SINGAPORE: A Nationwide College of Singapore (NUS) pupil, who is ready to graduate in Might 2026, just lately opened up on-line about feeling “depressed” after struggling to safe a job. He mentioned his financial savings are operating dangerously low, and with no household help to depend on, he’s more and more anxious about his future.
In a publish on the r/askSingapore subreddit on Thursday (Nov 6), the scholar shared that, in contrast to a few of his friends who can depend on their dad and mom for monetary assist throughout their job search, he has no such security web.
“I used to be born right into a poor household who remains to be in tons of of hundreds of {dollars} of debt to at the present time, they usually have been abusive…which brought on numerous psychological well being points,” he wrote. “My household would do issues like open the door once I showered to have a look at me and hit me, which brought on me to be hospitalised.”
Unable to proceed dwelling underneath such situations, the scholar ultimately determined to depart his household dwelling. “Fortunately, I managed to safe a spot in a hostel for 4 years because of very type individuals I met who understood my life state of affairs throughout my time in college. I’m now not in touch with my household and don’t obtain any monetary help.”
Regardless of dealing with these hardships, he mentioned he refused to let his upbringing dictate his future. All through college, he pushed himself to excel academically whereas taking over seven internships, usually balancing a number of obligations without delay.
Considered one of these internships was at a good firm that, based on him, paid greater than what his whole household used to earn in a month.
Nevertheless, his efforts didn’t result in the end result he had hoped for. “I didn’t obtain a return provide at my summer time firm,” he wrote. “I attempted job looking, nevertheless it was to no avail, because the job market is crap now. And I’m not choosy about jobs, and my wage expectations are very life like (round S$4,000).”
He added, “I’m anxious and depressed as a result of I want a job urgently, as I must pay hire once I graduate, and my financial savings are shortly drying up. Sure, the federal government has provide you with schemes like GRIT, however the pay is so low (S$1,800), which is barely sufficient to cowl hire and dwelling bills.”
Turning to the web group for assist, he requested, “What to do if I can’t discover a job on this economic system as a poor contemporary grad? I wish to search some recommendation relating to this.”
“Simply preserve making use of, it’s a numbers sport.”
Within the dialogue thread, many Singaporean Redditors reminded the scholar that he nonetheless has ample time earlier than commencement.
One wrote, “To be sincere, there’s no rush in looking for a full-time job. With the present economic system, the common contemporary grad takes 4-6 months minimal to discover a full-time job that matches the wage vary desired and respectable working situations.”
One other shared their private expertise to encourage him, writing, “Isn’t there nonetheless six months until commencement? I feel you’ll be fantastic! I didn’t have a job lined up round six months earlier than commencement such as you, however managed to safe one just a few months earlier than graduating, and my resume might be worse than yours.”
Some commenters additionally provided sensible recommendation to assist him speed up his job search.
One mentioned, “Is there anybody you may attain out to out of your previous internships and ask for a full-time and even part-time position? Additionally, NUS has numerous analysis assistant positions for grads; strive making use of to these as nicely. Simply preserve making use of; it’s a numbers sport.”
One other suggested, “Be sure you follow job interviewing and be ready for all the essential questions requested and have a presentable resume as nicely. In case you need assistance with resume making, be happy to PM me. I can ship you a template of the way it needs to be.”
In different information, a girl in her late 20s took to social media to admit that she’s starting to really feel “uncertain” about her relationship after her boyfriend began asking her to cowl his month-to-month debt repayments of S$1,500, together with offering him cash for his day by day bills.
Posting her story on the r/singaporejobs subreddit on Friday (Oct 31), the girl defined that she earns round S$4,600 a month and used to spend about S$1,800 on her personal wants, setting apart the remainder as financial savings.
Learn extra: Girl incomes S$4.6k says she’s paying BF’s S$1.5k month-to-month debt and masking his day by day bills, now feels ‘uncertain’ about relationship

















