Sathyavani Krishnan, 22, may have just joined the U Career Network (UCN) as an ambassador in October 2017, but she has been helping individuals find their career calling way before that.
As a president of the Singapore Polytechnic’s Education and Career Guidance Extra-Curricular Activity, Vani, as she is more popularly known, has been organising workshops and providing resources to prepare students for the workforce.
“I figured that since I went to JC [Junior College] and now I’m in polytechnic, I have both sides of the story to tell. If anyone from my cohort is struggling, trying to decide whether they should leave poly to go to a JC, or even come to a poly in the first place, I have some experiences to share with them,” explained the Year 2 student.
Taking a Break
Unable to enter the public universities with her A-Level results in 2015, Vani’s only avenue then was to further her studies at a private university, but it proved too costly.
She decided to take up some short-term jobs while thinking about her next move. After a stint in a multinational company, she was inspired to pursue a career in marketing and signed up for a diploma in international business in 2016.
As an ambassador, Vani often advises her peers not to be afraid to go against societal norms and take a gap year to explore their interests.
She added: “A lot of students tend to take odd jobs during their holidays. It’s not something they want to do for the long-term but more for the money. I always encourage them to go for internships and networking sessions instead.
“You really have to try out a job to see if it is something that suits you. I wanted to be a vet but after volunteering at a pet clinic, I realised I cannot deal with their deaths. Now, I’m really sure I want to do marketing instead.”
Embracing Imperfections
While ambassadors help their peers discover passion and decide educational paths, UCN also recruits experienced leaders from various companies to share their knowledge with the working professionals through talks and personal guidance.
One such industry mentor, Tan Teng Cheong said that mindsets and expectations also have a part to play when you are making career choices.
He said: “The candidate looks for the company that gives good prospects, high pay and work-life balance. The company looks for a candidate that can come in and be productive from day one. When the imperfect is looking for the perfect, you do not have a match.”
Teng Cheong, who founded a recruitment agency for infocommunication technology professionals, said that organisations such as NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) are crucial in bridging companies and candidates.
He also recommended companies to include all parties involved in the selection process to conduct panel interviews so that the candidate is evaluated holistically and fairly. The time taken for hiring can be reduced by as much as 50 per cent.
About UCN
U Career Network builds a network of professionals, community leaders and partners to support the working people throughout their career journeys, from pre-employment to post-retirement.
It comprises four groups of facilitators:
Employability Coaches: Full-time specialists certified under the Practicing Employability Coach Framework to provide one-to-one career guidance.
Associate Coaches: Complements employability coaches on a part-time or voluntary basis.
Employability Ambassadors: Volunteers from institutes of higher learning as well as grassroots and various youth communities help to raise awareness of employment and employability resources.
Industry Mentors: Experienced professionals who can provide small group mentoring or industry related talks with their deep industry knowledge.
Looking for career assistance? Or want to volunteer your time? Find out more here.
