November 3, 2019, by Noor Syuhada

Frost & Sullivan Shares How to Strategize Career Planning

On the 23rd of October, Careers Advisory Service (CAS) invited guest speakers from Frost & Sullivan, a globally renowned research and consulting firm, to conduct a talk on “Career Planning Strategies” for International Students Career Series in the University of Nottingham Malaysia.

According to one of the starred guests, Mr. Narciso―a representative of the company, one may adhere to the following guidelines when planning his/ her career. First, one should strive to be proactive; proactive in a sense that one should always start planning early. University students especially, are highly encouraged to explore their interests and do research on what sorts of careers would be the right fit for them and in addition to that, set goals to push yourself.

Secondly, don’t be afraid to take risks and go beyond. Mr. Narciso being someone who heavily endorses pursuing an international career, encouraged students to look for opportunities of internships abroad, this way students not only learn to be independent but they are also able to pick up new skills such as learning a new language which in turn would be an added advantage if one is seeking to work at a multinational company.

Thirdly, get out of your comfort zone and build your network. Networking will help you stay on top of the latest trends in the job market, meet prospective mentors, clients, and gain access to the necessary resources that will foster your career development.

Last but not least, do not put all your eggs in one basket. The message here is to encourage students to open their minds to career opportunities beyond the field of their studies; do not be afraid to venture into different industries.

For students who are keen on pursuing their careers in consulting, Mr. Narciso also shared from his experience that there are generally 5 qualities that consulting and related industries expect from their employees. These 5 qualities include:

  1. Motivation and analytical skills
  2. Honesty
  3. Punctuality
  4. Not afraid to ask questions
  5. Does proper research about the company (i.e., company values, its business operations, etc.

By: Angeline Choy, Career Ambassador of CAS – Director of Digital Marketing

Posted in Careers EventsInternational Students Career Series