How Psychology Scholar Jia Jie Lee Found Purpose in Recruitment, Not a Clinic

For Jia Jie Lee, the path from fresh graduate to fulfilment in life has been anything but linear.  A top-performing psychology graduate and full scholarship recipient at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), she had once envisioned a future in clinical psychology or academic research. With an academic record marked by accolades, she spent years setting her sights on either clinical practice or research, until life took her in a different direction. 

Today, she works in recruitment, connecting candidates to opportunities in Singapore’s banking and financial services sector. While the path is far from what she once envisioned, it has offered a different kind of purpose: one rooted in human connection, growth, and the quiet reward of helping others move forward. Jia Jie’s journey is a testament to how the most unexpected instances of redirection can often bring equally unexpected fulfilment.

Exploring Psychology and Purpose at UTAR

Jia Jie’s passion for psychology sparked at the age of 15, when she fell in love with reading psychology books, intrigued by the science behind human behaviour. When the time came to choose a degree years later, the decision was obvious. “I didn’t hesitate, I knew psychology was the right path for me.” Her strong SPM results earned her a full scholarship for her foundation program at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR). Determined not to let the opportunity slip away, she pushed herself to maintain excellent grades, her efforts eventually paying off in the form of a full degree scholarship. 

Her time at UTAR only deepened her interest in the field. She studied a wide range of topics, including educational psychology, health psychology, and mental disorders such as ADHD, autism, and depression. She also developed strong research skills, which she described as a key part of her academic journey. “Psychology isn’t just common sense. It’s a science,” she explained. “You need to know how to collect data, run the statistics, and back up your findings.”

As her understanding of the subject grew, so did her ambitions. Jia Jie began to consider multiple paths, including clinical psychology and even a future in research and academia.

Throughout her degree, she remained one of the top-performing students in her cohort. Upon graduation, she earned First Class Honours and received several prestigious awards, including the Book Prize Award, the Best Graduate Award, and the Gold Medal Award, which is presented to a single outstanding graduate in each batch.

Her years at UTAR were not just about academic success; they became a season of discovery that would shape her thinking in unexpected ways.

Beyond the Classroom: Teaching, Research, and Redirection

Though clinical psychology had always been her top interest, Jia Jie didn’t rush into a Master’s programme. “I was completely clueless about what I wanted,” she admitted. Instead, she took a gap year, not only to provide herself a much-needed break, but to explore. That year turned out to be one of the most formative periods of her life.

One path took her deeper into education. She returned to her alma mater to teach computer literacy, took on roles at tuition centres, and even taught preschool students remotely during the pandemic. Her youngest learners were just three years old. “At that age, it’s about exposure, not writing essays.” She used flashcards, interactive experiments, and play-based lessons to spark curiosity, often teaching multiple languages and subjects in a single session.

At the same time, she doubled down on research. Encouraged by her final-year supervisor, Jia Jie extended her thesis work and co-presented at a national conference. “I didn’t expect to win Best Presenter,” she said. Their paper was later published as a conference article, marking a significant milestone that paved the way for a potential career in academia. In fact, her supervisor even offered her a spot in a research-based master’s program, one that could eventually lead to a role in academia or as a professor. But after careful thought, she turned it down, realising that long-term academic research wasn’t the path she wanted to commit to.

Still, she wasn’t ready to let go of her dream of becoming a clinical psychologist. On her own initiative, she applied for a Master’s in Clinical Psychology at UKM. She went through the interview process, giving it her all, but ultimately wasn’t selected. “I thought I’d made up my mind. But suddenly, I was back at square one.”

As lost as she felt, it was a point in her life that taught her to always stay open to what might come next.  

Finding Fulfilment in the Unexpected

The rejection from her dream master’s programme stung. For a while, Jia Jie felt unmoored, uncertain of where to turn next. But rather than dwell in disappointment, she chose to keep moving. When an opportunity in recruitment came her way, she took it—not because it aligned perfectly with her past, but because it was a chance to learn something new.

At first, she was hesitant. The corporate world seemed far removed from psychology and education, and she worried the work would feel transactional. Instead, she found something surprising: a sense of meaning. As a recruiter specialising in banking and financial services for the Singapore market, Jia Jie discovered a different kind of impact. She was helping people take the next step in their careers and assisting companies in finding the talent they needed to grow.

“It reminded me that helping people doesn’t just happen in therapy rooms or classrooms, it can happen anywhere.”

From Malaysia to Singapore: Rising in Recruitment

Jia Jie began her career in recruitment from Malaysia, joining a firm as an associate resourcer supporting the Singapore market. Her role focused on candidate sourcing, including screening profiles, building relationships and connecting job seekers with relevant opportunities. It was a behind-the-scenes role, but one that sharpened her instincts and gave her a deeper understanding of the job market.

Eager to grow, she pursued certification to work directly with clients in Singapore’s highly regulated hiring environment. Once licensed, she transitioned into a 360 recruitment role, liaising not only with candidates but also with hiring managers, understanding business needs, and offering strategic consultancy. It was a steep learning curve, but she fuly embraced it.

Her growth was swift. Within her first year, Jia Jie became a top biller and top closer multiple times, earning recognition across the company. She was the first from her division to be transferred to the Singapore office, a milestone that reflected both her results and her potential.

But for Jia Jie, success isn’t measured in titles or commissions alone. What drives her is the chance to make a difference, which helping individuals find meaningful work definitely brings. “You need to know whether this aligns with your purpose,” she said. “For me, it does.”

Purpose Beyond Plans

Jia Jie’s journey didn’t follow the script she once imagined. Clinical psychology was her first ambition, and education and research were serious contenders. When each of those doors closed, she was left questioning her direction, but not her drive. Rather than waiting for clarity, she kept on moving, trusting that her purpose would take shape along the way.

Today, she finds meaning in the unexpected. In recruitment, Jia Jie discovered a way to empower others, connect people with opportunities, and build relationships grounded in trust. Her work may not be rooted in therapy or academia, but it still centres around what matters most: helping people. “Helping others doesn’t only happen in a classroom or a therapy room,” she reflected. “It can happen anywhere.”

Looking ahead, she doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. Just two years ago, she couldn’t have predicted she’d be living abroad and building a career in a field she never planned for. But if there’s one thing she’s sure of, it’s that curiosity and openness will keep steering her forward. “Self-discovery is a lifelong journey,” she said. “What you start out wanting may not be where you end up—and that’s not just okay, it can be exciting.” For Jia Jie, it’s not about asking ‘why’, but ‘why not’.