As graduation approaches, many university students begin facing uncertainties about their future. Unfinished theses, job-hunting processes, and concerns about life after graduation often become significant challenges for final-year students. However, two students from the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), have proven that career opportunities can be achieved even before graduation day arrives.
Marcel Aditya Pamungkas from the Mathematics Study Program and Kurniawan Chandra Wijaya from the Statistics Study Program successfully secured positions in Bank Mandiri’s Officer Development Program (ODP) before officially graduating. Marcel has joined as an ODP Internal Audit participant, while Chandra is now part of ODP IT Bank Mandiri.
For both of them, the journey toward ODP was far from instant. Marcel began his journey through My Digital Academy, a digital bootcamp program organized by Bank Mandiri. The program continued with an internship at Bank Mandiri’s headquarters in Jakarta, which eventually led him to the ODP pathway.
“At that time, there was a six-week online bootcamp, so during the day I focused on classes and my thesis, while at night I attended the bootcamp,” Marcel explained.
After completing his internship, Marcel shifted his focus back to finishing his undergraduate thesis. His efforts paid off when he officially began his ODP journey in February 2026, several months before his graduation in May 2026.
Meanwhile, Chandra followed a similar pathway through My Digital Academy. He joined the internship program during his sixth semester and continued to the ODP selection process after successfully meeting the expectations throughout his internship period.
Despite coming from different academic backgrounds, both agreed that analytical thinking skills became the main foundation that helped them adapt to the professional world. Marcel believes that mathematics develops structured and logical thinking patterns that are highly valuable in the field of auditing.
“Audit requires logic to connect events from beginning to end accurately,” he said.
On the other hand, Chandra felt that statistics greatly helped him in analytical thinking, data interpretation, and problem-solving. However, he admitted that the biggest challenge came from understanding the highly complex banking business processes.
“So it’s not only about technical skills, but also about understanding the business side and communication,” Chandra remarked.
In addition to academic achievements, organizational and committee experiences also became added values for both of them during the interview process. Marcel was actively involved in various committees throughout his university years, while Chandra also participated in organizations and other non-academic activities. These experiences helped them develop communication skills, teamwork, and the ability to work under pressure.
For students who have not yet gained full-time work experience, both Marcel and Chandra encouraged them not to feel discouraged. Organizational experiences, academic projects, competitions, certifications, and technical skills can still become strong selling points in both CVs and interviews.
The stories of Marcel and Chandra demonstrate that students from the Department of Mathematics have strong opportunities in the industrial sector as long as they continue to develop themselves and dare to pursue new opportunities. They have proven that the analytical skills learned during university can become valuable assets in facing the professional world.
“Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone,” Chandra advised. “Sometimes our abilities are greater than what we expect.”
Meanwhile, Marcel emphasized that mathematics graduates are actually needed in many professional fields.
“Stay confident, and while you are still in university, try learning new skills,” he concluded.
Keywords: Analytical Thinking, Career Journey, ODP Bank Mandiri
Author: Iin Nauli Rahmawati
Photos: Marcel Aditya Pamungkas and Kurniawan Chandra Wijaya