Directorate of Partnerships, Alumni, and Global Innitiatives, Universitas Gadjah Mada through the Sub-directorate of Alumni Relations hosted a webinar entitled “Build Up Your Branding Skill” in a series of Career Preparation Camp. This program is a collaboration with the Psychology Consulting Unit (UKP), Faculty of Psychology UGM. The event was held on Friday (13/8) through the Zoom Meeting Room and attended by more than 600 participants. They were very enthusiastically gaining knowledge and getting tips and tricks to start the professional world.
Dr. Puji Astuti, S.Si., M.Sc., Apt., Secretary of the Directorate of Partnership, Alumni, and Global Initiatives remarked that the Career Preparation Camp is a means for students and alumni to prepare for a career as early as possible. On this occasion, she also highly appreciated the cooperation between Alumni Relations Sub-directorate and the Psychology Consulting Unit (UKP), Faculty of Psychology UGM to help students and alumni prepare for careers carefully. She also informed that the official website of UGM Alumni Relations Sub-directorate provides an easy access for students and alumni to company’s internships, career recruitment, campus hiring, and career webinars.
Edilburga Wulan Saptandari, M.Psi., Ph.D., Psychologist, Head of the Psychology Consultation Unit (UKP) of the Faculty of Psychology, briefly introduced the agenda of Career Preparation Camp. The first stage is the universal intervention stage under the theme “Boost Your Career Skills” which will be held from August 13 to September 3, 2021 and divided into four sessions. At this stage, students and alumni will be supervised to enhance the required skills in a career. The speakers will be alumni who work in professional career. Next, the second stage is “Targeted Intervention – The Next Chapter Begin” which starts on September 10 – October 1, 2021. This workshop will be in a small group lead by counselors. First, the participant will take pre-post test to assess their prior knowledge. Suppose some participants are considered in need of counselor assistance, they will then take an Intensive Intervention stage under the theme “Be the Best Version of Me” (conducted in October). At this stage, the participant will work on small groups based on the results of self-evaluation. The last stage is called Crisis Intervention – “How to Deal with Life” will be carried out in November. This is a room for the participant to have individual/personal counseling with a counselor.
The speaker of the Career Preparation Camp opening was Mrs. Eliva Wisudaningrum, S.E., M.Psi., CLP, Psychologists and SME HCM & Leadership Academy PT LPP Agro Nusantara. Elvia asked the participants to understand that there are various systems, business interests, and market demands in the working world. Therefore, fresh graduates must prepare and review what they have acquired. Furthermore, the concept, theories, and practices must be adjusted in line with the place of work. On top of that, the recent challenges, such as the industrial revolution 4.0, the “borderless” world with technological advances, and the most recent Covid-19 impact, will affect much of the competition for jobs today.
She then elaborated the process of personal branding to build one’s perception of professionalism in the working world. She continued that personal branding is closely related to the uniqueness and authenticity of a person. Furthermore, Elvia explained that personal branding starts from the identity process. One needs to recognize and identify their character, values, interests, and skills. They have to focus on what they want to show. The second process is to devote. One will perceive other character’s through our devotion, committed and consistency. Next is an established process. It means creating and confirming the “message” that we want to convey to others through gestures, appearance, media, and professionalism. The last process is to adapt. One must always upgrade through continuous improvements to keep up with the development.
On this occasion, Elvia also shared some tips on personal branding for work. Fresh graduates must identify the audience they are going to meet or talk to. Then they use verbal and nonverbal language, use social media wisely and intelligently,always be themselves, and exercise intonation and articulation when talking to other people. Elvia also added the don’t’s when someone starts looking for a job, such as overestimating themselves (arrogant), publishing social media content that doesn’t align with their personal branding displayed for job applicants, and saying offensive things.
[Alumni Relations/Article:Conney,Photo:Anas]