My last time being an intern 🥲
I saw the job position through an email newsletter from the National Youth Council and applied for it around the end of 2024. It stood out to me because it offered part-time arrangements, which is uncommon for internships. The interview for this took place in early 2025 over Zoom, and my interviewers were like 20mins late! This has never happened to me before, and at first I thought it was a red flag. But they gave me a call as soon as they could to explain that they were held back in a meeting and were very apologetic about it. So we went ahead with the interview and I started my internship with them in May 2025.
During this internship I did quite general tasks, supporting their programmes through administrative, logistical, and on-site aspects. It was different from my past professional experiences, which were mainly just in design and marketing. The culture there was quite relaxed, in the sense that things were done when needed and there wasn't a lot of rushing, most people there had lunch away from their desks and left work on time. I had a good experience and extended my initial 3-month contract, I even managed to get a friend to join!
At this internship, a big programme I was supporting was a course for middle managers from a certain government ministry. It gave me some insight to firstly, the people and culture from the ministry, and secondly, what goes on behind the scenes in organising a course that would repeat for different groups of attendees. It was a learning experience to see how certain things improve and iterate for the next group based on the feedback from previous attendees.
For the first few months of the internship I wasn’t looped in to help on-site for programmes, mainly due to clashes with my school schedule. For our programmes we would typically cater food, and for this particular programme there was breakfast, lunch, and tea break, which was a lot of food, and it was the first programme I supported on-site. I ended up eating way too much and had a stomach ache LOL… at the grown age of 21 is crazyyy. I ended up working from home the next day, thank gosh they were understanding.
I stayed at this internship till November 2025, and was asked if I wanted to extend again. At the time I already completed my university studies and already had plans to search for a full-time role. I also wanted time to travel and relax before all that. Additionally, around this time was when NUS announced that all staff will be back in office 5 days a week, which was a push factor for me. Ultimately I did not extend the contract again. But I did enjoy my time there, and I still keep in contact with my ex-colleagues!
Internships, especially part-time roles, can offer invaluable learning experiences that differ greatly from full-time positions. Reflecting on my own time with the National University of Singapore’s Postgraduate Education Branch, I found that part-time internships provide a unique balance between gaining professional experience and managing other commitments such as school or personal time. One aspect that stood out was the flexible work culture. Unlike many corporate jobs that demand constant hustle, this internship emphasized steady, steady progress and respect for personal boundaries, such as lunch breaks away from desks and timely departures. Experiencing this was refreshing and taught me the importance of workplace environment on productivity and morale. Supporting a recurring course for middle managers from a government ministry gave me insights into how training programs evolve. Feedback loops are critical: listening to attendees' experiences leads to continuous improvements in organisational processes. This understanding is a reminder that behind every smooth event are many iterations shaped by real human interaction. On a lighter note, the catered meals at on-site programmes were a double-edged sword; while it was a treat to have breakfast, lunch, and tea breaks provided, I learned the hard way about balancing indulgence and health. My stomach ache from overeating was a funny but valuable reminder about self-care, even during busy internship days. Extending my contract and encouraging a friend to join also highlighted the community aspect of internships. Building relationships with colleagues adds a layer of support and connection, which I continue to value even after the internship ended. Finally, my decision not to extend further was influenced by personal goals such as completing university, preparing for full-time roles, and prioritising rest and travel. Changes like NUS's move back to five-day office attendance also affect career planning decisions. These factors underscore the reality that internships are just one part of a larger career and life journey. For anyone considering a part-time internship, especially in educational or governmental programmes, my experience suggests it can offer diverse skills from administration to event logistics, alongside valuable cultural insights and networking opportunities. It's important to stay adaptable, communicate openly about scheduling, and enjoy the learning process along the way.
