Story #15
Originally from: Malaysia
Undergraduate degree/ major: Bachelor of Business and Commerce/ Accounting & Economics
University and Country: Monash University, Malaysia & Australia
Started working since: Jan 2012
Currently based in: Australia
First job: Customer Service Consultant, Energy industry
Current job: Financial Analyst, Banking industry
Q: How did you decide on your undergraduate course of study?
A: My love for all things numbers.
Q: In retrospect, what did you think were the most useful lessons/ skills/ knowledge you'd gained from your undergraduate education?
A: The extent that you should depend on yourself and to also be able to allow others to play a role - team work, all working towards a common goal. Time management skills and prioritising work.
Q: What are some additional areas you wish your undergraduate education could have covered?
A: More practicals to allow students to have hands on experience for the future.
Q: Briefly describe your current job scope.
A: Monitoring in-flight projects at NAB, maintaining budget - including forecasting, risk assessments, prioritisation for projects pipeline, cost benefit analysis, financial year planning (long term and short term), resource utilisation etc and strong level of stakeholder management and partnering with businesses to achieve desired outcomes.
Q: How has your undergraduate education influenced your career choice?
A: My passion for numbers in university influenced my choice to want a career in finance. My economics major helped me make a choice to always want to stay relevant in a working environment and to always challenge the status quo- working within the project space has helped me achieve that.
Q: To what extent is your current job related to your undergraduate course of study?
A: Somewhat related.
Q: What is one competitive advantage your university offers? (From your perspective)
A: Research-based university- allows students to expand knowledge beyond text books.