Before one-click applications and LinkedIn, finding a job in Singapore looked very different. A Reddit thread asking older Singaporeans to share memories of job hunting between 1998 and 2003 quickly filled with stories about newspaper classifieds, handwritten applications, and personal referrals.

Newspapers were the first stop

For many, the answer was simple. The Straits Times classified section was the first stop, especially the Saturday edition packed with job listings. JobStreet and JobsDB had already launched, but neither had become the default platform yet.

The process looked very different from today. Resumes were printed, slipped into envelopes, and mailed to companies. Email was slowly becoming more common, though much of the hiring process still relied on paper applications and phone calls.

Referrals opened doors too

Referrals also played a big role. Employment agencies helped many land tempora...