Supporting the Next Generation workforce

Leveraging skills and experience to create a ripple

Tan Joon Xian: EY has developed a series of workshops that dive into topics not typically covered in university lectures. These workshops aim to unlock new passions, explore potential career paths and teach skills needed for the future working world. The workshops cover future-focused topics such as Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Financial technology (Fintech) and Investment. Through these workshops, we are also able to share EY thought leadership materials to help broaden the knowledge of the students in preparation for the future of work.

Ahmad Siddiq: Adaptability is key to thriving in a world that is uncertain and complex. At EY, we empower students and graduates to adapt and thrive in the workplace of the future by honing their creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills through a series of outreach programs with universities, student clubs and professional examination bodies.

Robbin Raj: EY is at the forefront of leveraging new technologies to enable its people and clients. Employees in EY can gain access to various online and offline learning platforms that equip them with important technical and soft skills that are in demand in the modern workplace. Training and upskilling are key areas of focus in EY, and students looking to intern at EY should take advantage of the plethora of learning resources that are available.

Sheila Suppiah: As the project lead for one of the EY Ripples events, I worked with my colleagues to produce a learning module aimed at developing a growth mindset and future-focused skills that could be applied in a professional career. It certainly felt great being able to support the students’ learning and provide them with new perspectives to develop the correct mindset, while having fun and collaborating together as a team. 

Importance of providing mentoring support for the next generation workforce

Tan Joon Xian: Like what new joiners to EY experience, the support from colleagues is really important to help with the transition. It’s the same with graduates – at first, it can be challenging for them to transition into the workforce immediately after graduation. Hence, connecting with working professionals before graduation can provide that extra bolster to help students find their footing in the world beyond textbooks.

Ahmad Siddiq: As cliché as it may sound, these students are the next generation in line to run organizations of the future, and our role is to help them find and sustain meaningful work. This includes preparing them to thrive in an age of unprecedented transformation and uncertainty by fostering their innovation and problem-solving skills to turn challenges into opportunities.

Robbin Raj: Most university students do not have the right perception of working life and do not know how to choose a career path. As experienced professionals, we can greatly help the students by aligning their expectations, suggesting suitable career path options and sharing the type of support and tools available so that they can then personalize their own career journeys.

Sheila Suppiah:  By providing mentoring support to students, we can promote sustainable and inclusive learning to the students and inspire them to become transformative leaders.

Best moment as EY Ripples volunteer

Tan Joon Xian: If I had to choose one, it would be the opportunity to effectively coach diverse campus student groups. It’s exciting to observe different frames of references and perspectives that lead to intriguing discussions!

Ahmad Siddiq: I’ve been engaging with students for close to five years now and the moments I’ve enjoyed the most are when I get to witness their growth and see them become good role models for the next generation. Nothing is more satisfying and delightful than to see the same ripple effect on the students and for them to inspire the younger generations as well.

Robbin Raj: My favorite part of the engagement was meeting with the high-spirited students who were clearly enthusiastic and full of curiosity.  Seeing such energy in them motivated me to guide them as best as I could and address any questions they had about EY and working life in general.

Sheila Suppiah: It was extremely rewarding to see how inspired the students were when they learned what it was like to work in a professional services organization. It meant we managed to achieve our goal of positively impacting the lives of others!

Building a “Better me” through EY Ripples

Tan Joon Xian: Campus engagement activities are mutually beneficial as they allow both parties to develop transferable skills and add to their respective experiences. Involvement in these sessions help create an effective learning environment, improve mentor-learning situations, and inspire me to become a better leader in the modern world.

Ahmad Siddiq: The impact is not just one way for sure. Little do the students know that they inspire me as well along the way. The energy that they exude, their eagerness to learn and absorb – these are what I consider my “reset” moments amidst the hustle and bustle of my working life. These events refresh me and remind me of my career goals and why I joined EY.

Robbin Raj: Participating in campus engagement activities has been an unexpectedly fulfilling experience for me and very different from my day-to-day engagements with clients. It made me realize the joy of mentoring others and also helped me improve my communication skills as I had to adapt to the student audience to ensure that my message was effectively conveyed.

Sheila Suppiah: Personally, I have come to realize that I am able to bring together a mix of different people to work towards a goal. I have also developed an increased sense of curiosity and have become more proactive and mindful to ask better questions. The project has also taught me that as much as we learn something, it is more fulfilling to teach someone or share what we have learnt with someone else.