Tea with Muslim Professionals

Every year a Graduates Tea is organised for Muslim folks who graduate from our local polys and Universities. We had tried various formats – speech by the Minister followed by tea and networking, or speech followed by job fair, and – the list goes on.

Yesterday, we tried something different and we think we struck gold. We had the speech of course. But we also brought in successful Muslim people from the people sector, public sector and private sector and made them share their experiences, dreams and “how they made it” with the graduates. The result was powerful – regardless whether the participants gained or not, the organizers sure did.

There were so many learning points that I wished someone had shared with me when I was a fresh graduate – what kind of jobs to look out for, how to not simply get promoted but “leapfrog” by many levels, how to network and behave in a business setting, and how to view your working career in a holistic perspective... such things are priceless when you embark on the new and at times scary world of Working Life.

For me, what made the discussions even more exciting and penetrating were the frequent and rightful references to working in a fast-paced world and balancing our religious obligations.

Example 1 – You’re working in a French MNC, whose senior management socialize and network though social drinking. There’s no way to get into their good books (and get promoted) if you don’t “do as the Romans do”. A Malay-Muslim MD of a French MNC shared with us how he worked up the ladder in just over 10 years – he stuck to Islamic principles. He didn’t drink and worked hard. In fact, the clincher for his promotions was not only his phenomenal working attitude, but his principles in not drinking. The Frenchmen were impressed that a man could say no to a fine wine.

Example 2 – How does one stick to prayer times when there’s a constant stream of work coming at you? The experienced ones shared that firstly, work must not be an excuse to skip prayers – there’s always time to do them. After all, a fard prayer takes about 10 minutes, including time to wudhu. Lunch time is great for zuhr, while just before knocking off is good for asr and/or maghrib.

The discussion of such real issues that we as Muslims have to face daily, really made the event a joy to host and be a part of. The crux of the matter is that being Muslims, we are given the tools to see the world as a vast playing field of opportunities which are defined by the intentions we have of them. As Singaporeans, we are given the knowledge of two languages, and the spirit of hard work and good work ethics.

These qualities are invaluable to propel us to success as professionals in this world, if we work hard for it, and if we have the right intention for it.

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