The Centre for Accounting, Banking and Finance (CABF) collaborated with the Department of Finance from the Faculty of Business and Finance (FBF) to organise a virtual talk titled “What’s next after Graduation” on 7 April 2022 via Microsoft Teams.

The webinar aimed to share with participants the important transferable skills required in the current market by market practitioners. It also served as a platform for students and staff to gain insights into the challenges of seeking jobs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The talk was delivered by Alice Ng Bee Leng. Ng is the vice president-cum-head of OCBC Penang Operations and cluster head of the Corporate Banking Segment. She has been working in OCBC Malaysia since 2003. She specialises in the oversight department of trade finance operation, corporate credit admin and account maintenance. She is also involved in project hubbing and centralisation. Among others who were present were CABF Chairperson Dr William Choo Keng Soon, the Department of Finance Head Dr Kuah Yoke Chin, academic staff and students.

Ng started the webinar with an interactive quiz to gain insights into students’ future career plans. She said, “The four possible outcomes faced by graduates are (1) I know the market well and I know what to do after graduation; (2) I somehow know a bit but I’m still not very sure; (3) I have no idea; (4) I will go with the flow. Moreover, due to the industrial revolution, technology evolution and global pandemic, graduates are likely to face great impacts on their career path, hence they are encouraged to be flexible, dynamic and adaptive to these changes.

In addition, Ng also described the importance of technology evolution for fresh graduates. According to her, they should be equipped with artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain, cyber security, digital design and fintech knowledge to either excel in the job market or be exterminated. Furthermore, she also shared on the impact of traditional banking jobs due to downsized technology, as well as new positions generated to deal with information technology system transformation such as data analyst, programmer, AI expert and big data analyst.

To shape the need of human capital in the 21st century, graduates from the younger generation need to multitask in areas of scholar, psychologist, motivator, marketing manager, accountant and entertainment,” she said. She then introduced the SMART goals that served as a guide for future graduates to prepare before entering the work industry. The SMART elements were categorised into five key elements, namely self-development, mental resilience, agility, relational, and technology savvy.

The interactive webinar was followed by a Q&A session and it ended with a group photograph.