Advice for Graduates that cannot find Jobs - Go West

I read with concern regarding graduates not being able to find jobs. 

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/fresh-graduate-job-anxiety-search-employment-traineeship-5361196 

Reasons for prolonged job search

External factors have added to anxieties amongst the graduates – economic headwinds from increased trade tensions, the imposition of tariffs, and geopolitical conflict, and growing concerns over artificial intelligence taking over entry-level jobs. Because of these external factors, Graduates are reluctant to take a break or pursue further studies - this adds on to the problem of Graduates not being able to find jobs.

https://theindependent.sg/am-i-cooked-2024-nus-grad-remains-jobless-despite-internships-and-hundreds-of-applications/

On a more personal note, this NUS Data Science and Analytics graduate from 2024 has yet to find a job one year later. Now, Data Science and Analytics were a hot field back then, and I am very surprised by this article. He even shared that he did three internships and was not particular about starting pay. This is quite worrying, because I saw so many news articles that states the jobs with the most vacancies are software engineering, AI engineers, and data scientists. Like the article below, back in 2023, which likely motivated many youngsters to pursue a degree in this field:

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/developers-data-scientists-among-hot-jobs-of-2023

Having 2 young kids in primary school now, I worry this may be a problem they may encounter in the future.

Back in my time

Admittedly, uncle me had it easier when I graduated in the mid-2000s. The dot-com bust is a memory; I only had to do one internship, and I managed to sign a job even before I graduated. In fact, it was my one and only interview, and I got the job. Later, the company where I interned offered me a position, but I told them proudly that I already had another job! During other university holidays, I went on backpacking trips in Malaysia, self-studied on how to build websites, and did part-time work like distributing leaflets, etc. It was a fulfilling period of my life. There is NO such thing as internship stacking. 

My Advice

My advice for you is to go west - go to Silicon Valley. Apply for all the jobs you can in Silicon Valley. It could be small startups, it could be big tech. Just try.

Singapore is too small a market. You need to think bigger. As the saying goes, the world is your oyster. Why confine yourself to the Singapore market?

Did you know? The USA offers Singaporeans the H1B1 visa, which allows you to work in the US for up to one year. Thereafter, the company that employed you has to convert you to an H1B visa to continue. But no matter if they do not convert, because by then you will have gained one year of working experience in Silicon Valley. Somehow Singapore companies prize these folks with Silicon Valley experience (they call these people 'Jedis'), it will be easier for you to find a job back in Singapore. When I came back from the Valley, I got 2 job offers, and I had to decline one.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-citizens-do-not-have-to-pay-us100k-for-h-1b1-visa-us-embassy

From the article:

The H-1B1 visa, meanwhile, is exclusive to Singaporeans and Chileans, who have to prove that they do not intend to migrate to the US.


It does not allow permanent residency, and the one-year visa allows professionals to work in speciality occupations, such as engineering, medicine and biotechnology.


This visa is capped at 5,400 Singaporeans and 1,400 Chileans each year.


According to information on the US Department of State’s website for the Bureau of Consular Affairs, 939 H-1B1 visas were issued to Singapore citizens in fiscal year 2024, which ended on Sept 30, 2024.


There were 944 such visas issued in FY2023, 927 in FY2022, and 489 in FY2021, with the earliest instance of the H-1B1 visa being issued in FY2004, when 46 were issued.

Do you see? 5,400 visas are available each year, but only 1,000 are taken up. Go grab it!

In the same article above, it is explained that Trump has imposed a USD 100,000 fee on H1B visas - this means companies will be more reluctant to hire those on H1B visas now and have to look elsewhere. Imagine for startups, they cannot afford this money, they will have to source elsewhere for talent, and thats why they will be interested in those on H1B1 visas.

Singaporeans have a good reputation in the valley. The kids we send to their universities work very hard, are very bright, and always top the class. You stand a good chance. But remember, you carry the Singapore flag - prove yourself to the company that hired you.

All you have to do is apply for jobs in Silicon Valley (or New York, also good), suggest to the hiring team to get the company to sponsor you for an H1B1 visa, and you can work in the US.

Further, think about it - this is the best time of your life to work overseas - you have no kids, your parents are probably still working or young seniors, they are healthy and self-sufficient. This is the best window in your life to do this. If you are married or have a partner, ask him or her to go with you.

This advice is for my kids, should they encounter similar issues when they start work.