Though circuit breaker
measures are being eased up slowly, it’ll be some time before everything is
back to normal. One of the more permanent changes is that virtual career fairs
and training events are here to stay. These virtual career fairs take the place
of their offline versions, offering webinars with prominent industry experts,
career counselling and various talks and activities to get you engaged.
To help the busy fresh graduate (or just any jobseeker on the lookout), we’ve rounded up a “starter pack” of must-see resources to make your first step count. While you don’t have to check out every single one of these websites or attend every talk, together they present a good variety of information about what opportunity is available today.
1. BrightMinds
The BrightMinds
portal and magazine are a great window into all things
job-related. Starting on your first permanent job search can be scary and
overwhelming, so BrightMinds was created to ease this transition. We recommend
starting with the BrightMinds magazine to get an overview of each industry and
its offerings, before using the
portal to search around
for a posting that interests you. If you find something that catches your eye,
go ahead and apply for it on that same portal!
As
the name states, JobsCentral’s FreshGrad section is full
of opportunities for those just joining the workforce. Simply type your
industry or interest into the search bar, and browse thousands of jobs
available. The portal also includes several quick search functions like
recommended employers and sample job categories that are currently hiring, to
make for an easy and efficient search.
3. SGUnited Traineeships Programme
Part of government efforts to employ
fresh graduates, over 1,000 organisations are offering
some 11,000 traineeships under the SGUnited Traineeships Programme. It aims to
let graduates acquire valuable industry-relevant experience, develop skills and
expand their professional networks, giving them a firmer foothold in the job
market once the economy recovers from the pandemic.
Also, there is a possibility of
conversion to a permanent position, depending on the trainee’s performance and
the company’s agreement. In the current climate where hiring is falling, a
traineeship is a good place to start gaining the relevant skills.
4. Virtual Career Fairs
As mentioned above, career fairs have
gone virtual. In place of booths and goodie bags, we have videoconference
sessions and online Q & A. However, the base idea remains the same where
various employers will be open to answer questions and accept applications. You
can check out the virtual career fairs available with a quick search, and
remember to sign up.
5. Career Events Listings
Career Events Listings are exactly that
– a list of events. They tend to be more a no-frills presentation that simply
presents the career events available for a certain industry or sector. (For
example, there is a listing focusing on jobs in the public service.) Of note
are the Virtual Interview and Career Seminars sections, which are targeted
informative sessions. Also, make sure you sign up for whatever you’re
interested in – all events require registration beforehand.
6. SkillsFuture
SkillsFuture does not provide job
opportunities, but it does host lectures and workshops that will broaden your
understanding. This makes it another
good place to start if you’re looking to up your industry game. Besides the broad
range of courses available (that you can use your SkillsFuture credit to
offset), it also has a comprehensive Good Reads section that highlights new
possibilities in various industries.
As we’ve mentioned before,
this list is by no means comprehensive. Job searching also involves significant self-reflection and industry
knowledge, neither of which any of these websites will give you. However,
looking through them will get you a good picture of what the hiring market
looks like and what steps you want to take.
We wish all fresh
graduates and job seekers a fruitful jobsearch that ends in a job!
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