What are you doing post graduation?
Which industry will you try? What position will you apply for? And the list
goes on…Every student comes across questions with similar context, but rather
different wordings and many of all end up with … Kangroos; not the mammal but
the myth“I don’t know!” in Australian Aboriginal.
Which industry will you try? What position will you apply for? And the list
goes on…Every student comes across questions with similar context, but rather
different wordings and many of all end up with … Kangroos; not the mammal but
the myth“I don’t know!” in Australian Aboriginal.
How far it is true, students end
up not realizing what to opt post graduation, is proven by employees who rotate
their positions or companies for one good reason _ they think are not fit for the
position! Thankfully, now the educational institutions challenge that scenario by
following E2E formula (Enrollment to Employment) ensuring students get their
career ambiguities cleared prior to jumping into the whirlpool of industry,
practically. Or in realistic cases get hired before graduation. I saw it
happening before my bare eyes…
up not realizing what to opt post graduation, is proven by employees who rotate
their positions or companies for one good reason _ they think are not fit for the
position! Thankfully, now the educational institutions challenge that scenario by
following E2E formula (Enrollment to Employment) ensuring students get their
career ambiguities cleared prior to jumping into the whirlpool of industry,
practically. Or in realistic cases get hired before graduation. I saw it
happening before my bare eyes…
INTI International University
& Colleges’ Futures Leader Tournament, Epic Champions Program, INTI
Leadership Series – you name – have imparted – if not essential, but practical –
knowledge and understanding of the real world of industry. My impression of
short 10 academic, but literally long, lonely bachelor time in Malaysia. Let’s
get it straight and bring up my learning from both “A Day of Future and INTI
Hospitality Advisory Board Meeting” organized separately. I divide into two
sections: A glimpse of scenario/ proceedings and my impression of the respective
events:
& Colleges’ Futures Leader Tournament, Epic Champions Program, INTI
Leadership Series – you name – have imparted – if not essential, but practical –
knowledge and understanding of the real world of industry. My impression of
short 10 academic, but literally long, lonely bachelor time in Malaysia. Let’s
get it straight and bring up my learning from both “A Day of Future and INTI
Hospitality Advisory Board Meeting” organized separately. I divide into two
sections: A glimpse of scenario/ proceedings and my impression of the respective
events:
A) A Day of Future held on November
6, 2014 @ INTI Subang Campus with talks by industry partners, interview
sessions and informal conversations:
6, 2014 @ INTI Subang Campus with talks by industry partners, interview
sessions and informal conversations:
1. With
96% student employability rate, 40% students receiving job offers before
graduation and those graduated receiving 70% salary higher than market average
(RM 2100 baseline as per Jobstreet 2013), INTI launches Graduate Talent System
endorsed by Howard University. A system, bringing students and employers face
to face with employers shortlisting and calling only the students who meet
employers’ requirements and students can track who or if the companies viewed
their resumes. [Believe it or not, above figures are true as I myself
interviewed many of the students for survey as a student ambassador – take it from me!]
96% student employability rate, 40% students receiving job offers before
graduation and those graduated receiving 70% salary higher than market average
(RM 2100 baseline as per Jobstreet 2013), INTI launches Graduate Talent System
endorsed by Howard University. A system, bringing students and employers face
to face with employers shortlisting and calling only the students who meet
employers’ requirements and students can track who or if the companies viewed
their resumes. [Believe it or not, above figures are true as I myself
interviewed many of the students for survey as a student ambassador – take it from me!]
2. Employers
like Mercedez Benz welcome crazy/ unique ideas of interns and show willingness to
risk investing in those ideas. “ Car 2 Go was idea from student about mobility concept
for urban driving,” stated Norlida, the HR Director of Daimler (Mercedez Benz)
Malaysia
like Mercedez Benz welcome crazy/ unique ideas of interns and show willingness to
risk investing in those ideas. “ Car 2 Go was idea from student about mobility concept
for urban driving,” stated Norlida, the HR Director of Daimler (Mercedez Benz)
Malaysia
3. The
most appealing talk was by IBM not on company achievements, but the launch of, “My
Consultancy by Degrees Program” in which students will be exposed to the implementation
of common project goals apart from building leadership skills, relationships
and expertise with handsome incentives. The program will be launched in
February 2015 and probably I aspire to join for company reputation and scope for
greater career development – fingers crossed! “Students will not only learn
technical expertise will be practically involved in projects and broader
perspective of IBM,” expressed IBM HR Manager on my question of IBM’s
initiative inspiration and point of difference from other companies.
most appealing talk was by IBM not on company achievements, but the launch of, “My
Consultancy by Degrees Program” in which students will be exposed to the implementation
of common project goals apart from building leadership skills, relationships
and expertise with handsome incentives. The program will be launched in
February 2015 and probably I aspire to join for company reputation and scope for
greater career development – fingers crossed! “Students will not only learn
technical expertise will be practically involved in projects and broader
perspective of IBM,” expressed IBM HR Manager on my question of IBM’s
initiative inspiration and point of difference from other companies.
B) INTI Advisory Board – Hospitality
Workshop held on Novermber 10, 2014 on, “Future of Learners & Employers
(Real Exposure in the Workplace)” at Dorsett Grand Hotel Subang.
Workshop held on Novermber 10, 2014 on, “Future of Learners & Employers
(Real Exposure in the Workplace)” at Dorsett Grand Hotel Subang.
How would one gauge the
excitement of coming into direct contact with professionals of the caliber and
stature of “Mr. Praba Menon (Skyport CEO), Mr. Rohizat Baharum (HR Director of
KLCC), Mr. Robert Frager (GM of Renaisance Hotel KL), Mr. Brendon Meppen (GM of
Holiday Inn Glenmarie KL), Mr. Ignatius (CEO of Firefly sdn.Bhd), Ms. Jennifer
Lim (Area HR Director of ACCOR Group), Ms. Agnes Lim (HR Director of Grand
Hyatt KL), Mr. Thomas Ch’ng (HR Director of Hard Rock Hotel Penang), Mr. Thomas
Schmidt (Executive Chef of That Little Wine Bar Penang), Mr. Alun Jones (GM of
Malaysian Exhibition Services Sdn.Bhd) and Mr. Tan Tse Meng (Sugar Artist,
Penang)” along with management of INTI staff from all campuses? The excitement bears
no words to express as the experience was well embraced and shall be better
utilized for career prosperity, sure enough!
excitement of coming into direct contact with professionals of the caliber and
stature of “Mr. Praba Menon (Skyport CEO), Mr. Rohizat Baharum (HR Director of
KLCC), Mr. Robert Frager (GM of Renaisance Hotel KL), Mr. Brendon Meppen (GM of
Holiday Inn Glenmarie KL), Mr. Ignatius (CEO of Firefly sdn.Bhd), Ms. Jennifer
Lim (Area HR Director of ACCOR Group), Ms. Agnes Lim (HR Director of Grand
Hyatt KL), Mr. Thomas Ch’ng (HR Director of Hard Rock Hotel Penang), Mr. Thomas
Schmidt (Executive Chef of That Little Wine Bar Penang), Mr. Alun Jones (GM of
Malaysian Exhibition Services Sdn.Bhd) and Mr. Tan Tse Meng (Sugar Artist,
Penang)” along with management of INTI staff from all campuses? The excitement bears
no words to express as the experience was well embraced and shall be better
utilized for career prosperity, sure enough!
A truly great opportunity to meet
– the least and listen – the maximum pleasure – about industry’s changing
situations, expected, but real work demands and opportunities to help improve
INTI School of Hospitality in general and prepare students for those changing
situations in particular.
– the least and listen – the maximum pleasure – about industry’s changing
situations, expected, but real work demands and opportunities to help improve
INTI School of Hospitality in general and prepare students for those changing
situations in particular.
On the question of how INTI can
help prepare students prepare students for industry employment, here is a
snapshot of the highlights:
help prepare students prepare students for industry employment, here is a
snapshot of the highlights:
1. Review
the curriculum in consultation with industry partners + students learning assessment
which will help employers identify gaps and streamline their learning based on
industry needs and employers’ expectations
the curriculum in consultation with industry partners + students learning assessment
which will help employers identify gaps and streamline their learning based on
industry needs and employers’ expectations
2. Lecturers
need to update their knowledge/ learn about innovations and share practical
perspective of industry challenges
need to update their knowledge/ learn about innovations and share practical
perspective of industry challenges
3.Organizing
career specific talks by professionals helping students ask the exact questions
to get straight answers in order to be 100% ready to enter the professional
world of the industry.
career specific talks by professionals helping students ask the exact questions
to get straight answers in order to be 100% ready to enter the professional
world of the industry.
4. Give
a clear idea of industry challenges, scopes for career and development at the
beginning of the course – no later than that!
a clear idea of industry challenges, scopes for career and development at the
beginning of the course – no later than that!
5. 500
or more hours paid work as graduation criteria – that was brilliant idea by Mr.
Brendon, actually!
or more hours paid work as graduation criteria – that was brilliant idea by Mr.
Brendon, actually!
What can the industry partners
offer to students? Well, that was my desirable question and thankfully it was
on the agenda and what I got:
offer to students? Well, that was my desirable question and thankfully it was
on the agenda and what I got:
1. Structured
employer projects on managerial operations, supervision and management and real
examples with feedback sessions with the employer management
employer projects on managerial operations, supervision and management and real
examples with feedback sessions with the employer management
2.Structured
continuous shadowing of both junior and senior positions as a guideline and
motivating factor for students
continuous shadowing of both junior and senior positions as a guideline and
motivating factor for students
3. Personalized
coaching/ mentoring + keeping regular contact with the students
coaching/ mentoring + keeping regular contact with the students
4. Professional
and career specific talks; supporting role plays or a day with GM to help
students get a real picture of industry work pressures helping them prepare
technically and intellectually
and career specific talks; supporting role plays or a day with GM to help
students get a real picture of industry work pressures helping them prepare
technically and intellectually
5. Academic
awards to students on achieving or going extra-mile during their studies
awards to students on achieving or going extra-mile during their studies
This is not the end, here is what
the industry expects from the students:
the industry expects from the students:
1. Possessing
the right attitude tops the priority of all employers because that drives all
other technical and non-technical factors
the right attitude tops the priority of all employers because that drives all
other technical and non-technical factors
2. Critical
and strategic thinking
and strategic thinking
3. Communication
skills
skills
4. Teamwork
and collaboration expertise as we will work with partners, suppliers and not
with the manager
and collaboration expertise as we will work with partners, suppliers and not
with the manager
5. Initiative
and knowing all the answers to customers’ questions or helping them before they
ask for it
and knowing all the answers to customers’ questions or helping them before they
ask for it
C) MY LEARNING: Here is a summary of my learning
from both sessions of partnership with employers and industry partners:
from both sessions of partnership with employers and industry partners:
1. Gear
up if you have not an idea, but a unique business idea and the employers will
fish you out
up if you have not an idea, but a unique business idea and the employers will
fish you out
2. Innovation
– Multitasking – social skills are the prime focus of each industry employer in
one way or the other; so overwhelm them!
– Multitasking – social skills are the prime focus of each industry employer in
one way or the other; so overwhelm them!
3. Embrace
your individuality and you will survive because employers expect output and will
treat you as individuals
your individuality and you will survive because employers expect output and will
treat you as individuals
4. Reference
to Steven Cohey’s 7 Habits of highly effective people; Sharpen the saw – that is
a way for your survival in any industry!
to Steven Cohey’s 7 Habits of highly effective people; Sharpen the saw – that is
a way for your survival in any industry!
5. No
more myth of “Opportunity knocks, but ones” because INTI makes opportunities
keep knocking your door only if let it open – stay connected to INTI for your
sake!
more myth of “Opportunity knocks, but ones” because INTI makes opportunities
keep knocking your door only if let it open – stay connected to INTI for your
sake!
Sharing Socrates’ famous quote, “Know
Thyself”, then success awaits you!
Thyself”, then success awaits you!
Jawad Jahid
