Next Gen Career Readiness Seminar: Preparing UPJ Students for the Working World While Still in College

Bintaro, South Tangerang, June 20, 2025 – Universitas Pembangunan Jaya (UPJ) convened a seminar entitled Next Gen Career Readiness: Ready to Lead and Work from the Lecture Hall on Monday, June 16, at Theater 1, 4th Floor, Building A. The event, accessible to all UPJ students, featured Dr. Mohamad Zein Saleh, S.H., M.M.—a lecturer in the Management Program and seasoned industry practitioner with over two decades of professional experience—as the keynote speaker.

The seminar was designed to provide students with both strategic insights and motivational guidance to initiate career planning prior to graduation. Under the theme "Ready to Lead and Work from College," the program underscored the significance of proactive career development, whether through entrepreneurial endeavors or corporate engagement, while emphasizing the cultivation of soft skills and extracurricular involvement during one’s academic journey.

In his opening address, the Head of the Student Affairs and Alumni Office, Dr. Ronald M.P. Silalahi, S.S., M.Hum., stressed the urgency of early career preparation. He encouraged students to envision their professional trajectories and begin building relevant competencies. “Given today’s increasingly competitive labor market, students must equip themselves with soft skills and practical exposure while still enrolled,” he remarked. Dr. Silalahi also extended his appreciation to the organizing committee, comprising interns from the Jaya Career Center.

In his keynote presentation, Dr. Zein asserted that a sustainable career is not established instantaneously. He emphasized the importance of deliberate effort and early initiative, advocating for student engagement through campus organizations, co-curricular units, and internships. “Begin with small, intentional steps—start with yourself, and start today. Do not wait for ideal conditions,” he advised.

Dr. Zein delineated two primary professional trajectories available to students: entrepreneurship and formal employment. He illustrated this point with a case study of a UPJ student who launched a small-scale business selling pre-owned handbags, leveraging social media platforms to grow her enterprise. Motivated by financial independence, her success exemplifies how entrepreneurial ambition can be nurtured even during university life.

For students pursuing corporate careers, Dr. Zein highlighted that employability depends not only on academic credentials but also on a repertoire of interpersonal and leadership skills, which can be developed through active participation in campus-based initiatives.

Overall, the seminar constituted a strategic platform for fostering students’ readiness to transition into the workforce. Through the perspectives and inspiration provided by the speakers, the event aspires to cultivate a generation of UPJ graduates who are not only competitive and resilient but also visionary and socially impactful.

Author: Intan Rahmawati | Editor: Muhammad Amas