For fresh graduates, the prospect of working overseas isn’t for the faint of heart as it requires a great amount of sacrifice – adjusting to different cultures, languages and even seasonal weather among others.
Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) ensures that its curriculum and programmes are up-to-date with global workforce needs and meet employer expectations, producing graduates who are future-ready but the real world requires them to also be adaptable to the ever-changing work landscape in order to compete. To assist, the Centre of Networking, Employment and Career Training (CoNECT) hosts workshops and talks featuring industry partners and experienced individuals who share valuable insight into the realities of stepping into the workplace.
In the latest installment of the UBD Career Fair 2024, the Career Forum was organised to provide the perspective of successful Bruneians, who are also UBD alumni, thriving in their respective careers overseas.
One of the invited speakers was a seasoned Human Resource professional at the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Rafidah Rambli who obtained her Master of Business Administration from UBD in 2020. She was joined by another three alumni speakers: Hiro Tien, a Silicon Valley-based founder and investor currently stationed in California, United States; Gary Goh, a seasoned supply chain and logistics professional at SCTSB Sdn Bhd, a Sumitomo subsidiary based in Qatar; and Aishah Helena Shariff, an accomplished Algorithm Developer at White Space Solutions in the Netherlands.
On the sidelines of the Career Forum, Rafidah shared her experiences as a Human Resource Manager. She pointed out how over 20 years ago, Human Resource was transactional and operational but these days, organisations found the need for more strategic input. Its initial supportive role is now considered pivotal in Brunei Darussalam and the world, possibly taking the wheel now and again. In the span of more than two decades, there have been apparent changes in the field of Human Resource. The newer generation has different mindsets, goals, needs and wants which organisations need to carefully consider. Their skillsets can also be significantly different compared to current members of the team. Their ability to adapt to and adopt new technology is invaluable especially in this era of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Digitalisation has transformed the landscape for both potential employees, current staff and recruiters. The latter, guided by their respective organisations, are shifting their focus towards employee engagement. “It is now a war of talent,” Rafidah said. “Everyone is looking for competency with prospective employees also looking into employer profiles.” With more graduates understanding the value of their talent and skills, companies and organisations are putting more effort into diversity, inclusivity and employer engagement.
While it is relatively easy to track tangible results such as skill proficiency, engagement can be a challenge for those in Human Resource to assess and quantify. This highlights the important role that Human Resource plays in creating an ideal employee culture to not only recruit but also maintain good talent.
Geographical boundaries are less of an issue these days and people are generally more open to widening their horizons, which gives Human Resource access to an increasing pool of great talent. For that, they require a strong fit-for-purpose Human Resource system that provides a fulfilling experience for the potential employee, recruiter as well as the organisation.
Rafidah’s role in the Career Forum was more than just to showcase the Human Resource perspective to hiring but also to educate alumni, graduates and current students on the possible future as someone in Human Resource. Passionate about talent development, she shared that it is her personal goal to see people grow and thrive in the organisaton. “We create value for the organisation by supporting the people,” she commented.
For those eyeing a future in Human Resource, she advised to create a personal brand but more importantly to also be receptive to learning. “In order to progress, you need to have a learning mentality,” she said. “I’m still learning too.”
Her approach to her roles, duties and contributions to Human Resource aligns very much with UBD’s stance on lifelong learning. The consistent success of the annual UBD Career Fair and its accompanying events have demonstrated the deep desire for Bruneian jobseekers to look beyond academic ability but also in many other valuable skills and attributes sought by future employers. Through modules, programmes, activities and events, UBD continues to ensure that there is no shortage of opportunities for students especially to discover, develop and hone those many talents.
