When it comes to career progression, how important is a master’s degree, really?
To Cheah Wei Ling, the answer is ‘crucially important’. This is a story of how a recent NUS Master of Science (MSc) in Biomedical Engineering graduate secured a role as an instructor at
NUS Cities even before completing her master’s programme.
What’s Wei Ling’s secret to ‘hacking’ her career advancement? Here’s a clue: It’s all about her commitment to lifelong learning, and her willingness to walk the extra mile for additional learning experiences.
The beginnings of a learning mindset
In a sit-down interview with Wei Ling, she fondly shares one of her earliest memories of her ‘constantly learning mindset’. “As a kid, I watched many ‘doctor shows’, like many other children. What was weird though, was that I was never interested in any of the doctors or nurses. Instead, I was always fascinated with the equipment and wanted to learn more about each one!”
Continuing, she says, “Fast forward some years, and here I am – a biomedical engineer who loves learning!” Continuing her studies with a postgraduate degree Prior to embarking on her master’s degree, Wei Ling graduated with an NUS Bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering degree. With a qualification from one of the world’s leading universities in hand, Wei Ling was equipped to begin her career in this exciting and ever-evolving industry.
At this point, the young graduate began speaking with peers who had completed their studies before her and explored the options in front of her – and the choice became clear. While she was well-versed in the generics and fundamentals of biomedical engineering, Wei Ling desired to specialise in the field and expand her technical knowledge. She was also confident that the university’s ‘industry-focused approach’ was the ideal path for real-world skills development.
Maximising learning with two part-time jobs
While waiting for the results of her application to the MSc (Biomedical Engineering) programme, Wei Ling managed to secure a part-time role as a Research Assistant. The position was ideal as Wei Ling aspired to pursue a long-term career in academia, and knew this experience would be invaluable to her future ambitions.
As the saying goes, ‘good things come in pairs’ – Wei Ling was pleasantly surprised when a Teaching Assistant position that she applied for months prior, was offered to her. While she was initially hesitant about taking on a second part-time job during her postgraduate studies, her father’s support encouraged her to take on the role.
Her rationale was well thought out. “If I graduate with a master’s degree, I’ll have an excellent qualification with no working experience. But if I graduate with a master’s and experience in two relevant roles, in one year I’ll have both the qualifications and the experience to land a job I love!”
Thanks to her Teaching Assistant role, Wei Ling had the opportunity to attend the World Cities Summit 2024 as a Student Liaison Officer. In her time there, she got to meet foreign dignitaries, learn the inner workings of international conferences, and more.