The Business Times · 18 Oct, 23:00 · Business briefing

5 internships and counting: Is ‘internmaxxing’ in Singapore becoming an arms race?

Recent reporting highlights a growing trend in Singapore where professionals accumulate multiple internships simultaneously, a phenomenon dubbed ‘internmaxxing’.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Recent reporting highlights a growing trend in Singapore where professionals accumulate multiple internships simultaneously, a phenomenon dubbed ‘internmaxxing’. This competitive behaviour reflects intensifying pressure in the local job market, with individuals seeking to maximise experience and credentials. The article questions whether this escalation constitutes an unsustainable arms race, potentially devaluing traditional entry-level roles. It examines the implications for career progression, suggesting that the pursuit of quantity over quality may signal broader anxieties regarding employability and skill acquisition among Singapore’s workforce.

Employer demand for Business And Management skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

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This trend signals a shift where experience volume competes with skill depth. For you, this means generic internship titles hold less weight; recruiters now scrutinise the specific outcomes of these roles. Strategic career planning rises in value, as does the ability to articulate unique contributions across concurrent engagements. You should audit your current trajectory to ensure each role builds distinct, transferable competencies rather than redundant administrative tasks. Prioritise quality over quantity by selecting internships that offer tangible project ownership. If you are managing multiple roles, focus on integrating learnings to demonstrate adaptability. Smart professionals will leverage this competitive landscape to negotiate better terms or pivot towards specialised training that differentiates them from the crowd.

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Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

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