Top students see future with Smart

Many graduating students often find life after college difficult to imagine. Fortunately for some of the country’s top information technology (IT), engineering and statistics students, they had the opportunity to get a glimpse of what life would be like working at the country’s leading wireless services provider, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart).

Smart recently conducted a series of Meet and Greet activities which exposed about a hundred students to the different facets of career life and the endless possibilities with Smart, as shared by former topnotch students who eventually joined the company.

One of the speakers in the Meet and Greet events held at the Jump Experience Center in SM Megamall was Rhea Guntalilib, Smart’s first visually impaired software development analyst.

“My co-workers at the platform services group are very supportive and gracious enough to approach me. They always make sure I get all the assistance I need. It’s a big blessing to be in a learning environment where good working relationships are also possible to establish,” she said.

Michael Padua, Smart head for Internet product management, shared how he was won over by Smart’s invitation to build and re-imagine the digital future of the Philippines.

“The whole industry is changing. Before, it used to be voice and SMS in the Philippines. With the Internet, everything suddenly became global. So what these high flyers will create and build will surely have an impact on people’s lives all over the world. Smart has the opportunities, the resources to give them all the tools they need to think about these things,” he said.

For the statistics students, senior managers Marivic Ampil and Audrey Oliva gave a talk about the importance of consumer research and business analytics to a top company like Smart.

University of the Philippines Diliman student Maynard Jefferson Tong said the reassurance he got from the employees’ talks bolstered his confidence to apply at Smart. “The Meet and Greet allowed me to somehow see the work environment, how the people and the bosses are like. It is reassuring to see that people here are happy. It’s nice to talk to them. They’re very amiable.”

Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University student John Vincent Lorenzo said: “In our school, we have companies that would come and do a one-hour, two-hour talk to promote their company. But Smart even had this whole-day event where they invited some of the employees to talk about how it is to work there. You really get a good picture of what life is with Smart.”

Alfred Lo, head for mobile applications development and engineering, encouraged the students to work in the Philippines. “I see a lot of opportunities and talents that go overseas. It’s time for you to stay here and try to grow your career in your country, and to build good service that can have a big impact on your people.”

Participating in the Smart activity were students from UP Diliman, Ateneo, Adamson University, Asia Pacific College, De La Salle University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, University of Makati, University of Santo Tomas, and University of the East.