how i started working a corporate job at 19 👩💻
“rejection is redirection”.
this was something often said to me when i was anxiously waiting to hear back from universities in april 2024. i had set for a few interviews, but heard nothing back for months. i spent a significant amount of time lamenting over this and can recall refreshing my email inbox 5 times an hour and crying every night.
sometime later, i got unfavourable results back. however, in my mind then, i’d rather go for a university programme and get a degree i liked rather than settle for something (spending over tens of thousands of dollars) that i know i could care less to study about.
hence, i decided to take a gap year.
—
👩💻 who am i?
i’m a graduate from temasek polytechnic’s law and management diploma in 2024. i’m currently working full-time as a business analyst/product associate in a legal tech startup (started full-time in aug 2024 and leaving in may 2025). my work experience prior to getting this job was my sip experience as a legal intern in a boutique (meaning - 5 people) firm, interning at this company thereafter, then another international non-profit organisation as a legal intern! i’m now awaiting matriculation into university this year :)
⭐️ how did i get my full-time job? esp one of another industry, different from what i was studying?
in short - networking and luck.
in poly, i was active in extracurricular activities. i became president of an innovation-focused CCA (an experience so formative that i’d argue was more impactful than my other 2 years in poly without tbh) and we hosted a legal tech hackathon and did it in partnership with a local legal tech startup firm (spoiler: this is the company i got hired to work for).
that process landed me a connection with the head of product in the firm and he offered me an internship! after i graduated, i worked there for 3 months as a product analyst intern before i was scheduled to work at another non profit legal org. it was when i was leaving where i spoke to my supervisor on my worries about a gap year. then, he offered me the full-time role as a business analyst / product associate knowing i would leave for university the following year. the reason why i decided to take the offer is another story for another time :)
👩🏫 why did they hire me?
i believe that a big part of it was due to the circumstances. for instance, i was actually their first poly intern and youngest/most inexperienced (essentially w/o uni degree) full-time hire. but why this could have been:
- manpower (full-timer) needed
- hard to onboard newcomers
other than that, i believe that these things i had done during my internship helped me secure this position:
- tried my best and it showed. i didn’t make it known how much i was trying by talking but more of keeping my head down and working. i simply learnt from my mistakes continuously and made an effort to improve everytime. i didn’t have experience at all so the only thing i could show for was hard work and effort (being smart about my choices)
- be willing to go all out. as a startup, OT and devotion to the job is expected. being overcommitted to the job is expected. as kind as the community was, i knew it was necessary to show that i was all in. and i was.
- asked for more. i would ask for more work to do. i wanted to contribute (though my mentality was one of “proving myself” which was terrible, please do not think this) as much as i could and improve as much as i could
- learned from my mistakes. i made mistakes but i learned from them (don’t be afraid of making mistakes pls they are so normal, the most cautious people do), and didn’t stop trying.
but don’t get me wrong, this was a really hard job. i significantly struggled during my internship and even till date, after i was given much more responsibility at work, i still found my internship days the hardest and most challenging.
🎀 tips/advice
to secure the role:
- network. attend events, talk to people. there’s no play-by-play on this! i don’t really network but i did take time to attend a few events to forge meaningful connections.
- work an internship. apply and go get work experience if you can!
- work at a startup. i understand the connotations attached to an org type. a startup is smaller whereas an mnc has a title attached to it, i.e, making it more lucrative! however, a startup can seriously open your eyes and expand your knowledge. i had to go so out of my comfort zone and redefine everything i know about work. (this is the very reason why ive never worked in an sme nor an mnc lol)
- anticipate needs and act accordingly. anticipate what is and isn’t expected of you, as well as the needs of your team, and boss. try to meet them or surpass these expectations! be a critical thinker. don’t just follow instructions blindly.
- be independent. it’s your life now :) no one’s going to hand you an instruction manual to securing the job you want (well, maybe a forum or glassdoor review can LOL), let alone on how to thrive in it. be observant and be smart about your decisions. also, study and learn more at your own time. learn about the industry, learn about the scope…etc.
to survive in the role:
- try your best. this is important. you need not know the 100% of what’s happening around you and you need not even know what exactly you want to get out of a job experience. but what you need to know is how much you want to put in and what you want to do or be at the end of the day.
- believe in yourself. this is the most important. at the end of the day, a job is a job (though i’m lucky to say this and lucky to know that i can go to school after this and my livelihood isn’t dependent on this experience) and there is much more to life. you can do it. if you’re even considering deviating from the norm or even sticking to the norm and continuing even if you’re scared or worried, you’re already doing a good job. don’t worry.
👩🌾 should you do it?
my path is a little unorthodox. i’m proud of what i’ve done and how hard i’ve worked. this job has given me so much more than i originally asked for (namely, experience and money lol). but i think that it’s a tough journey. i’m actively making sacrifices that peers my age don’t understand or don’t relate to and that unattended isolated feeling was hard to manage at the start.
it felt like what it cost me was my enjoyment of my youth (19 to almost 21) and my naïveté (that would’ve shattered when i became a fresh grad tho probably). but what it gave me was plentiful experience (double, triple hatting is a norm in a startup), valuable experience in the tech industry, a good community (i love my colleagues), emotional and mental growth, the ability to pursue a gap year that has brought me joy. my gap year is one of the most important experiences in my life because it has gave me new friends, new interests/passions (ahem pilates), new work attitude and experiences, and even gave me a supportive partner whom i love very much.
i think it’s really hard to predict if something is good or bad for you because nothing is inherently that way. instead, consider what you know, leave a gap for what you don’t, and gage from there.
this is your life. do what you want to do. i’ll cheer you on here :)
❤️
feel free to let me know other types of content you’d like to see from me! i’ll probably be posting more gap year, corporate at 19/20 (trying to maximise before i leave my full time job in a month 😭), pilates, wellness content ~
Building strong professional connections has been crucial in my career progression, especially when transitioning from internships to a full-time corporate role. Effective networking isn't about quantity but quality—showing authenticity by genuinely listening and following up can make a lasting impression. For instance, taking initiative to engage meaningfully at events and maintaining contact afterwards helped me secure my internship. Another key habit I practiced is anticipating needs at work. This means understanding what my team and supervisors expected, and proactively offering to take on tasks even beyond my initial scope. Doing so showed my commitment and made me indispensable, which was especially important in a startup where roles can be fluid. Listening skills matter immensely too. I’ve found that being an active listener, asking clarifying questions, and providing thoughtful feedback have strengthened my working relationships. However, I’m still working on improving my patience during fast-paced meetings. To expand my support network, I regularly show appreciation to mentors and colleagues, whether through simple thank-you notes or offering help in return. I also seek to connect with people outside my immediate circle by joining industry webinars and workshops, which enhances my adaptability and resilience. Transitioning from internships to a full-time role within a startup taught me the value of going beyond comfort zones. I often had to triple-hat—taking on roles in business analysis, product association, and more. While challenging, this versatility enriched my skills and boosted my confidence. For anyone considering a similar path, my advice is to stay curious, be proactive, and believe in your ability to learn and grow. Even if uncertainties loom, your dedication and willingness to build relationships will help you navigate the corporate world successfully.
internships really plays a big part in securing jobs i think, im graduating from sp in may and already have a full time job 🥰