Third-Year BSBA-FM PUP Students Held Webinar to Get Prepared for Internship

On May 24, 2024, BSBA-FM PUP third-year students participated in their year-level webinar entitled "FinaReflect: A Step Closer to Internship Preparation," held via Zoom and Facebook Live, which will assist and prepare all the third-year FM students as they enter on and prepare for their internship journey. 

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On May 24, 2024, BSBA-FM PUP third-year students participated in their year-level webinar entitled "FinaReflect: A Step Closer to Internship Preparation," held via Zoom and Facebook Live, which will assist and prepare all the third-year FM students as they enter on and prepare for their internship journey. 

In her opening remarks, Dr. Ria S. Fajilago emphasized the importance of third-year students attending this kind of virtual event to prepare them for real-world experience, build a strong work ethic, collaboration, communication skills, and confidence. She also encouraged the students to attend workshops or follow preparation guides to determine their qualities and abilities for their internship in the context of the expertise available to them.

The first speaker, Ms. Trish Santos, discussed "Creating a Winning Internship Portfolio: Showcasing Your Achievements and Skills, wherein she highlighted the significance of understanding one's career goal and personal branding, which includes goals, deal breakers, consistency, opportunities, teamwork, learning, happiness, and money. She also inspired the students to embrace uncertainty, watch out for trends, and know your story. 

Ms. Trisha clearly discussed both the soft skills and the hard skills; the soft skills include personality traits, interpersonal awareness, adaptability, attention to detail, leadership, analytical thinking, and technical knowledge. Hard skills, on the other hand, include technical knowledge, financial management, cash flow management, budgeting, risk analysis, and data analytics.

She pointed out that it would be best to highlight your personal brand, achievements, and abilities to create a winning curriculum vitae. It should be formal, without a photo, and include all necessary information: a concise introduction, skills, education and training, and previous or current employment experience.

For her, being a marketing and communication professional, she recommends that students know what career they’re going to focus on. "Look for a starting career or a path that can open you to many opportunities and experiences." – Ms. Santos

The next speaker, an alumni from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Mr. Albert Sugalan, emphasized that being adaptable and ready to change courses quickly can help meet internship demands and set one up for success in any line of work. He also pointed out the importance of learning sturdy from first-year to fourth-year classes as they provide the foundation for the work environment, while on-the-job training will teach the rest.

His discussion is esteemed about adaptability to changes and how it evolves as the journey progresses. He even noted that, from his 17 years of experience in a career focused on business process outsourcing and his financial sector position, "Once a PUP graduate, is always an outstanding graduate."

As part of his meaningful discourse, he encouraged the students to improve career growth and internship experiences, seek opportunities, prioritize mental and physical health, reflect on learning, and be persistent. It is also essential to build connections, seek mentors, and research and understand the company before starting. 

"It's okay to fail; what is not okay is to stop and be mediocre. It's okay to fail because you're learning from it. When you fail or (fall), please take a look at what things impact you as a person, why you fell, and realize it. The reason why there is no growth (about) your career, primarily because of you, is because you stop exploring, learning, and dreaming. When those things stop, you will never go far."- Mr. Albert Sugalan. 

Overall, these informative virtual interactions between the speaker and the third-year level provide invaluable experience in determining what they should strive for in preparation for their internship. As students explore new opportunities, the speakers provide them with accurate information, insights, and lessons learned from their career beginnings. Those in supervision acknowledged the webinar organizer and project head for their constant work in making it feasible for all BSBA FM third-year students at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.