FASS Internship Experiences – NUS Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences

Discover FASS Students’ Internship Insights

Planning to embark on an internship?

Internship in Year 1

Find out more about the internship search and application process, challenges, and tips to successfully secure an internship!

Pierce Lee Jiong Li: Exploring Social Work, Storytelling and Community Impact at SAVH
Katherine Toh Shi Min: Professional and Personal Growth as an Educator at PAP Community Foundation
Zou Yinan: Discovering New Areas of Interest at Amaris.Ai

Find out more

Meet Your Seniors

Find out more about their experiences, takeaways and tips to ace the internship!

Tai Dae Ern: Embracing the Unknown at Kerry Consulting
Lydia Sing Ying Wei: Achieve real-world impact at DB Schenker
Lim Hui Shan: Live Your Passion at the Ministry of Trade and Industry
Dominic Ong: Carve Experiences to Gain Skills and Expertise at Goldman Sachs
Lee Yen Yee: Learn the Hard (and Heart) Work in Serving Others at MSF
Elijah Wong: Build the Confidence to Step into New Horizons at IBM

Find out more

Internship in Year 1

Pierce

—
Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) | Public Education and Relations Intern
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“Try even if you don’t know. Try even if you have little confidence. There is literally no time better to experiment other than during internship period”.

Katherine

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PAP Community Foundation | Mother Tongue Language Teaching Intern
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"Be patient and open to feedback and learning."

Yinan

—
Amaris.Ai | Product Development Intern
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"Start searching early and be aware of the industries’ hiring cycle. ”

Meet Yinan

Discovering new areas of interest at Amaris.Ai

Hi, I'm Yinan and I am currently studying Economics and Political Science. I was a product development intern at Amaris.Ai in 2021. As I am still exploring various career options, I am eager to gain more diverse experiences and expand my skill set. I believe that accumulating knowledge and experiences from different fields will be valuable in helping me excel in future job opportunities.

Zou Yinan, Economics & Political Science Major

"The internship was eye-opening as it gave me an opportunity to work in a tech firm despite studying in FASS.”

How difficult it is for a Year 1 student to secure an internship?

What did you do to improve your chance of success?

I think that having a general direction of what you want to do helps in narrowing down certain roles and industries. During your spare time, you can work on the skills and abilities to improve your competencies in those areas that are aligned with your career interests.

For myself, through my past internship experiences, I have been able to identify my strengths and weaknesses in the workplace.

During the school term when I’m not interning, I worked on improving those weaknesses by actively practicing workplace communication skills and honing my interviewing techniques.

Would you advise students to consider doing an internship as early as in their first year? What would be the advantages of doing so?

If you have a clear idea of what you would like to do during the holidays, then you should pursue it. However, if you do not have any concrete plans, I highly recommend considering an internship in your first year.

Starting early can provide more opportunities to explore various roles and industries throughout your academic journey. After trying out different roles in different industries and companies, hopefully you would be able to narrow down to some jobs that you like and pursue them after graduation.

Can you tell us more about your role as a Product Development Intern and the projects and tasks you worked on?

What were your considerations when applying for and selecting an internship position/role?

My top consideration is to find a role that is aligned to what I learn in my majors, particularly in the areas of economic planning, policy planning and international engagement. I feel that using what I learn in school could bring value to the organisation I join.

However, I think it is also important to keep an open mind and consider roles that interest you even if they are not very aligned with what you learnt in school. At the end of the day, you might discover some new areas that interest you and you might do well in that sector.

What are some of your key takeaways from the internship?

I learnt how to work with people in a formal work setting. There are some differences compared to working with friends and schoolmates, and I think it is important to know workplace ethics and skills in order to do well for that job and to work well with your colleagues. Another thing that is really important is time management. I need to have a sense of urgency on tasks that are time sensitive.

Taking on this internship also exposed me to the work done in the tech industry, especially in the field of AI where it is gaining momentum around the world. Although my major is in the social sciences and humanities, I had the opportunity to work in tech-lite roles, which allowed me to gain a better understanding of how AI-powered products are designed and developed. This experience added diversity to my work experience and broadened my horizons beyond my academic focus.

Do you have any tips and advice for students who are interested in embarking on an internship?

My advice for students is to start the search process early and be aware of the hiring cycle in the industries you are interested in. Some companies start hiring interns as early as a year before, while others open up opportunities only three months before the start date.

It's essential to update your resume with your latest relevant experiences and achievements prior to the internship search.

Additionally, it's highly recommended to consult with your career advisor, as they can provide invaluable advice and resources on how to increase your chances of getting an interview and performing well during interviews.

Meet your Seniors

Dae Ern

—
Kerry Consulting | Financial Services Team
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"During my internship, I not only gained valuable insights into working world, but also learned more about my strengths and weaknesses."

Meet Dae Ern

Embracing the Unknown with at Kerry Consulting

I’m Dae Ern, a penultimate History major. During the last semester, I had the privilege to intern with Kerry Consulting's Financial Services team.

As I look ahead, I realise that I am open to exploring various industries, functions, and roles. While this may seem daunting, I find it exhilarating to think about the possibilities that lie ahead. My aspiration is to live a life with no regrets, and I hope to find a career that allows me to do so.

Tai Dae Ern, History Major

"During my internship, I not only gained valuable insights into working world, but also learned more about my strengths and weaknesses. I had the opportunity to meet many wonderful and talented individuals who helped me grow and learn."

Can you tell us more about your role as an intern in the Financial Services team and the projects and tasks you worked on?

I worked with Kerry’s consultants on various mandates from their clients within the Financial Services. I am responsible for sourcing, screening, and engaging candidates before presenting my findings and recommendations. I was also given several business development projects like constructing a digital client-resource library and researching into Singapore’s Financial Services landscape.

What were your considerations when applying for and selecting an internship position/role?

I had several considerations when applying for this role.

Firstly, I was very eager to gain more work experience and wanted to find a role that involved a high degree of stakeholder engagement, which I felt was a personal strength.

Additionally, I wanted to explore the Financial Services industry, which I had no prior experience with, and I was specifically interested in learning about it from a consultative approach to get a broad understanding.

Finally, I was attracted to Kerry's success in executive search, and I was curious to experience the working culture.

What are some of your key takeaways from the internship?

It pays to move out of your comfort zone. Although I felt that stakeholder management was a personal strength, I wasn't expecting the degree of interaction I had with candidates who were essentially strangers to me. Even towards the end of my internship, I still felt a deep sense of anxiety when reaching out to candidates, especially since conversations were unscripted. However, this experience allowed me to refine how I present myself and communicate with others, instilling me with confidence in various social situations.

How has this internship helped you in planning for your job search and future career?

The internship allowed me to reflect on my strengths and weaknesses, such that I could tailor my future job/internship searches towards areas that suited me. Speaking with candidates also prompted me to think about my personal aspirations and goals, in addition to my career ambitions.

I was blessed that all of Kerry’s consultants were extremely willing – eager, in fact – to discuss my future plans with me and the advice they provided was invaluable. Their expertise in executive search is a testament to their quality, and their advice were extremely helpful. The insights they gave ranged from potential career paths and how to embark on them, interview and application tips, and even personal stories and anecdotes. Before I began my current internship with another firm, one consultant that previously worked for a similar firm even provided me with detailed overview of what to expect and how to succeed in the internship, which I truly appreciate.

Do you have any tips and advice for students who are interested in embarking on an internship?

My CFG advisor once told me that interns can expect a response rate of ~10% when applying for internships, and although I cannot confirm this figure, it has stuck with me ever since. For the vast majority of us, disappointments and rejections will outweigh successes by a mile. It can be exhausting to search and apply for internships, and even more so to actually secure a position. However, the right internship will give you a learning experience that makes all these difficulties seem not only worth it, but relatively small.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to others that may have insights or experiences in your areas of interest. Most of them will be happy to share. Use the resources afforded by platforms like CFG and TalentConnect. While it’s definitely great to have a target industry or area, don’t be stressed if you don’t have any ‘passions’ or ‘niches’ as your interests may change over time. Being an FASS student, internships and work are really a glass-half-full-or-half-empty situation. The lack of a defined career track can seem daunting, but it also means that there are many potential avenues to explore. Use your time as an undergraduate as an opportunity to try out different jobs with minimal repercussions.

Dominic

—
Goldman Sachs | Operations Intern
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"I had a fruitful and fulfilling internship, because I found a role which I saw myself doing in the years to come, and especially within such a warm and collaborative environment!"

Meet Dominic

Carve Experiences to Gain Skills and Expertise at Goldman Sachs

I'm Dominic, an Economics major. Currently, I'm an Operations Analyst at Goldman Sachs, in the same role I interned in previously. My career aspiration is to gain skills and expertise across different roles to fully appreciate the big picture and eventually be managing teams competently.

Ong Jun Wei Dominic, Economics Major

"I had a fruitful and fulfilling internship, because I found a role which I saw myself doing in the years to come, and especially within such a warm and collaborative environment!"

Can you tell us more about your internship role and the projects and tasks you worked on?

As an Operations intern, my role was to ensure that trades are executed accurately and on time, and to minimize gaps where we might be exposed to risk. To fulfil these dynamic responsibilities, I found myself not only having to think out of the box and out of my comfort zone, but also needing to collaborate extensively and constantly meet new people who could provide various inputs on how I could refine my problem-solving methods.

What were your considerations when applying for and selecting an internship position?

The internship role and responsibilities were definitely the most important for me. My goal for seeking internships was to gain working experience because these experiences would help me to reaffirm/rethink my future career path. By trying out different internship roles, I was able to get a sense of what I liked/disliked doing, which helped to point me in a clearer direction in terms of career decisions.

Work-life balance was a secondary consideration too. I personally would not mind internships with long work hours if it exposes me to a variety of experiences, because the experience is more important to me. It would also give me an early chance to re-evaluate my choice of roles and industry in the future if I know that it would involve a poor work-life balance.

How has your internship experience prepared you for your first job?

It gave me a clearer view of what I envisioned myself working as. Where previously I only had a rough idea of what field I was interested in, I could now state specifically what role I wished to aim for. This helped to tailor my job searches to targeted approaches, rather than stabs in the dark. Also, with this internship happening before my graduation, it meant that I had at least a semester's worth of time to recalibrate my career objectives and chart out my future options.

What are some of your internship highlights?

One was witnessing some of my ideas and work being incorporated into the existing processes. During the internship, I was able to pick up the basics of business intelligence tools, gain a deeper understanding of their capabilities, and apply it to fulfil my daily operational responsibilities. In keeping up with an increasingly digitalized world, to see Goldman Sachs investing in these resources to equip interns like myself with the skills to start thinking about revamping the way we do things - this is definitely one of my biggest highlights!

Another highlight was the countless opportunities to network with people. Although the internship was fully remote due to Covid, I found myself constantly networking not just with my fellow interns, but also other analysts, associates, and even VPs from other teams. This ability to network in a fully virtual environment was something that initially sounded impossible, but it was amazing that people around the firm were genuinely willing to put in effort to connect with others despite the constraints. This was a personal growth achievement for me too, as I grew to become more outspoken, confident and comfortable with exchanging views and ideas with people, and obtaining invaluable advice from them!

What tips and advice do you have for students who are interested in embarking on an internship?

Be a sponge and absorb as much as you can during the internship. Proactively reach out to your colleagues to network with them and find out more about what's beyond your role too. Make full use of your time during the internship because as much as you're looking to see if that firm is a good fit for you, that firm is also looking to see if you are a good fit for them. An internship is similar to being on a long-term interview with that firm - you are your own resume.

Lydia

—
DB Schenker | Sustainability Intern
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"Study what you love and intern in what you aspire to do will make the time spent so much more meaningful."

Meet Lydia

Achieve real-world impact at DB Schenker

My name is Lydia, an undergraduate studying Environmental Studies (Geography). During my final year, I was glad to have an opportunity to work as a sustainability intern at DB Schenker, a leader in supply chain management and logistics solutions. As someone who is keen to make a positive change in the society, the internship reaffirmed my career interest in the field of sustainability.

Lydia Sing Ying Wei, Environmental Studies Major

"Study what you love and intern in what you aspire to do will make the time spent so much more meaningful."

Can you tell us more about your role as a sustainability intern and the projects and tasks you worked on?

What are some of your key takeaways from the internship?

One of the main takeaways was appreciating the challenges involved in applying sustainability practices in a corporate setting. In school, I am often taught the importance of sustainability and that time is running out in tackling this climate crisis. However, in reality, different teams have different concerns when transitioning to sustainable practices. It is also crucial to maintain constant communication with the various stakeholders to ensure that their concerns are heard and to get their buy-in and support.

I have also realised the importance of a strong workplace culture. I feel a sense of ownership as the work I did during my internship translated to real-world impact.

How has this internship helped you in planning for your job search and future career?

Do you have any tips and advice for students who are interested in embarking on an internship?

My advice is to get a notebook to keep track of the work you have done, as well as to pen down your thoughts on the internship experience. Such information is useful when considering your ideal job position, as you review the work you enjoyed most and identify areas wish your future job scope could include. Make the most out of your experience, maintain an open mind and be ready to learn. Do not underestimate your ability and take the initiative to voice out your opinions or suggestions. Always ask for feedback from your supervisor, and work on the areas of improvement so that you are better prepared for the eventual full-time role upon graduation.

Yen Yee

—
Ministry of Social and Family Development | Clinical and Forensic Psychology Services Part-Time Intern
—
"It gave a realistic insight into the industry and the amount of hard (and heart) work that is put in to serve others."

Meet Yen Yee

Learn the Hard (and Heart) Work in Serving Others at MSF

Hello! My name is Yen Yee, and I am from the class of 2020. I graduated into the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic with a Bachelor's in Psychology (Honours). I did a part-time internship with the Clinical and Forensic Psychology Services (CFPS) at the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) during my last semester in NUS. I am currently working as an Associate Psychologist at Viriya Community Services, and I wish to pursue clinical psychology in the near future.

Lee Yen Yee, Psychology Major

"It gave a realistic insight into the industry and the amount of hard (and heart) work that is put in to serve others."

Can you tell us more about your role with CFPS and the projects and tasks you worked on?

As an intern at the Clinical and Forensic Psychology Services, I assisted with manual revision for the smooth delivery of interventions for youth offenders. I was given opportunities to observe therapy sessions at the Singapore Boys' Home, along with the multi-disciplinary case reviews they had. I also assisted with literature reviews and presentation materials for the training of psychologists in violent offending.

What were your considerations when applying for and selecting an internship position?

During my time in NUS, I was a resident at the College of Alice and Peter Tan (CAPT), which gave me many opportunities to volunteer and be immersed in the community. As such, these experiences helped to build my passions, and increased my awareness of my strengths and weaknesses. Hence, I became clearer of what I wanted to pursue over time, and knew that I wanted to gain exposure in the area of clinical psychology. This was therefore a key consideration in applying and selecting an internship role that would ideally be relevant to my career aspirations. I also knew that it was important to gain some experience as a student, so that it would give me some insights into the working industry upon graduation. MSF has a structured internship programme with clear objectives, which also greatly appealed to me. I was also thankful that I was able to do a part-time internship during my semester, especially since the fewer modules taken in Year 4 gave me the ability to be more flexible with my time.

What are some of your key takeaways from the internship?

My internship grew my appreciation and respect for the professionals in this industry. It was the first time I was amongst so many psychologists, and it was a great learning experience - not just through the programmes they exposed me to, but also by listening to the conversations they had with each other about their cases. I learn about the heart that many of them had for the group they were working with, and learnt that both passion and hard work are much needed in this industry, especially as they worked with offenders of varying ages. I learnt the importance of compassion and humility, no matter the level of seniority one had in the department, which is something I hope to remember and put into practice always. I also learnt the value of persevering; I had initially applied for an MSF internship in Year 2, but did not get shortlisted. Thankfully after trying again in Year 4, I was granted this opportunity!

How has your internship helped you in planning for your job search and future career?

Through the internship, I was thrust into an environment with many psychologists which helped to shape my passions and aspirations. It increased my knowledge of the industry and profession, and gave me opportunities to talk to many about their journey that brought them to their current position and profession. Hence, this helped me to plan my own journey, especially since it is a long road in pursuing clinical psychology. Since MSF is so big, it also gave me a better understanding of the ministry and its services, which was really valuable. It also increased my awareness of the needs in the community, which therefore helped me to scope my interests further.

Hui Shan

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Ministry of Trade and Industry | North America and Europe Division
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"Overall, it gave me a greater understanding of my career aspirations, and greater confidence in my ability to achieve them."

Meet Hui Shan

Live Your Passion at the Ministry of Trade and Industry

I’m Hui Shan, a final year Political Science Undergraduate. I was an intern at the Ministry of Trade and Industry from June to October 2020. Post-graduation, I hope to work in the sphere of public policy or international affairs, which I am passionate about.

Lim Hui Shan, Political Science Major

"Though I telecommuted for my internship due to the pandemic, this was a significant milestone in my undergraduate journey as I’ve gained clarity on how the skills and knowledge I’ve learnt in university could translate into tangible outcomes at the workplace, such as making sense of geopolitical developments to inform policymaking. Overall, it gave me a greater understanding of my career aspirations, and greater confidence in my ability to achieve them."

Can you tell us more about your internship role and the projects and tasks you worked on?

As an intern with MTI’s North America and Europe Division, I researched and monitored economic and political developments in the US and Europe to support policy formulation for trade relations with Singapore. I produced internal briefs on various topics such as: the US’ reshoring policies for manufacturing, foreign policy implications of the US Presidential Election, the US-EU trade dispute, and presented on the impact of COVID-19 on the US economy and trade policy.

What were your considerations when selecting an internship position?

I was passionate about public policy, so I wanted an internship opportunity where I could gain insights into our policymaking processes. Thereafter, I selected an internship that aligned with my passion in international affairs and had sufficient depth, so that I could focus my research and analysis on a particular region, instead of being in a generalist role. Most importantly, I also wanted to be part of a nurturing team that would give me opportunities to grow. Going through interviews with different employers helped me to get a good sense of which team aligned with what I was looking for, and which team I would work better with.

What are some of your key takeaways from the internship?

The importance of cultural fit is underrated. Being in a team where your colleagues share a similar work ethic, mindset or personality can really make working together more smooth-sailing, and even enjoyable. By joining a team that you naturally fit in better with, it benefits both the team and yourself.

As I was completely new to MTI’s work, I gained a newfound understanding of what the ministry does and the responsibilities of a trade officer, who act as relationship managers between Singapore and other countries’ political office holders. I also learnt first-hand how the entire public service rose to the challenge of an unprecedented pandemic and took on additional responsibilities on top of their existing workload to keep our country going. This gave me a deeper insight into the critical role that our public service plays in such times.

What tips and advice do you have for students who are interested in embarking on an internship?

Always go for an internship that allows you to pursue what you are passionate about. If you’re worried about practicality, there’s always an option where passion and practicality converge. Don’t be too worried about conforming to certain norms or expectations; pursuing what you love pays off in the long-run and you will be more fulfilled. It’s also about how you position and market yourself with the skills you’ve learned when you are applying for jobs in future!

If you have received a few internship offers that you are equally passionate about, some tiebreakers that you can think about include: i) cultural fit, ii) how deep of an impact your work will leave, iii) whether this will help you to start crafting your own niche (regional/industrial etc), or iv) whether this will provide good career prospects for you.

The internship interview is not only an opportunity for your employer to assess you, but also for you to assess your employer. Be curious and ask questions about how the team’s culture is like, what responsibilities you will be given, or any other work-specific questions, so that you can be more informed when making your decision. It will also show that you have done your homework and that you are sincere in wanting to join the team. Through your interactions with different employers, you may get a better sense of which team you will work better with.

Elijah

—
IBM Technology Sales Enablement Team | Program Manager Intern
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"It has given me the confidence and conviction to pursue a career in the technology industry as a graduate from the Arts and Social Sciences."

Meet Elijah

Build the Confidence to Step into New Horizons at IBM

Hi! My name is Elijah, an Economics Major. I have recently completed a full-time internship as a Program Manager Intern with IBM's Technology Sales Enablement team, Asia Pacific. Moving forward, I am excited to explore a career as a Product & Program Manager in the Financial and Payment Technology Industry.

Elijah Wong, Economics Major

"This internship has shown me the possibility of joining a Tech firm in a non-technical role. It has given me the confidence and conviction to pursue a career in the technology industry as a graduate from the Arts and Social Sciences."

Can you share with us about your role as a Program Manager Intern and the projects you worked on?

As a Program Manager, my role was to ensure that existing programs are well executed to internal teams and develop programs aligned to the Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy that will drive greater value for IBM. To achieve that, I needed to understand the company by reading up extensively on its internal resource management while working with different internal stakeholders to execute programs. This required me to step out of my comfort zone in meeting new people (IBMers) across geographies to discuss and brainstorm on the most efficient manner on the program delivery while tracking the measures for success.

What are some highlights of your internship?

I joined IBM amid a major reorganisation of its Sales Team as it pivots from a traditional legacy hardware provider to delivering modern Hybrid Cloud-based solutions infused with Artificial Intelligence. While it happened, the Enablement team and I worked closely with one of the largest social networks to drive a change management program in the company's social selling strategy for APAC. I learnt how to manage different expectation from teams across the 5 markets that IBM operates in as we work towards a common objective.

In this role, I was able to apply the Excel/VBA skills taught in one of my modules, GET1050 Computational Reasoning, and developed a dashboard that provides data analytics tracking of the program. I also realised the importance of having effective communication to convey ideas and execute programs to achieve success.

Another notable highlight was the opportunity I had to work with a group of interns across other Business Units to deliver a Roundtable sharing by Senior Leaders. They are from IBM Red Hat, an open-source software company and IBM IX, a hybrid digital agency and consultancy that solves business problems. The sharing was insightful as premised on how the acquisition drives IBM's Hybrid Cloud and AI strategy.

What were your considerations when applying for and selecting your internship role?

Before joining IBM as an intern, I became interested in the Information Technology sector when I did my first internship at a social enterprise tech start-up, Bantu. I saw firsthand how technology can be used as a force for good in championing the different social causes. The company's values aligned with me as I had similar experiences working with various community groups while being a resident at the College of Alice and Peter Tan. Fast forward, the interest in using technology and tools to improve communities grew on me as I found myself gravitating towards roles found in the IT sector which led to me pursuing a full-time internship at IBM. This has also allowed me to explore other roles within the industry and helped me decide my future career path.

How has your internship helped you in planning for your future career?

I am now more confident of the sector and industry that I foresee myself working in. Internships are good testbeds for one's interest in a particular role rather than entering straight into a full-time position without fully understanding what the role encompasses. As certain competitive positions look at prior work experiences, the relevant internship will certainly bring you a step closer to your ideal first job.

Do you have any tips and advice for students who are interested in embarking on an internship?

With the evolving technology landscape in mind, my advice to juniors will be to first discover the sectors that you are passionate about, find out the skillsets and tools required for you to be successful and keep honing them. Along the way, I do highly encourage you to then seek mentors in the relevant sector and industry who can give you further career guidance and advice. On the other hand, if you are clueless about what industry might be suitable for you, just give it a shot at any that you have an inkling with, similar to what I did when I joined my first start-up company. Again, finding mentors will be useful for you to help point you in the right direction. I believe in time, you will be able to secure your dream internship and job with all the experiences you have gained.

For more information, please contact the FASS IP Administrator at fassip@nus.edu.sg.

If you are planning on embarking on a credit-bearing internship, click here to find out more.