can visit their school's career services office to help them in their job hunt. They can also gather referrals from their family and friends who know of any job vacancies that would fit them.
Experts also believe that fresh college graduates should consider a temporary position or internship if they still don't have a permanent job yet. This can help you get your foot in the door as well as continue to build your network and skills.
According to The New Paper, the unemployment rate for degree holders in Singapore has risen from 3.5 percent in Jun. 2015 to 4.3 percent in June this year. This is the highest figure since 2009.
Job experts noted that fresh graduates are taking the hardest hit. There are estimated to be about 25,000 unemployed graduates in June last year and about 34,000 this year.
Amelia Low, 23, is a National University of Singapore scholar yet she also has had a difficult time finding a job. She has sent out more than 50 applications since January and has gone to 11 interviews to no avail. She is currently taking up a temporary job as a research assistant at NUS.
Mr. Koh Rong Ming, a recruitment specialist at Careerhub Consultants, noted that fresh graduates who expect more than what the company can offer usually do not get the job. "Graduates are often more idealistic in their job searches, making themselves more costly for employers to hire," he said. "This causes employers to instead pick experienced employees who require less training, but have lower or similar salary expectations."
Ms Chook Yuh Yng, country manager at JobsDB Singapore, advised fresh graduates to lower their expectations. "Fresh graduates should place long-term career growth ahead of remuneration," she said. "Gain relevant experience first and you'll naturally be armed with better bargaining power."
