NBS CAREER GUIDE NBS CAREER SERVICES GUIDE 2020
2020
Nanyang Business School MCI (P) 061/09/2019
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NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES
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A Message for Our Students Let us be the accelerator in your career journey.
Contact Us Nanyang Business School
Undergraduate Career Services 50 Nanyang Avenue, S3 Building, B3A-03 Nanyang Technological University Singapore 639798 Phone: (+65) 6790 4899 / 6790 5612 E-mail: nbscareerservices@ntu.edu.sg
My dear undergraduates, I am writing this message in the time of the coronavirus pandemic, a situation which has affected everyone and continues to influence your student experience at NBS as it evolves. We had missed you before you went for your three-month break, which was spent mainly confined in your homes due to the Circuit Breaker in Singapore. And then we missed you when your classes went online, and we had to switch many of our Career activities and seminars online as well. It was worse for the seniors. They ended school without fanfare, convocation for Class of 2020 was rescheduled and their well-deserved graduation trips to celebrate their accomplishments and friendships, are now uncertain. There is much to miss. Many internships were postponed and some were retracted, while the luckier ones had their internships WFH (Work from Home). At the end of your internships, you would have never met your fellow interns, colleagues or managers, except virtually. Talk about the new normal. Many employers are also unsure of the changes to upcoming hiring practices, but what you can expect is that there will be more hybrid recruiting i.e. virtual career fairs, online recruiting, video interviews in the light of social distancing and work from home. I am not able to predict the exact impact the coronavirus will have on each industry in the future, therefore, I highly encourage you to continue to be curious and develop your interests. What I can predict is that my team and I are committed to connect with all of you regardless of your year of studies. Since the start of 2020, we have curated incessant internships and full-time opportunities for you on CareerFIT, the NBS online career management platform. We are here to answer questions and meet with you to help you navigate and formulate a career search strategy through career consultations. A special note for the incoming freshmen Class of 2023 – you will be taking cutting-edge, specially-designed Career Readiness and Career Foundations seminars and workshops, where you will meet many industry professionals, from C-Suite to hiring managers.
The colour BLUE was the universal colour to represent the frontline workers, who tirelessly continue to fight the coronavirus in 2020 locally and globally. In the same vein, as we will continuously fight and journey forward in these unchartered times, I urge you to be a true BLUE. Build relationships. There is a wide variety of efforts you can make to engage with individuals. Invest your time to expand your professional network through LinkedIn, join webinars local and global, sign up to be a mentee in our mentoring programmes (Mentors ROCK!; Mentors Fresh!; Senior Alumni Career Mentoring and Harvard Business Club Alumni Mentoring). Follow up with recruiters, seniors, CCA friends and contacts whom you connected with in the past. Learn continuously. There is an array of learning to indulge in. You can take an online course on anything that interests you. You can learn a third or fourth language not offered at NTU, sharpen your story telling skills, join our Careers webinars conducted by esteemed alumni or polish your networking skills by joining our soft skills career workshops. Understand and empathise. The global pandemic made us slow down. You came to understand that you could impact another life through a decision as simple as choosing to stay home to protect the vulnerable folk. Society became kinder as people empathised and thought of others rather than themselves only – like raising funds for the migrant workers or volunteering to tutor needy students. Develop empathy and you will find you can manage people better. Expect exciting challenges. These unprecedented times have allowed many dreams and ideas to flourish. You can sign up for a case competition, hackathon, or ideas forum which employers organise. I know many young people who became bakers or started a food catering business because they turned their boredom into creativity. Some of you could have coded a new app. Be open, keep on challenging yourselves, and you will be an adaptable and resilient graduate. I wish you all a fruitful and happy term ahead. Linda Ong Director, NBS Career Services
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NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES
Our Students
NBS students are highly valued for their analytical acuity, resourceful creativity, and firm grounding in the fundamentals of their discipline.
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
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With over 4,000 students in a vibrant setting, life in NBS does not stand still.
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NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES
Inside this Guide NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES 1
A Message for Our Students
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Our Students
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NBS – Our Port of Call
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Planning Ahead: A Year-By-Year Guide
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Why Career Planning Should Start as Early as Year One
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Making Career Services Work for You
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Getting to Know NBS Career Services
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10 Common Questions Students Ask Us
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Specialisations and Your Career
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Moral High Ground
10 A TASTE OF THE WORKING WORLD 25
Exploring Internships
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Global Internships
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Supporting Overseas Internships
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Student Sharing
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Excelling Through Mentorship
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Three Enterprising Ways Millennials Can Zigzag to Success
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A Word of Advice for Graduating Accountants
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Attain Professional Achievements with ISCA
YOUR ACTION PLAN
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NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
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Emerging Skills for the Future World of Work
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The Importance of Networking
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Personal Branding
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Resume Writing
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Elements of a Cover Letter
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Email Etiquette
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Having a Great Interview
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Asking the Right Questions
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Acing the Interview
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Dealing with Live Video Interviews
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What You Must Know to Ace the Assessment Centre
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Dress Your Way to Success
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Create Your Confidence
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NBS CAREER GUIDE NBS CAREER SERVICES GUIDE 2020
2020
Nanyang Business School MCI (P) 061/09/2019
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NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES
NBS – Our Port of Call
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BS is consistently counted among the world’s top-tier business schools. We are one of the most established and comprehensive providers of business and management education in the AsiaPacific. NBS is committed to providing you with an education that is both world-class and relevant. Our academic rigour is globally accredited while strong industry ties underscore the practical relevance of our programmes. Our graduates are highly sought after by the world’s top employers for their analytical acuity and resourceful creativity. They are highly valued for their adaptability, leadership qualities and the ability to work effectively in teams. Many go on to become outstanding corporate leaders, as CEOs, CFOs and directors at the world's leading banks, accounting firms and other major organisations.
Chua Jie Xuan
(ACBS, Class of 2018) I was looking out for a vibrant campus life when selecting which university to pursue my undergraduate studies in. Considering that I would be spending four years in the school, I wanted an environment that was both exciting and intellectually-stimulating. In this aspect, NTU stands out with ample opportunities to participate in hall activities, as well as the numerous clubs and societies one can join. A few of my closest friends today are from the same club which I joined. Looking back, the four years I spent in NBS were exceptionally fulfilling. If I had to make a choice again, I would still choose NBS in a heartbeat.
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
Ai Lingfeng
(ACBS, Class of 2018) One of the best things about studying in NBS is the vibrant campus life that every student can take part in. Be it participating in hall activities, joining a sports club or even an investment club, there is something for everyone. My experience being part of a student club EXCO has been extremely valuable. There, I honed my leadership and communications skills, both of which I feel have been crucial during my 4 years in NBS. NBS definitely provides excellent opportunities for students to learn beyond the classroom and I am glad to have made the most out of it!
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Pauline Chua
(ACBS, Class of 2019)
Chua Chia Ying
(ACBS, Class of 2018) Two reasons why I chose to study in NBS: (1) Ensuring Career-Readiness (2) Immersive Experience. I am most thankful for the support that NBS offers to students in internship sourcing as well as the flexibility to take on internships of different nature. After several and diverse internship stints, I gained a better understanding of where my career interest lies. Participating in student club activities and competitions as well as an overseas exchange programme took my learning beyond the classroom. NBS offers a truly immersive experience like no other!
Jaclene Liew Kar Hui (ACBS, Class of 2018)
Being a top-tier business school, NBS is recognised internationally and known for its rigorous curriculum. I was drawn to NBS because of the opportunity to pursue a holistic education. From participating in USP to URECA, NBS has provided me with ample opportunities to expand my thinking and learn beyond the curriculum. I wanted to challenge myself by learning from some of the world’s best professors in their own fields and growing into a person who cares about issues beyond my own field. Looking back at my years in NBS, I wouldn’t have chosen otherwise.
I really enjoy NBS’ seminar-style learning because I’ve gained a lot from working and interacting with my professors and peers. On top of theoretical knowledge, we also research on projects with reallife case studies and application, which really prepares me for my future work life. I specialise in Human Resource Consulting (HRC), and am fortunate enough to serve as an EXCO in the HRC Club where I was personally mentored by a professor to organise HR events and liaise with distinguished companies to attain internships for our fellow NBS peers. Through this experience and NBS Career Office’s networking events, I’ve forged life-long friendships and am prepared to begin my career journey. I hope your time in NBS would be just as enjoyable, and I look forward to seeing you around!
Glenn Tan Yong Jia (ACBS, Class of 2019)
I chose to study in NBS back in 2013, and would definitely choose it again if I were to go back in time. In a short span of four years, I was offered the possibility of two degrees, one minor, eight actuarial papers, four internships, a semester-long exchange in South Korea, a community of friends, and tons of learning opportunities and experience. There is not much more I would expect from a university programme. All these would not have been possible without NBS' strong and recognised academic programme, accreditation, partnerships, and established career services.
Dickson Ng
(ACBS, Class of 2021) I was delighted and enthused to commence my journey in NBS! I eagerly wait to jump onto the vast opportunities of internships offered by NBS, anchored by the depth of lectures, mentorship and networking sessions that I am certain will help build a firm foundation for my future career. I look forward with anticipation to start my voyage in the corporate world, fulfilling my greatest potential and to shine in my next four years in NBS and beyond.
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NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES
Planning Ahead: A Year-By-Year Guide Make full use of your time at NBS by starting your career planning journey from Day One.
Get Started Early
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hinking about your career path from Day One as a freshman means you have more time to review it as you go along.
YEAR 1: FRESHMAN YEAR
• Speak to us. Make one-on-one appointments
with Career Services to get started on career
planning and internship sourcing. •
Attend networking events and industry talks
for first-hand knowledge of roles and work culture.
• Come for “Brekkie with Career Services” – regular get-togethers with your career advisers.
• Take part in CCAs to discover your interests and develop as a person. • Consult faculty and seniors on choosing majors, modules and CCAs. • Use this career guide to think through your choice of specialisation. • Tap on career profiling tools, such as the Knowdell Career Card Sorts and Harrison Assessments, which help you identify career choices based on motivations and work task preferences.
• Participate in Mentors Fresh! mentoring programme for Year One students.
• All students have to take part in mandatory internships at the end of their first year.
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
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NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES
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YEAR 2: PENULTIMATE YEAR
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Review and follow up. Check off the list for what you
did in Freshman Year, and pick up where you left off.
• Level up! Pick up new skills based on the field you would like to enter.
• Meet your career coaches at Career Services to
spruce up your application documents and interview skills. •
Attend industry-sharing sessions co-organised by
Career Services and the Marketing, Actuarial Science and Banking & Finance clubs, where seniors share on summer internships.
Major Selection & Professional Attachment
• Browse the CareerFIT portal for internships, workshops and talks. • Sign up for a Work Study Degree (WSDeg) programme to gain real work experience and still graduate within three years.
NBS Undergraduate Career Services assists penultimate students in making key decisions of choosing a major and applying for professional attachment.
• Boost your resume. Get involved in community services and CCAs. • Go on an overseas exchange. Employers value candidates who can get out of their comfort zones into new markets.
• Do a LOA internship over one semester, giving a prospective
employer the chance to assess your suitability over a longer service period.
Graduation Nears Whether you are looking for your first job, or considering postgraduate studies or a LOA internship, we hope to help you make a smooth transition.
YEAR 3-4: FINAL YEARS
• What else have you not done in your first two years for career planning? Here’s your last chance to tick them off.
• Update your resume. Make an appointment for our review of it. • Visit CareerFIT frequently for full-time postings and internships. Take note of application deadlines.
• Sign up for our Networking Skills workshop conducted by a professional image consultant.
• Consult us on managing your offers. • Network through Mentors ROCK! • Join our Learn Over Lunch talks to explore career options. • Volunteer as a Career Ambassador with us to help your peers with career guidance. • Attend NTU Career Day and NBS Career Day on campus to meet employers who are keen to meet you.
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NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES
Why Career Planning Should Start as Early as Year One
L
Joel Law Wei
ACBS, Class of 2019
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
ooking back, career planning should be undertaken as early as possible in university life. Unfortunately, I did not do a summer internship in my first year as I had to undergo a shoulder surgery then. However, right from the start, I knew I wanted to be in the finance industry due to the influence from my family members while growing up. In year two, I was fortunate enough to secure a summer internship at Alto Partners. This boutique multi-family office is run by an ex-managing director from a global investment bank. I was involved in raising capital for a couple of start-ups. This role afforded tremendous client-facing opportunities and I interacted actively with the founders of the startups, many of whom had investment banking backgrounds themselves. This internship further reinforced my decision to pursue a career in investment banking. To gain further exposure, I took a LOA internship at Apollo Global Management in the first half of 2017. This American private equity firm offered enormous learning possibilities. During my stint, I worked on more than 10 deals, evaluating financing opportunities for LBOs, asset acquisitions, restructuring, and growth. This further strengthened my financial knowledge and technical skills. Having narrowed my focus on investment banking, I spent more time reading and preparing for interviews, while reaching out to seniors for advice and tips. Going for interviews honed my interview skills and prepared me for future interviews. My efforts ultimately paid off when I landed an investment banking internship. To do that, I took another LOA in 2017. In a nutshell, it will never be too early to start planning your career path. Talk to seniors if you are unsure about what you want. Once you have figured it out, be persistent, stay focused, and make it happen.
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NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES
Making Career Services Work for You
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any NBS students go through three to four years of University without ever setting foot in the Career Services office. Yet, outside of curriculum time, many students spend numerous hours seeking internship and job opportunities that may be available exclusively through NBS. The mission of NBS Undergraduate Career Services is to impart skillsets and offer services that will facilitate your career development and job search process. This ranges from assessing your abilities to handling job offers. Don’t overlook this opportunity; it could mean passing up the job of a lifetime. Together with Career Services, you can achieve your dream job.
Develop Relationships Find a career adviser and get to know him or her. Aim to meet your adviser at least several times throughout your career development process. Appointments are a great way to stay motivated and accomplish career-related tasks. Our career adviser will listen to your concerns and give objective advice. You can always bounce ideas off him or her, which will help you think through your options. Furthermore, when specific job opportunities come in, career advisers often alert students who they know well and think might be a good fit for the position. Remember, the more you share about your skills and your goals with the adviser, the more they will be able to assist you.
Attend Events We spend the bulk of our time planning events with you in mind. A few examples that students have found particularly useful are mock interview days, networking events, resume workshops as well as career talks. Given that there may be a number of programmes going on that may be beneficial for you at any point in time, make sure that you keep up-to-date by logging in to CareerFIT or checking your email regularly. Finally, as you attend programmes, ask thoughtful questions to make the most of what you are learning.
Don’t Be a Stranger Your relationship with Career Services does not have to end on your convocation day. We offer services for alumni similar to those for students. If you have not found a job or even formed a plan by graduation, you are still able to meet with advisers, use CareerFIT and attend events.
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
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Getting to Know NBS Career Services We’re here for you…
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he competitive nature of today’s job market would mean that qualified applicants like yourself are pitted against many others in the search for employment. Standing out from the crowd will help you gain entry into a career that fits your personality. A mix of hard and soft skills ensures the ability to survive and thrive in your field. Education qualifications alone can no longer guarantee career success. NBS Career Services is here to translate your NBS experience into the right job fit amidst a constantly changing and evolving corporate landscape. We ensure students get the best start in their career journeys. Our mission is to see our students fully engaged with their career exploration in a manner that enhances their undergraduate experience – a combination of a quality education and positive career development will help you fulfil your aspirations and contribute to society. We offer a wide variety of services to help you navigate your way through your career. Thoughtfully created, these offerings will benefit you from the moment you enrol in NBS, right through your final year.
AB1001
is a half-day seminar designed exclusively for first-year students as they embark on their university education. Combining hands-on approaches and class discussions, this workshop seeks to teach and address issues such as resume-crafting, and to help students build useful skills for the workplace. This sets a stable foundation that enables a firm start to a good career after graduation. Although possessing solid credentials and relevant technical skills are fundamental requirements in the corporate world, we believe that knowing yourself is the first step towards finding a good job fit. These are among the critical issues addressed by the seminar.
Career Foundations - AB1001
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AB1002
prepares students further for the workforce by placing a greater emphasis on matching career interests with employer offerings. The five-week seminar comprises topics ranging from sourcing internships, to performing well at interviews, and professional behaviour at the workplace. Together with students, we brainstorm key questions about careers: Is this the company where I want to spend my working life? Am I willing to contribute and succeed in this role? What do I expect from my prospective employer? Every question you ask puts you that much closer to being a good employee in a new job. With the right job fit, you will be able to explore, develop and uncover your true potential and capabilities. Graduates who assimilate better at the early stages of their career are better able to perform and grow.
Career Readiness - AB1002
CareerFIT (Powered by Simplicity) Exclusive to NBS students, this one-stop portal makes event registrations, internships and job searches time-efficient, easy and convenient. Students can upload their resumes and submit applications in just a single click.
One-to-One Career Discussion During scheduled appointments, you can share your career interests with our specialised team of career advisers, who will recommend strategies and help you develop a plan to reach your goals. You can also get expert advice on issues such as your job search, resume and cover letter writing, professional development, etiquette, and salary negotiation. The one-on-one consultations are approximately 30 minutes long and are scheduled on a firstcome, first-served basis. All information exchanged between students and career advisers are completely confidential – you’re welcome to ask anything.
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NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES
A seasoned trainer, Ms Shirley Han, teaches students in AB2000 on personal branding and networking skills.
Brekkie with Career Services Facilitated by a group of career coaches, Brekkie with Career Services is a fun and informal sharing session. This is a great way for you to discuss possible solutions for issues such as identifying a specialisation, exploring career interests, or seeking an internship or job. Look out for our upcoming session!
Skills for Internship and Job Search Throughout their studies, students are also encouraged to pursue experiential learning opportunities. Our role is to ensure resources are in place to facilitate this endeavour so that students can develop and enhance their skillsets.
Resume and Cover Letter Critique
– In an increasingly competitive job market, a well-written cover letter and resume will distinguish you from the pack. Besides one-to-one assistance with critiquing resumes, we also invite HR practitioners to conduct resume workshops where students receive valuable tips on how to make their applications shine.
Mock Interview
– This is a 30-minute session for students to practise interviewing with experts and experienced interviewers. The session is recorded and a debrief is subsequently conducted during replay, enabling instant feedback in a safe and supportive environment. Through mock interviews, not only will students know what to expect in real job or internship interviews, they acquire confidence and are more comfortable on the actual day.
Video Interview – Having gained popularity in recent
years, video interviews allow recruiters to filter through candidates at an early stage of the application process. To get students ready for the session, NBS Career Services has subscribed to SONRU, a video job interview service.
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
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NBS Career Services Team
Linda Ong Email: lindaong@ntu.edu.sg LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/onglinda
Leonard Zuzarte Email: leonard.zuzarte@ntu.edu.sg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ leonardzuzarte/
Lucy Chua Email: SCChua@ntu.edu.sg
Lim Yuan Email: yuan.lim@ntu.edu.sg
Make a connection Throughout the year, we organise networking events to bring employers and students together. Students may bring along updated copies of their resumes to these networking events. Networking is more than just a firm handshake, introducing yourself and being seen – it is an integral part of any job search process. One needs to develop a clear presence that is relevant and compelling to the people who are making hiring decisions. In NBS, our students are trained to build a personal brand based on an authentic character proposition that differentiates them from their peers. This happens as early as their first year; we share with students basic tips for them to stand out from the clutter. Have your business cards with you at all times in your left pocket. Keep the cards that you collect in your right pocket. It is very unprofessional to fumble through a pile of cards trying to find one of your own. Know who you are, and be comfortable describing yourself. “It is nice to meet you. I’m Chang Shui of NBS. I am a double-degree student and my career interest lies in management consulting.” Or “How do you do? I am Iris Chua and I lead the HR Consulting Club in NBS. Our club organises mega competitions twice a year.” Be sure to introduce yourself in a confident and calm manner. You want others to ask you questions and you want to be remembered. Always have appropriate conversation starters. You can do so by staying up-todate on current affairs. This way, you would still be able to keep the conversation flowing after the introduction. Do note that it is wise to avoid discussing politics and religion.
Dorinda Chye Email: dorindachye@ntu.edu.sg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorindachye/
Darren Tan Email: darren.tantl@ntu.edu.sg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrentanteckleng
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NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES
Salary Negotiation
Boost Your Likeability
Students may hesitate to negotiate for a better remuneration package for fear that their actions will prompt the prospective employer to move on to the next candidate. In fact, some employers are open to negotiations and do respect candidates who are aware of their professional worth. We offer appropriate advice to students on how to handle this sensitive issue. Indeed, one of the most overlooked salary negotiation tips is to make sure to let employers make the first offer; it is preferable to push off any mention of salary until a job offer is firmly secured. At that point, it will be much easier to negotiate since you know that the company wants you on board. On your part, you must display enthusiasm about the position offered. Be sincere and smile to show the employer that the only thing stopping you from taking the job is the compensation. It is important to note that pay levels may be fixed or lack flexibility depending on a firm’s practices. Under such circumstances, do not despair. Instead, enquire on potential career progression within the company and eventual pay increment.
At Career Services, “stay in touch” is more than just an expression. Over 1,000 NBS students head for professional attachments every summer. In the midst of their internships during the May to July period, they are invited to the Boost Your Likeability programme to chill out with Career Services and alumni over drinks and food. This is one of the ways Career Services connects with students and learns about their internship progress – what excites them about being part of a summer internship, and how their internship experience prepares them for their future careers.
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
Case Workshop The Case Workshop is a four-hour workshop where students get to crack complex management cases while working in small groups. Class sizes are deliberately limited to allow for maximum interaction. Throughout the session, our trainers will encourage students to adopt the appropriate techniques for solving cases and avoid committing common mistakes made in case interviews. Live cases are also introduced in the workshop, where students get to play the role of an interviewer to gain deeper insight into what employers really look for.
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Internship Boost, an exclusive event where students enjoy light-hearted conversation with alumni.
Learn Over Lunch (LOL)
The #GetReal Series
The LOL series is organised throughout each semester and where our alumni are invited as guest speakers to share their post-graduation experiences. Chosen across different fields and industry sectors, these alumni will regale students with tales of their corporate journeys. Students will get a sense of what’s on the minds of our nation’s corporate elites.
This is a graded component of a compulsory academic module for all first-year students at the NBS. We invite industry experts to deliver a wide range of career-related topics to students. Subsequently, students will write down three key takeaways and two actions they will take within specific time-frames from the respective #GetReal session they attend.
Cheers to Corporate Life Making the transition from campus life to the corporate world entails some degree of anxiety and stress for the graduating cohort. While internships and attachments have given you a preview of life in the competitive professional world, working in formal office settings can be markedly different from being a student in business school. “Cheers to Corporate Life” is specially tailored by Career Services for graduating students immediately after their final examinations. We bring seasoned alumni to share tips on how to cope with a corporate environment, as well as what to watch out for as a working professional.
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NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES
10 Common Questions Students Ask Us We answer commonly asked questions about the career planning process and life post graduation.
1.
What can Career Services do for me?
We can discuss various career and specialisation options with you. We can also give your resume and cover letter a boost, as well as provide tips to enhance your interview skills.
2.
How do I find the ideal career?
Spend time thinking about your personal values, interests, personality and skills. Dig deeper into specific areas of your career interest. Leverage on the expertise of our career advisers and engage them in your career planning process.
3.
How do I find an internship or job?
Conscientiously refer to the listings on CareerFIT and do not be afraid to cold call or email targeted employers. You can also leverage on your network – seniors, friends, family and alumni. To increase your chances of getting hired, it is crucial to develop an effective resume and put in your best effort to prepare for the interview.
4.
Why should I attend career-related events?
Attending such events helps you achieve many things: gain pertinent information (corporate culture and industry knowledge of your target companies), job leads, and referrals from industry insiders. You will miss out on many opportunities if you fail to build your network through our events as they were organised with you in mind.
5.
Would you recommend a LOA (leave of absence) internship?
Yes, you will reap tremendous benefit by undertaking a long-term internship (six months to a year). The type of tasks assigned will be more varied. You will also be able to learn more about your field of interest and gain more in-depth industry knowledge.
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
6.
How do I prepare for an interview?
Extensive research on the company and job role is a must. You can also sign up for mock interview sessions through Career Services to gain confidence. It is also recommended that you recollect past experiences to use as examples during the interview.
7.
How do I handle multiple rejections from employers?
Do not let rejections paralyse or hinder your job search efforts. Instead, stay resilient and tenacious. Let rejections fuel your determination and you will be able to learn a lot from your experiences.
8.
Is salary negotiable?
In most cases, there is room to negotiate for a slightly higher salary. That said, be prepared to defend your proposal. Employers do not consider being a fast learner or a high GPA valid reasons for requesting a higher salary. Instead, you should support your request with relevant, work-related skills and potentially providing positive benefits to the company.
9.
How can I figure out what to do after graduation?
As you work through the job search process, drop by Career Services to ask questions, and to discuss the obstacles, challenges and possibilities of life after graduation. We will help you discover your goals and assist you throughout the process.
10.
I wish to pursue a postgraduate degree. What should my next step be?
We can connect you to faculty members in the MBA and MFE offices. You can also gather information from related websites and professional associations. When evaluating your options, consider admission requirements; programme emphasis; ranking and accreditation; tuition and living costs; as well as the availability of Career Services support for post-graduate employment.
www.nbs.edu.sg
NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES
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Specialisations and Your Career An objective guide to help students choose their specialisations wisely instead of conforming to popular myths and word-of-mouth.
WHAT SHOULD I SPECIALISE IN?
S
electing one out of the six industry-specific specialisations offered by NBS seems an impossible challenge – they are constantly updated and rejuvenated through collaborations with leading organisations and professional bodies to meet evolving industry needs. Hackneyed as it sounds, choose the specialisation you are truly passionate about. An aptitude for that particular specialisation is an added bonus. Rushing into a programme simply because “it has better prospects” or “guarantees a stable job” may risk burning you out in the long run as it is misaligned with your goals and interests. Abandon the misconception that specialising in a specific area will automatically land you a career in related fields. Read on for some guidelines to help you identify, evaluate and narrow down your choices when choosing a specialisation.
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NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES
Know thyself Discover yourself Reflect on your experience (school activities, vacation work, leisure, community services, etc.) thus far and ask yourself the following questions: What have you enjoyed most? What were your takeaways? These questions allow you to gain a deeper introspective understanding of yourself.
Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses • • • •
What are your innate abilities? What do you seem to excel in? What skills do you possess? What accomplishments are you most proud of?
Accomplishments underline your abilities and skills – which are reliable indicators of your potential to take initiative and solve problems.
Examine your priorities • • • •
What do you strive for? Does job security matter to you? Do you prefer stability over flexibility? Can you handle a volatile workplace that keeps you on the edge constantly? Do you thrive when working independently, or do you prefer to work in a team?
Seek help If you’re still unsure, don’t hesitate to find a mentor, and ask for help from a broad range of people. Self-perception can be biased, so the opinion of others could help us correct personal misconceptions. Keep in mind: feedback should not be construed as criticism – use it constructively.
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
www.nbs.edu.sg
NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES
Gather intelligence
Making your decision
Read and scrutinise
• Specialise in ACS
Both the NBS website and brochures available at the Undergraduate Programme Office (UPO) describe each specialisation in detail. Note down modules (detailed syllabi and course descriptions are easily available via a simple search) that appeal to you.
• Specialise in BA
Consult and consider Arrange for consultations with associate deans and directors of respective majors. Additionally, get your seniors to share about their classes and experience in their chosen specialisations.
Reach out Our mentoring programme and alumni events are excellent platforms for you to interact with NBS graduates and learn more about the range of career possibilities offered by each specialisation.
Be scientific
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if you relish the idea of crunching numbers and solving complex problems. if you are good at spotting trends and transforming big data into a powerful and predictive strategic asset.
• Specialise in BAF
if you are a highly analytical and systematic person with a penchant for the wheeling and dealing of financial products.
• Specialise in HRC
if you have excellent organisational and communication skills, and enjoy working with other people on a daily basis.
• Specialise in MKG
if you enjoy interacting with people and communicating ideas.
• Specialise in RMI
if you enjoy predicting worse-case scenarios and coming up with ways to avert and control these risks
Still clueless? Do not worry – simply make an appointment with NBS Career Services. Our friendly and experienced staff members are always happy to help.
Standardised psychometric assessments, such as the Harrisons Assessment and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, enable employers to scientifically profile your personality and determine if you are a good fit for their team. It may also help determine the specialisation that would suit you best.
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NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES Double Degree in Accountancy & Business with Minor in International Trading
Double Degree in Accountancy & Business
Double Degree in Business (with Specialisation in Business Analytics) & Computer Engineering/ Computer Science
Bachelor of Accountancy with Minor in Digitalisation and Data Analytics
Bachelor of Accountancy/ Bachelor of Business with Minor in International Trading
Bachelor of Accountancy/ Bachelor of Business with Minor in Strategic Communication
Bachelor of Business
Bachelor of Accountancy
(6 Specialisation Options in Year 2): + $
Actuarial Science
Banking & Finance (4 Track Options)
Business Analytics
Human Resource Consulting
Marketing
Risk Management & Insurance
Banking and Finance (BAF) Tracks Main Banking and Finance Track
BNF
Applied Wealth Management (AWM) AWM
International Trading Programme (ITP) ITP
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
Platform-based Learning (PBL)
PBL
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NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES
What should I minor in?
Take a minor to gain an edge in your graduate job search.
With the option to declare a minor in either Strategic Communication or Risk Management and Insurance, NBS students can now enrich their core disciplines by taking a complementary discipline or diversify their current degree by taking courses in an unrelated area. The unique blend of a basic degree with a minor has gained popularity amongst NBS students as they will be better equipped to assume roles that require a diverse skillset. Today’s competitive job market requires graduates to possess knowledge beyond their core disciplines as challenges faced at work may involve solutions of a multidisciplinary nature.
Your minor & career options
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Take up a minor in Strategic Communication if you have the
knack for persuasive storytelling, enjoy generating new ideas and structures, and engaging stakeholders at all levels. Equally essential is your creativity and critical thinking skills to expound and execute communication strategies that resonate with the organisation’s goals and mission. Career options include roles in public relations, marketing, advertising and human resource. Graduates with a stronger focus on social media or web development have the option to join the rapidly growing world of digital media.
Take up a minor in Digitalisation and Data Analytics if you have an interest in drawing information from data, or like to understand how data could drive accounting and finance. In the future, you will also be able to explore careers in fraud investigation, forensics, AML, cyber risk management, operations analytics and decision modelling.
Is there a direct connection between specialisations/ minors and careers? A common misconception amongst NBS students is that employers hire candidates according to their specialisation. In reality, many hiring managers actually show a preference for candidates from diverse backgrounds as they are better able to offer varied ideas. Many NBS graduates have successful careers in areas that have no relation to their undergraduate major. We have witnessed successful placements of HRC graduates in risk management firms and private banks, ACS graduates in investment banks, and MKG graduates in finance roles. Similarly, many accountancy graduates found jobs in FMCG and consulting fields. Although students from the same specialisations may pursue certain ‘typical’ jobs, your major does not predetermine your future career path. A business degree is designed to expose undergraduates to a broad range of topics for entry into a wide variety of careers. All employers look for both hard and soft skills. These also happen to be the cornerstones of a business degree. Take up a specialisation and/or a minor that interests you and be involved in projects and experiences that stimulate your intellectual curiosity, hone your communication skills and offer some exposure to quantitative analysis. CCA experiences, such as case competitions (business case, marketing, tax, stock and forex challenges, etc.), community service and internships, can also help you build up workplace awareness and skills.
Take up a minor in International Trading if you are curious about business concerning the extraction of raw materials, agriculture or energy, keen on the manufacturing and assembly of parts, and distribution of finished goods to markets. This minor opens a wide spectrum of career opportunities in the lucrative commodity trading sector and value chain upon graduation – you can join energy, metals, commodities, shipping, banks, supply chain and food producing companies.
www.nbs.edu.sg
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NBS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER SERVICES
Moral High Ground
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BS students are expected to act in a sensible manner that maintains the interests and welfare of the university, as well as the reputation and standing of the business school. Once you have accepted an internship or full-time offer (verbally or in written form), you should honour your commitment and decline all other options – whether pending or otherwise. It is the only right thing to do. Notify other employers that you are no longer available for consideration. They will understand and appreciate your gesture. By conducting yourself honourably and ethically at the outset, you set the right attitude for a lasting career ahead. Make the most informed decision you can, stick with it and make the best of that opportunity. Use this as a precedent for similar dilemmas in the future. Backing out from your commitment to accept another position represents a breach of agreement. If you choose to renege on your acceptance to pursue a different offer, there are significant repercussions: • You will be issued a Letter of Reprimand by NBS Deanery. This letter will be kept in our internal records and will be taken into consideration by NBS should there be any future inquiries into your professional conduct as well as in determining your eligibility for any future academic recognition and awards. • Your CareerFIT account will be disabled. This will bar you from registering for all internship/job positions as well as all career-related events. • What goes around, comes around. Information is shared among recruiters more regularly than you think – especially for those within the same industry. By reneging, you would have “burned a bridge” with that employer and the contacts that you developed within that organisation. You may also strain the ties between the school and the organisation, compromising the opportunities available for students in the upcoming batches.
• Reneging will put your reputation at risk. It may even become part of your personal brand if classmates, faculty members, and fellow interns cast doubts over your professional ethics and commitment to an organisation. Be mindful of your personal brand today and it will pay off down the road.
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
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Exploring Internships Discover the different internship opportunities available to you.
D
o you often find yourself making career decisions based on word-of-mouth, common stereotypes and secondary sources of information (i.e. the internet)? Rather than relying on others, why not experience it for yourself by having a go at an internship over the summer or winter breaks? Not only will it help you make a more informed decision in the future, you will also have extensive networking opportunities to widen your web of professional contacts. An increasing number of students are voluntarily completing multiple internships during their undergraduate studies as many see the value of getting an early taste of the cut-and-thrust of the corporate world. There is no “one-size-fits-all” timeline for internships at NBS. However, here are some options you can explore:
Summer Internships As part of their degree programme, penultimate-year students will undertake a ten-week professional attachment (May to July). For double degree students, this will take place in their second year.
Long-term Internships Another option which has gained popularity amongst NBS students is the six-month internship (January to June and July to December). One of the tangible benefits of a long-term internship is the ability to participate in projects and see them through from start to finish. Application for Leave of Absence (LOA) must be submitted to our Undergraduate Programme Office in order for students to undertake this internship.
Winter Internships Students going for overseas exchange in semester two of their second academic year must complete their professional attachment during the December/January period. This is provided that their term abroad starts late, allowing them sufficient time to complete a winter internship before departure. The required duration is typically eight weeks.
Part-time Internships Students may elect to intern a couple of days per week during the academic year. This requires them to carefully plan their course schedules so that they fulfil such internship commitments. Parttime internships can help students defray their college expenses, optimise their time, and soak up as much working experience as possible.
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DOs & DON’Ts OF AN INTERNSHIP DOs
• Be clear about your goals and understand what you hope to get out of this experience. • Be ethical. Clock in the required hours as stipulated in your contract. Complete the entire duration of the internship you are committed to.
• No job is beneath you. Appreciate the opportunity and do your best regardless of the role. • Be enthusiastic. Employers value interns who are willing to take on challenging assignments. • Work closely with your mentor - he or she can be a sounding board for your ideas. • Ask questions and seek clear directions, but pick the right moment to do so. • Meet regularly with your mentor. Keep him or her informed of your progress. • Take initiative. Think “outside the box”, and you will be noticed. • Cultivate relationships with colleagues at all levels. They will become part of your network. • Leave a good and lasting impression. Your goal should be to leave with tangible results.
DON'Ts
• Don’t expect internships to be handed to you. Internships are a privilege, not a right. • Don’t expect all internships to be structured. You may only be assigned ad-hoc projects.
• Don’t take leave. You may not be entitled to the benefits of full-time staff. • Don’t be afraid to ask questions whenever you encounter difficulties. • Don’t be late for work. Punctuality is both professional and paramount. • Don’t leave on time. Employers notice interns who go the extra mile. • Don’t ignore deadlines. Deliver good quality work – even under demanding deadlines. • Don’t be negative. Don’t complain and be disrespectful. • Don’t act like you know it all – you don’t. • Don’t burn bridges – you may need to cross them one day.
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Alethea Tan Shi Qi (ACBS, Class of 2019)
Intern, Enterprise Development Group Temasek International Given that I am able to graduate comfortably by the planned graduation date, I thought to myself: Why not do a LOA internship? There is much more learning and selfdiscovery that an internship can provide! School offers a great foundation and theoretical basics. However, you will only truly learn to apply what you have been taught when on the job, as divergence from theory is common, especially in today's economy. Internships can also give you better insight into all-important questions: Do I really see myself in this career in X number of years down the road? You may not get an answer, but you will get some clarity.
Yap Tun Yee
(MKG, Class of 2019) Intern, L'OrĂŠal With most internships being only 10 weeks long, interns rarely get to see the full campaign being rolled out during the course of their internship. I wanted to witness the fruits of my labour translate into an actual campaign so that I could see the results and make improvements for future campaigns. A six-month internship would allow me to gain such exposure and get a full 360 experience of working life. I hope that this unique exposure will push me to further heights for my future aspirations.
Charissa Goh Pei Xia (BAF, Class of 2019) Investment Intern, Tradably As a student, I had a nagging concern that I was good in theories but poor in application of skills. The real world was so much more than copying formulae and tackling examinations. I wanted something more fulfilling to justify my university education. I also felt that a typical 10-week internship was not sufficient for me to translate my on-the-job learning into actions and applications. With a short 10-week internship, I would not have much time to contribute my skills to the company, as I would have to return to school right after having adapted to the environment and the industry. Thus, I felt taking a LOA would be the best decision.
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
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Muhammad Fa’eez Bin Yasir (BAF, Class of 2019)
Intern, Corporate Finance Lazard Asia It took a leap of faith for me to do something not many others have done. The easier way to go about my university life would be to take the ordinary path, graduate in three years, and explore potential career paths from then on. However, doing so meant I would be rushing my career decisions and might not start out in a field that I am really interested in. As we all know, it takes strong justification to switch from one field to another once you’re in the workforce. I have come to realise that the path that most people pursue may not necessarily be the optimal path for me. It is perfectly fine to take a detour off the ordinary path, given that you are aware of your capabilities, purpose in doing so, and the consequences of making certain decisions. Personally, I find that it is justifiable to set aside a year to fully understand yourself and decide if you would like to pursue a certain role. I am not sure if it would pay off, but whether or not it does is beyond the matter. All I can say is that my internships so far have been nothing short of pleasant – I spent a fruitful winter in PwC’s Restructuring Advisory team covering distressed transactions, followed by a LOA internship in Fundnel, a fintech startup that facilitates venture capital and private equity investments into early and growth stage companies, and now I’m looking forward to spending another 6 months with Lazard’s Investment Banking team to work on Southeast Asian M&A transactions. If you are considering a gap year, do your research, keep an open mind, weigh your options, and more importantly, don’t be afraid to take the road less travelled!
Lim Jiing Wei
(ACBS, Class of 2019) Intern, Securities Division Goldman Sachs I did a part time internship in Lumen Capital while studying and went on to take a leave of absence (LOA) to pursue a semester internship at Goldman Sachs. I decided to do so as I wanted to find out what I would like to pursue for a long-term career and an internship is the best way to find out what a job really entails. When deciding on a career path, I feel that it is most important to recognise what you like and do not like, as well as what you are good at. Figuring that out as an intern would prevent me from accepting an ill-fitting job upon graduation, saving time down the road. The most valuable skills that I have gained from my internships would be the ability to communicate with superiors and colleagues in a professional setting, as well as building a network of contacts. Overall, I believe nothing can substitute experience and internships are a great way to figure out what you want for a long-term career.
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Aloysius Lee Bing De (BAF, Class of 2019)
Intern, Private Equity Dymon Asia Capital Taking up a LOA was one of the best decisions I made to broaden my professional experience in the marketplace. I was fortunate to have been accepted into Dymon Asia's Private Equity department, a department that I would consider to be my ‘dream internship’. When the opportunity came, I grabbed it without hesitation. I knew that while the LOA would result in graduating later, it would also greatly enhance my attractiveness to future employers as someone who has a robust internship background. Through the internship, I gained a much deeper understanding of what a ‘buy side’ firm is like and what goes through their investment thought process when it comes to making investment decisions. When my colleagues and mentors knew that I was going to extend and continue my summer internship with them, they showed greater interest in me and let me in on more deals to gain the true insight of the business and this allowed me to build a deeper connection with them.
Lenard Lee Teik Zen (ACBS, Class of 2021)
Special Situations Investment Intern Apollo Global Management LLC Taking a gap year was not pre-planned, neither was it a decision made on a whim. I had applied through NBS CareerFIT for a few internships as I didn’t want to waste my holidays. As luck would have it, I managed to secure two internships with Dragonfly LLC and Apollo Management, both of which required a LOA. It was not an easy choice and I took the plunge after much consideration and from seeking feedback from others. I may not be qualified to make a comparison between a semester-long internship and a summer internship, which is a shorter 10-week programme. However, in my opinion, semester-long internships offer better opportunities for the following:• Take on Real Responsibility – Semester internships often exist as firms have a true need for additional help, which means interns get to shoulder more responsibility and do real work, and in turn learn more. • Build a Network and Vital Soft Skills – Semester internships offer the opportunity to gain the soft skills required to navigate a real workplace environment, and a chance to build strong relationships with fellow colleagues. • Get the Internship You Want – It is no secret that getting a summer internship is extremely competitive. On the other hand, semesterinternships are relatively less competitive and are just as valuable an opportunity to build a stronger resume. During my internships, I had the chance to travel overseas, attend client meetings frequently, and communicate with top management. All of these were unexpected opportunities. In my pursuit of a career in banking, the internships that I have taken truly opened doors to the industry. This is especially so as banking requires relevant work experience due to its competitive nature. To sum it up, I wish to share some takeaways with fellow students. Always be intellectually curious and take the initiative to learn. Do not be afraid to ask questions! In particular, ask questions when the answers are not readily available. Making mistakes is fine – everyone makes them – but most importantly, don’t make the same mistake twice.
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
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Global Internships
W
hile any internship can add credibility to your resume, some may prove to be more worthwhile than others. Have you considered the idea that perhaps the best internship opportunity is waiting for you outside Singapore’s borders? More than 250 NBS students go abroad for their internships annually. By venturing into entirely unfamiliar cultures, they pushed the boundaries of what they thought they were capable of. It was also the perfect way for them to proactively tackle the cut and thrust of corporate life that they will eventually experience upon graduation. An internship abroad can be both personally rewarding and beneficial not just to your career; you will have the chance to build lasting friendships with people of different cultures and nationalities. More importantly, you will get to establish valuable business contacts that can help you elevate your career to the global level. A resume complete with an internship abroad will help you stand out in a sea of candidates. Your experience will convince recruiters that you are adaptable, culturally sensitive and unafraid to step out of your comfort zone – qualities that will take you far in the corporate world. We present testimonies of NBS students who took up the challenge of completing an internship abroad in 2019.
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QServus Santiago, Chile
Agustin Xue Yu Liang
I agree very much with the quote “The only source of knowledge is experience”, and that by being in a vastly different environment, outside our comfort zone, it provides the best opportunity for growth. Living in a house with 17 other international housemates, I had the opportunity to learn about different cultures while working on my interpersonal skills. I also became a culinary expert and was forced to be more independent. It was truly the most enriching experience in my university life.
Emaar Hospitality Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Chung Wen Kai
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
I always enjoyed travelling, but travelling and living overseas was always at arm’s length. This drove me to attempt for a place at Emaar Hospitality’s Corporate Finance Department in Dubai. Together with my NBS mates, we were exposed to financial modelling and report generation techniques for accounts management. Learning how to interact with peoples of a new culture and adapting to their customs and habits would prove invaluable for us should we hope to work internationally in the future. Living independently overseas also posits multiple challenges, like overcoming language barriers and fitting ourselves to the differing expectations of peoples there. The opportunity to dine under the Burj Khalifa and tour Dubai in a limousine can’t be found locally, and I would recommend trying an overseas internship for anyone hoping to broaden their borders and gain unique experiences!
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Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida, United States Making magic in Disney has heightened my intercultural communication skills and quick-thinking abilities – qualities which are essential in a diverse and fast-paced country like Singapore. This experience has even opened doors for three executive job opportunities! I also learned more about different cultures from friends from all over world, whom I will always hold dear to my heart. The hugs from guests and friends, to the various learning platforms provided, proved to me that the magic simply never ends. I believe that one has to take chances, be yourself and live your dreams; I did, and I was beyond blessed.
Harmith Singh
BlackRock Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China
Huiyi Tay
www.nbs.edu.sg
Summer school at Berkeley, and a semester abroad at Tsinghua University exposed me to a multitude of cultures, mindsets and value systems amongst fellow students, friends, acquaintances, and strangers. This made me comfortable navigating my life anywhere. So, when an opportunity for an internship with BlackRock Hong Kong arose, I seized it. While interning, I was attached to a six-member sub-team comprising of six different nationalities! The diversity at the workplace has further honed my abilities to communicate and connect with people from different backgrounds and disciplines. Most importantly, I have learned that one must be open-minded and authentic when working in a foreign and diversified environment.
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Lenovo
Li Jiale
Beijing, China
The overseas internship definitely broadened my perspective. Spending six months in Beijing was a wonderful experience, learning about the Chinese working culture and how to deal with Chinese clients in the future. Through this programme, besides the technical knowledge I gained, I also picked-up Excel VBA when I tried to automate the processes. Another key learning point was living independently with no idea what to expect. But in stepping out of my comfort zone, I managed to make friends with local colleagues and interns and we shared living tips which made our time there easier and more enjoyable.
Wilmar International Uganda “Uganda? Where is that?” is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you read this. But what better way to step out of your comfort zone than going for an overseas internship that forces you to literally step out of this tiny, comfortable island? While some may find it challenging to adapt to a new environment, I personally find it exciting to learn about the culture and way of life of the locals. I also played basketball with them on a weekly basis. An internship with Wilmar also provides opportunities to venture outdoors, such as to the palm oil plantations, to witness and learn more about the supply chain of this industry which was perfect for someone like me who dislikes desk related work. All in all, my once-in-a-lifetime overseas experience in Uganda was spectacular.
Liau Ming Shun
Nexia TS Shanghai, China
Ng Hui Min
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
The prime reason I took an overseas internship was to gain overseas exposure; the experience gained by living abroad and outside of the comfort zone will be one of the most worthwhile journeys in our lives. Apart from fulfilling my professional attachment, I gained unique experiences and incredibly memorable friendships. One of the key takeaways I had was the importance of being multilingual as international business trading is on trend currently. A manager in the Shanghai Office showed this when there was a cross-nation project between Singapore and China; she acted as a middleman in explaining the cultural differences among the team. Her actions indirectly resulted in the team being more efficient in completing the task. Overall, an overseas internship is a golden opportunity for us to discover what we have never seen in terms of world’s culture, or even our characteristics. I gained a lot, and I believe this is one of the reasons why NTU encourages students to participate in overseas programmes.
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Supporting Overseas Internships With the Equal Opportunity Fund, global internships are possible for all.
A
t NBS, we strive to nurture future leaders – which means extending the educational experience well beyond the classroom. Study-abroad experiences, professional attachments, international case competitions, and community projects are all important elements of the NBS experience.
Global exposure during undergraduate years gives NBS students a competitive edge and better prepares them for the next phase of their lives. We also offer diverse overseas experiences from the first year of their studies through to graduation.
Chua Yee San
Lynne Ong
Bachelor of Accountancy, 2018
Bachelor of Business, 2019
Interned at Lenovo, Beijing, China My internship shaped my approach to work. Now, I constantly seek new ways to boost productivity and efficiency, using skills that I picked up during my six months abroad.
Interned at Cambodia Airports, Phnom Penh, Cambodia This internship allowed me to garner invaluable insights from colleagues and managers alike, strengthening my resolve to explore new places and cultures, learn from people of different nationalities, and adapt their way of thinking to enhance and improve the work I do.
Leonard Ong
Lim Yu Xin
Bachelor of Business, 2018
Bachelor of Accountancy and Business, 2019
Learning from people of different nationalities, and understanding their worldview and mindset gave me a unique insight as well as new lens with which to approach my work.
I was always learning. Being so close to the market allowed me to develop an understanding of the world from my desk. The rapid flow of information made the work interesting and kept me on my toes.
Interned at Qatar Airways, Doha, Qatar
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Interned at Point72, New York City, U.S.A.
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Student Sharing Local Internships
I
f completing an internship overseas is not your cup of tea, there is no need to worry. There are plenty of local opportunities within Singapore’s borders, and, as these students, who are are also our cover models, have shared, the experiences not only enriched them, but helped clarify their career plans as well.
Zhu Jiahui B. Acc, Class of 2022 Temporary Officer, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) During my internship, my main job scope was to work closely with senior workers and managers in granting tax rebates to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore under the Productivity and Innovation Credit Scheme (PIC). It was an enriching experience because it provided me with the opportunity to develop various soft skills that are integral to success, and also prepared me for the future. For example, I developed strong communication skills through various instances of miscommunication and by presenting case results to my group leader and colleagues. I was also trained and taught to be a well-organised team player. It really allowed me to realise how important teamwork is in working life and I cannot wait to further develop my skills through future challenges and experiences.
Clement Chew B. Bus (B&F), Class of 2021 Associate, PropNex Realty Ltd Completing my internship in the real estate industry gave me an edge as I was exposed to numerous financing techniques in high-ticket acquisitions. Some of these techniques are also used in the banking industry, which will give me a head-start in the working environment there. My creative and critical thinking skills were also constantly tested and improved while planning for different client profiles. Moreover, being wellversed in both the financial and real estate markets allowed me to connect with many individuals.
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
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Delphine Lee B. Bus & B. Computer Science, Class of 2020 Cross Border e-Commerce Shopee My major opened up many doors for internships, especially in this rapidly-changing environment. For instance, computer science enhances my technical skill sets and business analytics gives me an edge in strategic decision-making. But one important lesson I learnt from working with different industries is to always persevere and be passionate about what you do. Life is a continuous learning journey, and it is especially important to keep that in mind when in this age of digital disruption.
Tay Kuan Yu B. Bus (Marketing), Class of 2019 Marketing Intern, IBM Field Marketing Intern, Commvault Client Business Partner Intern, Nielsen Like most other students, I was not sure of what I wanted to do in the future until I met the NBS Career Team. I had a lot of consultations with the NBS Career Team, and decided to take a LOA for my first internship during my first year. I enjoyed the experience, had a better understanding of the bigger picture, and also figure out how I could to apply what I learned in school. Having a good internship is as important as doing well in academics, as integrating both the knowledge learned in school and experience gained from the internship will prepare you for working life. My advice to all my juniors is to be proactive during your internship; it is totally fine to make mistakes. In fact, it is the best place to make mistakes! Just make sure you learn from them and always aim to be better than yesterday.
www.nbs.edu.sg
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Waverly Chua B. Bus (Marketing), Class of 2021 Operation Intern at Richland Logistics Pte Ltd Operation and Marketing Intern at Hitcheed Pte Ltd I took two internships because I did not want to make a wrong career choice – I wanted to be sure of what I wanted to do after graduation. So during summer break in my first year, I took up an internship in the logistics industry and had the opportunity to familiarise myself with enterprise software like the Warehouse Management System (WMS) and SAP software. I learnt a lot from people kind enough to take time out to teach me. For instance, in my semester internship with Hitcheed, I learnt a raster graphics editor software, Adobe Photoshop, as well as how to use its numerous tools. My colleagues were detailed in their explanation of the tools, and this kept confusion to a minimum. Additionally, I was given the chance to participate in an offline event where I had the chance to improve my interpersonal skills by interacting with people from all walks of life. Throughout my two internships, I learnt that while hard skills are integral to success, soft skills matter too.
Rachel Tsang (First from left) B. Bus (Marketing), Class of 2020 Sustainability Services, KPMG I was always interested in business resiliency and applied for an internship with KPMG Sustainability Services. During my internship, I was exposed to a myriad of sustainability concepts, frameworks, regulations, and was also trained to value the actions of the company on a non-financial basis, incorporating ESG. I also had the opportunity to assist with organising the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) 2019 Roundtable 2019 on Pioneering Social Impact Bonds and the Responsible Investing Roundtable with MAS and global leaders, where I got to hone my analytical and critical thinking skills as well as cultural intelligence. My key takeaway – responsibilities shouldn’t be a fear but a motivation for greater opportunities of career and personal development.
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Excelling Through Mentorship Find a mentor to help you navigate your way through tricky career decisions.
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he very idea of entering the corporate world is daunting and riddled with unknowns. But this does not have to be the case. Mentors are an excellent resource that undergraduates can tap on to obtain a wealth of knowledge and support to succeed in the business world. Not only is mentoring a professional activity, it is a meaningful commitment that culminates in a trusted relationship. More than that, developing a healthy mentor-mentee relationship is probably one of the most critical things a student can do to pave the way to his or her professional success. A mentor offers you wisdom, industry knowledge, support, empathy and respect. He or she can also help you understand how your degree programme may best align with your career options.
Benefits of having a mentor A mentor can… • Help you discover and define your career aspirations • Assist you in making career decisions when opportunities arise
DEFINE A HEALTHY MENTORMENTEE RELATIONSHIP Mentors play a pivotal role in your career journey, from defining your career direction to giving you insights to your chosen industry. Most importantly, though, a mentor can provide a safe space for you to realise your goals, whether short-term or otherwise. A mentor can be your direct superior, someone in your new department with more experience, or even someone from another company.
Define career goals Look inwards and evaluate yourself. Seek to identify your goals, dreams and aspirations – then think about who would be the best to help you get there. With this in mind, you will be able to better conceptualise the type of mentor that you are searching for. Next, consider the type of relationship you want by asking the following questions: • Are you looking for a mentor who can be actively involved in your career development or to merely act as your consultant? • How much time and effort are you prepared to commit to the mentorship – once a month or every semester? • What kind of guidance do you expect from your mentor?
• Manage your expectations by evaluating your level of knowledge, skills and ability
Invest in the relationship
• Be a role model you can emulate
Remember that this is a give-and-take relationship, and that favours are not a one-way street. A good mentor-mentee relationship adds value to the mentor as well. Mentors will have their own goals, and understanding what those goals are will get the mentorship off to a solid start. Make yourself available for the mentorship – formally or informally. When allocated a prospective mentor, arrange regular meetings that are supplemented by email exchanges and phone contact. You can meet over a meal or at a café that is conducive for exchanging ideas. Be receptive to guidance and be willing to learn. Your performance will reflect the quality of the relationship that you have with your mentor, and careless blunders will undoubtedly make your mentor question your commitment to the relationship.
• Connect you with the right people in the industry • Point out when you are off track and help you stay on course • Share stories about their own academic journey and professional experience • Act as a sounding board for you to express your concerns • Provide feedback in a way that will help you gain insights to further develop specific skills or qualities
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Clarify your expectations Identify what you expect from a mentor. From the onset, there should be mutual agreement on issues relating to time commitments and the areas that you wish the mentor can best help you with. Be sure not to overstretch your mentor by demanding too much time and attention or by becoming overly dependent.
Part ways if the fit is not right Periodically evaluate if your assigned mentor is right for you. You should have a good grasp after several meetings as to whether the mentoring relationship is working out well. Ask yourself what you have gained in terms of values and knowledge, and what falls short. It is natural for your goals and needs to evolve with the passage of time. Mentors who were previously right for you may no longer generate the same effectiveness or be as suitable. Changes in your career goals may also lead to a misalignment of interests between you and your mentor. If you feel that it is time to go your separate ways, be upfront with your mentor. As mentors partake in this programme voluntarily, it is really important that you do not waste his or her time if you are not getting what you want from this relationship. End the relationship amicably – through a courteous phone call or a face-to-face meeting. The bottom line is to be gracious and to emphasise the positive; tell your mentor what you have learnt thus far from him or her instead of focusing on shortcomings. Do not let the end of the mentorship be the end of the relationship. Continue to stay in touch with the mentors who have positively impacted you.
Tips on identifying the right mentor
Consider your strengths and weaknesses, what you want to learn, as well as where you need to grow and be motivated in. The more you understand about yourself, the greater your odds of finding the right mentor. Once you know what you really hope to gain from a mentor, you can begin your search. Look for someone who: • Has the appropriate experience in order to adequately offer you advice to meet your goals. They need not be from the same industry or professional field • Has an acceptable track record in the market in terms of knowledge and character • Exemplifies the traits and skills that you want to emulate • Is passionate and committed to a long-term mentoring relationship with you • Has a positive, upbeat attitude – someone who will invest in you and celebrate your success • Has the necessary communication skills to relate to you • Can speak openly to you instead of making you feel uncomfortable
• Genuinely wants to watch you grow • Is prepared to offer honest and constructive feedback If you continuously seek to connect with others throughout
your undergraduate days by attending networking events and career talks, you will cross paths with many people who will make great mentors.
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MAJOR SOURCES FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION The benefits that NBS students can gain from a good mentoring relationship are numerous. The key is to have the foresight and humility to ask for mentoring services. You will find plenty of accelerators in your life who can add value. More importantly, you can take it upon yourself to add tremendous value for them. In doing so, you will ensure that you get the most out of the relationship and find success in your studies and future career. Here are the mentoring programmes available for you:
NBS Mentoring Programmes Through Mentors Rock,Career Services connects you with over 200 NBS alumni members who can advise you on the working world and strategies for internship and job applications. Separately, Career Services also offers Mentors Fresh!, a programme that is conducted virtually and exclusively for first-year students. Under this initiative, students are paired with young alumni who have recently graduated from NBS and like to work with younger undergraduates. Initiating a mentorship with someone senior and of a higher stature can be daunting, especially for freshmen. You may be intimidated and uncertain of how to approach your mentors during the first meeting. That is why Career Services will be around to facilitate every mentoring event. The NBS Alumni Mentorship Programme, on the other hand, is a six-month programme that aims to match students with alumni mentors for valuable life and career guidance, industry knowledge and connections to professional networks. Under the programme, students will not only have the opportunity to interact with seniors from various industries, who are invited to share about the roles they play in their respective organisations, as well as the personal journeys they undertook to get to where they are today, but also explore their personal potential and gain insights into real-world experiences as well.
Harvard Business School Club of Singapore (HBSCS) Mentoring Programme This programme is held in partnership with the Harvard Business School Club of Singapore and has a holistic approach to the personal and professional development of NBS students over a six-month mentorship period. Mentees will meet with their assigned mentors on six different occasions to meet the following objectives: • Define personal success and build self-awareness • Develop an entrepreneurial mindset • Achieve innovative and lateral out-of-the-box thinking • Live in a cross cultural world with no boundaries • Understand business ethics, values and sustainability
Deloitte-NBS Female Mentoring Programme Two female accountancy students will be assigned to one female mentor from Deloitte. The mentors comprise of Deloitte’s partners and senior managers. Over a five-month period, mentees will learn about how Deloitte supports the career growth of female employees. In addition, they will gain insights into the corporate world of accountancy.
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Fan Fan (ACC, Class of 2017) Associate, M&A Transaction Services Deloitte & Touche Financial Advisory Services Normally, newbies in the corporate world walk around with a refreshing look and a ready-to-offer-help attitude. At the back of their mind, however, there are numerous challenges which make them anxious and confused. Some challenges are as small as finding a lunch buddy, while other challenges are more serious such as wondering if the career is the right one for them. One and a half years ago, I was in the same position. Fortunately, I have several mentors whom I can turn to. Small catch-ups with a mentor from my department were the perfect source of “insider information.” For example, before a new project starts, I can learn about the working style of the manager in-charge. This aided me in effectively planning my weekday schedule, including personal appointments after work to avoid landmines. Seniors from past internships or external networking sessions can also be mentors if we make the effort to stay connected with them. They might be from another company or industry and thus able to provide valuable advice from an external point of view when we face challenges at work. Lastly, to complete the picture, we may consider becoming a mentor. I was very delighted when I was approached to review a junior’s resume for the first time. Through interaction with juniors, not only could we provide them with guidance but also take the chance for selfreflection. This helps both the mentees and mentors to make career progress and in their personal development.
Keith Looi Jie Yang (ACC, Class of 2020) Summer Internship GIC Through the Harvard Business School alumni club, I met like-minded peers as well as fantastic mentors who are both nurturing and inspiring. In our monthly meetings, we covered a broad range of topics across different aspects of life and career. I learned so much from everyone and discovered more about myself in self-reflection. One key highlight of the mentorship programme was the exclusive office visits that our mentors were able to plan given their extensive networks. The office visits entailed an insightful sharing session by senior management of the firm who answered any questions that we had. I wholeheartedly recommend this mentoring programme to build lasting friendships with mentors and fellow mentees.
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The NBS Alumni Mentorship Programme focuses on valuable life and career guidance, industry knowledge and connections to professional networks.
Mentors Fresh! aims to connect freshmen to young alumni who have recently graduated, and who are willing to share their own experience and advice in both student life and employability.
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SET YOUR CAREER GOALS ON OUR SOLID FOUNDATION
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Think you have what it takes? We are looking for graduates with the right attributes, including:
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Three Enterprising Ways Millennials Can Zigzag To Success
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illennials could be called the Netflix generation, not because they binge-watch suspenseful shows but because their career paths tend to combine multiple storylines that unfold at a rapid-fire pace. Rather than plodding their way up corporate ladders in a specific field, they tend to follow non-linear paths. Welcome to the new way of working, which definitely bucks your father’s habits. Contrary to popular belief, though, millennials are not job hoppers. They are job hopers, striving to work in positions that dovetail with their innate skills, augment their already impressive bank of knowledge, and allow for a fulfilled life. According to Robert Half research, 75 per cent of respondents ages 18-34 feel that playing industry hopscotch is a perfectly valid way to make a living.
The workers who want more Consulting firms have long pondered just how far-reaching this novel way of viewing careers will be for both workers and their employers. Kerry Goyette is president of Aperio Consulting Group, which focuses on enhancing workplace dynamics. Goyette counsels business leaders on an emerging business landscape in which “employees will no longer put up with ‘bad bosses’ or conditions.” In her experience, workers would rather take their talent elsewhere, especially when they have so many choices. A recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report showing the highest level of job openings since 2000 offers convincing evidence that job seekers now have the upper hand.
Of course, this kind of mobility does not come without its downsides. Millennials and others who prefer to follow an episodic career track must prepare themselves for the outcomes of zigzagging between companies, such as not having access to benefits reserved for long-term employees, like significant 401(k) matches. What does this mean? Everyone who devotes a lifetime to leapfrogging from one field to another should proceed with pragmatism. These three strategies will make moving onward and upward — and diagonally — as meaningful as possible.
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Keep learning nonstop
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Chances are strong that, if you are a millennial, you are like the 87 per cent of your generation who told Gallup they value education and development opportunities in a job. You may even be overeducated, possessing degrees you have not yet used. Consider that your secret weapon, not your downfall. Ideally, you will gravitate towards employment that offers on-the-job training and skills development. At the same time, you should diligently stay up to date on industry trends or even pursue an advanced degree. The greater your mastery, the more transferrable your skills will be, regardless of the types of positions you hold. Plus, you will have a resume and interview talking points that stand out from the multitude.
Turn yourself into a brand
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You are probably already networking on social media sites, but you might not realise that just how valuable your tweets, stories and videos can be. Personal branding has moved online. It is time to think of yourself not just as a valuable individual with unique advantages for future employers, but as a fully functioning brand. Make a point of returning to the Twitter account you left for dead five years ago or finally publishing interesting blog posts on LinkedIn. Answer Quora questions like a pro. Today’s employers actively trawl the web before making job offers, and they will see that everything you touch has the feel of your specific brand. That could make all the difference between hearing “Welcome aboard!” as opposed to “Sorry, not interested”.
Maintain an entrepreneurial mindset
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Think you might stay with your company for a while because you are part of a thriving organisation? That is great, but do not stifle your disruptive nature. Constantly look for chances to reinvent yourself by changing departments or enhancing your role. The best businesses understand that to keep top players, managers must allow people to grow — and even pivot when necessary. Alison Gutterman may not be a millennial, but her job trajectory mimics that of modern workers. She went from converting software to managing sales teams with direct reports twice her age, to developing social marketing initiatives for her brand, to leading her family business as the president and CEO of Jelmar, manufacturer of CLR brand cleaning products. “Business changes so fast today that we cannot expect a straight path to our goals,” she explains. “Resilience is key to our success.” Every generation makes its own waves, and millennials have caused a tsunami of creativity and innovation in work, life and everything in between. That is a boon to companies that understand how to make the most of the changes and employees who are eager to command an adventurous career path.
Contributed by:
William Arruda, Forbes William is the co-founder of CareerBlast and creator of the complete LinkedIn quiz
that helps you evaluate your LinkedIn profile and networking strategy.
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A Word of Advice for Graduating Accountants Kenneth Tan draws on his experiences to give future accountants some advice.
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any questions graduating accountancy students have generally revolve around the lines of “where would I be as an auditor after five years?”, “what are the types of roles that audit or accounting open opens up to me in three years?”, and “how long does it take to become a partner in an accounting firm?” I was in similar shoes a few years ago, eagerly looking forward to the day when he would be able to set foot in the corporate world with one of the Big Four accounting firms, climb the career ladder in public accounting, and become eligible for partnership. Now, although I am the managing director of LucaNet (ASEAN), a tech firm, and my work pertains to accounting and finance, the questions undergraduates ask are still relevant to me. However, I now have the benefit of reflecting on what has changed for me, and decide on the best kind of advice I can give to future graduating accountants.
LINEARITY IN THINKING “Linearity in thinking is a Singapore curse. We are conditioned to accept going through school, university, then find a job that helps us get a car, credit cards, condominium before getting married and travelling around the world.” - Devadas Krishnadas, chief executive of Future-Moves Group, an international strategic consultancy and executive education provider based in Singapore. Careers, as we traditionally know it, pretty much model this concept of linearity in thinking, otherwise known as “career ladders”. It has been ingrained in our psyche that our careers must follow fixed paths.
Progression is directly proportionate to responsibilities undertaken and skills accumulated, and responsibilities are directly proportionate to the amount of experience you have. To get from the bottom to the top of the ladder, there was a sequence with a pre-defined flow of responsibilities to be had and skills to be displayed. As with audit, there were sequences. As an associate, your experience means that you are only able to independently work on less “risky” accounts within the financial statements. However, as a senior associate, with more experience, you will be entrusted with more responsibilities to audit “riskier” accounts. As with sequences, progression is generally more structured,
FROM CAREER LADDERS TO CAREER LATTICES Ladder progression
Examples of linear career paths
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
Ladder pathways
Examples of more varied paths for growth and development
With technological advancements, the world that we live in today is vastly different from what it was even five years ago. Moreover, the pace of technological advancement is only going to get faster in today’s world. These same technological advancements have also catalysed the adoption of corporate lattices over corporate ladders. Furthermore, with career lattices fostering inclusive cultures, information and ideas flow freely, and every team member can
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– and is expected to – contribute and value-add, more and more organisations are seeing the value of increased engagement and collaboration amongst their workforce. This is a huge breakaway from the constraints of a top-down flow of information and decisions, atypical of a corporate ladder, where communication and decisions follow a top-down approach, consistent with the levels of responsibilities that are pegged at each step of the ladder. Corporate lattices have also paved the way for individuals to model their careers on individual paths of progression with no fixed and pre-determined answers. Where career ladders focus on a narrow path of upward growth, career lattices are much more
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multidimensional, and provide much more variety, challenges, and learning. Thus, instead of a fixed sequence of progression, individuals are now encouraged to have a hand in their own development, growth, and challenges. Now, employees are encouraged to pursue interesting roles and assignments that are driven by their self-led development. As intrinsically motivated employees who are invested in their development often results in higher participation and engagement at the workplaces, productivity and reduced turnover, and therefore greater opportunities for success for their organisations. It is arguably a win-win situation for all.
CAREER LATTICES IN ACTION If I had been fixated on the concept of a ladder for my own career, I would have only focused on gathering the necessary experiences and skillsets required, in order to progress in my idea of an auditor’s career ladder. This would also mean focusing narrowly on gathering experience in crafting financial statements, and gathering knowledge on technical accounting knowledge or audit methodologies. Instead, I took the opportunity to develop myself in a more multidimensional way. Beyond substantive audit testing, I worked on my client management and project management skills through the opportunities I had to interact with clients over the full course of an audit from start to end. As a result, just by being more intentional with my selfdevelopment in broader dimensions, I was able to develop more holistically as a professional. This allowed me to then make a
career switch into technology consulting, which would have been impossible if I had focused on a narrow development path of pure accounting skills and competencies. Likewise, a quick search on LinkedIn has revealed that a sizeable portion of my accountancy batch mates have chartered careers beyond accounting: • A close friend of mine started his career as an auditor, but later opened his own consulting firm that focuses on human resources and growth of start-up clients. • A former auditor who pursued his interest in writing, and is currently a copy-writer. • Another former auditor who pursued her interest in data, and is currently a data scientist in a large tech company. • An ex-consultant who now runs his own gastro-bar.
MY MESSAGE TO GRADUATES The world today is vastly different from that of yesterday, and this change is only going to become even more rapid. Likewise, the shape of the workplace as we know it has changed vastly as well. As the workforce of tomorrow, you need to break free of the curse of linearity. There will not be a clear demarcated path for you, and no “ten-year series” or “past semester’s papers” to show you the exact skills and experiences you need. There will be no “I will get to point B if I stick it out for 20 years after I start at point A”. In the new workplace, your company will turn to you to chart your own path and contributions; you will have to identify areas and room for your own development and growth instead of waiting for them to happen. You will also
have to learn how to raise your hands and seize opportunities for yourself instead of waiting for things to happen for you. So instead of thinking “where will I be in five years”, think “what skills does the world need in five years, and where do I want to be in five years with these skills?” to take ownership of the direction of your career.
Contributed by:
Kenneth Tan, LucaNet (ASEAN) Kenneth is the Managing
Director of LucaNet, and
also graduated from NBS
in 2014 with a bachelor of
Accountancy (Honours)
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Attain Professional Achievements with ISCA Learning doesn’t stop upon graduation; in fact, post-graduation is the perfect time to attain professional certifications. Read on to find out how ISCA encourages accountancy graduates to develop professionally.
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pskilling to increase employability is not a new concept, and it is becoming especially vital in the accountancy profession, where digital innovations are changing the very nature of the industry on a global scale at an ever-accelerating pace. Now, more than ever, accountancy professionals have to continuously upskill and update their technical knowledge and skillsets. Recognising the value employers put on lifelong learning and the desire of accountancy professionals to upskill, ISCA offers accountancy graduates pathways for professional development. Interested accountancy graduates are welcome to apply for the ISCA Associate Membership. Associates (ISCA) are professionals with an accountancy degree or an equivalent accountancy qualification, working in the accountancy profession across diverse sectors and industries. After becoming an Associate (ISCA), they can enhance their designation with the recently launched ISCA Professional Business Accountant Programme (ISCA PBA) or embark on the Chartered Accountant of Singapore Pathway.
Chartered Accountant of Singapore Pathway Chartered Accountants are qualified accountancy professionals equipped with financial expertise and business acumen. They are valued by employers and recognised as holding the highest standards in ethical and professional conduct. Chartered Accountants of Singapore, or CA (Singapore), can be found across industries in various job roles from finance managers to audit partners and C-Suite executives. A Trusted Mark of Excellence and Distinction – Chartered Accountants are often entrusted with key positions to lead organisations as they possess the skills and foresight to add value to businesses. The CA (Singapore) designation remains the highest form of professional designation conferred by ISCA.
Did you know? ISCA is the Designated Entity to confer the Chartered Accountant of Singapore, or CA (Singapore) designation, a prestigious title accountancy professionals strive to attain and distinguish themselves with in their journey towards professional excellence.
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ISCA Professional Business Accountant Pathway
PR OF ILE
Professional Accountants in Business (PAIBs) who do not intend to take the Singapore Chartered Accountant Qualification (SCAQ) and become Chartered Accountants have an alternative pathway to build competencies for their career progression. Aligned to the ISCA PAIB Framework, the ISCA Professional Business Accountant (ISCA PBA) Programme is tailored to equip accountancy professionals in business with the emerging skillsets and knowledge needed to handle dynamic business situations by focussing on practical business cases. The key feature of the ISCA PBA Programme is its online learning. Run on an e-learning platform, this 30-hour course will cover topics in the areas of Professional Values and Ethics, Technical Excellence, Leadership and Personal Empowerment, Business Acumen, and Future Finance skills. The ISCA PBA designation validates the expertise and knowledge that ISCA’s Associate members have acquired as accountancy professionals highly valued by employers and the industry.
About ISCA The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) is the national accountancy body of Singapore. ISCA’s vision is to be a globally recognised professional accountancy body, bringing value to the members, the profession and wider community. There are over 32,000 ISCA members making their stride in businesses across industries in Singapore and around the world. ISCA is a member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW), a global family that brings together the members of leading institutes to create a community of over 1.8 million Chartered Accountants and students in more than 190 countries.
Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants 60 Cecil Street, ISCA House Singapore 049709 Tel: 6597 5533 Website: isca.org.sg Facebook: fb.com/isca/official For membership enquiries, please contact membership@isca.org.sg
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YOUR ACTION PLAN
Emerging Skills for the Future World of Work We are living in a time of revolution – the market is changing, and so are the skillsets employers are looking for.
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ccording to Oxford Economics’ Global Talent 2021, shifts in the global market structure are transforming business landscapes around the world and altering both demand and supply of talent as employers begin to look for new skills in employees. The paradox this has led the world to is abstruse: The International Labour Organisation has put the global unemployment rate at five per cent – a number that is expected to remain consistent to 2020 – but employers often cite an inability to find people with suitable skills for the jobs they offer. Moreover, the global market is expected to adjust more as competition intensifies and technology continues to advance, and as these alternations pick up the pace, sweeping through industries and adding another layer of complexity, firms will quickly switch hiring strategies as they turn more attention to the changing business landscape. Companies are now rethinking business models and strategies, and according to Global Talent 2021, 41 per cent of organisations around the world have either initiated a notable change and are presently in the grips of it, or have already undergone one. But this revolution also necessitates a shuffling in employee skillsets across all employment levels. In the future, employers will look for four fundamental qualities in candidates – agile and nimble thinking, digital skills, global skills and interpersonal and communications skills. While you need not master all these skills, the more you can offer, the more in demand you will be. A varied skillset will serve you well in your future career, and upskilling should be part of your drive for lifelong learning. These four skills can serve as the base you build more skills on top of – after all, it is never too late to start.
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1. Agile and nimble thinking
2. Digital skills
Ability to deal with complex and potentially ambiguous issues
Social media-savvy
Innovation and creativity
Data analytics
Diverse thought process
Understanding of software and systems
Foresight and ability to prepare for numerous scenarios
Coding, programming and development
Flexible
Digital design, management and analysis
Adaptability, resilience and innovation are some ways in which you can develop your skills in agile and nimble thinking. Remain genuine as well – you were born to be real, not perfect.
Consider taking additional courses online or otherwise to pick up digital skills, whether in search engine marketing, content marketing, or even video editing. As companies and consumers continue digitising, digital skills will become more and more crucial.
3. Global skills
4. Interpersonal and communication skills
Cultural awareness Understanding of international business Linguistic knowledge Adaptable and able to work overseas Ability to connect with and manage diverse colleagues Build your global skills by brushing up on your language skills and attending intercultural training programmes – not only will you benefit from a useful framework when handling different cultures, but you will also have an easier time bridging any language gaps as you look to constructing intercultural relationships.
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Relationship building and teamwork skills Brainstorming and co-creativity Ability to collaborate Networking skills Able to communicate effectively with a variety of cultures Boost your interpersonal and communication skills by staying in touch with your emotions and keeping your non-verbal communication cues in mind. Listening actively and remaining respectful and empathetic towards others are also vital in developing your skills in this area.
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The Importance of Networking Networking is a term we often hear, whether at a university event, the workplace, or family gatherings. But why do we network? What is the importance of it?
To build connections
Open doors
hile it is certainly easier said than done, building a network consisting of contacts from a variety of different backgrounds can benefit you in the long run. Look beyond fellow graduates and university batchmates, and do not shy away from reaching out to professionals in high positions in their fields, such as directors and even CEOs. After all, when you meet people from different backgrounds, you not only gain access to a myriad of information, such as career opportunities, upcoming events, and even interesting life stories, but you also open your mind to uncountable future possibilities you can turn to with your degree in hand. More than that, you also stand the chance of making lasting friendships that may stand the test of time.
It is indeed true that networking brings various opportunities to you, whether at a family function or career event. However, keep in mind that while those you come across may be interested in your work, they may not be looking out for a freelancer or part-time employee. Instead, work towards leaving an impression of how passionate you are in what you do, and you will find that it will leave you in good stead. Opportunities do not always appear in the form of new jobs or career portals; they can also come by way of word-of-mouth. In any event, do not take networking events for granted and instead take the time to talk and network – you never know where you will end up!
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Keys to Networking Be clear
Focus on quality
One of the key purposes of networking is to get to know people who can provide valuable information regarding careers and leads. To achieve this, be clear about what you bring to the table. Get to know your experience and skills, and prepare a concise, 30-second pitch of yourself. It should include the following elements – introduction, self-overview, a quick question and answer (Q&A), obtaining referrals, and closing.
It is rather impossible to make time for everyone in a large group setting. Instead, narrow your focus and concentrate on having a few meaningful conversations; it would be far better than having 20 hasty and awkward conversations. Although staying close to those you know will bring you a sense of comfort, do not cling to them. Keep moving around to build your network.
Be targeted
Be referral-centred
Identify your network. While you may feel as if you do not know everyone, start by listing potential prospects you know from family members to classmates, neighbours and fellow alumni. Get involved in career talks and networking events organised for NBS students – these avenues are great opportunities for you to meet new people, and you never know where you could meet someone who could lead you to your next job.
Even if the person you are networking with may not have an opening, he or she may know someone who does. Exchange information and expand your network by obtaining additional referrals each time you meet someone new. If you do not have a business card yet, add them on various social media platforms, such as LinkedIn with their permission. Be sure to mention the person who referred you as well.
Be professional
Be proactive
Professionalism is the name of the game. While meeting key professionals can be extremely daunting and nerve-wrecking, keep your cool and persist in seeking advice from your prospects. Start your conversations with eye contact, a firm handshake, and a warm smile. Focus on asking one thing at a time, and remember to put your best foot forward!
Stay organised and track your networking meetings. Keep a list of the contacts you have made and update it frequently with the names of any leads you have been given. Send a thank-you note or email if appropriate, and ask if you can follow up the conversation with a phone call or – even better – a face-to-face meeting in the near future.
Be resilient
Be dedicated
If your efforts to network do not produce immediate results, do not allow yourself to become disillusioned. Stay politely persistent with your leads and build momentum. Networking, after all, requires cultivation that takes the time and effort to pay off.
Most important of all, networking should remain ongoing. You will want to stay in touch with contacts over the long haul and not just when you need something. Make networking part of your longterm job search plan.
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Questions to ask • What do you like the most – and least – about your work? • How did you achieve your career goals? • What was the most important lesson your first job taught you? • What type of skills do you need to thrive in this field? • What are the challenges in balancing work and your personal life? • What advice would you give to someone trying to break into this field?
Do’s and don’ts of networking DO
DON’T
• Keep one hand free from your briefcase or purse so you can shake hands
• Tell them your life story; you are dealing with professionals, so get right to the point
• Bring copies of your resume
• Be shy or afraid to talk about or ask for what you need • Pass up opportunities to network
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Personal Branding What makes you special? What makes you stand out?
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reating and crafting your personal brand can be seen as a baffling undertaking better left to the rich and famous, like Angelina Jolie and Robert Downey Jr. After all, even Beyoncé needed a few years, several albums and a couple of world tours before defining herself, her brand, and becoming one of the most powerful and influential woman in the world! But in our increasingly individual world fuelled in part by the development of social media, questions like “What makes me unique?” and “What can make me stand out when I start job hunting after graduation?” are coming more and more to the forefront. The truth is that a personal brand is for everyone, and every brand is unique in its own way. But how do we figure out a name for ourselves or build a reputation like these famous figures?
Define yourself You may not know what you want in its totality, and that is perfectly fine. Instead, focus on the message you want to send out to others over social media. Clean up your accounts and remove anything that does not fit in with the branding and image you want for yourself. For example, those old Facebook entries on how Rihanna shook your life and turned it upside down may have been relevant before, but it certainly is not now. The process of cleaning up can be tough and tedious, even if you barely maintained a presence on social media over the years, but keep in mind there is always a chance that a picture, post or comment from years ago can come back to haunt you. As you clear up any negative traces of yourself across social media and the internet, figure out what you want and truly believe in. Ask yourself questions such as “What kind of job can make me happy?” and “Will I take a job that can pay me better rather than a job that reflects my interests?” No matter what decision you come to, put in the effort to meet like-minded people who not only share the same idea or vision, but also aspire to grow progressively. For example, if you believe in leading an organisation for a good purpose, look to taking leadership roles or take up leadership programmes to hone your skills even as you network.
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Showcase your talents and interests After cleaning up and figuring out how you want to define yourself, turn your attention to your talents and interests. Take some time out to reflect on them – they have a hand in making you unique, so be willing to nurture and invest in them if you want to use them in your career. Do not be afraid to take courses and professional classes to enhance your current skillset; when you work with your talents and interests in a job that acknowledges them, it is naturally easier for you to showcase your flair.
Mix the personal and professional If you are not reaching out in a way that your network can engage with and relate to, you have lost your audience. Identify potential recruiters and employers before communicating and connecting on a personal level with strategic and prospective employers. Present your professional views on an industry development one day, and perhaps an image of your guitar and some musical notes on another. No one needs to know what your lunch looks like, but by mixing your personal and professional lives carefully, you can develop an approachable aspect to your personal brand. As you are doing this, you are building your presence and credibility online. But work offline as well and start attending career fairs and networking events. Stay consistent with your newly formed personal brand and maintain a clean, professional image while leaving good first impressions on recruiters and employers – they will be able to recognise you very quickly after that.
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Choose a role model and live your brand Pick out a public figure or chief executive officer (CEO) with a strong personal brand and emulate them – perhaps Oprah Winfrey if you see your personal brand as a strong influential voice in the future, or Alan Mulally, Ford’s most brazen CEO, if you foresee yourself bringing change. After selecting a role model, live your personal brand. It is difficult to separate your brand from your personal life – it should be with you anytime and everywhere – so meld it into your lifestyle. You will soon grow into this new personal brand.
Conclusion Always keep in mind that creating the right brand for yourself will not only boost your profile in your chosen industry and position, it can make the difference between “Who are you?” and “Thank you for your time, and for being here.”
Recognise your achievements and legacy Achievements and awards give us a sense of pride and happiness. Start by marking milestones gained through childhood to university and demonstrating leadership qualities, winning competitions, or even hosting grand events for your university society or club. But on top of that, awards are also physical and evidentiary proof of your skills and knowledge in a certain area, and can shed light on what you really want in a career. They can prove your tenacity and discipline, but more than that, it is part of the legacy you leave in your personal branding. Personal branding is a lifelong project that constantly changes direction as you continue to evolve and grow as a person. There are no hard and fast rules to follow when crafting yours, but these general guidelines can keep you from getting lost as you take your first steps.
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Resume Writing Put your resume at the top of the stack by following these tips.
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lways a significant part of the job search process, a wellwritten resume should not be underestimated. No matter what kind of job you are looking for, a clear and concise resume will define your goals, emphasise your skills, highlight your accomplishments to potential employers, and facilitate the job acquisition process. Crafting a resume takes time and effort. Therefore, do not expect to hammer out an attention-grabbing resume in an hour or two. Your resume should reflect who you are, what you want, and how you can be a true asset to a business or organisation.
STAND OUT
Resumes that stand out possess the following characteristics: • Highlight related achievements and significant contributions • Focus on the relevant skills and the requirements suitable for a specific position • Succinct, well-organised and easy to skim • Have flow, consistency and visual appeal
A good photo stands out A picture paints a thousand words. A resume that comprises only words may look too intense and uninteresting; having a photo puts a face to the words. If your photo stands out, employers would take notice immediately. Go the extra mile and procure a professionally-taken photo – not a selfie or an outdated picture. Photo attire should be formal and impressive – anything less could diminish your chances of securing the interview.
GET HIRED
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CONTENT AND SECTIONS OF YOUR RESUME The order and content of your resume may differ from what is suggested below. However, adhering to the prescribed formats will allow employers to easily find the information they seek as these are somewhat standardised. A complete resume includes the following:
A good resume can explain everything in 30 seconds or less. That’s approximately how long recruiters would spend scanning through a resume to determine if you are the right candidate.
Section headings
Centralise your name at the top of the page in a font approximately twice the size of your contact details. Include only your mobile number and a professional e-mail address. Omit your age, gender, religion, race, nationality, political affiliations, and class of driving licence.
Regardless of the resume type you choose or the format you decide to use, there are four primary sections that make up a complete resume, along with numerous subsections that can also be incorporated. The four sections are: • Education – This should appear at the beginning of your resume because it details your current pursuit and/or most recent significant accomplishment. Do not list your primary and secondary school education. You can include your overseas exchanges, scholarships, and academic awards. It is recommended that you state your latest and exact GPA. • Work experience – This section will have much influence on prospective employers in determining your suitability. Quantify your experiences – dollar amounts, numerical figures and percentages add credibility to your accomplishments. Example A: Employers will be more convinced that you are an “effective leader” if you have “led a highly-charged team of 5 members, which resulted in a 30% increase in sponsorship funds” or “proposed measures which led our team to shorten average delivery dates by 30 days.” However, do not exaggerate or over-claim your role. Example B: If you claim that, “I was responsible for overseeing a US$200 million deal involving a major industrial conglomerate” during your internship in your first year, it just sounds too good to be true. Your prospective employer may contact your internship company to verify your job tasks and discover that you have exaggerated your role.
Your personal particulars
Reverse chronological order Your resume communicates how your qualifications, internship experiences and CCAs have evolved over time. All these items normally begin with your most recent role. Choose a date format and stick to it. You should use either month abbreviations or the whole word – do not switch back and forth. Just remember to be consistent.
Use verbs Compelling verbs like “created”, “produced” and “implemented” demonstrate that you are a capable, assertive and result-oriented candidate. Avoid less assertive or weaker verbs such as “helped” and “assisted” as they may underestimate the responsibilities you undertook. Instead of “Helped my internship supervisor to complete a research project”, you can state “Collaborated closely with my internship supervisor on a research project”.
Formatting
• CCAs – Employers look for a well-rounded candidate with active participation in CCAs. Your activities exhibit your interests, motivations and skills (e.g. organisational, leadership, interpersonal, etc.) • Additional information – Your resume can benefit from this section as it allows you to paint a complete picture of yourself. Employers screen candidates for their technical skills and language proficiency. Additionally, it is advisable to highlight hobbies and interests in your resume if they reflect well on you.
Proper formatting allows employers to scan through the document effectively. Ensure that your formatting is clean and neat for ease of reading. Opt for an easy-to-read font like Times New Roman or Arial, rather than a font with complex flourishes. You want your resume to stand out because of its content, not because of an oddly chosen font. Use space wisely. If you have numerous internship experiences and CCAs, do what you can to fit it in. You can consider dropping the font size in sub-sections or shortening some other sections of your resume. No matter what, avoid squeezing too much onto a page by using smaller margins. Standard margins are 1 inch all around. There must be sufficient white space. Do not fill up the entire page to the point that your resume becomes unappealing.
Stick to one page
Before clicking “send”, get help!
Sticking to one page does not mean minimising your page margins, or using a super-tiny font size to cram in all the details. As an undergraduate, your resume should not go past one page. A lengthy resume merely exposes your lack of editing skills.
A fresh set of eyes is much more likely to spot discrepancies that you have missed out in your resume. Send out your resume only after it has gone through extensive proofreading. Enlist the help of your friends and career advisers.
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USE RESULT-ORIENTED STATEMENTS Every line in the work experience and CCA section of your resume should be result-oriented. Result-oriented statements are the best way of communicating your achievements and your capabilities to any prospective employer. They underscore achievement, quantify performance, and show impact. Additionally, they are also amazingly easy to read and understand. Result-oriented statements can be broken down into three components – Result, Situation, and Action.
Result: Always begin your sentence with the result. Quantify these results wherever possible, using percentages, dollars or volume. The types of results that you should showcase generally fall into one of the following categories: • Direct Financial Impact (i.e. cost savings or incremental revenue) • Operational Enhancements (i.e. improved efficiency) • Other (e.g. improved customer satisfaction, employee morale, etc.)
Situation: Next, give your result some context by explaining the situation in which the result was achieved. What is a situation, issue or problem that you faced? How did the situation develop? For example: identified problem areas to address a 25% drop in sales and 50% rise in negative customer feedback.
Action: With a complete picture of the situation and outcome, the reader will (hopefully) be sufficiently interested in the role you played. Describe the specific actions you took to achieve an objective or solve a problem, with a focus on highlighting skills that are relevant for the job (e.g. technical skills, transferrable skills, desirable character traits, etc.).
Additional Points:
Example 1 As Business Manager in NTU Hall 6, my role is to source for sponsorships with my team members.
Actively canvassing for sponsors to roll out team-bonding activities through cold-calling and company visits.
Successfully raised SGD 5,000 from corporate sponsors including StarHub, Lufthansa and BreadTalk.
Example 2 Planned weekly road shows to demonstrate product-usage for customers.
Executed four road shows per month and conducted product demonstration programmes.
Generated sales of S$12,000 per road show from about 100 customers per road show.
• Include industry terms where appropriate to demonstrate your depth of knowledge. • Be careful not to be overly long-winded. Result-oriented statements are snappy and concise, and should ideally be one line long. • Do not badmouth others as it will reflect badly on you even if you aren’t lying. Always ensure that the tone of your statement is positive. • Do not oversell – use words that best express the value you added without misrepresenting your contribution to the outcome.
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Resume critiques by experts Recruiters comment on two actual resume from NBS students to give you a better idea of what they look for!
RESUME A
Resume A: Overall a solid and high-achieving resume. Candidate uses bullet points to good effect.
With a GPA of 4.86, he would most likely have an academic achievement worth mentioning (e.g. Dean's List).
As this is a strong resume, GCE A Levels qualification is irrelevant and should be excluded.
Add a brief description on the organisations to attract international employers (e.g. “Quasigovernment agency managing GTP”).
Should be removed as it does not belong in the job scope.
Germany-Singapore.
Don’t assume that your readers can understand such terms without any explanation.
Remove “Pending SemiFinal Results”.
Elaborate your takeaways from the competition.
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Indicate total number of participating groups.
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Resume B: An interesting resume – with variations. • Quantified achievements/performance/accomplishments: Candidate tries to enumerate what she has done to showcase that he is meticulous and detail-oriented. • Variation: The candidate has more than just academic and internship accomplishments. Interesting work experience makes for interesting interviews.
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RESUME B
Move the description of company above “Project Leader”.
Elaborate on “SaaS”. Do not assume that your readers understand such terms.
Conjunct Consulting can be expanded as there may be social and heartwarming elements involved to make a good story.
Remove all full stops for descriptions. Be consistent.
Delete “Select” as it is unnecessary.
Do not name drop your competitors although it can be tempting to do so.
As Microsoft Office proficiency is quite common, you should highlight soughtafter skills such as your knowledge of programming languages by putting them first.
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Elements of A Cover Letter Know what goes into a well-crafted cover letter, and distinguish it from a sloppy one that gets trashed.
RECOMMENDED TEMPLATE – COVER LETTER A step-by-step guide
Your Name Your Residential Address Your Contact Details (Email and Mobile Number) Date The Campus Recruiter Company’s Name Company’s Address
Dear Sir Re: Application for (Name of position / programme you are applying for) “Dear Sir” should be used regardless of whether the recipient is male or female, as it is clean and not so busylooking. If you’re worried about sending the letter to a female, take steps to identify the name of the recipient (e.g. the recruiting personnel’s name, etc.) and specifically address the letter to him/her – Dear Mr. Lee or Dear Ms. Tan.
• The letter ends with “Yours sincerely.” “Sincerely” is the most neutral and most digestible of all the sign-offs. • Strictly speaking, “faithfully” is for formal letters. The word “faithfully” may come off as too formal and fusty. • “Yours truly” and “Warmest regards” are usually unsuitable.
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The introductory paragraph – brief and catchy – should contain a brief synopsis of who you are and why you are contacting them, and dazzle the reader with at least two specific reasons as to why you are courting his or her company. This seeks to demonstrate that you have done thorough research on the company and will induce them to read further. The second and third paragraphs emphasise why you are an excellent fit for the position. List down the key attributes you possess and how it matches what they are looking for. Next comes your story. Feel free to shed light on a school project or your overseas exchange stint where you display a skill that can add value to the company. Remember to do it in a concise fashion. You can also explain how previous internships and work experience are relevant to the position that you are applying for. In your final paragraph, inject a note of confidence, such as “I look forward to hearing from you soon,” while thanking the reader for reviewing your application. It is not necessary to state how they can reach you as your contact details are already reflected above and also in your resume. Yours sincerely, Your name
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Alexandra Chong 1 Jalan Tambur Singapore 303098 Phone: (+65) 9066 2424 Email: alexchong@gmail.com
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A SAMPLE COVER LETTER Entry level role in investments
8 August 2017 The Campus Recruiter XYZ Bank 456 Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 2 Singapore 089089 Dear Sir Management Associate Programme 2018 As a final-year student pursuing a business degree in banking and finance at Nanyang Business School (NBS), I am attracted by the learning opportunities of your Management Associate Programme – Investment Track. I am confident that my skill sets and passion in investments match the requirements for the programme. Your track record of extensive deal flow in global investments is admirable. I am also impressed by your business strategies and astute management, which are key reasons why global rating agencies continue to reaffirm its credit standing. I hope to contribute to this legacy in your graduate programme while concurrently developing myself as an investment professional. My interest in investments stems from the challenges it poses. As an analyst, I look forward to deepening my understanding about portfolio management and other aspects of the investment work at XYZ Bank. It also enables me to work and interact with the brightest people in the industry, and meet industry leaders in the early stages of my career. Recently, I have completed an internship at a buy-side investment firm. During my stint, I was exposed to financial modelling, valuation and research-based tasks. I also gained valuable knowledge covering a wide range of sophisticated financial products. With the varied, dynamic pace of work and the opportunities to interact closely with colleagues at all levels, the internship was incredibly satisfying. This positive experience has further reinforced my conviction towards a career with XYZ Bank. As part of the Global Immersion Programme, I spent six months in the University of Washington where I acquired life skills that could not be replicated in a classroom environment. While abroad, I represented Nanyang Technological University (NTU) as a student delegate to the University of Dayton Redefining Investment Strategy Forum. This overseas stint allowed me to experience a quantum leap in maturity. Thank you for your consideration. I invite you to review my enclosed resume, and would greatly appreciate an interview opportunity. Yours sincerely, Alexandra Chong
Top 10 Cover Letter Blunders 1. Shows no knowledge of the role and the company
6. Self-centred rather than employer-centred
2. Addresses the letter to the wrong person or company
7. Looks unprofessional and/or informal
3. No date
8. Merely duplicates content from resume
4. Spelling, grammar and punctuation errors 5. Use of bombastic words and an aggressive tone
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9. Too brief – Fails to add value to your application 10. Too lengthy – Your letter will be tossed out.
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Email Etiquette Find tips on how to construct a professional email and enhance your job-searching journey.
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s one of the most important communication tools in today’s workplace, an email allows for nearly instantaneous communication and is extremely helpful in the job search process. Though we spend countless hours writing and sending emails every day, not many of us actually practise proper email etiquette. As a result, you may be sending the wrong message without even realising it. Our email style reflects our professional image, so it pays to veer towards the formal side when sending emails to recruiters. This is regardless of whether you are following up after an interview or just forwarding your degree audit to a company. Before constructing your next email to recruiters, be sure to observe the following.
Include a fitting subject header
The subject header is the first thing that your employer will see in your email. Use concise headers such as “Request for a change on interview date/time” or “Enquiry on application status after interview”. The header must complement the email content. Do not write a catchy subject header to grab the employer’s attention, only to disappoint him or her with unrelated content. That is a sure way to bust your personal credibility.
Use proper salutations Your salutations should always be formal and business-like. Do not use frivolous expressions such as “Yo” or “Howdy”. It is recommended to use “Dear (name)”. If your email is to a group of recruiters, it is better to name them all out or use “Dear Recruiting Team.” Avoid informal phrases such as “Hey you guys”.
Avoid unnecessary capital letters Writing an entire sentence in capital letters is tantamount to yelling at the recipient.
Omit the cute stuff “Emoticons” or “text lingo” are inappropriate and should be used for personal emails. In a professional environment, it is best to use words to convey your message.
Always sign your email Include an email signature with your name and contact details. This allows employers to obtain your contact information easily. There have been past cases of employers wanting to get hold of candidates immediately, but were not able to find their mobile numbers as they did not have a signature set up.
Be prompt Answer all email messages promptly (within 24 hours). Should you be unavailable, inform others by activating the auto-response feature.
Proofread Before you press the send button, check for grammatical and spelling errors, flow and intent. Once sent, you have no control over who sees it or what happens to it.
Write complete sentences Sending an email that says “sure” or “sounds cool” is inappropriate and contains insufficient information. Take the time to write what you need to say. Cut out acronyms and abbreviations.
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Example 1: Submitting a job application
Dear Sir, I am a penultimate year student at Nanyang Business School (NBS). I wish to apply for a six-month internship with your firm. Attached are my resume and cover letter for your consideration. If you have questions or need more information, you may reach me through the phone number or email below. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Your full name Your contact details (email and mobile number)
Example 2:
Example 3:
Enquiring your application status
Post-interview thank-you note
It is reasonable to send this follow-up email one week after your application. This is a chance to reiterate your interest. Do not sound impatient and demanding.
Dear Sir, I recently submitted an online application for your Graduate Programme. Allow me to reiterate my keen interest in this programme and assure you that I am an excellent match.
Dear Sir, I greatly appreciate your time to meet with me last week. After learning more about your internship programme, I am even more certain of my desire to join your company. The well-structured programme – which includes weekly 'Lunch and Learn' workshops conducted by senior management, and community service activities with summer interns – is particularly appealing to me.
I look forward to talking with you about it when your company is ready to begin the interview process.
I am very enthusiastic about the possibility of joining your team and would greatly appreciate a follow-up as you move forward with the hiring process.
Yours sincerely,
Thank you.
Your full name Your contact details (email and mobile number)
Yours sincerely,
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Your full name Your contact details (email and mobile number)
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Having a Great Interview Recruiters interview countless candidates every time there is a vacancy. Find out how you can set yourself apart from the rest.
Step 1: Research the company Preparation will help you stand out from the competition, so it is important that you conduct some research on the company, the industry, and its business competitors. This will allow you to speak knowledgeably about the position you have applied for as well as the company you are interviewing with.
Step 2: Set the scene Enter with confidence Walk with confident strides when you enter the interview room, and bring these three essential ingredients: a firm handshake, good eye contact and a genuine smile. Be pleasant with your interviewer(s) too, greeting him or her with a: “Good morning, I am Jennifer Tan from Nanyang Business School…” Once you manage the first few moments well, you cannot go wrong.
The right posture Body language shows a great deal. For instance, while leaning back shows arrogance, leaning forward projects antagonism. Stick with a neutral position, much like sitting tall as if a string were connecting your head to the ceiling. Plant your feet on the ground as this will help you appear to be in control.
Listen actively
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our resume struck the right note with the recruiter and the company has called you in for an interview, believing you are the right person for the job. All you have left to do is convince them that you are a fit for their culture, ethos, and working style. Make the face-to-face interview conversational and engaging as you look to build a rapport with your interviewer(s). The more natural and comfortable interviewers feel around you, the better. Most interviewers will begin by asking you to share a bit about your resume and yourself, or your most recent internship experience, so start by giving them a short summary about yourself. Do not stare at them with a blank look!
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Be a good listener and respond appropriately. Focus on the questions – do not let nerves stop you from hearing what is said. If an interviewer asks for a specific example, you will have to spontaneously quote experiences from CCAs, school projects, voluntary or leisure activities, or your home life. Do not formulate your answers in your mind before the interviewer finishes the question as you may not catch the entirety of it.
Speak with conviction Casual speech habits may diminish your chances of landing that coveted role. Moreover, Singlish, acronyms, and slang terms may not be necessarily understood by your interviewer(s). Do not punctuate your sentences with words that lack conviction such as “hopefully”, “perhaps”, “kind of” and so on. In addition, word fillers such as “um” and “ah” may infuriate your interviewer(s). Aim to look assertive, and begin sentences with phrases like “I am confident,” “I know”, and I will”.
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Positive vibes
Step 3: Ask the right questions
Express your answers in an upbeat manner, even if your experience was a negative one. Share your key takeaways and lessons learnt, and transform the story into a positive learning experience.
Towards the end of your interview, you will most likely be asked, “Is there anything you would like to ask me?” This is an excellent time to pose thoughtful and sensible questions to show that you are curious and engaged. This will help connect you to hiring managers and decision-makers.
High energy Pump up present energy levels with your presence; no company wants to bring on a dull, distracted and boring candidate! Perk up the interview and inject emotions into your words by varying your tone, pitch and rhythm.
Be enthusiastic if you are genuinely keen about the job, let the interviewer(s) know. Demonstrate your enthusiasm by asking questions related to the role, department, company’s business operations, values and mission. Be sincere – you will see and feel the difference in the interview room.
Silence can be golden
Here are 10 questions you might consider asking: • Can you tell me how the role relates to the overall structure? • What are the main qualities one must have to be successful in this role? • What have you enjoyed the most about working here? • How would you describe the company’s culture? • What sets you apart from your competitors? • Where do you see the company going in the coming three to five years? • Do you offer continuing education and professional training?
If a question catches you off guard, there is no need to panic. Take a moment or two to collect your thoughts and buy yourself time by asking, “Am I right to say that you meant…” or saying, “That is a good question. Let me think for a moment…” Give yourself a few extra seconds after that – it is perfectly acceptable. Beware of pulling yourself down, though. If you do not know the answer, do not guess. Politely admit it and assure your interviewer(s) that it is in your interest to find out the answers and email him or her as soon as possible.
You could also clarify some vague points with your interviewer(s).
There is no RIGHT or WRONG answer to any interview question. The company simply wishes to ascertain the following:
If the questions you have prepared were answered during the interview, do not feel compelled to ask further. Instead, you can share the following with your interviewer(s):
1. Your reaction when the question is posed to you • To see how you behave under pressure and stress – are you easily rattled?
• What are the training and development opportunities in your company? • Do you encourage staff to take professional qualifications? • What support, if any, do you give to staff who take further professional qualifications?
• I found your website to be well-designed, comprehensive and reader-friendly. It was useful in helping me find answers about your organisation Also, I met your business managers during the networking event at NTU and they had shared with me ample information about the organisation.
• To see how quickly you think on your feet • To ascertain whether some weak spots were due to a temporary glitch or reflect a more pervasive problem • Whether you become hostile or defensive • Whether you take the opportunity to use your skills – analysis, persuasion, communication and calm reasoning – to offer plausible and convincing explanations 2. Your thought process and how you develop arguments to support your ideals 3. Your area of interest, your behavioural competencies and your body language – which also alludes to how at ease you are with yourself.
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OR • I found the brochure of your MA Programme very informative and it addressed most of the questions I had about the organisation and the rotational assignments given. OR • I was able to find out a lot from your career talk at NBS last month. I do not think there is anything else I need to ask at the moment.
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Step 4: End an interview well
Step 5: Follow up
As soon as you realise that your interview is drawing to an end, you can prepare to deliver your closing statement. Enquire about the decision-making process by asking about the next step with a question like, “May I know the timeline will be like for the selection of the candidate?” or “May I know when I can expect to hear from you?” You should also thank your interviewer(s) for the opportunity as well as his or her time with, “Thank you for taking the time to meet me today. It was great to meet you.”
With so many candidates being interviewed, you need to keep yourself at the top of the interviewer’s mind. Follow up with a thank-you email to HR for facilitating the process or to the interviewer(s) by the next business day. Keep your writing concise when you summarise your qualifications and reiterate your interest in the position.
Thank you email example Dear Mr Johnson, I appreciate the time that you took to share with me about the company and the position in greater detail today. My interest and enthusiasm for the MA Programme became stronger after learning more about it from the interview. I am confident that my skills and abilities will serve the company well if I am selected. The professionalism and energy of the interview panel impressed me, and it would be a privilege to work with your company. Please feel free to contact me if there is any additional information that I can provide. Thanks again for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you. Best Regards, Jennifer Tan Mobile: 8090 1234 Final Year Student Business Analytics Nanyang Business School
!
Interview Blunders
1.
Arriving late
6.
Using negative body language and posture
2.
Inappropriate dressing
7.
Displaying low energy
3.
A bad handshake
8.
Saying too little or talking too much
4.
Displaying shallow knowledge of the company and
9.
Not grabbing the opportunity to ask questions
5.
Sounding over-rehearsed and inauthentic
10.
Failing to follow up
the role
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Asking the Right Questions
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ou have survived the ordeal of a job interview. You feel as though you have made a good impression because you were prepared and your answers were pointed and decisive. Overall, you believe you have portrayed yourself as an ideal candidate. But just when you thought it was all over, the interviewer(s) may catch you off guard by asking, “Do you have any questions?” This is when you need to think on your feet! Keep calm, maintain your cool, and take the time to arrange your thoughts before framing your answers.
Prepare Questions in Advance Come prepared with a list of questions for this crucial part of the interview. Every question asked should reflect your interest and reaffirm your knowledge of the company. Read materials related to your field to prepare, such as on the company’s website. It is also appropriate for you to craft some questions based on what you have read. Ask about management business strategies, latest products or potential growth areas.
Suggested Questions to ask • Ask specific questions about the position. You need to know the job scope to see if there is a fit between your interests, qualifications and the role you seek. • Try to find out as much as possible about qualities and skills the recruiter is looking for in applicants. Once you determine the necessary qualities, you can then explain to the recruiter your background, experiences and capabilities relate to those qualities. Additionally, if you are unsure about a certain job description, verify it with the recruiters. • It is appropriate to ask specific questions about the company’s training and development programmes the information given appears vague. • Ask questions concerning advancement and promotion paths available. Know that each company is different and most advancement policies are unique. Try to find out what the possible promotion path to see if its fits your career goals. You may also want to ask about periodic performance evaluations. • Clarify any topic covered in the interview that came off to you as vague. • Ask about the company, its culture, and what they stand for.
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Questions to Avoid
!
You must also be aware of what kind of questions to avoid asking – you do not want to alienate the recruiter and might jeopardise your chances of landing the position. Here are some areas you should avoid: • Avoid asking questions that are answered in the company’s report or employment brochure. Recruiters are familiar enough with their own information to recognise when you have not done your homework. If some information in the annual report are not clear to you, by all means, seek clarification • Do not bring up salary and benefits in the initial interview. Most companies recruiting are competitive and will offer salaries and benefits in line with the market rates. While hiring managers and recruiters may choose to bring up the topic, you should not initiate it. • Avoid posing personal and irrelevant questions such as your interviewer’s academic credentials, religion, marital status, past work experience and so on. • Do not ask questions that have already been answered during the interview. If you have prepared a list of questions and some of them have been addressed during the interview, do not repeat them unless you need clarification.
Final advice Build a rapport with your interviewer(s) and be attentive at all times – it would not look good on you if you keep asking the interviewers to repeat a certain question or statement!
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Acing the Interview Know what to expect and what is expected of you.
O
ne of the steps in the recruitment process, interviews come in all shapes and sizes – you may find yourself in a face-to-face interview with a person, or a panel interview with five interviewers. You may be invited to lunch or a drink, expected to write a piece, solve a problem, or schedule a time for a video or phone interview. No matter what type of interview you may come across, it is a vital part of the recruitment process. Here are some common interview types and questions, and how you can get through them with flying colours.
Types of interviews One-on-one interview
Panel interview
The interview you will likely face the most often, it consists of a sole interviewer asking a series of questions designed to suss out if you are a good candidate for the position available.
If the position you are applying for necessitates reporting to numerous people or working in a team, you may be invited for a panel interview. In such cases, as soon as it is clear that you have been invited for one, request for the interviewers’ names.
Phone interview Typically used to screen applicants in the first round of the recruitment process, the phone interview is to find out if you are a good, initial fit for the organisation. Do not discount its worth as an employer’s decision-maker – though it may seem less important than physical or video interviews – so prepare for it as much as you would for a one-on-one or panel interview.
Skype or video interview An increasingly regular part of the recruitment process for many firms, Skype or video interviews may also take place when your recruiter or hiring manager is in another country and unable to meet you in person. Typically, your interviewer or recruiter would have already settled on a time slot with you for the interview, so make sure that wherever you are, your internet connection is strong and reliable. You do not want to miss an interview just because you do not have good Wi-Fi! Keep in mind that a quiet place with minimal distractions is ideal for the session, so consider quiet cafés equipped with Wi-Fi where you can answer your interview questions calmly while enjoying a cup of coffee.
Robot and structured video interview With a growing number of companies turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to conduct interviews, you have a good chance of coming across one before meeting a human in the recruitment process. Depending on the robot and its programming, you may be asked to video record answers to a series of interview questions, write an essay, play a few games to test your mental aptitude and social cognisance or in a few cases such as Karen.ai, or even talk to a chatbot. Remember to use an ear-piece to ensure clarity of the call, and always accept the invitation, whether by Skype or LinkedIn, early.
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Puzzle interview Highly competitive companies, such as Google, are known to ask candidates “puzzle” questions such as the gold bar problem; where you have to figure out how to find a defective stack of gold with only one scale and one opportunity to read said scale. Although these questions may come across as random and seemingly pointless, employers are really using your reaction and answers to evaluate how you face challenges and complex situations in approach and problem-solving.
Case interview A more specialised interview, this will be the interview you will face if you are looking to go into consultancy firms like Boston Consultancy Group and McKinsey and Bain. Be prepared to be presented business issues such as how companies can continue growing even if they are facing a loss, or puzzles much like the estimated time needed to relocate a population to another geographical location.
Working interview Industries such as the media and engineering industries prefer the working interview as part of their recruitment process. In it, you may be asked to undertake an actual task as interviewers and recruiters do not just want to know if you can handle the job – they want to see if you can execute it, too.
An impromptu interview If you are planning to attend career fairs, prepare yourself for impromptu interviews. These interviews can be called the elevator pitches of job interviews – you only have 10 to 15 minutes to sell yourself, give your interviewer a good first impression, and nab the opportunity for a full interview.
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Types of interview questions Competency questions
Preparing
Open-ended in nature and used to gauge graduates’ personalities and if they are a good fit for the company, culture, and otherwise, these questions also familiarise candidates with the demands of the job even as the interviewer(s) find out if they conducted their own research on the company before applying. When asked a question of this type, demonstrate your competence by talking about your experience in handling a difficult situation with your skills, talents and abilities in mind, and how they can meet your potential employer’s needs.
• Figure out what to expect by reading through your invitation. • Tests tend to be numerical, abstract and involve reasoning, so find some mock assessment tests and familiarise yourself with them so that the questions you come across on the day itself will not surprise you. • Have a good night’s rest.
Situational questions On the other hand, situational interview questions focus more on how you deal with scenarios in the workplace and how you handled similar situations in the past. You can use STAR to arrange your flow of thought if you are given this type of question. • Explain the context of the situation • Describe your task • Describe your actions when faced with the situation • What was the outcome and results?
Technical questions Normally used in the IT, engineering and science sectors, among others, these questions are typically specific to the role and meant to test candidate technical skills. Technical questions can also test logic and reasoning.
Succeeding • Ensure your resume and cover letter are updated and free of grammatical errors. • Conduct your own research on the firm and position beyond what was listed on your invitation. • Stay abreast of the current news and trends in the industry • Contribute to the group during group exercises and do not shy away from taking a leadership position. • Arrive on time looking presentable and confident. Keep work and social etiquette in mind, ask intelligent questions, and engage in conservation with others. • Manage your time well and concentrate on your tasks at hand. • Your interviewer may likely use your resume as a starting point. Take the time to brush up on your communication skills and answers. • Despite your nerves, you may find yourself enjoying the day. So keep smiling – it will leave a better impression that a scowl or a face frozen over in fear!
Industry-based questions Usually based on current and future industry trends, these questions find out how well you know the industry you want to enter, as well as why you are interested in joining the company you applied for.
Assessment centres Known as the most successful and professional way to bring in graduates that fit a position to a T through multiple tests, candidates usually find themselves invited to assessment centres near the end of the recruitment process. There, you can expect to participate in case study exercises, group exercises, in-tray exercises, competency-based interviews and psychometric ability quizzes.
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Dealing with Live Video Interviews As live video interviews over Zoom or other conferencing apps becomes the new normal, learn how to handle them with ease!
I
t goes without saying that the Novel Coronavirus outbreak has changed many of the ways we interact with other people this year. And one of the major changes is an increase in interviews over live video conferencing as recruiters practice social distancing too. A regular interview may already seem nerve-wracking enough to you as a graduate jobseeker, but now you need to figure out how to deal with one over a video call too? There is no need to fret – here are some handy tips on how to tackle these “new normal” interviews with ease.
Preparing for your live video interview Going into a live video interview is not just as easy as signing in, turning on your webcam, and talking! You will want to do a bit of prep work beforehand to ensure you set the right tone. Here are a few pointers: • Spend some time before the interview familiarising yourself with the platform your interview will be conducted on – whether it’s Zoom, Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams, or any other video conferencing platform. • Conduct research on the company you are interviewing with beforehand. Interviewers will know if you have not done your homework and are reading stuff – it is very obvious. They can even hear you Googling questions! • Get comfortable talking formally in front of the camera. Turn your webcam on and try rehearsing some of your possible responses to interview questions. Do not forget to pay attention to how you come across on camera as you speak to the screen too! If you can, run through some practice video interviews with friends or career advisors as well.
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• Dress like how you would if you are going for an in-person interview, and that includes the parts of you that are off-camera! Dressing right will help get you into the right headspace, and you also will not be left embarrassed if you have to move around for some unexpected reason. • Your interviewer would have agreed on a time slot with you for the interview. So block out a quiet spot in your house or room for that time slot in advance. You do not want roommates or family members walking in or messing around in the background while you are on the call! • When picking a spot for your interview, try and find somewhere reasonably quiet and well-lit, with a tidy background free of clutter. You also want to project a professional image, so make sure you do not have anything too personal or inappropriate lurking around behind you!
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How to nail your live video interview Once the big day comes, it is time for you to shine. Here are some tips on how to present yourself effectively over that live video call: • Before you even get down to your interview, check your Wi-Fi, webcam, and microphone. An easy way to check how strong or spotty your Wi-Fi connection is for a video call is to stream a HD YouTube video. Observe how the video loads – does it play smoothly, or does it keep buffering? • Start off by greeting your interviewer as you would in real life. Just because you are talking online does not mean that you can drop social niceties! • Try and get to know your interviewer before jumping into the interview proper. Make some small talk, or ask them a bit about themselves and how they have been doing. Video conference calls are always slightly awkward for everyone, so your interviewer may appreciate you trying to break the ice. • When talking, try and speak slightly slower than usual and put extra effort into choosing the right words to get your points across. The biggest difference in a live video interview and a reallife one is that non-verbal communication does not translate as easily. So remember that your words are all you have to rely on. • If the call glitches, freezes, or lags, do not panic! Keep calm, wait for the call quality to be restored, explain that the call glitched up for a bit, and check with your interviewer if they heard everything you said before. • Try your best to look at the camera rather than the video feed on screen. Even though this feels rather awkward, one of the best things you can do in a video interview is to maintain eye contact! • Most importantly, just like you would do with an in-person interview, do not forget to follow up with your interviewer afterwards, whether with a thank you email or by connecting over LinkedIn.
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Some tough questions to look out for Just because your interview is not physical does not mean that you are excused from tricky questions! In fact, you will likely be getting the exact same questions you will get in-person. Some more timely examples of these questions may include: • How do you think our business has been affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic this year? • Which of your achievements or experiences best demonstrate your key strengths? • What has this pandemic and its aftereffects taught you about yourself? • What steps have you been taking to stay informed and relevant amidst all the uncertainty this year? • How do you see your career developing over the next few years in a post-Covid-19 world? Some of these questions may seem like real head-scratchers, but it is not about getting the “right” answer! Remember that recruiters just want to get a better sense of who are and how you approach difficult situations that you may not fully understand. Take time to do your research beforehand on how the recruiter’s industry may have been affected. Make sure you put in the extra effort during the interview to talk through your thought process to explain how you arrived at the conclusions you did. And last but not least, remember to come prepared with questions of your own! This is the perfect time to hear recruiters’ insights on where they see things going during this time, and how their companies have responded to the pandemic. It might just give you some fresh talking points if you have other interviews lined up!
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What You Must Know To Ace the Assessment Centre Jonathan Kwan and Matthew Jurado from Kwantum Leap share some insights on handling assessment centres
A
ssessment centres are one of the fastest growing ways of measuring an applicant’s hard and soft skills, and his or her personality fit for the job. The process typically lasts anywhere from half a day to multiple days, and consists of a collection of exercises ranging from computer-based psychometric tests to group case discussions. Assessment centres give employers not only multiple data points, but also the opportunity to see if their candidates can really walk the talk in both individual and group-based activities. This assessment technique can now be found in almost all the industries across Asia and can be one of the trickiest to handle. To help you stand out from the crowd, we want to dispel some of the common myths and emphasise the hard realities regarding assessment centres, starting with altering your mindset.
No one cares about the answer! Most of us have grown up in education systems that are heavily centred on teaching you how to “get the answer” in the quickest and most efficient way. Follow the rubrics, use the trusted
methodology, and you will get the highest mark. Unfortunately, the principles of assessment centres are designed to be exactly the opposite. Throughout the day(s), employers want to get to know you better: how you think, break down problems, handle stress and uncertainty, and how you interact with others. Do you think broadly and try to consider multiple perspectives and options, or do you just charge towards the obvious solution? It is therefore wise to avoid putting excessive emphasis on “getting the answer.” For some of us, it is also our natural tendency to sit and think in silence before engaging in conversation, especially at the workplace. However, in assessment centres, assessors can only give you pointers based on what they see and hear. Learning to think out loud and to share your thought processes – especially when you’re stuck on a task – is crucial. Additionally, too many candidates think that they have the best idea and proceed to spend the entire activity dominating the conversation, but the reality is it’s not just about what you say, but about how you say it. The things that will make you stand out include the way you disagree and try to influence your peers, and the way you try to engage in the discussion when everyone else is trying to talk at the same time.
You CAN prepare Many employers will tell you this: “Just be yourself and act naturally as it’s very difficult to prepare”. Truth be told, some scenarios used in role-playing sessions and case discussions may be related to the employer and/or pulled straight from today’s or yesterday’s headlines. Hence, the more you know about the topic, the better the chance you have in predicting the questions. For example, market entry strategy problems are one of the most common scenarios. Should the company enter Myanmar? Should they invest in building a new mobile product?
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The first area of preparation is to find out everything you can about the company as well as the industry. Have you at least read everything on their website? Did you read the first section of the annual report? Do you know the strengths and weaknesses of the company and all of its closest competitors? Are you a customer of their product/service? What are some of the major trends and challenges in the industry today? This advice seems pretty standard, but you may take a long time to track down and to digest all the above information, so prepare ahead.
Be yourself, really It is common for candidates to try and behave in a way that they think employers would want to see in assessment centres. However, one of the reasons for having multiple activities is for employers to see how you behave in various settings: in one-onone interviews, role-playing sessions, individual presentations, and group discussions. So if you state during the one-on-one interview that your leadership style is to lead from the front, but end up fading into the background during the group discussion, this may affect your credibility. Hence, the best strategy is to be consistent and to be yourself throughout the process.
Play to your strengths In the group case discussion – which is considered by many to be the most difficult activity – there are different roles that need to be filled. Should you always take a high profile role? Only if it plays to your strengths. Many believe that taking up a high profile role will lead to greater rewards, but it only leads to heightened risks. Before you decide which role to play, you need to be aware of what roles exist first. More importantly, find out what is expected of each role. Some typical roles include that of the leader, facilitator, scribe, devil’s advocate, timekeeper, researcher/ fact checker, and contributor. Let’s take the scribe as an example. Being the scribe means that you need to be capturing all the key points mentioned as the conversation flows. A good scribe doesn’t just write down things word for word; he or she needs to summarise the key messages succinctly and help to present ideas in a logical fashion, to surface inconsistencies, and to keep the conversation going. In addition, being a scribe also means that you won’t have many opportunities to talk and contribute to the discussion. You may also run the risk of getting isolated from the team if you’re standing at a board away from the group. After thinking through those points, is the scribe the right role for you? It is certainly a high profile and an extremely visible role, but consider your strengths instead. Do you prefer to talk or to think? Would you prefer to write or to contribute ideas to the team? Analysing your strengths and determining the best role for yourself beforehand will give you a huge advantage during the activity.
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Get enough sleep This is the one thing that everyone forgets to do the night before. Adequate rest is important as assessment centres can be physically and mentally draining, even if it just takes up half a day. The lack of rest can affect your performance. You must also keep in mind that everything is an assessment of you: from the moment you walk in, to the moment you leave. This includes the breaks on the schedule. Employers will observe whether you only interact with them, or whether you mingle with your fellow peers as well. Every candidate knows that they have to have their game face on when they enter the room, but it’s during the informal sessions when the great candidates are separated from the good.
It’s not the hunger games One of the most common misconceptions about assessment centres is that it’s a zero-sum game – that ten of you might walk into the room but only one will exit victorious. Because of this notion, each candidate will enter the arena looking to do battle and resorting to whatever it takes to stand out. The reality is that employers are assessing you for a multitude of traits and your level of mastery for each of them. Hence, the process is more about measuring your capabilities against an absolute bar, rather than a relative one that compares you directly with your peers. Therefore, it is extremely likely for more than one person to pass the activity. However, it is also possible that no one ends up getting through. For this reason, acting in a collaborative instead of a competitive manner could help you succeed in assessment centres. So relax, prepare ahead, and strategise well.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Both Jonathan Kwan and Matthew Jurado are Gen-Y experts who focus on coaching and developing the next generation of leaders.
With international backgrounds in both investment banking
and management consulting, they have advised thousands of candidates, schools and corporations.
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Dress Your Way to Success
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our personal brand paves the way to career success. Whether you are interviewing to be a banker, a marketer, or an accountant, your personal brand comes to life through the way you dress, behave and present yourself in front of others. It conveys your fit for the role you are interviewing for. What is your current image and the impression that you portray as a young professional? Think about how you can enhance your professional image and personal branding. Professionalism is not limited to the knowledge, skills and abilities that you possess, but also expressed in the way you dress and carry yourself. Once you have found and created a suitable image and style that you are comfortable in, you are set for making great first impressions. Bear these 3Fs (Fit, Fabric, Fine Tune) in mind to dress your way to success for job interviews.
1 • • • • • •
FIT
STYLE TIPS
Avoid bulky shoulder pads Tapering torso Jacket length covering 3/4 of the rear Shirt sleeve extending half an inch beyond jacket sleeve Pants break on shoe line Slim but not skinny fit
2
FABRIC
• Wool – most versatile fabric • Cotton – more pocket friendly • Polyester – not recommended
3
FINE TUNE
• Darker colours – Navy blue or charcoal grey • Solids over patterns
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*Any outfit without a tie will not be considered as “Formal”
CASUAL
BUSINESS CASUAL
PROFESSIONAL
*Any outfit without a blazer will not be considered as “Formal”
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Dressing Right Practical tips to dressing professionally.
GENTS • Matching suit jacket and pants in a conservative colour (navy, grey or charcoal are recommended) • Long-sleeved collared shirt • Conservative tie • Polished leather shoes with matching colours socks • Leather belt to match the colour of shoes
• Well-groomed with short hair • Clean shaven
• Good-quality briefcase or portfolio to hold papers
LADIES
Attire
Hair
Accessories
• Suit with either a matching skirt or pants • Blouse that complements the suit (neckline no lower than collarbone) • Skirt hem should be no more than two inches above the knees • Low/medium closed-toe heels or flats with neutral hose
• Neat, professional, and polished • Hair away from face
• Minimal jewellery, such as a small pair of earrings or a simple necklace • Professional bag or small purse
suityourselfsingapore suityourself.sg www.suityourselfsg.com
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Create Your Confidence
F
or years, the common belief has been that the only genuine way to a more confident appearance was a more confident mindset. The technique known as “fake it till you make it” was just that — faking it. But the latest research has shown that how we act can influence how we think — and in a very short time. This has led to the discovery of some brilliant confidence-building techniques for anyone about to deliver a presentation, attend a recruitment interview, a difficult meeting or even one of those networking functions that many people dread. The research is all based on non-verbal power poses. These are the positions we assume in our attempt to look larger and more powerful. It is a primitive instinct. In animals, you see it in the flattened neck of the cobra or the cat’s fur standing up. In humans, you see it in the way some people stand and sit “tall” — and it has nothing to do with their height. Other, physically taller people will stand and sit hunched over – almost as if they are trying to squeeze into a smaller space. Look at any waiting room for recruitment interviews and you will see the two extremes. Some will be using all their space. Elbows are on armrests (if they have any) or even stretched across the backs of the seats either side. Others will be sitting as “small” as possible, arms inside armrests with most of their eye contact on the folder in their lap. Professor Amy Cuddy of Harvard and Assistant Professor Dana Carney of University of California, Berkeley, conducted some intriguing research on the effect of non-verbal power poses. They looked at the impact body language has on your feelings of confidence – not psychologically, but physiologically as determined by the levels of two key hormones: testosterone and cortisol. Confident people have high levels of testosterone (the dominance hormone) and low levels of cortisol (the stress hormone). Prof Cuddy and Prof Carney devised an experiment where some people were asked to stand or sit in high-power (larger) poses and others in low-power (smaller) poses for just two minutes. After this short time, those in the high-power poses showed a 20 per cent increase in testosterone and a 25 per cent decrease in cortisol. Those in the low-power poses experienced a 10 per cent decrease in testosterone and a 15 per cent increase in cortisol. Such a dramatic change from just two minutes – proving you can “fake it till you make it”.
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Here are three ways you can make it work for you: Own your space In the bus, train or taxi on the way to the meeting or interview, in the lift and in the waiting room, sit and stand tall, open out your shoulders, put your head up and initiate eye contact with others. Even if you do not feel confident, act it, and you will soon start to feel it.
Take your time Confident people move more deliberately and slightly more slowly. As you move into the room, take steps that are just 2cm longer than your normal step. This will slow your walk down and make you look more confident. If you are about to give a presentation, use this technique as you walk to your speaking position, taking slow, deep breaths as you do so.
Be proactive If appropriate, take the initiative in the interaction. Hold out your hand first for the handshake. As you grab the other person’s hand, rather than stopping, keep moving forward another half step. This will make you appear more friendly and assertive.
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The more you can force yourself to take the lead, the more you stimulate your dominance hormone and suppress your stress hormone. This works brilliantly in networking functions (where many people feel awkward) because all you have to do is act like the host. Approach people and introduce yourself, thank them for coming, offer to accompany them to the bar, introduce them to others (who you have just met). You will feel more purposeful, the other guests – even the “real” host – will love you for it, and all the while, you are driving your hormones in the right direction. Before this research, if you had said you could make someone feel more confident in just two minutes, I would have scoffed. Now, the proof is there. Put yourself in the right position and your sense of power will build while your stress level goes down — instant confidence!
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Contributed by:
Kevin Ryan International Speaker & Trainer Training EdgeR International
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@gradsingapore
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NBS ALUMNI
Alumni Affairs Office
T
he NBS Alumni Office manages the linkages between the University, NTU NBS Alumni Association, and Alumni Advisory Board. As such, our activities include supporting alumni, while also ensuring they are aligned with the objectives of NBS. Moreover, we empower alumni to engage in continuous learning, expand professional networks, and give back to the university.
Contact us
Alumni Affairs Office Nanyang Business School Nanyang Technological University 50 Nanyang Avenue, Block S3 Level B3B Singapore 639798 Tel: +65 6790 5715
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Website: NBSAlumniOffice@ntu.edu.sg
Presenting Our Distinguished Alumni
N
BS alumni go on to do incredible things. After all, graduating from a top business school in Singapore carries a certain standing that opens doors and shows others what you are capable of. These are just some of NBS’ amazing alumni, working in areas as diverse as banking, marketing, academia and entrepreneurship. Here are the advice and words of wisdom they shared:
Angela Ang
Assistant Commissioner Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)
I believe my calling is to serve the public and community. Having graduated with a Bachelor of Accountancy, I applied what I learnt in the finance department at the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) before moving on to a range of tax-related work such as tax audits, policy formulation and international tax projects. Over the last few years, I had the opportunity to drive the digital transformation efforts in IRAS – leveraging analytics, designthinking and digitalisation to redefine the tax experiences of taxpayers and the work experiences of my colleagues. I love it! Outside work, I enjoy playing team sports and volunteering in church and with the community. Here are some words of advice I have: • Guard your HEART. Know what matters to you and stay true to your priorities. Always keep good friends who will be honest with you and remind you of what matters. • Renew your MIND. Be curious and read widely. Surprise yourself by always learning and trying new things. • Celebrate LIFE! Enjoy school life and do not get too stressed out worrying about what is ahead. Know that you can continue to find fun and joy at work. I did!
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NBS ALUMNI
Bryant Li
Relationship Manager/Assistant Vice President Credit Suisse (Singapore) I am from Zhengzhou, Henan, China, and came to Singapore in 2010 when I was in my second year of high school. I went on to join the BCG programme in the class of 2016, and when I graduated, became a programmer before discovering a strong interest in finance. NBS opened many doors to opportunities for me; I was a summer ride operator at Six Flags in the United States (U.S.) during my first year, completed an equity research internship in CITIC securities in Beijing in my second year, and finished a credit sales internship in UBS, Singapore in my third year. Now, I am a Credit Suisse private banker serving high net worth clients in China. When I am not working, I like to listen to music, watch movies, enjoy wine, play tennis, snowboard, and play games. This is the advice I have for students: • Know yourself. Take time and gather experience to find out what motivates you and find out what your life goal is. From there, you can get a glimpse of what career excites and suits you. • Do many internships. Internships are crucial. They let you know what you want, or at least what you do not want. It also helps you adjust your mentality and behaviour from that of a school setting to an office setting. Most importantly, you need to have enough internships to get an edge over others and get the offer you want. • Your top priority should be to enjoy every moment of life as a student. Study hard, find harder internships, and play hardest.
Cherrie Ong
Head of Strategic Management and Professional Practices, Group Audit United Overseas Bank (UOB) I drive strategy, oversee subsidiaries and regulatory liaisons, and head the operations and reporting, methodology, quality assurance and whistleblowing investigations at the United Overseas Bank’s (UOB) Group Audit. I graduated with a Bachelor of Accountancy in 2005 after earning my diploma in Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Following graduation from NBS, I moved to Australia before relocating back to Singapore in 2013. I worked in various roles covering banking businesses across trade, global and capital markets, and wholesale banking in different capacities, focusing on operations, auditing, risk management and governance. I was in Citibank, Standard Chartered bank, Ernst and Young (EY), and Arthur Andersen. My last stint at Citibank was based in Singapore, covering consumer banking audits and I dual-hatted as the Country Head of Audit for Citibank Thailand. This is my advice to NBS students and graduates: • Be aspirational. The world is your oyster, so do not be afraid to try, lead, fail, and adapt. • Have tenacity and humility. Get a grip on what you want to achieve with gratitude and respect to yourself and others. • Give back to yourself and others. Be kind to yourself and take care of your wellbeing. At the same time, be thoughtful and generous with your time, efforts, and monies to others.
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Cherry Au Director
Autelier Group Pte Ltd I graduated from NBS 15 years ago with a Bachelor of Accountancy. After graduation, I worked in several companies including United Overseas Bank (UOB), PwC, and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) before starting my own business, Autelier Makeup. The education I received at NBS and my work experience gave me an amazing insight into the world of business and equipped me with the necessary tools for me to venture into entrepreneurship. We started off as a bridal makeup company as I had a profound interest in beauty, like most young girls. The company started with myself, and we have now grown to include a team of close to 30 makeup artists, providing makeup and hairstyling services for brides, corporates, and events. Two years ago, we also expanded our business into training. AutelierPro – Autelier’s acclaimed makeup academy, focuses on educating and providing makeup training to aspiring makeup professionals. Last year, we took a leap a faith and started a new sister brand, Four to Nine Petals by Autelier, specialising in eyelash extensions and nails. My advice would be: • Be humble. There is always something you can learn from others, not only from people who had succeeded, but more so from someone who tried and failed. • Accept feedback. Do not be afraid to ask for feedback, especially those that are negative. If you are able to accept them and reflect upon them, you will improve faster. • Have an improvement mindset. Always ask yourself this question: “How can I do this piece of work better? How can I improve on it?” Adopt a perfectionist mindset when you it comes to doing your work. • Follow your heart and do something you love! Do not go for something that gives you a good salary. Instead, do something that makes you excited and makes you motivated – hopefully it will still pay you well in time to come, even if it does not in the beginning.
Huric Tang
Management Consultant Boston Consulting Group (BCG) As a management consultant with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), I work with senior executives across various sectors and industries to solve issues, create value, maximise growth, and improve business performance. Some of the most interesting topics I have worked on thus far include developing a business readiness plan for a Brexit scenario, designing a commercialisation strategy on geospatial data, and improving the ways of how NGOs could tackle the complex global refugee crisis. In my spare time, I devote my attention to helping start-ups and social enterprises scale and deliver impact. My favourite sport is rowing, something I picked up when I was studying for my Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. These are some words of wisdom I have for juniors: • Challenge your beliefs and assumptions. When thinking about your career options, be bold along the three key dimensions – geography (where), industry (what) and function (how). The reputation and value of an NBS qualification open a lot of opportunities, but you must be willing to embrace and blaze a trail. • Invest in yourself. The world is changing rapidly and the skillsets acquired today would diminish in value over time. For instance, automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are already reshaping traditional jobs. Broaden your skillsets and complementary perspectives to provide yourself with a springboard to seek new opportunities. • Pay it forward. Always find the time and ways in which you can contribute back to society – simply because it is the right thing to do. You will also gain new perspectives and make new friends and networks.
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
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NBS ALUMNI
Jun Tan
Director and Professional Coach Jun Golf Academy I own Jun Golf Academy, a centre that helps individuals and corporate clients pick up golf, and we have packages that range from Leisure Golf, Golf for Networking, Fun Golf, Golf Seminar, Intensive Golf, and many more. As head coach, I work closely with golfers of all ages and help them improve or pick up golf in the shortest time possible. Before striking out on my own, I worked in the back office of a few banks, and also co-founded an importing business. Now, I work closely with community centres to host golf clinics and give everyone a chance to try this sport. In my free time, I enjoy reading and have never stopped learning! Some words of advice I have are:
• Never stop trying! The best advice you can get for yourself is to go out there and try whatever opportunities that come at you. Without trying, you would not know what you like or what you enjoy doing. A good way to go about this is to complete many internships. • Be kind, gracious, and make a good impression. Networking has proven to be useful time and again, and will always be your greatest asset in the long run. The people that you meet outside of school can provide you with chances you could have never imagined. Take note to keep their name cards – you do not know if they will come in handy in the future. • Live for a purpose. Set a big dream with many milestones. These small goals will push you further and motivate you. You will definitely encounter setbacks on the way, but just treat them as part of the journey, learn from them, and enjoy the process.
Kevin Cheng
Executive Director, Head of Credit Risk (Lombard) Singapore, Global Wealth Management. UBS Group AG I joined UBS Global Wealth Management as a graduate trainee in 2008. As a global firm, UBS provides opportunities for me to work overseas, such as Hong Kong, and I also completed an assignment in Zurich, Switzerland. Some words of wisdom I have for juniors are: • Go the extra mile. Do not just build networks; build relationships. It comes with going beyond the bare minimum for the benefit of everybody. People will remember you for what you did. • Be curious and creative. Do not tick the box. Instead, think out of it. Do not just focus on getting the job done – figure out how you can do it better too. • Do not look for problems. Instead, find solutions. This sounds simple, but it is actually hard to live by in a hectic and fast-paced corporate world.
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Kimberley Tan Business Analyst Kearney I started off as a business student in NBS without a clear sense of what I wanted to do post-graduation, other than that I wanted to do something impactful and fulfilling. It was through seniors and friends that my eyes were opened to the plethora of career options, and led me to management consulting. I was fortunate enough to land a summer internship with Kearney – a management consulting firm with a focus on strategic operations. When I was there, I was pushed out of my comfort zone by having to quickly ramp up my understanding of the industry and learn how to manage projects and client stakeholders. It was challenging, but I learnt a lot in a short time. Ultimately, what motivated me to pursue it as a full-time career was an incidental alignment to my passion. I have always been passionate about creative arts and design, so I played that to my strengths whenever I could. It proved valuable in visualising complex concepts in an effective manner and in creative problem solving. For now, I am glad to have had found a career that will continuously encourage me to grow. Some advice I have for the juniors would be to: • Keep learning outside the classroom, be it through competitions, industry research projects, and/or internships. Get as much real world exposure to hone your business acumen; everything you have learnt will come in handy in school and beyond. • Make every internship count. If you have a dream career in mind, pick your internships wisely and see how your role models have charted their way there. If this does not help you, explore and try roles that you like – this will bring you a step closer to a career you will be happy to graduate into. • Balance and have fun. As much as we would like to “hustle” in the short time we have in university, it is still important to spend time on things we enjoy and create good memories.
Lim Aik Leong
Footwear Merchandising Director, Asia Converse (Asia) I have been passionate about sports since I was little, and was fortunate to get a job in Nike after graduation from Business Marketing in 2008. The opportunity to work in the footwear product creation team enhanced my interest in the innovative details of products that go into helping athletes perform optimally. After a decade there, I decided to move out of my comfort zone to learn and experience new things, and moved to Shanghai to focus on the lifestyle footwear segment in Converse (Asia), a subsidiary company of Nike Inc. My advice to students would be: • Find a mentor. He or she can be a senior from school or from the workplace. Ask questions or share issues in your career with them; they have been through a similar journey and they can guide you in your thought process and help you make better decisions. • Follow your passion. While it is not easy, try to find a job you have a strong interest in. When you do something you are passionate about, you tend to perform better. • Know your strengths and weaknesses. Find a role that can amplify your strengths, whether it is in numbers, relationships, or even storytelling. This will allow you to perform optimally. At the same time, work on your weaknesses to continue improving.
NBS CAREER GUIDE 2020
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NBS ALUMNI
Matthew Peh
Investment Manager, Director Deutsche Bank I run a six-person investment advisory team at Deutsche Wealth Management and advise clients based in Southeast Asia, helping them manage their multi-asset portfolios to achieve their investment goals. I am both a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) as well as a Chartered Market Technical (CMT). In my free time, I enjoy going out for a run. My advice to juniors are to: • Talk to as many people as possible. Without experience, it is often difficult for students to understand what is required. The simplest step is to start talking to friends and family members in relevant industries. You can also leverage on networking events to talk to professionals in the same field. Of course, taking on part-time work or an internship is a plus. • Get out of your comfort zone. Have a diverse range of experiences. This could be spending a semester abroad, taking a solo trip, starting an online business, helping out at a charity event or participating in a marathon. You may be surprised by what you discover about yourself. These experiences will also help you become better and make you more
interesting! • Find your value-add. Regardless of the role you are in, try to think about what you hope to bring to the table eventually and make conscious efforts to get there. It could be as simple as spending an hour a day reading and staying current on market developments. It could also be having lunch with a fellow colleague to learn how to work better. Each step should bring you closer to your defined goal.
Melisa Hendrawati Head of Credit Risk
DBS Bank Indonesia Upon graduation from NBS with an Actuarial Science specialisation, I joined Citi Singapore and began contributing to Securities Finance and Hedge Funds Valuation departments. Realising my keen interest in finance, I decided to pursue an MBA from NBS, specialising in finance, and Strategy. At the same time, I sat for CFA and FRM programmes and eventually was certified with both qualifications. Thereafter, I moved on to a credit risk management role in J.P. Morgan Singapore. The most challenging part of the role was to analyse hedge funds from credit risk perspective, which meant that I had to understand the strategy of the hedge funds, that more often than not, involves leverage through the multi-usage of derivatives. After that, I knew it was time to move back to Indonesia and contribute to the Indonesian financial industry. I took on a role with DBS Bank Indonesia with my last appointment as Head of Credit Risk. An interesting aspect of this role is the opportunity to be part of the major reforms through various initiatives in light of the bank-wide goals. Outside the office, I contribute as a CFA lecturer and proud mom of two. I would say that every single day never lacks excitement – the challenge that each day poses is what motivates me to always deliver and give my best. These are three pieces of advice I have: • What does not kill you makes you stronger. Though life experiences that may not look favourable, you unknowingly grow your mental endurance and resilience to go through any challenges that lie ahead. • Work hard, but network harder. I was once a firm believer that success comes from hard work. Later on, I came to realise that on top of hard work, having a good professional network opens doors of opportunities beyond what you can expect. • Stay competitive and keep abreast with the ever-changing business landscape by continuously upgrading yourself in terms of technical knowledge and soft skills – it can be through executive classes, trainings or even active participation in professional networks.
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Minh Chau Luu Business Analyst
Procter & Gamble Australia After graduation in 2012, I was with Sony for eight years across three countries, namely Singapore, Japan, Australia, working on various functions from Finance and Regional Marketing to Product Management. I recently joined Proctor & Gamble with the goal to be at the forefront of consumer insights and analytics. Outside of work, I volunteer for Lifeline Australia, providing mental health support to those who are experiencing crises. During my free time, I reward myself by binging on Netflix and the occasional road trip. My three pieces of advice for juniors are: • Do not be shy. Reach out to people who have been through what you are going through, and with whom you want to make meaningful connections. You never know what a simple email can lead to. • Be deliberate in making choices. Many of us will not be able to have everything. For instance, you cannot take a summer course, get an internship and travel the world all at the same time. Be clear of what you want, make your choice, and accept the trade-offs. • Be present. Cherish your time in university and make the best out of it; these are some of the people that will stick with you for life.
Melissa Lee
Advocacy and Innovation Manager L’Oréal Italy (Milan, Italy) Over 12 years of global experience in the marketing and technology industry have allowed me to accumulate profound expertise in building and aligning strategy across organisations to drive business outcomes within corporations, start-ups and nonprofits. I also combine my experience in digital marketing, product development and digital transformation with a deep passion for social entrepreneurship and diversity. At present, I am the Advocacy and Innovation Manager at L’Oréal Italy, driving enterprising programmes across the group related to earned and owned media and digital transformation. Prior to that, I was Global Operations Director at Buzzoole, based in London, Milan and New York, and a partner at 77Agency. On top of all this, I am also a Digital Trainer at the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation’s (UNIDO) programme for start-ups, offer pro-bono consultancy and mentorship to ethical start-ups, and frequently give guest lectures at Domus Academy.
The advice I have is: • Get uncomfortable. The moment you feel you are comfortable, start planning your next step to get out of your comfort zone. The only constant is change, so always seek your next big challenge. • Get better at what you do, not better at making money. Focus on improving what you are best at – there will always be somebody better to learn from or something new to learn – both vertically and horizontally. Never stop investing your money and time in your craft and self-improvement. • Be seen and heard. Network with good intentions. Exchange and share ideas and visions, not when the next opportunity for you is going to happen. This way, you will meet like-minded people aimed at bigger things that will help you both in personal and professional development in the long-term. • Strengthen your empathy. You may have the best idea or the perfect solution to a problem, but without empathising how your teammates feel and knowing how to get them on board, you will not be able to execute anything. It is better to arrive at a good-enough solution together rather than have an isolated vision that never comes to fruition.
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Michelle Song Logistics Manager
Juken New Zealand Limited After I graduated from NBS with a Business Marketing Degree in 2006, I started my career in the maritime industry, where I worked for an SME that dealt with freight forwarding. Subsequently, I moved on into the shipping industry, which also gave me the opportunity to move to New Zealand in January 2014. However, a restructuring in mid-2015 meant that I had to choose to either leave New Zealand for another country, or look for another opportunity. Deciding on the latter was one of the best decisions I made as I could take control of my own future – although it seemed extremely daunting as I was away from the safety net Singapore afforded me. Now, in Juken New Zealand, I develop logistics plans, strategies and actions to achieve business objectives in line with the company’s strategies and objectives. This includes managing the logistics/distribution operations, such as international shipping, and ensuring all logistics and distribution activities are efficient, timely and cost effective. New Zealand suits my lifestyle very well as I am an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys water sports and hiking in the bush. This is home now, but if you are a keen party goer, it is advisable that you think twice before moving here! Some advice I have for juniors are: • Persevere. There will be ups and downs. Never be complacent about the ups and treat every down as a golden opportunity to push yourself higher than you have been before. • Explore and embrace change. See the world and every situation with an open mind because you never know what you might come across. • Be gracious. Treat people well – even in the most difficult business dealings. You will need it someday, too.
Phang Riyang Assistant Professor
American University of Central Asia As a faculty member in the Organisational Research Institute, American University of Central Asia, School of Entrepreneurship & Business Administration in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, I am involved in numerous roles, the main being a teacher and role model to students from around Central Asia and parts of the Middle East. About one-quarter of my students come from war-affected countries such as Afghanistan, while the others come from neighbouring Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and the local country. Being a social scientist, it is a constant field day working in a post-Soviet country with 73% of the population coming from a nomadic tradition. My other roles involve setting up and leading the Institutional Review Board, being a member of the Student Intellectual Life Committee, and being a State Examiner, all of which requires the awareness of cultural, institutional, and political norms that permeates stakeholder interests within and between entities. This inevitably opened my eyes and strengthened the identity I share with four other Singaporeans in the country. The greatest joy in my job probably comes from showing my students a different way to learn with a focus on problem-based learning, and being challenged to adapt my lessons to the local context. For instance, Western and East Asian business cases do not resonate much here. Beyond teaching, I had the opportunity to complete a project measuring the personality and moral bases of 4,300 CEOs and CFOs of United States (U.S.) listed companies, and am the main country coordinator for the international Global Leadership and Organisational Behaviour Effectiveness (GLOBE) project that measures cultural values and leadership perceptions of managers in Kyrgyzstan. On the consulting front, I initiated a team to educate businesses on the necessity of employee engagement surveys for human resources (HR). This is an ongoing endeavour which has borne success with several local companies leading to the first set of benchmark employee engagement data for the country. Prior to my time in Central Asia, I was at Korn Ferry Institute, the research arm of Korn Ferry, and charged with creating organisational diagnostic tools and designing salary surveys to study the effects of pay equity legislations in the U.S. It is this job that led me to understand how organisation and HR consulting tools were created and how that translates into the products consultants pitch to clients. In all, all this would not have been possible without my professors in NTU who nurtured and allowed my passion in HR to bear fruit. My advice to juniors are: • Do not be content with the current path. Be willing to venture into places few know. • NTU has given you the best education you can ever have, so share it with those who need it and can benefit from it. • Be ever curious and compassionate.
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Tan Zheng Yu
Country Manager (Mexico) CR Offshore SAPI de CV I started out my career in a statutory board. After a couple of years, I joined a government-linked company (GLC) and was posted to Brazil for two and a half years. Thereafter, I was transferred back to Singapore where I stayed till 2016, before joining my current company, which deals in offshore support vessels, and moved to Mexico. Outside of work, I love playing football. Some advice I have for juniors are: • Pay is not the be all and end all when selecting your first job. When starting out in
your career, most people filter their choices based on the pay they would get. While that is good, not enough attention is paid to the learning opportunities when selecting your job. One of the best questions you can ask yourself before selecting a job is “what can I learn from this job/scope?” • Take up the challenge for a challenging overseas posting. Taking up roles overseas usually entails taking on responsibilities that you would not normally have if you do not. This exposure will definitely allow you to acquire a lot more knowhow within a shorter period of time. That said, there is always a long queue for postings to countries that Singaporeans consider comfortable. Volunteering for a challenging posting is a sure way to cut short or eliminate the queue.
• Grades may get you a job, but attitude will ensure you have a job. Having experienced hiring and firing during my career, I realised that a resume may look immaculate and a perfect fit, but the real test is when the you start working. In a majority of roles, I personally feel that attitude is more important than domain knowledge.
Winnie Lai
Compensation & Benefits Manager Agoda I have more than 10 years’ experience in a wide range of Human Capital functions, and have spent the last four years with Agoda at their global operating headquarters in Bangkok. Some advice I have for juniors are: • Do the work. Job descriptions may give you a brief idea of what is required of you, but never let it restrict your work. If you want to move up in your career, always do more than what is required, and learn to think like your boss. • Do not be a keyboard warrior. Do not wait till the annual employee engagement survey – if your company even has one! – to passive-aggressively display all your unhappiness accumulated over the past year. Bosses are not mind readers, so take the initiative to find time to talk about your feedback with your boss or your boss’ boss, and work on solutions together. • Be part of the solution. If you are dissatisfied with certain things happening in the workplace, be part of the solution rather than just being the employee who complains. An unexpected additional perk is that you never know what kind of new skill or experience you might get from getting your hands dirty!
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Jobs and Internships LEADING EMPLOYERS WITH VACANCIES AND INTERNSHIPS WHO WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. Employers BDO LLP............................................................................................................. (93) 92 Changi Airport Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd..................................................... (95) 94 CapitaLand Limited ................................................................................... (42, 43) 96 Central Provident Fund Board......................................................................... (91) 96 Great Eastern Singapore.................................................................................. (98) 97 Ministry of Education......................................................................................(100) 99 Ministry of Foreign Affairs........................................................................... (102) 101 NTUC Income................................................................................................. (104) 101 The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).......................................................... 103 SMRT Corporation Ltd............................................................................................... 103
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BDO LLP
600 North Bridge Road, #23-01, Parkview Square, Singapore 188778 TEL [+65] 6828 9118 WEB https://www.bdo.com.sg/en-gb/careers E-MAIL FOR ENQUIRIES career@bdo.com.sg
LOCATION
DEGREE DISCIPLINE
• Singapore — Central • International – BDO’s global organisation extends across 167 countries and territories, with 88,120 people working out of 1,809 offices – and they’re all working towards one goal: to provide our clients with exceptional service. BUSINESS FACTS
Established in 1972 and a member firm of BDO International since 1979, we offer a full range of services including audit, corporate finance and risk advisory. Our clients are from most fields of business in Singapore and include subsidiaries of multi-national corporations, public and private companies operating in diverse industries, including transportation and publishing. Some of our clients are wellknown, while many are medium-sized emerging businesses. Our size is at its optimum, it is large enough to enable us to provide the full range of world-class services and at the same time allows clients to benefit from our breadth and depth of expertise as the world’s fifth largest accounting network. Simply, our services begin with your needs. Whether you are a start-up or an established enterprise looking to take the next step up, we are well equipped to assist you from ground level to the highest stratosphere of success.
NBS CAREER SERVICES GUIDE 2020
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BDO provides a culture that emphasizes career growth, professional development, collaborative culture, workplace flexibility and global opportunities. If you believe you have the right values and attitude in wanting to be part of our big BDO family, send in your detailed resume and a recent photograph to career@ bdo.com.sg.
www.nbs.edu.sg
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BDO LLP 600 North Bridge Road #23-0͈ Parkview Square Singapore 188778 www.bdo.com.sg BDOSingapore
BDO Singapore LLP
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JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS
CHANGI AIRPORT GROUP (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
Singapore Changi Airport, PO Box 168 , Singapore 918146 WEB careers.changiairport.com E-MAIL FOR ENQUIRIES careers@changiairport.com LOCATION
• Singapore — East
see through their ideas and contributions, making an impact on our organisation and the communities we serve locally and globally.
BUSINESS FACTS
DEGREE DISCIPLINES
As the airport company managing Changi Airport, Changi Airport Group (CAG) undertakes key functions focusing on airport operations and management, air hub development, commercial activities and airport emergency services. We operate Singapore Changi Airport, the world’s most awarded airport, and our subsidiary, Changi Airports International, helps develop and manage airports worldwide. Our people are our most important asset in our mission to be the world’s leading airport company by nurturing a vibrant air hub in Singapore and enhancing the communities we serve worldwide. We aspire to build a company where ordinary people achieve extraordinary results. Our people have a passion for service and are committed to teamwork, integrity and excellence. Working together with colleagues and partners to achieve the best outcome, we deliver innovative services and create a world-class experience for our customers.
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Changi Airport Group offers a unique work environment in a global, vibrant and exciting airport community. With a set-up of multiple businesses, we present challenging work and diverse opportunities for our employees to further their personal and professional growth, providing a platform for them to develop and
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
CAREER SECTORS
• Aviation, Transport and Supply Chain • Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism Apply online at careers.changiairport.com.
SOARING HIGH WITH LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS Name: Ngieng Mei Rui Yolande Degree: Bachelor of Business (2nd Class Upper Honours), Nanyang Technological University, 2013 Role: : Assistant Manager, Advertising, Marketing & Promotions, Airside Concessions Employer: Changi Airport Group MY JOB
During my first two years on the job, I was in the Promotions team where I worked closely with stakeholders to plan and execute shopping promotions such as “Changi Millionaire” and year-end Christmas activities. I also had the opportunity to rotate within the team and do marketing for Indonesia, which is one of Changi’s key markets. My current role mainly involves driving marketing strategy in Indonesia and collaborating with strategic partners to achieve greater outreach and sales. HOW I GOT MY JOB
Since young, I have always dreamt of working for the world’s most awarded airport. I was delighted to secure an interview session after several applications and finally fulfilling my dream. I recalled sitting through a face-to-face interview with a panel of three interviewers and completing several tests. I believe in sharing my background and experiences with the interviewers candidly as if they are my friends – as much as possible! – while maintaining a professional approach. THE HIGHS AND LOWS
What I enjoy the most about my job is being surrounded by like-minded individuals who will motivate and spur one another to do better at work. I value how the team encourages open communication and truly practises it. I also like how we often discuss work challenges and share NBS CAREER SERVICES GUIDE 2020
new ideas with each other. Nevertheless, it is always a challenge to outdo our performance year after year, while simultaneously leveraging on the ever-changing travel retail landscape to our advantage. MY HAPPIEST MOMENT AT WORK
For the “Changi Millionaire” shopping promotion, I successfully planned and transported cars into the airport terminals for display purposes. I also experienced a great sense of satisfaction knowing that the year-end shopping promotion’s premiums were a great hit amongst shoppers. We went to great lengths to choose the fabric colour, and even the type of eyes – embroidery eyes were selected over button eyes – for the plush toys. A most recent achievement was clinching a marketing partnership with the biggest online travel agent in Indonesia! SOME ADVICE
Finding a job works two ways – you are searching for a suitable employer and the employer is searching for a suitable candidate; leading to a job match. The interview process is not only for the employer to find out more about you, but it is also a chance for you to determine if you are suitable for the role. Always keep your career end goal in mind and trust that each milestone you take will eventually lead you to your goal.
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JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS
CAPITALAND LIMITED
168 Robinson Road, #30-01, Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 TEL +[65] 6713 2849 WEB capitaland.com/careers FACEBOOK @capitaland TWITTER @capitaland LINKEDIN @capitaland YOUTUBE @capitaland INSTAGRAM @capitaland LOCATION
• Global – Singapore & International BUSINESS FACTS
CapitaLand is one of Asia’s largest diversified real estate groups. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, it owns and manages a global portfolio worth S$131.7 billion as at 30 September 2019. CapitaLand’s portfolio spans across diversified real estate classes which includes commercial, retail; business park, industrial and logistics; integrated development, urban development; as well as lodging and residential. With a presence across more than 200 cities in over 30 countries, the Group focuses on Singapore and China as its core markets, while it continues to expand in markets such as India, Vietnam, Australia, Europe and the USA. Our competitive advantage is our significant asset base and extensive market network. Coupled with extensive design, development and operational capabilities, we develop and manage high-quality real estate products and services. We also have one of the largest investment management businesses in Asia and a stable of eight listed REITs and business trusts as well as over 20 private funds. Since it pioneered REITs in Singapore with the listing of CapitaLand Mall Trust in 2002,
CapitaLand’s REITs and business trusts have expanded to include Ascendas REIT, CapitaLand Commercial Trust, Ascott Residence Trust, CapitaLand Retail China Trust, Ascendas India Trust, CapitaLand Malaysia Mall Trust and Ascendas Hospitality Trust. Working at CapitaLand provides you the opportunity to work alongside a vastly talented international workforce, while you gain access to skills and development programmes aimed to promote continual learning. This happens through strategic, integrated and quality learning programmes for professional and personal development, at all stages of your career. DEGREE DISCIPLINES
• Open to all disciplines CAREER SECTOR
• Property and Real Estate APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Apply online via capitaland.com/careers and shortlisted candidates will be notified.
CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND BOARD
238A Thomson Road, Novena Square Tower A, Singapore 307684 WEB www.cpf.gov.sg/careers E-MAIL FOR ENQUIRIES hr@cpf.gov.sg LOCATION
• Singapore – Central BUSINESS FACTS
We help more than four million Central Provident Fund (CPF) members save for their retirement, healthcare and housing needs. Our schemes touch our members across various life stages, and we serve knowing that we can make a difference. As long as you have the passion and commitment to serve the public, you will find your niche in our big family that consists of more than 50 departments in the following job families: • • • • • •
Agency Services Customer Service Enforcement Information Technology CPF Schemes Management Policy and Corporate
Management Associate Programme Looking to develop your potential as a future leader in a meaningful career? Our Management Associate Programme (MAP) will provide you with exposure and accelerated growth through structured rotations, mentorship, and leadership programmes. If you are driven, innovative, and a team player, join us to make a difference in the lives of CPF members. Application for MAP is open from January to March 2020, and August to December 2020. DEGREE DISCIPLINES
• Open to all disciplines CAREER SECTORS
• Public Sector
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Apply online at www.careers.gov.sg. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
NBS CAREER SERVICES GUIDE 2020
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JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS
GREAT EASTERN SINGAPORE
1 Pickering Street, Great Eastern Centre, #01-01, Singapore 048659 TEL +[65] 68289118 WEB https://www.greateasternlife.com/sg/en/careers.html E-MAIL FOR ENQUIRIES career@greateasternlife.com LOCATION
• Singapore BUSINESS FACTS
A market leader and a well-established trusted brand in Singapore and Malaysia, Great Eastern was founded in 1908. With S$85.0 billion in assets and over 4 million policyholders, it has three successful distribution channels – a tied agency force, bancassurance, and a financial advisory firm, Great Eastern Financial Advisers. The Group also operates in Indonesia and Brunei and has a presence in China as well as a representative office in Myanmar. The Great Eastern Life Assurance Company Limited and Great Eastern General Limited have been assigned the financial strength and counterparty credit ratings of “AA-” by Standard and Poor’s since 2010, one of the highest among Asian life insurance companies. Great Eastern’s asset management subsidiary, Lion Global Investors Limited, is one of the largest private sector asset management companies in Southeast Asia.
DEGREE DISCIPLINES
• Open to all disciplines CAREER SECTORS
• Insurance and Risk Management APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Financial Representatives Online Application Corporate Positions Online Application Interview
As a LIFE company, inspiring people to LIVE GREAT, we believe every employee is a talent and can make a difference. We are constantly building an engaging environment that fosters effective synergies, creating a place for our employees to discover and develop their potential to the fullest.
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Wealth Accumulation
GREAT WEALTH ADVANTAGE
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Start a conversation with your Great Eastern Financial Representative today. +65 6248 2211 | greateasternlife.com | wecare-sg@greateasternlife.com
GREAT Wealth Advantage is a regular premium whole life investment-linked plan that provides protection against Death, Total and Permanent Disability and Terminal Illness. Please refer to the product summary for details. Terms and conditions apply. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The above is for general information only. It is not a contract of insurance. The precise terms and conditions of this insurance plan are specified in the policy contract. As buying a life insurance policy is a long-term commitment, an early termination of the policy usually involves high costs and the surrender value, if any, that is payable to you may be zero or less than the total premiums paid. Investments in this plan are subject to investment risks including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. The value of the units in the Fund(s) and the income accruing to the units, if any, may fall or rise. Please refer to Fund Details and Product Highlights Sheet for the specific risks of the Fund(s). Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. Protected up to specified limits by SDIC. Information correct as at 17 April 2019. GWAP / Ver1.0 / 201904 The Great Eastern Life Assurance Company Limited (Reg No.1908 00011G) 1 Pickering Street, #01-01 Great Eastern Centre, Singapore 048659
JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS
99
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
1 North Buona Vista Drive, Singapore 138675 TEL [+65] 6872 2220 WEB www.moe.gov.sg/careers E-MAIL FOR ENQUIRIES contact@moe.gov.sg LOCATION
• Singapore BUSINESS FACTS
The Ministry of Education (MOE) has a strong and dynamic team of educators and executive and administrative staff who, together, support our nation’s education network.
MOE Kindergarten Teacher As a Kindergarten Teacher, you will play a key role in providing our young with an enriched learning experience, nurturing their social skills and preparing them for lifelong learning. You will plan and deliver education programmes to help foster holistic learning and development for the children and be involved in parent and community engagement.
Education Officer/Teacher You will play a pivotal role in equipping our children with the knowledge and skills they need, grooming them into well-rounded and responsible citizens of tomorrow. There are three career tracks available for our teachers to reach their fullest potential: Teaching, School Leadership and Senior Specialist Tracks.
Management Executive As a Management Executive, you will have excellent career opportunities in areas such as policy formulation and implementation, organisational administration and operations both at the Ministry’s headquarters and in schools.
School Counsellor As a School Counsellor, your primary role is to work with staff, students, parents, external professionals and community agencies to provide quality school counselling support for students’ mental health and social-emotional development.
• All disciplines
DEGREE DISCIPLINE CAREER SECTOR
• Public Sector
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Apply online at Careers@Gov. Shortlisted applicants will be notified for interview(s).
PASSION OVERCOMES INEXPERIENCE Name: Asveeny D/O Sanjeevi Degree: Bachelor in Business Administration, Nanyang Technological University, 2014; Postgraduate Diploma in Education, NIE, 2016. Role: Teacher Employer: Ministry of Education, River Valley Primary School MY JOB
Being a teacher extends beyond the classroom to be a mentor, confidant and counsellor. I guide students in their moral education by helping them develop good habits and important life skills, and I teach them how to cope with their emotions and overcome challenges. As a teacher, one needs to be creative and engaging, so I am constantly innovating to engage them. As a CCA (Co-Curricular Activity) teacher, I also develop their leadership skills and provide them with holistic education. HOW I GOT MY JOB
I applied for a teaching position as I wanted to make a difference in a child’s life while also seeking joy from imparting knowledge. I believe an educator’s role is to mould the future of the nation. Despite having no prior teaching experience, I conducted a lesson showcase related to my teaching subject and reassured the interview panel that I was aware of the possible challenges that comes with the teaching profession and my determination to be in it nonetheless. THE HIGHS AND LOWS
At the beginning, it was a challenge to balance the different roles and expectations of being an educator. This was because I needed to acclimatise and learn the competencies quickly. However, I am www.nbs.edu.sg
grateful to my school and colleagues who guided me to become a competent and skilful teacher. Every student is different, and balancing their different learning needs is a challenge, but it is an opportunity to build relationships, better understand their needs and explore new teaching methods. MY HAPPIEST MOMENT AT WORK
It is most rewarding seeing students grow to achieve their goals. I once had a student who faced difficulty in coping with setbacks and did not socialise with his friends in the beginning. Towards the end, I saw him gaining confidence and being happier to be in school. He started to adapt well and socialise with his peers. I will always remember the smile he had on his face when he finally came to me, feeling proud of his own work. SOME ADVICE
Teaching is a rewarding and engaging profession. With the changing education landscape, it is important to always keep an open mind and be adaptive to upskill yourself in meeting the demands of a teacher. Teaching definitely has its ups and downs, but re-visiting your core belief of wanting to make a difference in a child’s life will help to fuel this passion of yours. Find out more at www.moe.gov.sg/teach NBS CAREER SERVICES GUIDE 2020
It is natural to make mistakes in the process of learning. That is why teachers play an important role in encouraging students to look beyond the wrong answers. While they guide the students towards what is right, teachers also build perseverance and self-belief, helping students realise their full potential. If this speaks to you, join us. Belief. It begins with a teacher. moe.gov.sg/teach
JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS
JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
1 Sherwood Road, Singapore 248163 TEL [+65] 6379 7946 WEB www.mfa.gov.sg/career E-MAIL FOR ENQUIRIES mfa_career@mfa.gov.sg LOCATION
• Singapore – Central BUSINESS FACTS
A Foreign Service career is more than just a job. To be effective, Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) need to have a good grasp of world affairs and a firm understanding of Singapore’s position. As a FSO, you are Singapore’s bridge to the world. You will be involved in the formulation, review and implementation of policies related to your assigned portfolio. You must be versatile, be able to analyse issues critically, strategise and achieve outcomes. You need to be able to persuade and assert, and cultivate good interpersonal relations while keeping Singapore’s interests at heart.
An exciting career of unparalleled opportunities on the frontline of global development awaits. For those of you up for the challenge, come join us at MFA! DEGREE DISCIPLINES
• Open to all disciplines CAREER SECTORS
• Public Sector
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Apply online at www.mfa.gov/career!
With 50 Overseas Missions around the world, a career with MFA offers unique opportunities and rewards. Throughout your career as a FSO, you will alternate between Singapore (HQ) and our Overseas Missions. Depending on your competency and inclination, you can develop your career in either the Functional and Corporate track or the Political and Economic track. As you progress within the Ministry, a series of varied and enriching assignments and milestone programmes will groom you for future leadership roles.
NTUC INCOME WEB
https://www.income.com.sg/careers/working-at-income
LOCATION
• Singapore BUSINESS FACTS
The only insurance co-operative in Singapore, NTUC Income was established in 1970 to make essential insurance accessible to all Singaporeans. We are now the leading composite insurer in Singapore offering life, health and general insurance. Our wide network of financial advisers and partners provide value-added financial advisory that complements today’s digital-first landscape, offering insurance products and services that serve the protection, savings and investment needs of customers at different life stages and across all segments of society. As a company that is made different, we believe in attracting capable and dynamic individuals like you to transform Income. We are ‘In With You’ for your performance, growth, innovation and impact. Discover how you can develop professionally and personally as you build a meaningful career with us. Job Roles
Roles you can look at include: • • • • •
Operations Actuarial Finance Information Technology And many more
We welcome all graduates to explore and indicate their interests on our career site. DEGREE DISCIPLINES
• Open to all disciplines CAREER SECTORS
• Insurance and Risk Management • IT and technology APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Apply online via https://www.income.com.sg/careers/working-at-income
At Income, we value what’s withIN. We’re made different, right from the very people who work here. Our folks aren’t cast from the same mould and we embrace everyone’s unique personality, including their core attributes and quirky interests.
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NBS CAREER SERVICES GUIDE 2020
JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS
103
THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE AIR FORCE (RSAF)
3 Depot Road, #01-43, Singapore 109680 TEL 1800 270 1010 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm) WEB http://careers.rsaf.gov.sg E-MAIL FOR ENQUIRIES afrc@defence.gov.sg LOCATION
DEGREE DISCIPLINES
• Singapore BUSINESS FACTS
We believe that given the right opportunities, your passion can be transformed into a truly exceptional profession. Our training opportunities transcend borders. The RSAF collaborates with our counterparts all around the world, allowing our team to train with the world’s best. Passionate professionals. Technologically advanced aircrafts and weapon systems. Together, they make us what we are today – a First Class Air Force that stands ready to defend Singapore and her interests. The RSAF is a First Class Air Force, always ready to deter aggression and defend Singapore and its interests. We will respond decisively to the full spectrum of missions from peace to war as part of an integrated Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). We will be superior in the air and decisively influence the ground and maritime battles.
• • • • • • • • • •
Accounting Business Administration Economics Engineering Finance IT and Computer Sciences Maths Sciences Social Work Teaching and Education
CAREER SECTORS
• Aviation, Transport and Supply Chain • Engineering, Design and Manufacturing • Public Sector APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Apply online via careers.rsaf.gov.sg
The RSAF is founded on the core values and competencies of its World Class People. We are committed to the nation, the SAF, the RSAF and to one another. Together we will overcome adversity with courage and fortitude. Above all, our people are the heart of our organisation.
SMRT CORPORATION LTD
Paya Lebar Quarter (Tower 3), 2 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore 437161 TEL [+65] 6671 7373 WEB http://www.smrt.com.sg/ E-MAIL FOR ENQUIRIES graduates@smrt.com.sg LOCATION
• Singapore BUSINESS FACTS
In line with Singapore’s goal to build a car-lite society by 2030, we envision our rail network to be longer than networks in major cities such as Hong Kong and Tokyo, and comparable to current lengths in London and New York City. With existing rail lines now resourced through the New Rail Financing Framework (NRFF) and timelier investments in capacity expansion: replacement and upgrading of operating assets can be expected. With higher operations and maintenance standards, commuters can look forward to smooth and reliable rides. Here in SMRT, we are committed to nurturing and developing rail professionals with the right competencies, operational exposure and mission-oriented mindset. We are looking for young and passionate individuals who want to make an impact in Singapore’s rail industry by taking care of the needs of commuters and providing them with safe, reliable and customer-oriented train services.
DEGREE DISCIPLINES
• • • •
Business Administration Economics Engineering IT and Computer Sciences
CAREER SECTORS
• • • • •
Aviation, Transport and Supply Chain Construction and Civil Engineering Engineering, Design and Manufacturing IT and Technology Media and Advertising
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Visit SMRT’s website at http://www.smrt.com.sg for more information.
Come on board as a Rail Engineer and join us on this meaningful journey!
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NBS CAREER SERVICES GUIDE 2020
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