By Foo Ming Li
Fresh graduates from numerous tertiary institutions affected by the rapid spreading of Covid-19 are contemplating their future plans in terms of studies as well as career choices.
Han Chiang University College of Communication (HCUC) Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Creative Media graduate, Chow Huo Wing, said his initial plan was to pursue a career in graphic designing or photography based on his interest in these two fields.
“With the ongoing pandemic, careers like photography are hard to pursue due to the cancellation or postponement of many events and weddings until the virus is well-contained,” Huo Wing explains his concerns.
Chow is currently a multimedia designer at Peppar Tribe and simultaneously conducts some freelance illustrations, design or photography sessions. He hopes he can still continue his passion in the art-related fields and manages to do what he likes without burning his passion out.
Another HCUC graduate with a Bachelor in Public Relations (Honours), Chiow Hooi Chean, said she was supposedly heading to work in Kuala Lumpur but the company she applied for had to reject her because of the pandemic. .
Chiow is now working as a marketing executive in the Prangin Mall management in Penang and planning to try her luck in Kuala Lumpur once the pandemic is over.
“I did not face any difficulties when exploring job opportunities in Penang, but the salary offered by most of the companies was not high due to the pandemic. So I will now do my best in my current job,” she said.
Ng Pei Ern, a Public Relations and Advertising graduate from HCUC Diploma in Mass Communication said her plan to work in the field of event management materialised and eventually furthering her studies overseas came to a halt with the untimely pandemic. Yet, she is persistent with the available opportunities.
As of now, she is attached to the sales and marketing department of Ideaworks Pro despite the difficulties she faced as a fresh graduate in finding a job.
“Most of the job requirements are too high and unfeasible for a fresh graduate like me, making the process of securing a job even more difficult,” she said.
Ng hopes that the pandemic can be well-contained so that she can pursue her initial plan.
Lastly, Koay Joey, a HCUC final year student studying Diploma in Mass Communication majoring in Public Relations and Advertising said she was planning to further her studies in Communication University of China (CUC) in the September intake and had prepared the documents needed for the enrollment.
“I also planned to find a job that is related to my studies and work for eight months before the new semester at CUC starts, that not only enables myself to earn some extra living expenses but also to gain new experiences”, she said.
Joey finds the pandemic has made her realise the importance of having a backup plan which is essential for everyone to be flexible and adapt themselves in unexpected situations like the Covid-19 outbreak. Hence, she started planning to further her studies in local universities.
Joey was working as a part-time art teacher in Da Vinci Creative Kids at e-Gate before the pandemic began, but she had to take a break until further notice since it requires close contact with the students in the art class.
She hopes the pandemic can be over soon so that she can carry out her plans. If the pandemic persists or becomes worse, she believes the lessons and experiences she has learned over the years will help her to adapt and overcome the challenges.
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