Why companies are ‘cautious’ with hiring

Use your network instead of mass applying 

Using LinkedIn to gauge the job market 

Future-proof your job against AI

2026 - here comes “quiet cracking” 

Finding a new job may be on your resolution list this year, but will it be the right move in 2026?

Much of the job market in 2025 was dominated by uncertainty and mixed signals.

Fresh university graduates shared – and documented on social media – their struggles landing interviews and jobs, despite sending out multiple resumes.

Retrenchments climbed in the third quarter of 2025 after dipping in the previous two quarters, while job vacancies continued to fall, according to the Ministry of Manpower’s third-quarter labour report. There were 69,200 job openings in September, down from 76,900 in June, the report said.

Meanwhile, the workforce was constantly cautioned about how artificial intelligence could reshape – and potentially displace – many roles.

Will it be more of the same in 2026, or will the market turn in favour of job seekers?

In this episode of The Usual Place, I want to find out how job seekers can navigate the market and what kind of upskilling we need to make career changes.

Joining me on the podcast are:


Ms Serla Rusli, a LinkedIn career expert who advises job seekers on career matters based on hiring and job market trends, and


Ms Joyce Bijl, business development director for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East at ManpowerGroup, a global company that deals with workforce solutions.

We’ll also discuss whether more employees will continue with “quiet quitting” or “job hugging”.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:50 Why companies are ‘cautious’ with hiring despite better GDP growth

6:36 Use existing network instead of mass applying for jobs 

12:44 How to use LinkedIn to gauge the job market 

18:04 How to future-proof your job against the AI disruption

35:03 Trending in 2026 - move over “quiet quitting,” here comes “quiet cracking” 

Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/theusualplacepodcast

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh and Chen Junyi

Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor & Ernest Luis

Editorial producers: Elizabeth Law & Lynda Hong

Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday:

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

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Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

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Finding a new job may be on your resolution list this year, but will it be the right move in 2026? Much of the job market in 2025 was dominated by uncertainty and mixed signals. Fresh university graduates shared &ndash; and documented on social media &ndash; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsGMqDaui8I&amp;list=PLGTHbevSko-WsAqoM5NUcG2W_QfStRuKc&amp;index=21&amp;ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a>their struggles landing interviews and jobs, despite sending out multiple resumes.
<a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/singapore-sees-more-retrenchments-in-third-quarter-as-job-vacancies-continued-to-drop?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a>Retrenchments climbed in the third quarter of 2025 after dipping in the previous two quarters, while job vacancies continued to fall, according to the Ministry of Manpower&rsquo;s third-quarter labour report. There were 69,200 job openings in September, down from 76,900 in June, the report said.
Meanwhile, the workforce was constantly cautioned about how artificial intelligence could reshape &ndash; and potentially displace &ndash; many roles. Will it be more of the same in 2026, or will the market turn in favour of job seekers? In this episode of The Usual Place, I want to find out how job seekers can navigate the market and what kind of upskilling we need to make career changes.
Joining me on the podcast are:
<ul>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Ms Serla Rusli, a LinkedIn career expert who advises job seekers on career matters based on hiring and job market trends, and
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Ms Joyce Bijl, business development director for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East at ManpowerGroup, a global company that deals with workforce solutions.
</li>
</ul>
We&rsquo;ll also discuss whether more employees will continue with &ldquo;quiet quitting&rdquo; or &ldquo;job hugging&rdquo;. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:50 Why companies are &lsquo;cautious&rsquo; with hiring despite better GDP growth
6:36 Use existing network instead of mass applying for jobs&nbsp;
12:44 How to use LinkedIn to gauge the job market&nbsp;
18:04 How to future-proof your job against the AI disruption
35:03 Trending in 2026 - move over &ldquo;quiet quitting,&rdquo; here comes &ldquo;quiet cracking&rdquo;&nbsp;
Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/theusualplacepodcast">https://www.instagram.com/theusualplacepodcast</a>
Follow Natasha on LinkedIn:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/v6DN">https://str.sg/v6DN</a>
Filmed by: Studio+65
Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh and Chen Junyi
Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor &amp; Ernest Luis
Editorial producers: Elizabeth Law &amp; Lynda Hong
Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday:
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/5nfm?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/5nfm?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/5nfm</a>
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/9ijX?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/9ijX?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/9ijX</a>
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/cd2P?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/cd2P?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/cd2P</a>
YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
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Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/wvz7?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
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#tup #tuptr

Natasha and her guests unpack the latest current affairs, every Thursday.

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday live at noon, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests. 

Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah

Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor & Ernest Luis

Editorial producer: Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday live at noon, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.&nbsp;
Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah
Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor &amp; Ernest Luis
Editorial producer: Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media

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