Is it worth taking an academic Leave of Absence for an internship?

This is a common question that students have  - if taking an academic leave of absence (LOA) for an internship is worth it. While responses may vary, students are recently more inclined to take a leave of absence in hopes of obtaining valuable experiences beyond what can be learnt in school.  

I've personally completed four internships during my time at Singapore Management University (SMU), two of which required a LOA. These were my internships at Changi Airport Group (CAG) and Disney. This resulted in me graduating one semester later than my peers – but it was all worth it!

My reasons for taking an academic leave of absence from college

Unlike certain universities, there was no mandatory term-time internship component in SMU’s curriculum. However, I felt like the regular 3-month internships were too short to properly experience the job. In hopes of fully immersing myself in the company culture, and seeing a project through from start to end. I chose to do a 6-month stint instead.

Even with work from home (WFH), it is still a valuable experience to intern and gain interpersonal skills.

I also wanted the opportunity to build my portfolio and gain experience in marketing beyond the school curriculum. Ultimately, there's only so much you can learn from the textbooks. Internships were the best place to learn hands on while gaining practical and relevant experience.  I also decided to prioritise practical experience over my grades, which would be more beneficial for me when I eventually search for a job.  While this may not be true for all majors, internship experience is more valued in Marketing, and a strong portfolio sets you apart from other candidates. 

In Singapore, about 77% of youth surveyed sought internship experiences to ensure they were competitive for job applications upon graduation. This makes the job market incredibly competitive. Furthermore, employers are more likely to hire someone with knowledge and experience in a particular field, even if it is from an internship. 

So, back to the question. Was the Leave of Absence worth it?

The short answer is “yes”! 

My most valuable experiences and learnings came from my internships, and they also contributed to some of my fondest memories of college. From technical to  interpersonal skills, a view of multiple different industries and even precious friendships that I hold dear to this very day, these would not have been possible if not for the multiple internships and LOA(s).

1) I had more opportunities to master technical skills through my internships

I picked up Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) at Shopee and dabbled in social media marketing while honing design-related skills (photography, photo and video editing) at CAG. Meanwhile, my time with Disney gave me a clearer view of what goes on in the retail world, the importance of storytelling and the fundamentals of Business to Business to Consumer (B2B2C). Needless to say, I learnt a lot.

The Shopee team that kickstarted my internship journey!

At CAG and Disney, I was asked to conceptualise digital campaigns. They involved identifying which social media campaigns to run, strategising ways to increase engagement and thinking about how we could leverage influencer partnerships to increase awareness. 

These opportunities were possible only because I took an LOA for both my CAG and Disney internships. As most digital campaigns run for a long period of time, a typical three-month summer internship would have been insufficient to see through the project from end to end.

Disney characters were everywhere around the office, making it one of the happiest and most magical places.

While all my internships were very different in scope, they had one thing in common. They showed me how exactly diverse the Digital Marketing sphere is. 

SEO requires a lot more analysis and research and is more technical in nature. On the other hand, social media marketing has a higher focus on creativity and requires a keen awareness of the various social media platforms. One must always be updated on the latest trends and available features on these platforms (i.e. Instagram story polls etc), as they are key in increasing engagement, and thereafter, reach. 

Both skill sets brought me to my next internship at Zinier (in Silicon Valley). It was my first time going overseas alone, let alone for an internship! Although this stint was throughout the summer, I was able to experience working in a fast-paced startup and learnt how to work independently with minimal hand-holding. Beyond that, I was also able to immerse myself in American culture and had opportunities to go on office tours to learn about other companies, socialise and go on multiple road trips with my fellow interns. That was the best summer of my life.

2) I ended up having more work experience than my peers before graduation

In all honesty, I was initially hesitant to graduate late. Not only because I was scared of being judged as a ‘Year 5’, but also because I'd be way behind my peers. 

However, after my second academic leave of absence, I realised that it really wasn't necessary to graduate on time and some risks are worth taking to do what you want (to me, that was interning at Disney). Especially since these opportunities could be rare  after graduation.

Star Wars Virtual Run: one of the biggest projects I worked on, especially because I could lead the social media and influencer marketing front. This wouldn't have been possible during a 3-month stint!

That being said, my internship at Disney provided me with invaluable experiences that played a huge part in my job hunting. I was blessed with an amazing team who never saw me as an intern but instead gave me many opportunities to learn and grow. Only three weeks into my internship, I got to attend a Marketing Summit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and was tasked to create and present a deck on social media trends to over 30 managers across the region. I also ran the social media and influencer campaign for Star Wars Virtual Run and was involved in many other large-scale campaigns.

3) LOAs provided me with sufficient time to understand what it is like to be a working adult

LOA internships are usually 6 months compared to regular three-month summer internship programmes. 

During the summer, interns either drive one-off projects without experiencing the business-as-usual work or spend their first few months onboarding. By the time they get the hang of the work, it’s time to head back to school.

My LOA internship experiences allowed me to be a short-term full-time staff member, as I attended most meetings, experienced the occasional overtime (OT), worked across multiple teams and led projects independently.  It definitely wasn't easy, even as I continued my internship with Disney on a part-time basis after 6 months, on top of a packed semester in school. But these experiences taught me how to manage my time, determine what to prioritise, and most importantly, how to manage different stakeholders. 

The skills I've picked up during my internship days have also come in handy as I entered the workforce upon graduation and definitely helped my transition. 

3) I had a better understanding of the types of marketing I enjoyed

A shot with my favourite team at Disney during our summit at Ho Chinh Minh, Vietnam. This was my first ever work trip and the most memorable experience!

It was only because I took LOAs for my internships that I had the opportunity to try B2B, B2C and B2B2C marketing.

I personally enjoy B2C and B2B2C a lot more as they allow me to directly engage with the audience and structure my strategies to meet their needs through ‘fun’ and engaging tactics. B2B marketing, on the other hand, involves a deeper understanding of the industry and the use of technical jargon. It is a lot more formal and requires more detailed content and in-depth knowledge in general. 

Depending on your personality type, you may prefer one over another. I was only able to discover that I prefer B2C or B2B2C marketing through my internship experiences.

Tips if you’re considering an LOA

Before you jump straight in to take your academic Leave of Absence, consider all the opportunity costs and plan your modules well. 

Taking an academic leave of absence would most likely require you to delay your studies by 6-months to a year. Rarely are students able to graduate on time unless they have many  exemptions or manage to overload in certain semesters. In my case, I was able to graduate in 4.5 years despite taking two LOAs, because I gave up my second major. Depending on what matters more to you, evaluate the trade-offs to determine which route works best. 

Do note that you are missing out on the usual application date for management trainee programmes in established firms by delaying your graduation, especially for business graduates. If you'd like to go for such programs, the next application will only be available for you in the following year. 

This also means that you would potentially miss out on 6-months to one year of salary. If you're prioritising financial stability and would like to obtain a full-time salary as soon as possible, an LOA may not be the best option. Hence, it is crucial to fully understand your opportunity costs and plan your time wisely. 

Additionally, there are some modules that are not available in certain semesters.  Be sure to plan your modules wisely before applying for an LOA, to ensure you do not delay your graduation further because you couldn't take a module. Some schools also offer the option to map your LOA internships to your curriculum requirements, so do check if you can do so.

So, is taking an academic leave of absence to do internships worth it?

Going to the airside for shoots was definitely one of the best parts of interning at Changi Airport Group. I fondly look back on the memories and am glad I took the leap of faith to do the LOA internship.

I’ve gained so much more than I would’ve if I had not taken the leap of faith to do so. Through my LOA internships, I’ve learnt about the various types of marketing, gained hands-on experience, and expanded my professional network. And I would not trade them for the world.

That said, different students have different goals. Some may want to graduate on time so as to start working earlier. Others may have already figured out the career path they want to take, and trying a variety of internships seems unnecessary.

At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong answer, do what makes you comfortable. Most importantly, after making your decision, see it through without looking back. Life's too short for regrets!

But if you asked me, I'd still say go for it. If I could travel back in time, I would've still chosen this route in a heartbeat. Although it was a path less travelled, I am happy. 

Do let me know if you have any questions regarding interning at any of these companies, and I’d gladly share more with you!