"Feeling hopeless" finding jobs in Singapore after leaving toxic role, says woman unemployed for five months
A Singaporean mid-career professional shared her struggle with prolonged unemployment despite landing interviews, highlighting challenges in the current job market. Netizens cited limited openings, fierce competition, and suggested networking, upskilling, and temporary roles as ways to cope.
- A 31-year-old Singaporean mid-career professional shared her struggle with unemployment despite attending multiple interviews, citing a tough job market and lack of offers.
- Netizens noted limited openings, high competition, and challenges with pay cuts, ghosting, and role mismatches for mid-level candidates.
- Suggested coping strategies included networking, temporary or part-time work, upskilling, and exploring career shifts to more stable sectors.
SINGAPORE: A Singaporean woman has shared her frustration over prolonged unemployment despite landing interviews, highlighting the challenges faced by mid-level professionals in the current job market.
In a Reddit post on 18 November, the 31-year-old, who has experience in risk and compliance roles within tech companies, described leaving her last job due to a toxic work environment and the toll it took on her health.
She wrote that it has been five months since she became unemployed. While she has managed to secure several interviews, none have resulted in job offers.
Feeling “demotivated and hopeless” after repeated rejections and ghosting, she asked if other mid-level professionals were experiencing similar difficulties in today’s hiring landscape.
Netizens Say Job Market Is “Tough”
Many netizens commented on her post, noting that the job market in Singapore has become increasingly tough.
One user shared being unemployed for more than half a year after being laid off this year, attributing the tough market to global trade tensions.
Another user wrote that Singapore’s job market has limited openings, with more candidates competing for fewer roles. “Heading to year-end soon, and I feel the market is frozen,” the user added.
One user recounted personal experience, saying the user left a permanent role last year for an opportunity at a large Taiwanese financial firm, only to realise the environment was toxic.
After four months, the user secured a short-term contract with a global financial institution, but with that contract ending soon, the user has struggled to find new roles.
The user said many positions remain closed, and available jobs tend to be either too junior or too senior. The user added that some recruiters encouraged accepting roles requiring a pay cut of more than S$1,000 — something the user felt would harm long-term market value.
Responding to the comments, the original poster said she understood the challenges, noting that mid-level workers seem increasingly pressured to accept pay cuts just to secure employment.
She added that some employers do not respect candidates’ time, with many applicants left “ghosted or kept in limbo” even after putting effort into interviews.
Advice From the Community: Part-Time Work, Reskilling, Industry Contacts
Other users offered practical suggestions, including taking temporary or part-time work to avoid prolonged unemployment, which they said could affect mental health.
One user recommended considering a mid-career switch, particularly if the sector is facing structural changes due to AI.
Another user suggested mass-applying for jobs and improving her résumé. Since she is currently not working, the user advised taking the opportunity to complete SkillsFuture courses and to ask family and friends about any openings available.
One user said the market had been tough for three years, adding that besides online applications, candidates should also reach out to industry contacts.
Posting on LinkedIn about job availability could also help, the user added, noting that “sometimes it’s not always what you know, but who you know”.
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