1

Features:Succeeding in Internships

Career Services for You

Creating the Winning Formula

Pitching Yourself to Success

Are You Dressed for Success?

February 2014 >> Career Management >> Careers >> Attachments

2

1

2

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

Let me begin with my heartiest congratulations to the graduating Class of 2014.

You are nearing the completion of your studies in NTU. Very soon, many of you will be joining the workforce and embarking on the career you have aspired to since the first day you stepped into NTU. As NTU continues the steady ascent towards being

a world class university, so will the demand for you by top companies looking for bright young talents

from our university. NTU graduate employment rate speaks for itself every year; eight in 10

NTU students found jobs less than one month after graduation, nine in 10 graduates received at least a job offer within four months of graduation. Employers have told me NTU graduates remain their preferred choice because they are knowledgeable, experienced from internships, and therefore, relevant to their talent needs. However, despite such high recognition

from employers, NTU graduates must still fight for every job opening in view of tough

competition from graduates of other local and overseas universities. Therefore, skills and

grades are not the only deciding factors for hiring. Employers are looking for the X factor from the sea of job applicants. You must articulate how you can contribute to the employer’s business and organisation from your training and internship experience. You must show “fire in your eyes” that you want the job. You are passionate about the industry and wish to make a difference for the company.

87.2%of graduates found their first job in less than

one month after graduation

3

CONTENTS

Finally, you must convince the hiring managers with your positive attitude. Say you are committed to what you can do for the organisation, not what the organisation can do for you in terms of pay, promotion and work-life balance. First demonstrate your results and worth to the organisation and you shall be rewarded in due time. Employers hire you for your ability to contribute to their business now and your future value to the company. It is not about you and how “good” you think you are.

So believe in your aspirations, because NTU has trained and prepared you well. Be confident in your ability to pursue your career. Always be sharp before your audience and articulate why you are the preferred choice over others. And seize the opportunities presented to you even if they do not fit perfectly to your expectations. You will never know what door it willopen until you attempt it.

In closing, it has been our pleasure and delight at CAO to have supported you in Attachment and Career Services during your study at NTU. We wish you every success and the very best in life. I certainly hope to see you returning as Alumni-mentors to guide and inspire your juniors.

Congratulations to all graduates again!

Loh Pui WahDirector

Career & Attachment Office

97.0%of graduates received at least a job offer within

four months of graduation

CAREER SKILLS04 Bringing into Focus, Career Services for You

08 Succeeding in Internships

16 Create the Winning Formula

19 Employment Prospects in Singapore Overview & Outlook

20 Customise Your Resume Increase Your Chances

21 Excelling at Assessment Centres

22 Pitching Yourself to Success

24 Are You Dressed for Success?

26 Hearing from an HR Professional

28 The Pains and Pleasures of Entrepreneurship

COMPANIES30 Doing Work that Matters: An Internship with Abbott

32 Becoming the Perfect Consultant

34 An Essential Part of the Value Chain

36 Space, Stories and Amalgam of Visual Stimuli

38 Kick-Start Your Career in Trading

40 Designing Our World

42 Recycled Metal: Just Scrap or Unexpected Gold Mine

44 Network for Greater Impact

46 With Great Power comes Great Responsibility

48 Developing a Career in Technology

50 Developing a Competitive Edge in the Food & Beverage Industry

51 Quintessential Pioneers

52 Debunking Myths of the Wealth Management Career

54 Great is the New Average

56 More Than Just a Property Casualty Insurance Organisation

58 Positive Impact

60 Keeping The Sky Safe

62 More Than Just a Job

64 Protecting Properties and Saving Lives

66 A Meaningful Career

68 A Career like no other at Singapore’s Mega Port

70 From Blueprints to Landmarks

71 Transforming Information into Insights

72 What is a Medical Technologist?

74 Solving Problems Globally

75 What editors look for when Hiring Writers

INTERNSHIPS76 My Summer at J.P. Morgan

78 An Opportunity to Shine

80 A Long-Distance Connection That Lasts

81 Seeing life through A Different Lens

82 The Oldendorff Voyage

83 Speaking of a Bilingual Overseas Intern...

84 Banking on Self Sourcing

86 Swiss Chocolates, Swiss Cheese, Switzerland!

88 Scentventure

4

STAGE 1: DISCOVERING YOURSELF

What this stage is about:Gain better self-awareness about your strengths, interests, and values to understand the possibilities you can explore. Why you need this: To find the career that matches your interests and strengths.

Career Assessment Tools Career assessment tools provide an objective look into an individual’s strengths, interests and values and possible career pathways. CAO administers two tools, TalentFinder and Harrison Assessment. TalentFinder is a free tool that helps you understand your areas of competencies, aptitude level and recommended career pathways. Harrison Assessment provides a robust comparative evaluation of an individual across over 600 career paths. Students who complete either tool can schedule an interpretation session with a career coach.

Career Coaching & AdvisingCAO has a team of in-house career coaches to work with you along your career journey. We provide career guidance to students, facilitate job search and build application skills, critique resume and cover letter, and hone interview skills through mock interviews and more. To request for an individual coaching session, email to careerhub@ntu.edu.sg. Alternatively, you may approach coaches who are on duty every Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1 - 4pm should you have quick queries on your applications.

STAGE 2: EXPLORING OPTIONS

What this stage is about: Identify industries, companies and job options in your field of interest.

Why you need this:To learn more about available jobs in the market and what companies are looking for when hiring.

> CAREER SKILLS

Bringing Into Focus Career Services For You

Career & Attachment Office (CAO), NTU supports students from all years with career events and services to strengthen your career skills and job search. Follow our 4-stage career management model to guide your career search.

STAGE 1Discovering Yourself

(Year One)

“Interests, Skills & Values”

STAGE 2Exploring Options

(Year Two)

“Information & Career Plan”

STAGE 3Making Decisions

(Year Three)

“Attachments & Internships”

STAGE 4Taking Actions

(Year Four)

“Contact & Connect with Employers”

5

Career & Industry Talks On every Wednesday and Friday from 12.40pm to 1.30pm, educational talks are organised to provide valuable insights into companies, organisational culture, career information, development prospects and trends in the industry. Information about these talks are sent out via emailers and updated on the Career Scope app.

Career Resource Centre CAO maintains a career resource centre located at Student Services Centre on Level 4. You can browse through company brochures and flyers, books on resume writing, networking, grooming, career management, career magazines and more in this mini library. Utilise this resource centre to do more in-depth research on various companies. Connecting With Alumni The alumni provide one of the best and clearest windows into the working world. CAO has created two platforms for you to connect with them. The first is Mentor-Link, an online database of alumni-mentor, where you can request to speak to various selected mentors about their work and career journey. You can get connected here: http://bit.ly/15BvYlS. The second platform is Alumni Mentor Networking Session, which allows you to mingle with the alumni and ask questions in a casual setting. Held every last Friday of the month, these sessionsfeature a roster of different industries.

STAGE 3: MAKING DECISION What this stage is about:Combine self-awareness with knowledge of job options to clarify which career to go into, with the help of attachments and internships.

Why you need this:Decide on the career that you want and establish a working roadmap for your final year.

Recommended Actions: Attachments & Internships Joining various attachments and internships is central to gaining valuable and relevant work experience, which can also help clarify your career decisions. CAO encourages students to self-source for internships throughout their school years. Students can also approach CAO for queries relating to attachments and internships. In addition, speaking to a career coach at this stage will also help you in coming to a decision as well as provide you with a career action plan.

STAGE 4: TAKING ACTION What this stage is about:Start your search by getting equipped with practical career skills and seize opportunities to network with top employers. Why you need this: To get the career and job you want!

Recommended Actions: Career & Professional Development Workshops CAO runs weekly workshops to get you equipped with essential career skills, giving you an advantage over other applicants. Topics covered include resume and interview skills, personal branding, defining corporate image, dining etiquette and more. Information on workshops are sent out via emailers and updated on the Career Scope app. We would also recommend students to attend workshops in Year 2 to be better prepared for internship applications and interviews.

6

How has CAO helped you in your career search?Heng Li SengB.Sc. in Mathematical Sciences and minor in Business Associate at Monetary Authority of Singapore

“CAO did not just help me find a job; it helped me to know myself, my interests, my strengths and weaknesses. CAO has also provided me with the necessary knowledge, skills

and confidence to chart my own career path.”

Liu TianchiDoctor of Philosophy (EEE), Year 1 Project Officer, Nanyang Technological University

“Besides the job-related information I received from CAO, the one-to-one coaching has helped me tremendously in

overcoming my initial worries and lack of confidence, and I developed a healthy and positive mind-set as well.”

Chia Pei XianB.Sc. in Mathematics and Economics, Year 4Interned at Citibank NA Singapore Corporate Sales and Structuring

“Consultation sessions with the career coach really helped me to improve my resume and gave me a better idea of

the different career options that were available to me as a Mathematics and Economics major.”

Ian Nguyen Duy AnhB.Eng. in Electrical and Electronics EngineeringGlobal Graduate Trainee in Supply Chain at Unilever Asia Private Limited

“CAO was a very good platform for me to discover and explore the professional and dynamic world outside of NTU, and the available opportunities that might fit my

personality and life’s values. All this has helped me to be well-prepared to face and conquer the challenges ahead.”

Ang Eng AnnB.Eng. in Mechanical EngineeringGraduate Piping Engineer at Foster Wheeler Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

“Through one of the many recruitment talks, career fairs and campus interviews organised by CAO

(which I feel are more useful than job search websites in terms of fresh graduate opportunities), I got a job offer and

would be commencing work soon!”

NTU Talent Site

Talent Site is an exclusive job portal that NTU students can utilise to apply for full-time or part-time jobs and internships. With more than 2200 companies posting job openings, this is a must-visit site: http://www.talentsite.ntu.edu.sg

Recruitment Events

CAO holds numerous recruitment events on campus and online, bringing together employers who are keen to hire NTU students. Students are strongly encouraged to at-tend all the below events to connect with top employers. Do remember to prepare your name cards and brush up your resume and networking skills before you attend these events:

• Recruitment Talks• Networking Events• Career Fair• iFair• Campus Interviews

Mobile Apps

First of their kind among the local universities, Career Scope and JobPASS are CAO’s two apps to get you equipped with skills and connect you to employers conveniently.

Career Scope• Access calendar of career events• Get quick tips and checklists on resumes, interviews, networking and more• Book a career coach

JobPASS (in conjunction with Talent Site)

• Apply for permanent, contract, temporary full-time or part-time jobs directly

• Search for companies of your choice and find recommended jobs

• Get instant notifications on job application status and new jobs

> CAREER SKILLS

7

> CAREER SKILLS

Know Your Career Coaches

> CAREER SKILLS Mr Loh Pui Wah “Students often ask me how do they know which is the right job for them especially when they are not sure of what to do after graduation.My reply was simply, “Do you want to go to work every day to ajob you have no passion and interest for?” Or “Do you want to go to work every day to a job you find purposeful and meaningful to yourself?” For in a purpose-driven job, you will motivate yourself to deliver better and better results which your employers will reward you for your performance. But if you do not like the job you are doing, how can you motivate yourself to deliver good results?You will always be wondering if this is the right job for you!”

Ms Guerrero Anna Liza “Treat your resume as your success history. Remember that as a university student you have your own fair share of successes and this should clearly be reflected in all your applications be it on paper (resume) or your actions (interview and actual job performance).”

Ms Wendy How “Find the direction in your career compass, the one factor that will make you fulfilled at the end of your career. A quick way to identify it: What makes you excited or energetic? Find that and you’ll find your direction.”

Mdm Chong-Goh Mei Eng“During your study years, get yourselvesout of the comfort zone. Put yourselves into unfamiliar situations, take some risks and challenge yourselves. You will be surprised at how resourceful and resilient you can be! In the process, you develop yourselves and get to know your strengths and weaknesses. Life is a journey of self-discovery. The more you know yourselves, the more likely you are going to find your passions and have enjoyable and fulfilling careers!”

Ms Jacqueline Au Yong“Career is a pathway. Chart your career path early, identify your career goals. Have little action steps to guide you along as you navigate your path. Be flexible to adjust accordingly as life situation changes. Know where you want to go and you’ll get there.”

Mr Loh Pui Wah DirectorCertified in• Harrison Assessments• Assessment Centre (Role player and Assessor)

Mdm Chong-Goh Mei EngDeputy Director Certified in• Harrison Assessments• Worklife Career Coach• Follow Your True Color to the Work You Love• Assessment Centre (Role player and Assessor)

• Diploma in Counselling Psychology

Ms Jacqueline Au YongSenior Assistant Director Certified in• Harrison Assessments• Strong Interest Inventory• CareerLeader • Neuro-linguistic Programming • Assessment Centre (Role player and Assessor)

Ms Guerrero Anna LizaManager Certified in• Harrison Assessments• Strong Interest Inventory• CareerLeader • Assessment Centre (Role player and Assessor)

Ms Wendy HowAssistant Manager Certified in• Harrison Assessments• Strong Interest Inventory• CareerLeader • Assessment Centre (Role player and Assessor)

8

Beyond academic qualifications, employers are increasingly referring to fresh graduates’ previous work experiences to provide information on their technical competence, soft skills and job-related skills. It is important to gain relevant working experience through internships which can go a long way in beefing up your resume. Internships are also one of the best ways for you to: • Learn and develop job skills.

• Gather knowledge about the company and industry, as well as contacts beyond your classroom.

• Determine if you would like to pursue a particular career.

• Provide you with new options in the industry you have yet to consider.

More importantly, companies are increasingly viewing internships as a test bed to identify potential future employees, so doing well in an internship could lead to a full-time position.

Applying for internships Internships in NTU can range from a few weeks to six months, depending on the internship programme you are in. If you are doing a credit-bearing internship under the school curriculum, NTU Career & Attachment Office (CAO) works closely with schools and industry partners to provide relevant programmes that you can apply for under “StudentLink”. Alternatively, you may wish to apply for internships via self-sourcing. Self-sourced internships can be considered for your credit-bearing internship (subject to approval) or for your individual growth.

To look for an internship, here’s what you could do:

• Monitor job sites such as NTU TalentSite and visit recruitment events such as talks, career fairs and online career fairs like iFair.

• If you have specific companies in mind, look for their career pages on their websites where internship opportunities are often posted.

> CAREER SKILLS

Succeeding in Internships by Wendy How, Assistant Manager,

Career & Attachment Office

9

• Take the initiative to send emails or call the company for internship opportunities. Ensure that you share clearly with the company your objective for application, your background and skills, and how you see yourself being of assistance to the organisation.

During the internship Now that you have secured your internship, it is important to ensure you succeed in your internship and perhaps even secure a conversion to a full-time position. Here are some tips to guide you:

1. Clarify expectations Use your introductory meeting with your supervisor to clarify both parties’ expectations, objectives and job responsibilities of the internship. Schedule regular meetings with your supervisor or mentor to chart your growth, get feedback on your work, and provide progress reports.

Spend some time to set your own goals at the start of the internship. These goals could range from learning a particular skill set, determining the area of expertise you want to specialise in, or exposing yourself to the industry and building up contacts. Ensure your goals are realistic and attainable for the duration of the internship.

2. Ask, ask, ask Don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek advice on processes that you are not familiar with. Not everything is taught to you in school, so just ask. However, it is important to note the way your questions are phrased and the timing to ask them as your supervisor or mentor could be busy There is a thin line between being curious and being pushy.

3. Gather and learn Seize opportunities to learn, take part in activities or tackle new tasks outside of your work scope to learn more about the company and industry. Attend meetings as they offer good chances to increase knowledge and contact base. Attend trainings to boost your technical skills. Attend staff activities to network with more colleagues. The more you are exposed to new ideas and new people, the more experience and network you will gain.

4. Observe and learn How do your colleagues dressed? What is their body language like when talking to managers and peers? How do they tackle certain processes and problems? Being observant about appropriate employee dressing, behaviours and work processes will let others have a good first impression of you as well as provide you an understanding of the company culture beyond your internship job scope.

5. Be professional Dress, communicate and behave like a professional. Be positive and proactive when accepting and working on assignments, and be pleasant and respectful when working with colleagues. It is also important to maintain a friendly and professional image when communicating with co-workers outside of the meeting room.

Avoid other negative behaviours such as complaining, arriving late, missing deadlines, appearing arrogant and inflexible, and taking part in office politics. This is also crucial in portraying a professional image.

6. Network One of the key takeaways from any internship is your network of contacts. Build good relations with your colleagues and managers. Leverage on this network to learn about the company and industry, sound them out on your next career step and possibly source for future internships or jobs. Sustaining these relationships could also offer up new opportunities as you advance further in your field. Don’t burn any bridges as you can never know when it may come back to haunt you. If you’re trapped in a position with little chance of networking, try to create your own opportunities by setting up lunch or coffee meetings with people outside your own team.

7. Adopt the right mindset You have started working as an intern. Discard the “I am still a student” mentality. This means that you need to adopt the mindset of a working professional; be disciplined in turning up to work on time every day, take the initiative to seek solutions for problems, be ethical when dealing with customers and clients, be respectful when interacting with colleagues, be principled when reporting to managers and more.This internship is as much for clarifying your career path as it is for you to understand the rigours of working.

10

Ending your internship

1. Exit gracefully Thank your colleagues and managers through lunches, notes or meetings for their time in teaching you. Obtain a letter of recommendation from your supervisor and/or mentor which can help you when applying for future jobs. Do remember to drop an email once in a while to keep in touch with them and sustain the relationships. This can be useful in helping you to keep in touch with the industry as well. 2. Ensure and record tangible achievements An internship will only be useful in your resume if you are able to share tangible achievements. Record down what you have accomplished in your internship on a regular basis – what you have done, what improvements you have helped to make, how many clients you have met, what problems you helped to solve, how much research you have done, etc. This will be helpful when you add your internship experience into your resume.

An internship is increasingly viewed by employers as a key component in understanding the career readiness of fresh graduates. Being able to succeed in internships can help you in understanding the working world, boosting your resume, and scoring a conversion (if an employer is impressed enough with your performance to offer you a full-time position). Read on over the next few pages to learn more from students who have successfully converted their internships, as well as tips from various companies.

All the best to you!

Odfjell Singapore Pte Ltd

Hear from Tan Si Lin and Huang Jun Jie

In Odfjell Singapore Pte Ltd, we were rotated among different business functions: Chartering, Operations, Ship Management and Terminal Operations. Through management presentations, vessels and terminal visits, and informal discussions with colleagues, we caught a glimpse of the dynamics involved in shipping.

What were some of the factors that helped you successfully convert your internship to a full-time position? Attitude is important. We were curious to learn, eager to ask questions and pro-active in our learning and understanding. We displayed self-discipline to learn and work independently, and the ability to work effectively with others. Building relationships is also

> CAREER SKILLS

Huang Jun Jie (left), B.Sc. in Maritime Studies, graduated in 2013, Graduate Trainee

Tan Si Lin (centre), B.Sc. in Maritime Studies, graduated in 2013, Graduate Trainee

Mr Gareth Williams (right), Commercial Manager, Odfjell Singapore Pte Ltd

How Do YouJob Conversi

11

key to getting the work done and creating an enjoyable work environment. As our internship progressed, we became more comfortable socialising with strangers and even developed friendships with our future colleagues.

Any advice for juniors keen to succeed in theirinternships? Internship is an excellent opportunity to understand the industry you intend to work in and your future job role. It all boils down to the alignment of expectations, for both the individual and the company. If you like your experience and it fits your career agenda, then FIGHT for it!

Hear from Mr Gareth Williams, Commercial Manager of Odfjell Singapore Pte Ltd

What makes a successful intern? Someone with the right raw materials: A genuine interest in shipping, a sense of purpose, a strong personality, a sense of independence, a quick wit, an awareness of what’s going on in the outside world and a keen sense of humour. In short a well-adjusted individual who is able to interact confidently with people of all ages and nationalities.

What do you look out for in interns when deciding to convert them to full-time positions? An internship is an important two-way learning process whereby our interns can prove to themselves and us that our organisation is able to provide a fulfilling career in shipping. We obviously learn a great deal about interns during the process and that gives us an important overview of their qualities that we feel are important in our organisation.

What advice would you provide students who aspire to convert their internships to full-time positions? Don’t only apply to us! The recruitment process is tough and you need to create many opportunities to put yourself on the ladder. If you are fortunate enough to receive several offers, zero in and make a choice based on the career development path that each organisation provides. My advice is to get this right when you start out.

McCann Health

Hear from Sor Jiaming Kelvin

I interned in an advertising firm’s division that specialises in healthcare. With zero background in advertising, marketing or communications, I had to rapidly get myself up to speed on the basics of communications in order to make meaningful contributions to the team. I quickly learnt about independence, thoroughness in thinking, collaborative work, and how to distil complex mind-boggling medical/scientific facts into angles that people can relate to and appreciate. What were some of the factors that helped you successfully convert your internship to a full-time position?I think I tried my best in whatever I did. I actively grabbed whatever new projects I could manage and I worked hard.I think I did not just do my assigned tasks and go home; I went beyond that.

Any advice for juniors keen to succeed in their internships?If you do only the minimum, you are wasting both your time and your employer’s; that opportunity could be given to some-one else who values it more than you do. Always try your best and learn as much as you could. Seek out opportunities if you think you suit the company’s culture and the job scope.

Hear from Ms Claire Tan, Account Director of McCann Health

What makes a successful intern?Great attitude, someone with strong willingness to learn and adapt.

on From Your Internship?Score A Full-Time

12

> CAREER SKILLS

What do you look out for in interns when deciding to convert them to full-time positions?Interest in our industry, attitude and aptitude to apply scientific training into healthcare communications.

What advice would you provide students who aspire to convert their internships to full-time positions?Go with an open mind, immerse fully into the company’s culture, and give 100% when asked to chip in. Many MNCs who have a similar lean structure only look at experienced hires, and internship is a rare opportunity for the employer to evaluate whether the student is ready for more responsibilities upon graduation. Students who are interested in full-time positions should express their interest and work to upscale themselves over the six-month period.

Oceaneering International

I was in operation support for Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) tooling. The learning curve was steep; I faced tough environments offshore, and colleagues from various backgrounds. It was a challenge to get used to the physicality of the industry and job. However, through this internship, I not only learnt that the oil and gas industry is vast, diverse and dynamic, but also found my calling as an engineer in this industry. It is not enough just to be good with engineering theory, but we need good communication and interpersonal skills to be successful.

Hear from Ephraim Monteiro

What were some of the factors that helped you successfully convert your internship to a full-time position?A good superior who not only treated me as an employee but a fellow colleague as well. My manager wanted to see me learn

as much as I could and ultimately succeed not just in grades but also in my professional career. So he invested lots of money into getting me trained, and he allowed me to perform tasks which were normally assigned to senior staff. This ultimately made me a worthwhile candidate to consider for a full-time position.

Any advice for juniors keen to succeed in their internships?Start early. Don’t just wait for IA semester to actually do an IA. I had always wanted to be self-sufficient and not rely on my parents for pocket money, so I was fortunate to find a part-time job in Oceaneering which was willing to take me on with zero experience. I did this while I was studying in NTU full-time, so I didn’t have the luxury of participating in hall activities or taking long holidays. But I have absolutely no regrets because my sacrifices have definitely paid off when Oceaneering offered me the opportunity to work in their Asia Pacific headquarters in Perth, Australia.

Hear from John Mackay, DTS Manager, Asia

What makes a successful intern?Successful interns are prepared to do what it takes to get the job done, safely. They know the value of doing a good job and are prepared to do much more than what the employer asks of them. They take initiative, ask questions, arrive on time, while staying out of office conflicts or gossip. What do you look out for in interns when deciding to convert them to full-time positions?Those who can show me and others within the organisation that they have what it takes, both personally and professionally, to fit in with the company’s culture. They take time to learn about the mission of the organisation and how we serve our clients, and show the highest attention to details in their work, resulting in quality workmanship.

What advice would you provide students who aspire to convert their internships to full-time positions?Internships are designed to prepare people for future jobs and careers, and finding one that meets your expectations to accomplish your professional goals will also assist you in being a more competitive candidate in your future.

Open communication with your employer on expectations and your job performance will ensure everyone is on the same page and provide an opportunity for you to improve and make the necessary changes during the course of your internship.

Finally, show enthusiasm and interest in gaining new knowledge and relevant skills, and offer to attend workshops or seminars. This not only increases your understanding of the business, but also leaves a favourable impression on your supervisor and boosts your employer’s confidence in your willingness and initiative to do a good job.

13

ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.

I was heavily involved in the validation of Refinery Linear Programming Models (LP Models) during my internship. During normal days, I would help execute cases and evaluate the confidence level of the current model. In addition to the validation of LP models, I was also tasked with the creation and modification of numerous in-house programs. These programs were used later on for economics feasibility studies and also to track the movement of molecules from feed to product. The biggest challenge that I had to overcome was my fear of asking questions. At the beginning, I was very reserved and this led to many unanswered questions in my mind. I could not understand what my supervisor / mentor was saying and I also didn’t pluck up the courage to voice my confusion. It was not until I talked to many of my seniors that I came to realise the importance of asking questions. The advice has made my internship experience more fulfilling and also helped with my development as an engineer. The main takeaway from my internship was actually not the technical knowledge but soft skills such as communication skills and presentation skills. Towards the end of the internship, it dawned upon me that soft skills are just as important as technical knowledge. At the end of the day, without good communication skills and presentation skills, you would not be able to showcase your brilliant ideas, or technical solutions, and this might result in the potential loss of opportunities.

Hear from Lau Jia Sheng

What were some of the factors that helped you successfully convert your internship to a full-time position?One of the many factors that helped successfully convert my internship to a full-time position was the opportunities, such as projects, offered to me by my supervisor. I was very fortunate because these opportunities gave me exposure and also allowed me to contribute to the company. Besides opportunities, I believe that having a positive attitude and the willingness to learn also played a big part.

Any advice for juniors keen to succeed in their internships?Do not be afraid to ask – for explanation and also for more work. The more you ask, the more you get out of the internship experience. Grab those opportunities that come your way and avoid refusing any work no matter how mundane it is, because there are always learning points to pick up in every task. I also urge juniors to be open to new ideas and to consider even the most unconventional solution because good ideas are often those unconventional ones. Hear from Jeremy Sampsell, Human Resources Manager Singapore Cluster, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. What makes a successful intern? A successful intern takes full advantage of the learning opportunity to apply their knowledge and experience to address the real life challenges that the business faces. One should be willing to go the extra mile, be curious and proactive, be willing to learn from others and bring a positive attitude to work every day. All this is important together with demonstrating many of the key success factors we look for when making longer-term employment decisions.

What do you look out for in interns when deciding to convert them to full-time positions?In general, we look for interns who demonstrate leadership, self-confidence, strong communication and interpersonal skills while applying their strong technical, analytical and problem-solving capability, whether they are working in a technical or commercial role.

What advice would you provide students who aspire to convert their internships to full-time positions? Be authentic and take charge of your career. You are the most important person in the equation and you should seek all available opportunities to add value in everything you do and contribute to achieving the business’ objectives.

While getting full-time employment is an important outcome, it is not everything. The internship is an opportunity to learn more about yourself, more about a prospective long-term employer which ultimately helps you understand what you are looking for in a career and ensure a prospective employer provides it. For ExxonMobil, an internship is a key first step in an exciting career.

> CAREER SKILLS

14

> CAREER SKILLS

Rolls-Royce Singapore Pte Ltd

I spent one semester at Rolls-Royce in 2011 doing my Industrial Attachment in the Purchasing Department. Having focused on much technical aspects during the academic part of the curriculum, I decided I wanted to explore the business side of an engineering company, to develop more of the soft skills one needs to have in work. This I found in the internship programme with Rolls-Royce. Rolls-Royce has a comprehensive internship selection process, whereby shortlisted candidates go through an assessment centre, very much like applying for graduate positions.

Having completed the internship in Rolls-Royce, I felt that the company focuses on developing and training talents and strongly believes in hiring fresh graduates to groom them for potential leadership positions within the company. I was empowered to perform challenging operational tasks even as an intern, so all the more it would be expected of an employee of the company. The global exposure that I would get to experience was also a huge draw for me as I yearned for the opportunity to meet new people and experience different cultures. Thus, I would say that my internship definitely played a part in helping me become one of the few selected individuals invited to join the Rolls Royce Graduate Leadership Program – Operations Management whereby I continue to have opportunities to travel and hone my skills for future leadership roles.

Hear from Pang Yida

What were some of the factors that helped you successfully convert your internship to a full-time position?It is important to have a good understanding of the job or industry that you are aiming for. The purpose of an internship is to benefit both the student and the company. The student can decide whether he or she likes the job scope, the company culture, and the challenges. On the other hand, the company gets to assess the student, see whether he or she is a good fit for the company, shares the values, and can help the company grow. So by converting the internship to a full-time position is a win-win situation for both; not only does the company save cost in hiring and training, they are also sure the employee is right for the company. The employee is happier and will stay in the company for a longer period of time.

The internship is a good chance to network, to meet seniors of the company, and to see what other opportunities are there in the company. You may be applying for a job that has no link to the internship that you are doing but it was the connections that open up the other routes for you.

Any advice for juniors keen to succeed in their internships?Be humble. Internship is a time when you can learn a lot. On that note, keep an open mind to learn. The real working world is different from what is behind the school gates, so go out there and experience. And also do what you enjoy. With that passion, anything is possible.

Hear from Saravana Kumar, Recruitment Advisor, Rolls-Royce Singapore Pte Ltd

What makes a successful intern?Perseverance, the ability to learn quickly and effectively, and lastly, the ability to work well in a team.

What do you look out for in interns when deciding to convert them to full-time positions?Good performance feedback, and passion for the job / industry.

What advice would you provide students who aspire to convert their internships to full-time positions? Do a good study / research on the company and the job you are applying for, and be willing to learn new skills and knowledge.

15

16

In a recent employers’ survey conducted by Career & Attachment Office, these are the top three qualities and values which employers are looking out for in fresh graduates:

Create the Winning Formula

> CAREER SKILLS

by Jacqueline Au Yong, Senior Assistant Director, Career & Attachment Office

Problem solving Problem solving is the ability to systematically develop strategies to overcome problems. A quick check on articles about key qualities employers look out for in fresh graduates revealed that almost 99% of articles mentioned problem solving skills as one of the must-have skills.

Sample descriptions of this skill in resume / interview: • Creative individual who is able to generate strategies / ideas to successfully resolve difficulties.

• Able to formulate plans to reach target or solve issues effectively and efficiently.

Motivated / Initiated A person who is highly motivated and takes great initiative in his / her work will be a highly sought-after employee. You will need to be able to constantly sniff out opportunities and strive towards a high level of excellence and professionalism. This is also the trait that distinguishes between a star performer and amediocre one.

Sample descriptions of this skill in resume / interview: • Highly motivated individual who takes great initiative in all assignments.

Qualities: Problem solving + Motivated / Initiated + FlexibleValues: Willingness to learn + Professionalism (Good work ethics) + Responsible

17

Flexible In the dynamic working environment, you never know when an urgent situation would crop up. When you are assigned with multiple tasks, you must be able to adapt to whatever the situation calls for and ease into the new role quickly.

Sample descriptions of this skill in resume / interview:

• A highly adaptable person who is able to adjust quickly to situations.

• Able to adjust and assimilate into new environments with minimal hassle.

Willingness to learn Being a fresh graduate, there will be a lot of things which are unfamiliar to you in the new work environment. Be humble and learn as much as you can from your colleagues or mentors in the office. This “willing to learn” attitude is very much valued byemployers. Sample descriptions of this skill in resume / interview:

• Possess the attitude to learn, and eager to tackle challenges. • Humble and open to new ideas.

Professionalism Being professional means that you are able to display responsible behaviour that is appropriate for workplace. A professional individual is able to separate his / her private space from work and is able to fulfil his / her employment obligations to his / her employers. In many industries, there is often a code of ethics or industry standards to adhere to.

Sample descriptions of this skill in resume / interview:

• Displayed professionalism in all aspects of work.

• Reliable and competent individual / team player who can be depended on to deliver quality work.

Responsible A responsible worker is someone who will turn up for work punctually, is ready to take on the tasks assigned to him / her, and most importantly, is able to complete them without fail and with quality.

Sample descriptions of this skill in resume / interview:

• Highly dependable individual / team player who can be entrusted with tasks.

• Ability to perform and achieve tasks assigned with 100% commitment.

Ms Maria Ng HR Manager ASM Technology Singapore Pte Ltd

Checklist when hiring new graduates:a Innovation a Teamworka Learning agility – a flexible mind-set with ability to learna Project management skillsa Execution excellence

Key skills for future leaders• Leadership skills such as strategic thinking, coaching, mentoring, empowering and motivation skills• Conflict management skills• Change management skills• Learning agility – a flexible mind-set with ability to learn• “Walk the talk” – ability to be a role model

Mr Tony HoVice President, Asia PacificInvensys Operations Management

Checklist when hiring new graduates: a Personality a Teamwork a Planning a Leadership a Adaptability a Motivation

Key skills for future leaders • Achievements to date• Recent performances• References to successful pursuits and projects• Demonstration of how one drives to success through proper planning and execution.

> CAREER SKILLS

Learning from Leaders

18

Mr David Lim Senior Director, Staffing

Quintiles East Asia Pte Ltd

Checklist when hiring new graduates:a Ability to articulate and present thoughts and ideas in an international contexta Learning Agilitya Flexibilitya Versatility

Key skills for future leaders• Having a strong business acumen would be really important even in support functions. With strong business acumen, a leader would be able to command respect and make timely conclusive decisions in ever- changing environment.

• Visionary – a very “old” key skill that is fast disappearing. How many leaders these days still possess the visionary skills to drive the organisations to where they need to be?

Ms Joanne HuTalent ManagerSingapore Power

Checklist when hiring new graduates:a Passion for the energy sector – fresh graduates who have the zest in powering the nation.

a Having the drive and a genuine interest for a career in engineering – They will be groomed through the Engineering Development for GraduatEs (EDGE) programme.

a Embracing challenges – Being at the frontline of powering the nation requires one to be quick on his feet in reacting to emergencies, and proactive in anticipating faults. One also has to devise contingency plans to avert potential accidents and correct faults.

Key skills for future leaders• High level of motivation• Awareness of industry & global developments• People-oriented • Adaptable

Mr James KawSingapore Innovation Centre - DirectorProcter & Gamble Singapore

Checklist when hiring new graduates:a Innovators who have a passion to improve the lives of consumers a Scientific mastery to create solutions to the everyday frustrations and issues of the consumers

a Collaborators: collaborate internally and externally to bring these solutions to the marketplace and strive to deliver the best all the time

a Able to handle challenging assignments as soon as they join the company, as P&G believes that the best training is on-the-job training

Key skills for future leaders• Technical rigor • Collaboration • Influencing • External focus • Building internal and personal networks• Effective communication.

We work on a diverse set of everyday problems that require deep scientific and engineering innovations because of the demanding and discriminating consumers around the world. The ability to apply their technical expertise in novel ways is something we look out for.

> CAREER SKILLS

19

Overview & Outlook

What is a good job? Many employees feel that a good job should have good remuneration, benefits, work-life balance, good bosses and colleagues, fun work environment and career advancement. So are these jobs readily available in Singapore? YES! There are indeed such good jobs available.

Besides remuneration, a good job is one that gives you ample learning opportunities and a series of career development paths. To see the benefits of a good job, the employee has to staylong enough on the job to learn and grow well. The employee cannot expect to understand the job fully within a short time frame. Patience, hard work, perseverance and dedication to the job are required from the employees to really determine if theyhad landed themselves a good job.

Singapore’s economic outlook is positive in 2014 due to a projected growth of 3.8%1 and a more subdued inflation. However, the manufacturing sector is likely to under-perform because of the effect the US economy has on our manufacturing output. The volatility of our external environment has also led to a greater dependency domestically in sectors like construction and services for growth. However, sectors within services like tourism and retail will be dampened due to a slower growth in tourists’ arrival in Singapore. As such, we can expect employment trend in sectors like construction and services to be on the rising trend.

Singapore is among the few countries with strong hiring prospects for the upcoming quarters. Unemployment had stayed low at 1.8%2, and layoffs declined from the 2nd quarter. In retrospect, employment creation is still high and job openings still outnumber the number of job-seekers. This is a strong indication that the employment prospects in Singapore for the following quarters will be strong. Employers are cautiously optimistic about hiring over the next year to 18 months. Employers in Singapore expect to increase staffing

levels in the next three months, with those in the finance, insurance,real estate, public administration and education being the most optimistic3. To attract good candidates, many companies have added incentives such as career development, flexible working options,as well as competitive salaries above market rate given. As companies offer more incentives, the recruitment process naturally lengthens to recruit good candidates for the job. Prospective employees have to go through various rounds of shortlisting. Employers become more selective in their recruitment process to ensure that their hire has long term potential.

Human capital and a skilled workforce contribute to the prosperous economy in Singapore. Many employees choose to upgrade their skills through various courses so as to increase their value and competency on the job. Many employers also provide training and upgrading programmes to improve their employees’ skills.

Overall the employment outlook in Singapore seems relativelyhealthy. There will be increased demand for local residents in Singapore due to government restriction on foreign labour. Yet this will also indicate that to retain foreign workers, many companies will be expected to increase wages for such workers. Although there are many jobs available in various industries, employees must not forget that they must work hard for a good two to three years before they can really decipher if they are in the rightjob. After all, employers also put in a lot of effort to recruit and train a new hire.

1 Ministry of Trade and Industry, “MTI Forecasts Growth of 3.5 to 4.0 Per Cent in 2013 and 2.0 to 4.0 Per Cent in 2014” Press Release, 21 November 2013 2 Ministry of Manpower “Employment Situation, Third Quarter 2013” Press Release, 31 October 2013 3 Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Q4 2013, Singapore, 11 September 2013

> CAREER SKILLS

Employment Prospects in Singapore

by Recruit Express Pte Ltd EA Licence No. 99C4599

www.recruitexpress.com.sg

20

Different jobs offered by different companies have different requirements. Customising your resume allows you to better fit the job requirements and lets you stand out from other candidates. As a marketing tool, your resume should highlight only those Assets that are Relevant to the respective employer.

Customise Your Resume Increase Your Chances

> CAREER SKILLS

AssetsWhat makes up your assets? Basically, these comprise of the following:

Content Knowledge: Your field of study in university, any other technical skills that you have picked up

Personal Qualities Characteristics that describe you

Transferrable Skills: Skills that can be applied across different industries

Accomplishment: Your achievements and experiences

Where Can I Find My Assets? If you have done an internship in the company you are applying to or you have done a job of similar nature, you can put this experience right on top in the Professional Experience section. Placing the most relevant assets first in the resume is to ensure that the readers pick up the information the moment they scan through your resume. Busy HR managers may throw out your resume if they cannot see the relevant qualities one third through your resume.

Also, look out for strengths that you have gained from other jobs or CCA experiences. For example, the ability to work in a team can be developed from working with your CCA committee members. The ability to work under pressure may have been built from tasks that require you to follow tight deadlines. Think of transferrable skills like critical thinking, creativity, leadership, sales and many others that you may have gathered from various personal or professional experiences.

Quantify Your Assets Where applicable, it is important that your assets are quantified using dollar amounts, quantities, or percentages such as revenue generated, costs reduced, productivity rates improved, amount of time saved, etc.

Using Powerful Action Verbs Certain words are more powerful than others, for example, “created” is more impactful than “wrote”, and “collaborated” is better than “liaise”. Below is a list of powerful action verbs which you may use to write your asset statements:

Action VerbsAchievedAnalysed

AnticipatedAttainedBoosted

CollaboratedCompleted

ConceptualisedConsolidatedDemonstrated

Designed / DevelopedEvaluatedInitiated

InnovatedIntegrated

LedPlanned

ResearchedResolved

Troubleshot

Asset Statement An Asset Statement is the basic building block of a resume. It can be put under the different segment of your resume such as Professional Experience, Education & Training and Co-Curricular Activities. You should consciously align your asset statements to the company’s job requirements. For example, if the job requires the ability to work under pressure and cope with tight deadlines, you could write something like:

“Collaborated with 5 subcontractor companies to ensure Mechanical and Electrical services installation progress within deadlines at The Glyndebourne condominium project.” Letting GoFinally, resist the temptation to include as many assets as you could in your resume. This would dilute the content of the resume and your reader may not be able to pick out the most important and relevant assets you have to offer. The best strategy is to include only the most relevant assets in the resume and stop when the recommended 2-page resume is filled up.

LIFE Training & Development coaches people to increase personal effectiveness and live a life of purpose and possibilities, and it currently provides career workshops in NTU.

Visit www.lifetraining.com.sg for more information.

by Andrew Chew, Executive & Life Coach, Principal Trainer & Consultant, and Hendri Zhang, Academic & Career Coach, Trainer & Consultant

21

> CAREER SKILLS

Excelling atAssessment Centres

by Andrew Chew, Executive & Life Coach, Principal Trainer & Consultant, and Hendri Zhang, Academic & Career Coach, Trainer & Consultant

Ever wondered what Assessment Centres are all about and how to excel at them? Assessment Centres comprise of a series of tests that provide practical assessment of the candidate’s competencies (skills) and personal attributes (qualities). They can range from a few hours to a couple of days depending on the organisational needs. They are alternative methods of recruitment that address some flaws of the usual interview structure which is subjective with limited reliability. Besides the regular interviews, many big companies have used Assessment Centres to better assess and select suitable employees for their companies. There are two fundamental questions you need to ask yourself prior to attending Assessment Centres:

1. How am I going to be assessed? (type of assessment)2. What am I going to be assessed for? (assessment criteria)

The following are some typical tests / exercises of Assessment Centres:

Cognitive & Personality Tests Cognitive Test is also called Aptitude Test. It measures your work-related cognitive capacity. It has only one correct answer, and everyone can correctly solve all the test questions, given enough time. However, Cognitive Test is always timed because the only difference between people is how quickly they can correctly complete the test.

Some examples of Cognitive Test are Logical & Abstract Reasoning Tests, Numerical Reasoning Tests and Verbal Reasoning Tests. On the other hand, Personality Test is to find out who you are as a person. There is no one right answer. Some examples of such tests are DISC, MBTI and PF 16 profiling.

Case Study This is usually a realistic and relevant business problem that provides a direct measure of candidates’ relevant skills. Candidates may be given 60-90 minutes to complete the case study depending on the length of the case. Some of the potential competencies tested are Analytical Thinking (Information-Processing, Problem-Solving), Business Acumen (Judgement), Communication (Group Discussion, Presentation / Persuasion), Decision Making, Teamwork and Time Management.

In-Tray Exercise In this exercise, candidates are presented with a set of materials that are typically found in someone’s work tray. They will be given time to study the contents and draws relationship between connected issues. Eventually, candidates have to propose action steps to be taken for each item. Some of the potential competencies tested are Analytical Thinking (Information-Processing, Problem-Solving), Planning & Action Management, Decision Quality, Relationship Management and Time Management.

Group Discussion & Role Play This can be in the form of a verbal discussion based on a giv-en topic or a team building activity. It allows assessors to see how candidates perform in groups. Candidates may or may not be assigned roles. Assessors usually look for the following:

1. Are you able to help the group achieve its objectives? Identifying ways of tackling the problem

2. Can you think on your feet? Respond to suggestion made by another member of the group

3. Can you speak effectively in front of others? Express views clearly and make yourself heard

4. Can you inject some structure into the discussion? Help the group to organise its ideas and frame a cohesive response

5. Can you build on what others say? Broaden the discussion or collective analysis

6. Can you help get the best out of the group? Draw others into discussion or challenging those who are wasting the group’s time on irrelevancies

LIFE Training & Development coaches people to increase personal effectiveness and live a life of purpose and possibilities, and it currently provides career workshops in NTU. Visit www.lifetraining.com.sg for more information.

22

Being able to sell, and more importantly, sell well, is often the key factor that differentiates high performing professionals from their peers. Whether you are an R&D scientist, an entrepreneur, a consultant, or even on the personal front with your family, selling well allows you to influence stakeholders to accept your ideas.

Most people mistakenly think that selling is something they do not need to learn because either you have it or you don’t. In fact, despite its importance in the professional world, selling is not a skill that schools teach, not even in MBA programmes, and top companies are investing millions of dollars to help their talents learn how to sell. They recognise that selling is an essential skill that can and should be taught to all aspiring professionals.

To help you sell well, I’ll provide you with a five-component framework based on the acronym PITCH, which has been refined by top companies over decades, and that you could immediately apply in your next presentation or upcoming job interview. I’ll also illustrate with a job interview example where you could be asked, “Tell me about yourself please” and how you could structure your answer with the PITCH framework to leave a good and clear impression on the interviewer.

Preamble Summarise the problem or the situation to provide relevant context for the discussion with your target audience.

How you could respond in a job interview: Share your most recent background, e.g. school, course, notable CCAs. You could share what type of jobs you are now looking for in order to achieve your personal objectives in the near to mid-term.

Idea State the exact idea that you are trying to get your audience’s buy-in and acceptance. How you could respond in a job interview: Share between one to three main reasons or strengths you have that you believe would make you suitable for the job.

Tell about Tell about the details of the idea, how it works, and its possible benefits.

How you could respond in a job interview: Explain the reasons or strengths in detail and provide examplesto illustrate them.

Confirm Confirm for your audience how the possible benefits of your ideawould relate to their needs. This will help to reinforce the benefits of the idea.

How you could respond in a job interview: Confirm how the reasons or strengths could meet the needs of the hiring manager and organisation.

Hit home Finish the discussion with a concrete next step, or even better, close the deal by getting your audience to formally accept your idea.

How you could respond in a job interview: You could end off with, “Through the course of this interview, I hope to share further how I would be a good fit for this job and role.”

I hope that you find the PITCH framework useful in starting you off on your selling journey, and setting you apart from your peers.

Pitching Yourself to Success

> CAREER SKILLS

Mr Jason Tang has held various managerial positions in business development and strategy development roles. He is currently the Head of Building & Infrastructure Solutions Division, Singapore Economic Development Board. Mr Tang graduated from NTU’s EEE School School with First Class Honours and a Minor in Business, and was President of the NTU Current Affairs’ Society.

23

24

Are you dressed for

Success?How fast does it take for someone to form a good or bad first impression of you? Research has shown that your first impression is formed within 10 to 30 seconds, whether good or bad. It is imperative that you project a professional, polished and assured image within this window of opportunity for people to decide whether you are suitable for that job vacancy, project or promotion. Take some time to evaluate your style. Does your dressing say, “I am the appropriate candidate” or “I am incompetent”? Let’s check some of the fashion mistakes or disasters people make at work, some of which they do not even realise at all.

Mistake 1: You show up for a job interview in jeans, T-shirt and sport shoes

What your style says about you: “I can’t be bothered to dress professionally for the position and it does not matter whether I get the job or not.”

For job interviews, rather be overdressed than underdressed. For ladies, a jacket suit will never go wrong. For gentlemen, a long-sleeved shirt and tie is sufficient. If you are going for a top management position, consider adding a jacket. Again it is preferable to be on the conservative side when it comes to colours and style for the job interview. Engage a personal branding coach if you are not sure what cutting, colours, fitting and style suit your particular body shape and size.

Mistake 2: You like to wear ultra-mini skirts, low-cut revealing tops or cropped tops, with hipster pants or skirts to work.

What your style says about you: “I am not serious about my work. If I face any problems, I can easily get help from my male colleagues by using my feminine charm.”

You may be “popular” with some of your male colleagues for the wrong reasons. If you want to be taken seriously at work, dress professionally with a touch of class. Flip through magazines to get inspiration, or get expert help.

> CAREER SKILLS

25

Mistake 3: You think that it is alright to maintain your own individuality by colouring your hair with streaks of blue, pink or green so that you will stand out from your other colleagues.

What your style says about you: “I don’t care about my company’s culture. It’s all nonsense!” You may think that doing something different makes you look special, but people make judgement about you based on your appearance. Follow the office culture; going against it just shows that you are not a team player. If you want to stand out, excel in your work instead.

Mistake 4: You feel that it is very cool to show off your body piercings and tattoos at work. What your style says about you: “I can’t be bothered about how clients and colleagues think of me. I just want to do whatever I like.”

Again, the management may feel that you are projecting a wrong image to the clients and it may be detrimental to the business.

Mistake 5: As you are meeting your friends to go clubbing after work, you think that it is okay to show up at work in club wear.

What your style says about you: “I can choose what to wear and the company should not be bothered about my dressing as long as I come to work.”

If you want to be taken seriously, do not mix your personal life with business. Management won’t consider such people for promotion as they feel that these people are not projectinga good image of the company.

Mistake 6: You go to work in crumpled or worn-out clothes, thinking that no one would bother.

What your style says about you: “I don’t put effort into looking smart, so neither will I put any effort into the tasks that the company has assigned to me. I may even mess things up.”

If you cannot take good care of how you look, you will not instil much confidence and trust in your employer and your clients, which will damage your career in the long run.

Mistake 7: Your work attire wardrobe was frozen in the 70s and has “retro” written all over it.

What your style says about you: “I am out of style. I rarely come out of my cubicle to interact with my colleagues or clients. I do not want a promotion and I expect to retire from this same position many years down the road.”

Nowadays, you do not need a lot of money to build up a professional, neat and current wardrobe. Consult a personal branding coach on how to build up a capsule wardrobe with a few staple attires that give you mileage in the long run.

Mistake 8: You haphazardly match the clothes, without taking into consideration the colours, designs and patterns.

What your style says about you: “I am too lazy to coordinate my clothes properly, so please don’t count on me to do a good presentation or project.”

Knowing how different colours harmonise with one another is one step to matching your clothes well. Do not mix and match too many designs and patterns unless you are an expert inthis field. The size of the designs and patterns should bein proportion to your frame.

Whether the above scenarios apply to you or not, you can enhance your professional image by engaging a style consultant or image trainer who provides the following:

• Assessment of your current style

• Change to the right style for you

• How to dress according to the occasions and your body shape

• Camouflage figure flaws

• Appropriate makeup, hairstyling, deportment

• Social, business and dining etiquettes

You will emerge from the sessions with more confidence in adopting the right professional image for youself.

Elaine HengStyle Consultant / Image TrainerMobile: +65 8268 8308Email: elaine@elaineheng.comWebsite: www.elaineheng.com

26

Hearing from an HR professional

> CAREER SKILLS

Alumna Ms Low Peck Kem (EEE/1986) was educated in Engineering but is now an accomplished HR practitioner. She shares her views about working overseas and more.

Ms Low Peck Kem was headhuntedand worked in Geneva, Switzerland, as the Senior Director for Human Resource (HR) and Organisational Development at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). She has recently relocated back to Singapore, working for GAIN on initiatives to reduce malnutrition in Asia’s impoverished population.

Although you studied Engineering in NTU, what encouraged you to pursuea career in the HR industry? The Engineering degree gives one an excellent foundation in being verysystematic and process orientatedin thinking and being creative. While I have always encouraged undergraduates that Engineering is an excellent course of study, I have always been fascinated with the HR aspect of work.

With a very engineering mind-set oftrying to improve work processes andmaking work easier or life better forpeople, I was fascinated with how one could create a work environment whichwas conducive.

In other words, I see HR as thearchitect of people’s careers, as the creator of a best in class work environment through good people practices, processes and management systems. With an innate desire to make the world a better place to live in, and the organisation a best place to work in, and with the encouragement and opportunity given to me from one of the Hewlett Packard General Managers, Mr Ho Fatt Lun, it ended up a perfect match of marrying the passion for people excellence with the practicality of making the work environment a best place to work.

On one hand, I was able to use myengineering knowhow to understand the business needs. On the other hand, I was using my systematic thinking to solve people problems and present in a manner that technical General Managers are able to relate to and understand.

Once HR wins the trust andconfidence of the leadership team andis an effective Business HR Partner,HR becomes a credible partner whocontributes to the business bottomline, through the people.

What encouraged you to take upa position in Switzerland and whatwere some of the challenges youhad to overcome? GAIN has a very meaningful andcompelling mission: To reduce malnutritionthrough sustainable strategies aimed atimproving the health and nutrition of populations at risk. That was one of the key pull factors as I wanted to make sure that I contribute to the betterment of theworld through the work I do.

The global role of OrganizationalDevelopment and HR where I am required and can make the most impact is based in Geneva, Switzerland. As I am mobile and I enjoy different experiences, I decided to take on the opportunity to experience working and living in a European country with its different culture,in a different industry and very different environment.

When starting my career in Switzerland, I had to quickly adapt and learn from a different work culture, work environment in a European and NGO space from what I was used to in Asia. I also had to start building the networks and contacts in Switzerland since I was new to the region. As my family did not relocate with me, it was a challenge being away from the immediate and extended family and the comfort of being at home. Whilst there were many challenges I had to overcome, I am grateful for the support from my husband and children who were very encouraging. Many friends and relatives also provided me with all forms of support, such as giving me contactsof their friends in Geneva and telling meabout different tools and technologyto make my relocation easier. Mycolleagues and new found friends

Alumnus Ms Low Peck Kem (EEE/1986) has spent close to 20 years in the HR industry. She advices fresh graduates to be the best that they can be, find meaning in what they do and to learn continuously.

27

in Switzerland and France have been warm and welcoming, always including me in their gatherings, making my life in Switzerland more like home. How is life in Switzerland differentfrom that in Singapore?Working in Switzerland is quite different from Singapore in many ways. I think that the Swiss have a better balanced concept of work life harmony. Whilst Singapore takes pride with our high level of efficiency, the Swiss also pride themselves with having the most precise timing and excellent train systems.

National PrideWhile I am very proud to be Singaporean and proud of many of our Singaporean achievements, there are a lot we can learn from the Swiss – the fact that the Swiss are very proud of their culture andheritage. They take a lot of pride inwhat they do and what they haveaccomplished, and in comparison,Singaporeans seem to be more critical of ourselves and do not exhibit that same level of pride which I see in the Swiss. As we are usually rushing to get somewhere, accomplish something or improve somehow, we forget to take time to take stock, smell the roses, take a breather and remind ourselves that we ought to be proud of who we are and what we stand for.

What are your views about the current employment/recruitment industry in Singapore and what can you share about future trends?The fact that Singapore has beenfaced with a full employment situation for the past decade means that there will always be more jobs chasing after candidates. With the growth in Asia, the labour shortage will be more pronouncedin Asia, especially in Singapore. In orderto ensure the continued growth of Singapore, and to maintain the standard of living enjoyed in the past,Singaporeans will have to ensure that they continue to upgrade their skills and remain relevant to the new industry.

Employers will need to look at how to better enhance productivity as the labour crunch will only get worse. NTU graduates would likely enjoy the benefits of the full employment situation in Singapore.

In order to remain relevant, Singaporeanswould need to learn to adapt and learn to operate in a global economy, andacquire the skills and knowledge tobe a global employee where the jobmarket and competition will not belimited to just Singapore.

Given the fluctuating trends in recruitment, how can fresh graduates be well prepared so that they are able to achieve their career ambitions?The starting point is really to determinewhat you want to accomplish out of the career. Fresh graduates should give some thought to their career aspirations,research into the organisations thatthey would like to be part of, check if their potential employers can provide them with the best chance ofachieving their career ambitions, andthen give their all to contribute to theorganisation.

What would be a very importantpiece of advice you could give toour fresh/young graduates whohave just started working?Be the best you can be, find meaning in what you do and learn continuously.

As fresh graduates embark on a different phase of their life journey from astudent to an economical contributor to the society, they should always hold trueto their career aspirations. Simply put, remind yourself of what kind of foot print do you want to leave in the organisationas you embark on this working phaseof your life?

While an overseas stint would be veryuseful, do savour the experience andremember, while working overseas, you are an ambassador representing the institution you graduated from, your country and your culture.

And if you have the skills and abilitieswhich are sought after beyond Singapore, there will be opportunities to get an overseas posting as the world is your market and your opportunities are global.

What are some resume writing andinterview tips you could share? What do you think makes or breaks a job application?In any job application, make sure you check the job requirements and ensure that you customise each application to suit the job and organisation you are applying for. It is important to make sure that your resume or application can get you through the first round of shortlisting. So, basic criteria like meetingminimum qualifications, requirements, andmore, will be critical so that there is a chance for your resume to float upto the top of the stack of applicationsand impressive enough to snag aninterview.

As you prepare for the interview, doyour homework prior to the interviews.Check out the company you areinterviewing with, check out theinterviewers if you know who they areand prepare the questions you mayhave for the interviewers. Interviewerswill always ask if you have questionsand do not wait till that questionis asked to start thinking on the spot – your state of mind by then is usually in a ‘answer questions mode’ than ‘thinking of what questions to ask mode’ – so, do your homework and prepare a few questions you would like to ask. Interviewers like applicants who are well prepared and are enthusiastic about the job and the organisation they are interviewing for.

During the interviews, dress appropriately but dress comfortably, be honest, show confidence and sincerity. Maintain eye contact and impress upon the interviewers as to why you want to be part of the team and where you see yourself addingvalue to the organisation. Finally, always follow up after an interview to showinterest, and to thank interviewers for their time. Remember – from the ten or soapplicants who may be equally ormore qualified than you, why shouldthey choose you? What is your valueproposition? So, it would be beyond just the paper qualification that makes or breaks your chances of landing a job.

(This article was first published in NTULink, September 2013.)

28

The Pains and Pleasures of

Entrepreneurship

So you want to be an entrepreneur. I was there too in 2007 after graduating with an MBA from Stanford University. My first start-up failed. The second one made money. And now I’m on my third, riding the entrepreneurship roller coaster.

Before you take that leap, here’s my advice:

It’s going to be really, really hard. So you’ve got to believe in your vision, in the problem you want to solve, because it won’t make sense any other way.

With your brand new, shiny NTU degree, your stock has never been higher. Just imagine: you’ve graduated from a top school, full of promise. You’ve done no wrong. Your friends envyyou and your parents respect you.

However, all this will change – if you do a start-up. Ninety per cent of start-ups fail and yours will probably be in that group. Think about it. After years of working harder than you’ve ever worked before, and earning less hourly than you could have at McDonald’s, your company will probably close. Have you done wrong? Your friends will look at you differently, and your parents will worry and nag. Meanwhile, that first class honours graduate who played it safe and joined a bank would be earning a six-figure income and living it up.

That is the price you have to pay if you do a start-up, no matter how sexy the media dresses it up to be. The only way this price makes sense is if you believe in your vision, to the point where it doesn’t matter even if you fail while pursuing it. The act of trying is enough.

So what’s my vision? I am just about the laziest guy in the world when it comes to going out. I hate faraway places; I want to eat and drink, attend cool events and do things that are close by. But I had a problem: I could never know what’s happening in the neighbourhoods I lived and worked in. Sure, I could find the info if I had looked hard enough on Google, Facebook or Timeout, but who has time for that?

Thus feecha, my start-up, was born. feecha is the best way to see what’s happening in the neighbourhoods you love. We gather the best content from newspapers, magazines, blogs and apps to show you what’s relevant to you and your community. Think of us as Flipboard for your neighbourhood.

You have to solve a problem you truly care about. Otherwise, you will be worn down by the hours spent, the doubts, the persistent lack of money, the decisions that proved wrong, the friend you recruited who turned out poisonous. You must believe in what you do, or the price will be too steep.

Here’s why I think doing a start-up is awesome:

1. You’ll learn more about business and leadership than you ever could in school or in an established company. There’s no substitute for building things, leading teams and listening to customers. Succeed or fail, you will emerge a better leader. 2. Prior to my MBA, I worked in consulting and banking. (Yes, I was one of those guys.) There were days when I couldn’t get up and go to work. Well, I’ve never had a single day like that in any of my start-ups, even during the toughest times.

3. Start-ups are about building things and changing lives. Life is short; do something that matters to you.

My classmate Razmig recently sold Viki, his Singapore-based start-up, to Rakuten for a rumoured $200 million. Forrest, another classmate, co-founded a company called Garena here in Singapore which received a sizeable investment from Tencent.

At the end, I may never achieve that level of success. The only thing for me to stay the course is that the attempt in itself is enough reward for me. I take the leap because I must, not because I think there’s glitz and glamour.

That’s my story. So you still want to be an entrepreneur?

> CAREER SKILLS

29

30

What Is Important To You In Your Career? This is probably a question which most students ask themselves as they plan their future endeavours after obtaining a degree. An internship can be a great way to get a head start on this and find out if a particular industry or function is where your career aspirations lie. A well defined internship programme is crucial to ensuring your internship experience is a positive one. With a structured internship programme, interns are given work that matters, which includes meaningful projects that allow them to make substantive contributions while learning more about the sector they are in. Hui Hwa Koh Minjoot, Regional General Manager, Abbott Nutrition shares, “Abbott (through its Singapore Internship Programme) offers diverse opportunities to students to work on projects that add real value, contribute to critical business needs, challenge themselves and do work that has an enduring impact on our people and our communities.”

Learning About The Company The internship programme at Abbott starts with an onboarding session, which provides interns the opportunity to get to know their peers as well as learn more about the organisation through interactive sessions with senior business leaders. The full-day event also includes informal networking opportunities, a site tour as well as professional development sessions that provide tips and skills for a successful internship experience.

Ng Kok Siong, Bachelor of Accountancy Year 3 student undertook an internship in the Finance team with Abbott Nutrition and had the opportunity to attend the onboarding session.

He shares, “The onboarding programme allowed me to quickly understand Abbott’s business, culture and core values. In addition, I had the opportunity to interact with other interns and hear from different Abbott professionals about their roles and experiences. Overall, I find the programme very well-structured and meaningful.” Engaging And Contributing To understand your value to organisations, it is important that you engage in real-world work and contribute as team members. Over the course of the internship at Abbott, students have the chance to receive and provide feedback through formal and informal mechanisms so that they can make the most of the internship experience. Amanda Lim shares, “I liked the programme which had a structure - the projects and tasks that we were expected to undertake were laid out for us from day one, which helped prepare us for what we would be experiencing during the internship. I also appreciated that we were assigned mentors who greatly helped in providing guidance throughout the experience.”

> COMPANIES

Amanda Lim, a Bachelor of Business Year 2 student who interned in marketing with Abbott Nutrition says, “The onboarding programme was definitely useful to give interns a comprehensive introduction to the company, what it stands for and what it does. It also made me feel welcomed by the company.”

Doing Work

An InternshipABB

31

Towards the end of the internship, interns have the opportunity to present their project experience and key learnings to a panel of business leaders, and a chance to win Abbott’s Best Intern Award. In 2013, Kok Siong won the Best Intern Award and sums up his experience by saying, “I achieved the goals which I had set for myself at the beginning of the internship, such as developing my knowledge in Finance and learning more about the nutrition indus-try. Furthermore, the people in Abbott are always willing to share their knowledge and support me to complete my assignments.”

Sharpening Soft Skills An internship is a means to experience the corporate setting while learning critical soft skills. “The Abbott Singapore Internship Programme provides a platform for students to do work that matters and in the process gain valuable experience and skills for their personal and professional development,” says Basant Pandey, Talent Acquisition Director, Asia Pacific and Japan.

Making Connections Across the company, Abbott connects people with their potential. For Amanda, the most memorable moment of her internship has been working on an internal launch campaign. “It was memorable as I got the chance to interact with people from different divisions when I went around the different Abbott offices to do the necessary set-ups. It also helped increase my confidence in dealing with challenging work and situations.”

It isn’t all work during an internship with Abbott. Interns have the opportunity to connect with peers and other Abbott employees through informal activities. Kok Siong relates one of his most memorable internship moments, “It was the dragon boat event which I took part during the second week of my internship, where I enjoyed the beautiful scenery along Marina Bay Sands!”

Wan Chieng added and shares, “AMS Team Building was one of the many memorable moments during my internship. It was a time of gaming and bonding with all the employees in AMS. This year’s theme reminded us that difficult times do not last, but families do. It was fun and totally unforgettable.”

Abbott employees are passionate about the work they do to improve the health of people around the world, and they are equally passionate about the internship programme. “Having interns work on projects at Abbott has been great in terms of the energy and enthusiasm they bring to the table; the diversity of perspectives that they bring adds to the richness of the team environment,” says Hui Hwa Koh-Minjoot.

Low Wan Chieng, Year 2 student of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering who is undertaking an internship with Abbott Manufacturing Singapore (AMS)confirms, “Having this experience at Abbott provided me with the invaluable lessons which are not available in textbooks or from lectures. I learnt to be more flexible and adaptable through

the different challenges I encountered. Working in a big organisation has improved my time management skills as well, especially multitasking and task prioritisation.” Michelle Tay, a Bachelor of Accountancy student at NTU worked in the Finance team at Abbott Medical Optics, and she adds, “It made me realise that when I’m out in the working world, I don’t just require accounting knowledge, but qualities such as being a team-player, a willingness to learn and determination are what take you far.”

With AbbottOTT

About Abbott

Abbott is a global healthcare company devoted to improving life through the development of products and technologies that span the breadth of healthcare. With a portfolio of leading, science-based offerings in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic pharmaceuticals, Abbott serves people in more than 150 countries and employs approximately 70,000 people. In 2013, the Singapore Internship Programme had interns work on projects across functions and spanning the nutrition, diagnostics, medical devices and pharmaceuticals businesses.

> COMPANIES

that Matters:

32

> COMPANIES

In Singapore, our perception of a consultant is some hotshot in fancy clothes working at Clarke Quay or Raffles Place. I had the same idea, until I started working at ‘Healy Consultants’. Here, I learnt becoming a consultant is a lot easier than I could haveimagined.

As a consultant, your job is to advice your client. You are an expert in your field and so, the client expects you to provide the best possible service. Keeping that in mind, let’s look at the ingredients used for making the perfect consultant.

Proficiency In Spoken English Firstly, you need to be good in conversational English. Your clients will judge you and your firm by how well you interact with them. Being proficient in English will help you get your point across easily. Now, it is possible that some clients may not be very proficient themselves. Even so, with excellent speaking skills, you will be able to create a good first impression.

Patience Secondly, patience is very important when dealing with your clients. Even if their requests may sound redundant or a little unreasonable, you should never send them a negative vibe. I have seen how my seniors at Healy Consultants demonstrate this virtue, and I believe it will help you succeed as a consultant.

A Positive AttitudeBesides patience, a good consultant also needs positive attitude. Most of your work as a consultant revolves around answering a client’s queries. For instance, at Healy Consultants, we provide business incorporation services in many countries and our clients often need detailed information about the required procedures in these countries. So, we are always on the computer performing our research, even about the smallest possible details which might impact our clients. However, if the answers are not available online, we don’t lose hope; instead we contact local professionals in those countries or their embassies to get the required information. In essence, a consultant is hired in order to get solutions and the only way that is going to happen is by keeping a positive attitude.

Becom

Perfect C Healy Co

33

Paavan Chhabra (second from left) graduated from NTU in August 2013. He holds a degree in Economics and a CFA Level 1 Certification. Currently, he works as an Economic Researcher and Client Relationship Officer at Healy Consultants. If you are interested in a career opportunity with Healy Consultants, send your resume to careers@healyconsultants.com

Learning SkillsLastly, it is important to pick up subtle learning points from every work engagement. As a consultant, you are expected to absorb and process information along the way, so don’t be intimidated by any new work thrown at you. I would also recommend you to talk with the veteran employees of your firm. They have a wealth of experience to share, and you can try to learn and emulate their work ethics.

Transition From Academia To The Business WorldI graduated from NTU this August from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS). When I started my job search, I realised that NTU had prepared me well and I have knowledge which could be put to use in the real world.

Having studied Economics, Business and Corporate Finance, followed by the career opening provided by ‘Healy Consultants’, I am able to convert my knowledge into commercial profit for my firm’s clients.

Furthermore, working with ‘Healy Consultants’ has given me the opportunity to speak with some distinguished and experienced

entrepreneurs. These interactions, albeit formal in nature, have given me, a fresh graduate, the confidence and a sense of belonging in the corporate world. This has also helped smoothen my transition from a student to a business professional. Let me end this article by saying that there is no one mantra to become a good consultant. You will never hear some veteran of the field say that if you take this or that course in school, you’ll become a great consultant; it just doesn’t work like that. What is important is the ability to step out of your comfort zone. As a student, you are very much in a sheltered environment, so even if you give a formal speech, the consequence is small compared to what you say and do as a consultant. There, your contributions will be used by your seniors to make deals with the clients; simply put, your actions will be worth money. So, get ready to break boundaries and embrace new challenges. If you are able to do that, in the words of Sir Rudyard Kipling, “You’ll be the Man!”

ing the

onsultantnsultants

34

> COMPANIES

An Essential Part of

The Value ChainLoyal Reliance

Upon graduating from Nanyang Technological University with a Bachelor of Chemical and Bio-molecular Engineering in 2011, Jia Sheng was seeking for three Es in his career – Education, Experience and Exposure. His job hunt eventually landed him a position at Loyal Reliance, a company that provides corporate financing solutions, government incentives advisory, productivity advisory and corporate training to a wide spectrum of business start-ups and matured industries.

Describe the working culture in your company and tell us what makes your career so enjoyable?

Dynamic! Loyal Reliance meets my expectation of the three Es. It provides me with abundant growth in Experience and Exposure by offering opportunities to deal with companies across different industries, from start-ups to established companies.

Being an essential part of the value chain and delivering value to businesses is our top priority. Everyone plays a crucial role in the engagement process with clients for each project and catching sight of our combined efforts materialise into delivering real value, offers the most satisfying experience.

Share with us more regarding a memorable episode from your career.

In 2012, I was given the opportunity by my director to take on a larger role in developing the Grants Advisory Division despite my young age. It was really challenging to embark on something completely new and I needed to do most of the groundwork on my own. Thankfully, with the guidance from my director and the encouragement from my fellow colleagues, my team and I developed a comprehensive range of services. This experience has indeed given me the confidence to take on bigger responsibilities within the organisation.

Tell us more about the development opportunities in your company.

The dynamic and “can do” culture of a relatively young company provides much value for fresh graduates. As Business Consultants, you are able to learn valuable industry insights and on-the-ground knowledge directly from SME business owners. You will also understand why some businesses are performing far better than their competitors, while others are facing financial difficulties. Subsequent promotion to a managerial position will allow you to provide guidance to other consultants within your team.

In the Business Unit Division, you will take on a more analytical role and take part in various consultancy projects. Business Development is another interesting division where you spearhead new service developments and establish strategic partnershipswith various organisations. With all the hard work put in by my fellow colleagues, our range of services has multiplied over a short span of less than two years.

About Loyal Reliance: Loyal Reliance is the leading SME Consultancy Firm in Singapore, specialising in financial management and providing tailor-made solutions to the local and regional business communities.

Ong Jia ShengManager Business Unit, Loyal Reliance Pte Ltd Bachelor of Chemical & Bio-molecular EngineeringNanyang Technological UniversityYear of Graduation: 2011

35

36

> COMPANIES

Space, Stories andAn Amalgam of Visual Stimuli

Despite being considered a hatchling amongst the big creative cities like Germany, London and Tokyo, Singapore’s design scene has come a long way in the past 15 years, and the country has witnessed a wave of independent local studios that are gaining international attention.

“You’ll find boredom where there is the absence of a good idea” — The design business is all about visual communication and it is crucial to have a strong context base to support the visuals, a mantra stressed constantly by the folks over at Foreign Policy. The multi-disciplinary studio is a creative consultancy and think-tank bureau helmed by creative directors Yah-Leng Yu and Arthur Chin, along with their team of idea makers and story tellers who help craft, realise and evolve brand visions through different permutations such as space design, installation and publications. Their creative approach is simple: It is a shared belief within the studio to have a strong base of context to support the visual. The client is viewed as a collaborator rather than a customer, and each project begins with a collection of stimuli, which would then lead to a brainstorming session for story and concept generation.

The studio is housed on the ground floor of a pre-war building located along Yong Siak Street, a bustling melting pot of artisan cafés and bookshops. An unimposing black glass door first greets you. And before you know it, you’ll soon find yourself inside The Pentagon, a part-gallery and part-installation space. It is here that Foreign Policy stages The Swap Show, an exhibition exchange between design studios and creative agencies from cities all around the world, designed to showcase and celebrate creative work internationally.

There is another stellar project from their extensive portfolio: The Sifang Art Museum. Taking inspiration from the gentle terrain as well as the museum’s elegant yet rigid architectural angularity, the studio has created an identity of strength and graceful subtlety.

Foreign Policy Design

37

38

> COMPANIES

Kick-start Your Career in Trading

Toyota Tsusho Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.

Catherine Qiu graduated from NTU in 2012 from the School of Mechanical Engineering. She is currently taking care of the Automotive Parts’ South Africa market. This is a recent photo of her on a business trip in Africa where she conducted a 6-day sales training for her South Africa counterparts, with the purpose of forming a stronger team to handle the global supply chain more efficiently.

“In order to survive in the trading environment, you have to be armed with ‘Shokon’ spirit, which means indomitable in

Japanese. We have to constantly challenge the odds in order to venture aggressively to countless developing

markets and create bigger ventures there.”

Tan Shi Han graduated from NTU in 2013 from the School of Material Science & Engineering. He is currently handling Automotive in the Pakistan market. This is a photo of his first business trip in Pakistan where he has to make frequent visits to understand the operations there in order to effectively improve relations between his counterparts there.

“Kaizen, otherwise known as continuous improvement is essential when you work in a trading firm. Be it in our

daily work operations or in our business ventures, we seek continuous improvement in every aspect of our work.”

Trading has changed the way businesses operate on an international playing field since its inception as the largest means of Foreign Direct Investments. While many hold the preconceived notion that trading firms limit to the import and export of products, many are unaware that they have distinguished themselves by diversifying from pure trading into both related and non-related activities.They constantly transform opportunities into bigger businesses by the provision of added services such as a world-class supply chain network; the development of both upstream and downstream activities and strategic investments at crucial touch points to create ventures globally. We shall unravel the trading industry through a short chat with a few of our NTU fresh graduates working in a Japanese international trading firm to find out how they managed to strive in this dynamic and fast-paced industry and get snippets into their everyday work.

Dare to Venture Seek to Continuously Improve

About Toyota Tsusho Asia Pacific:Toyota Tsusho Asia Pacific is a worldwide trading company based in Singapore. For more information, please log-on to our website at: http://www.toyota-tsusho.com/english/. For our graduate opportunities, please email directly to: Hrrecruit@toyotsu.com.sg

39

40

Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) Engineers from AcePLP’s Apprenticeship Programme tell us what it means to be in the field of design engineering in Singapore’s AEC landscape.

In today’s world, new buildings and structures are being designed and built every day, and existing ones undergo upgrading and alterations. Two engineers, Jia Ying and Farhana, have found their way into the heart of the booming Architectural, Engineering & Construction (AEC) sector via AcePLP’s challenging Graduate Apprenticeship Programme, which aims to embellish the skills of engineers, designers and architects by administering industry training in technical skills and providing opportunities to work on real industry projects as BIM/CAD support engineers.

Where are they now?Farhana is currently completing her first assignment with Shinsung Engineering, handling the engineering design for the construction of office and commercial buildings. Jia Ying, on the other hand, has worked on more than 10 projects on roadside drains, canals and wastewater treatment facilities with the Environmental Division of CPG Consultants.

Why design engineering?“My passion has always been in design despite my engineering background. Therefore, entering the AEC industry as a design engineer feels like the natural step for me to take in my career,” said Farhana. Jia Ying added, “It sets up a good foundation for other engineering positions by learning CAD skills, such as reading and drafting engineering drawings.”

How have they grown since joining AcePLP?Working in a fast-paced environment allowed Jia Ying to learn from the more experienced professionals in her client’s office. “I managed to gain insights into the industry, the work processes and technical knowledge that are relevant to my interest in the water treatment sector.”

During her assignment, Farhana dealt with unfamiliar drawing types, challenging her to step out of her comfort zone. With only a basic knowledge about certain system design when she first joined, Farhana needed to learn quickly and meet her client’s expectations. “The tips, tricks and shortcuts I learned from AcePLP’s in-house training helped me to work more efficiently with the AutoCAD software!”

What advice would they give to aspiring engineers?“It is going to be tough, so be prepared. There are a lot of responsibilities involved. You can overcome it with patience and good attitude!” says Jia Ying. Farhana suggests keeping an open mind and a learning attitude. “My advice would be to not be shy to ask around if you do not know. If you have verylimited experience and love to be involved in engineering design, just go for it!”

About our Engineers

Lum Jia Ying Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental Engineering) Joined AcePLP in Nov 2011

Nurul Farhana Bte Abdul Rahman Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) Joined AcePLP in Dec 2012

For more information on AcePLP’s graduate apprenticeship programme, e-mail to enquiry@aceplp.com.sg or visit http://www.aceplp.com.sg/career

> COMPANIES

Designing Our WorldAcePLP

41

42

Did you know that many companies in Singapore are using scrap metals in their business operations? Why? This is because when compared with using steel produced from scratch with iron ore and lime, steel made from scrap metal is easier, faster and cheaper.

Uniqueness of the scrap metal industry What makes this industry truly unique is that the demand of scrap is usually greater than the supply around the year, in contrast to other industries whereby supply is usually greater than demand. When more buyers are competing to procure scrap metal, prices increase. Thus it is a lucrative business with attractive profit margins for sellers of recycled scrap metal.

Players in the scrap metal supply chain End Users / Factories Small Rag & Bone Individuals Medium / Large Scrap Metal Dealers Scrap Brokers / Traders (if any) Steel Mills

Career prospects in the scrap metal industry Many fresh graduates are not keen to enter this industry due to the perceived image of the industry, thinking that there is little career prospect, if any at all. As this industry is currently managed and operated via traditional methods, there is a growing need to inject more creative and innovative ideas to boost

this industry to the next level. But for the right candidates, there are indeed many opportunities to earn an income and gain career advancements equal to or higher than those in other industries. Employers look for certain hard / soft skills and key attributes in fresh graduates, such as analytical skills, eagerness to learn, and flexibility in handling issue. A fresh graduate can either join a medium / big scrap dealer or become a scrap broker, each having a very different business nature.

Companies dealing with scrap metals operate their own yard of recycled metal. Dealers in these companies are required to possess the knowledge of scrap buying and selling, and be adept in operation management of the yard. A fresh graduate can look at three main areas in this career path: sales & marketing, supply chain management, or yard operation. Scrap brokers usually do not operate from a physical scrap yard, and their hours and workplace are flexible. Brokers are required to have a vast knowledge of this industry and a good trading network. Brokers must also be well-versed in reading price movements, possess good knowledge of global supply demand, export-import policies and exchange rates. Fresh graduates would start as junior traders and develop their own supplier and buyer network.

Singapore’s construction industry is going strong at the moment with several national-scale projects being planned. Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA) announced in early 2013 that a “strong construction demand of between $26-32 billion is projected for 2013, anchored by public sector projects.” For 2014 and 2015, the average construction demand is projected to be $20-28 billion per annum. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this projection is plausible in view of the of the housing and infrastructure construction projects in the pipeline by the Government to meet the needs of the population, despite the forecast of lower economic growth rate. The demand for steel should remain steady in the near future.

> COMPANIES

Recycled Metal: Just Scrap or Unexplored Gold Mine?

YLS Steel Pte Ltd

Charles DayanMSc in Logistics, NTUMarketing ManagerYLS Steel Pte LtdMember of Union Steel Holdings Limited, the only public-listed company in Singapore dealing in scrap iron, stainless steel, aluminium, copper and cable wire.

Visit www.unionsteel.com.sg for more information.

43

44

> COMPANIES

Networked forGreater Impact

DSTA

What motivated you to join DSTA? Jiaxiang: I developed a strong interest in wireless communications during my NTU days. I also desired a career with diverse assignments and opportunities, as well as rich learning experiences. As a defence engineer, I can pursue my interest and build project management and technical skills.

Woei Cherng: For my Final Year Project, I designed an orbit tracking software for a low-cost satellite ground station and discovered many potential applications of satellite communications (SATCOM) systems in various domains. As a communications engineer at DSTA, I can continue to develop my expertise in this area and contribute to the national security of Singapore. Tell us more about your work at DSTA. Jiaxiang: Our team manages the acquisition of cutting-edge SATCOM systems, which enable the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to share information, make informed decisions and carry out exercises with greater reliability, precision and efficiency. Woei Cherng: In addition, our team surveys the market for emerging technologies and harnesses them for Singapore’s defence needs. The team also undertakes regular designreviews and system trials to improve these systems, which offer many opportunities to learn and grow our expertise.

What do you enjoy most about your job? Jiaxiang: What I like most is the exposure to multifaceted challenges which allows me to develop a wide range of technical, professional and leadership skills.

Woei Cherng: I really appreciate how my superiors trust and empower me to accomplish tasks to the best of my ability. Share with us a memorable moment in your career.Jiaxiang: Woei Cherng and I are part of the team that developed and integrated the SATCOM system in the Army’s Third Generation Wide Area Communications (WAC) system. Compared to previous SATCOM systems, the new system is more deployable and can transfer data at a higher rate. It supports the WAC system in extending the reach and enhancing the scope of battlefield communications for SAF operations.

Woei Cherng: After all the hard work and effort put in by the team on the WAC system, it was especially satisfying to see it get commissioned in May 2013.

Any advice to fresh graduates considering a career in defence engineering? Jiaxiang: From the start of your career, develop a solid foundation of technical expertise and adopt a positive and can-do spirit.

Woei Cherng: Be open to changes and new ideas. Be bold and willing to learn and take on new challenges.

Project Manager Wong Jiaxiang and Senior Engineer Tye Woei Cherng share about their work as teammates in DSTA’s Networked Systems Programme Centre.

Wong JiaxiangProject ManagerB.Eng in Electrical and Electronic EngineeringGraduated in 2007

Tye Woei CherngSenior EngineerB.Eng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Graduated in 2009

45

46

> COMPANIES

Our inaugural batch of EDGE engineers share on their journey with Singapore Power.

What sparked your interest in the power sector? Was there a particular incident or motivation behind this interest, and how did it lead you to join Singapore Power?

Jacky, Mechanical Engineer: During my undergraduate industrial attachment in the offshore and marine industry, I witnessed the difficulties new engineers faced. Upon joining the industry, they took charge of projects almost immediately. With a tight schedule to follow, many of them experienced a high level of stress due to the steep learning curve and little guidance provided.

With this in mind, I started to look for potential employers with more structured programmes that provide new employees with the necessary training to properly equip them with the right skills and industry knowledge. This is when I chanced upon the Engineering Development for Graduates (EDGE) Programme at the Singapore Power booth during the career fair. On top of the developments in the energy industry, a career with Singapore Power would provide me with multi-faceted training in the first year and job rotations to key operational areas to gain a macro overview of the organisation. Besides the opportunity to acquire technical skills and practical experience, I was attracted by the sponsorship for the Professional Engineer certification.

Tell us more about your journey thus far in EDGE – what were some key highlights, and how was it memorable for you?

Haur Ming, Electrical Engineer: There has never been a dull moment since we joined the EDGE programme. The 1-week orientation gave us a comprehensive introduction to all the operations, both engineering and non-engineering, within the SP family. It was also a good avenue for us to pose questions, and it opened up a myriad of future career prospects possible within SP to us. During this 1-week induction,

we had the chance to attend a 1-day Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) teambuilding course. We were also given the opportunity to interact with the senior management, and what struck me most during these sessions was I discovered that many of them started out as engineers, and the vast knowledge and experiences gained over the course of their career have equipped them to become leaders today. This is in line with the EDGE programme which aims to develop future leaders from the ground up, leaders who are all rounded individuals with a solid technical foundation. Through the guidance and sharing sessions from our senior management, we are definitely more prepared for the challenges ahead!

The most interesting part about the EDGE programme is to learn about our system network and operations. The attachments at different sections also provided an opportunity for us to apply

Singapore

EDGE engineers during OBS team bonding

47

the knowledge and skills that we had gained at Singapore Power Training Institute (SPTI). Last but not least, the friendships forged with my fellow engineers during EDGE are certainly one of the key takeaways that one may not get the chance to experience elsewhere.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced on the job and how did you overcome them? Have the EDGE job attachments and training experiences helped in this area?

Dennis, Electrical Engineer: Like all fresh graduates, one of the common challenges I faced was getting familiar with the electrical operations in the company and acquiring the required technical knowledge to be a competent engineer. The different stages of training and attachments in the EDGE programme allow me to acquire relevant knowledgeand apply concepts that I have learnt in a real-time situation. In addition, the multiple platforms organised for the EDGE

engineers to interact with senior management have helped me to gain confidence and understand the unique challenges involved in powering Singapore.

What words of wisdom would you have for aspiring Singapore Power EDGE engineers? Based on your experience, what can aspiring Singapore Power EDGE engineers look forward to?

Regina, Mechanical Engineer:I would like to tell aspiring Singapore Power EDGE engineers that “With greatpower comes great responsibility”. In our role to power the nation, we need to ensure that energy utilities, which serve as the backbone of the nation’s economy, are available 24/7. Be open, ask questions and take advantage of the resources that the company provides during the training and attachment, and learn as much as possible.

Aspiring EDGE engineers can also look forward to three key elements of the programme: systematic training, support and guidance from experienced supervisors, and a fulfilling work environment.

Vanessa Koh, Electrical Engineer: Working at Singapore Power requires one to be quick on the feet and be able to make good decisions to resolve problems. The EDGE programme has equipped us with the technical knowledge and problem-solving skills necessary to do so. In addition, by shadowing the senior engineers, we experience the intensity of critical situations and learn to get used to the pressures in the work environment. More importantly, we learn about our

responsibility as engineers and the gravity of our actions on the safety of others, as well as on the reliability of our electrical network.

> COMPANIES

ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT FOR GRADUATES (EDGE)

Launch your engineering career at Singapore Power, a leading energy utility company in Asia Pacific.

The EDGE programme provides aspiring engineers with structured training and job rotation to critical operations to gain a comprehensive understanding of our business. You will also receive sponsorship to attain your Professional Engineer Certification.

For more information, please email to spjobs@singaporepower.com.sg

Power

48

> COMPANIES

Developing a Career in

TechnologyInfineon Technologies Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

During my undergraduate studies at NTU, I was invited to join the URECA project. This provided me the opportunity to pursue independent research experience at NTU, and this was my first experience to work on an analog Integrated Circuit (IC) design project. From there I developed the interest in analog IC design. As a result, I took up the challenge when I was awarded a PhD scholarship to pursue my interest in this area after I completed my Bachelor programme.

During the four-year PhD studies, my research focused mainly on designing low-power and high-performance power management IC. My skill set has broadened through various hands-on training. More importantly, I am able to develop my personal interest. The training provided by NTU has prepared me well in becoming an analog design engineer at my current company – Infineon Technologies.

At my interview, Infineon asked me many technical questions. Though I was unable to answer all, I was very happy that the interview was a two-way communication. The interviewers readily shared information regarding the job scope, challenges, and company culture at Infineon. This definitely gave me a very good impression of the organisation. Of course, being offered a job in the end tops it all.

As an analog IC design engineer at Infineon, my day-to-day responsibilities include designing, developing, testing and verifying analog / mixed-signal blocks for our customers. Here, I can apply what I learnt towards the development of real products. Furthermore, I can learn new design techniques and problem-solving skills from friendly and helpful colleagues. I also have the chance to work with people from different parts of the world. Quite often, we have teleconferences to discuss about the project with our customers in Germany. It is an interesting experience to work with people of different cultures and backgrounds. Although my career has just started at Infineon, I feel that my horizons have broadened, and I am positive about my future at Infineon Technologies. It is a company that has established talent management programmes for both managerial and technical paths.

Chong Sau SiongIC Design EngineerDevelopment Centre, Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific Pte LtdGraduated with a Bachelor in EEE (2009), PhD in EEE (2014)

49

50

> COMPANIES

Developing a Competitive Edge in the

Food & Beverage Industry

Challenges in the food business Singapore’s F&B industry is competitive and ever-changing, with the need for continuous innovation to cater to consumer demands which is growing more complex over time. Food companies have focused on the strategy of providing greater nutrition and health benefits to their food products as consumers become more health conscious while ensuring value-for money and quality taste.

Besides the change in consumers’ preferences, the greatest challenge faced by F&B companies involves the constant need for product and pricing innovation to cater to different target audience. Some F&B establishments opt to maintain their niche, while others have engaged in low cost pricing to cater to all consumers for a larger market share. Other core success factors being in the food business would also include consistency in providing excellent products and customer service.

Career Prospects in F&B According to MOM statistics, the average rate of job vacancies in the F&B and retail trade industry is higher than the national average. With the diversification into the food business and the expansion both local and globally, there is a constant demand for both operational and strategic manpower to constantly keep up with competitiveness in the food market and will continue to grow over the next five years.

For fresh graduates seeking an exciting and challenging career path, there are diverse opportunities in the areas of marketing, product and business development. There are also managerial and strategic planning roles to explore in food retailing, as well as food production, supply chain management and production planning roles in food manufacturing. Auric Pacific Group Limited Auric Pacific Group Limited is a diversified food company that meets the many challenges in the F&B industry with its many business interests which include food retailing, food manufacturing, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), research and development, and overseas operations. The Auric Pacific Executive Development Program (EDP), which runs mid-May every year, equips fresh graduates with knowledge in key areas to enhance their competitiveness in the food industry. Upon completion, they will be deployed as executives according to their passion, talents and skills. To join the Auric Pacific EDP Program, candidates may email their interest to grouphr@auricgroup.com

Auric Pacific Group Limited

51

Share with us your thoughts on the workshop experience.My fellow candidates were young and full of energy. They were able to cope with their studies (they came prepared for the workshops) and work (their peak period was nearing). Whilst most of them are junior auditors in public accountancy firms, I was impressed by how they were able to share their work experience in the workshops well, which enhanced our learning experience.

The facilitators were also very knowledgeable and engaging. They were able to explain concepts well and, at the same time, could relate such concepts back to their experience working in public accountancy firms. They were also very committed; all four workshops went into overtime but they were dedicated to explaining all the solutions to the workshop questions.

The curriculum has been well-paced but intense. Candidates must come fully prepared in order to have fruitful discussions and to understand the topics being taught.

What’s been the highlight of the Singapore QP experience for you? All my previous academic studies were generally focused on learning accounting concepts and not on practical work skills. On the other hand, the Singapore QP is geared towards giving candidates a glimpse of what a typical accountancy professional will face in real work environments. After attending the four workshops for the Assurance module, I can now better understand the roles and responsibilities of auditors and the problems they might face in their course of work. I’ll keep that in mind when I deal with auditors in the future. What advice do you have for other young professionals who’re thinking of doing the Singapore QP?Having to work and study at the same time may be challenging. I’d recommend prospective candidates to be prepared to put in sufficient time and effort to get ready for all the workshops. Stay committed to the programme and you’ll gain a fruitful and well-deserved experience.

Why did you decide to make the switch to pursuing a career in accountancy?I’ve always heard of the wide exposure that can be gained within the accountancy sector through being introduced to a variety of industries during the course of our work. I thought that it would be exciting to learn about different business operations as I’ve already been introduced to the fundamentals through my study of economics.

What’s been the highlight of the Singapore QP experience for you?The highlight has probably been knowing that the Singapore QP is receiving a lot of support and recognition, with many of my friends having attended the most recent Be. Recognised career fair. I’m proud to be part of the pioneer batch for the Foundation Programme! It feels like we’re creating history.

What advice do you have for other non-accountancy graduates who are thinking of entering the accountancy sector?Come join us in the Singapore QP’s Foundation Programme! I think this will be a good decision as it provides a fast-track to learn about various accounting concepts. I must say it is definitely not an easy task, but it would be a pity if we failed to try!

Quintessential PioneersNTU graduates (accountancy and otherwise) are forging new paths of success

through the Singapore Qualification Programme.

Launched in June 2013, the Singapore Qualification Programme (QP) is transforming Singapore’s accountancy sector by offering accountancy and non-accountancy graduates the chance to pursue outstanding careers. Two NTU alumni share with us the challenges and rewards of pursuing the distinguished Chartered Accountant of Singapore title.

For more information on the Singapore QP, please visit www.SingaporeQP.com

This programme is open to graduates of all disciplines.

Mr Tan Pin LiGroup Tax with Keppel CorporationBachelor of Accountancy, NTUCurrently doing the Assurance module of the Singapore QP Professional Programme

Ms Grace LowDeloitte SingaporeBachelor of Science in Mathematics and Economics, NTUAs a non-accountancy graduate, Ms Low is currently doing the Foundation Programme

> COMPANIES

52

> COMPANIES

With an increasing number of students seeking a career in wealth management, we present the perspectives of representatives of human resources, graduate trainee programmes and hiring managers on commonly-held misconceptions in an effort to provide a more informed understanding of the challenges ahead. Myth #1: It is essential to have knowledge of or experience in the finance industry to be selected for the Wealth Management, Investment Products & Services Graduate Trainee Program (WM IPS GTP).

Tim (HR): Knowledge of the finance industry is not a pre-requisite for applying for a WM IPS GTP role. Graduates from a variety of backgrounds work for UBS. They have a wide range of qualifications and work experience, and come from both in and outside the industry. We are particularly interested in the broad intellectual skills developed at university and the work experience of the candidate. In short, we are seeking candidates with integrity, drive, and teamwork skills to help deliver our promise to our clients. The GTP programme assumes a blank canvass and seeks to overlay both generic and specific business knowledge.

Jimmy (WM): Not necessarily. However, it is important for candidates to display a positive attitude towards learning, and an aptitude for the operational aspects of the business. Candidates should also have their feet firmly on the ground as there are no short cuts, and success will depend almost exclusively on hard work. Typically, financial knowledge is picked up along the way.

Myth #2:Candidates need to have a very good GPA in order to be considered for the WM IPS GTP.

Tim (HR): At UBS, we tend to look at an individual as an all-round package rather than focus solely on the GPA score. Other factors including involvement in charity or volunteer work, or participation in sports are important to us. These activities demonstrate community involvement, team skills, or simply commitment and dedication to a sport.

Jimmy (WM): As in the financial markets, a single indicator rarely tells the whole story. Similarly, GPA only tells so much about a candidate. It is helpful for candidates to have a basic interest in Investment Management but also to have a positive attitude towards learning both within and without the scope of the role.

Myth #3:WM IPS is a demanding environment which can be an impediment to adequate work-life balance.

Tim (HR): Starting a new job in any industry is demanding, and there will be a lot to absorb during the Graduate Trainee Programme. If you come to work with an inquisitive and open mind, you will enhance your development and accelerate the learning process. A propensity towards teamwork and collaboration is a key competency for new hires. Collaboration not only enhances results but also ensures a more evenly shared work-load which, in turn, leads to a better work-life balance.

Zhi Qiang (GTP):The GTP programme entails rotations across several functions providing exposure to the entire business. Hard work is essential to learn the ropes fast and to contribute to the team thereafter. Work-life balance need not be an issue. Indeed, WM IPS encourages relationship building with colleagues both in and outside the function. Bonding events take place throughout the year.

Myth #4:A graduate’s contribution to the team / firm may belimited.

Tim (HR): We value all employees irrespective of rank or experience. As a graduate entrant, initially your understanding of the businesswill be limited. However, you will be brought up to speed as

Tim Cohn, Regional Head of Graduate Acquisition & Development

Debunking Myths of the WeUB

53

> COMPANIES

alth Management CareerS

soon as possible through numerous training programmes and business-specific courses. At the same time, you will be involved in departmental projects where you will have the opportunity to learn from the more senior members of the team. UBS offers a broad range of online and classroom-based learning outside the GTP Programme which will help you integrate and add value at an early stage.

Jimmy (WM): Candidates are given ample opportunities to participate and contribute as a GTP. Indeed, GTPs were recently working on major projects relating to changes to portfolio management tools. Myth #5:Campus recruiting events are held solely as a vehicle to market UBS

Tim (HR): While recruiting events help market the UBS brand on campus and build awareness about the organisation, the primary objective is to attract top-quality talent. We visit campus at the beginning of the recruitment cycle when we know how many roles are available and in which business areas. The events allow students to mingle and network with managers who, invariably, are those that will be hiring in the coming months. Campus recruiting events are forums in which candidates can learn how UBS operates and the nature of our current and future priorities. They also allow us to identify potential talent.

Jimmy (WM): Management is constantly seeking talent with the potential to bring fresh perspectives and drive the business. GTP recruitment is a tried and tested and successful process at UBS.

Myth #6:Applicants are more likely to be selected if they apply early.

Tim (HR): This is not true. All candidates are evaluated on a meritocratic basis, and the timing of the application is largely irrelevant. However, it is very important for the application to be accurate. A simple oversight or the omission of important details can lead to an application being rejected. Of course it is vital to make a note of the application deadlines, as late submissions will not be accepted.

Zhi Qiang (GTP): While many banks hire on a rolling basis, UBS focuses on the quality of the application rather than applying the first-come-first-served principle. As long as the deadline is met, the chances of being considered are equal.

A participant’s reflection on the GTP experience, training, and opportunities:

Six months into the GTP programme, I must say the experience thus far has been rewarding. The UBS Business University has been excellent in providing trainings and opportunities for GTPs to interact with each other. Furthermore, WM IPS IM provides structured programmes which allow GTPs to rotate and maximise exposure and learning. Managers here have been good mentors and are willing to allocate responsibilities, which I appreciate.

54

> COMPANIES

Great is the

As competition heightens and global business activities increase, businesses are seeking out the expertise of tax specialists to assist in the companies’ growth strategies and manage business costs.

In the 2013 Salary Guide by the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), formerly Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore (ICPAS), and specialised recruitment firm Robert Half, tax specialists in both the middle and upper management are earning more than in most other accounting-related jobs.

For example, the median annual remuneration of a Tax Manager is $152,500 in Singapore, compared to $100,000 for a Finance Manager and $145,000 for an Audit Manager. It is the same observation for positions higher up the corporate ranks.

As more accounting professionals begin to offer a more holistic range of services to their clients, how do competent tax professionals outshine their peers and command a premium?

The assurance of accreditationUnlike certain professions, accreditation is not compulsory for the tax profession. While some tax specialists may then question the need to be accredited, others are leveraging on this to stand out from the crowd. As more join the profession and with accreditation not being mandatory, can one afford not to be accredited in order to differentiate themselves from the multitude of others?

Overseeing the accreditation scheme is the Singapore Institute of Accredited Tax Professionals (SIATP). Tax professionals who are accredited may use a professional designation to show that the individual has met a minimum requirement of relevant practical experience and/or possesses recognised examination qualifications.

Tax professionals need to not only be aware of the ever-changing tax issues and policies, but also understand the implications of these changes in the sector they are involved in, so as to add value to their clients and employers, either in competent and accurate tax compliance procedures or analytical work.

One of many fully-booked tax discussions SIATP organises to provide greater clarity on complex tax issues as part of its efforts to promote tax excellence.

Singapore Institute of Acc

55

To deepen their understanding of the various tax issues, tax specialists should tap into the various tax courses available by taking advantage of the various discounts - as much as 50% - or priority access to stipulated courses. In this aspect, an accredited tax professional has to fulfil a minimum number of Continuing Professional Education hours in order to maintain the accreditation. Employers and clients are thus more assured when they engage an accredited tax professional as the latter’s knowledge would be continually updated by the CPE courses.

Staying at the topIn today’s ever-competitive business environment, gaining knowledge is not just about being updated on the latest tax developments, but also about anticipating future developments. To this end, access to privilege information or having the opportunity to highlight tax issues to the authorities for consideration and review also puts an accredited tax individual a league above others.

Conclusion The future is bright for tax professionals and many will be attracted to join the profession. Soon, being great at one’s work may not quite make the cut. Individuals wanting to excel in this field are encouraged to utilise the comprehensive industry approach that has been mapped out for tax professionals to

seize the opportunities and get ahead of competition. Carpe diem!For more information on the tax profession, visit www.siatp.org.sg.

This article is an abridged version of an article that first appeared in the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore’s CPA Journal – now the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants’ IS Chartered Accountant – and is written by Joanna Wong, Senior Manager, Singapore Institute of Accredited Tax Professionals.

SIATP builds international links as SIATP Chair, Dr Ernest Kan (extreme right) hosts Mr Mark Redmond, Chief Executive, Irish Tax Institute, when he was in Singapore.

Tax professionals seize the opportunity to increase their network and exchange ideas and perspectives during tea break at SIATP events.

Participants checking out accreditation requirements during one of SIATP’s many outreach initiatives during the year.

redited Tax Professionals

> COMPANIES

New Average

56

> COMPANIES

More than just a Property Casualty Insurance Organisation

Spotlight on Daphne Boon, Head of Casualty Underwriting, AIG Asia Pacific Insurance Pte. Ltd.I graduated with a Bachelor of Business Degree from NTU in 2006, specialising in Actuarial Science, but did not want to pursue a career as an actuary. I was drawn to AIG’s Professional Associate Programme (now known as the Graduate Development Programme) because of its fast track and structured, on-the-job training programme. Furthermore, AIG is a leading international company with a global footprint of more than 130 countries. I will not deny that the overseas classroom training held in New York was a strong pull factor too!

What is the best part of your job? It is definitely the people! Throughout my career in AIG, I have been fortunate to be mentored by many talented managers who are veterans in the insurance industry and very passionate about what they do. There are many interdepartmental collaborations and opportunities to work with peers from different business units. I am currently heading a team of twelve, and am continually impressed by the extraordinary level of dedication and team work demonstrated by my team members. My role also entails relationship building with our producers (i.e. brokers and agents), which may take the form of formal business meetings or casual coffee sessions. I enjoy the relationship-building part of my job. What is the biggest challenge you have faced at work? Being able to prioritise effectively to deliverthe results expected by the various stakeholders in the company and satisfy the needs of our customers. It is a very fast-paced environment and there is rarely a fixed set of routine work each day, which is why it is imperative to plan in advance and stay focused on the results to be achieved.

How does AIG support your development?From an underwriting perspective, AIG is continuously investing in and improving their training modules, whether classroom-based or online training. My first taste of underwriting training was at an AIG insurance school in New York. Within my business unit, there is also a “Casualty University” program designed to train budding underwriters in Asia Pacific. Underwriters are also encouraged to attend Singapore College of Insurance (SCI) courses and any related insurance seminars. In addition, I have also been selected to attend senior management leadership courses covering soft skills including negotiation and presentation skills. Are there any misconceptions or myths about AIG? It has been said that AIG is a hectic place to work. There may be occasions when underwriters may have to clock longer hours because it is the renewal peak period. But, besides working hard, we also play hard. We have a SPICE team which is a dedicated group of employees who plan company events and inter-departmental activities to “spice” up our work life and encourage team building and networking. Do you have any advice for students considering a career in the insurance industry? There are many different functions within the insurance industry. We have underwriters, risk engineers, actuaries, claims officers, marketing analysts, etc. It is important for students to understand the available roles and the relevant skill set which is required for each so that they can make an informed decision on which avenue to pursue. In addition, it is beneficial if students can do an internship in an insurance company to gain first-hand knowledge of the industry.

American International Group, Inc. (AIG) is a leading international insurance organisation serving customers in more than 130 countries. AIG companies serve commercial, institutional, and individual customers through one of the most extensive worldwide property-casualty networks of any insurer.

WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE

AIG traces its roots to 1919, when American Cornelius Vander Starr established a general insurance agency, American Asiatic Underwriters, in Shanghai, China. Since then, an enterprising spirit, ingenuity, and tenacity have built the company into one of the world’s leadinginsurers.

OUR EMPLOYEES

AIG seeks candidates who have excelled in previous work experience; demonstrated outstanding academic and extracurricular achievement; possess strong analytical, quantitative, and interpersonal skills; and are enthusiastic about and committed to the insurance industry.

WAYS IN

We offer internships and professional development programs across business units and functions globally.

Visit www.aig.com/careers for more information.

57

58

> COMPANIES

Positive ImpactReady to make a difference? Singapore’s public agencies offer ample opportunities to contribute to our development as well as solid avenues for personal and professional growth. Two alumni share the rewards of careers in the Singapore Public Service.

Fast TrackWhy did you decide to join the Public Service? Being able to contribute to the development of the nation’s infrastructure was the key motivational factor for me. I remember that during my National Service and university days, it sometimes took me 90 minutes to reach my destinations. I strongly felt that more could be done to reduce travel times. Tell us about your responsibilities. I am currently involved in the physical interfacing of the Electrical & Mechanical (E&M) as well as civil works for the Downtown Line Stage 2’s (DTL2) Newton Station. A typical MRT project from design and tender to construction takes about five years to complete. For the past two years, I have personally seen the build-up of the underground station box. It has been an enriching experience as I get to apply my knowledge of civil engineering. With civil works completed, the installation of E&M services and systems has begun. This gives me another opportunity to integrate services and systems to improve our travel experience on the MRT. I am also currently involved in the design and tender phase for the Eastern Region Line and the Circle Line Stage 6.

How has your role changed from when you first joined LTA? I was given the opportunity to lead a small group of engineers to work on stations along the

DTL2 after two years with LTA. There were times when I faced problems I had not encountered before. At the end of our brainstorming sessions, we not only found solutions but had also built a stronger bond with one another. I was also able to further my interest in refining our work processes by leading the development of the Building Information Modelling capability for my division. This has helped our officers to sharpen their skills and increase their productivity.

What do you enjoy most about your work? I enjoy interacting with different partners and stakeholders, learning more about their perspectives and working together on solutions that can satisfy everyone’s requirements.

What would you like to share with others about the values of the Public Service? Accountability is one of our key principles and procedures have to be followed so that our integrity is not compromised.

What advice do you have for fresh graduates considering a career in the Public Service?The Public Service is a diverse and exciting sector that requires people with different skill sets. Most importantly, you should have the pride and conviction to work for the greater good!

NTU Engineering alumnus Law Ming Hui knows what it takes to keep major rail projects on track. As Senior Project Engineer, Rail Services, with the Land Transport Authority (LTA), he’s part of a dedicated team that’s working to enhance our fast-growing public transit system.

Ming Hui at an MRT construction site.

59

Building Bridges

NTU Business alumna Ng Sim Hui is putting her flair for making connections to good use – as a Senior Executive with the Civil Service College (CSC), she’s helping to forge new ties of friendship and learning with a host of global partners.

What motivated you to join the Public Service? As an undergraduate, I took part in the Global Immersion Programme and had a chance to work in a five-star hotel in China for six months. This experience helped me to better appreciate what it takes to ensure Singapore’s continued success. I wanted to be part of the Public Service and, in my own small way, to make a positive impact.

Tell us about the first few projects that you managed.The learning curve for a fresh graduate can be steep. After observing one training programme, I had to learn how to handle subsequent projects on my own. Within the first month, I was managing a two-week training programme for a 20-person delegation from Shandong. Thankfully, I also had a very patient mentor who gave me good advice and guidance.

What are some of the key projects you are currently handling?My portfolio covers the training of foreign delegates from East Asia. I recently concluded the training for a senior 60-person delegation from the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China, and worked on the Singapore-China Leadership Forum chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean. These programmes serve to promote institutional linkages between Singapore and China, helping visiting officials better understand Singapore. I also work closely with CSC’s parent ministry, the Public Service Division, as well as with other agencies to deliver training programmes to select delegations.

Share with us a project that is close to your heart.One project that I am proud of is the development of an experiential learning journey called “Heartland Module” on an augmented reality app. The module enables foreign delegates to navigate their way through the heartland and allows them to explore and experience the real Singapore. Since its roll-out earlier this year, the module has received very good feedback from delegates and has become a signature of some of our programmes.

What impressions have you gained about the Public Service through your work?My job has allowed me to learn about the different aspects of good governance within the Public Service. This has made me realise how hard public agencies work to ensure the success of Singapore.

What advice do you have for fresh graduates embarking on their career?Choose an area or sector that best suits your personality and interests. This passion will allow you to contribute more fully to your role.

Take your first step towards a career that matters!www.careers.gov.sg

www.facebook.com/CareersGovwww.linkedin.com/company/singapore-public-service-careers

Sim Hui (3rd from left) with other colleagues from CSC International.

> COMPANIES

60

> COMPANIES

Keeping The Sky Safe

Taking OffA Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering opened quite a number of doors for me in Singapore’s growing aviation industry. Yet, I was particularly attracted to CAAS because of its active role in shaping and contributing to Singapore’s aviation environment. My passion in aviation, coupled with a keen interest in policy making, prompted me to apply for a position in the Safety Policy and Licensing (SPL) division. I was inspired by the fact that CAAS is responsible for upholding the high safety standards for the local aviation industry. Journey With CAAS I am currently working in the Policy and Rulemaking section within SPL division, which is responsible for the formulation of aviation safety policies and regulations with regard to safety oversight of Singapore’s aviation industry. We ensure that Singapore’s aviation regulations are robust and in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standards and Best Practices.

In addition, the division is also responsible for promoting a strong safety culture that permeates every organisation and individual in the industry. We drive industry-wide safety programmes such as the CAAS Safety Series seminars, the annual Aviation Safety Forum and a quarterly newsletter, “The Leading Edge”. These platforms enable us to engage and promote safety within the industry. For instance, the CAAS Safety Series share updates on regulatory developments with the industry as it is important to get everyone on the same page. At the same time, it is also an opportunity to seek industry views ahead of future policy and rule formulation.

At an international level, the division is also actively involved in engagement efforts such as the Regional Aviation Safety Group (RASG) and the Asia Pacific Regional Aviation Safety Team(APRAST) to raise overall safety standards. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) / Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) International Aviation Safety Conference in Paris, France. It was an eye-opening and enriching experience for me as I had the chance to interact with the foreign delegates, pick their brains on complex global aviation safety issues and gain wider knowledge on various evolving international aviation issues.

Flying High To gear up for my role at CAAS, I have to understand the organisation and its functions, and pick up technical knowledge quickly. Working in an environment with strong senior management support and a high level of autonomy instils commitment to do one’s job well no matter how trying the circumstances may be. The organisation also emphasises individual development by providing both functional training courses and workshops, and opportunities for career development through job rotations and inter-divisional projects to stretch our potential. These not only add value to my work experience but also contribute to my personal growth. In this aspect, CAAS holds true to its career development philosophy which advocates a partnership between the officer, his supervisors and the organisation.

My motivation at work stems from my desire to contribute to the collective effort of CAAS in ensuring the highest level of aviation safety for the travelling public. It is meaningful work because of its positive impact to Singapore’s aviation industry. Above all else, in a dynamic organisation like CAAS, there is never a dull moment at work!

Foo Fang HaoDeputy Manager (Policy & Rulemaking),Safety Policy and Licensing division,Civil Aviation Authority of SingaporeBachelor of Engineering (Aerospace Engineering), 1st Class Honours,Nanyang Technological University, 2012

Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore

61

Enabling opportunities through aviationA career that allows you to take flight

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore’s raison d’etre is to develop the air hub and aviation industry in Singapore, expanding our links to the rest of the world. We enable opportunities through aviation, making contributions, opening doors and enabling choices in people’s lives.

62

More than Just a Job While policing work is tough, making a difference in the lives of others and experiencing the extraordinary is what motivates Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Lee Pei Ling in her profession. A Meaningful Career Currently a staff officer in the Research, Planning and Organisational Development Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), DSP Lee is responsible for drafting investigation policies and legislative bills for criminal offences by working with relevant stakeholders, as well as conducting reviews of existing police investigation processes. When she graduated from NTU in 2006, the Communication major had to choose between careers in the police force and the media industry.

“Being in the National Police Cadet Corps as a student cadet and later a volunteer cop ultimately helped me decide to join the police force because it was through these that I realised that policing allows me to make a direct impact on the community around me. It is also unlike a typical 9-to-5 desk-bound job – I have the opportunity to see and experience different facets of life in Singapore that I would never have encountered otherwise, including that of the poor, uneducated and destitute.”

“During my first two postings as an investigation officer and a Neighbourhood Police Centre Team Leader, I met people from all walks of life - from feuding couples to abused domestic maids. While the police force’s mission is to prevent, deter and detect crime, we treat each person fairly, regardless of whether they are victims or accused persons, as they are often at their wits’ end.

Occasionally, a victim or an accused person would express gratitude for Police’s professionalism in handling his case afterit is concluded and I would know that beyond solving a crime, we have also made a difference in these people’s lives.”

Real Challenges, Real Rewards Beneath the dapper blue uniform, however, officers fulfil a rolethat involves various challenges.

“Being a police officer is not easy, regardless of whether you are at the frontline or office-bound,” says DSP Lee. “We handle a wide range of crime-fighting issues and different kinds of people, some of whom may not necessarily understand our work or appreciate what we do for the community. We also work long and irregular hours, often on weekends.”

DSP Lee believes that strong support networks and a positive outlook are central to meeting these challenges.

“There is a strong culture of teamwork and cooperationin our team-based organisation, where everyone is willing to help each other out. Learning how to prioritise my time and spending more time with my husband, friends and family outside of work have also helped me manage stress. I am also motivated by opportunities to acquire new knowledge from the new challenges I face every day.” Equipped to Succeed As a learning organisation, SPF provides a range of sponsorships to officers to pursue diplomas, degrees, or post-graduate programmes. Though DSP Lee has not taken up any of those sponsorships yet, the greatest learning opportunity for her was the hands-on experience of organising the INTERPOL General Assembly in 2009 as part of a joint secretariat. “I was in charge of all hospitality aspects and the learning curve was really steep as back then, I only had less than two years of policing background and actual work experience after spending 9 months undergoing basic police training. Not only was it a large-scale international event attended by about 800 delegates worldwide (including those at the ministerial level), it was also the first time that SPF organised an event of this magnitude. However, being deeply involved in organising a successful international event remains one of the most special moments of my career so far,” she recounts.

Up for the Challenge For DSP Lee, policing requires prospective candidates to possess important qualities to excel in the job as they will constantly have their body, mind and patience put to the test.

According to her, “a police officer needs to have resilience and a positive attitude in order to rise up to the challenges, a strong sense of righteousness and courage to speak up against wrongs, and above all a willing heart to help others in need and make a difference in the lives of our communities.”

> COMPANIES

More thanJust a Job

Singapore Police Force

63

64

Protecting Properties and Saving Lives

A simple decisionMy passion to study the structure and strength of buildings, both during and after a fire, was ignited during my undergraduate days. My final year project investigated the post-fire properties of building materials. I also received a scholarship from NTU to obtain a doctorate for investigating heat and mass transfer for cementitious materials.

I wanted a job that was challenging and not deskbound. Most important of all, I wanted something that allowed me to serve and make a difference to people’s lives, so I joined SCDF in 2008. This is exactly the career in which I can pursue all my passions at the same time. Training for real operations All Senior Officers undergo eight months to learn rescue and fire fighting skills, staff work knowledge and contingency planning proficiency. Once posted to a fire station, I was exposed to a wide variety of operations such as fire fighting, road traffic accidents and people who threaten to jump from buildings. Knowing that my actions, however small, play a part in protecting and saving lives and property – that in itself is a driving force that makes me come to work every day, makes me do what I do daily as a member of The Life Saving Force.

Career developmentSCDF provides many opportunities for the staff to develop their career through regular job rotations. The skills accumulated in the previous postings will enhance their efficiency in the next posting.

I was given my choice posting to serve in Fire Investigation Unit where my responsibility was to investigate the origin and cause of fire incidents. The scientific and systematic approach of investigating a fire scene aided my current posting in the Fire Research & Scientific Unit. My role is to conduct fire modelling study to aid fire investigation work and provide a scientific analysis for fire safety requirements. This has helped shorten investigation time and strengthened the basis of the Fire Code.

The best of both worlds In my current job, I am required to be out and about to investigate fire cases and do joint site inspections with industrial professionals on fire safety matters. I found the balance between administrative work and front line action.

Advice for fresh graduates As a staff with SCDF, you will fulfil the mission to save lives and protect properties through good teamwork and leadership. When challenges get tough, you will receive the support of peers and supervisors to see you through. There will be many opportunities to prepare and develop you to take on higher responsibilities. I’ve enjoyed my time with SCDF. I am sure you will enjoy it too.

Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) Senior Officer Major Jeffrey Ng had previously worked six years in an engineering consultancy firm and two years in a statutory board before joining the uniform service at age 33. He graduated from NTU with B.Eng (Civil) (1st) in 2001 and Ph.d (Civil) in 2006.

Singapore Civil Defence Force

> COMPANIES

65

66

> COMPANIES

A Meaningful Career

During my secondary and junior college years, many caring and helpful teachers had undoubtedly inspired me to join the teaching fraternity and make an impact in others’ lives the way they did in mine. I was thus fortunate to have been awarded the MOE Teaching Award. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Chinese Studies from NTU in 2013, I went on to pursue my teaching training at the National Institute of Education (NIE).

As a Teaching Award recipient, I have had opportunities to be attached to different secondary schools. These experiences allowed me to be exposed to students of varied backgrounds,

and provided the platform for me to learn and refine my classroom management skills. The takeaways from these experiences would certainly translate into invaluable resources for my teaching career.

The Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) course for teacher trainees has also helped broaden my knowledge in understanding the psychological aspects of students. At the same time, I picked up the skills required in conducting interactive and participative lessons.

It has been a fulfilling journey in teaching thus far. I am always very encouraged when students comment that they have enjoyed my lessons. This motivates me to strive on and continue exploring ways to improve the lesson delivery. I also look forward to furthering my studies so as to continuously enrich my lessons with new knowledge.

I firmly believe that “you have to try before you know”. Therefore, it is important for prospective teachers to try out teaching first-hand through opportunities such as relief teaching or internships.

As an educator, I not only teach academic knowledge, I also share with the students life skills and moral values, thus making this career a very meaningful one. The huge sense of achievement I get when my students thank me certainly makes my efforts worthwhile and affirms my decision to be a teacher.

Ministry of Education

Teo Yi Sheng, a recent graduate from Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Chinese Studies programme, recounts his experiences as a current Ministry of Education (MOE) trainee teacher.

You have come far as an undergraduate. Take thousands further as a teacher. Visit www.moe.gov.sg/teach to apply for a teaching position today.

67

68

> COMPANIES

A Career like no other at Singapore’s Mega Port

PSA Singapore Terminals operates the world’s busiest transhipment hub, and it is expanding with new facilities at Pasir Panjang Terminal. With a staff strength of more than 8,000 and growing, two PSA employees who are in the thick of the action share about their exciting careers. Why did you join PSA? Jonathan: During a PSA’s recruitment port tour, I got a glimpse of its business and was impressed by the scale of its operations and attracted to the responsibility and empowerment given to the Operations Executives (OEs). Wei Ni: As a fresh graduate then, I wanted to join a big organisation for structured training and good exposure. I considered PSA as it was a home grown MNC and a market leader in transhipment operations.

I also found out that PSA deploys mega port equipment for its operations and was interested in the engineering scope that was offered.

What does your work involve? Jonathan: OEs manage port operations on shift to provide excellent service to ships that call at PSA. At any one shift, there are a few hundred people and port equipment working in my terminal. To provide great service consistently, we deploy these resources optimally to achieve our targets.

Wei Ni: My team and I are responsible for a few hundred yard cranes. My responsibilities include planning the maintenance schedules to ensure our cranes are in tip-top condition when deployed for operations as every second counts. We work closely with Operations to plan for the cranes to be released for their scheduled maintenance.

What are some challenges of your job? Jonathan: The learning curve for a new OE can be steep and a 3-month structured training programme is in place to ensure all new OEs have a good foundation. This programme comprises classroom learning, on-the-job attachments and mentoring to ensure we apply what we have learnt to real situations. Wei Ni: As Engineers, we have to constantly find ways of increasing crane reliability by coming up with innovative solutions to better support the business. It’s a very technical processand you really need to know your stuff.

What are the qualities required to excel in your job?Jonathan:As an OE, you need to have a can-do spirit, strong communications skills and be responsive to changes as ours is a dynamic business.

Wei Ni:To succeed as an Engineer, you need to have a strong foundation, passion for engineering and be prepared to get your hands dirty!

What do you enjoy most about your job? Jonathan: My colleagues. We work well as a team and I appreciate that I get to work alongside many dedicated colleagues, some of whom have become my close friends.

Wei Ni: There are opportunities to manage overseas projects. I went to Lampung, Indonesia for a factory acceptance test; not only was I entrusted to conduct a whole range of functional tests, I also had the chance to experience another culture. What advice would you give to potential hires? Jonathan & Wei Ni: Be prepared for a fast paced environment and be open to new experiences. You must have passion, drive and determination to succeed with the best!

PSA Corporation Limited

Jonathan Chia (left), Assistant Manager at Pasir Panjang Terminal. Tan Wei Ni (right), Senior Mechanical Engineer at Keppel Terminal Engineering Department.

69

70

> COMPANIES

From Blueprints toLandmarks

I feel a sense of pride every time I pass by City Square Mall and 7 & 9 Tampines Grande. These two projects will always have a special place in my heart as I was involved in the full cycle of the project, from conceptualisation to completion.

My job scope as an assistant manager in the Projects Division of City Developments Limited (CDL), one of Singapore’s largest real estate developer and landlord, encompasses various stages in a project development starting from design development to procurement and construction. Regular meetings with consultants, designers and contractors are part and parcel of my daily activities. I also have to attend site meetings to monitor construction progress and resolve any site issues. These experiences have helped to strengthen my interpersonal and communications skills.

When I was considering my career options in my undergraduate studies, a chance opportunity arose when I came across the Built Environment Undergraduate Scholarship offered by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA). I was interested in real estate and was privileged to have been selected by CDL, a well-established property developer, for the scholarship.

After graduating from Nanyang Technological University with a Bachelor in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in 2007, I started work as a Project Officer in the Projects Division of CDL. This division offers a broad overview of the property development and project management process and provides a very good learning and training ground.

As a young new entrant without any professional training in project management, one of my first challenges was to familiarise myself with architectural design and material selection.

Fortunately, my well-trained colleagues were generous with their help and guidance whenever I needed it. Besides being exposed to different disciplines, I was given ample opportunities to take on new challenges and manage a host of development projects. Apart from my key responsibilities, there are platforms for me to engage in voluntary work and corporate activities, as well as bonding activities with my family and colleagues.

If you are interested in a built environment career like me, get a head start by applying for the BCA-Industry Built Environment Undergraduate Scholarship.

Career and scholarship opportunities in the built environment sector

Construction demand in Singapore is expected to remain strong in 2013, supported by a sustained ramping up of public housing and infrastructure projects. Singapore’s construction demand for 2013 is projected to reach between S$28 billion and S$34 billion, compared to S$30.7 billion in 2012. Construction demand for 2014 and 2015 is expected to be sustained between S$22 billion and S$30billion.

The BCA-Industry Built Environment Undergraduate Scholarship, a partnership between the BCA and leading industry players, offers young talented individuals an opportunity to launch their careers in the built environment sector. BCA has enhanced this scholarship programme in 2013 by raising the minimum scholarship sum to S$18,000 per year for each local scholar. For more information on the scholarship, please visit http://www.buildingcareers.sg/builtenvironmentscholarship.aspx

City Developments Limited & Building and Construction Authority

Qian Xue Jia (second from right) with her colleagues from CDL Projects team (from left) Allen Ang and fellow BCA-CDL scholars Leong Lee Kee, Lim Kah Huay and Kelvin Ong at the BCA Awards 2013.

71

> COMPANIES

Transforming Information into

Insights

In today’s knowledge economy, the need to make sense of awealth of information and translate raw data into useful insights forpolicymakers, businesses and the general public has never beengreater.

Meet Huang Lihui as she shares about what inspired her topursue a career as a Statistician at the Department of Statistics(DOS), what her work entails and what qualities are required to excel at the job.

Tell us more about your job as a Statistician.I lead a team in the collection, compilation, analysis anddissemination of quarterly business statistics on the servicesindustries. My job involves supporting users’ statisticalrequirements, reviewing and streamlining work processes, aswell as participating in projects to enhance our business surveysystems. I also keep abreast of current statistical developments inthe international arena with regard to business statistics.

What inspired you to choose this career? Having an affinity for numbers and an eye for details, a careeras a statistician has been my ideal choice ever since I majoredin statistics in university.

What challenges do you face and how do youovercome them? In order to compile various short-term indicators, we gatherinformation from selected companies through our surveys. Oneof the challenges of my job is to balance the constant need toimprove the quality and timeliness of the data without imposingan extra burden on the respondents, such as through obtainingrelevant information available from administrative sources.

Which aspect of your job do you enjoy most? Raw data collected do not have much meaning. Organising andanalysing the data to provide a reliable and relevant interpretationof industry trends is a challenge and at the same time mygreatest source of satisfaction.

Share with us a memorable episode at work. Statistical work is not just about numbers and data, but equallyabout teamwork and collaboration. During a recent divisionalretreat, we were grouped into different teams and each teamhad to design and make a kite. The teams then competedto see whose kite stayed up in the air for the longest time.

Although our team did not win, we enjoyed working togethertremendously and had great fun bonding with one another. Describe the work environment in DOS. My colleagues are helpful, understanding and fun to be with. Thenecessary guidance and training are always provided. Outsideof work, we have a lot of fun as well, including activities like atreasure hunt, an amazing race, a cycling trip to Pulau Ubin as wellas a high-adrenaline excursion to Universal Studios!

Take us through a typical day at work. Before the release of the quarterly business statistics, my teamand I study the response rates across different periods andindustries and prioritise the list of outstanding returns in order toimprove the response rate. Thereafter, we go through the returnsand investigate any outliers before compiling the data. Lastly, weanalyse the statistical trends from the results of the survey andrelease our findings. Apart from this, I also work with data userson their statistical requirements, and handle new projects andinitiatives.

Tell us about the development opportunities in DOS. As DOS handles a wide range of economic, business, householdand population data, there are ample opportunities to developexpertise in various fields of statistics.

What are the qualities of a successful statistician? A statistician has to be both an independent worker and goodteam player. While there are assignments that require independentwork and research, there is also collaborative work where teameffort and open discussions are necessary.

In addition, as we handle a high volume of data, it is important for astatistician to be meticulous and analytical. The abilities to integratedata from various sources and conduct statistical analysisto identify trends and interesting patterns are essential.

Any advice to fresh graduates considering a careerin statistics?Apart from having sound statistical knowledge, effective teamworkand the ability to make rational judgements using statisticalmethodologies are critical. In this information age where hugeamounts of information are generated every second from multipleplatforms, the need to translate raw data into useful insightspresents great opportunities for a rewarding career in statistics.

In this information age where huge amountsof information are generated every secondfrom multiple platforms, the need to translateraw data into useful insights presents greatopportunities for a rewarding career in statistics.

72

> COMPANIES

1. Paul Chua, 29, with about 4 years’ experience at SGH’s Histopathology Lab.

2. Lynn Choy, 32, with more than 8 years’ experience at SGH’s Central Tuberculosis Lab.

A medical technologist’s main role involves analysing molecules, cells, tissues, blood samples, etc. to uncover underlying diseases and provide doctors with a firm diagnosis of various clinical conditions. Beyond laboratory work, medical technologists also have career options such as overseeing laboratory operations and ensuring quality controls in the lab. At Singapore General Hospital, medical technologists perform their roles with great accuracy and precision toensure patient diagnoses are backed with strong scientific data.

Paul and Lynn, share about their typical workday at SGH.

What I like about being a medical technologist at SGH

Paul: Environment – We work together in a cooperative and supportive environment.

Opportunity – Every day offers new opportunities to learn. The specimens and cases we receive are varied and we learn from the difficulties that we encounter and overcome. There are also opportunities for us to propose new ideas to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the lab.

Fulfilment – At the end of the day, an accurate diagnosis goes a long way in allowing patients to make the best decision regarding options for treatment. Lynn: My role requires me to have a broad perspective. I work with both doctors and the STEP (Singapore TB Elimination Programme) Registry. Besides SGH cases, we also attend to cases from around the nation and sometimes in the region. We get to see things from the viewpoints of both the doctors and the laboratory staff as we work towards a common goal of providing accurate and suitable treatment for the patients.

What is a Medical Technologist?Singapore General Hospital

1 . 2

8.30am~1.00pm Paul: Together with my team mates, we cut samples using a microtome and prepare microscope slides for analysis. We can complete a total of 800 samples within 4 hours!

Lynn: I review laboratory results and correlate them with clinical diagnosis by cross-checking with other investigations. After ensuring there are no discrepancies, I then prepare formal reports on the analysis.

1.00pm~2.00pmLunch

2.00pm~3.30pmPaul: Besides our usual duties, we a lso handle addi t ional responsibilities such as trouble-shooting of technical problems. Occasionally, we attend meetings or training sessions to improve our skills or workflow improvements of the lab.

Lynn: I analyse and formulate about 20 reports a day. The rest of the afternoon is spent reviewing morecomplicated cases. I work closely with two doctors and they offer me very useful insights. My work also involves reviewing of quality controls used for various tests which determine the validity of the test results.

3.30pm~5.30pm Paul: Our lab attends to over 50,000 cases in a year. We process the specimens and biopsies, observe and record the details of these specimens and help to find areas of interests and sample them for further processing. Specimens include appendix, tonsils, lumps and other biopsies. Lynn: I am in-charge of the procurement and IT practices in the lab. I procure the reagents so that the technologists can perform the necessary tests. I also liaise with our IT colleagues regarding the IT assetsin our premises.

73

74

Tell us more about the company, department and the job you are in.TNS is a global market research company that works with top brands in the major markets across all continents, helping them address business issues and drive growth.

I work in the client servicing department and lead a team of market researchers / analysts. My role focuses on the technology space (specifically mobile and digital) and helping clients transform threats into opportunities by leveraging on our market insights.

What motivated you to choose this career?It is common for markets, sectors and companies to rise and fall, hence the best way to work in the market research industry is to take a step back and look at the big picture. It helps me to be strategic in identifying business opportunities for clients, analytical to provide really precise recommendations to their challenges, and creative in defining solutions that will answer their most difficult questions.

What do you enjoy most about your job? Addressing business issues and really seeing value in the actions that clients take based on our recommendations. I’ve had the opportunity to provide consultation to some of the world’s leading technology brands and see my recommendations implemented in their businesses.

Share with us a memorable episode from your career.One of our clients was challenged by the growing number of mobile apps which was both a threat and an opportunity. Together we pioneered a whole new methodology to predict the future mobile app landscape to effectively identify opportunities for partnerships with app developers. Our predictive techniques were not only ground-breaking but had a positive impact on their business well beyond their expectations.

Describe the working culture in your company. Very result-driven yet fun. We are client-centred and we spend a lot of time collaborating to identify the best solution for them. We’re truly international – with 20 different nationalities in our office, and colleagues in 80 countries worldwide.

Tell us about the development opportunities in TNS. Unrivalled. There is always opportunity for anyone to shine as we value everyone’s opinion, regardless of seniority or age. We’re supported to become specialised practitioners, and our business leaders take time to coach and mentor us to achieve our full potential.

Any advice to fresh graduates considering to becoming a Market Researcher? They have to demonstrate analytical competency, be inquisitive, and be highly effective in solving business issues. An interest in people – their attitudes, motivations and behaviours – is key, as that understanding is at the heart of our insights. Other information to add? TNS excels in solving our clients’ problems by taking their business issues and produce insights from our various business solutions to help them navigate a competitive business environment.

With some of the best thinkers in our industry and vast experience that gives us a competitive advantage, clients know that we can solve their toughest business issues. We offer a diverse set of business solutions and range of talents that drive greater value for their businesses.

> COMPANIES

Solving Problems GloballyTaylor Nelson Sofres Singapore Pte Ltd (TNS)

75

> COMPANIES

Journalists are storytellers, but unlike most memorable stories we heard during our childhood days, news stories do not necessarily have a moral at the end. What is important is that every story provides knowledge (not just information) and that the reader is not left feeling cheated. Good stories intrigue people and a well-written story creates an imagery that leaves a long-lasting impression on people. Let me too, start with a story that my teacher in journalism school once narrated.

A Short StoryThere was a young boy in India who came from a small town, full of aspirations to be a great journalist. He wanted to change the world with his writing and shake up the bureaucracy and systems. The boy became an intern with one of the biggest English newspapers in India that operated from the capital city - New Delhi. At the time, some farmer unions organised a small rally nearby. Thinking the rally to be inconsequential, the editor sent the intern to cover it – a story that would normally find no space in the celebrated newspaper. However, nobody could predict what would happen; the circumstances at the rally turned ugly with violence and rioting, and eventually, the police had to resort to a baton-charge, injuring some of the rally-goers in the process.

After many hours, the intern didn’t return to office. Wor-ried by his absence (as these were the days before mobile phones), his colleagues called up a few hospitals where injured rally-goers were treated. There were other frantic visits and enquiries around, but still, there was no trace of the young boy. The next morning, the boy calmly walked into the newsroom as if nothing had happened. When asked about his whereabouts the day before, he coolly replied, “You sent me to cover the speech of the farmers’ leader, but there was no speech. Instead, there was a baton-charge, so I just went back home.”

How to impress editorsThe first skill any journalist should have is a ‘nose for news’. The intern had been a live spectator in the middle of a ‘war-zone’ and missed reporting a story that many would have wanted to know about. A journalist should be able to spot a story in any event, which can be reported in many ways. Sadly, journalists today seem to be getting lazier and relying too much on press releases, prepared statements and information readily found online. Good journalists always go beyond blind reporting, not just being ‘regurgitators’ of information. A fact here, a quote there, do not a good story make. Only when writers demonstrate their ability to link the nuggets of information and frame them against the backdrop of context, will there be a story that transfers value, a story that is worth sharing, a story to be read. We live in an information-saturated world, and we create value for the audience by sharing knowledge that is found in stories within stories.

Finally, a good journalist communicates effectively. While speed is the name of the game in today’s media industry, sloppy writing takes more than necessary to convey any given point, or fails to even get to one. And don’t make assumptions about the background knowledge of the readers. Just because a technology reporter lives and breathes technology, for instance, does not mean that all readers do so as well. In essence, readers rely on a journalist’s work to make sense of the information around them.

ConclusionAs the Editor of a website that covers technology in Southeast Asia, a huge challenge I face is hiring writers who are proficient in English. However, rather than having writers who are proficient in the language but tardy and complacent in their profession, I would prefer talents who deliver value through their writing; anyway subbing teams can do a wonderful job polishing up articles. My potential hire would be a good analyst who is good at chasing news, digging into the background well, peppering the story with facts and figures, and providing knowledge beyond mere information to a knowledge-hungry world.

What editors look for when Hiring Writers

e27

Dhaleta Surender Kumar is the editor at e27.co, Asia’s leading resource platform for innovation-led businesses. e27 engages a new generation of technology leaders, creators, entrepreneurs and investors who are constantly impacting the marketplaces they work in.

76

An Early Interest

This summer, I had a great 10-week experience working as an intern at J.P. Morgan. Indeed, my interest towards the financial industry was built up much earlier.

During my second year in college, I started to consider about my long term career. I wanted a job that is meaningful, challenging, and also provides me with personal growth and work-life balance. Eventually the financial sector is what I wanted.

Overcoming Objections During a J.P. Morgan Operations Workshop, I met some senior business representatives. They shared their career goals, experiences and insights of this industry. I was impressed and motivated by their drive. The event also made me feel that J.P. Morgan is the right environment for me, so I applied to their Operations Summer Internship Programme. The interview process consisted of online tests, phone inter-views and a half-day assessment. I was often asked why I chose the financial sector since I was not a business or financemajor student. I think that such a question actually worked in my favour, my chance to share about my interest and the different perspective that I could bring from my humanities background. My educational background meant that I could add diversity to the team and so it was not an obstacle. Taking Initiative To Excel The culture of the company was like that of a big warm family. Shortly after, I was contacted with an offer. I was placed into the Global Credit Risk Middle Office, within the Corporate and Investment Bank. On my second day, I was assigned several

portfolios and projects and started taking on real responsibilities. My daily tasks included credit risk support and analysis for various businesses across Asia, as well as performing daily reporting on trade positions and credit limits. All these gave me an overview of the various products and different market practices across the different portfolios.

Out of all my projects, one stood out. I was given a chance to represent the Asia team in a global project, partnering with colleagues from North America and Europe. It was a great opportunity for me to help to make decisions on behalf of a whole region. I had to liaise across the region, taking initiative to ensure a smooth completion of the project. In hindsight, I am grateful that my manager and mentors gave me space to act but were always within reach when I needed support.

Aside from day to day work within my team, the internship programme was also packed with various events and projects. I was impressed with how structured the programme was, and how willing the firm is to invest in their interns. J.P. Morgan has a strong belief in training and retaining talent and this is evident from how many senior managers took time off to meet us. We even had a “town hall” with Jamie Dimon himself!

The internship was a great experience for me. There were many valuable takeaways – people skills, technical knowledge, new friends, insights into the industry. Above all, acknowledging which areas I need further improvement is the most important.

To make the most out of any internship, you should have the hunger and strong desire to learn. Take initiative, maintain a can-do attitude and not be afraid of making mistakes. Always aim to be the resourceful intern, not the super intern!

> INTERNSHIPS

My Summer at J.P. MorganINTERNSHIP @ J.P. Morgan, Singapore

Teo ZiyanB.A. in Sociology, Year 4

Ziyan (right) with teammates after concluding a successful pitch

Having an evening out with Class of 2013 interns

77

78

More Than Meets The Eye I had the privilege of being an intern at Weber Shandwick Worldwide, one of the “Big Four” in the public relations industry. It was a challenging but fulfilling experience, one that has exposed me to numerous industry-specific experiences. It has definitely widened my perspective of public relations as a profession. After spending around five months on internship, I realised that there were so much more to public relations than meets the eye.

On my first day of work, I was assigned to the MasterCard team, a primary account that I would be handling during my time at Weber Shandwick. I did not expect myself to be posted to that particular team, as it was the company’s biggest and longest-standing (more than a decade) client! Having little knowledge on the nature of MasterCard’s business coupled with the highly intensive working culture in the team made me rather apprehensive. Nevertheless, I told myself that this was a tremendous opportunity to learn and upgrade myself.

Besides monitoring media from both online and offline sources for MasterCard, I also had to manage MasterCard’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. At first, media monitoring seemed like an easy task, but it turned out to be more tough and stressful than I thought it would be. In the first week, I made umpteen mistakes. However, after a couple of weeks of constant practice, I finally got the hang of it and improved on many fronts. For the CSR project, I handled some of the online and social media operatives. I enjoyed doing it as the project was for a good cause, and I was very glad that even for a big company like MasterCard, there is still an important place for sustainable CSR activities.

Press releases are a staple to the public relations industry, so it was just a matter of time before I got to write my first press release. This was both exciting and intimidating as I had never written a full-fledged press release to the media before. I was really happy when my supervisors gave me positive feedback on my drafts. Even when I was slightly off tangent, they would patiently explain to me and give me tips on how to improve my writing and capture people’s attention through certain techniques, which I had never come across in my university modules.

> INTERNSHIPS

Gordon (right most) with colleagues at a Robinsons event Met Sir John Hegarthy at a networking session for young media professionals

Attending the Earth Hour event at the floating platform

An OpportuINTERNSHIP @ Weber Shan

79

nity to Shine

Two months into the internship, when I was more settled into my primary account, other teams began to approach me to take up secondary responsibilities for other accounts. I helped in product launches, contributed various ideas at brainstorming sessions leading up to a final proposal, coordinated sponsorship partnerships and organised events. Through a few events, I met many people including media contacts, top management of several companies and even brilliant university students and scholars. From there, I learnt the importance of displaying a friendly and professional disposition as I was representing my company, Weber Shandwick.

The project that I was most satisfied with was a new business pitch for the S-League. It was an honour for me to work with the Senior Vice-President and Senior Accounts Supervisor of the consumer team to come up with the pitch deck and entire proposal for the S-League. They even gave me the opportunity to present to the client, Mr. Lim Chin, CEO of the S-League! My colleagues told me it was extremely rare for an intern to be given such an opportunity to be pitching directly to the client. We followed up by pitching for RHB Bank who sponsored the Singapore Cup. These two projects were really special to me as it was a fusion of two things I really love – football and public relations.

Intern Welfare

To keep us up to date with the latest technology and industry trends, the company organises personal upgrading programmes and workshops. Programmes range from social media workshops to wine tasting workshops.

In Weber Shandwick, all interns are involved in an interns’ project, which basically requires us to manage the company internship Facebook page as well as an interns’ activities programme called “Socialrati”. I was assigned to oversee

and lead the interns team. Working with them has been a true pleasure as all of us could connect at many levels, and we always pushed each other on to strive for excellence even through the toughest of times.

My full-time colleagues were very warm, friendly and helpful too, which created a positive working environment. To make sure that the only intern in the MasterCard team was well taken care of during this five-month period, they even created a “Gordon’s welfare team”!

Apart from all the work, the people at Weber Shandwick also knows how to take it easy and unwind from time to time. There were periodic team lunches and dinners as well as birthday or farewell celebrations for employees. I was pleasantly surprised when my colleagues threw me a mini party on my birthday. On my last day with the company, they surprised me again with a farewell card and more shopping vouchers. It was a special occasion for me as I had just come back from an ASEAN+3 Education Forum in Indonesia and got special mentions for my speech and paper. The Managing Director of Weber Shandwick actually congratulated me personally and sent an e-mail to the entire company acknowledging my achievements. The icing on the cake was when she invited me to give a presentation to the company about the paper I wrote for the conference.

It was a fairy-tale ending to an internship that can only be described as bittersweet. Bitter for the trying moments that allowed me to move out of my comfort-zone to learn, and the sweet moments where I enjoyed myself in the company of those awesome people. Without any exaggeration, these experiences will always be in my memory and the friendships that I have formed will last a lifetime. I am very grateful to the wonderful people at Weber Shandwick for believing in me and giving me a chance to shine.

dwick Worldwide, Singapore

> INTERNSHIPS

Singing at the open mic for Socialrati outing at Beer Market Enjoying Chinese New Year lunch with colleagues at Moi Lum Restaurant

80

First Impressions When we first arrived at the airport of Qinhuangdao, we were surprised by the cool climate of the city. Within easy reach of both Beijing and Tianjin, Qinhuangdao serves as the heart of the rapidly-growing “Bohai-Rim Economic Circle” and is part of China’s Economic and Technological Development Zone. The roads of Qinhuangdao are lively and busy, and getting around the city is convenient as buses and taxis are relatively cheap and easily accessible.

As Chinese, we could easily blend in with the local people. However communication was difficult initially due to the difference in slangs and terminologies used. Eventually we overcame the communication barriers after a period of getting used to each other’s way of speaking.

Local Working Environment At our internship company Wilmar, we had an extensive experience of both the macro and micro aspects of the business operations. After being briefed about the company’s product lines, we were given tours of the factories to have a first-hand exposure of their production chain. To maximise what we would be learning, an expert in each segment of the production chain was invited to share and elaborate on its particular operational flow. It was undoubtedly an eye-opening sight given the prevalent scale of their manufacturing facilities, and also an exceptional opportunity to witness the entire cycle of the production chain.

Subsequently, we were placed in the Finance and Human Resource Department according to our specialisation. We were then assigned to learn from many mentors in turn to learn about their current roles and responsibilities. As a result, we

obtained a bird’s-eye view as well as an understanding of every operation of the Finance and Human Resource Department by piecing together what we have learnt.

The Biggest Takeaway The culture of the company was like that of a big warm family. We were asked to address our fellow colleagues as brothers and sisters, and it took us a while to get used to it. It was a “work hard, play hard” environment where team-bonding and cohesion within the big family was very much emphasised. As interns, we were never neglected. We were always invited to join in the fun, including travel to nearby provinces over the weekend together with our colleagues. One of the most memorable events we experienced was the departmental outing at Yesanpo (野三坡), a national park of China. Wilmar truly embraced work-life balance.

The biggest takeaway we obtained from the internship is the relationships we have formed despite the minor differences in language and culture. The sincerity of our colleagues was heartfelt. Until now, we stay in contact with them. We feel as though we are truly part of this big family and it is definitely an experience we will never forget.

> INTERNSHIPS

INTERNSHIP @ Wilmar International Limited, China

A Long-Distance

Connection That Lasts

Semantha Ong Bachelor of Business, Year 3

Lee Wai Hou Bachelor of Accountancy, Year 3Visiting a school in Qinhuangdao Semantha (third from right) and Wai Hou (second from right) with

colleagues

On a departmental outing to Qinhuangdao

81

Taking A Shot At It My internship in Nepal was an amazing experience. I was initially quite apprehensive about going to Nepal as I was afraid of being away from home for such a long period of time without family and friends by my side. Furthermore, Nepal is a third world country without many of the comforts in Singapore that I have taken for granted. But I made a bold decision to take up the photojournalism internship, and I have not had any regrets ever since.

It was a pleasure to work at Nepali Times. Throughout my five months there, I was able to improve my photography skills and even had the opportunity to write a few stories, even though writing is not my forte. My boss, Mr Kunda Dixit, also gives his employees, especially interns, a lot of freedom to travel out of the capital to find their own stories. As a result, I was able to travel to other parts of the country, including Pokhara, Chitwan and Letang. I also had the privilege of taking a mountain flight around Mount Everest, hiking up a hill at the altitude of +2,000m, and visiting remote villages.

My colleagues were also helpful and encouraging, even going the extra mile to act as translators to help us interns when we had to interview people who could not speak English. Many of my photographs and stories were published in print and online. These online editions will definitely come in handy in the future during job applications, as my works will show up with a quick search of my name on the Nepali Times online archive.

A Changed Perspective However the best part of my internship in Nepal is not so much about the work or portfolio I have built up. Rather, it is about the life lessons I have learnt, cliched as it may sound. One of

the greatest discoveries I have made is how little I really need to survive. Having grown up in Singapore, I have lived such a comfortable life. On the other hand, the people there lived with so little and yet they rarely complained. Instead, they have found a way to live and be happy. So, I learnt to be adaptable and contented with what I have.

Being in a foreign land for such a long time also means I was able to really immerse myself in their culture and learn their language. Most people travel, stop over at a country for a short while and then leave. But this internship provided me an avenue to truly understand their way of life and assimilate into it.

Finally, this internship gave me the opportunity to meet wonderful people to whom I would be indebted for life. I have made many contacts from various organisations and backgrounds, people who had inconvenienced themselves to help a stranger like me who could offer them nothing in return. Now back in Singapore, I remind myself that life is more than just getting the best grades or climbing to the top of the corporate ladder.It is also about doing good and showing kindness to people around me, even to complete strangers.

All in all, this internship has allowed me to take photographs and write stories I would never have been able to in Singapore. It has also enabled me to see things I never thought my eyes would behold and go to places I never thought I would set foot on. I would encourage anyone and everyone to go if they have the opportunity.

> INTERNSHIPS

INTERNSHIP @ Nepali Times, Nepal

Seeing life through

A Different Lens

Liu Jiahui CindreyBachelor of Communication Studies, Year 4

A photograph taken for the Nepali Times website of a woman and boy hiding under a building during a hailstorm

(Left to right) Sulaiman Daud, another intern from WKWSCI, myself, and Mr Kunda Dixit, editor of the Nepali Times

82

I first came across Oldendorff at a career fair. At their booth under the maritime pavilion, I had a chat with Mr Chok, the director of the research department. As he shared with me about Oldendorff and its business, my interest was aroused and I wanted to know more. Then he revealed that they were offering an internship programme, and I handed him my resume. Soon after, I was invited to an interview with the operations director and the HR manager. I was pleasantly surprised bytheir friendliness, and the whole process was more like a casual conversation than a formal interview. A few days later, I was informed that I was selected for the internship programme! My Oldendorff voyage has begun…

The internship was a 10-week programme where I would be rotated amongst various departments in the company to expose me to the different business functions and let me understand how they are interconnected.

I started off with Marine Accounting, and discovered that it is not as straightforward as just producing invoices, but there are many factors to consider in making decisions. I also spent an hour of video conference with the Head of Port DA Department, giving me various insights into port related expenses when a vessel arrives at the port. Next was the Research Department, where I learned how extensive data analysis and forecasting are carried out for senior management to make long term strategies.

I learned a lot during the week at Port Operations, where I followed a master mariner with 12 years of sailing experience. Besides learning technical details and calculations, he also brought me on board a vessel for a tour. Personally, this was

also my best experience at Oldendorff. I remember having to take a speed boat ferry with my mentor to the main vessel, which was 7m high at the time of boarding. We had to climb the pilot ladder, which was made of rope and wood. It was pretty scary, especially for people with phobia of heights. We visited the Master of the vessel who gave me a warm reception and a tour around the vessel, explaining the different components of the vessel to me.

After that, I was assigned to Operations where I learned about daily procedures to ensure the smooth sailing of the vessel. Finally, I spent the last three weeks at Chartering. It was here that I learned the importance of having a good commercial sense in the negotiation process.

Although Oldendorff is a German company, it has a very diverse working environment, with employees from different parts of the world, including Europe, South Africa and Asia. I learned the importance of diversity in the workplace as it provides different perspectives to issues. I also like the fact that the company does not feel like a hierarchy, and there is little distance between Senior Management and the rest of the employees. Even interns like me can strike up a casual conversation with the Managing Director!

This 10-week voyage in Oldendorff was certainly very fruitful to me. I have made many friends, and gained a lot of insights and knowledge about the company as well as the marine industry. I am very excited and elated that Oldendorff has also offered me to join their Trainee Programme when I graduate in 2014!

> INTERNSHIPS

INTERNSHIP @ Oldendorff Carriers, Singapore

The Oldendorff Voyage

Johnnie AngB.Sc. in Maritime Studies, Year 4

A view from the bridge of the vessel where the vessel is being navigated

Johnnie (rightmost) with the warm and friendly captain of Alpha Glory

83

From Translation To Research It was a great opportunity for me to have my internship at Global English Academy in the United States of America. When I first arrived, I was assigned tasks that I was familiar with. This provided my supervisor with more time to interact with me and to assess my skill set. I started with translating documents such as their student handbooks, pre-arrival packages and official website, from English to Chinese. Through this, I gained a better understanding of the courses provided at the academy and its workflow, especially with regards to English as a Second Language (ESL) and the student visa system in the United States. It also provided me with the relevant background information tobetter interpret and explain to prospective Mandarin-speaking students who wanted to apply for an English course or seek further information about the academy. I began to appreciate the bilingual education system that I had gone through in Singapore as I could complete the translation and interpretation tasks without much difficulty.

As I became more familiar with the academy and its needs, I was tasked to research and contact overseas recruitment agencies. This was relatively more challenging for me as I had to research on the general educational backgrounds of students from the different countries before I could start searching for the agencies in these countries. Nevertheless, I had also learnt the most from all this, which had given me a better understanding of different countries from Asia to Europe and North America.

Having Fun At Work And At Play

One thing I like about working in the academy was its informal culture. The directors and staff worked together in a non-hierarchical way. We had frequent casual meetings and there was no formal report to prepare and submit. We were allowed to do our tasks at our own pace, and everyone was expected to fulfil his or her responsibility on the basis of trust, so the whole working atmosphere was rather friendly. This helped me build up my soft skills, something that I feel is often lacking in Asians like myself.

Having an overseas internship had provided me with the opportunity to tour the foreign country. I got to explore the neighbourhood, visit famous tourist attractions and museums, attend cultural events and even tour nearby cities. My colleagues would always provide me with great tips on where to go on the weekends and during the holidays. It helped a lot as some of these places are only known to locals.

To sum up, I am glad that that I had chosen this path to have this once-in-a-lifetime overseas internship experience. I believe the skills I learnt can add much value to my future career path, and the international exposure I gained can also be a boost to my job experience in my resume.

> INTERNSHIPS

INTERNSHIP @ Global ESL Academy, United States of America

Speaking of a

Bilingual Overseas Intern…

Ng Hwee TengB.A. in Chinese, Year 3

Hwee Teng (centre) with supervisors Angela and Shira

Hwee Teng with other colleagues, Phillip, Rita and Sarah

84

Preparation Work A risk-averse person by nature, I used to dread applying for internships as a necessary evil. I felt that the whole process is an investment that may not necessarily pay off – time away from my studies and the risk of not getting an offer from the company. However, after going through it all, my opinion has changed. I was in Year 3 of the ACBS course when I applied to Barclays. Having experienced internships in an MNC and a Big Four accounting firm, I wanted to work in a bank for a change. As banks usually encourage prospective interns to apply to them directly, I had to put more effort into my applications. Even so, I was motivated by the potential payoffs such as their established internship programmes and the possible option of being offered a full-time position upon my graduation.

I was aware of the intense competition for such internships, so I made preparation to prove to my potential employer that I was the best fit for the organisation. I attended company visits and networking sessions to understand more about where I could fit best in the work environment. I took stock of my own strengths and interests, identifying a field where I could stand a better chance. I also sought advice from seniors and peers, getting them to critique my cover letters and resume.

The initial application stage to Barclays was smooth sailing. The later stage was more challenging, consisting of a face-to-face interview, a case presentation, and a group activity. I took the advice of a senior to focus on demonstrating the skills the recruiter was looking for, rather than trying to outdo the other candidates. I performed well and got the internship.

> INTERNSHIPS

Banking onINTERNSHIP @ Ba

Beating the blues with the interns on Finance Colour Day

85

Self-Sourcing

The Internship Programme

The internship programme at Barclays was designed to enrich. It was packed with activities ranging from speaker series to soft skills training on top of the daily job scope. I was assigned to the Finance Department, working in one of the teams under Product Control, which was responsible for performing controls to ensure that the gains and losses generated by trading activity are well substantiated in the financial reports. As an intern, I was tasked with a project to implement a system that collects data to monitor that these controls are achieving the objective and performed efficiently by the team. I was also mentored through one-on-one meetings with a number of Directors/MDs under a “Meet the Director” initiative, which I found extremely insightful. A piece of advice from a Managing Director had impacted me deeply:

• Always understand the value of the position you are holding.

• Prove yourself that you are worthy of it.

• Make yourself irreplaceable.

After that, I motivated myself to offer fresh perspectives on business processes, organise a BBQ session to bond my team, and learn how to cover for my colleagues when they went on leave. Even though these were not expected of me, I still went the extra mile because I felt that it was important for me to be appreciative of my resources and to give back.

Amidst the busy schedule, I also did not forget to have fun with my fellow interns! We are still in close touch till today.

I am also fortunate to have been offered a full-time position at Barclays. Looking back, this 10-week internship at Barclays seemed like one giant recruitment and selection process for the full-time position! By constantly pushing myself to the limits, I have become more confident of my own abilities. I now view the job application process in a new light. Getting the job is only a part of the payoff; the transformation you undergo during the process is the real treasure.

rclays, Singapore

> INTERNSHIPS

Ang Fang TingBachelor in Accountancy and Bachelor in Business, Year 4

At my desk in office

The whole process of getting the internship with Barclays was challenging for me. I had to juggle multiple commitments such as my core modules, FYP, and my role as President in a school club. At the same time, I had to make internship applications and prepare for interviews. Fortunately, my spirit was kept strong with the support of my close friends and family, who were very understanding during the course of my internship; I was constantly pushing myself to perform well in hope of being offered a full-time position in the future.

86

My most memorable experience as an NTU undergraduate, the one that had made a positive impact in my life, was my overseas internship in Switzerland. I hope your own internship experience would be the same for you as well.

Decisions, decisions, decisions Overseas or local internship? Your decision would depend on what you want. Then grab the opportunity when it appears. If you are looking for certain attributes of a local company, a local internship could be the better choice. But if you are looking for a different kind of exposure, an eye-opener or an opportunity to immerse into another culture, an overseas internship is by far the best decision you could make.

An overseas internship not only provides personal enrichment, you would also gain an international experience that stays with you for life. Furthermore, it will add great value to your resume as most employers would look out for such experiences besides your academic qualifications.

Some students may choose not to do their internship abroad because of fear and anxiety, although such obstacles can be overcome. So for those who have bravely opted for an overseas internship, I would encourage you to approach it with an openheart and mind. I believe you would gain an unbelievably awesome experience working, learning, travelling and making new friends in the process.

Experiencing Switzerland Switzerland is definitely a wonderful place to have an internship. The country is clean, the locals are very approachable and helpful, and the food is great (awesome cheese and chocolates!). Communication in Switzerland is no big issue since most people can understand and speak English, but it is always nice to speak a few simple German words like Grüezi (Hello), Danke Schön (Thank you very much) and Tschüss (Bye). And not forgetting the beautiful scenery and Swiss Alps that you could only see in Switzerland.

> INTERNSHIPS

Heng Zhi FengB.Eng. in Computer Engineering, Year 4

Swiss Chocolates, SwisINTERNSHIP @ HSR University,

After a long hike, Zhi Feng finally gets a nice view of the Matterhorn

Hiking up snow mountain to see one of the Swiss Alps, Matterhorn, is the most memorable experience Zhi Feng ever had

87

s Cheese, Switzerland !

Working in HSR University, Institute for Software My experience of working at the institute was memorable. My supervisor, Professor Stefan Keller, was a very busy man as he seemed to be always on a tight schedule. But no matter how busy he was, he would still make time for short meetings almost weekly to discuss work issues. He also ensured that I was fully engaged and not wasting any learning opportunities. I was also blessed with a couple of very friendly and approachable colleagues from whom I had learnt a lot when they assisted me on a project.

Academically, I had been exposed to many new areas in this fast and ever-changing IT industry. My first project was to write a desktop application to validate a catalogue and to subsequently export it to another language. The sense of accomplishment was indescribable as many users will benefit from the finished application. I also learnt to write code more professionally, do timely documentations, troubleshoot and solve problems, leverage on the power of the community through mailing list and much more. All in all, I had certainly gained a wealth of knowledge and experience.

One of the highlights while working in the institute was the opportunity to participate in the JAZOON’13 conference. It was a 2-day international conference held annually where software developers from all over the world gather to learn from one another through presentations, talks and hands-on exercises. I was also given opportunity to attend some of the presentations where I had gained immense benefits.

A different me

One of my most valuable take-away from this internship is that I have learnt to be more appreciative; there will always be someone out there in this world who is in a situation that is much worse than yours. Exposure to a different environment and having to live independently had moulded me into a better individual. My overseas internship has trained me to become a responsible adult who is capable of living and working productively and independently.

Institute for Software, Switzerland

> INTERNSHIPS

Zhi Feng joining the curling event organised by the university’s International Relations Office with newly made friends

88

Unlike the conventional view that a chemistry graduate has to work in a laboratory, my internship was a special one. I was caught in a dilemma of choosing between a safe route of typical laboratory work and something unique that I had always wanted to do. I decided to seize the 22 weeks of opportunity and explore my interests with Givaudan, a top Swiss flavour and fragrance house founded by brothers Leon Givaudan and Xavier Givaudan in 1895.

According to Leffingwell, Givaudan has been ranked 1st among the fragrance and flavour houses since 2007. The only company which owns a professional perfumery institute currently, Givaudan continuously develops with creativity and science in the discovery, artistry and performance of fragrances and flavours. As a fragrance trainee evaluator, I worked closely with veteran managers, directors and perfumers from different cultural backgrounds. I was allocated to the haircare, skincare, fine fragrance and fabric softener teams.

My responsibilities include not only the selection of appropriate fragrances for consumer products such as shampoos, lotions, detergents and fabric softeners, but also to understand the targeted markets and the fragrances that consumers want.Besides that, we also face challenges of formulation instabilities such as phase separations, precipitations, discolorations and

viscosity changes after the addition of fragrance oils. When such technical problems are encountered, we would work with the perfumers and chemists to resolve these issues.

My internship with Givaudan has not only given me the opportunity to experience the technical aspects of fragrance development, but it has also revealed to me the importance of good interpersonal skills, team work and cultural understanding in the modern society. Good organisational and time management skills are equally important, especially in handling of multiple projects restricted by deadlines.

I have learnt to persevere when faced with difficulties, seek help from the experienced colleagues and learn from the challenges encountered. This internship has also given me insights into the workforce which can never be gained from lectures or books.

Personally, my passion and determination to excel in this field has led me to pursue a career in the fragrance world, a niche chemical industry. An advice to all juniors: 22 weeks are a short but vital duration to discover your passion, so don’t waste it.

> INTERNSHIPS

ScentVentureINTERNSHIP @ Givaudan, Singapore

Evaluating fragrance samples at work Panel evaluating soap fragrance on my skin

An evening of fun with other colleagues

Teoh Jun LingB.Sc. in Chemistry & Biological ChemistryGraduated in 2012 Fragrance Trainee Evaluator (current & internship)

89

90