Chelsea Ann Sim - TeamSG Taekwondo Exponent

Chelsea Ann Sim, TeamSG Athlete (Taekwondo)

Chelsea Ann Sim, TeamSG Athlete (Taekwondo) Graduate, SMU (Business Management) Intern, Deloitte (Clients and Markets Department)

A three-time SEA Games medallist, TeamSG Taekwondo Exponent Chelsea Ann Sim stands as testimony to how the spexCareer initiative benefits both student-athletes and athlete-employees. Having been on both ends of the coin, she is now on her second internship placement via the initiative, her first having been with the Corporate Business division in OSIM International. Currently, Chelsea is interning with the Clients and Markets Department in Deloitte, in view towards full-time conversion.

Fully cognisant of the greater flexibility experienced by student-athletes, Chelsea was slightly apprehensive about transitioning to an athlete-employee fearing that the hours and rigour of a regular office job would cut into her training time and competition opportunities.

Deloitte showed Chelsea that these worries were unfounded through the provision of:

• Understanding partners that provided Chelsea the support she needed to balance work and her sport

• Flexible working hours that allowed her to head to training straight after work

• A competition-friendly leave scheme that catered different tiers of leave according to the level of the competition, including fully-paid special leave for major competitions

Chelsea had previously expressed fears of entering the workforce with the lack of work experience putting her at a disadvantage at hiring. However, both internships have since assured Chelsea of a pathway of continuity and transition post-sports. Without the stress and anxiety of having to search for a job that would accommodate her hectic schedule, Chelsea was thus able to turn her complete focus to her sport, proudly flying the Singapore flag and mounting the podium across two consecutive SEA Games claiming a Gold and a Bronze to her name.