EASYUNI Ultimate University Guide 2013 July Issue | Page 73

Interview Graduate

Arts & Creative

Lim Sing Hooi, 25
Lecturer, Illustration
The One Academy,
Kuala Lumpur

Tell us about your job scope and key responsibilities in
your company.

How different is the real working world compared to
your expectation during your undergraduate years?

I am an illustration course lecturer at The One Academy. My
key responsibilities include guiding, educating and assisting
students to re?ne their foundation in art as well as their skill
sets. Other than that, I’m also in charge of compiling the
basic drawing course.

In the real working life, the working procedures are the same.
Students will realise that the difference between workloads in
the industry and during the course is not big. However, in real
working life we have more responsibilities that we have to
pick up along the way, such as communicating with clients,
selling our job capabilities and managing our time between
various projects.

Tell us about your typical working day.
A typical day involves teaching in class, and within that
duration, interacting with students, to share some of my
experiences as an illustrator in painting, knowledge of art, and
drawing skills. Some days I teach more than one class, but on
most days, only one class. The rest of the day will be spent
re?ning my skills, mostly done digitally.

How well did your undergraduate course prepare you
for your real working life?
First of all, the course structure in The One Academy is perfect
and stable for students to learn and grow. It also prepares
us for real working life, with workloads and deadlines that
we have to meet, similar to what we will face in the industry.
I scored a high distinction during the three years of my
course studies, so I faced no dif?culty transitioning from my
undergraduate course to real working life.

What are the most rewarding and challenging parts of
your work?
My responsibility as a lecturer requires me to prepare well
for my lessons, keeping tabs on my students’ progress, and
structuring lessons accordingly; while lecturing, I need to
be quick on my feet, while being prepared as well as being
spontaneous, thinking of special methods to maintain
students’ interest in my subjects, as well as getting the
important messages through to them. Besides the college
workload, I am blessed to have the opportunity to meet
famous artistes and singers because I need to propose portrait
illustrations for them. So I need to make sure my drawings for
them are true masterpieces.

What is your advice to arts and creative graduates who
a
are joining the workforce soon?
My advice to them is be focused; concentrate on your present
task and be hardworking. Always be fully prepared to face
t
various job scopes that you may need to handle. Besides that,
v
try to learn from each other within the community of artists
t
and never cease upgrading yourself.
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