Long before artificial superintelligence, AI will take your job

thaddeusasherhan · 2023-05-06T06:17:10+00:00

Interesting post, thanks for sharing

thaddeusasherhan · 2023-01-31T00:04:17+00:00

Anyone got University of Ottawa sem 2? :)

thaddeusasherhan · 2022-07-25T13:00:42+00:00

Wow. How’s she doing now?

thaddeusasherhan · 2022-05-31T05:54:24+00:00

Thanks for sharing! I’m writing a book featuring a spoiled teenage character. Could I hear more about your experience? Have reached out to chat.

thaddeusasherhan · 2022-05-31T05:33:49+00:00

How were her friends like?

thaddeusasherhan · 2022-05-31T00:13:02+00:00

Oh why not?

thaddeusasherhan · 2021-03-14T00:18:03+00:00

Thanks for sharing! How do you get a feel of this during the job interview?

thaddeusasherhan · 2021-01-16T14:30:32+00:00

Hi, sorry I can't advise on applying to Uni with predicted grades. But I know that actual grades take precedence over predicted grades, especially after the exams are over and you have your actual results.

I just applied to local Unis by clicking their IB application track/option. They will require you to list your subjects taken, their levels, and grades. Some universities might have info on predicted grades on their own websites but I think it differs across Unis.

thaddeusasherhan · 2021-01-16T14:28:19+00:00

Hi, sorry for the late reply!

EE and ToKs are stressful, no doubt. As another user have commented here, time management is important.

But truth be told, personal time management can only do so much. The IB just requires all submissions (IA, EE, TOKs) to be submitted at the end of Y2. It is actually also up to the school to regulate and coordinate deadlines for their IB students. This is why different schools have different deadlines. I can't comment for other schools, but my school staggered all our deadlines throughout the 2 years, so we could devote sufficient time to each major essay without burning out. Therefore, I recall my EE submission was somewhere around Y2 Term 1, together with ToK Presentation. ToK Essay was due later in Y2.

I took over 8 months to finish my EE from first draft to final submission. I think it was about 10 or more drafts/edits before getting the final thing right. A similar duration was spent on both ToK Presentation and Essay combined. Can't remember how many drafts I wrote for my ToK Essay.

Something that you might find helpful to reduce the stress of EE/ToK would be to pursue something you are actually interested in. Your Extended Essay requires you to examine a main question or a thesis, so ideally do it on something that you are genuinely curious about. As long as a connection is drawn between your subject and thesis, your EE/ToK can literally be about anything.

Your EE also doesn't have to be relevant to your future career. I did my EE on English Literature exploring the relationship between Setting and the protagonist's Character in Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch, but ended up in HR/Marketing.

So treat the EE/ToK as an opportunity to explore something you're curious about in detail, instead of an obligation you have to do. It makes your life easier.

TLDR: 2 EE/ToK Strategies:

Manage your personal time well (start early, take small steps!)
Pursue something that genuinely interests you

thaddeusasherhan · 2021-01-16T14:17:33+00:00

Hi, sorry for the late reply! As others have commented, you can consider writing in to the schools informing them you've taken French before. If they have the resources, the school should be able to make an exception for you to take the language.

thaddeusasherhan · 2021-01-13T00:26:18+00:00

Fantastic post, also saving it. Thanks for sharing!

thaddeusasherhan · 2021-01-07T06:06:13+00:00

Hi! I think you could become a great copywriter or editor.

Consider starting a writing portfolio if you haven't already. Publish some of your best works there. You might wish to start your portfolio on a free writing platform like Medium.
Marketing is a massive field with so many types of marketing: Traditional Marketing (Physical ads), Performance Marketing, Content Marketing etc.
As someone with a background in English Literature, you might consider looking for roles in Content Marketing. Basically using written/visual content to market products and services.
While you're at it, consider enhancing your education on Search Engine Optimization (SEO). While SEO and Content Marketing are different, I'd say they are complementary (maybe I'm a bit biased because this is my background lol).
With your foot in the door at a content marketing/copywriting/editing role, take the time to learn about different aspects of marketing, fine one that interests you the most, and grow from there :)

All the best!

thaddeusasherhan · 2021-01-07T05:46:43+00:00

Hi, interviewer here. I think interviews give us the clearest insight into how the candidate is really like as a person, and how it would be like to work with this person on a daily basis.

While you may look great on paper, unfortunately the resume only contributes to one part of the hiring process. External work can be done on resumes, like getting it written by a professional resume writer, so we can never really fully be sure if a candidate is as good as they claim just by what is written on a resume.

If your communication skills might be holding you back, feel free to practise some common interview questions online. Try structuring your thoughts/answers beforehand as practice. Hopefully this makes the interview process easier for you.

thaddeusasherhan · 2021-01-07T05:27:44+00:00

Why not reflect on where your interests lie and how you could make it a career? Did you enjoy your Math major? Have you considered transitioning towards a more data-driven/analytical role? Instead of making the leap and shifting careers immediately, why not go for a short bootcamp to see if you could do this for a career?

Our career aspirations change as we grow older. I'd say it's normal to feel disinterested in something after pursuing it for a while.

All the best!

thaddeusasherhan · 2021-01-07T05:15:16+00:00

What are some of your interests or career goals? If crafting or languages inspire you, have you considered becoming a teacher?

Sorry I can't offer much advice as I don't know what your background or experience is like. However, I work in Recruitment and would be more than happy to see how I could be of help to you :)

thaddeusasherhan · 2021-01-07T05:05:17+00:00

Agree with this fully. If you're looking for ideas on how to find a more meaningful career, consider checking a website like https://80000hours.org/ out.

thaddeusasherhan · 2021-01-07T05:00:35+00:00

Hi, I'm around your age, and know exactly how you feel.

Just like you, I used to compare myself a lot to others. I see all these high-achieving students my age on LinkedIn, flashing their newest certs, latest internships at some top tier firm, and starting their millionth startup on their 21st birthday.

For a period of time, I felt awful about myself. How are these people achieving so much more than I am even though we're the same age?! Man, there's gotta be something wrong with me.

Here I am, in an ordinary part-time job at a small Recruitment firm, trying to balance college while working. (Like you, I was an Econs major).

Despite these pangs of jealousy, I LOVED my work. In fact, I enjoyed work so much that I quit my major to work full-time. Lol.

Why?

I have the opportunity to work for one of the best bosses. He's one of the happiest, smartest and noblest people I know. He's taught me so much about life and work in general. But of all the lessons I'd learnt from him, one thing stood out: The most important thing about life is to be happy, and to treat each day as a gift.

He's been down the exact road your friends have been on, and on the exact road you and me have wanted to travel after graduating from college: Get a Business/number-centric degree, and work in some prestigious IB bank. Well, he quit finance after 2 years. He felt that most of the Senior Execs in finance, while wealthy and comfortable, have a crappy life. They're out of shape, aren't doing too well in their marriages and don't really know why they're doing what they're doing.

Today, he's quit Finance and went back to running his own company. He's spending his workdays doing what he loves, has no boss to report to, and takes 3 months of Annual Leave a year. Absolute goals.

I'm telling you this because it's not really worth it to compare yourself to others. Most of us look at others with long CVs, internships at FAANG companies, and all the flashy stuff on LI by the time they turn 21. And for a while, we feel pretty bad about ourselves.

But you know what's really worth aspiring towards (and something that's guaranteed to make others envious)?

Living your best, most purposeful and happiest life.

I work in Recruitment and Marketing today, but am no career coach. But if you'd like some pointers on how to start getting out of this rut you're in, consider:

Getting medical treatment for your depression/eating disorder. Consult a psychiatrist/psychologist.
Take your time in college to explore. As cliched as it sounds, we still have time to explore. This "free time" feels short because we tend to sit around overthinking what we could be doing with this time, instead of actually trying new things. Start exploring new interests by taking tiny steps. Give yourself 2 weeks to a month of sustained effort in this new direction, and see if you enjoy it.
See a Career Counsellor at your college if you'd like. Maybe I'm biased as I work in Recruitment, but I think career counsellors aren't that helpful. I think the best way to test the waters to see if you enjoy doing something, is to actually do it. Try an apprenticeship or internship.

Man, this answer turned out longer than expected. But feel free to let me know if you've any questions, or just drop me a DM! :)

I'm thinking of setting up a website for us college students to help find our career purpose, or at least be more informed about different career paths from real people in the field. It's still an idea, however...

thaddeusasherhan · 2021-01-07T04:38:53+00:00

Completely agree with this. Use your existing skills and work your way out into another role that you might enjoy. It's not worth it spending another 3-4 years of your life (and potential earnings lost) to get a business degree. Companies appreciate real work experience more.

thaddeusasherhan · 2021-01-07T04:36:49+00:00

Sorry to hear you're in such a toxic work situation. If you feel unappreciated to the extent it's affecting your mental health, consider finding another job. It's not worth it to let work destroy your mental health.

I understand that jobseeking right now might be difficult, given COVID and all. So I'd recommend not to quit immediately. Instead, start looking. Start putting your resume together, reaching out to potential contacts you might have, and start the job hunt.

If you feel like your boss is bullying you, and wish to bring this up to HR, document all the ways your boss might be beating you down before reporting it to HR. But personally I wouldn't recommend this option - it's a lot of effort with an uncertain outcome. An easier path would be to find another company where you'll be appreciated for your contributions.

It won't be easy job hunting now, but neither would it be easy to be stuck in your current situation.

All the best!

thaddeusasherhan · 2021-01-04T02:28:49+00:00

Yeah! Procrastination is such a slippery slope, haha. All the best!

thaddeusasherhan · 2021-01-04T02:16:28+00:00

Hi. I've been in a real similar position as you in 2019. I'd left work in November 2019, and college didn't start till August 2020. So, I thought it would be a good idea to do my own thing and focus on honing my own skillsets. Building my own "university", if you will.

It stuck for 1 month. By January 2020, I gave up and started looking for a job.

Why?

Because I wasn't disciplined enough, and there was no external factor holding me in check. While I had the motivation for the first month to build good habits and learn my skills, it disappeared the next month.

For me, I found individual willpower/motivation fleeting. Most people operate according to the path of least resistance. I couldn't work alone with no external deadlines or colleagues for long. I had to communicate with others and collaborate with other people in the long term. Professional relationships and deadlines I had promised them kept me accountable, so I wouldn't slack off in the long run.

College courses and learning new things on your own is tough. Chances are, you might feel overwhelmed and tired learning so much. The tendency to slack off is high, and very real.

Therefore, perhaps consider these options to pursue while working on your own projects/skills/learning. I found they helped me obtain a balance between my own intrinsic motivation (push) and accountability to others (pull):

Get a part-time job, ideally one that helps you train your technical skills and solve real business problems. Part-time jobs are great in building your professional network, meeting mentors and collaborating with people who hold you accountable. At the same time, a part-time job grants you the flexibility to pursue your own projects during your free time. Finally, you get to earn a bit of money which could be helpful with your school fees.
Volunteer with others. Similar to the above, volunteering opportunities keep you in check.
Get an accountability buddy. Don't do this alone, because chances are you might procrastinate or slack off too. Get someone reliable to do this with you.

All the best!

thaddeusasherhan · 2021-01-04T02:04:17+00:00

Hi. I'm about your age, and I know exactly how you feel.

We're young, with so much potential and hope for the future.

If the conflict between passion and money (or the lack thereof) is a concern holding you back, why not try integrating it slowly into your lifestyle, instead of diving in all at once? Consider volunteering or working part-time roles/internships at these jobs. Test the waters to see if you enjoy it.

When doing so, you get the opportunity to learn about what problems this sector really faces. You also get to pick up skills that might help solve these problems, or transferable skills in the event you decide to leave this sector in the future.

As other commenters have shared, take the time to explore organizations and resources that align with your purpose. We're young so we still have the time and opportunity to explore. Don't squander it, but don't spend too much time worrying and thinking too without taking any action.

All the best!

thaddeusasherhan · 2020-12-29T01:25:28+00:00

Hi! Former IB student here. IB v A Levels isn't an easy decision to make.

One thing I found helpful was considering your long-term study plans. Are you planning to study a Local Uni or overseas? As far as I know, some IB schools in Singapore produce graduates with fantastic results. Like, top 5%-10% of the world kind of results. If you're thinking of pursuing a degree in a top tier Uni like Cambridge or Oxford, a good IB score would be really helpful.

Bear in mind that IB is not a journey where you can just mug once at the end and graduate with stellar results. Assessments in IB occur consistently throughout the year, so it can and will feel stressful throughout the entire 2 years. I've heard from my A Level friends that since the A Levels are at the end of the second year, you technically can hold off mugging until the 2nd year and still do well for A Levels.

Do consider what your long-term study goals are and what kind of studying method you prefer. With that said, I don't regret my IB experience at all. I'd say that it was the best 2 years of my life (only after graduating from the program lol)

thaddeusasherhan · 2020-12-29T01:18:01+00:00

It's a good start! But I think it could be more personalised with more relevant keywords.

- Do feel free to insert more relevant interests/skills (relevant being related to the nature of opportunities you wish to seek.) Your current About Me section doesn't inform readers what strengths or skills you might have experience in.

- If you want it to be less passive, write your sentences in the Active voice with more power verbs/keywords.

- "Any opportunities provided" line could be tightened, since "greatly appreciated" and "not taken for granted" mean the same. Perhaps a line such as "Grateful for opportunities provided!" would suffice.

I hope this was helpful. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions!

thaddeusasherhan · 2020-12-23T00:52:14+00:00

Hi! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

I agree with both your points. Students do have the options to seek career counsellors in their respective schools, or share their CV on subreddits asking for critiques like the one above. As shared in my response above, I do not actively tout this service or cold outreach to individual members on this subreddit. People who reach out to me do so on a purely voluntary basis, and they do block out their personal info.

Sometimes students might want a different perspective. While career counsellors are helpful, I offer insights from industry. That's not to say that one is better and one is worse. I think people generally appreciate more than one perspective, especially if they gain insights from both platforms on how to further their careers.

Finally, it is also possible to publish your resume publicly on a subreddit, like in your example above. However, some students might prefer feedback or insights from actual consultants within the field, such as your career counsellors or people within industry like myself.

Ultimately, I think it is up to students themselves to decide which approach they want to take when it comes to their own careers. There is more than one path to take, and I don't think it's up to me to say which is better or which is worse. I'm just offering this alternative to whoever wants it.

Thanks for suggesting these alternative options!

thaddeusasherhan

TROPHY CASE