DARYL LAM
Psychology (2025)
PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE AND MAIN RESPONSIBILITES
I will be working at L’Oréal as a People Development & Learning Graduate Trainee. My day-to-day responsibilities include supporting the development and implementation of learning strategies, as well as the activation of ad-hoc learning programmes aligned with the organisation’s objectives. I will also be involved in monitoring and evaluating post-learning feedback from employees for continuous improvement and proposing enhancements where needed.
Additionally, I will help design and manage the communication of learning programmes to drive employee participation, manage the learning KPI dashboard on a quarterly basis and support the preparation of learning reports and data for senior stakeholders. I will oversee the Learning Management System (LMS) and ensure the timely and accurate updating of learning records in collaboration with shared services.
My role will also involve coordinating and communicating with external training vendors to deliver training programmes, managing purchase orders (POs) for internal and external programmes, and ensuring accurate and timely payments. Lastly, I will support the activation and communication of performance management processes and employee engagement surveys.
HOW LONG DID YOU TAKE TO SECURE THE JOB?
I started my job search in January 2025. However, I began to ramp up my applications and job search efforts in February and March 2025. I received my job offer from L’Oréal in early April 2025 after two rounds of interviews conducted over the course of two weeks. This was before my graduation, with my Convocation Ceremony held on 26 July 2025.
WHAT WERE SOME CHALLENGES YOU FACED WHEN LOOKING FOR A JOB AND HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THEM?
My areas of career interest lie specifically in the fields of Talent Acquisition and Talent Development/Learning & Development within Human Resources. I was certain that I preferred joining an MNC environment over the government sector or an SME. However, I realised that for the Talent Acquisition Specialist and Learning & Development Specialist positions I was aiming for, MNCs generally sought candidates with one to three years of experience. As a result, I faced repeated rejections without progressing to any interviews.
Nevertheless, I did not let that discourage me. I continued to persevere with my applications and actively posted on LinkedIn to increase my visibility. Eventually, my efforts paid off when L’Oréal’s Talent Acquisition team reached out to me on LinkedIn with an opportunity, mentioning that my profile was a strong match for what they were looking for and the rest was history.
WHAT ARE SOME STRATEGIES THAT YOU USED TO LAND YOURSELF IN THIS POSITION?
I completed three internships with MNCs during my university years, which provided me with valuable hands-on experience in my areas of career interest. These were opportunities I could not have gained through the standard curriculum of my major. The internships also deepened my understanding of the field, strengthened my interest, and helped me develop relevant hard skills — all of which enhanced my portfolio in the eyes of potential employers.
I also proactively participated in CAO programmes such as NTU PEAK, which gave me the opportunity to learn from experienced industry leaders and work on real-world business challenges in an interdisciplinary team. This experience helped me further develop my leadership and problem-solving skills, expand my professional network and further increase my own visibility on platforms such as LinkedIn.
In addition, I received invaluable advice and guidance from my career coach, who helped me identify and understand my own strengths and interests through our sessions together. Without his guidance, I would have been uncertain about what to do with a Psychology degree.
HOW HAVE CAO HELPED YOU IN YOUR JOB SEARCH SUCCESS?
I participated in several programmes, including LevelUP!, CAO’s structured mentorship programme, Springboard HR group mentoring programme, personal branding workshop, networking workshop, Power BI and Excel Dashboard workshops, as well as the NTU PEAK Leadership Programme. I chose to participate in these programmes because I believe that soft skills are just as important, if not more so, than hard skills in today’s job market. I wanted to enhance my capabilities and improve both the quality and quantity of job opportunities available to me.
I also aimed to increase my visibility and confidence in networking, as these can open doors to many opportunities and allow me to learn from the experiences of industry experts. In addition, I wanted to strengthen my hard skills in data visualisation through Power BI and Excel Dashboard workshops, as these are relevant and valuable skills in my field of career interest.
SHARE TIPS AND ADVICE WITH STUDENTS WHO WILL BE LOOKING FOR JOBS OR INTERNSHIPS.
I would advise fellow students never to be content with fading into the background. Instead, always be proactive in your own self-development. I highly recommend participating in workshops and programmes offered by CAO — not only are they free for students, they also provide invaluable knowledge and skills that help us become more prepared and attractive to potential employers, while increasing our visibility.
I would also encourage students to take up as many internships as possible. Internships provide valuable experience and help you develop key skills related to your career interests. They can also help you discover what you truly enjoy doing if you are still exploring your options. If you are unsure which career path suits you, reach out to your career coach. They can offer eye-opening insights about yourself and guide you in the right direction.