Is the Job Market Cooked? Here’s What LinkedIn Told Us

Is the Job Market Cooked? Here’s What LinkedIn Told Us

Fresh grads are cooked.Or at least, that’s what the internet keeps telling us.It genuinely feels like the rules of careers have changed overnight.So we sat down with Serla Rusli, Career Expert at LinkedIn, to ask the questions every student and fresh grad is secretly thinking about:Is the job market actually worse right now? Does your first job determine your entire future? Are students over-optimising internships, prestige and LinkedIn? And if careers are no longer linear… what should people even optimise for anymore?Whether you’re doomscrolling LinkedIn, questioning your degree or worred you're behind, this episode is for you.———CHAPTERS0:19 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=19s] Opening 0:29 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=29s] The Issue: Bifurcation of Outcomes1:12 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=72s] Getting to Know: Serla 3:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=180s] Favourite LinkedIn Game3:18 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=198s] Rapid Fire Questions5:35 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=335s] Serla's Career Journey6:50 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=410s] Any Regrets? 7:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=450s] One Thing I Wish Someone Told Me 8:12 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=492s] Is the Jobpocalypse Real for Fresh Grads? 9:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=540s] Trends and Shifts in the Job Market 10:15 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=615s] Hacks to Keep Up12:20 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=740s] Are Jobs Hard to Find? Or Are Expectations Too High?13:53 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=833s] One Liner Advice: Try MSMEs14:28 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=868s] Does Min-Maxxing Still Work? 15:25 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=925s] What Should Students Optimise For Now?16:50 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=1010s] Do Employers Like Internship Farming? 18:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=1080s] Internships: Learning or Table Stakes?18:50 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=1130s] Having Your Narrative 19:33 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=1173s] Interning at a MSME: Pros & Cons 21:42 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=1302s] Is the Career Ladder Dead?22:31 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=1351s] Signalling Soft Skills 23:10 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=1390s] Traits of High Employability Students25:03 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=1503s] Message to Anxious Students25:46 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=1546s] How does LinkedIn Fit Into The Conversation?28:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=1680s] Minimum Viable LinkedIn Strategy for Students28:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=1710s] Biggest Early Career Mistake29:44 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=1784s] Last Piece of Advice: Open to Work31:06 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=1866s] Upskilling to Work With AI32:42 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaisqZY-pqI&t=1962s] Closing Questions ———The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not represent the views of any company, employer, or organization. This discussion is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.This is (probably) one of the realest, most unhinged, sometimes funny, most times educational podcasts about all things career. With no fluff, no bs, only facts and lots of laughs, join us as we chat with people across different industries and share some unsolicited advice on how you can break into them.We believe that you don't know what you don't know, so there's no harm in tuning in once in awhile.Let us know if you enjoyed this episode and if any of the rankings shocked you. We want to hear what you think — and what we should argue about next.NEW PODCASTS ON EVERY 3RD (or not) TUESDAY OF THE MONTHFollow Sumo Cum Laude/ sumocumlaude3.8/ sumocumlaudehttps://open.spotify.com/show/51I0Q4G.. [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFNNWFZmN2Ryd2RzNzM3SXpOcVgzVFpaZllIZ3xBQ3Jtc0trbG1keHdrNXMxZ2FaS0E3UnhpcG41UlZQbHZzSHZNd0NkNXJCcEdRWVRnNFJtal9FX1BLbHZ1d095UUJGRjJuY3RZQ0JSdzF0NkViZER1NFBKREtPUjRjTEdjb0hiSHRVYjVhdFRFQWlzSVNpYzN0QQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fshow%2F51I0Q4G..&v=RaisqZY-pqI].

Ranking Singaporean University Degrees (The Ultimate Tier List) | Sumo Cum Laude #8

During this time of the year, everyone asks, "what's the best degree for me?" No one agrees. Everyone will probably shit on their own degree. So we ranked them. For the first time ever (kinda), we tried something new—putting university degrees head-to-head and trying not to get cancelled while talking about which ones actually make sense...and which ones people just say make sense. From job prospects and payoffs to stress levels, stereotypes and the brutal reality after graduation—we talked through them all (of course, backed by Real Data).  Though some rankings may start fights in the group chat. Whether you’re choosing a major, questioning your life decisions, or just here to judge our rankings — this one’s for you. ——— CHAPTERS 0:39 Opening  0:45 Getting to Know: Millie  1:10 Rapid Fire Questions 3:09 Ranking University Degrees: Intro  3:57 Business 5:20 Economics  6:17 Science 7:37 Computer Science 9:09 Bonus: Computer Engineering 9:43 Medicine & Dentistry  13:14 Law 14:44 Accountancy 16:57 Social Sciences 20:09 Arts & Music  21:43 Engineering  22:54 Marketing  24:18 Education (NIE) 26:49 Mathematics & Statistics  29:16 Signing On  31:47 Sales  34:09 Random Facts 35:53 To Sum Things Up 37:30 Closing  ——— The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not represent the views of any company, employer, or organization. This discussion is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice. This is (probably) one of the realest, most unhinged, sometimes funny, most times educational podcasts about all things career. With no fluff, no bs, only facts and lots of laughs, join us as we chat with people across different industries and share some unsolicited advice on how you can break into them. We believe that you don't know what you don't know, so there's no harm in tuning in once in awhile. Let us know if you enjoyed this episode and if any of the rankings shocked you. We want to hear what you think — and what we should argue about next. NEW PODCASTS ON EVERY 3RD (or not) TUESDAY OF THE MONTH Follow Sumo Cum Laude / sumocumlaude3.8 / sumocumlaude https://open.spotify.com/show/51I0Q4G...

They Crushed Uni, Career and More (All While Staying Sane) — Here’s How | Sumo Cum Laude #7

Everyone says “make the most out of uni.”No one tells you how.Until now.We sat down with two girls, Rachel and Rae, who didn’t just survive SMU. They cleared the main quests, side quests, and secret boss levels. From 8 a.m. classes to internship grinds and being content creators, they somehow balanced it all — and came out thriving. They spill on:💭 Social Science Psych — The stereotypes vs. real career paths🎯 Uni Goals that flopped, pivoted, then finally worked⏰ Time-maximising hacks that actually make a difference😵‍💫 Balancing ambition, anxiety, and the pressure to “do more”📈 The Internship Grind — and when it’s okay to stop🤝 Networking & mentors — without the LinkedIn cringe🧩 Hacks for Class Part - to all struggling SMU kids out there ———🚨 Real Talk"You'll never get a better chance than uni to just explore and try new things"“Just raise your hand in class, no one cares. It's just performative, it's not that deep." "You might not be remembered for your good work, but you will be for your bad work. That's just how it works."———If you’re somewhere between “I’ve got this” and “I’m losing it,” this one’s for you.Tag your overachiever friend 😮‍💨Send it to your intern GC 🧠Or just tune in for the free therapy. ———CHAPTERS 0:00 Opening 0:18 Meet: Rachel and Rae 1:34 Rapid Fire Questions3:34 Favourite Slept on Campus Food4:48 Starting the SMU Journey6:26 Career Stereotypes of "Social Science Psychology"7:19 Goals for Uni, Then & Now9:11 Maximising Your Time & Uni Resources11:43 Hyper-Anxious & Career15:18 Balancing Out Mental Health17:46 Navigating the Struggles & Lowest Points21:21 Tips For Pushing Through22:37 Class Participation Hacks 24:40 Tips (Cheatsheet) to Achieve Better Results26:39 Is It Necessary To Do So Much Internships?29:30 From Digital Marketing to Consulting32:10 Impact of Mentors33:57 Making New Connections 10134:45 Standing Out From the Pack37:25 Top Takeaways from Internship40:32 What Will You Miss Most About School42:14 Random Fact45:16 OutroThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not represent the views of any company, employer, or organization. This discussion is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.This is (probably) one of the realest, most unhinged, sometimes funny, most times educational podcasts about all things career. With no fluff, no bs, only facts and lots of laughs, join us as we chat with people across different industries and share some unsolicited advice on how you can break into them.We believe that you don't know what you don't know, so there's no harm in tuning in once in awhile.Let us know if you enjoyed this episode and if any of the tips helped you. We want to hear what you think, and what you'd like to hear more about next!NEW PODCASTS ON EVERY 3RD (or not) TUESDAY OF THE MONTHFollow Sumo Cum Laudehttps://instagram.com/sumocumlaude3.8https://www.tiktok.com/@sumocumlaudehttps://open.spotify.com/show/51I0Q4G...

Aurafarming Creator by Night, Tech Sales Girlie by day (at LinkedIn) | Sumo Cum Laude #6

From SOTA to exploring all facets of the marketing industry and finally TikTok and LinkedIn, Nicolette's career trajectory might not be the most easily understood—until you hear her explain it. In this episode, Nicolette walks us through her journey of unexpected pivots: starting from the arts, detouring into comms and advertising, then diving headfirst into TikTok’s e-commerce grad programme before switching to LinkedIn as a Sales Development Rep. She tells us what “tech sales” actually is (and why your auntie will never understand it at CNY), what it’s like to live quarter-to-quarter on quotas, and why resilience matters more than having a tech background. We break down: 💼 Tech Sales 101: What the job actually is, without the LinkedIn fluff 📱 Why she left TikTok early and made the switch to LinkedIn 🎯 The highs and lows of chasing quarterly targets 🚩 Who should (and definitely shouldn’t) pursue a sales career ⚡ Her most unhinged career advice for 2025 And yes, we dance in this episode too. So you're probably gonna want to switch to video mode for this. ——— 🚨 Key Takeaways “Sales isn’t for people chasing stability. It’s for people who can handle the reset every quarter.” “The art of yapping is equal parts about listening.” ——— Thinking of breaking into sales? Tag a friend who keeps saying “tech sales looks kinda fun” but can’t negotiate their Grab order. Or send this to someone who wants to pivot into tech but has no idea where to start. ——— CHAPTERS 00:14 Opening 00:46 Rapid Fire Questions 03:01 The Start of Her Career Journey 04:07 Exploring Career Options in Uni 04:21 Internships in Comms 07:08 First Full Time Role: TikTok Grad Programme 09:30 Leaving the Programme for LinkedIn 10:16 Tech Sales 101: What is it exactly? 11:30 Day in a Life at Tech Sales 14:14 Hours in Tech Sales: Is it up to you? 15:13 What is Inbound and Outbound Sales? 15:42 Is Inbound easier than Outbound? 17:14 "Eat What You Kill" Model 17:39 Progression in Tech Sales 18:43 Is Tech Sales a Stable Job? 19:56 Who is suitable for Tech Sales? 20:50 The Art of Yapping & Sales 21:28 Are Technicals important in Tech Sales? 22:32 Who is Tech Sales NOT for? 23:30 Advice for anyone interested in Tech Sales 24:23 How can someone best prep for Sales Interviews? 25:32 Most Unhinged Career Advice 27:02 Outlook on the Industry 27:59 Mini Segment: Random Facts 29:32 As a Content Creator, how do you think of New Content? 30:51 Nicolette Teaches us a Dance The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not represent the views of any company, employer, or organization. This discussion is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice. This is (probably) one of the realest, most unhinged, sometimes funny, most times educational podcasts about all things career. With no fluff, no bs, only facts and lots of laughs, join us as we chat with people across different industries and share some unsolicited advice on how you can break into them. We believe that you don't know what you don't know, so there's no harm in tuning in once in awhile.Let us know if you enjoyed this episode and if any of the tips helped you. We want to hear what you think, and what you'd like to hear more about next! NEW PODCASTS ON EVERY 3RD (or not) TUESDAY OF THE MONTH Follow Sumo Cum Laude https://instagram.com/sumocumlaude3.8 https://www.tiktok.com/@sumocumlaude https://www.youtube.com/@SumoCumLaude

Corporate Finance: Big 4 vs. Investment Banks, How to Get Hired Anywhere (and Avoid the Red Flags)

Everyone talks about getting into corporate banking, but no one tells you how different the job actually feels in a Big 4 vs. a bank — or how to avoid being the intern everyone secretly warns each other about. In this episode, we sit down with Wei Meng, who's worked in corporate banking on both sides. He shares the real differences in culture, hours, and career trajectory, the green and red flags that make or break interns, and why the skills you pick up in banking can open doors almost anywhere. We break down: 🚦 Green flag vs. red flag interns — the ones you convert and blacklist 💼 Big 4 vs. banks — the truth about culture, hours, and career progression 🏦 Why corporate banking skills are basically career jet fuel in any industry 🤝 How to be a mentee people actually want to mentor 🕒 The role your team plays in work-life balance (spoiler: it's huge) ——— 🚨 Key Takeaways "It's not about finding your calling. It's about creating that calling." "Being a good intern isn't about being perfect — just don't be a red flag." "The trick is to not regret anything. Whatever happens." ——— The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not represent the views of any company, employer, or organization. This discussion is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice. This is (probably) one of the realest, most unhinged, sometimes funny, most times educational podcasts about all things career. With no fluff, no bs, only facts and lots of laughs, join us as we chat with people across different industries and share some unsolicited advice on how you can break into them. We believe that you don't know what you don't know, so there's no harm in tuning in once in awhile. Let us know if you enjoyed this episode and if any of the tips helped you. We want to hear what you think, and what you'd like to hear more about next! NEW PODCASTS ON EVERY 3RD (or not) TUESDAY OF THE MONTH Follow Sumo Cum Laude Instagram / sumocumlaude3.8 TikTok / sumocumlaude YouTube / SumoCumLaude