Winds of uncertainty are blowing and those seeking jobs and internships need to know the right moves to march ahead. BIZBeat imparts words of wisdom from those who have been there, done that.
Power moves for seeking jobs and internships
Job search experience
“How’s the job search going?”- was the standard opening line of nearly everyone I talked to, from my parents, relatives, friends and even acquaintances. Like many others, my job search process was fraught with cold rejection emails, stressful interviews, and of course, multiple episodes of identity crisis. The over-achiever in me found it hard to accept this new reality – that I am no longer a student and I am officially jobless. This is a concept not well-received by society.
I only stopped doubting myself after my friend shared the concept of “we are first a human-being, not human doing”. Life goes beyond doing things and hustling all the time. With that advice, I slowed down to reflect. I did not set a deadline on when I “should” secure a job. Since I had all the time in the world, I picked up new hobbies such as water colour painting, attended edX courses via Luminus and started exploring different job opportunities that were not related to my major in marketing. This was how I eventually landed the role of a policy analyst.
To everyone out there who is still looking for a role, know that your identity goes beyond your occupation. Rejections may come and it may be frustrating. But as long as you stay open, you will eventually find your way.
Power Move: Deepen your knowledge in your interests
Cheri Tng (BBA Class of 2020)
Associate Consultant, Bain & Company
Job search experience
My current job is a conversion from an internship in my penultimate year. That year, I applied to a few firms and kept my efforts focused.
In preparation for my job search, I made it a point to explore broadly to understand where my interests lie. Besides internships, school activities such as case competitions are great avenues to explore. I participated in a few competitions such as the Facebook-NUS Marketing Venture Challenge 2017, BI International Case Competition 2018 and CBS Case Competition 2020. Each time, I learnt new skills, as well as more about my own interests, strengths and weaknesses. Once I had a general sensing on what I enjoyed (working with people to solve diverse & complex business problems), I found ways to deepen my knowledge in these areas by speaking to others and verifying through short stints at a couple of firms.
Power Move: Be resilient and follow your passion
Belinda Leong (MSc in Finance Class of 2020)
Graduate Associate at DBS Bank
Job search experience
The hiring season of many companies is in May or June. For MSc in Finance students, our final semester ends in December. Although the time when we finished our studies did not coincide with the hiring season, there are still job opportunities around. I have always been very thankful that I secured a job before my formal graduation.
Looking back at those times now, it truly felt like a very long journey. I was constantly submitting CVs, going for interviews and attending Assessment Centres. The latter refers to selection processes that evaluate a group of candidates doing similar tasks. In banks, for example, candidates would be asked to do business case presentations, role-play, network, and are assessed based on both hard and soft skills. Assessment Centres are a common feature in many companies’ Graduate Programmes, and usually last one or two days. A tip for doing well at assessment centres would be to fully prepare yourself and have a good understanding of the company before going. Have a good rest the day before, relax, and most importantly, try not to view it as an assessment round. Rather, you can take it as an opportunity to network and interact with the people there.
There were definitely times when I felt unsure of myself, losing sight of what lay ahead. But thankfully, I somehow managed to find my own path, working towards who I hope to become ultimately. If you never give up, good things will be just round the corner.
Power Move: Do not be disheartened, keep networking
Roger Tan (MBA Intake 2019)
Digital Strategy and Project Management intern at Allianz
Internship search experience
Many students begin their job hunt before they graduate and it was no different for me. It is pragmatic to do so, especially given the current job environment. This means having to balance the demands of school, an internship and a job search.
Whether it is a job or internship search, I approach it with the same zeal. It took me about a month of actively looking before I gained traction and secured a six-month long internship with Allianz.
Thanks to a strong alumni network (the hiring team at Allianz consists of a couple of NUS MBA Alumni), the NUS MBA Programmes Office and BIZCareers team have strong leads for us students to tap on. This connection also made it easier for me to connect with them in our conversations thereafter.
It is common to come across setbacks from potential employers, even from the ones that I felt that I had a decent chance in. My advice for those seeking internships or jobs is “Do not be disheartened no matter the outcome, and keep going at it. Good things will come!”
Power Move – Stay Afloat, Move with the Waves!
We have all learnt by now that the world can change in a split second. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that we must always be nimble enough to manoeuvre in uncertain times. So in terms of internship and job searches, move with the waves instead of getting caught in it. If the role, sector or location is no longer viable, take the following steps to explore and engage:
- Start researching opportunities and trends
- Work with career advisors
- Seek advice from mentors
- Network with industry players through talks and workshops
- Build on existing knowledge
- Explore opportunities in different sectors and countries
This time round, cast the net even wider, do not be too focused on just one role, one sector or one country. If skills, network and knowledge need rebuilding from ground zero, get on to it, NOW!
Advice from the BIZCareers team, NUS Business School