CNA Article - The Big Read: Fuelled partly by youths' anxiety, the internship rat race has unintended effects

[Imp75]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2135217\" time=\"1718776153\" user_id=\"28674:

You can often \"spin\" the value of a job, even if it doesn't directly point to a specific type of career. Creative thinking!

True!!!! Needs a certain type of profile to be able to spin any kind of stories and not all types of jobs can be easily spun over.

[lee_yl]

I asked a friend from Temasek/GIC why undergrads nowadays fight head over heels for good internships. He said that’s because many of them may get a job offer before they graduate if they perform well during the internship. So I guess I would rather my kid get 2 good internships than to do 10 random ones!!

[lee_yl]

Imp75\" post_id=\"2135198\" time=\"1718762812\" user_id=\"2358:

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.

Oh dear, if indeed students need to spend 70% of their time and energy on CCAs and portfolio building, this is indeed scary and very sad for them!!

I agree that during our time, studying in the Uni was not as stressful as today. Some already have problems coping with uni curriculum/exams, how to squeeze out more time for other non-academic stuff? Poor thing.

And without me telling my DD1, she already knows the importance of getting 1st Class or 2nd Upper. And to them, getting a 2nd Lower means they are quite “gone”. Very sad world view

[doodbug]

Maybe the kids think, to get a good / choice internship, they need to start with other internships if they don’t already have a strong portfolio?

[zac's mum]

doodbug\" post_id=\"2135231\" time=\"1718783685\" user_id=\"13281:

Maybe the kids think, to get a good / choice internship, they need to start with other internships if they don't already have a strong portfolio?

Some use psychometric tests to screen first:

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/logic-puzzles-behavioural-tests-applying-for-internships-gets-more-complex-amid-competition

[Liew Nga Wing]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2135230\" time=\"1718783656\" user_id=\"17023:

Oh dear, if indeed students need to spend 70% of their time and energy on CCAs and portfolio building, this is indeed scary and very sad for them!!

I agree that during our time, studying in the Uni was not as stressful as today. Some already have problems coping with uni curriculum/exams, how to squeeze out more time for other non-academic stuff? Poor thing.

And without me telling my DD1, she already knows the importance of getting 1st Class or 2nd Upper. And to them, getting a 2nd Lower means they are quite “gone”. Very sad world view

I don't know what your DD has encountered. Every year, there are fresh graduate joining my company, just last week two fresh graduate joined my department. Not everyone are 1st or 2nd Upper degree. Our HR and bosses chosen them - are largely depend on their performance during interview. Once they joined us, no one will care whether they are 1st or 2ne degree. We only concern whether they are willing to learn, willing to work hard and how to handle their interpersonal relationship (operate with others) in our office.

My DS is not 1st or 2nd Upper degree, still can get good jobs and relatively good pay - at lease sufficient for getting marriage and a BTO HDB house.

[Imp75]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2135230\" time=\"1718783656\" user_id=\"17023:

Oh dear, if indeed students need to spend 70% of their time and energy on CCAs and portfolio building, this is indeed scary and very sad for them!!

I agree that during our time, studying in the Uni was not as stressful as today. Some already have problems coping with uni curriculum/exams, how to squeeze out more time for other non-academic stuff? Poor thing.

And without me telling my DD1, she already knows the importance of getting 1st Class or 2nd Upper. And to them, getting a 2nd Lower means they are quite “gone”. Very sad world view

Yes quite sad. Forgot to say….besides only spending 30% in curriculum, yet they expect perfect gpa! Machiam like superman!!! I just close both eyes…..

[Liew Nga Wing]

Why need to feel sad? Everyone is different - some are much better for academic and some are not, even cannot get a 1st class or 2nd upper degree - do you mean the kids have to die and no future? Definitely "not" right? I am not saying kids do not need to study hard, but even they are not the top one in their schools, they still can have a happy life. It is only their "greedy" for fame and wealth made them sad when they failed to be the top one.

[Imp75]

Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=\"2135237\" time=\"1718786571\" user_id=\"195250:[quote=\"Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=2135237 time=1718786571 user_id=195250]
Why need to feel sad? Everyone is different - some are much better for academic and some are not, even cannot get a 1st class or 2nd upper degree - do you mean the kids have to die and no future? Definitely \"not\" right? I am not saying kids do not need to study hard, but even they are not the top one in their schools, they still can have a happy life. It is only their \"greedy\" for fame and wealth made them sad when they failed to be the top one.[/quote]

I say quite sad from the perspective of how things have changed in todays world that something that can be achievable during my time requires so much more effort now, the playing field is no longer the same as before.

[sharonkhoo]

doodbug\" post_id=\"2135240\" time=\"1718787432\" user_id=\"13281:

Don't be too pessimistic! By many counts, there are far more opportunities today, and the job market in Singapore for fresh graduates is stronger here than possibly anywhere else in the world.

That said, I am of course concerned that our kids are being sucked into a culture of striving for everything to no end. They need not do so, and will not starve even if they choose to pace themselves in a more sustainable way.

I agree - I graduated in a recession, when many companies were not hiring, and just after CPF contribution rates for employers had been cut! You just have to accept the situation at the time and make the best of it. There are so many more opportunities to study now, and the economy is so much larger and more varied. The stiff competition is because there are so many students in universities now, all gunning for the same kind of \"good\" jobs. But would we prefer that universities limit their enrolment so every graduate is courted by employers? What's the enrolment of NUS now? In my day, I think total enrolment (all undergraduates, 3-4 years) was about 8000!

Being sucked into current culture is a danger, but this has been so for all ages. It's something kids have to learn to withstand, and parents can help a lot. Those that don't learn this lesson early will probably learn it later, when too much competition and stress takes its toll on physical and mental health.