The Usual Place Podcast

Is a contract job the starting point for new graduates in Singapore?

Should young job seekers start their careers with contract roles?

Natasha Ann Zachariah

Should young job seekers start their careers with contract roles?

With stiff competition for full-time roles, a tight job market and employers being more selective about new permanent hires, perhaps contract roles shouldn’t be off the table.

In Singapore, such roles have become more common over the past few years. What can young people do to build their careers? Also, is contract work truly the ‘lesser cousin’ of permanent work?

In this episode, I speak with:

Francois Lancon, the regional president of Asia Pacific and Middle East for ManpowerGroup, a global expert on labour market and employment trends,
Tyrina Toh, a contract content creator for businesses, who left a full time position to work only contract and freelance jobs, and
Seth Ng, a fresh university graduate who is currently looking for a job.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:34 Should the GovTech retrenchments be a cause for concern?

3:43 Why the surge in contract roles?

6:42 Tyrina’s first contract role at 16

10:26 Is contract work financially feasible?

12:01 Contract work a “launchpad” to full-time role: Seth

15:56 Do contract roles make you look like a job hopper?

19:10 Taking charge of your professional growth

23:26 Is contract work exploitative?

29:01 What happens when a contract role gets cut unexpectedly?

33:12 Do more internships to land a permanent role?

Read Natasha’s articles: https://str.sg/iSXm