SIM Career Connect Q1'23 Newsletter

DIRECTOR'SNOTE

DR AARON

TAN

DIRECTOR, LEARNER ADVISORY & CAREER CENTRE SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

Helloeveryone!

Welcome to our first Newsletter for 2023! I hope the year has been great for you so far. In many ways, things are feeling a lot like pre-Covid days again! One examplethatstoodoutformewastheDREAMSCareer&InternshipFairheldjust last month where almost 800 of you turned up physically to participate. We have received only positive feedback so far from both the employers that were there, as well as from students who participated. In this issue, we capture some highlightsfromtheFairincaseyoumissedit.

The week leading up to the Fair was also a very exciting one for us at Career Connect.Why?WelaunchedourbrandnewappcalledCareerSense!Thisisaonestop app where you can have access to tools and resources to help you in your career planning towards your dream job. You can discover your own work values (what is important to you in a job), career interest(s), personality, as well as your skills. Armed with this knowledge, you can then make better choices for your careers. And if you need to talk to somebody about your plans, the app also allows you to book sessions with our industry expert panel or our very own inhouseCareerCoaches.Ifyouhavenotdownloadedtheappyet,youmaydosoby looking out for our announcements on the digital signages around campus, or drop by Career Connect and we can help you. In this issue, we will feature some testimonials from a few of our early adopters of the app – do read and find out more!

Meanwhile, look out for the other highlights in this issue – our Young Graduate CareerForum,recapofnewworkshops,andagreatarticleonstressmanagement –whichisthethemeforthisissue!

We hope you enjoy this Newsletter, lovingly put together by our TDP Interns speciallyforyou.Andasusual,wehopetoseeyouatCareerConnectsoon! Cheers!

MEET THE TEAM

LimSzeMin(Advisor

SajidahNihar(Advisor)

JoanneKoh(Editor)

SimonaRawal(Editor)

UniversityofLondon BScBankingandFinance

CollinKen(Writer)

UniversityofWollongong BachelorinComputerScience

AdelineTan(Writer)

University

VanessaLau(Writer)

University

JoshuaTanYi(Writer)

UniversityofLondon BScEconomicsandManagement

PriscillaLow(Writer)

University

NadiaLim(Writer)

University

UniversityofLondon BScDataScienceandBusinessAnalytics

UniversityofLondon BScEconomicsandPolitics

UniversityofLondon BScBusinessandManagement

ofLondon BScEconomicsandPolitics

ofLondon BScBusinessandManagement

FeliciaThen(Writer) UniversityatBuffalo BAPsychology

atBuffalo BACommunications

ofLondon BScBankingandFinance

CarissaYeo(Writer) UniversityofLondon BScAccountingandFinance

SamhitaMitta(Writer) UniversityofLondon BScManagementandDigitalInnovation

CareerSense

The one-stop platform for your career needs!

Looking for an internship or a full-time job? Soar to new heights through the power of personal discovery & expert guidance with our brand-new CareerSense App! Let's hear from students about their experiences using CareerSense!

"I learned more about my personality and skills through the various profiling tests, and I also created my very own resume from scratch using the in-built resume builder. It is very convenient and fuss-free!"

Darren Chua UOL Computer Science

"I was able to book an appointment for my career consultation very easily and quickly. In addition, I have learned more about which industry best suits me using the self-help resources "

Tan Siew Ying RMIT Business Management

How is CareerSense different from UNICORN?

CareerSense

RSVP Workshops and Events

Direct Jobs & Internships application

Resume upload for vetting by Career Coaches

It's not perfect yet.....

While we roll out CareerSense in phases, the different functions from both platforms complement each other! ALL UNICORN functions will eventually be integrated into CareerSense

Values, Interests, Personality and Skill Profiling

Assessments

Self-Help Resources

Identify your skillsets to boost your resume

Appointment Booking for Career Coaching

AI Resume Builder

CareerSense Roadshow

On the 14th to 16th of February 2023, Career Connect held the CareerSense Roadshow, celebrating the newly launched CareerSense App at Block B Student Hub! The newly developed one-stop CareerSense App allows SIM students to explore various careers, get support in their career journey through personalised recommendations, and selfhelp resources.

Participants had the chance to learn more about the CareerSense App via games and activities, as well as the sure-win lucky draw spin and free food like churros! In addition, to help better prepare students for the workforce, they could get their professional photo taken at a highly subsidised rate specially for SIM students to boost their portfolio!

The biggest draw of the 3-day event was definitely the Resume Clinic, where students had the opportuni feedback and

ResumeClinic

INTERVIEWSERIES: PUSHCARTENTREPRENEURS

We had the chance to ask our fellow Pushcart Entrepreneurs some questions to find out more about their businesses and to share their amazing experiences with us!

AboutUs:

MysisterandIstartedasmalllocaljewelrybusinessfocusedonoffering affordableearringstoourlocalcommunity.Learningabouthowthepandemic affectedKoreanjewelrysellersanddesigners,pushedustostartourbusiness andcollaboratewiththemtocurateandbringtheirdesignstoourlocal community.Weofferavastarrayofearringsrangingfromadorablecharacterthemeddesignstothemostelegant,intricate,anddaintyones Allourjewelryis hypoallergenic,makingitsafeforeventhemostsensitiveskinandwealsooffer clip-onoptionsforthosewithoutpiercings!

Thechallengeswefaced:

Thechallengewefacedwasthelackofpublicityorawarenessregardingour businesswhenwejustlaunched.Wehadlittlefundstoinvestinpublicity campaignsorevensocialmediamarketing

Howweovercamethechallenges: Wehadreallysupportivefriendswhospreadthewordonourlaunchandhelped promoteoursmallbusiness.Additionally,wealsotooktheinitiativetoreachout tootherbusinessesforsharedpublicityorevenindividualswhowereinterested injewelry.

Adviceandtipsonstartingabusiness: Ouradvicewouldbetostartabusinessinafieldthatyouarereallypassionate about.Thiswouldmaketheprocessmuchmoreenjoyableandfun!Therewill alwaysbeupsanddownsinabusinesssoyoushouldnevergiveuphopewhenit getsroughbutinsteadfindwaystogetaroundit

AboutUs:

IownaFloralBusinesswithmyMotherthatgoesbythenameof lowersMansion.Specialisinginbothsoapandpreservedflowers,webelieve amoresustainablewaytospreadlovetoyourlovedoneswithflowersthat epresenteternity.Asbothsoapandpreservedflowershavealongerlifespan mparedtofreshflowers,wecanalsosaveonwastagecostsinthelongrun

Thechallengeswefaced:

Runningthisbusinesswhilejugglingschoolwork,familytime,and relationshipsisnotaneasytask.

Howweovercamethechallenges:

Thankfully,Ihavehadverysupportivepeoplearoundmethatkeptmegoing, whichhelpedmeovercomeobstaclesthatIwouldneverhavebeenableto overcomeonmyown.Despitethedisappointmentofsometimesnot achievingresultsthatmatchmyhardwork,itisimportanttocontinueto havehighexpectationssothatyoucanpersevereonandnotgiveup.Ifit's easy,it'snotworthdoingit

Adviceandtipsonstartingabusiness:

Startwhenyou'reyoung Thereisnosuchthingasregretbecauseregrets alwaysofferslessonstolearnfrom.Don'thesitatetostartandlearnfromyour mistakesalongtheway It'sbetterifyouhavesomebodytotalktoabout business.

XAVIER TAN JING YING DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

On the 23rd of February, over 750 students participated in Career Connect's annual DREAMS Career & Internship Fair

Having 52 companies across different industries participating in DREAMS'23, candidates had the opportunity to network with employers in sectors such as Finance, Technology, Audit, Non-Profit, Hospitality, and Communications, where they may wish to pursue their careers in. Some of the participating employers included PwC, TikTok, Loreal, Cognizant, SATS, and Sephora.

Together with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), we had the honor of inviting 4 esteemed panelists from the accounting & auditing industry down for a fireside chat with our students attending DREAMS 2023, to share about their careers & journeys. Students were given the opportunity to interact with the panel members and gain insights into how they individually thrived in their careers.

Through DREAMS'23, participants were able to gain insights from these first-hand experiences with experts and employers, which could help them in their career preparations.

Fret not if you have missed DREAMS'23! You can still apply for over 400 internships and job offers by the participating companies from now to till the 23rd of May. Likewise, we hope to see you at our next career fair IGNITE in October 2023!

Let's hear from some of our DREAMS participants on their key takeaways and experiences!

I learned ab Instagram pos the ability to interns/fresh g demand with firms. I feel tha you have yet to to you. You g p g relevant companies first-hand, network and understand what they are looking for in fresh graduates.

I found out about DREAMS via Career Connect’s telegram channel. In this career fair, I got to meet recruiters from several companies that I was interested in and managed to learn more about the opportunities they offer while having my queries answered. I think career fair is a great starting point for students before stepping into the workforce, as you get to speak to companies on what they look for when hiring and hear directly about their experiences on the roles and with the company’s culture. Also, for students that aren’t sure about their future career choice, career fairs can help to explore potential career options.

Victor Vu UOL Business and Management Final Year

Nur Tasneem Aqilah UOW Computer Science (Big Data and Cybersecurity) First Year

Q U I C K T I P S

STRES & WAY

Find yourself caught up with stress as exam season is approaching or feeling too pressured to keep to your new year resolutions? Here are some ways you can destress & maintain a positive psychological well-being!

Getting Active

Research has shown that exercising helps brighten your mood and tackles with stress

Plan a simple workout of about 2030 minutes for at least 3 days a week for optimum results!

Power Nap

Studies have shown that napping helps reduce stress hormones

Take a short power nap of 20 minutes to energize before getting back to what needs to be done.

Healthy Diet

A healthy and balanced diet can maintain a healthy immune system to manage stressful events.

Ensure that your diet has a good mix of fruits, vegetables and grains

Socializing with friends

Maintaining supportive relationships with your family and peers grants you timely help and emotional support when you're struggling!

Time Management and Planning

An organized planning helps one to feel less stressed when they are in better control

Plan your daily schedule for a better overview of tasks to be accomplished

COMPANYVISIT

We had the chance to visit FDM Group’s office on the 7th of February 2023 to learn more about the graduate programme that the group had to offer.

Participants had the opportunity to interact with FDM’s consultants as well as talent acquisition team to understand more about the potential life as a consultant, the different tracks they can follow and what the company is all about.

Additionally, the participants networked with our graduated SIM alumni, who are currently consultants with FDM Group! Our alumni shared their career trajectory and gave meaningful advice on how one can land a potential career in tech consulting.

The visit ended with a free & easy networking tea break, where attendees were joined by FDM Group's staff to engage in meaningful career conversations. Our heartfelt thank you to FDM Group for inviting our students to their office, they definitely had a blast!

UNIQLOCAREERTALK

Uniqlo held a recruitment talk on the 16th of March 2023 and introduced our students to their Uniqlo Management Candidate (UMC) program. The UMC program aims to develop future leaders who will help grow their business globally, practice self-awareness, focus on their goals and provide exposure to company directions and initiatives

Students were introduced to Uniqlo’s history and culture, along with a full breakdown of how their program works to integrate a candidate into Uniqlo They also brought along one of their current UMC who was an SIM-RMIT alumna to share about her journey and how this program has helped shape her interest in the store operations line of work A total of 30 students have had the opportunity to network with the experienced Uniqlo staff and enjoyed light refreshments that was provided.

TIKTOKCAREERTALK

On the 21st of March 2023, SIM partnered up with TikTok to run a career talk that cover insights to Global Business Solutions – Monetization Integrity (GBS MI) and to also showcase what #LifeAtTikTok is all about. Students got to network with TikTok’s Global Business Solutions department and Early Careers department to discover their interests and what TikTok has to offer

The GBS MI Team’s vision is to make TikTok the world’s most trusted ecosystem and the easiest to advertise on and they showcased how SIM students can contribute to achieving their vision by becoming a part of the GBS MI team.

Our friends from TikTok also got to show about TikTok’s culture and how fun, fast and dynamic they can be!

Students also got to enjoy some of the TikTok videos created by the team showing off their office facilities such as the pantry which is filled with lots of snacks. It was a very fruitful sharing session and our students were all pumped up at the prospect of potentially joining TikTok upon their graduation!

YOUNGGRADUATE CAREERFORUM

On the 11th of February, Career Connect held the bi-annual Young Graduates Career Forum (YGCF), to help our students gain effective tips on how they can outshine their competitors and prepare for the job market as they transition from undergraduates to working adults.

With a turnout of over 30 students, our recently graduated panel of alumni speakers in various industries such as banking, consultancy, IT, and supply chain management, imparted participants with valuable insights into the professional world through their first-hand experiences. Additionally, they enlightened the participants on how they clinched their first jobs amidst the pandemic and gave valuable pointers on career advancement during such volatile periods

Following the panel discussion, our speakers patiently answered students' burning questions during the networking lunch and Q&A session This helped participants gain clarity and motivate them to strive harder for excellence!

We extend our gratitude to the speakers and moderator for generously sharing their time and expertise, which undoubtedly contributed to the success of the event, as well as to the attendees for their presence and engagement in the event.

Lets hear from a participant!

Azza Sekarnova Khairunisa UOW Business Information Systems Final Year

At YGCF, I gained insights on how the working world is like and tips on how to navigate through strategically. The panelists shared their career journey and guided us on how we can develop ourself into a career-ready candidate in order to stand out in the job market. I really admire the way they broke through barriers by cultivating a growth mindset! During the networking session, the speakers patiently offered valuable advice on how we can maximise our time to prepare us for the future while encouraging us to keep a balanced life. Overall, attending YGCF was a valuable experience and I would highly recommend it to all final year students as it provided me with a wealth of knowledge to pursue my career goals with greater determination.

PROJECTPROTÉGÉ

Season 16

On the 1st of February, Project Protégé held its culmination night to celebrate the close of Season 16.

For four months as part of Project Protegé, 42 Mentees were matched with 17 Mentors from their chosen industry to gain a deeper understanding on their career of interest. This allowed for students to gain a better knowledge on their own interests, as well as to analyse the skillsets they need to enter their preferred industry.

From September 2022 to January 2023, Mentees would meet up with their Mentors to have conversations pertaining to queries they might have or to receive advice, which will be useful when they start to prepare for the working world. This led to many Mentees admitting on culmination night that Project Protegé was a truly enriching experience for them.

Let ' s hear from a participant!

As a final year student, I wanted to explore my options and I was especially curious about the tech sales industry. I chanced upon Project Protégé, a 4 mentorship programme whereby I could seek guidance to understand more about the industry and to gauge if tech sales was for me My mentor, an account executive at Okta, had introduced me to his manager and lead recruiter and they shared their interview tips on how to be a competent candidate by putting on my ‘salesmen cap’! I would highly recommend this opportunity to all students who need a mentor to help them define and shape their goals!

Interested to join?

Watch out for Project Protegé Season 17 which will be happening in the upcoming months!

Arinah Zaidah Binte Hamzah RMIT Bachelor Of Business (Marketing) Final Year

HIRE-ME SERIES WORKSHOPS

SIMCareerConnectkickedofftheyearbyrenderinginspiringCareerDevelopmentworkshops toourstudentssothattheycanacquirethenecessaryskillsandknowledgetoprepareforthe workforce.Theseworkshopstypicallycoverarangeoftopics,includinghumanskills,technical skills,andindustry-specificskills.

Humanskillssuchascommunication,teamwork,problem-solvingandtimemanagementare essentialintoday’sjobmarket.Byparticipatinginsuchcareerdevelopmentworkshops, undergraduatescangainacompetitiveedgeinthevolatilejobmarket.Theywillbebetter equippedtomeetthedemandsoffutureemployersandachievelong-termcareersuccess. Letussharemoreaboutthetwoworkshops:

LINKEDIN CAREER CONVERSATIONS

LinkedIn Career Conversations was a 4-hour session organised by Halogen Foundation and LinkedIn’s Social Impact team. It brought together experienced mentors fromfivecorporatesandyoungundergraduatestoshare insightsoncareerdevelopment,industrytrends,andjob searchstrategies.

Networking is a critical component of career success. This was a unique opportunity for our SIM students to learn from successful professionals' experiences and receive advice and support for their career aspirations. Studentswerealsoabletodevelopcriticalthinkingskills and build confidence in their abilities. This collaborative approachisaresourcethatcanhelpSIMstudentsmake informed decisions and build networks and confidence toachievetheircareergoals.

Other than LinkedIn Career Conversations, LinkedIn APAC HQ also hosted the LinkedIn Career Roundtable session, a two-day event held on the 27th & 28th February. The session taught students how to optimise their LinkedIn to source for prospective career paths and improve their chances of landing their first interview. Do look out for future runs of the workshops and sign up on UNICORN!

Let

s hear from a participant!

When I attended LinkedIn Career Conversations, I gained access to a network with a pool of highly successful and influential individuals. Where else would an average student get a chance like this to learn from the very best in their fields?

Charmaine Lee (UOL Business and Management, Final Year)

THEPSYCHOLOGYOF FLOURISHINGWORKSHOP

Hosted by Award-Winning Behavioural Scientist Nick 'Jarvis' Tan, this 1.5 day workshop is designed to create an ‘awakening’ moment for students, to help them learn the science behind human flourishing and how to apply these principles to their lives.

The goal of this workshop is to guide participants to realize that everyone is the captain of their own boat using the sailboat metaphor framework This framework reflects on the 8 domains that make up the structure of one's journey.

Firstly, students learn how to manage and cultivate positive emotions, such as gratitude and kindness, to increase their happiness and wellbeing. Thirdly, they learn to build strong relationships to enhance their social support network and boost their mental health.

Moreover, students will be able to find meaning and purpose in their lives, giving them a sense of direction and motivation. This can help them make better decisions about their career and personal goals. Lastly, students developed resilience skills to help them navigate life’s challenges and setbacks.

This workshop gave students a holistic approach to personal growth and development by equipping them with the necessary tools to flourish in all areas of their lives and ultimately achieve their full potential!

Let ' s hear from a participant!

Tey Zee Hsien RMIT Business Management

The workshop was engaging and motivating. Many topics covered in this workshop were relevant, drawing my wheel of life and zooming in on common aspects thar resonate among us students We got to do a personality test to identify our personality type and received advice and tips on what we needed to improve and how to emphasise our strengths. To close off the workshop, I learned scientific techniques to wind down from stressful situations, which I am sure all students will face at some point I highly recommend this workshop to all SIM students as the shared learnings help me achieve a better version of myself and prepare me for entering the workforce.

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TESTIMONIAL

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MANAGEMENT

TECHNOLOGY

GUIDANCE

WORKSHOP

INTERVIEWS

LINKEDIN

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