From Numbers to Creative Content: Ratih's Career Journey at Bogor Vocational Training Centre

In a corner of the Bogor City Vocational Training Centre (BLK) in West Java, Ratih Hapsari, 23, sits with focused intensity. Alongside dozens of other participants, the accounting graduate is carefully absorbing every detail presented by the instructors. On this particular day, the atmosphere is slightly different as participants take turns demonstrating their public speaking abilities, a practical effort to overcome self-consciousness both in front of audiences and cameras. Her decision to transition from the world of numbers and accounting logic to the digital creative industry is driven by a significant ambition: to develop a business on the TikTok platform. Ratih shared that she first discovered this free training programme via Instagram. Driven by curiosity and the need for mature digital strategies, she decided to enrol at the Bogor BLK. In an era where tutorials are readily available on mobile screens, Ratih intentionally chose the offline learning route. For her, the social atmosphere and the bonds formed between participants provide added value that cannot be replaced by video streaming. “In my opinion, through offline training, besides learning about content creation, we also learn public speaking and storytelling, so we gain more insights through offline methods. We also get to interact and socialise,” Ratih explained regarding her preference for in-person classes. Ratih’s career path has been dynamic; prior to obtaining her bachelor’s degree, she worked in marketing.