Brian Chye Yeong Thean
Course: Masters of Business Information Systems, 2013
Nationality: Malaysian
Current role: Senior Middleware Consultant, IBM Malaysia
Please tell us about your role in your current organisation.
In a nutshell, I am working as a consultant at IBM Malaysia. I provide expertise in Application and Integration Middleware (AIM) based software products to clients. I am involved in supporting the implementation, application development, and configuration of IBM middleware products. Aside from that, I engage with clients to come up with the best solutions in implementing IBM middleware software in their environment. Other than that, I also perform testing, troubleshooting, and enhancements for clients.
How have your studies helped to prepare you for the working world?
For my Master's degree, Monash has set a strong foundation for me to venture into the IT industry. I came from a business and communication background and had limited knowledge of Information Technology. Studying the Master of Business Information Systems (MBIS) has taught me the foundation and concepts of IT, and helped to expose me to vast topics and issues surrounding the IT industry. This has helped me a lot in the working world as I am now already familiar with the basic concepts and issues pertaining to the technology that I will be working on, which then helps to accelerate my learning to be an expert for that particular technology.
The MBIS qualification has helped a lot in terms of recognition. It helped to open up career paths especially towards large multinational corporations, as they are very keen to hire excellent graduates with a reputable Master's qualification.
Why did you choose to further your studies?
I choose to further my studies because I felt that it would assist me in obtaining a competitive edge in the market by having a Master's degree. At the same time, my interest in the IT field has grown which further encouraged me to pursue a postgraduate course in IT. Moreover, I have always enjoyed learning new things. I reckon Monash’s motto, Ancora Imparo, which means I’m still learning, resonates with me.
What advice would you give to fresh graduates looking for a Master's qualification?
To all fresh young graduates, at this point, I would encourage you to pursue what you love or interest you the most. Without passion, you won’t succeed in pushing yourself to work harder, to learn more, and to go the extra mile. So choose the right course for yourself and also a good institution that would provide the resources you require to obtain a full-fledged Master's qualification.