Sumo Cum Laude

No internship.No network.No clue what you're doing.Now add AI into the mix...doesn't it feel like we're all a little screwed? Well, that's why we sat down with Aneesh Raman, Chief Economic Opportunity Officer at LinkedIn, to ask the questions every student and fresh grad is quietly wrestling with:- If AI is replacing entry-level work, where do we get experience? - Are internships and prestigious brands still worth chasing? - Is there still such a thing as a career ladder? - And if there's no playbook anymore... what should young people actually optimise for?From building your own projects instead of waiting for opportunities, to "friction-maxxing", making compound bets on yourself, and why no one is coming to save your career, this is easily one of our most thought-provoking conversations yet.You're going to enjoy this.

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CHAPTERS00:10 Intro

00:16 Things to Prioritise for The New Job Market

02:22 Taking Tiny Bets

03:20 What Kept Sumo Going?

03:56 Being Entrepreneurial is Key

04:16 Seeking Opportunities as a Student

06:17 Embracing Agency in a Risk Mitigating Society

07:42 Gen Z, Bet on Yourself

08:26 Friction-Maxxing: How Is It Applied?

09:38 90-Day Plan for a Freshman

10:27 The Reality of Planning Ahead

11:07 Maximise Your Energy: Diversify & Make Compound Bets

11:58 Final Advice

———The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not represent the views of any company, employer, or organization. This discussion is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.This is (probably) one of the realest, most unhinged, sometimes funny, most times educational podcasts about all things career. With no fluff, no bs, only facts and lots of laughs, join us as we chat with people across different industries and share some unsolicited advice on how you can break into them.We believe that you don't know what you don't know, so there's no harm in tuning in once in awhile.Let us know if you enjoyed this episode and if any of the rankings shocked you. We want to hear what you think — and what we should argue about next.Follow Sumo Cum Laude/ sumocumlaude3.8/ sumocumlaudehttps://open.spotify.com/show/51I0Q4G...

Fresh grads are cooked.Or at least, that’s what the internet keeps telling us.It genuinely feels like the rules of careers have changed overnight.So we sat down with Serla Rusli, Career Expert at LinkedIn, to ask the questions every student and fresh grad is secretly thinking about:Is the job market actually worse right now? Does your first job determine your entire future? Are students over-optimising internships, prestige and LinkedIn? And if careers are no longer linear… what should people even optimise for anymore?Whether you’re doomscrolling LinkedIn, questioning your degree or worred you're behind, this episode is for you.———CHAPTERS0:19 Opening 0:29 The Issue: Bifurcation of Outcomes1:12 Getting to Know: Serla 3:00 Favourite LinkedIn Game3:18 Rapid Fire Questions5:35 Serla's Career Journey6:50 Any Regrets? 7:30 One Thing I Wish Someone Told Me 8:12 Is the Jobpocalypse Real for Fresh Grads? 9:00 Trends and Shifts in the Job Market 10:15 Hacks to Keep Up12:20 Are Jobs Hard to Find? Or Are Expectations Too High?13:53 One Liner Advice: Try MSMEs14:28 Does Min-Maxxing Still Work? 15:25 What Should Students Optimise For Now?16:50 Do Employers Like Internship Farming? 18:00 Internships: Learning or Table Stakes?18:50 Having Your Narrative 19:33 Interning at a MSME: Pros & Cons 21:42 Is the Career Ladder Dead?22:31 Signalling Soft Skills 23:10 Traits of High Employability Students25:03 Message to Anxious Students25:46 How does LinkedIn Fit Into The Conversation?28:00 Minimum Viable LinkedIn Strategy for Students28:30 Biggest Early Career Mistake29:44 Last Piece of Advice: Open to Work31:06 Upskilling to Work With AI32:42 Closing Questions ———The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not represent the views of any company, employer, or organization. This discussion is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.This is (probably) one of the realest, most unhinged, sometimes funny, most times educational podcasts about all things career. With no fluff, no bs, only facts and lots of laughs, join us as we chat with people across different industries and share some unsolicited advice on how you can break into them.We believe that you don't know what you don't know, so there's no harm in tuning in once in awhile.Let us know if you enjoyed this episode and if any of the rankings shocked you. We want to hear what you think — and what we should argue about next.NEW PODCASTS ON EVERY 3RD (or not) TUESDAY OF THE MONTHFollow Sumo Cum Laude/ sumocumlaude3.8/ sumocumlaudehttps://open.spotify.com/show/51I0Q4G...

During this time of the year, everyone asks, "what's the best degree for me?"

No one agrees.

Everyone will probably shit on their own degree.

So we ranked them.

For the first time ever (kinda), we tried something new—putting university degrees head-to-head and trying not to get cancelled while talking about which ones actually make sense...and which ones people just say make sense.

From job prospects and payoffs to stress levels, stereotypes and the brutal reality after graduation—we talked through them all (of course, backed by Real Data). 

Though some rankings may start fights in the group chat.

Whether you’re choosing a major, questioning your life decisions, or just here to judge our rankings — this one’s for you.

———

CHAPTERS

0:39 Opening 

0:45 Getting to Know: Millie 

1:10 Rapid Fire Questions

3:09 Ranking University Degrees: Intro 

3:57 Business

5:20 Economics 

6:17 Science

7:37 Computer Science

9:09 Bonus: Computer Engineering

9:43 Medicine & Dentistry 

13:14 Law

14:44 Accountancy

16:57 Social Sciences

20:09 Arts & Music 

21:43 Engineering 

22:54 Marketing 

24:18 Education (NIE)

26:49 Mathematics & Statistics 

29:16 Signing On 

31:47 Sales 

34:09 Random Facts

35:53 To Sum Things Up

37:30 Closing 

———

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not represent the views of any company, employer, or organization. This discussion is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.

This is (probably) one of the realest, most unhinged, sometimes funny, most times educational podcasts about all things career. With no fluff, no bs, only facts and lots of laughs, join us as we chat with people across different industries and share some unsolicited advice on how you can break into them.

We believe that you don't know what you don't know, so there's no harm in tuning in once in awhile.

Let us know if you enjoyed this episode and if any of the rankings shocked you. We want to hear what you think — and what we should argue about next.

NEW PODCASTS ON EVERY 3RD (or not) TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

Follow Sumo Cum Laude

/ sumocumlaude3.8

/ sumocumlaude

https://open.spotify.com/show/51I0Q4G...

Everyone says “make the most out of uni.”No one tells you how.Until now.We sat down with two girls, Rachel and Rae, who didn’t just survive SMU. They cleared the main quests, side quests, and secret boss levels. From 8 a.m. classes to internship grinds and being content creators, they somehow balanced it all — and came out thriving. They spill on:💭 Social Science Psych — The stereotypes vs. real career paths🎯 Uni Goals that flopped, pivoted, then finally worked⏰ Time-maximising hacks that actually make a difference😵‍💫 Balancing ambition, anxiety, and the pressure to “do more”📈 The Internship Grind — and when it’s okay to stop🤝 Networking & mentors — without the LinkedIn cringe🧩 Hacks for Class Part - to all struggling SMU kids out there ———🚨 Real Talk"You'll never get a better chance than uni to just explore and try new things"“Just raise your hand in class, no one cares. It's just performative, it's not that deep." "You might not be remembered for your good work, but you will be for your bad work. That's just how it works."———If you’re somewhere between “I’ve got this” and “I’m losing it,” this one’s for you.Tag your overachiever friend 😮‍💨Send it to your intern GC 🧠Or just tune in for the free therapy. ———CHAPTERS 0:00 Opening 0:18 Meet: Rachel and Rae 1:34 Rapid Fire Questions3:34 Favourite Slept on Campus Food4:48 Starting the SMU Journey6:26 Career Stereotypes of "Social Science Psychology"7:19 Goals for Uni, Then & Now9:11 Maximising Your Time & Uni Resources11:43 Hyper-Anxious & Career15:18 Balancing Out Mental Health17:46 Navigating the Struggles & Lowest Points21:21 Tips For Pushing Through22:37 Class Participation Hacks 24:40 Tips (Cheatsheet) to Achieve Better Results26:39 Is It Necessary To Do So Much Internships?29:30 From Digital Marketing to Consulting32:10 Impact of Mentors33:57 Making New Connections 10134:45 Standing Out From the Pack37:25 Top Takeaways from Internship40:32 What Will You Miss Most About School42:14 Random Fact45:16 OutroThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not represent the views of any company, employer, or organization. This discussion is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.This is (probably) one of the realest, most unhinged, sometimes funny, most times educational podcasts about all things career. With no fluff, no bs, only facts and lots of laughs, join us as we chat with people across different industries and share some unsolicited advice on how you can break into them.We believe that you don't know what you don't know, so there's no harm in tuning in once in awhile.Let us know if you enjoyed this episode and if any of the tips helped you. We want to hear what you think, and what you'd like to hear more about next!NEW PODCASTS ON EVERY 3RD (or not) TUESDAY OF THE MONTHFollow Sumo Cum Laudehttps://instagram.com/sumocumlaude3.8https://www.tiktok.com/@sumocumlaudehttps://open.spotify.com/show/51I0Q4G...

From SOTA to exploring all facets of the marketing industry and finally TikTok and LinkedIn, Nicolette's career trajectory might not be the most easily understood—until you hear her explain it.

In this episode, Nicolette walks us through her journey of unexpected pivots: starting from the arts, detouring into comms and advertising, then diving headfirst into TikTok’s e-commerce grad programme before switching to LinkedIn as a Sales Development Rep. She tells us what “tech sales” actually is (and why your auntie will never understand it at CNY), what it’s like to live quarter-to-quarter on quotas, and why resilience matters more than having a tech background.

We break down:

💼 Tech Sales 101: What the job actually is, without the LinkedIn fluff

📱 Why she left TikTok early and made the switch to LinkedIn

🎯 The highs and lows of chasing quarterly targets

🚩 Who should (and definitely shouldn’t) pursue a sales career

⚡ Her most unhinged career advice for 2025

And yes, we dance in this episode too. So you're probably gonna want to switch to video mode for this.

———

🚨 Key Takeaways

“Sales isn’t for people chasing stability. It’s for people who can handle the reset every quarter.”

“The art of yapping is equal parts about listening.”

———

Thinking of breaking into sales?

Tag a friend who keeps saying “tech sales looks kinda fun” but can’t negotiate their Grab order. Or send this to someone who wants to pivot into tech but has no idea where to start.

———

CHAPTERS

00:14 Opening

00:46 Rapid Fire Questions

03:01 The Start of Her Career Journey

04:07 Exploring Career Options in Uni

04:21 Internships in Comms

07:08 First Full Time Role: TikTok Grad Programme

09:30 Leaving the Programme for LinkedIn

10:16 Tech Sales 101: What is it exactly?

11:30 Day in a Life at Tech Sales

14:14 Hours in Tech Sales: Is it up to you?

15:13 What is Inbound and Outbound Sales?

15:42 Is Inbound easier than Outbound?

17:14 "Eat What You Kill" Model

17:39 Progression in Tech Sales

18:43 Is Tech Sales a Stable Job?

19:56 Who is suitable for Tech Sales?

20:50 The Art of Yapping & Sales

21:28 Are Technicals important in Tech Sales?

22:32 Who is Tech Sales NOT for?

23:30 Advice for anyone interested in Tech Sales

24:23 How can someone best prep for Sales Interviews?

25:32 Most Unhinged Career Advice

27:02 Outlook on the Industry

27:59 Mini Segment: Random Facts

29:32 As a Content Creator, how do you think of New Content?

30:51 Nicolette Teaches us a Dance

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not represent the views of any company, employer, or organization. This discussion is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.

This is (probably) one of the realest, most unhinged, sometimes funny, most times educational podcasts about all things career. With no fluff, no bs, only facts and lots of laughs, join us as we chat with people across different industries and share some unsolicited advice on how you can break into them.

We believe that you don't know what you don't know, so there's no harm in tuning in once in awhile.Let us know if you enjoyed this episode and if any of the tips helped you. We want to hear what you think, and what you'd like to hear more about next!

NEW PODCASTS ON EVERY 3RD (or not) TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

Follow Sumo Cum Laude

https://instagram.com/sumocumlaude3.8

https://www.tiktok.com/@sumocumlaude

https://www.youtube.com/@SumoCumLaude

Everyone talks about getting into corporate banking, but no one tells you how different the job actually feels in a Big 4 vs. a bank — or how to avoid being the intern everyone secretly warns each other about.

In this episode, we sit down with Wei Meng, who's worked in corporate banking on both sides. He shares the real differences in culture, hours, and career trajectory, the green and red flags that make or break interns, and why the skills you pick up in banking can open doors almost anywhere.

We break down:

🚦 Green flag vs. red flag interns — the ones you convert and blacklist

💼 Big 4 vs. banks — the truth about culture, hours, and career progression

🏦 Why corporate banking skills are basically career jet fuel in any industry

🤝 How to be a mentee people actually want to mentor

🕒 The role your team plays in work-life balance (spoiler: it's huge)

———

🚨 Key Takeaways

"It's not about finding your calling. It's about creating that calling."

"Being a good intern isn't about being perfect — just don't be a red flag."

"The trick is to not regret anything. Whatever happens."

———

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not represent the views of any company, employer, or organization. This discussion is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.

This is (probably) one of the realest, most unhinged, sometimes funny, most times educational podcasts about all things career. With no fluff, no bs, only facts and lots of laughs, join us as we chat with people across different industries and share some unsolicited advice on how you can break into them.

We believe that you don't know what you don't know, so there's no harm in tuning in once in awhile.

Let us know if you enjoyed this episode and if any of the tips helped you. We want to hear what you think, and what you'd like to hear more about next!

NEW PODCASTS ON EVERY 3RD (or not) TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

Follow Sumo Cum Laude

Instagram / sumocumlaude3.8

TikTok / sumocumlaude

YouTube / SumoCumLaude

Is university a scam?

Only if you treat it like school instead of a startup accelerator.

In this episode, we unpack the uncomfortable truth about #university in 2025 — why your GPA is probably useless, how most degrees are just career cosplay, and what you're actually paying for (hint: it's not the lectures).

We break down:

🎭 Why most students are just LARPing adulthood

📉 The GPA delusion and why a 4.0 isn't leverage

🧠 Which degrees are worth it — and which are just vibes

🤝 The real ROI of uni: network, brand, and building stuff

🔥 How to stop playing by the old rules and start winning on your own terms

———

🚨 Key Takeaways

"A 4.0 GPA and no personality is like a Lamborghini with no fuel."

"You're not in school. You're in a 4-year multiplayer lobby."

"Stop treating uni like school. Start treating it like a startup accelerator."———Tag a friend who's knee-deep in assignments and existential dread 🫠

Send this to your freshie cousin before they waste their first year 🫡

Or tune in yourself if you're wondering if uni was all a lie (spoiler: kinda yes, kinda no)

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not represent the views of any company, employer, or organization. This discussion is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.-This is (probably) one of the realest, most unhinged, sometimes funny, most times educational podcasts about all things career. With no fluff, no bs, only facts and lots of laughs, join us as we chat with people across different industries and share some unsolicited advice on how you can break into them.

We believe that you don't know what you don't know, so there's no harm in tuning in once in awhile.

Let us know if you enjoyed this episode and if any of the tips helped you. We want to hear what you think, and what you'd like to hear more about next!

NEW PODCASTS ON EVERY 3RD (or not) TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

-

FOLLOW US

Instagram: @sumocumlaude3.8

YouTube: @SumoCumLaude

TikTok: @sumocumlaude

In this episode, Sherwynd (Transaction Banking, OCBC) joins us for a chat over coffee to spill the tea on everything you need to know about starting your career in Transaction Banking—from the trilemma of work-life balance, compensation and love for the job, to tips on how you can ace your interview and who is/isn't suitable for the industry. 

If you're like David and the only TB you know is tuberculosis, this is an episode you need to tune in to. 

Oh, and shoutout to Monk's Brew Club for the lovely location

#sumocumlaudepodcast 

- 

CHAPTERS 

00:00 Opening 

01:06 Meet Sherwynd, our Finance Brother 

03:51 What is Transaction Banking? 

05:04 The Role of Transaction Banking 

07:22 What do you actually do in Transaction Banking? 

12:15 Why choose Transaction Banking? 

17:51 Sherwynd's Experience joining Citibank 

18:42 Sherwynd's Internship Experiences

19:50 What does your 9-6 look like? 

22:40 Do you have chill days in Transaction Banking? 

23:22 How many hours do you work a week?

26:12 Balancing the Trilemma 

27:50 Diving into Compensation  

21:29 Progression in the Industry

32:26 101 on Breaking in to the industry 

39:21 Tips for Interview Prep

44:59 Impact of Trade War and Tariffs on industry 

46:55 Sherwynd's Food Reccs 

48:58 Last Nugget of Wisdom 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not represent the views of any company, employer, or organization. This discussion is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.

- 

This is (probably) one of the realest, most unhinged, sometimes funny, most times educational podcasts about all things career. With no fluff, no bs, only facts and lots of laughs, join us as we chat with people across different industries and share some unsolicited advice on how you can break into them. 

We believe that you don't know what you don't know, so there's no harm in tuning in once in awhile.

Let us know if you enjoyed this episode and if any of the tips helped you. We want to hear what you think, and what you'd like to hear more about next!

NEW PODCASTS ON EVERY 3RD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH 

Follow Sumo Cum Laude 

- Instagram: @sumocumlaude3.8

- TikTok: @sumocumlaude

- Spotify: Sumo Cum Laude Podcast

Spoiler alert: Marketing isn't just about Canva designs and Unsplash images.
In this episode, Tyrina spills the tea about working in agencies—beyond the usual getting overworked and underpaid. We cover misconceptions about marketing, salary expectations, the myriad of career paths you can take, and whether agency or in-house is a better fit. From working at an agency, to going freelance, Tyrina also covers what its really like working for herself.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not represent the views of any company, employer, or organization. This discussion is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction(01:54) Rapid fire questions(03:12) What does it mean to work in marketing?(05:58) How strategy frameworks you learn in school are used in the real world(08:56) Best role to experience marketing(09:50) Typical work day at a marketing agency(12:20) Working hours(13:25) Misconceptions about marketing(14:58) Tyrina's journey(17:26) Is it necessary to try out everything?(18:34) What is the peak career outcome for marketing?(20:40) How common is freelancing now as a creative?(23:22) Who would be suited for agency life?(25:53) Compensation(27:35) Why do people still undervalue marketing?(29:07) Going from agency to freelance(32:18) Reason for leaving the agency(33:03) What would you recommend to a fresh graduate?(35:12) What's most important to break into marketing?(38:12) How to prepare for interviews(40:16) Things you wish you knew earlier that you learnt the hard way(42:26) New thing that you learnt recently

Is investment banking really all the hype?
In this episode, we dive into the world of investment banking with Shawn (Investment Banking Associate), who shares his journey into the industry, key strategies for breaking in, resume-building tips for fresh graduates, networking hacks, and what to expect in terms of working hours and compensation. Whether you’re an aspiring finance monkey or just curious about the field, this episode has everything you need to know.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not represent the views of any company, employer, or organization. This discussion is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.

In which we get a lightly-experienced Management Consulting (MC) veteran at a Tier 2 Consulting firm with ~2 years under her belt to share about her experience in great detail

Contents: MC introduction, Day-to-day, internal vs external consulting, Insights and Takeaways, Suitability for MC, Personal Advice, CV and hiring prep, lots of banter and shit talking

In which we get someone with experience in software engineering across AI, finance and tech firms to share about his experiences and insights when it comes to doing some 1337 nerdy coding things

In which we get someone with experience ranging from e-commerce to high finance to share about her experiences and insights when it comes to networking and coffee chats

Contents: Setting up coffee chats, best practices, do's and dont's, anecdotes, wisdom

In which we get a lightly-experienced Sales & Trading (S&T) veteran doing Sales at a Bulge Bracket Bank with ~2 years under her belt to share about her experience in great detail

Contents: S&T Day-to-day, Pros and Cons, Insights and Takeaways, Culture, Suitability for S&T, Personal Advice

In which we get a lightly-experienced Investment Banking (IB) veteran with 2 years under his belt to share about his experience in great detail

Contents include (non-exhaustive): IB Day-to-day, Opportunities and Exits, Insights and Takeaways, Culture, Suitability for IB

About the Grappling With series

Breaching informational gaps by bringing on slightly-stale hires (1-3 years experience) who vaguely remember what it's like to flail around as a student but have struggled in their jobs enough to impart a more complete perspective 

About Sumo

Sumo aims to expand the horizons of strapping young lads and lasses by channeling resources, podcasts, sharings and any other medium that can provide value. 

Ultimately, we'd like to combat information asymmetry and uncertainty, and help people make better choices with their lives :)