Demonstrating its commitment to help fresh graduates get a head start in their careers, Baiduri Bank held an open day for the Graduate Apprenticeship Programme (GAP) at their headquarters on Saturday.
Over 200 members of the public attended the event held to provide an opportunity for applicants to know more about the programme and speak to the alumni about their experiences.
The previous cycle of apprentices, who recently concluded their time in the programme this month, took charge of organising the events and activities. There were also talks and presentations at the Baiduri Community Space by apprentices attached to key functional areas such as Corporate Banking, Baiduri Capital and Group Information and Technology Division. They also shared their experience of the whole selection process. The presentations provided insights on how potential applicants should prepare and allowed the speakers to talk about their experience from being in the programme.
Earlier this year, 300 applications were received during the second cycle of the programme.
After a rigorous selection process involving written assessments and interviews, the bank welcomed 15 apprentices into the programme last April. Emphasising a more digital approach to recruitment, the selection process was entirely done virtually, and applicants were assessed through a video presentation to evaluate their creativity and readiness to step out of their comfort zones.
GAP is a six-month holistic learning and development programme aimed at providing recent graduates with the knowledge, skill and experience that will increase their employability in the local job market.
The programme is divided into two main parts – a classroom component and job rotations within Baiduri Bank Group.
Successful applicants will join the programme as ‘apprentices’, embarking on a series of classroom learning activities where they will be introduced to the banking world and gain comprehensive knowledge of various financial products and services. They will also attend courses aimed at helping them acquire soft skills such as effective communication, project management, teamwork and collaboration to enhance their overall work readiness.
The apprentices will then undergo on-the-job training in different departments within the bank and its subsidiaries, designed to offer them first-hand experience of the inner workings of a financial institution. At the same time, apprentices will also be able to contribute to the bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and join the various health and wellness activities in Baiduri Bank’s Employee Wellness Initiative.
At the end of the programme, apprentices may apply for suitable vacancies within Baiduri Bank Group or pursue their careers with other organisations.
Head of Group Human Resources and Administration Veronica Chong, who held meet-and-greet sessions throughout the event, also attended.
She commented on how GAP is a strong testament to the bank group’s commitment to support recent graduates by helping them develop employability skills and a learning mindset.
She said, “I am proud of our apprentices and what they have achieved so far in a short period of time.
“They have clearly shown that they are capable of leading and organising large scale events like today, and this is exactly what the programme is designed to be. It offers a unique opportunity for recent graduates to gain valuable working experience and give them a firmer foothold in the job market.”
She also commented on how the apprentices come from diverse backgrounds to give fresh perspectives and ideas to the programme and how their skills can be enhanced to fit the financial industry when they join GAP.
She said, “The second cycle of apprentices come from a wide range of backgrounds, from Information Technology, Public Relations and Marketing to Geology. We are glad that the programme is able to nurture and develop their unique talents and skills, so they grow in their own ways while allowing us as an organisation to benefit from the diversity of perspectives.”
The programme is open to Bruneian citizens and permanent residents who graduated in the last three years with a minimum qualification of a bachelor’s degree and with no prior work experience.
