Recently, the School of Marketing and Management (SoMM) at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) hosted a speaking engagement titled “Career Waze: Smart navigation for your Career journey.”

Led by Ms Harjinder Kaur (Senior Lecturer and IAP Coordinator, SoMM at APU), the speaking engagement attracted a diverse audience of students across multiple academic disciplines, all eager to explore practical, industry-relevant strategies for career planning, job searching, and long-term professional growth.

The speaking engagement featured esteemed guest speaker Ms Aishah Lassim, Consulting Director at Omni View Consulting and Industry Advisory Panel at APU, and Ms Mona Abu Bakar, Workforce Centre of Excellence Lead at PwC Malaysia. 

Ms Aishah’s Session: Data-Driven Career Strategy and Self-Awareness

Ms Aishah opened the session by addressing Malaysia’s current employment landscape, highlighting that although overall unemployment remains relatively low, many graduates continue to experience underemployment due to job-skill mismatches and limited career progression opportunities.

Her session highlighted the role of self-awareness and informed decision-making in shaping meaningful and sustainable career paths, illustrating how aligning personal interests with professional choices can strengthen motivation, performance, and long-term fulfilment.

Then, the session explored broad aspects of career development, including individual strengths, work preferences, leadership qualities, and interpersonal capabilities, while emphasising how structured evaluation approaches can support clearer career direction and growth planning.

Ms Aishah also shared insights into widely used professional assessment tools and consulting practices, highlighting how organisations across various industries leverage such frameworks to develop talent and align individuals with suitable roles at both local and global levels.

Ms Mona’s Session: From CV preparation to Interview Confidence

Building on the foundation of self-awareness, Ms Mona delivered a hands-on and application-focused session that gave students practical insight into how recruitment decisions are made in today’s evolving hiring landscape.

Her sharing centred on strengthening employability through a strong digital presence, well-structured CVs, and confident interview preparation, while guiding students on how these elements work together to create a compelling professional profile.

Ms Mona further demonstrated how generative-AI can be used responsibly as a supportive tool for CV refinement and interview practice, emphasising efficiency, personalisation, and preparation, rather than replacement of human judgment.

Throughout the session, students were encouraged to pay close attention to clarity, consistency, and presentation, while learning how to communicate achievements effectively and position their personal brand in a way that resonates with both technology-driven systems and human recruiters. 

Engaging dialogue and Meaningful interaction

Throughout the speakers’ sessions, interactive elements were incorporated to sustain engagement, including a lively Q&A segment where students raised insightful queries related to career readiness and recruitment practices.

One of the highlights conducted during one of the sessions was a lucky draw, during which several winners were announced, adding an element of excitement, while encouraging active participation.

These interactive moments created a dynamic learning environment, allowing students to remain engaged, while gaining direct exposure to industry perspectives in a relaxed and approachable setting.

Student Perspectives

1. Shawn Rachid Michael Brioche, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Human Resource Management: “I found the speaking engagement highly beneficial as it provided practical guidance on self-development, CV preparation, and interview readiness, while also highlighting the importance of concise communication, continuous learning, and responsible use of AI in building a confident and future-ready career.”
2. Maluk Chuol Gatluak Manimeh, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Business Management with a specialism in E-Business: “What stood out most to me during the speaking engagement was the emphasis on understanding recruiter expectations, refining how i present my experiences, and adapting to changing hiring practices, all of which have given me greater clarity and confidence in planning my career path.”
3. Vaissnaave Kumar, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Media and Communication Studies: “Gaining practical advice on employability, personal strengths, and career planning at an early stage of my studies made the speaking engagement both encouraging and helpful in shaping my long-term career outlook.”
4. Shaarmini Kohulan, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in International Business Management: “Learning about real-world hiring expectations and career planning strategies offered me valuable perspective on how ongoing upskilling, certifications, and interpersonal skills contribute to sustained professional success.”
    

Reflections on the Speaking Engagement

Ms Harjinder shared that the speaking engagement effectively bridged academic learning with real-world employability by equipping students with practical skills, industry perspectives, and exposure to emerging tools shaping today’s workforce.

She emphasised that the integration of data-driven insights, AI applications, and meaningful industry engagement created a well-rounded learning experience that extended beyond conventional classroom boundaries.

“Most importantly, the speaking engagement encouraged students to approach their career journeys with greater clarity, adaptability, and confidence, reinforcing the importance of continuous learning in an ever-evolving employment landscape.”

Building on this perspective, Assoc Prof Dr Devinder Kaur (Head, SoMM at APU) emphasised that speaking engagements led by industry experts play a crucial role in nurturing students’ personal and professional growth.

“By engaging with industry professionals, students are empowered to make informed decisions and cultivate a future-ready mindset, reflecting APU’s commitment to holistic student development beyond academic excellence.”