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Taking on diverse careers with agility
Two NTU alumni applied their university education to help them successfully follow non-linear career paths. Accountancy graduate Vikna Rajah pivoted into a successful tax lawyer, while Goh Hui Ting leverages her science background to the media industry.
By Nur Isyana Isaman
Non-linear career paths are gaining traction among Singapore professionals, according to a LinkedIn survey in 2023, with seven in 10 saying they will choose a different industry or job role in their next career move.
Two alumni share how they pivoted in their roles with their educational foundation and their advice on taking a different career trajectory.
Vikna Rajah: Perseverance pays off
NTU alumnus Vikna Rajah (NBS/2003) pivoted his career from accountancy to tax law early in his career. Gifted in mathematics, he chose to pursue accountancy at Nanyang Business School.
While studying courses on company law and tax regulations, the desire to specialise in tax law grew on him and he decided to read law in the UK.
The 44-year-old is now an Executive Management Committee Partner and Head of the Tax, Trust and Private Wealth Practices at Rajah & Tann – one of Singapore’s “Big Four” law firms.
“I would not be able to do excel in what I do today without the solid foundation I acquired at NTU. The accounting and finance concepts that I learnt allow me to better analyse a client’s financial situation and the commercial aspects of structuring transactions,” said Vikna.
In today’s evolving commercial landcape, he says adaptability and resilience are crucial for young graduates to thrive in their careers. He advises them to recognise their strengths and determine their goals first, rather than jumping right into the workforce.
Vikna also serves as the Chairman of the International Fiscal Association (IFA) Singapore, a non-governmental international organisation focusing on tax matters.
Vikna Rajah won in the Impact Case of the Year category during the International Tax Review Asia-Pacific Tax Awards 2023.
He was only 38 when he started his current role as Head of the Tax, Trust and Private Wealth Practices, making his mark as one of the youngest lawyers to take on a leadership role in the law firm.
When he first joined Rajah & Tann a decade ago, he had no clients. Before joining the firm, he worked for Singapore’s public tax agency, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).
“I gave up to 24 talks a year as a way of reaching out to potential clients. I also found that the best way to get more work is to do exceptional work for existing clients. With the support of my partners and clients, it took me about one to two years to build a stable practice,” he said, adding that it also took resilience for him to persevere through the occasional 16-hour workdays.
Goh Hui Ting: From microscopes to microphones
Goh Hui Ting (SBS/2019) has done well academically and is always curious about new phenomena. Her curiosity led her to pursue biological science studies at NTU where she excelled, graduating with First Class Honours from the prestigious CN Yang Scholars Programme.
She was also awarded the CN Yang Residential Mentor Award for her outstanding research performance.
However, after graduation, while her peers entered the science field, she chose a distinctively different path by joining the media industry as a multimedia producer.
“I realised I like writing and working with people over doing lab research,” said Hui Ting.
She applied for a one-year media apprenticeship as an assistant producer at a Singapore production company, where she learnt videography and script writing skills.
The agility and diverse soft skills she picked up in university proved useful.
“I took writing courses as part of the CN Yang Scholars Programme which helped me in my script writing at work. Media production involves many parties which is where I apply project management skills learnt in school. In the media industry, I get to meet people from all backgrounds and I appreciate this a lot – I thrive on gaining new knowledge from interacting with people from all walks of life,” said Hui Ting.
Her first major production was a science documentary series centred around humans learning from nature. The 28-year-old recalled, “Besides sourcing interviewees and planning shoots, I also had to read scientific research papers. And because of my biological science education, this came easier to me than the other assistant producers.”
Hui Ting (right) was the score reader, part of the live video team for a symphony concert featuring music from a popular game, Genshin Impact, held in Singapore last year.
She now works as a producer at a local video agency, Poco Productions, serving the arts and culture sector for the last three years.
As a young producer, Hui Ting focuses on celebrating small wins. She is most proud of a video that she produced and directed for a music group’s volunteering programme.
After filming the group performing at a nursing home and interviewing some residents about the music performance, she developed a five-minute video on how music impacts the life of a particular elderly resident.
“My day brightened when multiple viewers commented that they were moved by the video, and the message of treasuring what you have was shared to a wider audience through my work. Work fulfilment and amassing different worldviews keeps me going,” said Hui Ting.
