CNA Article - The Big Read: Fuelled partly by youths' anxiety, the internship rat race has unintended effects
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Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=\"2135153\" time=\"1718701459\" user_id=\"195250:[quote=\"Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=2135153 time=1718701459 user_id=195250]
not in the considered list , should be different skills set . its automation in semi con / precision engineering industry,IT products, e-vehicle etc
What about Engineers from Indonesia or Myanmar?[/quote] -
doodbug\" post_id=\"2135139\" time=\"1718688803\" user_id=\"13281:
Yes very intense competition for internships at university now.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/internship-rat-race-job-exposure-competition-gain-experience-learning-opportunity-university-4412936?cid=FBcna&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR213qvo8rpNIKCZLEYGlLmRYf4wrQNf_LJ1W4Xl-vMkNmBgVBybc70OUSo_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw
From reading this article, I almost feel exhausted for the kids in tertiary education.
Does any kiasuparent here have kids in the work force already? Is it so competitive to get a job that one needs such a stacked portfolio of internships during university days? -
doodbug\" post_id=\"2135139\" time=\"1718688803\" user_id=\"13281:
My kids are working. My younger girl did a few internships/jobs from post-A levels to university vacations, but she decided not to only do \"useful\" ones. She did a couple which were with commercial/finance companies (2 were only 1 week long), but also did sales jobs, gave tuition for charity, and a couple of prison-related internships (out of interest). I don't know what her interviewers made of that! Anyway, she only applied for 3 jobs, was interviewed by 2, and got one of them (govt service, and not the most sought-after public organisation - I would say 2nd-rung). At that point, she stopped looking. Her friends have had mixed experiences, and it seems to very much depend on the quality of the applicant and the sector. The ones applying to popular areas, who are fussier about the kind of job/organisation, will face stiffer competition.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/internship-rat-race-job-exposure-competition-gain-experience-learning-opportunity-university-4412936?cid=FBcna&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR213qvo8rpNIKCZLEYGlLmRYf4wrQNf_LJ1W4Xl-vMkNmBgVBybc70OUSo_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw
From reading this article, I almost feel exhausted for the kids in tertiary education.
Does any kiasuparent here have kids in the work force already? Is it so competitive to get a job that one needs such a stacked portfolio of internships during university days?
I think applicants need to be realistic - if they aim for the most competitive areas or jobs or organisations then they should expect stiff competition, and if they need to impress with good results and large nos. of internships, well that's what they have to do. If they don't want to do that, there are other organisations and other jobs. -
What’s the Point of School if Students Are Internmaxxing Instead?
by Elliot Lee
June 18, 2024
https://www.ricemedia.co/students-internmaxxing/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1Eh9hZMLmJixcTGVTeIPNPcVpkGCHvu274UrQpieHA2mysK0ze6yMN0Rs_aem_paII0sJ2GjUpk3MlsWGt7w -
There must be a reason why some undergrads fight head over heels for some top notch internships. DH’s colleague’s son went through 7 rounds of stringent interviews which landed him with an internship in the US that pays him $20K+ per month and he got a job offer from same fintech company before he graduates. Undergrads nowadays very 精，they know what they want and how to build their portfolio
My kid and I think just do 2 quality ones better than do 10 don’t know what internships because some companies treat interns like cheap labour.
Nothing right or wrong, for those who want to join in the rat race then join lah, for those who opt out, then so be it. After all I am sure don’t need to do 10 internships to land a decent job. -
My girl was offered a role, with focus in the energy industry, in a consultancy firm pre-graduation. Had to turn down the offer to accept a post-graduate offer.
She was unsuccessful for the global MA program at another consultancy - the exposure during the selection process was beneficial.
She is currently doing consultancy in regulatory services innovation at a start-up overseas, concurrently with her studies.
Strong demand in her area of studies both locally and overseas but will likely come back to Asia as economic activities appear to be picking up. -
Actually last time I thought once we are out of the SG pri/sec/jc education, it will then be a shake leg experience in university as the modules are usually well spread out and even got time for part time job. I got a culture shock when my daughter seemed more busy than ever. I asked her what was she busy with. She says studies only take 30%, the rest are CCAs, leadership, case comps etc, no time to even study not to mention part time work etc. All these to build up portfolio to garner that first internship or networking opportunities.
So scary right……seems like no end is in sight until retirement or burnt out. This generation kids quite poor thing. -
I guess instead of a part time job, it is now in the form of internships.
The culture from Pri Sch to Sec Sch to JC extends to SG unis. This is one reason why my kids tell me if given a choice, they would prefer to study overseas, even at lower ranked universities. They feel the SG system has taught them enough about how to study and to study hard - they don’t need to learn and experience that once again in uni. And no matter what the local unis do or how good they are, the cohort is largely Singaporean so the culture will remain.
Going overseas, to my kids, is to see and experience more diverse perspectives, lifestyles and choices. That said, our local universities are very highly ranked and it’s hard for them to break out of the thinking of giving up a place in a desired course in local unis to go overseas too. I guess they are conflicted. -
doodbug\" post_id=\"2135201\" time=\"1718764059\" user_id=\"13281:
Actually going overseas is just as competitive. DD is in the lab / library even at midnight and she is not alone.
I guess instead of a part time job, it is now in the form of internships.
The culture from Pri Sch to Sec Sch to JC extends to SG unis. This is one reason why my kids tell me if given a choice, they would prefer to study overseas, even at lower ranked universities. They feel the SG system has taught them enough about how to study and to study hard - they don't need to learn and experience that once again in uni. And no matter what the local unis do or how good they are, the cohort is largely Singaporean so the culture will remain.
Going overseas, to my kids, is to see and experience more diverse perspectives, lifestyles and choices. That said, our local universities are very highly ranked and it's hard for them to break out of the thinking of giving up a place in a desired course in local unis to go overseas too. I guess they are conflicted.
Based on DD's and some other kids' experience, working part-time is slightly different from internship as they are still required to attend classes, complete assignments and take exams concurrently. There is no recognition by the uni for part-time work. But it demonstrates ability in time and pressure management in future job search.
Internship, as I understand, is part of the curriculum and time is set aside for the students.
Setting up own small business, 创(小)业 is also another alternative. -
There are two types of internships - credit bearing, and non credit bearing.
The non credit bearing ones are like part time work, they are usually done on top of classes etc.
Some students take a leave of absence to go on internships too. This usually means extending candidature if you do not overload on classes in the other semesters.
I am sure it is competitive overseas too, but I think the nature of it is different from the culture in Singapore universities. You will find students in the lab/library at midnight in every university it’s just the prevalence and extent of it. In Singapore, the list of "desirable" options is quite entrenched whereas overseas, you have very able students with a wider range of career options and interests.
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