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Independent Singapore
23-04-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
‘Ageism is real': Man in his late 30s says employers prioritise young applicants over qualifications
SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man in his late 30s took to social media to share that switching careers feels like a lost cause at his age, since employers seem to care more about his birthdate than the skills and certifications he's worked hard for. In a lengthy post on the r/askSingapore forum, he explained that for the past few years, he had dedicated his time and energy to completing postgraduate courses, taking up PMP and project management certifications, slogging through project management modules, studying data analytics, and becoming 'knowledgeable in all the buzzword skills like Tableau'. He added that on top of his academic and technical pursuits, he made a concerted effort to strengthen his employability in every way possible. He actively engaged in networking, took on freelance projects to gain hands-on experience, and emphasised his transferable skills in every application. Yet despite his dedication, he said employers seemed to overlook all his efforts and qualifications, focusing instead on one thing: his age. 'I've sent out hundreds of customised resumes and tailored cover letters in the past eight months. What did I get in return? Rejection after rejection—or worse, absolute silence,' he wrote. 'Everyone says 'never too old to learn' and 'mid-career switches are possible if you work hard enough.' But the reality is, once you hit your late 30s or 40s, the job market looks at you differently. Ageism is real, even if nobody admits it. Employers say they want experience, but when you try to pivot, your experience is suddenly 'not relevant.' You're competing with younger applicants who are cheaper and seen as more 'mouldable.'' 'Certifications and new skills are nice on paper, but they don't erase the years you spent in a different industry or the fact that you're not 25 anymore. Every application vanishes into a black hole. It's hard not to feel like upskilling at this age is just a way to keep hope alive, not to actually get hired,' he said. The man clarified that he's not against learning later in life, but in his opinion, upskilling in your late 30s often feels futile because the system is stacked against older candidates. 'The Singapore government and NTUC/e2i career coaches keep pushing courses, but what we really need is for employers to give mature workers a fair chance, not just lip service,' he argued. 'If you're in the same boat, just know you're not alone. I'm tired, demoralised, and questioning if all this effort is worth it. Maybe it's time we talk honestly about the limits of 'lifelong learning' in Singapore, instead of pretending that another certificate will magically fix things,' he concluded. 'Paper qualifications are just half the game' In the comments section, many echoed the man's sentiment, expressing just how hard it is to get a job these days. Even a fresh graduate with a degree in business analytics from SUSS chimed in, saying, 'Similarly, [I have] zero calls or interviews for data analytics roles. It feels horrible after four years of effort and sleepless nights with no results.' Another commented, 'It's rough out there, man… The idea of upskilling just spawned an industry of courses and certificates, but I am not convinced it benefits anyone outside those providing the courses. I took some NUS courses and honestly, the level was embarrassingly low, total cringe… But we are expected to constantly stack on those courses.' A third shared, 'I don't disagree with you; ageism is real. When I switched industries, I really started from ground zero at an associate pay of S$2,400, and then in two years, I got the fresh grad pay with a postgraduate certificate. Four years later, the fresh grads' new salary matched my current salary.' However, some commenters disagreed, pointing out that while upskilling is admirable, employers are not obligated to hire someone simply because they've completed additional courses. One individual bluntly stated, 'Nobody owes you a job just because you took some 'upskill' courses. At your age, the value you bring is to be experienced and knowledgeable in a field, to go for an experienced hire role, and not compete with fresh grads for junior roles. 'Ask yourself, what hard or soft skills do you really have that differentiate you from a younger candidate? Any sane hiring manager will choose a fresh grad over a late-30s uncle for the same skillset.' Another added, 'You can be a Harvard grad and not find a job. Paper qualifications are just half the game; the hiring manager has to like you and see you as someone whom they can groom. The latter part is much harder to nail, and especially so when you have more years on you.' In other news, a man shared on social media that his girlfriend called him 'heartless' for refusing to cover the full cost of her dental procedure. In an anonymous post on the NUSWhispers Facebook page, the man explained that the dental procedure she needed was priced at around S$1,200 in Singapore. Wanting to be financially sensible, he suggested that they look into getting the treatment done in Johor Bahru, where it would cost only about S$400. However, his girlfriend rejected the idea outright, saying it was 'beneath her' to go across the border for medical treatment. Read more: Man says his GF called him 'heartless' for refusing to pay the full S$1.2k for her dental treatment Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)
Independent Singapore
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
PAP's West Coast-Jurong West slate blends fresh blood with battle-hardened vets
SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Desmond Lee said on Sunday (Apr 20) that he respects the People's Action Party (PAP) Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Tan Cheng Bock for his longtime contributions. However, he hopes to offer residents of West Coast-Jurong West Group Representation Constituency (GRC) a team of young contenders and more experienced candidates to address the new challenges that Singaporeans will face in the coming years. He was speaking at the launch of a job fair at Boon Lay Community Club initiated by the National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC) Employment and Employability Institute (e2i). The media asked questions about the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) team challenging the PAP in the constituency. Asked about the likelihood of a 'second go' between PSP and PAP in this election, Mr Lee emphasised that the contenders on both sides are 'known quantities' that have liaised with each other for some time. 'We know each other. We've interacted with each other over the years in Parliament but also in the community,' said Mr Lee. He also added, 'These are things that Singaporeans know, and so it's not a matter of uncertainty coming into this General Election and in a way, I think, better give Singaporeans the opportunity to decide.' The GRC, formerly known as West Coast, was the most fiercely contested constituency in the 2020 General Election. The PAP won the GRC with 51.69% of the vote. The PSP, however, secured two Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) seats for Mr Leong and Ms Poa as the 'best losers' for having lost the election most narrowly. At the job fair launch on Sunday, Mr Lee was joined by a new face, Dr Hamid Razak, who is part of the PAP team contesting West Coast-Jurong West GRC. The five-member slate also includes Cassandra Lee, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Shawn Huang, and ex-West Coast GRC incumbent MP Ang Wei Neng. The constituency has been substantially redrawn following the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee's recommendations. It now consists of portions of Jurong West and Taman Jurong, leading to its new name: West Coast-Jurong West GRC. The constituency has grown to include 158,581 voters. Apart from Dr Hamid, PAP's new face and trade unionist Natasha Choy was also seen at the event. At the e2i's 'Bringing Jobs to Your Doorstep' event, Mr Lee engaged with community participants, inked a memo to aid Singapore workers, and met with job seekers from the district. The event was intended to make job- and skills-related resources more easily available to residents in the GRC. Over 3,500 job positions were highlighted at the fair.
