A Singapore-based recruiter has sparked divisive discussion after claiming that companies are hiring foreign workers who are \u201chungrier\u201d over locals. <\/p>\n
The legal recruiter, Lee Shulin, appeared on an episode of CNA\u2019s Deep Dive podcast uploaded on April 30 titled, \u201cWhy young workers are walking away from stable careers\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n Clips from the podcast have made the rounds on social media platforms, sparking several reaction videos on TikTok and intense discussions. <\/p>\n In the podcast, Ms Lee shares that she faces a \u201creal struggle\u201d when hiring fresh graduates, as many lack necessary skills. She added that she looks for a sense of \u201chunger\u201d in candidates, but feels that this \u201cingredient\u201d is increasingly absent. <\/p>\n Ms Lee also points out that young employees need to be \u201ca little bit more paranoid\u201d about what the future holds, as she observed companies letting go of Singaporeans and hiring foreign workers from neighbouring countries.<\/p>\n She said this is \u201cnot because they are necessarily more skilled, but because they are a lot hungrier, and that hunger is now irreplaceable.\u201d<\/p>\n With artificial intelligence becoming more prevalent, Ms Lee believes \u201crelationship-building skills\u201d are increasingly more important. However, she claims she has encountered many Gen Zs who are unable to carry a conversation, a trend she described as terrifying. <\/p>\n Ms Lee also mentioned that it is not just Gen Zs, but also older workers who are \u201cnot prepared to work that hard anymore\u201d, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n She added that the \u201csocial contract\u201d between employers and employees has changed, explaining that as a recruiter now, she constantly assesses whether a candidate is a potential \u201cflight risk.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms Lee\u2019s remarks in the podcast have sparked intense discussion online, with some criticising them as \u201ctone-deaf\u201d while others expressed agreement.<\/p>\n User @celinelimfy took to TikTok<\/a> on May 3 to share her experience of job hunting for six months across various platforms. <\/p>\n \u201cHearing no reply and rejections every single day \u2013 how difficult and jarring that is for anybody\u2019s confidence,\u201d she said, adding that she understands why people are unhappy with Ms Lee\u2019s remarks.<\/p>\n The video has since drawn over 44,000 views and more than 75 comments, with many echoing similar sentiments.<\/p>\n \u201cShe came across as tone-deaf,\u201d one commenter wrote, while others questioned whether being \u201chungrier\u201d meant accepting low pay and working overtime for the sake of \u201cexperience.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so desperate for a job to the point where I have to apply at least once every day, if not I feel anxious,\u201d one user said.<\/p>\n In a May 4 Reddit thread which has garnered over 300 comments, a user noted that \u201chunger\u201d is \u201ctoo superficial a word to describe something that\u2019s way more complex\u201d<\/a>, pointing out that if a foreigner accepts a salary that\u2019s rejected by a foreigner, it does not make the local less \u201chungry\u201d, noting that \u201clocals have far greater cost pressures to deal with.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am wondering if that\u2019s a nicer way of saying foreigners are more easily exploited compared to Singaporeans?\u201d another questioned.<\/p>\n There were also others who agreed with Ms Lee\u2019s stance. <\/p>\n\u2018We don\u2019t see that hunger anymore\u2019: Recruiter <\/h2>\n
Scroll to continue reading<\/span><\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNetizens criticise \u2018tone-deaf\u2019 remarks<\/h2>\n
![\"Stomp](\"https:\/\/www.stomp.sg\/assets\/stomp-comment-COLiWNMD.png\")
<\/p>\n