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

[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.

[Coolkidsrock2]

A sample of the kind of competition for internship at top firms


https://www.efinancialcareers.sg/news/goldman-sachs-acceptance-rate-interns

[sharonkhoo]

Coolkidsrock2\" post_id=\"2135242\" time=\"1718788232\" user_id=\"48901:

A sample of the kind of competition for internship at top firms

https://www.efinancialcareers.sg/news/goldman-sachs-acceptance-rate-interns

My daughter simply said - unless you really like that kind of job, why compete with everyone? Most of those kids probably don't really like that kind of career, but see the internship and possible job as a trophy.

[lee_yl]

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

That said, I am of course concerned that our kids are being sucked into a culture of striving for everything to no end.

I thought it is normal for most uni undergraduates to want to do well? Say, they will try to get at least 2nd upper (but whether they can or not, that is another matter lah).

And upon graduation, when one comes out to work as a fresh grad, most youngsters are ambitious, want to climb the corporate ladder and do well. Only when one gets stuck for many years without promotion, then the person will sort of 认命。So to me, it is natural that young people to want to aim high.

[sharonkhoo]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2135245\" time=\"1718789755\" user_id=\"17023:

I thought it is normal for most uni undergraduates to want to do well? Say, they will try to get at least 2nd upper (but whether they can or not, that is another matter lah).

And upon graduation, when one comes out to work as a fresh grad, most youngsters are ambitious, want to climb the corporate ladder and do well. Only when one gets stuck for many years without promotion, then the person will sort of 认命。So to me, it is natural that young people to want to aim high.

It may be natural in Singapore, but does it have to be? What does it mean to \"do well\"? I don't think it should mean the same thing for \"most graduates\". Why can't it be framed as \"do as well you can\" rather than \"aim for a 2nd upper, whether they can or not\"? For a weaker student, why can't \"do well\" be getting a 2nd lower or a pass? Then they needn't feel downcast when they don't get a 2nd upper.

And I don't see \"most youngsters are ambitious, want to climb the corporate ladder and do well\" as necessary - there's no need for \"most\" to feel this way, or to aim for the same corporate ladder. This creates lots of stress, and results in too many people wanting to do a small no. of jobs in a small no. of companies whether they will actually find the jobs intrinsically fulfilling or motivating. The corollary is that people who take other jobs don't appreciate them, seeing them as \"failure\". Perhaps it's something we need to rethink for our kids - if we reframe their ambition to be \"a job I feel fulfilling in itself, within my abilities, and enables me to contribute to society with my strengths\", we may have happier people and fewer jobs that remain unfilled. Let those who really want to be CEOs because they feel that's their \"calling\" go fight for those jobs; the vast majority won't like the job anyway, and not becoming a CEO shouldn't be seen to be a failure, but a choice.

I told my kids not to choose a job in which the main things that made it worthwhile to them was the pay and \"envy factor\", and forced them to give up other (non-paying) things that were important to them. The worst thing about working is the Monday blues; but if you get a job where Monday doesn't feel so blue (maybe just a pastel blue), then you won't mind working into your 70s. I'm not talking about the difference between earning $5K per month and $500 per month. Most graduates start at around $3-4K. If you live with your parents, that's pretty comfortable to start with.