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Pursuing Skills outside the Scope of Your Scholarship

Tue, 08/11/2015 Chai Fook Tien
Pursuing Skills outside the Scope of Your Scholarship When pursuing a scholarship, you may question the value of learning skills that are unrelated to your scholarship. It is difficult to justify spending time on something that seems superfluous after all. However, there is lots to gain by pursuing skills outside of the scope of your scholarship, so don't be too quick to dismiss the notion.

Holistic development

More often than not, scholarship providers will be more inclined to sponsor candidates with well-rounded sets of skills. Organisations are searching for talent that can step outside the bounds of their core skills in order to add greater value to the company. For example, an artist who demonstrates an understanding of the business aspect of their craft will be looked at favourably by scholarship providers.

Future-Proofing Yourself

Technology is constantly changing the way we work, so you cannot just rely on what you know now if you wish to remain relevant in the future. You will need to pursue new skills to keep pace with the advancements pertinent to your field. Don't limit your job prospects. Make it a priority to obtain the skills you need so that you can retain your value in the future.

As bleak as it seems, you must consider the possibility of your scholarship not working out for you as well - you might just realise that the job scope of your scholarship is just something that you are not interested in doing long-term. So it's definitely a good idea to take up skills in other fields just so that you will have more options after you finish your bond.

Laying the Foundation for an Even Better Career

Remember that you are still being assessed even after receiving your scholarship. By pursuing new skills, you will show your scholarship provider that you are constantly seeking to upgrade yourself. Scholars who demonstrate the passion for self-improvement will find that their career prospects are better than those who don't.

You will also discover that more opportunities open up when you develop yourself in areas outside of your normal job scope. For example, you might be given an overseas posting if you've learnt the country's language.

Personal Satisfaction

When it comes to learning new things, there really is no better reason to do so other than your own desire. Take up something you are interested in doing - whether it's diving, art, another language, film-making, basically anything that suits your fancy. You should be pursuing a new skill because you are truly interested in it. Use the time you are spending on these external interests as a way to unwind after a hectic day of studying or working.

At the end of the day, you shouldn't be using your scholarship as an excuse to limit yourself. Don't shy away from new things, and always look for new ways to develop and grow as a person.
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