So here’s the bigger picture in a nutshell: For Singaporean fresh grads, recent market reports have shown that hiring has slowed. But overall, more jobs are being created than lost, particularly in certain growth sectors.
So it’s not entirely all doom and gloom, though we can certainly empathise that fresh grads in recent years face heightened competition, with employers being more selective and cautious.
In addition, hiring processes have tightened, and now involve multi-round assessments, AI interviews, and working on case studies to show your mettle for the job you’re looking to get.
Vault Personnel’s principal consultant Stef Chua revealed she has seen an increase in a job-vacancy ratio for fresh graduates, meaning there are actually more open positions than jobseekers!
Nick Foo, a consultant for the regional insurance sector at Ethos BeathChapman, agrees, saying it’s not a “bad” job market for Singapore’s fresh grads — just a different one.
“Today’s most successful professionals often navigate careers filled with lateral moves and skill-building opportunities rather than strictly linear paths.”
“Stepping-stone roles, including internships, contracts, and traineeships, are increasingly normalised.”
“Waiting for the ‘perfect’ role can mean missing out on valuable experience that accelerates career growth,” he shared.
Finally, while degrees continue to hold value as a foundation, employers are placing increasing emphasis on skills, both technical and soft, and tangible portfolio experience.
Demonstrating what you can do and how you can contribute often carries equal, if not greater, weight in today’s hiring landscape.
Hot jobs for our fresh grads
Some of the sectors that have the highest vacancies for entry-level PMET jobs, according to job postings on MyCareersFuture, include:
- Research and development manager
- Public admin & education
- Research officer
- Health and social services
- Registered nurse
- Social worker
- Information and communications
- Software developer
- IT support technician
For those interested in joining a multi-national corporation (MNC), Nick added: “While entry-level roles remain available, many are effectively pegged to candidates with two to three years of prior experience, particularly when the positions require specialised skills or technical expertise.”
“Fresh graduates could also explore emerging sectors such as Family Offices, ESG, and Sustainability, where opportunities are growing.”
Newly graduated jobseekers should also leverage their school’s resources. After all, many MNCs continue to hire through campus recruitment, management trainee programmes, internship conversions and word-of-mouth referrals.
Stef believes fresh graduates should also be open to SME companies that have management trainee programmes.
“These are designed as accelerated pathways for future leaders — giving young talent structured rotations across key business functions over a defined period.”
Over 100,000 jobs await. Discover your perfect role on MyCareersFuture today.
“This cross-functional exposure helps them build both technical capabilities and essential leadership competencies, ensuring they are well-equipped to take on entry-level management roles with confidence and clarity.”
In SMEs, roles often require employees to wear multiple hats — and this becomes a powerful catalyst for accelerated growth.
Stef said: “Individuals gain hands-on exposure across functions, from operations to stakeholder management, which builds adaptability, commercial awareness, and end-to-end business understanding much earlier in their careers.”
For fresh grads, this breadth of experience in an SME environment can significantly shorten the learning curve and develop well-rounded professionals who are open-minded and ready for expanded responsibilities and leadership roles.
Some hard truths: Why isn’t your job search panning out?
For fresh grads who can’t seem to secure their first job, there may be fundamental reasons for this happening, such as lacking certain professional and personal attributes that employers are attracted to.
Nick feels that fresh graduates today are increasingly selective.
“It is important to note that waiting for the ‘perfect’ role comes with an opportunity cost while your peers gain experience.”
“There is no single ‘right’ path to landing a job. Those who adapt, build tangible skills, remain flexible, and treat job-hunting as a strategic project (rather than a numbers game) are best positioned to succeed.”
Spray-and-pray applications, inflexibility on role or industry, and ignoring stepping-stone opportunities are unlikely to yield results in today’s competitive market. He also shared the following tips:
- Build real experience now through internships, freelance projects, open-source contributions, case competitions etc.;
- Develop hybrid skill sets to embrace technology;
- Target “hot” entry points such as traineeship programmes, contract-to-perm roles, rotational programmes etc.;
- Network strategically through alumni connections, industry events, LinkedIn engagements and career fairs;
- Be prepared for multi-round assessments, AI interviews and case studies assessments.
From Stef’s perspective, she feels the reasons some graduates can’t seem to find their first job stems from two broad reasons: Professional readiness and personal readiness.
She explains further below:
Professional aspects
- Too focused on pay, promotion speed, or hybrid perks, before showing learning attitude or adaptability, which is a recurring feedback from employers.
- Underestimating that first impressions matter — some rely too heavily on academic achievements, but don’t communicate how they can contribute to business outcomes.
- Lack of professional polish — lack of LinkedIn presence, or an unstructured resume can immediately disadvantage an applicant.
Personal aspects
- Lack of growth mindset -— Job-hunting rejections can be discouraging, but persistence and adaptability are traits employers respect deeply
- Overlooking smaller companies and thinking only MNCs offer “real” career prospects — however, most SMEs value attitude over experience and provide faster learning cycles.
- Adopting passive jobhunting mindset — many graduates wait for ideal openings instead of networking or seeking referrals.
What are employers seeking when it comes to fresh grads then?
Employers today are placing less emphasis on grades, and more on mindset and attitude when evaluating fresh graduates. They are not seeking a “finished product”, but rather potential, teachability, and a proactive approach to learning.
Nick believes these key traits will help you stand out amongst the competition:
- Adaptability: The ability to learn quickly and remain open to feedback
- Willingness to learn: Demonstrating curiosity, asking thoughtful questions, and showing genuine interest in understanding the business
- Resilience: Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to navigate unfamiliar tasks with persistence
- Communication: Clarity in expressing ideas and collaborating effectively across teams and stakeholders
- Accountability: Taking ownership of responsibilities, even at an entry level, and following through reliably
Ultimately, Stef believes employers aren’t just seeking graduates — they’re seeking future contributors who bring the right mindset, ownership, and commitment to grow with their organisation!
What help is available, and how to get the most out of them?
In terms of options for assistance for fresh grads, there are several that you can tap on, such as:
- Polaris by VCA, a programme designed to guide fresh grads as they navigate their careers
- GRaduate Industry Traineeship (GRIT) programme, which offers fresh graduates traineeship opportunities for three to six months
These initiatives serve as valuable entry points for fresh graduates who may not yet have industry experience. They offer real-world exposure, mentorship, and insight into how different roles and industries operate. These are experiences that classroom learning alone cannot provide.
However, relying solely on these programmes is not enough. To get the most out of them, new entrants into the job market will need to:
- Treat them as stepping stones, not stopgaps: Approach each opportunity with a learning mindset and focus on building transferable skills.
- Seek mentorship: Relationships formed during these programmes can often lead to long-term career opportunities.
- Demonstrate initiative: Employers often take note of trainees who go beyond assigned tasks, contribute ideas, and take ownership of small projects.
In short, these programmes can open doors, but it is your attitude, curiosity, and drive that ultimately determine how far you can go.
Still looking for more wisdom on nabbing your first job? These articles can help you answer key questions, such as:
- What will make a resume from a fresh grad stand out for a hiring manager in this industry
- What other supplementary/advanced technical or soft skills would give a hiring edge, and what are the courses to take to acquire them
- Any other job search or interview tips for a fresh grad looking to get hired in this industry
Good luck — you’ve got this!
More helpful career tips if you’re a fresh graduate
Career Health for Fresh Graduates: It Doesn’t Just Start and End at Job Search
Why Work? The Mindset that Fresh Graduates Need for Career Resilience
A Fresh Graduate’s Guide to Legal Protections Under the Employment Act
Fresh Graduates: Should You Take the Job Offer, or Wait?
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