SINGAPORE: Getting laid off may have become increasingly normalised in today’s job market, but that does not make the experience any less painful for those affected.

Recently, a Singaporean took to Reddit to open up about how being laid off has deeply affected the way they see themselves.

In their post, they shared that they have been carrying a persistent sense of being “useless,” describing it as a feeling that refuses to go away no matter how hard they try to stay occupied or push forward.

The Singaporean said they have been unemployed for a few months now, and while they have been consistently sending out applications and going for interviews, they still have not managed to land a job.

“An inner voice keeps telling me that the problem is me. That I’m never getting a job because I’m not good enough,” they wrote, adding that it’s been especially tough seeing others around them move on and land new roles. “My partner thinks it’s because their roles are not as niche as mine.”

In an effort to keep themselves grounded, they said they have been trying to build structure into their days. This includes continuing job applications, going to the gym, and shifting towards more intentional, role-specific applications instead of mass applying. They have also been meeting friends and professional contacts over coffee.

“This is what I have done so far, [but] at the end of the day, especially before I sleep, these negative thoughts creep in.”

Realising they had run out of ways to manage things on their own, they eventually reached out to others for advice, asking, “Fellow job hunters, how do you cope?”

“There’s nothing wrong with you. It’s just insanely hard to get hired now.”

The Singaporean’s post sparked a wave of responses from Reddit users who had also struggled with despair after being laid off.

One said, “I’m in the same boat as you. My job scope is quite niche, and I’ve been jobless due to a company-wide layoff last November. I feel the same despair—mainly because I’ve 2 young kids and a mortgage to pay off.”

“My wife has also quit her job to take care of our 2nd kid while I try to find work. I got a decent severance but the uncertainty in not knowing when I’m getting a new job and my wife quitting makes me worry. I try to distract myself with gym and caring for my daughter during the day while my wife serves her notice.”

Another shared, “I went through the same after getting laid off last year; that voice in your head is a liar. What helped me was treating the job search like a part-time gig and giving myself permission to exist outside work. There’s nothing wrong with you. It’s just insanely hard to get hired now.”

A third commented, “This happened to me too. Volunteering made me feel like I was contributing something every day and offering myself in service to others. It was a big confidence boost, and I made a lot of friends. I even ended up finding work through one of the connections I made.”

A fourth user added, “Hey bro. I got the same feeling as you before. I tried to keep myself occupied with the SkillsFuture courses while applying for jobs.”

In other news, a woman who has been married for 20 years confessed on social media that her husband has “never contributed financially to the household” and instead spends his money on pets such as “hamster cages, parrots, fish, and dogs.”

In an anonymous post on the NUSWhispers Facebook page, she said she married him “for love” and truly believed they “would build a life together.”

Read more: Singapore mum of three says she paid for the family for 20 years while husband spent on pets

This article (Laid-off Singaporean says he feels ‘useless’ as relentless job search yields no results) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Nine months into the job hunt and seven months after graduating with a marketing degree, one 26-year-old says they are still stuck in limbo, sending out applications, getting ghosted, and watching the weeks slip by with no full-time offer in sight.

Sharing their experience on a local forum, the graduate said they knew the market was tough, but did not expect it to be this discouraging. “I know the market is bad, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad. I have applied for some office roles, but they don’t seem to have vacancies, and most ghosted me. My degree is in digital marketing, and yes, it’s a private degree.”

Dealing with pain while dodging pressure at home

The graduate said they eventually picked up a part-time job at a shoe retail shop just to stay afloat while job hunting, but that came with its own problems.

Standing all day has made their plantar fasciitis (a painful foot condition) way worse, to the point where they are constantly in pain. “I’m limping around most of the time,” they said.

They also admitted they started taking on more shifts partly to avoid being at home, where their parents have been constantly “grilling” them about not landing a job after nine months, which has only added to their “stress and anxiety.”

But things have taken a turn for the worse lately. The pain in their feet has gotten so bad that they cannot even walk properly anymore. 

“I can’t walk without limping,” they said. “My manager asked me what happened, and I told her I got plantar fasciitis and that my feet are a bit sore. She asked me to take an MC and rest up. However, she also mentioned that if I can’t get back to work for a while, she will have to let me go.”

“Therefore, not only will I become jobless, I will be tortured with my parents’ nagging and complaints at home. I don’t think I will be able to go through such an ordeal.”

As their problems continued to pile up, the graduate admitted they had started to lose hope.

“These few days, I have developed dark thoughts,” they wrote. “I feel so worthless and kind of sad that my life has turned out this way. How to find motivation to live?”

“Use this time to deep dive into projects and certifications.”

To help them get through the slump, several Singaporean Reddit users jumped in with some much-needed encouragement and perspective.

“This is a chapter, not the whole story. I know it’s hard to see past today, but I’m sure things will get better someday,” one said.

“I’ve been there with parents breathing down my neck and doing a random retail job after a degree. Honestly, first thing, get your foot sorted, see a polyclinic doctor, and log it as a real condition. While you rest, spam-apply to gov-stat boards, contract roles, and even internships for conversion. Use this time to deep dive into projects and certifications, build a small portfolio site, and blast it in every app,” another advised.

“Those dark thoughts are momentary. Don’t succumb to them. There are always ups and downs to life, and you are currently facing a phase where it’s building you up to be stronger. Stay focused on your goal of landing a job you want and work towards it. Step by step, not giving up. At the end of the struggle, you will find your joy,” a third added.

In other news, a 30-year-old woman who is currently supporting her parents has turned to social media for advice after a scam wiped out her entire savings, leaving her in deep financial and emotional distress.

Posting anonymously on the NUSWhispers Facebook page on Tuesday (March 31), she shared the full extent of her family’s situation. She explained that she has long been the main source of financial support for her parents, who, according to her, have “very little savings” of their own.

Read more: ‘I’m their CPF and retirement’: Scam wipes out 30-year-old SG woman who is supporting parents

This article (‘I feel so worthless’: Singapore grad, 26, says 9 months of unemployment and health issues are pushing them to breaking point) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.