Just graduated from uni in Singapore, got that degree, but the job hunt feels more stressful than queuing for the latest iPhone? If you’re sending out resumes and hearing crickets, especially with a humanities or social science background, you’re definitely not alone, lah.
Today’s Grad Job Scene
- Many fresh Singaporean graduates, particularly from Arts and Social Sciences, find the job market tough, even with good honours. Landing that first role post-graduation is proving challenging.
“Just graduated last year (2024) from NUS with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours with Distinction) in Global Studies… I cannot find a job despite searching for quite a while already.”
- The reality, as one Redditor put it, is a “general social science/humanities degree is hard mode in the employment game.” Competition is stiff, and the career path isn’t always clear.
- Many graduates have similar qualifications, vying for limited roles. Seeing peers from other courses land jobs faster can add pressure.
“What jobs are your peers with the same degree doing? Perhaps those are the industries you can focus on”
Why So Hard, Ah?
- A key step is figuring out where the process breaks down. Are resumes disappearing, or are interviews the hurdle? Identifying this bottleneck is crucial.
“Which stage are you stuck at? E.g. not getting interviews or not getting through them? Former would be resume problem and latter would be interview problem.”
- A major frustration is “prior experience required” for entry-level jobs. This catch-22 is common: how to get experience without a job?
- Some sectors, like general admin or HR, can be highly saturated. The struggle to secure employment despite a good degree can be disheartening.
“for those generalist roles that say prior experience required just heck care and apply if the role sounds entry level/junior level. many of these job ‘requirements’ are bullshit.”
Kiasu Strategies To Score
- Don’t lose hope! First, polish that resume. As advised, “ask nus career centre to assist with your resume.” They help tailor it for SG employers.
- Broaden your job search. Your humanities degree offers transferable skills like writing, critical thinking, and research – assets in many fields.
“look into comms, copywriting, marketing, PR and even govt affairs. There is a degree of relevance to what you studied.”
- Consider government agencies or statutory boards like MFA, MHA, EDB, STB. Even healthcare administration might have suitable roles.
“healthcare operations/administration jobs welcomes u :)”
- Finally, robust interview prep and networking are key. Knowing where peers work helps. Humanities grads must showcase analytical and communication skills.
“The cornerstones of a humanities degree are smoking your way through all interviews and presentations with style + multidisciplinary critical thinking. Demonstrate that.”
