Briefly describe your current graduate role and how you are finding it?
I’m currently working as a consultant at Mercer, a global leader in human resources
consulting, based in the Jakarta office. I had the privilege of starting full-time employment
immediately after completing my studies, which has been both exciting and rewardingly
challenging.
Throughout my studies, I’ve always had a profound interest in HR, which led me to serve as
president of the UoB HR Society, take multiple HR-focused classes, and write my
dissertation on organisational change. While my academic background gave me a solid
foundation, stepping into the professional world has been eye-opening. It’s one thing to study
HR, and another to see its impact in real life. Although a large part of my day involves data
analysis and crunching numbers, I find it incredibly fulfilling to know that my work
contributes to improving employees’ wellbeing and makes me an even stronger believer in
the importance of investing in people.
What is the biggest mistake you have made since graduating and what have you
learnt from it?
Being the youngest person in the entire office was intimidating at first. After four years at
university surrounded by peers in the same stage of life, I found myself comparing my
performance to colleagues with years more experience. I was hard on myself for taking
longer to complete tasks, making mistakes, or needing more time to understand certain
concepts. Classic imposter syndrome moment!
Over time, I reframed this mindset. Instead of viewing the experience gap as a disadvantage, I
now see it as a valuable opportunity to learn from those around me. I feel fortunate to work
alongside some of the industry’s brightest minds at such an early stage in my career. I treat
my colleagues as mentors, ask lots of questions, and absorb as much knowledge as possible.
This approach has accelerated my learning and made the workplace far less intimidating,
strengthened by the open and collaborative culture I’m very fortunate to be part of.
What was your top moment during your time at University?
Hard to name just one, as I had the best time at the University of Birmingham. But one thing that stands out was working with the Guild of Students and the Birmingham Business School Careers team to reboot the HR Society and serve as president. From scouting the core committee, planning events throughout the year, finding members who were as passionate about HR as I am, to connecting with industry experts, it was such a rewarding journey. Honestly though, the best part was becoming close friends with my fellow committee members, who I now see as some of the best friends I’ve made at university. So if I were to give one piece of advice to current students, it would be to join committee groups because truly, you get so much out of it.
How did you find returning to your home country to work after graduation and
do you have any advice for other graduates doing the same?
At first, returning home felt a little disorienting as I had grown so accustomed to life in the
UK. But truly, there is nowhere like home. The familiar taste of food, the warmth of being
close to family and friends, all reminded me that this is where home is. My time abroad gave
me a unique perspective to bring into the workplace: the international exposure, the global
network, and case studies from all over the world have helped me contribute more
meaningfully.
My advice for other graduates is to stay connected with what’s happening back home while
you’re still at UoB. Keep reading local news, connect with people on LinkedIn, maintain
relationships through online coffee chats, and continue building your network. This way, the
transition feels less like starting over and more like bringing home an expanded version of
yourself. I’ll always carry a piece of Birmingham with me, and the lessons I learned there
will keep shaping my work for years to come.
What is the best advice you have been given?
A mentor once told me to never limit myself to boxes. We often get stuck defining ourselves
by what we think we can and can’t do, what we’re good at and not so good at, what we like
and dislike. But life isn’t meant to be lived in those boundaries. If you’re presented with new
opportunities, be brave enough to take the leap and at least try. Don’t say you can’t do
something when you haven’t even given it a shot, you might surprise yourself! We’re often
far more capable than the limits we place on ourselves.
Don’t limit your challenges; challenge your limits