Can internships really help fresh grads to increase their chances of being employed in the future? I feel like I am losing out to my peers out there with full time jobs. What are your thoughts?

At first glance, the dilemma of starting out with internship jobs or traineeship as your first career goes against conventional wisdom of starting out with blue-chip brand names. There are indeed initiatives by authorities for recent graduates to get hired on a temporary contract for up to a year, subjected to renewal.

Personally, I would think it depends highly on your (i) career goals and (ii) financial health. If you managed to land a stint at a company you like or a position that seem aligned with your long-term career goals, I would say “GO FOR IT!!!” even if the starting pay is less than ideal for a fresh graduate in normal times. The experience you gain and the people you meet might be able to help you next time, even if you choose not to stay in the same company after the contract is up. Furthermore, taking a job now doesn’t mean you stop looking out for other opportunities in your free time. You need to keep brushing up your CV and interviewing skills as you update your LinkedIn profile with new work experience earned during this period If you need help with these, sign up for a free* consultation by signing up my email list below :) Having some income reduces the stress and anxiety for job-hunting and puts you in a better position to learn and strive in the current position as well as your future ones.

Let’s take the hypothetical case study of Janice, a liberal arts graduate with limited working experience in her 4 years of undergraduate studies. She receives a job offer as a staff writer of $1.8k per month on a 6 month contract. (i) This is in line with what she envisions herself to do for the next 5 years–being an editor of an online publication. Although this position is temporary and she might not be able to convert to a full time staff after 6 months, the experience and skills she gain during this employment would value-add to her portfolio. She would be better off 6 months from now and be in a more comfortable position to negotiate her next job offer. (ii) She can learn how to do personal budgeting to ensure she has enough in her small emergency fund for the future where she might need to hunt for her next job (in case the company does not renew her 6 month stint). In short, always have a Plan B (or plan C,D,E in today’s gig economy).​​​

Hi anon,

Depending on the internship scope, you could potentially even land a job right after the internship ends. During my studies, some of my peers were offered jobs after their internships ended, so by the time they had 1 sem left, they had a firm job offer already. Of course, I also know of people who didn't have much to do during the internship, which almost feels like a waste. Outstanding achievements during an internship can be resume material for future job interviews.

Don't take your internship lightly. Work like you are a full time employee, and take every opportunity to ask, learn, and contribute. Of course, it's preferrable that your internship is in a sector or company that you see yourself working in, but even if it isn't, soft skills are very relevant and transferrable.