{"id":2463,"date":"2025-04-04T08:58:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T08:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev-alumn-nus.pantheonsite.io\/alumnus\/?p=2463"},"modified":"2025-12-10T16:21:27","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T08:21:27","slug":"building-a-career-in-the-big-apple-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/2025\/04\/04\/building-a-career-in-the-big-apple-and-beyond\/","title":{"rendered":"Building a Career in the Big Apple \u2014 and Beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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At the recent NUS Be A-HEAD event, titled “Building Your Global Career – Opportunities & Insights from Working Overseas [New York Edition]”, alumni and industry leaders who have lived and worked in New York shared firsthand insights on breaking into one of the world\u2019s most competitive job markets. Held online on 20 March 2025, the session was moderated by NUS Chief Alumni Officer Ms Ovidia Lim-Rajaram (Arts & Social Sciences \u201989) and was part of the NUS Be A-Head seminar series, which brings together established professionals to share career advice and workplace strategies with young alumni and graduating students.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Ms Dhanya Balasubramanian <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Dr Peter Allen<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mr Willie Wee<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Meet the Speakers:<\/strong><\/p>

  • Ms Dhanya Balasubramanian\u00a0<\/strong>(Engineering \u201913): The Director of Digital Engagement & Personalisation at The Wendy\u2019s Company, Ms Dhanya has built a career in retail and food service, leading digital marketing and loyalty programmes. A former civil engineer, she transitioned into business strategy, with roles at Burger King, Uniqlo and Zalora. She also holds an MBA from Columbia University.<\/li>
  • Dr Peter Allen<\/strong>: The Managing Director at Allen Strategies, Dr Allen is a seasoned executive coach with experience spanning McKinsey, Google, Standard Chartered Bank and private equity firms. A native New Yorker, he has worked extensively in Singapore and Bangkok, advising leaders in finance, technology and education. He holds a PhD from the University of Chicago and an MBA from Wharton.<\/li>
  • Mr Willie Wee<\/strong> (Business \u201916): A Customer Success Business Partner at Anaplan, Mr Wee began his career as a Republic of Singapore Navy officer before moving into tech startups in Silicon Valley. He now advises Fortune 500 life sciences companies on enterprise software. An NUS Business School graduate, he relocated to the US during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since worked across the West Coast and New York.<\/li><\/ul>

    Together, the speakers\u00a0<\/strong>outlined the challenges of working abroad and shared strategies for career growth.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    1. KNOW WHY YOU WANT TO MOVE

    <\/strong>Before deciding to work overseas, clarify your motivation \u2014 whether it is career progression, broader exposure or a fresh start. Having a specific goal helps you plan better, whether that means pursuing further studies, applying for roles directly or transferring internally within a company. \u201cThere is no one way to do this,\u201d said Ms Dhanya. \u201cBut I would say never try to change two things at once \u2014 either move geographically, switch industries or seek career progression, but do not do all three at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    2. MAKE NETWORKING YOUR SECRET WEAPON<\/strong>

    Online applications are rarely enough. Dr Allen emphasised the power of networking. “Applying [for jobs] online alone is not enough,\u201d he said. \u201cNetworking is the key. Check out books like\u00a0What Colour Is Your Parachute?<\/em>\u00a0[by Richard Nelson Bolles] and\u00a0Your Invisible Network\u00a0<\/em>[by Michael Urtuzu\u00e1stegui Melcher] for strategies.\u201d Mr Wee echoed this, saying that networking is a numbers game. \u201cYou have to reach out to a lot of people. Attend networking events, use LinkedIn and find second-degree connections,\u201d he said. \u201cThe Singaporean community overseas can also be a big help.\u201d Alumni networks are also a good place to start. Reach out to former classmates and colleagues \u2014 many global roles are filled through referrals rather than job listings.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    3. ADAPT TO A DIFFERENT WORK CULTURE<\/strong>

    Adapting to new workplace norms can ease the transition into an overseas role. This may involve observing how teams operate, adjusting your communication style and finding mentors. Ms Dhanya, who moved from Singapore to New York, shared how communication styles differ. \u201cI come from an Asian upbringing, where you defer to experience and seek permission before speaking,\u201d she said. \u201cIn New York, I had to learn to speak up confidently.\u201d Similarly, Mr Wee found that self-advocacy is equally important. \u201cAmericans speak with 100 per cent confidence, even if they\u2019re only 50 per cent sure. We, as Asians, second-guess ourselves,\u201d he said. \u201cThe first year I moved, I kept wondering \u2014 \u2018Is everyone really smarter than me?\u2019 Then I realised, no, they\u2019re just better at speaking up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    4. UNDERSTAND VISA OPTIONS AND ASSESS JOB OFFERS<\/strong><\/p>

    Visa requirements can be a major roadblock. Dr Allen encouraged jobseekers to focus on multinational companies with a track record of hiring international employees. \u201cFor Singaporeans, there\u2019s an easier work visa (H-1B1) compared to others, but still, the best bet is to join a large multinational company with a history of hiring Singaporeans,\u201d he said. Aside from work permits, evaluate job offers carefully. Watch for potential concerns such as frequent staff changes or vague job descriptions.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    5. STAND OUT IN A CROWDED MARKET<\/strong>

    Technical skills are just one part of the equation. Showcasing your personality, interests and leadership experiences can help set you apart. Mr Wee noted that in New York\u2019s competitive job market, having unique experiences on your CV can make a difference. \u201cMy CV listed poker, public speaking and competitive sports,\u201d he shared. \u201cOne of my interviews turned into a discussion about poker strategy, which helped me land the job.\u201d\u00a0

    6. STAY OPEN TO CHANGE<\/strong>

    Pursuing a global career is not just about getting a foot in the door \u2014 it also involves adapting, networking and making considered career decisions. In countries like the US, career paths tend to be fluid. Dr Allen, whose background spans consulting, education and tech, noted that job mobility is common. \u201cOne of the biggest advantages of the US is career fluidity,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople switch careers all the time. I\u2019ve been an academic, a consultant, a Google employee, an executive coach and more.\u201d So, whether you\u2019re eyeing a role in New York or Silicon Valley, understanding these dynamics can help you navigate the move more confidently.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    How competitive is the job market in New York for fresh graduates?<\/em>
    <\/strong>
    Extremely competitive, said Dr Allen. Employers often prefer candidates they already know or who come from familiar backgrounds. That is why networking plays such a key role. Ms Dhanya recommended that recent graduates consider multinational companies with internal transfer schemes or structured training programmes. Alumni networks can also be a valuable way to find a warm introduction.<\/p>

    What are red flags to watch for in job offers?\u00a0<\/em>
    <\/strong>
    When evaluating a role, Dr Allen suggested asking why the position is open in the first place. \u201cIf it\u2019s a new role due to expansion, that\u2019s great. But if there\u2019s high turnover, it could be a toxic workplace,\u201d he said. Ms Dhanya added that it is important to stay true to yourself. \u201cIf you feel like you have to change who you are just to fit in, it might not be the right company for you,\u201d she said.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    What does it take to make it in global cities like New York? At a recent NUS Be A-Head event, experts shared advice on adjusting to new work cultures and growing professional networks in unfamiliar career landscapes. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2477,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2463","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leadership","category-news-events"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2463"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2463\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12882,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2463\/revisions\/12882"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}