My first good manager 🥰
Originally the charity was looking for someone able to commit to a full-time internship, so I was already quite lucky to have been given the chance! Even now, I rarely see internships that are part-time. As usual, the hiring process consisted of an interview, and my mistake was scheduling the call the morning after coming back to Singapore. I was so tired from my flight the day before that I didn’t hear my alarm go off, overslept and missed the interview OMG I immediately reached out to the interviewer (who would be my manager) to apologise for missing the call and asking if we could reschedule. I’m so thankful that she was empathetic and gave me another chance. She was one of my best and favourite managers to date!
So a little bit more about the role, it was in design and marketing, specifically for an event. In terms of hard skills and design techniques I felt that I did not learn much that was new. It was more about gaining experiences in liaising/managing designs and concepts with external stakeholders. I was responsible for developing the brand strategy and visual identity, which was then shared with an agency for them to help develop certain collaterals. Reflecting upon it now, in my first internship I had a taste of the agency side of design, the second internship was the in-house side, and this was the client side of things — quite the full circle experience!
Although I truly enjoyed the culture, people and work there, at the time I wanted to make a bit more money. The remuneration was market rate, and considering that it was a charity, it was not bad but I wanted more. I tried negotiating but did not manage to reach an agreement, and considering that I was not learning much to expand my knowledge in design, we parted ways. Thankfully, it was very amicable and on good terms! Sometimes I do wonder if I should have stayed but ultimately I don’t regret my decision because it allowed me to explore other things. I even continued to freelance for them as a designer and a facilitator, which gave me more autonomy over my time, and was a better arrangement for me as per hour I would earn more even if it was not a consistent income. Even three years later, I still keep in touch with the people there and occasionally freelance for them. It’s great because the team is quite small and young, so I could vibe with and have genuine relationships with my ex-collegues. My manager there has also left, she sometimes organises ball games for her community of friends and we would catch up there!
These contacts and networks were quite helpful as I moved on to other jobs. They opened doors to other volunteering and freelancing opportunities that helped boost my resume and experience! If you have any questions on finding internships etc. lmk in the comments and I’ll do my best to help ✨
Landing a part-time internship, especially in a charity, is a unique opportunity that not many come across. From personal experience, missing an important interview due to jet lag can feel disastrous, but reaching out promptly and showing genuine remorse can open doors again. My manager's empathy and willingness to reschedule proved how valuable compassionate leadership can be. In this role, I experienced the client side of design, which differed greatly from my previous agency and in-house internships. Managing brand strategy and liaising with external agencies enriched my understanding of the design workflow beyond technical skills. This taught me the importance of soft skills like communication and stakeholder management in creative fields. While the remuneration at the charity was modest, the amicable split and ongoing freelance opportunities allowed me to maintain flexible income streams and deepen my design expertise. Staying connected to a small and young team fostered authentic relationships and led to more volunteering and freelancing gigs. Networking in such environments can significantly boost your resume and open unexpected career paths. For those seeking internships, especially part-time roles, my advice is to be prepared but flexible, maintain professionalism even after setbacks, and value managers who support your growth. These experiences are pivotal not just for skill-building but also for forming lasting connections in your industry. If you’re navigating internships or want tips on managing early career challenges, feel free to ask for advice!