SINGAPORE: Graduation is supposed to mark the start of a new chapter, but for one polytechnic graduate, seven months into adulthood have brought a rather unwelcome plot twist: no job, no replies, and no shortage of people asking whether she has found work yet.
In a post on the r/unemployedafterpoly subreddit, the graduate admitted that job hunting in Singapore had been “so discouraging lately,” particularly as many of the vacancies that caught her eye required a university degree.
“I’ve been unemployed for 7 months, and every time I come across a job posting that interests me, it requires a university degree. I still try applying for it, though, as expected, and there’s no reply since I only have a diploma, and sometimes it feels like that alone limits my opportunities. I have no luck with part-time jobs too, hais…”
To take her mind off the seemingly endless rejections, she has been trying to make the most of her free time by going on nature walks with her parents, taking care of her health, and updating her resumes.
“Seeing my friends go to uni sometimes makes me question whether I should have gone too. I can’t help but wonder if I’m falling behind or making the wrong decision. But at the same time, I genuinely feel like I’d rather work than continue studying right now.”
“Also, my friends keep on asking me the same question: ‘Did you get a job?’ to the point I had to tell them to not ask me that. I feel like I’m wasting time.”
She ended her post by asking other polytechnic graduates whether they were going through the same ordeal and how their job searches had been faring
“Anyone else who graduated from poly going through the same thing? How has your job search been? Please share because I feel so alone here,” she wrote, adding: “I also noticed that there are so many openings for internships, but not much with full-time jobs. Aren’t the benefits for a full-time job better than internships?”
‘It’s not only after poly’
Judging by the replies, she was hardly alone in finding the process a slog.
One commenter remarked, “Damn, this is basically anyone now, especially those who resigned without something up next.”
Another pointed out that even those with higher qualifications were struggling to secure work.
“Eh, not only after poly. People with degrees and master’s/PhD degrees are also finding it hard. It’s just this shi**y job market with stupid AI.”
A third added, “It was darn hard for me 10+ years ago. I can imagine it’s so much harder now with AI and boom in the foreign workforce.”
Some also suggested she try retail jobs for the meantime. “Not sure what field you are in, but maybe do some part-time retail in the meantime? Getting some basic cash flow and some work experience, even if not related, might help,” one wrote./TISG
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