SINGAPORE - About 600 students of the National University of Singapore (NUS) are attending a new course on how to map out their career and get the skills to land a job.
Its introduction is prompted by the fast-changing nature of the job market which requires them to be nimble, the university's senior deputy president and provost Ho Teck Hua said on Tuesday (Jan 30) when he opened the university's Career Fest.
"This programme will help students kickstart their career planning early," he added.
Launched in mid-January, the 12-week module called Career Catalyst is offered to undergraduates in their second or third year.
It builds on a 12-week foundational programme, Roots and Wings, that was introduced in 2016 to teach first-year students life skills, such as self-awareness and communication.
The two-day career fair, the largest organised by NUS to date, has more than 260 employers from 21 industries such as financial services, engineering, retail and hospitality.
In all, about 4,000 jobs are on offer.
Besides being an avenue for students and employers to meet, this year's event will focus more on self development and career exploration for students.
For instance, one section will feature a "library" of individuals with stories on their personal journeys and lessons learnt from their careers. They include Mr Darren Cheng, chief executive of Direct Funeral Services.
Fashion experts from Estee Lauder and Uniqlo will also give advice on professional dressing and wardrobe tips.
Students can also take part in talks with industry heads such as Health Promotion Board chief executive Zee Yoong Kang; Mr Claus Zieler, head of commercial operations at Bayer Pharmaceuticals; and Mr Lim Teck Yong, regional head of operations and people team at Shopee, an online shopping platform.
There will also be a forum on current employment trends in such sectors as maritime, education and energy.
More than 10,000 NUS students and alumni are expected to attend the event.
Third-year architecture student Ryan Leong, who is taking the Career Catalyst module this semester, said he is learning "how to craft a professional image, create physical resumes and a LinkedIn profile that will be sought after and easily reached by recruiters".
"We also found out more about our personalities, which will help us to seek suitable jobs," said the 24-year-old, who is looking for architecture or design-related internships.
Ms Christine Xiao, who oversees graduate recruitment and training and development for Uniqlo, said: "Our presence on campus is to encourage students to look beyond desk-bound jobs and reach out to opportunities that may interest them. The biggest stereotype is that young graduates should sit in an office and not work in retail stores."
