CINDY FIOLA

Audit Associate at KPMG Singapore Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Accounting and Finance

SIM-UOL

• President, SIM Writers’ Society

• Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) Leader

• Student Ambassador

My role and involvement in my CCA, club or society

It was such a relief to find out that SIM provided a vibrant student life, as I believe that learning in class is not sufficient enough to develop our readiness to enter the working world. So, I decided to actively participate in CCAs to improve my organisation and communication skills, as well as leadership skills.

As I have always had an interest in creative writing, I was excited to join SIM Writers’ Society as Director of Operations. Although I was not actively involved in writing, I gained technical and soft skills, and also expended my network.

I was truly honoured to be selected as President, and it exposed me to new opportunities, one of which was joining the 360 Degree Development Programme.

How has the 360 Development Programme prepared you for the working world?

The 360 Degree Programme provided a series of self-improvement seminars, which were delivered by experienced professionals from various industries. After joining this programme, I felt more ready to enter the working world.

I also got the chance to improve various skills, both hard and soft skills, as well as understand what I needed to plan my career and life.

One of the practical sessions that was most beneficial to me was the presentation session. It improved my public speaking skills, and allowed me to practice right away.

My advice to students who want to be allrounded leaders

Explore CCAs around you, as SIM provides more than enough activities to cover your interests. If you do not come across a CCA that attracts you, you can create it!

Moreover, taking part in a CCA does not mean that you can neglect your studies. Instead, it should complement your academic experiences with SIM.

Choi Yewon

Customer Support Representative, Bloomberg LP Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Business and Management

SIM-UOL

• Vice President (Finance and Legalities), AIESEC in SIM

• Vice-Captain and Welfare, SIM Windsurfing

• Business Development Executive, Investment and Network Club (INC)

• Vice President, SWITCH 2022 National Event Marketing Organising Committee

• Student Ambassador

My role and involvement in my CCA, club or society

I was involved in a number of CCAs during my time in SIM. Particularly for AIESEC in SIM, I was the Vice President for the Finance and Legalities department, and my responsibilities included implementing finance standards, such as monthly financial reporting, Budget Planning and overseeing functional work. This experience helped me improve my interpersonal skills.

I also conducted weekly meetings to share financial knowledge by discussing current market news and crafting financial news portfolios, to boost the team’s understanding of financial terms and theoretical knowledge, too.

How has the 360 Development Programme prepared you for the working world?

The programme equipped me with various skills, like digital portfolio, assessment centre and personal branding.

I had the opportunity to work with a career coach during the programme, who provided feedback on my resume, helped me in my career planning and held mock interviews. This ultimately allowed my resume to capture the recruiters’ attention.

On top of that, I was able to expand my network and gain exposure, which later helped me secure a stable full-time role in Singapore!

My advice to students who want to be allrounded leaders

Always put in extra time and effort in everything you do! For example, I actively sought feedback from the trainers who helped me with my resume and digital portfolio, and I am thankful that they were very supportive and prompt in response.