Tips to Help You Secure Your Dream Job Before Graduation

pursuing your degree!

Studying for your degree is more than just acing your assignments and examinations. Do not miss out on the many co-curricular opportunities to pick up skills that can enrich you as a person and future employee – and make you more attractive to employers!

Join clubs and societies

If you are passionate about something, do not wait too long to master it. The best time and place to start is when you are still in school. Employers value candidates who have a life outside of work and do not hesitate to pick up new skills and hobbies –or even venture into new territory fearlessly. It will also cost you more resources if you pick up a sport, art form, dance or musical instrument after you graduate from university. On the other hand, when you are in school, you just have to allocate your time efficiently for these CCAs. A side benefit is that they can also spruce up your otherwise monotonous school life!

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Participate in competitions

Winning should not be your only motivation for taking part in competitions. Instead, if you focus on your preparation and giving it your best shot, you can dispel any self-doubts. On your resume, participation in competitions also show that you are unafraid to work diligently towards your goals.

Sports enthusiasts can compete in the annual Universaide Games, and there are other competitions that cater to a wide range of interests. You can even pick and choose which events to compete in according to your strengths and weaknesses.

Employers want to see dedication and commitment to a cause or goal in potential employees, and having a track record of taking part in competitions will strengthen your application.

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Attend talks and forums

Find out about talks and forums held on campus, and attend those featuring speakers from the industry or society you are interested in. Do not miss out on the chance to listen to unique stories on personal career journeys, or insights on the latest industry trends.

At forums, do not hesitate to speak up if you have anything important to share on any topic or issue close to your heart.

Most importantly, listen and soak up the insights which will provide useful fodder for you to form your opinions and worldviews in time to come as a young jobseeker.

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Land an internship

Although getting the internship of your dreams may be tough, the process can be made easier by preparing early. So, before you start looking, identify your goals and interests so that you will have a clear target to work towards. Get your resume ready afterwards. Do not worry if there is limited experience to jot down – it is expected! Instead, include some modules or areas of study that make you a qualified candidate.

When you begin your search proper, visit your friendly career coaches in your career centre. They will be able to get your acquainted with internships on offer, as well as dispense with crucial advice on how to successfully apply for them. You may also network and apply speculatively, as not all internships are advertised.

Consider volunteering 5

As volunteering is an opportunity to freely give back to the community without monetary remuneration, it is an easy and obligation-free chance to gain experience in a particular area, or develop new skills you may need. Because you will be exposed to opportunities and challenges you may never come across in a corporate setting, as well, you stand the chance to gain valuable experience employers are usually on the hunt for.

Volunteer experience is also a great way to start meaningful conversations with recruiters, and will help you stand out as an interesting candidate when you start your job search process before graduation!

Build your skills 6

Although life is slowly beginning to return to some form of normalcy, there is still no better time to start building your skills through webinars and online courses. More widespread digital adoption means that they are now much easier and convenient to attend – and some are even free!

As most webinars and courses are held over online platforms in real-time, make the most out of every event and make your presence felt by asking questions over the live chat, or leverage the live video feed and microphone to boost your profile.

My role

The Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS) is a specialised and dedicated accounting service. It acts as an independent sounding board, and can assist in thinking through complex accounting matters that combines insight and practical solutions with extensive experience.

As an associate consultant, my role is to assist clients in several key areas of accounting, which comprise of Accounting and Reporting, Process and Control Improvements, Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) and Finance Transformation Implementations.

What do you think helped you stand out from the other applicants, and secure your dream job before graduation?

Before deciding to complete my formal education, I worked as a professional chef at an award-winning restaurant, The Coconut Club. There my late mentor, Mr Lee Eng Su, taught me the ideals of determination, consistency and hard work.

Carrying these principles with me, I engaged in several short-courses at NTUC Learning Hub and SIM’s Micro Credential courses to upgrade on relevant skill sets. Additionally, I engaged in several internships to gain valuable work experiences, which significantly bolstered my career prospective. These two aspects helped me to stand out from the other applicants.

PRAVEEN SILVAM

Associate Consultant, Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS) at Ernst & Young

Bachelor of Science (Honours)

Accounting and Finance

SIM-UOB, Class of 2022 students about relevant career trends, in order to bolster their employability before graduation, as well as to facilitate their transition into becoming working professionals.

Additionally, I was also the Deputy Youth Director of the Business Development Cluster during my internship at the Talent Development Programme (TDP) with Career Connect.

Being entrusted the responsibility of organising large scale events, such as SIM’s virtual Career and Internship fair, allowed me to identify my greatest strengths, and also helped me to recognise areas that needed further refinement.

Furthermore, it served as a platform that encouraged me to practice key adaptive skills, like effective communication, project management and leadership. These skills have helped me become effective in my current role as a finance transformation consultant.

Additionally, TDP introduced me to a wide variety of career-centric workshops, which honed my job-hunting skills, bolstered my career prospects and ultimately led me to securing my role before graduation.

Some words of advice

It does not matter if you are a diploma or degree student – try your best to set aside time to participate in internships, CCAs or volunteer groups. These are avenues for you to build on your core competencies, and most importantly, to network with your peers.

With so much to learn and acquire, CCAs serve as a critical platform that you can leverage to strengthen your skills and position yourself in the job market after graduation!

What impact do you think your time in SIM had in helping you secure your dream job?

During my time in SIM, I was the President and EXCO advisor of SIM Career Champs, a student-run committee that seeks to inform

Additionally, I highly encourage graduating students to start applying for positions six months in advance, to increase your chances of securing a good job.