A Reddit Post That Resonates

In an inspiring yet poignant post that struck a chord with many, a 31-year-old Singaporean man recently took to Reddit’s Ask Singapore forum to share his feelings following his graduation. He expressed pride in achieving his degree but also sadness as he watched his peers reach significant career milestones while he felt left behind.

“Sometimes I feel really depressed knowing other people are doing so well and earning the big bucks,” he candidly admitted. The man’s concerns deepened as he began the daunting task of entering the competitive job market, wrestling with a sense of inadequacy regarding his qualifications.

Weighing His Options

With a degree and a couple of IT certifications earned during his university years, he finds himself in a tricky situation. He pointed out that he has no relevant working experience in his field, which has left him contemplating his future: “For context, I literally have 0 relevant/related working experience… The only thing I have right now are IT certifications and 2.5 years of experience in an entirely different area.”

Seeking guidance, he reached out to the online community, asking if it would be wise to take a three-month internship at a reputable company to gain valuable technical experience or if he should bypass the internship in favor of applying directly for full-time positions. “Should I be interning at 31?” he questioned.

Community Responses

Responses from Redditors poured in. Many encouraged him to embrace the opportunity, noting that age should not be a hindrance to pursuing learning and growth. They emphasized, “3 months pass by very fast. The exposure with a big company will also be beneficial.” Advice came from others who had taken similar paths later in their careers, noting that unconventional journeys can often lead to success.

One user recounted, “I interned at 37 because of a mid-career switch. No reason why you shouldn’t. Sometimes people take a longer route to get to where they need to be, but that does not mean things cannot accelerate once you get there. All the best.”

However, not all advice was encouraging towards internship acceptance. Some cautioned against it, suggesting that if a company cannot offer a full-time position after the internship, it might indicate internal hiring issues.

“Find a full-time job instead,” warned one commenter, cautioning against the potential pitfalls of unpaid or low-paid internships, which can sometimes lead to exploitation.

The Role of Internships