A-Levels? It's Just Another Level E-Resource Pack

A-LEVELS

IT‘S JUST ANOTHER LEVEL.

WHO ARE WE?

is a national movement that aims to build a culture of mentoring in Singapore by making mentoring more accessible to youth. An initiative under Forward SG, Mentoring SG seeks to support youth development and school-to-work transitions through mentoring, enabling our youth to thrive, grow and realise their aspirations. With Singapore’s most valuable resource being her people, we need to be ready for all that lies ahead. Through purposeful mentoring, mentees get the opportunity to broaden their perspectives and receive practical advice, equipping them with vital skills to excel in the workplace.

PROGRAMME

1.45PM REGISTRATION STARTS

2.15PM 4PM

3PM

LEVEL 1: MEET YOUR ALLIES

Opening Remarks

Panel Discussion

LEVEL 2: YOUR POWER-UPS

Human Library

Mini Flash Mentoring

LEVEL 3: READY FOR BATTLE

Closing Remarks

Tea Break & Networking

LEVEL 1

MEET YOUR ALLIES

CLAUDIA RUTH SELVAKUMAR

founder of pathfinders partnerships intern at mentoring sg

Before graduating from Ngee Ann Polytechnic with a Diploma in Community Development, Claudia was enrolled in the Institute of Technical Education (ITE). During her time there, she learnt of the stories and struggles faced by her peers, which exposed her to the realities faced by marginalised communities.

Driven by her commitment to dismantle systemic barriers that hinder youth from reaching their fullest potential, Claudia founded Pathfinders, a ground up initiative that runs mentorship programmes with a goal to equip participants with essential skills and the confidence to excel in the workplace.

MR ALVIN TAN

Minister of state, ministry of culture, community and youth & ministry of trade and industry, advisor of mentoring sg

Being an experiential learner who digests content better by stimulating the senses, studying in JC proved to be a challenge for Mr Alvin Tan. Despite his best efforts, he ended up repeating J1 and scoring CDD/D at A-levels.

Yet, he stands before you today, having overcome these obstacles and coming out stronger than ever! An accomplished individual with a thirst for knowledge, Mr Alvin Tan has found his own path to making an impact on the community, through his work as a politician and a Member of Parliament.

Scan to connect!

HANA IKRAM

deputy executive director of access singapore

After her A-levels, Hana decided to pursue a degree in Human Resource Management with a minor in Psychology at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).

Passionate about assisting the underprivileged, she volunteered at Access Singapore, a social mobility charity offering career guidance and exposure to disadvantaged students. Shortly after graduation, she was offered a prominent full-time role, where she now continues to impact the lives of many!

In recognition of her contributions outside of school, Hana was also a recipient of the SUSS Spirit Award in 2021.

Eileen’s academic journey was not the smoothest. Decisions that were not the easiest had to be made, including one to retake her A-Levels. Yet, she pressed on and ultimately graduated from the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM), where she found her niche in the vibrant realm of events.

Her talents have led her to make a significant mark on her field, including running a compelling campaign for Fenty Beauty in 2023. As she continues to write her own story in the industry, her experiences seek to offer valuable insights and serve as inspiration to those navigating their own professional pursuits.

EILEEN ANG events specialist

JORDAN RAYMAN THOMAS

NUS Y2 UNDERGRADUATE

During his tenure at SAJC, Jordan grappled with a sense of demotivation and low self-esteem after having to repeat his Alevels. He found himself plagued with worries as he watched his peers progress, exacerbated by the uncertainty of his future.

Fast forward to the present, Jordan has successfully transformed his academic trajectory, as he now pursues a double major at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Jordan’s journey not only highlights his determination to overcome setbacks, but also showcases his ability to rise above challenges and carve out a promising academic future, which you can do too! Scan

LEVEL 2

YOUR POWER-UPS

JC TO POLY

TAN WEI YARN

Y2 NP BUSINESS STUDIES ACADEMY INTERN @ MENTORING SG

Currently holding a 4.0 cGPA as a Year 2 Ngee Ann Poly Business Studies student, Wei Yarn successfully turned his academic track record around after scoring less-than-stellar A-level results.

Wei Yarn’s unique experience puts him in a better position to guide youths in exploring unconventional post-JC pathways while staying true to one’s passions.

HEERA D/O PRAKASHAM

Y3 NP COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME EXECUTIVE @ FLOUR POWER

After scoring below expectations for her A-levels, Heera took a gap year to embark on a journey of self-discovery and figure out her next course of action. Eventually, she took the leap to pursue further education in Ngee Ann Poly, now on her way to graduating with a Diploma in Community Development!

Her vibrant journey enables her to advise youths on managing the Junior College experience and exploring alternative pathways post A-levels, beyond traditional university routes. Scantoconnect! Scantoconnect!

HAJAANI JEGATHEESAN

NTU-USP

NTU PUBLIC POLICY & GLOBAL AFFAIRS STUDENT RESEARCHER

Being the only student in class to retain in J1 years prior, Hajaani was determined to make an academic comeback. The journey was tedious, but she persevered and eventually landed a spot in NTU’s prestigious University Scholars Programme.

Hajaani will be able to advise youths struggling to overcome academic setbacks and emotional obstacles, as well as to shed light on her JC experience.

ESTHER LEE

CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE CONSULTANT NUS GEOGRAPHY GRADUATE

In JC, Esther’s dream was to pursue Geography with a minor in Geoscience at NUS. Being unable to qualify for the course the first time, she retook her A-levels as a private candidate. Her efforts ultimately paid off and she now has 4 years of experience under her belt, including specialised internships in urban planning and environmental and marine conservation. Her journey seeks to offer valuable insights into overcoming struggles as a private candidate and how passion can carry one to their destination.

MUHAMMAD FARIS BIN AZZLI

NUS DOUBLE MAJOR GRADUATE PRODUCT APPLICATION ENGINEER AT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC

Keenly interested in Sustainability and Energy Management in the Engineering industry, Faris pursued a double major in Mechanical Engineering and Innovation and Design at Singapore’s top university, NUS. He also attended an overseas exchange programme at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden.

After graduation, he secured a job at Schneider Electric, and is now in a role where he carries out presales engagements and system designs for building and energy management and monitors systems. Faris would be more than happy to share about following his interests and turning it into a career!

LEVEL 3

READY FOR BATTLE

How do I craft a resume?

What mentorships are available?

What resources are available to me?

Specially curated for JC students, this e-Resource pack contains career & volunteering opportunities, as well as other resources to supplement your quest!

We hope you’ll find something to your liking and embark on a journey of selfdiscovery and career excellence!

*DO NOTE THAT THIS LIST IS NON-EXHAUSTIVE

MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

ADVISORY1.

LOCAL

The Advisory Mentorship Programme pairs students with working professionals in their fields of interest on a 1-1 basis. Over the course of four months, mentors give an hour each month to meet with their mentee.

2. HALOGEN

ELEMENTS is a mentorship programme developed and run by Halogen Foundation. ELEMENTS typically serves youth aged 17 to 25, we match these young people with mentors from established institutions, companies and our Halogen⁺ community, to embark on a learning journey through the power of mentoring conversations. Named to cover four key elements of a youth’s growth –

Personal Discovery, Career Navigation, Skill Set Development, and Early Career Mastery –and contextualised to equip young people with a better understanding of themselves and their capabilities.

MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

1.

GLOBAL ADPLIST

ADPList is a global community of Mentors and Learners with a mission to democratize mentorship for all. It has since grown to 25,000+ Mentors who have mentored more than 100 Million minutes in 141 countries across the globe. Mentors on ADPList are everyday people who share their knowledge to elevate careers.

2. vLOOKUP

vLookUp is a pro bono global mentoring platform for women in workforce or aspiring to join the workforce. We offer them access to role models and mentors to be guided at any stage of their career. We support organizations in creating more access and opportunities to retain and expand women workforce.

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

INTERNSG

1. Singapore’s #1 internship portal with more than 120000+ jobs available in over 40 industries!

2. CAREERS@GOV

For internships in the public service sector!

3. YOUTH CORPS COMMUNITY

INTERNSHIP

The Youth Corps Community Internship (YCCI) is a 5-6 month developmental programme where youths will not only intern with one of Youth Corps Community Partners in the community and social sector but also attend Skills Training, Career Explorations, Learning Journeys and also serve the community. This programme enables youths to continue their development through on-the-job-training and learning experiences within the sector and contribute back to society.

PART-TIME JOB PORTALS

MYCAREERSFUTURE

1. MyCareersFuture is a portal that aims to provide Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents with a fast and smart job search service to match them with relevant jobs, based on their skills and competencies. The portal was developed by Workforce Singapore, in partnership with Government Technology Agency.

2. FASTJOBS

FastJobs is an award-winning mobile app which connects nonexecutive job seekers to reliable employers quickly & easily. With just a tap, applicants can apply for jobs offered by thousands of trusted employers in Singapore, across all sectors! Get access to exciting job openings across full-time, part-time and contract roles! New candidates can easily register for an account and create a professional resume with the app.

3. JOBSTREET

With a clear purpose of helping people live more fulfilling and productive working lives and organisations to succeed, SEEK, which operates JobStreet and JobsDB in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, aspires to help 500 million people develop their careers with 5 million companies by 2025 in Asia.

4. INDEED

Indeed is the #1 job site in the world with over 350M+ unique visitors every month. Indeed strives to put job seekers first, giving them free access to search for jobs, post resumes, and research companies.

5. GLASSDOOR

Glassdoor creates a thriving community for workplace conversations, driven by a simple mission: helping people everywhere find jobs and companies they love.

6. STAFFIE

Staffie is the easiest way to pick up shifts at F&B businesses across Singapore. Work at nearby venues in your own time and get paid weekly.

HOW TO USE LINKEDIN?

MENTORING SG: LINKEDIN 101

1. Slides from our workshop on how to utilise Linkedin to facilitate the building of your network and career!

2. SMILETUTOR ARTICLE

Click here to find out more about how to use Linkedin to boost your career prospects!

3. BUSINESS NEWS DAILY

Click here to find out more about how to properly job-hunt on Linkedin!

4. LINKEDIN ARTICLES

Click here to learn how to write a bomb Linkedin article that will expand your reach!

RESUME WRITING TIPS!

1.

HARVARD RESUME & COVER LETTER GUIDE

The go-to template for a neat and easy to read resume! Click here for the PDF file!

Intern’s note: Even I use this template to get internships ;D

2. LINKEDIN LEARNING

Learn the ropes of writing a succinct resume that is pleasing to a recruiter’s eye! Embedded in this article is Linkedin Learning courses you can also enrol in!

3. INDEED ARTICLE

So, we learnt about what to include in a resume, but what about things to omit? Learn from this article!

NO CAREER IN MIND? THESE WEBSITES MAY HELP!

MYSKILLSFUTURE

1. Take the RIASEC Profiling Tool to understand your personality, strengths, and work values to help you identify suitable career options!

2. ON MY WAY! (OMW)

Created by the National Youth Council, this website will help you to figure out what to study or what you want as a career in the future. Learn about the different jobs and industries, connect with schooling seniors and industry professionals and get a taster of various job roles!

3. COURSERA

Coursera partners with more than 275 leading universities and companies to bring flexible, affordable, job-relevant online learning to individuals and organizations worldwide. They offer a range of learning opportunities—from hands-on projects and courses to job-ready certificates and degree programs. Take courses and see what you’re interested in!

OTHER USEFUL READS!

BRIGHTSPARKS

1. A plethora of resources to prep you for your career/university! Some of our favourite articles:

School-to-work transitions

Common interview questions

Scholarships without scoring As

2. SMILE TUTOR

Articles on all-things student life! Our picks:

Your next steps if you flunked your As

How to increase your chance of securing an internship

3.

MOTHERSHIP

Why A-levels are not the be-all and end-all: 10 Unique Stories

4. ZULA

Unconventional Pathways: Stories from 4 Voices

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITES

VOLUNTEER.GOV.SG

1. On Volunteer.gov.sg, find a selection of specially curated volunteering opportunities! Discover the opportunity that resonates with you and begin your volunteering journey today!

2. GIVING.SG

Giving.sg is a digital platform that connects volunteers with meaningful volunteering opportunities across Singapore. It aims to match diverse interests, skills, and availabilities with a variety of community service events and causes, enabling individuals to contribute to society in impactful ways.

3. YOUTH CORPS SINGAPORE

Seeking impactful volunteer work in Singapore? YCS recognises the diverse interests, passions, skills, and availability of youth. They have a range of community service events caters to various causes, ensuring there's something for everyone to contribute to!

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITES

4. HEARTWARE NETWORK

Heartware Network (estb 2000) is a registered Society with the Registry of Societies, and a registered Charity with the Institution of Public Character (IPC) status under Commissioner of Charities (COC), under the Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth (MCCY). It seeks to instil positive values and build strong character in youth between ages 14 and 35, and engage our young to be resilient, innovative in serving others, and to be entrepreneurs rooted to Singapore as their home. HW is committed to transforming the lives of under-served children and youth by empowering them with greater confidence in their abilities, so as to achieve a brighter future.

5. PATHFINDERS

Founded by our Moderator for the event, Claudia, Pathfinders is committed to empowering disadvantaged youth by overcoming modern challenges in education and personal growth through mentorship. This initiative provides a nurturing environment to build life skills and confidence.

Pathfinders currently seeks a passionate, diverse team of up to 5 volunteers to join them in making a difference. Sign up here!

MENTORING SG

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CONTACT US

UPCOMING EVENTS

MENTORING SG CONNECTS (MENTOR-MENTEE PORTAL)