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Internships open doors but only if students can first find the key
For disadvantaged young people, the lack of access and confidence can lock them out of critical early career opportunities. Let’s fix that.
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It is almost impossible to overstate how much such opportunities help young people level up.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Clarence Ching
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As a university student years ago, I recall how daunting it was to secure an internship. I had spent hours writing my resume, personalising cover letters and contacting more than 50 companies – without much success. The fear of being left behind overwhelmed me.
Even at a time before the rise of networking platform LinkedIn and the advent of artificial intelligence-filtering services for resumes, prior internship experience was said to be a key consideration for hiring managers sieving through dozens of applications to fill an entry-level role. Internships, once seen as a good-to-have to help fresh graduates gain exposure and learn practical industry-relevant skills, was becoming a must-have for job candidates who want to stand out in a crowded field.
