Issue 46 l June 2018
GET TO KNOW YOUR GRADUATE CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES PAGE 3
ALUMNI FAMILY TREE PAGE 11
www.alumni.rp.edu.sg
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Your old laptop can
MAKE a difference NEW LAPTOPS ARE BOUGHT TO REPLACE OLD LAPTOPS IN SINGAPORE EVERY DAY. RECYCLE BY DONATING YOUR OLD UNUSED LAPTOP TO REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC, TO HELP NEEDY STUDENTS.
How will donating your old laptop make a difference? Your old laptop, gathering dust at home, becomes more outdated over time, eventually contributing to e-waste. By donating your laptop for recycling, you reduce impact on the environment and create educational opportunities for needy students in RP! Each device will be refurbished before distribution to deserving students.
Donate now! Email us at help-graduate@rp.edu.sg for more information.
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RP will only accept laptops that meet the minimum specifications: • • • • •
Able to support Windows 10 2.0 GHz 64-bit processor 4 GB RAM 250 GB HDD Wireless adapter must minimally support dual-band IEEE - 802.11a/g/n standard
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ISSUE 46 JUN 2018
DREAM. AN RP ALUMNI MAGAZINE. EVERYTHING STARTS FROM A DREAM. dREam is a quarterly publication to keep graduates informed about the happenings in RP, continued education, career opportunities, networking sessions and more, in the hope of achieving their aspirations. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed or implied in dREam are those of the authors or contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.
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EDITOR’S NOTE
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GET TO KNOW YOUR GRADUATE CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES
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RP GRADUATES’ NIGHT 2018
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GRADUATION 2018, ARTICLE BY AZMI RAMLI
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GRADUATION 2018
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START TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR MONEY
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ALUMNI FAMILY TREE
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5 WAYS TO FIND A JOB OPENING
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ALUMNI@RP EMAIL 5 WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS QUIZ TIME & DREAM WINNER
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. Copyright © Republic Polytechnic
PUBLISHER
Office of Student and Graduate Affairs Republic Polytechnic 9 Woodlands Avenue 9, Singapore 738964
EDITORIAL
Editor Nurhadi Khan B H K Designer PurpleCircle Design Pte Ltd
COPYEDITOR & PROOFREADER Kucinta Books Pte Ltd Biz No. 201429813D
GENERAL ENQUIRIES
Email dream@rp.edu.sg Enquiries www.alumni.rp.edu.sg Facebook www.fb.com/alumniRP
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Editor’s Time flies when we’re busy. We’re now well into 2018. A lot of exciting things have been happening here at RP. We’d first like to congratulate the new cohort of students who graduated in May 2018. Before they walked onto stage to collect their diplomas, they first partied it up on Grad Night 2018 in March. Catch all the highlights on page 4! In this issue, we also give you top tips on ways to find a job (including those positions that may be unadvertised...shhh) and to manage your money as you embark on your work life. We introduce your graduate chapter representatives and list ways in which you can stay connected to RP. We also offer an in-depth look at our resplendent Alumni Family Tree that’s taking root at The Mound. There will be a number of events coming up in the third and fourth quarter of 2018. These include a financial planning session in September and alumni movie screening in November. Watch out for them! We also urge you to upgrade your skills by taking up the earn-and-learn programmes being advertised in this issue. After all, learning never stops!
KEEP YOUR PROFILE CURRENT! As an RP alumni, you will be able to update your personal particulars conveniently via the combination of SingPass and MyInfo platforms. MyInfo allows forms to be auto-filled with data pulled from various government agencies such as name, NRIC number, registered address, etc. Activate your profile now at https://www.singpass.gov.sg/myinfo if you have not done so. Thereafter, MyInfo will auto-populate with your most updated MyInfo particulars each time you update your particulars in the RP Alumni Portal. Hence, making your profile update with RP easier than ever.
DO YOUR PREFER TO RECEIVE YOUR DREAM IN HARDCOPY?
Simply login to Graduates’ Portal at www.alumni.rp.edu.sg to indicate your preference under your personal profile now! (applicable for local addresses only)
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GET TO KNOW YOUR GRADUATE CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES
Graduate Chapter Representatives is a team of dedicated staff who represent each School on alumni and graduation matters. The representatives work hand-in-hand with the Office of Student and Graduate Affairs, Alumni Services team to: • enhance the student experience by establishing connections with alumni • strengthen RP’s alumni affiliation, and • develop a vibrant alumni community
Who are the Graduate Chapter Representatives? School of Management and Communication • Mr Leslie Sam (leslie_sam@rp.edu.sg) • Mr Hazlami Rachmat (hazlami_rachmat@rp.edu.sg) School of Applied Science • Ms Malini Thyagesan (malini_thyagesan@rp.edu.sg) • Mr Ye Min Htut (ye_min_htut@rp.edu.sg) School of Engineering • Ms Ping Peishi (ping_peishi@rp.edu.sg) • Ms Lee Yuen Sin (lee_yuen_sin@rp.edu.sg) School of Sports, Health and Leisure • Mr Yogaraj Veerasamy (yogaraj_veerasamy@rp.edu.sg) • Ms June Lam (june_lam@rp.edu.sg) School of Hospitality • Ms Claudia Leung (claudia_leung@rp.edu.sg) • Mr Desmond Chua (desmond_chua@rp.edu.sg) School of Infocomm • Ms Lorivic Fragata (lorivic_fragata@rp.edu.sg) School of Technology for the Arts • Ms Mush Ridzwan (mush_ridzwan@rp.edu.sg) • Ms Julia Sim (julia_sim2@rp.edu.sg) Please contact your respective Graduate Chapter Representative(s) if you have any queries.
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RP GRADUATES’ NIGHT 2018 - FASCINANTE RP Graduates’ Night 2018—FASCINANTE was successfully held on 2 March 2018 at South Agora. Organised by the Office of Student and Graduate Affairs (Alumni Services), the event celebrated the achievements and upcoming graduation of Year 3 students. Students who came for the event were encouraged to dress in their best masquerade attire. There were exciting prizes up for grabs, such as in the “Best Decorated Masks” and “Graduates’ Night 2018 King and Queen” categories. It was definitely a night to remember as the attendees were treated to live performances by CREATE interest groups (IGs), a specially concocted “lograr” graduation drink by the School of Hospitality (SOH) Club, ice cream sponsored by Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and Red Bull drinks, as well as discount vouchers and attractive lucky draw prizes worth more than $3,000. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the event sponsors—FRANKbyOCBC, SPH FastJobs, SUSS, Pond’s and Red Bull; partners—Club Republic, SPH (The Straits Times), Swensen’s, A Better Florist and Angel Florist; and supporters—15th Student Council, SOH Club, CREATE Club, Electronic Music Production (EMP) IG, and Photo IG.
For more event photos, visit #rpgradnight.
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ALUMNI
Together get in touch with fellow alumni
get connected with the latest buzz in RP
get invited to exclusive events
Alumni Services
manages Club Republic (Republic Polytechnic Alumni Club) to engage alumni and graduating students. Through existing communication platforms and services, alumni can stay connected with the institution, celebrate milestones and be supporters of, and advocates for, Republic Polytechnic.
Our Services
Alumni Mentoring
e-Skills Connect
Visit www.alumni.rp.edu.sg for more information
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Graduation
It really didn’t feel like graduation until the actual day. Even though I have known I would be going through this ceremony since enrolling in Republic Polytechnic, I did not really grasped the enormity of going on stage and taking my diploma, that is, until the day before my Graduation Ceremony. During my three years at Republic Polytechnic, my primary goal was to focus on all my study modules and work towards overcoming all learning obstacles. The School of Management and Communication was the first graduating batch to conduct the ceremony, on 2 May 2018, at 9.30 am. All the social media platforms were full of photos of the graduating students in their respective school gowns. As I was queuing up for my turn to take my diploma, I reflected on that fact that graduation signifies a formal goodbye to polytechnic life as well as a big welcome to the future, which holds unlimited possibilities. Now I feel eager about embarking on the next stage of my life. All my cohort friends are enlisting into National Service, looking for their first full-time job or going for university study. I wish the best to all of them!
Article by: Azim Ramli Class of 2018, School of Management and Communication
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Graduation
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2018
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Start Taking Control of Your Money! MONEY MANAGEMENT SKILLS
It is never too late to start taking control of your money matters. Get started by thinking about how you will manage your money every day as well as about the goals for the future that will need money, e.g. further education, wedding, even your retirement. Money Management Skills As you transition from student life into the work world, you will become financially self-reliant, perhaps for the first time. These are exciting times — who wouldn’t feel a sense of elation when seeing the first salary being credited into the bank account? But you probably cannot afford to spend your money without care. Some of you may already have responsibilities, such as student loans to service, or dependents to take care of, e.g. elderly parents or younger siblings. Even if you secure your dream job or a dream income, you will still need to manage your income wisely. Here are three tips on how to be on top of your finances:
MANAGE YOUR INCOME • Identify your disposable income (i.e. how much of your salary is left after paying taxes and CPF, rent or contribution for your share of household expenses, etc.). Make sure your monthly expenditure does not exceed what is left of your income. Having trouble keeping track of your spending? Fret not and read on.
MAKE A BUDGET • A practical way of managing your disposable income and monitoring your expenditure is to draw up a budget. A simple one can be planned in just three steps: a. List all your daily living expenses (e.g. transport, meals and rent, contribution to household expenses). b. Decide how much of your salary you intend to spend on each item and stick to it strictly. c. Save the rest of your pay. Start with realistic amounts first (e.g. $200 per month) and aim to work towards saving at least 10% of your pay. Save more if you can. • Review your budget regularly. You may find that your intended expense limits are unrealistic—i.e. they may be lower or higher than they really are. If you need assistance, use an online budget calculator. Don’t be discouraged if you have not been able to follow your
budget closely. Motivate yourself to try harder next month by keeping your financial goals in mind. It’s never too early to save for your retirement, for your parents’ expenses when they retire (if they are counting on you), your dream flat or your dream holiday.
CONTROL YOUR SPENDING AND CREDIT USAGE • Always spend within your means (but this doesn’t mean you should spend everything you earn!) • It is quite natural to want to reward yourself for hard work but keep it in perspective. If the latest designer bag or IT gadget takes up a generous chunk of your monthly income, you should perhaps rethink the concept of reward especially as these items are not investments and lose their value almost immediately. Little self-control and a strong urge to splurge can only spell trouble in the long run. • Think hard before you borrow. Getting a loan or credit line should only be a last resort because of the costs you will incur and the complications involved if you default on your debt commitments.
The information above was prepared in collaboration with the Ministry of Social and Family Development, Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the dREam Editorial team.
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The Tree The Alumni Family Tree was officially launched by the Republic Polytechnic Board of Governors on 4 May 2015. It symbolises Republic Polytechnic’s growing alumni family— firmly rooted in the values of Republic Polytechnic— resplendently branching outwards to new challenges and aspirations. Every leaf represents a cohort of graduates embodying the moral values and strong affiliations forged during their time of learning, friendship, and life in Republic Polytechnic.
To honour and celebrate the contributions of our Alumni, RP has constructed an installation art piece called the Alumni Family Tree. The Tree will be displayed at the Mound—a prominent position at the entrance of the polytechnic—where it is easily viewed from all levels within Republic Polytechnic Centre. The Mound’s peak represents our alumni’s aspirations to reach for even greater heights, while the Tree serves as a reminder to all present students to strive to achieve the best.
The Trunk The “REPUBLIC” and “Tree Trunk” are constructed out of concrete/cement. The Trunk symbolises Republic Polytechnic’s flourishing alumni community and maturity as an institution. The roots represent the students being imbued with the Republic Polytechnic code of honour and the crown of the tree represents the alumni being held up by the strong values inculcated in them by Republic Polytechnic.
The Plaque The leaves are made of bronze metal finishing, complete with laser-engraved leaf veins. Each year, before the graduation ceremony, a new plaque will be installed for the graduating year. The Chairman of the Republic Polytechnic Board of Governors and our Principal and CEO of Republic Polytechnic will present the Graduation Leaf to the President of the graduating cohort’s Student Council during the Graduation Ceremony.
Alumni Family Tree
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5
WAYS TO FIND A OPENING
1 On-campus 2 Online 3 In Print
1
Recruitment consultants
5 Career
fairs
Step 1: Find a career advisor at your career services and speak to him or her about your passions and aspirations. Step 2: Visit companies’ dedicated websites, job boards, and information centres for local information and advice. Pick up corporate publications and pamphlets for reference. Step 3: Find out about scheduled company presentations on campus.
Step 1: Register with at least three online job portals (after making sure they’re reputable), and look through their database of listings. Step 2: Got a specific company you want to work for? Look up their website, recruitment pages, Facebook and Twitter. Step 3: Visit specialised “rate & review” sites where current employees can anonymously “review” or “rate” their employers (e.g. LinkedIn).
Step 1: Look in the newspaper. You might be surprised at the gems that you can find, especially among local employers. Step 2: Look in locally-published trade magazines. Featured companies and employers may be hiring.
Step 1: If you’re interested in a particular company, sector, or role, check if they use the services of recruitment consultants. If they do, consider engaging these consultants to advise you on your career prospects and match you to a position. (Fees are charged to the employers using the consultant’s services, not you.) Step 2: Meet the consultant to discuss specific career goals. Find out also what they can do on your behalf if you engage them. Step 3: Tap your consultant’s industry knowledge to help prepare for your future interviews and assessments.
Step 1: Find out about career fairs that are available to you—university-specific career fairs held on-campus, as well as public career fairs—and jot down the dates in your planner. The career fairs usually take place in the first semester of the academic year. Step 2: Take note of the companies that will be participating and research the ones you’re interested in. In this way, you’ll be able to ask the recruiters intelligent questions. Step 3: Come in smart casual attire. Speak to different recruiters, and remember to get their name and position. Also make a mental note about the specific details about your discussions (see Step 4). Step 4: Follow up with the recruiters you spoke with. Send them an email to thank them for their time and jog their memory by mentioning a point unique to your conversation. Include a résumé and restate your interest in joining the company.
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... AND 3 WAYS TO TRACK DOWN THE JOBS THAT ARE NOT ADVERTISED 1. Networking Many graduates find opportunities through contacts they have made themselves, such as friends, relatives, tutors, lecturers, past students, or people they have met through their leisure interests, voluntary work, casual part-time jobs, or work placements. Developing an industry network list is also important: talk to people working in your chosen career area. They will be able to advise you on the best ways of getting into the profession.
2. Speculative applications A speculative application involves writing in or contacting prospective employers to inquire about job openings, even if they don’t seem to be advertising any at present. You will need to identify companies you are interested in, research their business thoroughly, and make direct contact with them, highlighting your suitability and interest in working for them. By making contact before you send in your letter and CV, you can tailor them to the prospective employer’s needs.
3. Work experience Consider a work placement, as it can turn into a graduate job offer. Having observed the quality of your work, an employer can hire you with confidence. This is a particularly good strategy for areas of work such as media, the arts, and the not-for-profit sector that don’t usually advertise graduate jobs.
OTHER JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES • Find a mentor: Develop a relationship with someone who can give you advice and support on your job search. • Volunteer: Voluntary work can improve your chances of breaking into your chosen career. For example, graduates wanting to work in the pet-care industry can start by volunteering at the local SPCA or other animal welfare associations. • “Foot in the door”: Take a temporary job in the sector that interests you. For example, a media graduate starting as an administrative assistant at a radio station. • Join professional bodies and organisations: Attending appropriate events can help you meet people in your chosen field. • Meet alumni: People working in sectors you want to join will be able to give you advice and point you towards the help and support you may need. • Use social networks: Find out whom you should write to in the companies you’re interested in. LinkedIn is the best for promoting a professional image. • Word of mouth: This is the oldest method in the book! Tell everyone that you’re looking for work—the more people that are looking on your behalf, the better.
The information above is prepared in collaboration with gradsingapore.com and the dREam Editorial team. Visit www.gradsingapore.com, the leading graduate employers and careers advice portal.
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LinkedIn 14 RP DREAM NL_FA.indd 14
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FREE
It’s and it’ll last you a lifetime! – brought to you by Alumni Services, Republic Polytechnic
alumni@rp email—your complimentary, lifelong email account that immediately identifies you as a member of the Republic Polytechnic community! Invoke your sense of pride and belonging to Republic Polytechnic by using an alumni@rp email account! accountalumni@rp uses the email address format userid@alumni.myrp.edu.sg and helps you stay connected with your friends long after you have graduated. It is your gateway to maintaining strong bonds with other alumni and also serves as a lifelong connection between you and your alma mater. • Large storage size for email (10GB for Outlook Live) • Password-protected 25GB online storage through Windows Live SkyDrive • Office Live Workspace—room for more than 1000 files You need only 1 EASY STEP to start using your alumni@rp email account! Simply email us at help-graduate@rp.edu.sg and we will provide you with the link and userID for logging in.
ways to stay connected with your alma mater! 1
2
3
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FACEBOOK YOUR ALMA MATER
LET YOUR ALMA MATER ORGANISE YOUR GATHERING
READ dREam MAGAZINE
USE YOUR CLUB REPUBLIC CARD TO GET BIRTHDAY GIFTS FOR YOUR LOVED ONES
MAKE A DONATION - BANK IN YOUR KARMA CREDIT
Stay connected through the official RP alumni Facebook fanpage at www.facebook.com/ alumniRP
Have your professional, social and personal needs met through our diverse range of alumni programmes.
Be updated on campus activities through this complimentary quarterly publication. Also available online at www.alumni.rp.edu.sg
This card identifies you as an alumnus and offers you exclusive benefits and discounts. Apply for your Club Republic Card at www.alumni.rp.edu.sg
Your gift will make a difference to the well-being of needy students. It frees them from financial worries and allows them to concentrate on pursuing academic excellence at RP. Log on to www.alumni.rp.edu.sg to make your donation.
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Get Rewarded
for reading CALENDAR OF
WINNERS GET
CASH VOUCHERS!
EVENTS * Dates subject to changes
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AUGUST
QUIZ FOR JUNE ISSUE 1. What is the theme for Graduation Night 2018?
2. When was Graduation Night 2018 held? To participate, simply email your answer to dREam@RP.edu.sg with your name, NRIC, and Club Republic membership number. Closing date for the contest is 30 Sept 2018. All winners will be notified by email.
dREam March 2018 Contest Winners
All March 2018 winners will be notified through email
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8 Aug
CMY
National Day observance ceremony
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9 Aug 16 Aug
RPAC
22 Aug
Hari Raya Haji
SEPTEMBER 13 Sep
RPAC
14 Sep
Financial Literacy Talk
28 Sep
SEG Alumni Homecoming
OCTOBER 5 Oct
STA Alumni Homecoming
11 Oct
RPAC
24 - 31 Oct
Reflections Arts Festival
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SUSS_RP_dREAM JUNE 2018_FAOL.pdf
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