Imagine having a ready-to-send CV, knowing how to handle a job interview, being familiar with various job-search platforms, and even beginning to explore opportunities to work from anywhere, all before even wearing a graduation gown. This picture is becoming increasingly relevant to student life.
Changes in the world of work mean that career preparation can no longer wait until graduation. Job opportunities now come in various forms, including freelance and remote work, which allow people to work more flexibly without always being tied to an office.
This is the condition that Universitas Terbuka (UT) Makassar addressed through the 2026 Career Center Workshop, themed “Building a Career Without Limits,” held at the UT Makassar Office on Thursday (August 6, 2026).
The activity, organized by the Alumni Empowerment, Career Center, and Employment Placement Unit of Universitas Terbuka, provided a space for students to understand changes in the world of work while equipping themselves with the skills needed before entering the professional world.
One of the topics discussed was “Freelance & Remote Working: Opportunities, Challenges, Skills, and Work Platforms.” Through this session, students were not only introduced to flexible work trends but were also encouraged to explore how these opportunities could become part of their career choices.
The workshop featured Dinda Angkotasan, Senior Customer Success Associate at Kinobi, as the speaker. Students gained insights into identifying their potential, strategies for entering the workforce, preparing a curriculum vitae (CV), job interview techniques, and utilizing various career platforms.
Interestingly, the learning did not stop at the presentation session. Participants also took part in CV improvement exercises, utilized the UT Career Portal, and participated in job interview simulations. Through these activities, students not only learned what needed to be prepared but also had the opportunity to experience firsthand how to navigate the recruitment process.
Director of UT Makassar, Prof. Dr. H. Abdul Rahman Rahim, said that changes in the world of work require university graduates to have a broader set of skills beyond academic abilities. Skills, adaptability, communication, and professional networking are important elements that need to be developed while students are still pursuing their education.
“The world of work is currently developing very dynamically. Therefore, students need to prepare themselves not only academically but also in terms of skills, communication abilities, networking, and an understanding of the various job opportunities available. Through activities such as this workshop, we hope UT Makassar students can gain broader insights and be better prepared to build a career without limits,” said Prof. Abdul Rahman Rahim.
According to him, students also need to make use of the various career development services provided by UT as part of the process of preparing to enter the professional world.
A similar view was expressed by Andi Suci Anita, Manager of Learning, Student Affairs, and Alumni at UT Makassar. She said career preparation should not only begin when students complete their studies.
“Through this activity, we want students not only to have academic competencies but also to be able to recognize their potential, develop their skills, and prepare themselves for various career opportunities in the future. The world of work continues to change, so students need to have strong adaptability and preparedness,” said Andi Suci Anita.
For UT Makassar, work readiness is not merely about how quickly graduates find employment. More importantly, students need to have the courage to recognize their abilities, continue learning, adapt to changes, and identify emerging opportunities.
This spirit is in line with SDG 4 on Quality Education, particularly in promoting lifelong learning opportunities and the development of relevant competencies. At the same time, strengthening students’ work readiness also supports SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth.
Ultimately, “a career without limits” is more than just a slogan. Those boundaries can begin to disappear when students no longer wait for the world of work to come to them, but instead begin preparing themselves to pursue it—even before the doors to graduation open.
