When you first embark on your university journey, it may seem like you have an eternity to think about the next step after graduation. While it may seem that way, I personally feel that it’s important to start preparing ahead.
What I love about SIM is that it allows me to develop my professional self while completing my Bachelor’s programme through workshops and other initiatives by the SIM Career Development Office.
While the preparation towards the next big chapter of our lives may sound like a lot of work, I know that the knowledge and real-world experience gained will be valuable when it’s my turn to step out in the real world in a few years’ time.
Many have asked me to share how we can set ourselves up for opportunities while studying at SIM. Here are some quick tips:
- Understand yourself
Do you know what are your strengths, values and aspirations? How about your weaknesses and areas that need more development? I found it very useful to learn about my personal traits as it enabled me to make decisions more confidently. Not sure where to start? Take the Myer-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) profiling test offered at our Career Development Office. - Develop yourself
If I haven’t mentioned it yet, SIM’s Career Development Office is a great resource for students. You can sign up for various workshops, like the Hire-Me-Series Career Preparation Workshops that I attended. You can also learn how to create social media posts with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator tools, set up your LinkedIn profile and learn how to dress and communicate in the workplace. - Start Building Your Professional Network
One of the ways to do this is to join Career Chapters by the SIM Career Development Office. It’s a student-centric entity that organises industry engagement and networking events with the aim to immerse students in best practices and mentorship from senior industry practitioners. There are six Sectors and over 10 Career Chapters in total, ranging from Finance Sector, Media Sector to Non-Profit Organisation Sector. You will likely be able to find one that aligns with your aspirations. Also, you never know where your newfound connections could take you! - Get yourself a mentor
Project Protégé is a 4-month mentorship programme which connects SIM GE students to alumni who are established in their industries. I think it’s one of the best platforms SIM has that can really help us learn from these mentors’ professional experiences, job search strategies and career advice.
I hope the above tips have been beneficial! If you’d like to find out more about how SIM’s Career Development Office is helping to prepare students for life beyond graduation, check out these initiatives.
Till the next post friends, Beatrice.
