CNA Article - The Big Read: Fuelled partly by youths' anxiety, the internship rat race has unintended effects
-
A lot of the pressure comes from within. Many students feel compelled to do as much as or more than others - some because they are innately competitive, and some because they feel unable to be different.
Other than the internships which are part of courses and therefore compulsory, students can choose to do more or fewer. There are costs for every choice - do more, and pay the price in social life, sleep, CCA, maybe poorer academic performance etc. Do less, and pay the price in your CV looking emptier. Whether prospective employers are genuinely impressed by applicants with long lists of internships is unclear; maybe they are only impressed by one of two of the internships, and couldn’t care less if the others weren’t there!
Since no-one is actually forcing students to so many internships, they have to decide how much they want to participate in the rat race. Perhaps one well-chosen internship every long vacation would be good enough. There are consequences for every choice, and they have to weigh these up for themselves.
I don’t think that being in an overseas university frees a student from the rat race. Singaporean students often bring their competitive streaks with them, and they will find those who are just as competitive in those overseas universities to compare with! It takes maturity and an independence of mind to do as much as they feel is right for them, and not feel impelled to follow the pack, and they can do that locally as well. -
slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2135212\" time=\"1718767888\" user_id=\"28674:
certainly agree. going overseas doesn't free anyone from the rat race - if for nothing, one sees more clearly what global competition means. But it also opens new perspectives and clarity on the choices one makes. it's sometimes hard to see beyond the SG perspective while in SG. I also think many develop a greater appreciation for SG after they have been out for a while, heh.
A lot of the pressure comes from within. Many students feel compelled to do as much as or more than others - some because they are innately competitive, and some because they feel unable to be different.
Other than the internships which are part of courses and therefore compulsory, students can choose to do more or fewer. There are costs for every choice - do more, and pay the price in social life, sleep, CCA, maybe poorer academic performance etc. Do less, and pay the price in your CV looking emptier. Whether prospective employers are genuinely impressed by applicants with long lists of internships is unclear; maybe they are only impressed by one of two of the internships, and couldn't care less if the others weren't there!
Since no-one is actually forcing students to so many internships, they have to decide how much they want to participate in the rat race. Perhaps one well-chosen internship every long vacation would be good enough. There are consequences for every choice, and they have to weigh these up for themselves.
I don't think that being in an overseas university frees a student from the rat race. Singaporean students often bring their competitive streaks with them, and they will find those who are just as competitive in those overseas universities to compare with! It takes maturity and an independence of mind to do as much as they feel is right for them, and not feel impelled to follow the pack, and they can do that locally as well.
I guess many of us are curiously watching and wondering how much our kids will be sucked into the rat race culture at the university / working stage of life. Most of us are already familiar with what the picture is at the schooling level. -
doodbug\" post_id=\"2135213\" time=\"1718768298\" user_id=\"13281:
I suppose my kids have experienced less of this as we lived so many years overseas, and we parents have always been \"different\". They also have always been different from those around them, whether overseas or locally, and one child has learning needs as well, which makes her doubly different! We've always helped them to ask themselves what they really want and can handle, and not blindly follow the crowd. And for one of them, even if she could have handled more, we advised her to seek balance in choosing activities, and to reserve enough time for rest and leisure. We also told them to close their ears to the constant Singapore admonishments to work as hard as possible, aim as high as possible, be better than everyone else...
certainly agree. going overseas doesn't free anyone from the rat race - if for nothing, one sees more clearly what global competition means. But it also opens new perspectives and clarity on the choices one makes. it's sometimes hard to see beyond the SG perspective while in SG. I also think many develop a greater appreciation for SG after they have been out for a while, heh.
I guess many of us are curiously watching and wondering how much our kids will be sucked into the rat race culture at the university / working stage of life. Most of us are already familiar with what the picture is at the schooling level. -
doodbug\" post_id=\"2135201\" time=\"1718764059\" user_id=\"13281:
They are not quite the same. For part time jobs you can suka suka apply any job eg FnB or retail to maximise income. For internships you hv to be very very selective to ensure it pads your portfolio the right way.
I guess instead of a part time job, it is now in the form of internships. -
Imp75\" post_id=\"2135216\" time=\"1718775737\" user_id=\"2358:
You can often \"spin\" the value of a job, even if it doesn't directly point to a specific type of career. Creative thinking!
They are not quite the same. For part time jobs you can suka suka apply any job eg FnB or retail to maximise income. For internships you hv to be very very selective to ensure it pads your portfolio the right way. -
slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2135217\" time=\"1718776153\" user_id=\"28674:
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.
You can often \"spin\" the value of a job, even if it doesn't directly point to a specific type of career. Creative thinking! -
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!!
-
Imp75\" post_id=\"2135198\" time=\"1718762812\" user_id=\"2358:
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!!
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 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 -
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?
-
doodbug\" post_id=\"2135231\" time=\"1718783685\" user_id=\"13281:
Some use psychometric tests to screen first:
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?
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/logic-puzzles-behavioural-tests-applying-for-internships-gets-more-complex-amid-competition