Inside the Corporate World: What UIC Singapore Global Career Tour Taught Me

Last summer, I got the chance to explore the bustling spirit of Singapore through the Global Career Tour with fellow UIC-ers. Our itinerary included visits to Apple, Google, Grab, Hyundai Motors Group, Deloitte, and the United Overseas Bank, where we talked to Yonsei alumni and working professionals and absorbed their shared experiences while posing countless questions. While each visit was enlightening in its own right, two experiences left a lasting impression on me. 

I was most looking forward to visiting Google. During our tour, we learned about the company’s unique work culture, including their 10x thinking process which propels innovation by tenfold, and their annual Objectives and Key Results planning. Additionally, we learned about Google’s commitment to its employees’ well-being. The synergy of a diverse and driven community together, along with a fun and engaging work environment, created an atmosphere unlike any other.

Our visit at Deloitte turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Initially unsure of how my own interests aligned with the company’s goals, I approached the visit with an open mind. Listening to the stories of career paths of established partners and their guiding values, as well as having casual conversations with junior employees about what brought them to Deloitte, I learned how people of different backgrounds, experiences, and interests came together to fulfill various roles within the company. As I shared my own interests and academic focus, they depicted ways I could fit into different roles. Overall it was a thought-provoking conversation that challenged my biases and broadened my mind of possibilities of a career that beyond borders and expectations.

By the end of the tour, I had learned about the visions of the different companies and what should go on a resume, how to write cover letters, and all things related to the hiring process. However, I had always had difficulties envisioning what came after all that. The trip opened my eyes to the vastness of the professional landscape, demonstrating the power of diverse perspectives, and the importance of aligning my skills and passions in practice. Ultimately, engaging with individuals who actively shaped innovation, strategy, and daily operations truly humanized the corporate experience for me. I was left with a new perspective on the collective efforts and human stories of passionate professionals that highlight the driving force behind these global companies.

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Written by Joanna Kalkschmidt (IS, ’21)

Edited by Pho Vu (IID, '20.5)