SINGAPORE:

In a shocking turn of events, a recent university graduate took to social media to vent about a recruiter who deemed his salary expectations of S$3,000 and above as “a bit steep” for someone just starting out. The young job seeker shared his experience on the r/askSingapore forum, igniting a heated discussion among netizens about the current job market for fresh graduates in Singapore.

During a conversation about a job opportunity, the graduate was prompted to state his expected salary. Upon revealing his expectation of S$3,000, the recruiter bluntly countered that the company was only willing to offer between S$2,300 and S$2,400. “That’s the salary a diploma holder would receive,” he argued, emphasizing his disbelief. The recruiter insisted that without any relevant experience, the company could not justify paying more and suggested that the graduate should start with a low-paying job to gain some experience.

Feeling frustrated and bewildered, the fresh grad sought advice from the community, asking, “Is the job market this bad that recruiters are telling fresh uni grads to accept a low-paying S$2K job? I’m just baffled by this encounter.”

Responses flooded in, with many Redditors expressing shock at the lowball offer. Some speculated that the recruiter might have been trying to undercut the fresh graduate's aspirations, perhaps motivated by a commission or Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) rather than a genuine desire to assist him.

One user offered an insider's perspective from the HR industry, warning, “This recruiter is looking out for his own interests. It’s possibly a diploma-level position, and they might be trying to mislead university graduates with promises of career advancement.”

Another commenter emphasized the long-term consequences of accepting such a low starting salary, saying, “This isn’t about being picky; consider your earnings for years down the road. Starting low means you’ll lag behind peers who begin at S$3,500, and eventually, they’ll achieve far greater salaries.”

A fellow fresh grad recounted their own experience, lamenting, “Three years ago, I accepted S$3,000 and felt low-balled. I know someone who got S$4,500 right after graduation because he had good grades.”

The situation raises alarming questions about the evolving job market for recent graduates in Singapore. Are companies truly undervaluing the skills and qualifications of university graduates? As discourse continues among job seekers and industry professionals, the disparity in salary expectations versus what recruiters are offering has reached a critical point, demanding attention from educational institutions and potential employers alike.

In other related news, an HR professional recently expressed her astonishment at the salary expectations of job applicants. She revealed on the NUSWhispers Facebook page that many candidates with just one to two years of niche experience were asking for salaries between S$4,800 and S$5,500, prompting discussions on whether salary expectations are inflated or if graduates are simply optimistic about their worth in today’s market.

Is it time for fresh graduates to reevaluate their worth? Let the conversation continue as the job market shifts!