Gen Z S’poreans’ Job Hunting Woes: No Jobs Even After 150 Applications & 6 Internships For Some

How bad is the job market right now? According to Gen Z job seekers in Singapore, very. 

Why can't Gen Zs in Singapore can't find a job anymore? That's what YES 933 jocks Chen Qijia and Joey Tay took to the streets to find out in the latest episode of web docuseries Gen Z Crash Course.

It's especially tough for fresh grads without experience, as one Gen Z interviewee who has sent out 400 to 500 job applications, says: "[Even] entry level jobs require 10 years of working experience."

One fresh grad has even done, not one, but six internships since he graduated.

Dave Peter Ho, a 27-year-old fresh grad, shares with the hosts his struggles with finding a full time job. He achieved a 3.9 GPA in poly, graduated with a business degree from Nanyang Technological University almost a year ago, and has done a total of six internships with companies such as Porsche and Amazon Web Services. However, he has yet to find a full-time job.

On paper, Dave should have been a top choice for hirers, but he sent out over 150 résumés over the course of eight to nine months, only to receive one job offer. 

He describes the interview process as "super lengthy", adding that in his experience, companies now start off with online assessment, before moving on to an online interview, a meeting with HR, a take-home assignment, and a couple more rounds of interviews. 

"I feel it's super draining, it's like running a marathon. It can [also] be very demoralising when you don't have the skill set the company is looking for," says Dave.

To earn money, Dave has turned to live streaming on TikTok as a side hustle while he's still job hunting.  

He shares about his job search journey on social media. "I wanted to just keep it like a diary to myself, but also at the same time try to encourage people who are facing similar issues," he says.

According to a recruiter from a talent recruitment company on the episode, Gen Zs might find the current job market tough due to factors like the uncertain global economic situation, junior and executive level jobs being outsourced across the region due to cost of labour. Some companies are also cautious with hiring due to the emergence of AI. 

Experts advise that Gen Z job seekers find companies that align to their career aspirations and forge meaningful relationships during their internships there, join interest groups while still in university, and build a strong LinkedIn profile. 

Things have changed over time, and the job market is undoubtedly tougher these days.

What are some struggles you've faced while looking for a job, and what's some advice you have for the Gen Zs out there?