There is more than one way for young job seekers to succeed in life!

This article, "Commentary: If grades matter less in Singapore, young job seekers may struggle to stand out," caught my attention.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/meritocracy-forward-singapore-grades-stress-student-graduate-jobs-cv-3117606

After reading the article, I found that there were some points that I would like to share my thoughts on.

1) "Young job seekers may struggle to stand out"

In the real world, everyone is always looking for an edge and ways to stand out from the competition. Unless we are all content with only being average, it's up to us to find different ways of standing out and showing that we are valuable not just on paper, but in practice too.

One way of doing this might be through skills-based qualifications or certifications. These are often more relevant to the job market and can help show that you have the right skills, even if your grades aren't quite as impressive. For example, online courses or boot camps in programming or data analytics could be a great way to prove your knowledge in these areas, even without a traditional degree.

Another option might be to build your personal brand through things like blogging, networking, or volunteering. These can all help you connect and interact with people in your industry, which can be a great way to demonstrate your skills and passion for your work.

Ultimately, standing out is about more than just grades - it's about showing that you have the knowledge and experience to be successful in whatever field you choose. So if you're looking to stand out and succeed, don't be afraid to take some risks and try new things!

It is time to look into the education system in Singapore. Perhaps there is room for improvement when it comes to preparing students for the real world, and helping them to develop not just the academic knowledge and skills they need, but also the soft skills that will set them apart from the competition. Only then can young job seekers really thrive in today's tough job market. The job market had changed and the competition is becoming more intense. Therefore, it is important for young job seekers to focus on building up their skillsets so that they can stand out from others in the industry.

The old "cookie cutter" education system is no longer applicable, and it is necessary for job seekers to look beyond just the grades. This also lead back to the upbringing of this generation because their parents had emphasized to get good grades in order to have a successful career. However, this might not be the case anymore because of the shift in economy, and many employers are looking for more than just academic achievements. The pressure might not be from the employers but the stress could be coming from the parents themselves who are still fixated on grades because their parents are being awarded for doing well in their studies. Even the parents are struggling in their own jobs, they still make sure their kids seek only the best education.

In order to address this issue, parents and educators could work together to give less weight on grades, and start focusing more on skillsets that are relevant for the job market today. Parents can also help build up their children's confidence by encouraging them to participate in various activities outside of the academic sphere, such as extracurricular activities or volunteering. Overall, it is crucial for all stakeholders to recognize that today's job market calls for more than just good grades - skills like adaptability, critical thinking, and communication are also vital in order to succeed. So let's help our young job seekers thrive in this competitive economy, by building up their skillsets and helping them develop not just academic knowledge, but also the soft skills they need to differentiate themselves in today's job market.

2) "Consider how undergraduates pursue a specific degree to get their desired job."

I think the above statement is relevant to my previous statement because I was making a similar point about the emphasis on academic knowledge and skills. In today's job market, students need to focus more than ever on developing their soft skills and building up their practical experience in order to stand out from the competition. This can be done through things like extracurricular activities or internships, which are often a great way to gain skills and experience in a real-world setting.

To get their desired job as an undergraduate, students need to be proactive and put themselves out there. This means actively pursuing opportunities that will help them build up their knowledge and skills, such as participating in research projects, attending workshops or seminars related to their field, or getting involved in school clubs or extracurricular activities. These can all help students to develop new skills and grow professionally, which is vital for any career progression.

Additionally, it is also important for students to network with other people who can provide valuable connections and guidance along the way. This could mean meeting with professors for coffee or lunch, attending industry events or conferences, or seeking out guidance from mentors or career counsellors. The key is to be proactive, persistent, and willing to put in the effort required to achieve your goals. With the right skillsets and mindset, undergraduates can definitely succeed in getting their desired job. So let's encourage our young students to pursue a specific degree that will help them build up their skillsets and get their desired job!

Having said that, there are also some challenges that students might face when pursuing their desired degree. For one, many students may not have the necessary financial resources to support themselves throughout their education. Additionally, there may be other hurdles in terms of lack of access to academic resources or opportunities for hands-on experience.

Despite these challenges, it is still important for students to remain motivated and focused on achieving their goals. Perhaps they can explore alternative funding options such as scholarships or grants, or reach out to career counsellors who can help them identify and pursue relevant internship opportunities. Additionally, networking with others who share similar interests and aspirations can also help keep them motivated when things get tough.

Another observation is that Singaporean students are too passive when it comes to career planning, often waiting for the university to provide them with opportunities instead of actively seeking out experiences and skills themselves. So I think we need to encourage our students to be more proactive in their career development, by taking ownership of their academic pursuits and pursuing internships or other forms of hands-on experience that will help them prepare for the workforce. Overall, there are many ways in which undergraduates can pursue a specific degree and get their desired job - it just takes some effort and commitment on their part!

3) If mismanaged, “broadening our conception of merit” may end up putting more stress on students to become well-rounded candidates.

On this 3rd point that was in the article, stress is inevitable. Even if we broaden our conception of merit and encourage students to pursue their desired degree, the pressure of balancing academics with extra-curricular activities will still put a lot of stress on our young people. No matter what we do, students will always feel pressured to perform well in school, and they may struggle to find a balance between their academics and extra-curricular activities.

If we really want to encourage more students to pursue their desired degrees, I think it is important for us first to acknowledge the fact that there will be some level of stress associated with this endeavour. We need to reassure our young people that it is okay if they don't excel at everything, as long as they are doing their best. There may be times when they have to drop certain commitments or rearrange their schedules due to academic demands - which is perfectly normal. So rather than stressing out about trying to combine different interests and activities into one cohesive package, let's just focus on helping students develop their interests and skillsets, and put in the extra effort when necessary to achieve our goals.

We can't be spoon-feeding students and doing everything for them, because that will not prepare them for the realities of adult life. In fact, I think this is a good opportunity for us to give students more responsibility and control over their education so that they can develop skills such as time management and decision-making. Ultimately, we want our young people to take ownership of their education and future careers, rather than just relying on others to make decisions for them.

In conclusion, although there are challenges associated with pursuing one's desired degree, it is still important to push our young people towards developing those skillsets and gaining hands-on experience before entering the workforce. After all, being able to work hard and pursue what you're passionate about are key qualities that employers value in their ideal candidates. I think that we should also emphasise the importance of developing skillsets and interests outside of our academic pursuits, because there is more than one way to succeed in life!