Part 1 – Story 12 Career & Presentation Activation

What kind of career would you like to have in the future?

power systems / renewable energy / meaningful work | I'd like my future career to stay connected with power systems, renewable energy, research or teaching. I'm still weighing up the exact route, but I know I want work that feels technically challenging and meaningful.

Do you have a clear career plan?

clear direction / flexible / options open | I have a fairly clear direction, but I don't want to plan every detail too far in advance. I know the fields I'm interested in, but I'd rather keep my options open until I have more experience.

Would you like to work in the power industry?

yes / practical experience / field of study | Yes, definitely. It's closely related to what I'm studying, and working in the power industry would give me valuable practical experience and help me apply my technical knowledge.

Would you like to pursue postgraduate study?

possibly / master's / research | Yes, it's something I'm seriously considering. If I continue academically, I'd probably pursue a master's degree and stay close to power systems or renewable energy research.

Would you like to become a teacher or lecturer?

yes / university / technical knowledge | Yes, it's one career path I'm seriously considering. I like the idea of returning to university in the future and teaching subjects related to power systems or renewable energy.

Have you ever taught anyone before?

TOEIC / explain language / teaching experience | Yes, I occasionally teach TOEIC, so I've had some experience explaining language points to other people. It made me realise that teaching requires more than simply knowing the answer yourself.

What would you like your life to be like in ten years?

stable career / family / learning | I'd like to have a stable and meaningful career while still having enough time for my family and personal life. I also hope I'll still be learning rather than feeling stuck in one routine.

How important is work-life balance to you?

very important / family / career not everything | It's very important to me. I'm ambitious about my career, but I don't want professional success to come at the cost of my health, family or personal life.

Do you enjoy giving presentations?

yes / know topic / organise ideas | Yes, especially when I know the topic well. I like presentations because they give me a chance to organise my ideas clearly and communicate what I've learned.

Do visual aids help you when presenting?

diagrams / clear slides / technical topics | Yes, especially for technical topics. Diagrams and clear slides make complex ideas easier for the audience to follow, so I try to use visuals rather than putting too much text on the screen.

Do you feel nervous speaking in front of a large audience?

not particularly / practice / international conference | Not particularly. I've had quite a lot of presentation experience at university and even presented at an international conference, so I'm reasonably comfortable in front of an audience.

Have you ever given a presentation in English?

yes / conference / technical topic | Yes. I've presented research in English at an international conference. I was quite comfortable with the prepared part, although the Q&A section was more challenging.

Which is harder for you, presenting or answering questions?

Q&A / spontaneous / technical vocabulary | Definitely answering questions. A prepared talk gives me time to organise the wording, but during Q&A I have to think on my feet and choose technical vocabulary almost immediately.

Have you ever been caught off guard during a presentation?

unexpected question / technical / respond | Yes, especially during technical Q&A. Sometimes a question goes in a direction I didn't expect, so I have to pause, organise my thoughts and respond as clearly as I can.

How do you prepare for a presentation?

structure / slides / rehearse / questions | I usually organise the logic first, prepare clear slides and practise the wording beforehand. I also try to predict difficult questions so I'm better prepared for the Q&A session.

What would you most like to improve about your presentation skills?

spontaneous speaking / active vocabulary / precision | I'd most like to improve my spontaneous speaking during Q&A sessions. I want to expand my active vocabulary so I can articulate technical concepts more precisely and get my point across with less hesitation.

Do you think presentation skills will be useful in your future career?

definitely / engineering / research / teaching | Definitely. Whether I work in industry, research or teaching, I'll need to explain complex ideas clearly, so strong presentation skills will be extremely useful.

Do you prefer a prepared talk or spontaneous speaking?

prepared / more confident / want improve spontaneous | I definitely prefer a prepared talk because I can organise my ideas and wording in advance. That said, I know spontaneous speaking is important, so it's one skill I'm actively trying to improve.