CNA Article - The Big Read: Fuelled partly by youths' anxiety, the internship rat race has unintended effects
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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.
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Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=\"2135237\" time=\"1718786571\" user_id=\"195250:[quote=\"Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=2135237 time=1718786571 user_id=195250]
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.
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] -
doodbug\" post_id=\"2135240\" time=\"1718787432\" user_id=\"13281:
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!
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.
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. -
A sample of the kind of competition for internship at top firms
https://www.efinancialcareers.sg/news/goldman-sachs-acceptance-rate-interns -
Coolkidsrock2\" post_id=\"2135242\" time=\"1718788232\" user_id=\"48901:
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.
A sample of the kind of competition for internship at top firms
https://www.efinancialcareers.sg/news/goldman-sachs-acceptance-rate-interns -
doodbug\" post_id=\"2135240\" time=\"1718787432\" user_id=\"13281:
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).
That said, I am of course concerned that our kids are being sucked into a culture of striving for everything to no end.
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. -
lee_yl\" post_id=\"2135245\" time=\"1718789755\" user_id=\"17023:
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.
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.
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. -
Hypothetical qn. What happens if your young partner is very driven and spend 24/6 in office enjoying his work and climbing up the corporate ladder? Would you do the same so you both can retire young retire rich or would you choose a job that got work/life balance but you end up being very free while your partner is not there most of the time.
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Imp75\" post_id=\"2135252\" time=\"1718793407\" user_id=\"2358:
24/6 meaning left Sunday for dating ah heehee…
Hypothetical qn. What happens if your young partner is very driven and spend 24/6 in office enjoying his work and climbing up the corporate ladder? Would you do the same so you both can retire young retire rich or would you choose a job that got work/life balance but you end up being very free while your partner is not there most of the time.
Depends on my life stage. In my 20s bf-hubby climbed i also climbed. He overseas i spend weekends doing my own thing lor. We were very clear what we wanted for our family. I climbed until ready for kids then chose work-life balance to raise the kid. He is still climbing… -
slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2135249\" time=\"1718791881\" user_id=\"28674:
I think you didn’t quite get me. I mean isn’t it natural for young people to be ambitious all the way until they hit a wall (stuck for many years), then the fire in them may eventually subside?
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.
Even if I were just a diploma grad, I would want to work hard, climb the ladder and in the meantime go get a degree.
Like how your DD went to a top JC then to Oxbridge, that is already a natural display of “wanting to do well”. As to subsequently whether she finds some jobs whose nature do not suit her and decides to settle for something simpler, then that is another matter.
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