Sharing from National Infocomm Scholar 2010 : Ivan Khor

Hi Everyone !

NIS 2010 Award Ceremony

I’ve recently been awarded the National Infocomm Scholarship (NIS) with IDA and BT Frontline, feeling both happy for myself and grateful to DMIT. I’m going to share with you my experience and process of getting the NIS. As mentioned somewhere in this blog, it’s awarded to keen learners and wanting-to-succeed performers, a chance to work with leading Infocomm companies and MNCs like Microsoft, Oracle, Barclays Capital, BT Frontline and 23 others. (Link: http://www.infocommtalent.sg/nis.aspx).

Ivan with Minister Lui

I had three fruitful years in DMIT, with my caring lecturers to thank for my outstanding academic results. I was given the chance to represent NYP and Singapore in the biennial Worldskills Competition. I also had my overseas industrial attachment with Cisco Systems (USA), which is available to each and every one of you. So why wait? There’s a lot more opportunities and challenges for fellow DMIT-ians to explore and take up!

Going on to share with you my experiences on getting the NIS. On the day of the scholarship interview, apart from the formal wear and my thick portfolio, there are other things that need preparation. You will have to understand what the company is doing, their visions and their directions. Be prepared that they will ask you tricky questions that you may never have thought of before. For example, “Which kind of boss you will like to work for, the employee benefits driven one, or the goal driven one?” Do not bother about telling them what are already stated in your resume because most likely, they would have already have read through them. You got to prove to the interviewers why you are the right one, how you can contribute to the company and vice versa, your keen interest in a career with them and also why you have chosen this path, to be an Infocomm professional. I came across this description of an interview somewhere and hope it might be useful for you.

“The fact that you were called up for interview is because, on paper, it shows that you are different from the other applicants and it’s worth their time to interview you and get to know you more. Now is the time for you to show your interviewers that their filtering system hasn’t gone wrong and you are the right one for them."

Before I end off, just want to urge all fellow DMIT-ians to look for opportunities that can make you the brightest star in the sky. Believe in yourself that you can be one!

Ivan Khor
Class of 2008