Hitting the ground running for the first job

An expert shows how fresh entrants to the workforce can gain the prior experience employers increasingly seek.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

It seems paradoxical for prospective employers to seek prior experience even for entry-level roles.

This reflects the rising bar expected of fresh entrants to the job market.

However, employers are becoming more open-minded towards what constitutes relevant prior experience.

ST correspondent Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guest, a seasoned career expert who has worked with tertiary students from different backgrounds, on the help at hand.

His guest is:

Ms Sarah Neo, head of the career development office at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:55 Why are employers increasingly seeking prior experience even for entry-level roles?

4:13 The forms such experience can take, from internships to hackathons

9:05 Is it realistic to expect ever more prior experience from students before graduation?

11:58 How can students who lack experience still land that first job?

14:15 What does Sarah recommend those who remain undecided about their future careers do?

Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz

Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy

Host: Tay Hong Yi (hytay@sph.com.sg)

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow

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