creating this post to see if anyone else is going through their first/new internships this year, as i wna ask - how’s it going for yall!! please feel free to share your experiences, i would love to hear them!
personally, office life and working in a company is really new to me and im learning a lot! however, there are days where i feel extremely tired and drained (especially since my job revolves around people), and at times i start to question whether this job is right for me… But, i’m trying to be patient with myself and celebrate the small wins everyday (like rewarding myself with mala after a long day at work )
so if you’re seeing this (it doesn’t have be an internship) and you’re trying something new recently but feel a little discouraged, i just want to tell you that you’re not alone and im rooting for you!!! we’re in this together and i believe better days await us
Thanks for starting this thread—it’s really comforting to hear from someone going through similar things .
I’m currently interning at a lab, which is a whole new experience for me , but thankfully not too overwhelming. My seniors have been super kind and helpful in easing us in, so the transition has been quite smooth. It’s also mostly remote, which has made things a lot less stressful .
Last year was actually my first time in an office setting, and honestly, it was terrifying at first —everyone was constantly busy and had really important roles to play. I also had a mentor for the first time, which was completely new to me, but over time I learned how to better manage my time , conserve my energy, and communicate more confidently with others .
This time around, I’m hoping to stretch myself more, learn as much as I can, and just keep growing bit by bit . Wishing you all the best in your internship too!! Let’s keep going—you’re doing great!
oooo omg that sounds really interesting!! yay we love work from home daysss - mine’s mostly remote too!!
i’m glad that you managed to learn more about yourself through your work experience - like managing your time and interaction with others!! that’s really nice :-)) i’m sure you’re doing great too and happy end of week hehe
Been quite sometime after my first intern experience. But it was truly transformative. From easing my anxieties about work to making me a more confident person , it was my best experience since joining poly. I felt refreshed seeing different people working under the same roof , especially since in poly, I was always on self directed learning at home. My social brain had a feast at intern ! That had an impact on my work quality too, making me more productive.
To @knd , I’m interested in interning at a lab too! Can you share more if you can? Thanks .
Hey @lovelychange, it’s so nice to hear that your first intern experience was such a good one! And it’s great that you enjoy social situations—internships really are a great way to meet new people. I’m more of an introvert myself, so I usually socialise only when I want to—but I agree that teamwork is super important, and there’s space for all types of interns, thankfully!
As for my experience interning at a lab, it really depends on the field. I’m in psych, and since I’m still new, we mainly help with data cleaning—basically checking if things were recorded accurately by comparing them with raw data and editing where needed. It’s mostly independent and flexible, which I appreciate during the holidays!
We also have occasional in-person meetings to discuss academic papers with postdocs and senior lab members. I haven’t joined one yet, but we’re expected to pre-read the paper and mostly listen in—but we can ask questions or share thoughts if we’d like.
If you’re keen on a lab internship, I suggest emailing professors whose work interests you—it shows initiative. Also, check out A*STAR internships; they’ve got lots of great opportunities that are worth a shot!
Wah so good, yr home environ comf enough to do Wfh? For me not possible i have to be there at office. But its just as well coz its warm and my parents noisy. @milodino
aww this is so kind of you ams currently on an internship too and I hope you aren’t alone as well and doing amazing!! ALL THE BEST and please remember to take breaks and rests and be kind to yourself okays! There’s a lot to learn while on an internship and work never really ends soo do take some time to breathe and I hope you enjoy what you do!! rooting for you too!
thankfully yes im able to work from home! i have a standing table in my study room so it helps when i get tired of sitting all day… but i totally relate to the parents being noisy part - mine are the EXACT same gta keep reminding them that i’m working or on a call…
hope your time at office has been nice tho!! i love looking thru the pantry for new snacks everytime im in office working HAHA
Wah u can tolerate yr parents’ noise? My mum is ok but she wil nag me to quickly keep clothes in if sky dark, however since fogey retired he got obsession w hammering junks We’ve hollered at him so many times.
Strongly feel Old folks Shouldn retire if ocd - but certain party wouldn enforce stricter on them
Which gen are u? Im Gen X thus the boomers are the emo immature kinds. For gen Zs my frens, dun have this issue coz both folks stil working
Ya my office is spacious and nice, no cubicles but i can hide behind plants haha. My job need to collect parcels so alw moving abt
im genz! yaa my parents are still working but they don’t work office jobs - which means that depending on their schedule they can be working from home or go out to work. so it is tough when most of my family members are home cos naturally, there will be a lot of noise >.< but i’m trying to be patient about it as well! my mom def does nag at me to keep my clothes too (feels like all mothers r the same HAHAH) but we’ve tried to make it work by doing it before my work starts or during my break - and she’ll try to respect this! its def a give and take so we’re still working it out
i hope you manage to find smth that works for you and your parents! maybe doing work at a friend’s house or finding quiet rooms at the cc?
sorry for the late reply @Fenrispro life’s been busy… but haha hmmm that’s an interesting question! i guess i never really thought about it like that - since we grew up using tech devices and stuff it came pretty naturally!! i must say i do appreciate how open minded and expressive our generation is, and how society as a whole is becoming more accepting of different perspectives :)) what about you? what do you think about gen z or what do you like about your generation!
@milodino Ah its ok i ustand. Now i seldom logon here too. Got carpal tunnel Umm not that i like my gen more, every batch have good and ■■■■■■ , but i do miss the 90s, no gadgets and i jus looked forward to playing old sch pc games on wkends. Life was simpler, less hot less packed (ie mrt now getting worse) More trees, greenery
Im ok with most Gen Z, but at my wkplace got some who keep using shortforms but dw to elaborate, not professional i mean for office dun like that. Got 2 rather obnox gen Zs out from Ite, gd thing they quit alw yapping nev wanted to work seriously. Eng like crap too
Lol i jus see yr comment All mothers the same Lol!
haha realllll life really is simpler b without tech… and i so relate to the crowded mrt because im always stuck in the packed mrt cabin after work ://
aw man, sucks to hear about your encounter with some genz colleagues… there are new short forms being popularised every now and then — sometimes i do struggle to keep up haha but we could all def be more understanding and gracious to each other!!! i see you’re a big fan of short forms too haha
hehe I only know the old-school common shortforms like lol and brb. Which line mrt do u take? Ive to take yellow CCL and red line, if u pass by bishan in the peak hours late, So smelly! gag
Yea I still wanto believe most Gen Zs and Ys are not so ‘rotten’ XD coz I alr detest the greys - boomers coz my house has very emo immature parent. and the kinds who rummage junks, and recycle bins >::
Oh what are the new shortforms? Do u think the youths’ grammar and writing essays will go downhill from this? Like if they start using new abbrevs for compos. I still rem in Primary my compos alw out of point, but now i love writing and is my most fluent talent. Did u do picture compo?
Haha from a picture compo I rem writing they were president and batman, becos im imaginative, aww but teachers put fail T.T
Since graduating in August last year, I’ve been on a whirlwind journey through four internships across the Public Service - each one a distinctive chapter in my early career story:
Temasek Poly: A special chapter that still brings a smile to my face. At just 19, I was more focused on soaking in the experience with friends than thinking too seriously about career paths - but that didn’t stop it from being an incredibly positive environment. I had the privilege of working under a kind, supportive supervisor and found common ground with lecturers who were both approachable and engaging. It was a lighthearted, formative time that gave me early insight into workplace dynamics while keeping the atmosphere relaxed and enjoyable.
A*STAR: A technically rich experience with incredibly supportive colleagues who were always willing to guide and mentor. However, the long hours spent standing in the laboratory made me realise that a purely research-intensive path might not be my cup of tea.
NVPC: An absolute standout. The team was vibrant, dynamic, and felt less like coworkers and more like a second family. Every day felt meaningful and full of heart. I honestly think NVPC deserves a spot on Singapore’s “Best Places to Work” list.
MND: A textbook civil service stint. Structured, predictable and methodical. The top-down rigidity left little room for innovation or fresh ideas, which made me feel somewhat boxed in creatively.
Each internship offered new perspectives and shaped the lens through which I now view my professional aspirations. It’s been an enriching ride so far - and I’m curious and excited for what lies ahead in my career at NLB!
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, but thankfully not too overwhelming. My seniors have been super kind and helpful in easing us in, so the transition has been quite smooth. It’s also mostly remote, which has made things a lot less stressful 
.
—everyone was constantly busy and had really important roles to play. I also had a mentor for the first time, which was completely new to me, but over time I learned how to better manage my time 
, conserve my energy, and communicate more confidently with others 
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. Wishing you all the best in your internship too!! Let’s keep going—you’re doing great! 
and happy end of week hehe 
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gta keep reminding them that i’m working or on a call…
hope you have a great week! 
We’ve hollered at him so many times.
Umm not that i like my gen more, every batch have good and ■■■■■■ 
Lol!