September 7, 2020

‘How can tertiary students boost their career prospects in a prolonged crisis?’ by Dr Kelvin Seah Kah Cheng (NUS Department of Economics) in Today guides graduating students on improving their employability. Responding his students’ queries on how to best equip themselves for the crisis-enduring labour market, Dr Seah highlights the importance of engaging in co-curricular activities (CCAs) to boost their profile.

While academic performance and internship experience are still key considerations for employers, the lowered viability of acquiring internships in today’s crisis-stricken market shifts the focus to CCA involvement. Former experiments have revealed that while CCA participation can offset weaker academic results, when coupled with strong academic results it increases job interview rates by seven percent. A potential candidate’s CCA participation indicates the presence of desirable soft skills to employers, such as communication, creativity, and leadership. For instance, being a sports-team member reflects positively of an individual’s resilience and collaborative skills, which are attractive traits in a workplace.

Furthermore, involvement in CCAs also exposes students to a larger network, giving them access to job opportunities in various sectors. By engaging with their alumni and peers from different fields, members of academic clubs can benefit from forming new connections. A recent poll conducted by Dr Seah revealed that tertiary students may undervalue the market returns of CCA participation, so he advises students to include their CCAs on their resumes, regardless of committee positions held.

Dr Seah uses research findings to emphasise that CCA involvement can indeed improve the employability of students. When feasible, exchange and internship opportunities do serve students well in improving their resumes, but Dr Seah urges them to compose “well-organised and error-free resumes”, which strategically emphasise the qualities that a company is seeking. Finally, when the opportunity presents itself, it is essential to be well-prepared for interviews.

Read the full article here.