3 good tips for fresh graduates looking to get hired

1. Your major does not dictate your career trajectory 

Based on a research by YouGov, more than half of graduates are working in positions unrelated to their degrees. Picking a major can be a tough decision for many, and schools often reccomend students to research and plan an outline of their desired career trajectory to land a job.

However, as a recruitment agency in Singapore, we beg to differ. Unless you’re planning to work in a specialized field (think: STEM, Fintech, and Medicine), most job seekers can get an entry level job in any field. It all boils down to your marketing (i.e. how well you present your skills and experience in your resume) and your communication skills (i.e. how well you talk in your job interviews). 

Pro-tip: There is a common misconception that graduates from the Humanities field will never succeed in getting a stable job. But we’ve seen humanities graduates in a variety of different industries, from finance to law.

It’s important to remember that your learning journey does not end at graduation. In a digitally changing world, working professionals in all industries are required to constantly upskill themselves. All this, in order to keep being relevant in the changing professional world. 

So friends, stop panicking and stressing over what kind of job you’d like to do. Pick something that you’ll enjoy studying, because the opportunity is out there. You just need to know which ones to try out first. 

2. Know how to stand out amongst the competitive crowd

Specialized industries are getting a lot more competitive. Studies show that more and more Millennials and Gen Z professionals are entering specialized industries such as Computer and Information Technology compared to Retail and Food and Beverage industries. 
 

Top Industries in Singapore for Fresh Graduates Include: 

• Computer and Information Technology (Software): Jobs like software development, information technology consultant, and computer forensic analysts fall under this category.
   
• Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance: There are 3% more Gen Z employees in the banking, financial services, and insurance sector compared to the rest of the Singapore job market. Similarly, there are 4% more Millennial employees in the same industry compared to the rest of Singapore’s job market.
   
• Consulting (Business Management and Human Resources): This is a more common industry choice amongst Millennial employees (37.3%) compared to Gen Z employees (9.6%). Additionally, the industry is saturated with more diploma holders than degree holders.
   
• Consulting (IT, Science Engineering, and Technical): 54.4% of employees in this field in Singapore, hold a bachelor’s degree.

• Proving yourself: You do this by gaining the required experience needed for more than just an entry level position. Multiple internship opportunities or a stable temp or part-time job that gifts you transferable skills are great places to start from.

“I learned by asking questions and by old-fashioned trial and error, with a healthy dose of over-communication.”

Chuck Robbins

3. Keep your expectations in check

Ok, it’s time for a reality check! Despite popular belief, fresh graduates in Singapore are not pocketing S$3,500 a month for an entry level position. Your pay differs greatly according to the industry, company, and position you’re looking to work in. 

Salaries, although highly important, is not the be all and end all when it comes to deciding on a job offer. You’ll have to keep other factors such as job security, work-life balance, and the company and employer culture in mind.

In fact, most Singaporean professionals are looking for a work-life balance and career development opportunities in addition to a good salary.

In fact, other factors you should consider are: 
 

• Additional benefits: Keep in mind that not every company or organization chooses to give out bonuses.
   
• Your personality: Whether you’ll in your career or not depends greatly on your personality.

• Job life balance: Burning out is getting increasingly common medical condition that’s happening worldwide. It is such a serious issue that the World Health Organization has classified burnouts as a medical condition.
   

Finding your first full-time professional job might seem like a daunting and exciting time. However, it’s important to keep these tips in mind when you’re hunting for your next role.

Other factors to take into account include the company’s working and internal culture, and how well it meshes with your personality (to name a few). Remember, your career is a marathon, not a race. With the right amount of planning and constant upskilling efforts, you’ll be able to make it to your dream career.