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Finding A Job After A Levels👩🏻‍🎓👨🏻‍🎓

Updated: May 31, 2021

Congratulations! You have crossed an important milestone in your life, you are finally done with pre-university education! So… what now? Definitely take some time to rest and relax, go out with friends, spend time on your hobbies. But once you are done having fun, you would most likely have to find a job, whether to earn money or to pick up new skills and gain new experiences in a field relevant to the degree you hope to pursue.

For me, I managed to secure an internship under a media production company (Minimoochi) right after completing my A-level examinations (with the help of one of my school tutors who recommended me for the position). With that settled, I spent the month of December hanging out with friends as much as I could and started working right after Christmas.








But for everyone who is not as lucky, how exactly do people find jobs after their As? What kind of jobs can you get as a mere A-level certificate holder?


Part-time


For those looking to get hired quickly and earn a decent wage, it is generally easier to get a part-time job in F&B or retail, and you’re usually not required to stay with the company for a prolonged period of time. Walking around popular shopping malls, you can usually see restaurants or retail shops with hiring posters outside their establishment or at the counter. They would usually allow you to leave your contact details or contact the in-house manager directly to schedule an interview, possibly making this the most straightforward method to get a job. In addition, as long as you’re friendly and approachable, these positions usually do not require any special skills such as proficiency in various softwares or a diploma.


Besides job hunting in person, there are also various online platforms available for agents and establishments to put out hiring notices, and the general public can use these portals to respond to the job listings they are interested in. These platforms include Telegram group chats (eg. JobHitch) or websites (eg. indeed.com.sg, fastjobs.sg) where you can look for part-time jobs.


*tip* just search part time jobs for students and many of such platforms will show up


Don’t be afraid of engaging an agent (as long as the company they are affiliated with is trustworthy). Agents can help to expedite your job hunting process by recommending available positions based on your area of interest and qualifications.


If you have a specific company in mind, you can directly apply for a position on their website as well!


For boys who are enlisting later in the year and are unable to commit to a longer-term temporary staff position, these job opportunities would be the best bet to get hired and get a steady income for a month or two.


Temp. staff (full-time schedule but not a permanent position)


Those hoping to stay in the same job the whole holiday should apply for a temporary staff position. As mentioned previously, these temporary staff positions can be found through job hunting websites and telegram group chats. However, positions such as a clinic assistant or admin staff might require a longer commitment period, as the job scopes are usually more complex and you would require training to gain competency. In addition, there may be additional prerequisites and screening (interview) before you are given the position, so it would be helpful to apply to a position where your interests lie or where your skills can contribute to.


Internships


Internships are a great way to learn the ropes in a company while under the guidance of a supervisor or senior.


What is the difference between an intern and a temporary staff?


Internships, unlike a typical part time job, includes a specific learning objective.


Unlike classroom learning, the student gains this knowledge not from lectures, reading, and exams, but rather from on-the-job experience. For this reason, internships are often referred to as "experiential learning", and hence, employers may require or expect less from you in terms of skill sets. Internships can be paid or unpaid, although usually it would be paid.


Looking for an internship opportunity can be hard and many people land internships through connections or through the school. Keep an eye out for these opportunities that may be shared with you through your cohort group chat.


Knowing exactly what industry you want to join would really help when you are looking for an internship. For example, if you are interested in entering the healthcare industry, it would be helpful to note that the Raffles Medical Group may have internship opportunities. Those interested in learning more about the media industry should keep an eye out for recruitment notices on the social media platforms of popular production companies, which would allow them to find out that The Smart Local takes in interns in 6-month cycles.


Important tips


  1. Drawing up a resume may be necessary when applying for certain positions, or when applying through an agent. Before applying for each job, remember to slightly tweak your resume, changing sections such as ‘skills’ to include keywords relevant to the position you are applying for.

*extra tip* you can search up resume templates if you are not sure of how to create an resume


  1. Many job positions require at least three months of commitment, it is best to check with your employer upfront to avoid any miscommunication. Most universities begin orientation in late July or early August, so do plan your time wisely to ensure that you make the most of your pre-university break!


  1. Some companies may be slower in responding, if you are extremely keen for the position but they are not responding to your application, feel free to bump them politely!


Most importantly, do what makes you happy and make the most out of your well-deserved break!


Some useful links that may aid you in finding a job!



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