To get a social media internship in Singapore as a student, you need three things: three short sample videos that look like what the company posts, a one-page CV that names your tools (CapCut, Canva, basic analytics), and a short, specific message to each company. Most listings we read in November 2026 paid S$700 to S$1,000 a month, ran two to six months, and asked for poly or uni students. You don't need followers. You do need proof you can make content. This guide shows what interns actually do, what the listings pay, a portfolio plan and the rules if you're under 18.
I'm Elliot, co-founder of ContentGenZ. We run Creator Pathways, a programme for young people in Singapore who want to make content, and "how do I get my first content job?" is one of the questions we hear most.
What a social media intern actually does
We read live social media intern listings on InternSG from Ochre Pictures, GetGo, Minto Studios and Hey! Chips, plus a National Youth Council Youth Corps listing. The jobs were surprisingly similar. Here's what they asked for, and what that means you should practise:
| What the listings ask for | How often we saw it | What to practise before you apply |
|---|---|---|
| Shoot and edit short-form video (TikTok, Reels, Shorts) | Every listing | Edit 15 to 60 second videos in CapCut or Premiere Pro |
| Graphics and captions (Canva, Photoshop) | Most | A carousel and three caption options for one post |
| Posting schedules and content calendars | Several | Plan two weeks of posts in a simple spreadsheet |
| Metrics and reports (views, engagement, KPIs) | Several | Read your own TikTok or Instagram analytics and explain one number |
| Replies and community management | Some | Draft replies to three real comments in a brand's voice |
| Hosting on camera (Reels, TikTok and Shopee lives) | Some | Talk to camera for 30 seconds without cuts |
| AI tools for ideas and captions | Some | Use one AI tool for ideas, then rewrite in your own words |
If you're shy on camera, that last-but-one row is worth working on. Our 14-day camera confidence plan was written for exactly that.
How much a social media internship in Singapore pays
There's no minimum intern allowance in Singapore. In a February 2025 parliamentary reply, MOE said the monthly allowance "is mutually agreed upon between the intern and the company", that schools give companies a recommended range, and that "it is not practical to prescribe a minimum allowance" (MOE, February 2025).
So we looked at what companies actually advertised. In the InternSG listings we read (posted 26 October to 10 November 2026):
- Ochre Pictures, social media intern: S$800 to S$1,000 a month
- GetGo, social media intern: S$800 to S$1,000 a month
- Minto Studios, social media content intern: S$700 to S$1,000 a month
- Hey! Chips, social media marketing intern: S$1,000 to S$2,000 a month
That's a small sample, so treat it as a guide, not a rate card. Listings change every week. If you're doing a credit-bearing internship through your poly or ITE, your school can tell you its recommended range. MOE says schools encourage a fair allowance "based on industry norms" and have barred companies that give poor internship experiences (MOE, September 2025).
Your route depends on your school
| You are | Most likely route | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| ITE student or graduate | Your course's internship, or the Work-Study Diploma in Media Communication & Digital Marketing | The work-study diploma runs 30 months, with one to two days a week at ITE and the rest on the job (ITE) |
| Poly student | Your diploma's credit-bearing internship, or a self-sourced one in the holidays | MOE says most poly and ITE internships are credit-bearing, with a school officer monitoring your learning and well-being |
| JC student | Holiday projects, volunteering, or a role open to "students" generally | None of the listings we read mentioned JC students. Build your portfolio now and apply after A-levels |
| University student | Self-sourced internships through InternSG, LinkedIn and your careers office | Some listings target second-last or final-year students. GetGo's January 2027 role was posted in October, so start looking about three months ahead |
There are also community internships. The National Youth Council's Youth Corps listed a six-month social media intern role with the Singapore Cybersports and Online Gaming Association, open to "current Polytechnic students and above".
Build a 3-video portfolio the company can picture posting
This is the part most guides skip. Job boards show you listings, and most internship guides tell you to "have a portfolio". Neither tells you what to put in it.
When we read the listings, one asked for a portfolio link outright and another made it optional. All of them wanted short-form video. A recruiter going through a pile of applications will click one link, if you're lucky. Make it count:
- A product or place video (15 to 30 seconds). Pick a local brand you'd like to intern at and film something they sell, or a café near your MRT stop. Hook in the first two seconds, three to five shots, text on screen.
- A talking-to-camera video (30 to 45 seconds). Explain one thing simply: a study tip, a hawker order, a CCA skill. This proves you can host.
- A trend, done in a brand's voice (15 seconds). Take a format that's popular this month and make it fit one brand. Write one line under it explaining your choice.
Put all three in one link (a pinned TikTok playlist, a Google Drive folder or a simple Canva site), and add one line per video: what you were going for, and the tool you edited it in. Don't post them as if a brand paid you. Label them "spec" or "concept". Our guide to a content creator portfolio for students has a one-page template, and our CapCut tutorial for beginners covers the editing.
How to apply: a 4-week plan
| Week | Do this | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Read 10 listings on InternSG and your school's portal. Copy the tools and tasks into a list | You know the 5 skills that come up most |
| 2 | Make the 3 portfolio videos above | One link with 3 videos and a line on each |
| 3 | Write a one-page CV: education, tools, two projects (school, CCA or your own page), the portfolio link | A PDF named with your full name |
| 4 | Apply to 8 to 12 roles. Write a 4-line message for each: who you are, why this brand, one idea for their account, your link | Applications sent; a tracker of who you applied to and when |
In that 4-line message, the idea for their account is what gets you noticed. "Your TikTok gets more views on behind-the-scenes than product shots. I'd film the packing process" beats "I am passionate about social media".
Under 18? The rules that apply
Most social media internships are aimed at poly and uni students, but some younger students find holiday work. MOM sets limits for young workers (MOM: young persons and children):
- Ages 13 to under 15: light, non-industrial work only. At most 6 hours a day, including time at school, with a 30-minute break after 3 hours.
- Ages 15 to under 16: at most 7 hours a day, including time at school, with a 30-minute break after 4 hours.
- Both groups: no work between 11pm and 6am.
These limits are for workers under 16. MOM's page sets no separate limits for 16 and 17 year olds.
Your contract decides if the Employment Act covers you. MOM says interns are covered by the Employment Act and the Work Injury Compensation Act "if there is a contract of service that establishes an employer-employee relationship" (MOM FAQ). Ask for the offer in writing, with your hours, allowance and dates.
For parents: check the hours, who supervises your child, and whether they'll appear on camera. A good company will answer all three in writing. If your teen is filming customers or the public, ask how the company handles consent.
Red flags in a social media internship listing
- "Unpaid, but great exposure." A low allowance can come with a credit-bearing internship, where your school is involved. If there's no allowance and no school, ask why.
- You're the whole social media team. Interns should have someone to learn from. Ask, "Who will review my work?"
- Your personal account is part of the job. Some roles ask you to post on your own account. Agree on what's paid and what's optional, and keep the right to say no.
- No end date. Every real listing we read had a start date and a duration.
Want a portfolio and a real project before you apply?
If you'd like to build the skills on this list with mentors and other young creators, that's what Creator Pathways is for. You learn to film, edit and post, create 10 to 15 videos with small-group mentoring, sharpen your personal brand, and put it to work on a real-world project you can show in interviews. Cohort 1 is planned for January to June 2027. We can't promise you an internship, but you'll walk in with real work to show. Register your interest.
For the bigger picture of where an internship can lead, see our guide to content creator careers in Singapore.
Sources
- Proposal for guidelines on minimum monthly allowance for students undergoing full-time internships, Ministry of Education, 4 February 2025 (read 13 November 2026)
- Measures to ensure fair internship compensation for Polytechnic, ITE and university students, Ministry of Education, 24 September 2025 (read 13 November 2026)
- As an intern, am I covered under the Employment Act or the Work Injury Compensation Act?, Ministry of Manpower (read 13 November 2026)
- Employment of young persons and children, Ministry of Manpower (read 13 November 2026)
- Work-Study Diploma in Media Communication & Digital Marketing, ITE (read 13 November 2026)
- InternSG: social media intern listings, including Ochre Pictures, GetGo, Minto Studios and Hey! Chips (read 13 November 2026)
- Youth Corps Community Internship: Social Media Intern, Singapore Cybersports and Online Gaming Association, National Youth Council (read 13 November 2026)
