NTU undergrads to get year-long career support after graduation to ease job hunt pressures

SINGAPORE – From 2025, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) undergraduates will get career support from the university for a full year after graduation.

They can book appointments with career coaches and industry relations consultants, access NTU’s career portal and intranet, and receive weekly job alerts as part of this support. They will also be invited to curated workshops and events.

From August, all NTU undergraduates also have to attend mandatory resume critique and mock interview clinics, where they refine their draft resumes, prepare elevator pitches – quick ways to make a positive first impression – and learn interview skills.

These initiatives are part of the university’s efforts to boost career support for its students, which also include large-scale networking opportunities, such as its annual career fairs.

At the Job-In Fair on Sept 2 and 4, organised by NTU’s Career and Attachment Office, more than 5,000 full-time positions are on offer for the students.

More than 200 employers are represented at the annual recruitment fair, the university’s second-largest recruitment fair of the year, which also offers close to 4,300 internships and scholarships.

This is a show of the strong labour market to reassure students that there are jobs out there amid uncertainties, said Minister of State for Education Jasmin Lau, who attended the fair on Sept 2.

More than 8,000 students are expected to attend over the two days.

Among the constant stream of students queueing to enter the fair on Sept 2 was Ms Chen Jiaqi, a final-year student at NTU’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

She said that while she and her peers feel slightly anxious about securing a job after graduation, they are still hopeful.

“I feel pretty supported in terms of career-hunting because (students) have a dedicated career coach for each school,” the 22-year-old said of the other ways NTU helps its students. She hopes to go into public service or marketing research.

Among the 211 employers at the fair were software companies like Titansoft and Revolut, accounting firms like PwC, and NHG Health.

Ms Lillian Ho, chief human resource officer at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, which is under NHG Health, said the healthcare cluster has not reduced its hiring capacity as there remains a need for strong administrators.

“We continue to hire people for skills, technical and non-technical, adaptability and passion for meaningful work, which healthcare offers,” she added.

She said that tertiary education institutions like NTU offer career outreach opportunities to build a sustainable talent pipeline.

Ms Lau, who visited various booths at the fair and spoke to undergraduates, said there was an air of excitement, but also a level of anxiety among graduating students.

“We must try our best to give the graduating students the assurance that they can find and secure good starting jobs for their future careers.”

Addressing the students’ feelings, she said: “We should not underplay these anxieties because (students) are really feeling the need to secure jobs.

“The first step in our careers often feels like the most important step because many (students) spend three, four years of their lives investing in education, and they are hoping for the best first step possible in their career journeys.”

But the first step does not limit one’s journey, she said. Instead, it could lead to more opportunities.

There is also much to be optimistic about, said Ms Lau, adding that the Government will review economic strategies as part of the Economic Strategy Review to ensure Singapore remains attractive for business to want to anchor here.

The university’s largest recruitment event is the NTU Career Fair, held annually in February. This year, it featured more than 11,000 job, internship, and scholarship opportunities from 320 employers. Smaller recruitment events are also held throughout the year for different areas of study, where students can meet with industry leaders and attend campus-based hiring events with on-site interviews.

Final-year NTU students who spoke to The Straits Times said that while they felt a certain level of anxiety, they reduced some of the pressure by preparing early and tapping university support.

For Mr Kavya Gupta, preparation work included attending many networking sessions, keeping track of his job applications and starting early.

“It is not entirely wrong to say that it’s getting more and more competitive and cut-throat, especially with artificial intelligence coming into the mix and jobs being cut, which is what is creating anxiety,” said the 21-year-old international student, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Earth Systems Science.

Hard work is key, he said, adding that beyond getting help from the career office, students also need to network and be open to different opportunities.

Ms Lau also encouraged students not to “pre-judge what (their) opportunities could be”.

“Your first step can also often tell you what you may like or not like for your future career. So take that first step with some courage and with a little bit more confidence in yourselves,” she said.

NTU president Ho Teck Hua said: “We know many fresh graduates and final-year students are worried about the job market. This is understandable, with global forces like artificial intelligence reshaping industries.”

But NTU’s career support measures aim to strengthen job matching and help its students thrive with confidence and adaptability, Professor Ho added.