March 19, 2019, by Noor Syuhada

Discovering Careers in PHIR #2

On 27th February 2019, Careers Advisory Service (CAS) once again collaborated with PHIR-NOTT, a student body from the School of Politics, History and International Relations (PHIR), to host a second careers event named ‘Discovering Careers with PHIR #2′. The first event, which took place last November, was discussing careers opportunity within the government ministries and agencies in Malaysia whereas this second event focuses on careers opportunity within non-governmental/ non-state organisations.

The invited speakers were Ms. Amirah Hamidon from International Committee of Red Cross Malaysia (ICRC), Mr. Ahmad Afiifi from the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), Mr. Wan Azam Wan Hashim from Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), Ms. Netusha Naidu from Imagined Malaysia and Mr. Sean Augustin from Free Malaysia Today (FMT).

Different from previous careers event, this second careers event was held in a form of a discussion panel. The two-hour event started with brief introduction of each organisation, working opportunity for current as well as future graduates of the students of University of Nottingham Malaysia followed by careers-related questions coming from the PHIR-NOTT members and the audience which partly can be found below:

  • Of the three, which would you consider as most important – work and volunteering experiences, the applicants academic performance, or individuals with a clean slate where you build them from the bottom?
  • Has there been any circumstances in which you would consider a person’s characteristics over their performance and result when employing them?
  • Are the preconditions regarding the employment of the international applicants in your respective organisations?
  • This following questions is directed specifically to Mr Ahmad Afiifi of SUHAKAM, and strays a little from our main agenda of employability — with the US recently withdrawing from UNHCT, who is going to take the mantle?
  • To what extent do you think the future of diplomacy in humanitarian diplomacy?

All was made possible with our excellent emcee and moderator for this event, Puteri Farah Sofia Abd Nasir and Elaine Aneesa Naiken. A total of more than 30 participants were involved, ranging from undergraduate to postgraduate students.

Each speaker also took the opportunity to share their first few years of experience when first started their current jobs. One speaker, Mr Wan Azam Wan Hashim from IDEAS, mentioned how he first applied as an intern when coming to IDEAS and the journey and experiences he has gone through to get where he is today are priceless as he not only managed to expand his network with various influential clients but also travels while doing what he really loves.

We thank the Careers Advisory Service (CAS) for providing the platform needed for this event to happen and to all staffs and students of the School of Politics, History and International Relations for endless support and participation in making the Discovering Careers with PHIR #2 a success.

By: Adeeba Khairuddin

Posted in Careers EventsDiscovering Careers