Singapore workers share advice to their younger selves, from ‘network like mad’ to making time for parents
A Singapore university student seeking career advice has sparked a discussion on Reddit about what workers would change if they could go back five or 10 years.
The post was shared on r/askSingapore on Wednesday (30 Sept), amid the original poster’s own job search.
Source: r/askSingapore on Reddit
The student, who is in his early 20s, asked those who were working, job hunting, or taking a break what they would tell their younger selves to improve their chances of finding a job.
His own advice was to choose internships over part-time jobs while studying.
He said part-time work offered more immediate money, but internships could provide more relevant experience for future job applications.
‘Go for internships instead’
The original poster (OP) said he had worked various ad hoc part-time jobs while studying.
However, he now finds it difficult to present some of that experience when applying for jobs.
He felt internship experience could be more attractive to employers, especially when competing with candidates who had completed several internships.
Source: Jobstreet, for illustrative purposes only
He also recalled that some students viewed internships as “cheap labour”, while part-time jobs could pay more.
In hindsight, he felt choosing part-time work could have been a “win short term, lose long term” decision.
Speaking to MS News, the OP said he is a university student who will graduate soon and has started job hunting.
He said the discussion was prompted by wondering what people who are already working would change about their decisions five or 10 years ago.
The OP said the internship advice resonated most with him.
Networking was another.
“That’s really something I didn’t see a point to five years ago and regret it now,” he said.
Some advised younger workers to network
One Redditor encouraged their younger self to network “like the most pretentious [person] that has ever existed”.
Source: r/askSingapore on Reddit
The commenter said people do not need to become obsessed with LinkedIn, but should attend industry events where possible.
They acknowledged that most conversations at such events may remain superficial.
However, they said networking could still help people build connections, gain visibility, and learn about changes in their industry.
“It’s going to be 90% plus surface-level conversation and some deep connections,” wrote the netizen.
The commenter added that networking should not be viewed as a shortcut to landing a dream job without the required qualifications.
Instead, they described it as a way to build experience and industry visibility over time.
The OP told MS News that networking was something he had not seen the value of five years ago but now regretted overlooking.
‘Spend more time with your parents’
Other Redditors offered advice that had little to do with careers.
One simply wrote, “Do not worry about sustainable professional development. Spend more time with your parents. You will understand why very, very soon.”
Source: r/askSingapore on Reddit
Another Redditor shared a personal account of prioritising work and education over family.
They said they often worked overtime and turned down overseas trips with their parents while saving money for a degree.
Even when they did travel with their parents, they said they were often on their phone answering work calls.
The Redditor said their father suffered a stroke after undergoing surgery around the time they started their degree.
He subsequently went into a coma and died six months later in hospital, according to the commenter.
Five years later, the Redditor said they had completed their degree and secured a stable job.
However, they said they were later diagnosed with kidney failure and now undergo dialysis three days a week.
They encouraged others to make time for the people and activities they value.
“So please, if you can, do what you want,” that Redditor wrote. “Live life without regrets.”
Others urged students to enjoy university life
Some Redditors focused on experiences outside academics and work.
One said they would spend less time “grinding” coursework at university.
Source: r/askSingapore on Reddit
Instead, they would continue playing sports and join more clubs, which they felt could have helped them build a wider network and develop a broader mindset.
The commenter also said they would have dated more instead of trying to find “the one” immediately.
Another Redditor advised younger workers not to reject jobs solely because the salary was lower, as any work experience was better than being unemployed.
Source: r/askSingapore on Reddit
OP says advice on family also resonated
The OP told MS News that the advice about spending more time with parents also struck a chord.
He said that he didn’t get to spend much time with his parents growing up because they were often busy working.
His parents’ company was something he had wanted more of when he was younger.
Now that he is older, however, he said he’s become the busy one.
“Now that I’m older, I became the one that’s busy and didn’t have the time for them,” he told MS News. “So the [response on prioritising family] resonated with me.”
The OP said the discussion ultimately made him reflect on things he may not have valued when he was younger.
While internships and networking were the advice that most directly addressed his job search, responses from other workers also highlighted that career progression was only one part of life.
Also read: ‘My life is on a loop’: S’pore employee seeks advice on how to ‘psych’ themselves up for work
‘My life is on a loop’: S’pore employee seeks advice on how to ‘psych’ themselves up for work
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Featured image adapted from NUS website and Jobstreet website. Pictures for illustrative purposes only.
