Career centres aren't for the desperate anymore - 58% of degree-holders find work there

The stigma around career centres has eroded for good reason. When 58% of degree-holders successfully place through MOM services, you're looking at a data point worth taking seriously. For climbers and pivoters alike, career centres offer something LinkedIn's algorithmic noise and recruiters' transaction-focused approach often don't: personalized human matching and sector-specific coaching. If you're navigating a pivot into fintech or strategy, the tailored guidance matters more than raw volume.

There's also a signalling shift here. Using a career centre is no longer a mark of desperation; it's become a mark of being strategic. Senior professionals in higher income brackets often overlook public services, assuming private recruitment channels are superior. But if the data shows similar or better outcomes for degree-holders, the real advantage of career centres may be in the smaller, more curated candidate pools they work with - less noise, better fit.

The practical move: treat career centres as a parallel track, not a fallback. If you're serious about a pivot or a leadership move within 12–24 months, a session with a careers officer to map your narrative, stress-test your value proposition, and identify realistic employers could sharpen your strategy. The cost is nil, the time investment is modest, and the evidence suggests it works.