Jobseekers’ Diaries: I am glad my year-long search for a job has borne fruit

As jobs are a top concern for Singaporeans in the Covid-19 crisis, TODAY’s Voices section is publishing first-hand accounts from jobseekers in which they reflect on their experiences and what keeps them going. 

In this instalment of Jobseekers’ Diaries, Mr Daniel Ng Zheng Jie, an accountancy graduate from the National University of Singapore Business School, describes the ups and downs of his job search journey which began when he started his final year in university in August 2019. 

I started looking for a job in August 2019 just as I began my final year pursuing a degree in accountancy, thinking I would have ample time.

All in, over the course of the next few months, I submitted about 50 applications to different financial institutions and companies.

To give myself an edge, I signed up for and passed the notoriously difficult Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level I examinations in December 2019.

The first few months of my job hunt seemed promising as I went through various tests, informal chats and interviews.

But my optimism didn’t last long.

By March 2020, while I had made it to a few final round interviews, I was unable to secure a role.

The replies were similar: “Unfortunately, this position is a highly competitive one and we regret to inform you that we will not be proceeding further with your application.”

The typical hiring cycle by finance firms was coming to an end and the outlook seemed bleak.

With the Covid-19 situation escalating, I became anxious and worried. My parents encouraged me to expand my job search and explore other fields.

Their advice pushed me to think outside the box. I knew I needed to broaden my search and further develop my skills to stand out. I also kept abreast of the latest government initiatives for fresh graduates.

After doing some research, I decided to pick up some basic data visualisation and programming skills on Udemy which was fully covered by my SkillsFuture credit.

Keeping busy took my mind off the anxiety. It was a comfort to be in control of my personal development. This in turn helped me to better focus on looking for work.

After graduating in June 2020, I decided to apply to various financial institutions under the SGUnited Traineeships Programme, and managed to secure one as a global markets sales trainee with one of the local banks.

I saw this as a test of my resilience, fortitude and grit and I was determined to pass. Despite securing a traineeship, I also persevered with my job hunt for a full-time position.

A month into the traineeship, the Monetary Authority of Singapore offered me a full-time role after four gruelling rounds of interview.

I prepared well for the interviews by doing thorough research on whole-of-government initiatives and am delighted to get the job.

Currently, I am involved in designing and implementing strategies for the development of green finance and the asset management sector in Singapore.

Looking back, my decision to focus my time and energy on upskilling myself, so that I will be able to seize new opportunities when the economy recovers, was the right thing to do. 

It channelled my nervous energy towards seeking personal growth and development. It also kept my confidence up.

To those that are still job hunting, don’t give up — this is a marathon and not a sprint. Stay hungry, and keep pushing on!

ABOUT THE WRITER:

Daniel Ng Zheng Jie, 25, graduated with an honours degree in accountancy from the National University of Singapore Business School in June 2020. He started his job search in August 2019 and found a full-time role as an associate with the Monetary Authority of Singapore only 12 months later. 

If you are a jobseeker with a compelling story or know someone who wishes to contribute to this series, write to voices [at] mediacorp.com.sg with your full name, address and phone number.