On 11th June, 2013, Royal Thimphu College held its first alumni event, Meet the Alumni, organized by the Alumni Office and the Career Development Office. The following 10 students from the first graduating class of 2012 were invited to speak to the prospective graduates about their experiences in securing a position after college.
- Dechen Zam (BCOM), Assistant Finance Officer, Bhutan Power Corporation
- Kinley Nidup (BCA), Senior Software Developer, ChiliQuest Technology
- Karma Phuntsho (BCA), Software Developer, ChiliQuest Technology
- Rinzin Dema(PS/SOC), Assistant Program Officer, Royal Textile Academy
- Karma Wangmo (BCA), Publicity Officer/Social Worker, Ability Bhutan Society
- Sigay Phub (ENG/DZO), Teacher, Dr. Tobgyel School
- Tshering Wangmo (ENG/DZO), Teacher, Nima Higher Secondary School
- Dorji Wangchuk (ENG/EVS), Community Coordinator, Read Bhutan
- Karma Yangzom (ECO/ENG), Post Graduate Diploma, Public Administration, RIM
- Kuenga Peljor (PS/SOC), Alumni Intern, RTC
The event was held in the Executive Center with Dean Dr. Shivaraj Bhattarai inaugurating the meeting with a welcome speech, which was followed by a brief introduction of RTC alumni opportunities by Alumni Intern Kuenga Peljor.
Each of the alumni presented their experiences, and several of them mentioned that college life is much easier than work life, because in college, one has ample time to spend with friends and can choose their activities. On the contrary, once in a job, there are always deadlines, and there is always an authority. They also mentioned that student life wasn’t always easy at RTC, but that they are grateful for all the pressure they endured and hard work they did. They stated that they realize now that those things are what prepared them for the outside world.
The advice that the graduates had for the upcoming graduates was to be informed about current affairs, and to watch the local and international news on a daily basis to be aware of opportunities as well as to increase your general knowledge. One of the alumni said, “Formal education is over when you finish college, but informal education continues for the rest of your life, so never stay idle and always do something productive with your time; don’t get distracted by failure, and always stay motivated because hard work will eventually and inevitably prevail.”
Lastly, when they spoke about seeking jobs, they emphasized how important Career Skills class is and how it makes a major difference when you are on your own in the work world. Also, how important it is to have an excellent, error-free CV and cover letter, and to thoroughly research , the organization and the post for which you are applying, in order to be able to convince the interviewers that you are the perfect candidate for the post. Finally, there were several touching messages about how their time in RTC was one of the best chapters of their lives, and that they are grateful to have emerged as successful citizens with knowledge, wisdom and memories.
The closing speech was delivered by Registrar Aum Nim Dem, who offered guidance and insight to the 2013 graduating students, and welcomed them to come back next year to speak to the 2014 grads. Certificates of Appreciation were then awarded to the presenters with many thanks for their excellent speeches.
The RTC Career Development Center provides services particularly to seniors, by offering workshops and conducting semester-long and year-long Career Skills classes focusing on Resume Writing, Cover Letters, Job Search Strategies and other competencies. An annual Career Fair for all RTC students is also convened. The RTC Career Development Center is staffed by Arun Khanal, Career Development Officer, and Career Skills classes are co-taught with Associate Professor Nancy Hunter.