http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,199014,00.html?
STEP UP
This series is brought to you by SIM Global Education
SIM-RMIT offers her the ride of her life
From classrooms to theme parks, business degree is taking this graduate to new heights
April 16, 2009
SIM GE graduate Geargina Tan is applying what she learnt in her Bachelor of Business (Management) programme to her job as an attractions supervisor at Resorts World at Sentosa.
IT WAS an unusual question for a job interview: 'Are you afraid of heights?'
But it made sense since business graduate and skydiving enthusiast Geargina Tan, 24, was applying to be an attractions supervisor at Resorts World at Sentosa.
She clinched the job, which involves overseeing theme park rides, like a roller coaster, at Universal Studios Singapore.
The SIM Global Education (SIM GE) alumnus graduated last year with a Bachelor of Business (Management), awarded by RMIT University in Australia.
According to the programme's 2008 graduate survey, 93per cent of the cohort secured jobs within six months of graduation.
Mr John Hallenbeck, the director of park operations at Universal Studios Singapore, said he was struck by MissTan's 'passion for service, eye for detail as well as her bubbly disposition'.
He added: 'With her overseeing some of our exciting attractions, I am confident that our guests will not only have a safe experience at the park, but will leave with good and long-lasting memories.'
In her final year of university, MissTan took part in a work and travel programme for SIM GE students. For two months, she worked as a games operator at Morey's Piers, a theme park in New Jersey, US.
She said: 'I had the chance to meet people from different countries, like the US, Bulgaria and Russia. I think the stint gave me an edge in being selected for the job.'
But Miss Tan's career choice surprised many of her family members and friends.
'People think it's a major switch - from business to tourism,' she explained.
'But Resorts World at Sentosa is still in the starting-up phase. It opens early next year, so my specialisation in entrepreneurship is both useful and relevant.'
She cited the example of a market penetration report she was tasked to produce.
Using what she had learnt in her market research course, she conducted surveys and analysed data to determine what proportion of visitors will take each ride.
She also drew upon her commercial law course when she had to adapt training manuals to comply with Singapore law.
Miss Tan will get to utilise the leadership skills she learnt from her courses, like organisational behaviour and leadership and management, as she will eventually oversee a team of 70 to 100 people.
She said she was attracted to the full-time RMIT programme at SIM as it was the only one that offered entrepreneurship as a major.
The entrepreneurship specialisation is available only to full-time students, who can also choose to minor in another specialisation to widen their range of business skills.
The other three specialisations available to both full-time and part-time students are marketing, human resource management and business finance.
Such is the appeal of RMIT's broad-based programme at SIM that even working adults are attracted to it.
Balancing work and studies
One such student is Miss Rehka Prakash, 25, a tax officer at the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras).
Her duties include helping members of the public with their tax queries, tax filing and payment obligations.
She said: 'Although the degree is not directly related to tax issues, the knowledge I've gained from the various modules, such as economics and marketing, can be applied to my work.
'The course projects have improved my communication and analytical skills immensely. This has increased my ability to help address taxpayers queries and I'm more confident when delivering presentations at work.'
She said the thought of furthering her studies was sparked after chatting with a colleague, who was then enrolled in a similar course at SIM.
As going back to school was quite an 'investment' for Miss Prakash, she spent six months researching what various universities had to offer before deciding on SIM GE.
Ticking off her reasons, she cited RMIT University's reputation and being able to pay her school fees on a semestral basis, which allows her to to save up while working.
She said the class schedule from 7pm to 10pm, three times a week, lets her 'balance work and study'.
Just as importantly, Miss Prakash noted, 'the degree is one of those recognised by IRAS'.
She added: 'The SIM-RMIT degree will definitely enhance my career prospects in future. My job scope has widened as I've been notified that more major projects are coming my way.'
She has obtained distinctions or high distinctions for most of her courses, thanks in part to lecturers who 'went the extra mile' and answered questions via e-mail or phone.
She said she has made her mother very proud by attaining her personal goal to excel academically at SIM.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERESTED?
WHAT: SIM-RMIT Bachelor of Business (Management) briefing
WHEN: 7pm, 17 Apr 2009
WHERE: LT4.20, SIM HQ, 461 Clementi Road
FOR MORE INFO: Register online at www.sim.edu.sg/bbmgt.html
FOR ENQUIRIES: E-mail [email protected] or call 62489718
STEP UP
This series is brought to you by SIM Global Education
SIM-RMIT offers her the ride of her life
From classrooms to theme parks, business degree is taking this graduate to new heights
April 16, 2009
SIM GE graduate Geargina Tan is applying what she learnt in her Bachelor of Business (Management) programme to her job as an attractions supervisor at Resorts World at Sentosa.
IT WAS an unusual question for a job interview: 'Are you afraid of heights?'
But it made sense since business graduate and skydiving enthusiast Geargina Tan, 24, was applying to be an attractions supervisor at Resorts World at Sentosa.
She clinched the job, which involves overseeing theme park rides, like a roller coaster, at Universal Studios Singapore.
The SIM Global Education (SIM GE) alumnus graduated last year with a Bachelor of Business (Management), awarded by RMIT University in Australia.
According to the programme's 2008 graduate survey, 93per cent of the cohort secured jobs within six months of graduation.
Mr John Hallenbeck, the director of park operations at Universal Studios Singapore, said he was struck by MissTan's 'passion for service, eye for detail as well as her bubbly disposition'.
He added: 'With her overseeing some of our exciting attractions, I am confident that our guests will not only have a safe experience at the park, but will leave with good and long-lasting memories.'
In her final year of university, MissTan took part in a work and travel programme for SIM GE students. For two months, she worked as a games operator at Morey's Piers, a theme park in New Jersey, US.
She said: 'I had the chance to meet people from different countries, like the US, Bulgaria and Russia. I think the stint gave me an edge in being selected for the job.'
But Miss Tan's career choice surprised many of her family members and friends.
'People think it's a major switch - from business to tourism,' she explained.
'But Resorts World at Sentosa is still in the starting-up phase. It opens early next year, so my specialisation in entrepreneurship is both useful and relevant.'
She cited the example of a market penetration report she was tasked to produce.
Using what she had learnt in her market research course, she conducted surveys and analysed data to determine what proportion of visitors will take each ride.
She also drew upon her commercial law course when she had to adapt training manuals to comply with Singapore law.
Miss Tan will get to utilise the leadership skills she learnt from her courses, like organisational behaviour and leadership and management, as she will eventually oversee a team of 70 to 100 people.
She said she was attracted to the full-time RMIT programme at SIM as it was the only one that offered entrepreneurship as a major.
The entrepreneurship specialisation is available only to full-time students, who can also choose to minor in another specialisation to widen their range of business skills.
The other three specialisations available to both full-time and part-time students are marketing, human resource management and business finance.
Such is the appeal of RMIT's broad-based programme at SIM that even working adults are attracted to it.
Balancing work and studies
One such student is Miss Rehka Prakash, 25, a tax officer at the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras).
Her duties include helping members of the public with their tax queries, tax filing and payment obligations.
She said: 'Although the degree is not directly related to tax issues, the knowledge I've gained from the various modules, such as economics and marketing, can be applied to my work.
'The course projects have improved my communication and analytical skills immensely. This has increased my ability to help address taxpayers queries and I'm more confident when delivering presentations at work.'
She said the thought of furthering her studies was sparked after chatting with a colleague, who was then enrolled in a similar course at SIM.
As going back to school was quite an 'investment' for Miss Prakash, she spent six months researching what various universities had to offer before deciding on SIM GE.
Ticking off her reasons, she cited RMIT University's reputation and being able to pay her school fees on a semestral basis, which allows her to to save up while working.
She said the class schedule from 7pm to 10pm, three times a week, lets her 'balance work and study'.
Just as importantly, Miss Prakash noted, 'the degree is one of those recognised by IRAS'.
She added: 'The SIM-RMIT degree will definitely enhance my career prospects in future. My job scope has widened as I've been notified that more major projects are coming my way.'
She has obtained distinctions or high distinctions for most of her courses, thanks in part to lecturers who 'went the extra mile' and answered questions via e-mail or phone.
She said she has made her mother very proud by attaining her personal goal to excel academically at SIM.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERESTED?
WHAT: SIM-RMIT Bachelor of Business (Management) briefing
WHEN: 7pm, 17 Apr 2009
WHERE: LT4.20, SIM HQ, 461 Clementi Road
FOR MORE INFO: Register online at www.sim.edu.sg/bbmgt.html
FOR ENQUIRIES: E-mail [email protected] or call 62489718
