On 9 October 2022, Mirosha Somasundram, Executive recruitment consultant from Monroe Malaysia, was invited to be the speaker of "Planning Your Career Pathway" by Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman. The Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation is a non-profit public foundation incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1966. The foundation's primary aim is to recognise and encourage the development of youths who show excellence in academic and extracurricular pursuits by providing scholarships for higher education.
A recent study by Pitman Train-ing and Censuswide's research shows that 84% of 16-24-year-olds need to learn how to turn their passionate interests into a career. Based on this statistic, Mirosha discussed how to do things differently in university life that would result in better career prospects. She advised the audience to participate more in the university's extra activities and volunteering projects to gain skillsets. Volunteering gives you a sense of fulfilment and helps you develop an understanding of community building. By doing these extracurricular activities, you gain real-life skills you won't be able to experience in your class lecture.
What happens if you decide you want to switch careers? Mirosha explained that before you jump into a new field, take the time to research and understand the sector/role you are planning your career transition. Career switches do not happen overnight because your career needs a story. When a recruiter looks at your CV/resume, they need to see your planned direction.
It's also important to consider employers' expectations, the current market trend and role requirements. Preparation and strategic planning are the key to reaching your career goal, all these external factors should be considered as you start to plan your career trajectory. Start by creating a to-do list and setting realistic expectations for yourself. Understand the steps you need to take to achieve your career goal, but most importantly, be kind to yourself when failure happens. Even if something goes wrong, you can use that as a learning experience. Discover why the effort failed and what you can do to avoid similar outcomes in the future. The next time you do something, improve upon what worked previously.With the right preparation and planning, getting the right job to carry you to the next step in your professional career will be a piece of cake! If you require help with advancing your career, contact our team today! Our experts can help you map out your career development and help you land that dream job.