Malaysia's 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

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Th em os t st pop ud u en lar ts gra an d d g uat ra e e du m at plo es y in ers Ma a lay s vo sia te db y

MOST POPULAR

ADVICE & TIPS

GRADUATES

EMPLOYERS BY SECTOR

FROM INDUSTRY LEADERS

RATE THEIR WORKING LIVES

PP15789/01/2013(031347)

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12th edition

Advertorial

JUAN ARANOLS

Chief Executive Officer Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad

Nestlé Committed to Uplifting 200,000 Malaysians Impacted

by COVID-19

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Responding to COVID-19 in line with our purpose The world today is vastly different from what it was a year ago. The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has had global repercussions, affecting the lives of billions of people.

As the largest food and beverages company in Malaysia, we want to focus our resources and act as a force for good. In response to this crisis, we committed resources and investment with the aim of uplifting the livelihoods of 200,000 Malaysians impacted by the pandemic.

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 1

Advertorial

Bringing relief to frontliners and vulnerable communities through Nestlé Cares In our first phase to provide immediate relief, through Nestlé Cares, we teamed up with the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS), answering the call of #responsMalaysia. Our RM1 million contribution was utilised for critical upgrades of emergency medical equipment in MRCS ambulances.

To provide vulnerable communities with much-needed sustenance, we also donated 10,000 Nestlé family food packs worth RM600,000, distributed via MRCS and partner NGO networks nationwide. In addition, via Yayasan Food Bank Malaysia, we channelled over RM500,000 worth of food and beverage products to hospitals to support our medical frontliners, as well as to quarantine centres and university students. Overall, these efforts saw a total contribution of more than RM2 million from Nestlé.

#SkuadKebaikan MILO® delivering nutritious offerings to communities in-need Providing a platform for Malaysians to contribute to a good cause, MILO® launched the ‘Goodness Squad’ campaign in partnership with Shopee. The campaign enabled shoppers to purchase #SkuadKebaikan MILO® bundle packs to be distributed to seven beneficiaries nationwide. We also donated proceeds from sales of MILO® products to contribute additional Nestlé products to these beneficiaries.

Supporting vulnerable communities through our brands Through our brands such as MAGGI®, and MILO®, we have been able to provide nourishment to underprivileged communities, as well as the brave frontliners who have been working tirelessly in the nation’s fight against the pandemic.

MAGGI® Bubur Lambuk for the Underserved We distributed over 120,000 bowls of MAGGI® bubur lambuk along with 20,000 Nestlé food and beverage packs, to nourish B40 families, students and underprivileged communities, as well as frontliners.

2 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

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Advertorial

Promoting youth employment

Evolving Ways of Working

As the world grapples with high unemployment as a result of COVID-19, the risk is even higher for youths, as a generation of talent stands to be left behind. To help prevent this, Nestlé firmly believes that upskilling and ensuring continuous learning opportunities for youth is all the more crucial to increase employability.

Our NESCAFÉ® Youth Entrepreneurship Programme provides university students with the change to gain “real world” business experience. Through the programme, the students manage fullyequipped NESCAFÉ® Pop-Up Stores at their campuses, learning key learnings such as supply chain management, marketing and sales.

An average of 185 young graduates are hired into our Nestlé Management Trainee and Internship programmes every year.

Throughout the Movement Control Order, we continued to reach out and engage with youths on future employment opportunities. We embarked on new and innovative platforms to engage with potential candidates through online webinars and virtual career fairs with organisations such as GTI Media’s Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers (M100), Seeds, Talentbank, Lazada and GRADUAN. Alongside this, we are actively promoting opportunities for young talents through our social media career pages including a new initiative – Nestlé Virtual Internship & Apprenticeship programme that aims to prepare youth for employment opportunities in the future.

During the Movement Control Order, we had also seen the feasibility of continuing to run the business while working remotely from home.

In Nestlé, we took this opportunity to adapt progressively and start creating a more flexible work environment for our office-based employees.

This includes adopting a flexible seating arrangement with strict Clean Desk policies in place, which enables employees to choose different workstation locations, in addition to providing equipment and amenities to facilitate better Working-At-Home arrangements for staff – including Skype-enabled phone calls, audio and microphone headsets, as well as ergonomic chairs and tables. Nestlé has also provided employees with the option of working from home for several days in a week where required.

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Towards a Brighter Future There is no question that COVID-19 has had a profound impact, bringing about complex challenges. Despite this current situation, we believe that together, we will be able to weather through this.

Guided as ever by our purpose, Nestlé strives to do our part in helping Malaysians through these tough times, in order to contribute to creating a brighter future for all.

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 3

Table of Contents

Contents SECTION 1

Behind the survey page 7 How are the rankings formed?.........................................................8 Sector Awards....................................................................................10 gradmalaysia Graduate Recruitment Awards................................12 The most popular graduate employers of 2019............................14

SECTION 2

By the numbers page 21 The survey by the numbers............................................................ 22

SECTION 3

The top employers by career sectors page 27 Accounting & Professional Services ..............................................28 Automotive ....................................................................................... 30 Banking & Financial Services .........................................................32 BPO & Shared Services ....................................................................34 Broadcasting & Media .................................................................... 36 Chemicals & Heavy Industries ...................................................... 38 Consulting ........................................................................................ 40 Education ......................................................................................... 42 Electronics ....................................................................................... 44 Energy/Oil & Gas/Utilities ............................................................... 46 FMCG ................................................................................................. 48 Government-Linked Companies (GLC) ......................................... 50 IT .........................................................................................................52 Insurance ..........................................................................................54 Leisure, Travel & Hospitality .......................................................... 56 Pharmaceutical ............................................................................... 58 Property & Construction ................................................................ 60 Retail ..................................................................................................62 Telecommunications ........................................................................64

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malaysias100.com

Table of Contents

SECTION 4

SECTION 7

Employer showcase page 67

Working life explained page 117

AmBank Group.................................................................................. 68 EY........................................................................................................70 KPMG..................................................................................................72 Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank).............................................74 OCBC Bank.........................................................................................76 PwC Malaysia.....................................................................................78

AIA Shared Services Sdn Bhd.........................................................118 Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad.....................................................119 Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad.........................................................120 AmBank (M) Berhad...................................................................... 122 Gamuda Land...................................................................................123 EY......................................................................................................124 ICAEW...............................................................................................126 KPMG Malaysia................................................................................127 Nestlé Malaysia...............................................................................128 OCBC Bank.......................................................................................129 Maybank.......................................................................................... 130 Pharmaniaga Berhad......................................................................132 Samsung Malaysia Electronics.....................................................135 PwC Malaysia.................................................................................. 136 TDCX (MY) Sdn. Bhd....................................................................... 138 Top Glove Corporation Berhad........................................................139

SECTION 5

Learning from leaders page 83 AIA Shared Services Sdn Bhd...........................................................84 Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad.......................................................85 AmBank (M) Berhad........................................................................ 86 Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad...........................................................87 Evonik Malaysia Sdn Bhd................................................................ 88 EY....................................................................................................... 89 Gamuda Berhad................................................................................ 90 KPMG Malaysia..................................................................................91 Maybank............................................................................................ 92 Nestlé Malaysia.................................................................................93 OCBC Bank........................................................................................ 94 Pharmaniaga Logistics Sdn Bhd.................................................... 95 PwC Malaysia.................................................................................... 96 Samsung Malaysia Electronics.......................................................97 TDCX (MY) Sdn. Bhd......................................................................... 98 Top Glove Corporation Berhad......................................................... 99

SECTION 6

What employers want page 101 AIA Shared Services Sdn Bhd........................................................ 102 Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad.................................................... 103 AmBank (M) Berhad...................................................................... 104 Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad........................................................ 105 EY..................................................................................................... 106 Gamuda Berhad.............................................................................. 107 KPMG............................................................................................... 108 Maybank.......................................................................................... 109 Nestlé Malaysia...............................................................................110 OCBC Bank.......................................................................................111 PwC Malaysia...................................................................................112 Samsung Malaysia Electronics.....................................................113 TDCX (MY) Sdn. Bhd........................................................................114 Top Glove Corporation Berhad........................................................115

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SECTION 8

A-Z of recruiters page 141 AIA Shared Services....................................................................... 142 Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad.................................................... 144 AmBank Group................................................................................ 146 Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad........................................................ 148 Evonik Malaysia Sdn Bhd.............................................................. 150 EY..................................................................................................... 152 Gamuda Berhad...............................................................................154 Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad...................... 156 ICAEW Malaysia.............................................................................. 158 KPMG............................................................................................... 160 KVC Industrial Supplies Sdn. Bhd..................................................162 Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank).......................................... 164 Managament and Science University.......................................... 166 Nestlé Malaysia Sdn Bhd.............................................................. 168 OCBC Bank (M) Berhad...................................................................170 Pharmaniaga Berhad......................................................................172 PwC Malaysia...................................................................................174 Samsung Malaysia Electronics (SME) Sdn. Bhd. ........................176 TDCX (MY) Sdn. Bhd........................................................................178 Top Glove Corporation Berhad....................................................... 180

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 5

Table of Contents

Editor Jaideep Patel Editorial Benny Razali, Shiffa Aziz, Jasmine Mun Designer Fatin Shahar Design & production Anis Amsham, Daryl Lu Web Alicia Leong, Rajaletchumi A/P Subramaniam Business development Jason Ng, Vivien Chai, Simon Ang, Yee Wai Ying, Tasha Yap, Arni Rozman, Sarah Suhaiman Client support Ezzati Jamal, Amirah Azrain, Hanisah Hashim, Siti Noroaini

ADVERTISER INDEX AIA Shared Services................................................................................... [143] Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad................................................................ [145] AmBank Group...................................................................................................SI Evonik Malaysia Sdn Bhd.......................................................................... [151] EY......................................................................................................................IFC Gamuda Berhad..........................................................................................[155] Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad......................................157 ICAEW Malaysia..........................................................................................[159] KPMG........................................................................................................... [161] KVC Industrial Supplies Sdn Bhd.............................................................. [163] Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank).............................................................SI Management and Science University (MSU).......................................... [167] Nestlé Malaysia Sdn Bhd........................................................................[1,2,3] OCBC Bank (M) Berhad.....................................................................................SI Pharmaniaga Berhad........................................................................................SI PwC Malaysia................................................................................................. OBC Samsung Malaysia Electronics (SME) Sdn. Bhd. ................................... [177] TDCX (MY) Sdn. Bhd................................................................................... [179] Top Glove Corporation Berhad................................................................... [181] [] = Advertisement; IFC = Inside front cover; IBC = Inside back cover OBC = Outside back cover; SI = Special insert

ABOUT GROUP GTI The world’s largest graduate careers media and research business Group GTI is committed to providing multimedia solutions for clients in education and graduate careers.

Founded in 1988, the company has steadily expanded from its Oxfordshire, UK, base to operate from offices all over the globe, including Ireland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Malaysia and Singapore.

Worldwide, GTI publishes more than 100 careers products. In the UK, GTI’s major brands are TARGETjobs, TARGETcourses and TARGETchances; in Ireland, GTI is the official careers publisher for all universities with the gradireland range of products; in Germany, GTI operates as Staufenbiel – the most respected name for graduate careers information in the country. In addition, GTI is the publishing partner for more than 30 of the finest universities and business schools in Europe and Asia through its Careers Guides. GTI also helps clients measure the performance of their employer brand and provides strategies to improve it through trendence, Europe’s leading employer branding research company, that has extended the trendence Graduate Barometer series to Asia.

GTI Asia officially opened in Malaysia in October 2000 as the regional office for Asia Pacific. We are committed to providing students and graduates in the region with the right information at the right time and offering our clients the widest reach possible. In Malaysia, this is done through the brand gradmalaysia publications and careers website, gradmalaysia.com.

6 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Marketing & events Alfred Leo, Karen Lim, Izzaty Syahirah Administration Jessie Loh, Loke Mei Shuen, Linda Lee, Nicole Lei Human Resources Tan Swee Sun Publisher Jaideep Patel Published by GTI Media Sdn Bhd P-7-12, Street Mall One South, Jalan OS, Taman Serdang Perdana, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor Darul Ehsan Malaysia Correspondence PO Box 111, Pejabat Pos Seri Kembangan, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor D E Malaysia tel +(603) 8953 0055 fax +(603) 8953 0066 email malaysias100@gtimedia.asia UK office tel +44 (0) 1491 826 262

fax +44 (0) 1491 833 146

Singapore office tel +(65) 6294 6505

fax +(65) 6294 1043

Printer Atlas Cetak (M) Sdn Bhd No. 2, Persiaran Industri, 52200 Bandar Sri Damansara, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur © GTI Media Sdn Bhd 2020 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means including, but not limited to, photocopying or storage in a retrieval system in any form without prior written consent of GTI. The views expressed in the articles are those of authors and their publication does not necessarily imply that such views are shared by GTI. Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this publication, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, or for consequential loss arising from such inaccuracies, or for any loss, direct or consequential, arising in connection with information in this publication.

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S E C T I O N

1

BEHIND THE SURVEY Let's take a very quick look at the inner workings of the gradmalaysia Malaysia's 100 Leading Graduate Employers in 2019!

Behind the survey

How are the rankings formed?

Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers is the largest and longest-running study on graduate recruitment trends in Malaysia. Here’s a quick look at how the rankings are formed.

SURVEYS COMPLETED

44,906 RESPONDENTS Respondents completed 36,207 surveys in 2018

The Research Since 2008, Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers has been on a mission to obtain honest insights into the career goals and jobseeking habits of the country’s students and graduates through a nationwide research initiative.

The research, in the form of a survey, is conducted throughout a fieldphase that takes place from January to September each year.

Students are prompted to do an online version of the survey as promoted on GTI Media websites and social media platforms including gradmalaysia.com or given a printed version at career events such as the Mega Careers & Study Fair (careersandstudy.com).

8 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

However, unlike most employer brand surveys, respondents are first asked which sector they are interested to work in. After that, they are asked to select their preferred companies from a list of graduate employers.

While it takes the students just 15 minutes to complete the survey, the sheer amount of responses provides a high degree of accuracy, as well as meaningful conclusions on student preferences, ethics and values. More importantly, it pushes them to make decisions on their future careers at an early stage.

malaysias100.com

Behind the survey

The Awards Night The leading graduate employers of the nation were gathered at W Hotel, Kuala Lumpur to celebrate the results and their triumph at the 12th edition of the Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers Awards Ceremony.

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Ir Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir, Ketua Pengarah Pendidikan Tinggi, Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia graced the event along with Mr Isaac Hee, Managing Director of GTI Media in celebrating the victors.

In 2019, the Malaysia’s 100 ranking was formed by responses gathered from 44,906 students and fresh graduates from various universities nationwide, including both private and public institutions of higher learning.

malaysias100.com

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 9

Behind the survey

2019

Sector Awards Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers recognises the most outstanding graduate employers across 19 key industry sectors in the country.

ACCOUNTING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

2ND RUNNER-UP

AUTOMOTIVE

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

2ND RUNNER-UP

BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

Sector awards sponsored by ICAEW

BPO & SHARED SERVICES

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

2ND RUNNER-UP

CONSULTING

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

2ND RUNNER-UP

2ND RUNNER-UP

Sector awards sponsored by INCEIF

BROADCASTING & MEDIA

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

2ND RUNNER-UP

EDUCATION

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

10 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

2ND RUNNER-UP

CHEMICALS & HEAVY INDUSTRIES

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

2ND RUNNER-UP

ELECTRONICS

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

2ND RUNNER-UP

malaysias100.com

Behind the survey

ENERGY/OIL & GAS/UTILITIES

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

2ND RUNNER-UP

SECTOR WINNER

2ND RUNNER-UP

PHARMACEUTICAL

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

2ND RUNNER-UP

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

malaysias100.com

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

2ND RUNNER-UP

INSURANCE

IT

1ST RUNNER-UP

GOVERNMENT-LINKED COMPANIES (GLC)

FMCG

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

2ND RUNNER-UP

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

2ND RUNNER-UP

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

2ND RUNNER-UP

LEISURE, TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

2ND RUNNER-UP

RETAIL

SECTOR WINNER

1ST RUNNER-UP

2ND RUNNER-UP

BEST NEWCOMER

FASTEST MOVING

SECTOR WINNER

SECTOR WINNER

2ND RUNNER-UP

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 11

Behind the survey

Graduate Recruitment Awards 2019

gradmalaysia Graduate Recruitment Awards gradmalaysia Graduate Recruitment Awards seek to acknowledge the most effective career services centres across Malaysian universities, both public and private. It also aims to identify the best-designed internship and graduate training programmes offered by employers in the country.

CAREER CENTRE OF THE YEAR (PUBLIC UNIVERSITY)

WINNER

WINNER

Awards 2019 CAREER CENTRE OF THE YEAR (PUBLIC UNIVERSITY)

FINALIST

FINALIST

CAREER CENTRE OF THE YEAR (PRIVATE UNIVERSITY)

WINNER

WINNER

Awards 2019 CAREER CENTRE OF THE YEAR (PRIVATE UNIVERSITY)

12 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

FINALIST

FINALIST

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Behind the survey

BEST GRADUATE TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

WINNER

WINNER

Awards 2019 BEST GRADUATE TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

FINALIST

FINALIST

BEST INTERNSHIP PR0GRAMME

WINNER

WINNER

Awards 2019 BEST INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

FINALIST

FINALIST

All gradmalaysia Graduate Recruitment Awards entries are reviewed and scored by an independent panel of external judges.

Judging Panel for ‘Career Centre of The Year (Public University)’ and ‘Career Centre of the Year (Private University)’ categories:

Judging Panel for ‘Best Internship Programme’ and ‘Best Graduate Training & Development Programme’ categories:

Adziim Khaidir (Director of Incoming Global Talent, AIESEC)

Amy Gonsalviz (CEO, TAPRO Recruitment & Training Agency)

Bavani Periasamy (President, Malaysian Association of Professional Speakers)

Datin Dr Raja Mazuin binti Raja Abdul Aziz (Vice President II, Malaysian English Language Teaching Association [MELTA])

Devendran Sinnadurai (Strategic Advisor, EPIC)

Ida Thien (Co-Founder and Lead, Closing The Gap) Loh Ken Ming (Head of Talent Acquisition, Teach For Malaysia) Lim Ee Lin (VP, Program Development & Strategy, Impact Malaysia) Raee Yeoh (Senior Associate, Talent Acquisition, Teach for Malaysia)

Koh Mui Han (Managing Partner/Principal Consultant, ChangeDynamics) Muhammad Khairul Amir Fadzalih (Assistant Vice President, Stakeholder Management, Impact Malaysia) Sunil Hasmukharay (President, Malaysian Association of Professional Trainers and Coaches)

All information is correct at time of printing

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gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 13

Behind the survey

THE MOST POPULAR GRADUATE EMPLOYERS OF 2019 – TOP 10

The following is a quick guide to key employers who ranked Top 10 in gradmalaysia Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019 BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES WINNER

1ST

Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank) Internship applications accepted: Yes Job applications accepted: Yes

WINNER

GRADUATE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES

2019

2019

Ranking 2018: 1ST

2019

See pg 164

ENERGY/OIL & GAS/UTILITIES

2

ND

PETRONAS Internship applications accepted: Yes Job applications accepted: Yes

WINNER

WINNER

GRADUATE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

FIRST RUNNER-UP

ENERGY/OIL & GAS/ UTILITIES

2019

2019

2019

Ranking 2018: 4TH

ACCOUNTING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONSULTING

3

RD

EY Internship applications accepted: Yes Job applications accepted: Yes

WINNER

WINNER

GRADUATE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

SECOND RUNNER-UP

ACCOUNTING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

CONSULTING

2019

2019

2019

WINNER

Ranking 2018: 3RD

2019

See pg 152

ACCOUNTING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONSULTING FIRST RUNNER-UP ACCOUNTING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

4

TH

PwC Malaysia Internship applications accepted: Yes Job applications accepted: Yes

2019

FIRST RUNNER-UP CONSULTING

2019

Ranking 2018: 2ND

14 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

2019

See pg 174

malaysias100.com

Behind the survey

LEISURE, TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY WINNER LEISURE, TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY

AirAsia Internship applications accepted: Yes Job applications accepted: Yes

5

TH

2019

2019

Ranking 2018: 7TH

LEISURE, TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY FIRST RUNNER-UP LEISURE, TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY

Malaysia Airlines Internship applications accepted: Yes Job applications accepted: Yes

6

TH

2019

2019

Ranking 2018: 9TH

ACCOUNTING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONSULTING SECOND RUNNER-UP ACCOUNTING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

KPMG Internship applications accepted: Yes Job applications accepted: Yes

7

TH

2019

SECOND RUNNER-UP CONSULTING

2019

Ranking 2018: 6TH

2019

See pg 160

ACCOUNTING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONSULTING Deloitte Internship applications accepted: Yes Job applications accepted: Yes

8

TH

2019

Ranking 2018: 5TH

FMCG WINNER FMCG

9TH

Nestlé Malaysia Internship applications accepted: Yes Job applications accepted: Yes

2019

Ranking 2018: 8TH

2019

See pg 168

GOVERNMENT-LINKED COMPANIES (GLC) WINNER

10

TH

Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) Internship applications accepted: Yes Job applications accepted: Yes

WINNER

GOVERNMENT-LINKED COMPANIES (GLC)

FASTEST MOVING

2019

2019

2019

Ranking 2018: 79TH

malaysias100.com

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 15

Behind the survey

The most popular graduate employers of 2019 Employer

Sector(s)

Employer

Sector(s)

1

1st

Banking & Financial Services

11

1st

2

1st

Energy/Oil & Gas/Utilities

12

1st IT

1st

Accounting & Professional Services Consulting

13

2nd Banking & Financial Services

1st

14

3rd Banking & Financial Services

3

Chemicals & Heavy Industries

4

2nd Accounting & Professional Services

5

1st

Leisure, Travel & Hospitality

15

1st

Broadcasting & Media

6

2nd Leisure, Travel & Hospitality

16

Banking & Financial Services

17

2nd IT

18

2nd Government-Linked Companies (GLC)

1st FMCG

19

1st Automotive

1st

20

7

8 9

10

2nd Consulting

3rd

Accounting & Professional Services

3rd

Consulting

Accounting & Professional Services

Consulting

Government-Linked Companies (GLC)

16 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

3rd Leisure, Travel & Hospitality

Banking & Financial Services

malaysias100.com

Behind the survey

LEGEND Rank Up vs. 2018 Rank Down vs. 2018 Same Rank vs. 2018 New Entry in 2019

Employer

Sector(s)

Employer

Sector(s)

21

2nd Energy/Oil & Gas/Utilities

31

Leisure, Travel & Hospitality

1st

Property & Construction

22

1st

Electronics

32

Banking & Financial Services

23

2nd Electronics 1st Retail

33

Banking & Financial Services

24

3rd Energy/Oil & Gas/Utilities

34

Accounting & Professional Services

Energy/Oil & Gas/Utilities

25

Banking & Financial Services

3rd Government-Linked Companies (GLC)

35

Government-Linked Companies (GLC)

26

1st

BPO & Shared Services

36

2nd Property & Construction

27

2nd BPO & Shared Services

37

Government-Linked Companies (GLC)

28

Consulting

38

3rd

29

2nd Automotive

39

30

1st Insurance

40

malaysias100.com

Property & Construction

3rd Electronics 2nd Retail

3rd Retail

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 17

Behind the survey

Employer

Sector(s)

Employer

Sector(s)

41

Government-Linked Companies (GLC)

51

3rd

42

1st Telecommunications

52

Government-Linked Companies (GLC)

43

1st Pharmaceutical

53

Leisure, Travel & Hospitality

Property & Construction

44

54

2nd Broadcasting & Media

45

Energy/Oil & Gas/Utilities

3rd BPO & Shared Services 2nd FMCG

55

Automotive

Banking & Financial Services

2nd Pharmaceutical

46

3rd FMCG

56

Retail

47

Government-Linked Companies (GLC)

57

2nd Telecommunications

48

Retail

58

Automotive

49

Energy/Oil & Gas/Utilities

59

50

Property & Construction

60

18 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Retail 3rd IT

Banking & Financial Services

malaysias100.com

Behind the survey

LEGEND Rank Up vs. 2018 Rank Down vs. 2018 Same Rank vs. 2018 New Entry in 2019

Employer

Sector(s)

Employer

Sector(s)

61

Retail

71

Property & Construction

62

2nd Chemicals & Heavy Industries

72

Energy/Oil & Gas/Utilities

63

3rd Pharmaceutical

73

FMCG

64

74

Banking & Financial Services

65

3rd Chemicals & Heavy Industries

75

Other

66

3rd Telecommunications

76

Electronics

67

77

2nd Insurance

68

IT

78

69

Consulting

79

70

IT

80

malaysias100.com

Banking & Financial Services

Chemicals & Heavy Industries

Retail

Banking & Financial Services

Electronics

Banking & Financial Services

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 19

Behind the survey TURN TO PAGE 141 for more information on Malaysia’s top graduate employers and the opportunities they have to offer to students and graduates.

Employer

Sector(s)

81

Automotive

82

83

84

Employer

Sector(s)

91

Property & Construction

Banking & Financial Services

92

1st

Education

Chemical & Heavy Industries

93

Retail

Consulting

94

Property & Construction

85

Leisure, Travel & Hospitality

95

Property & Construction

86

Leisure, Travel & Hospitality

Property & Construction

96

Property & Construction

87

Retail

97

Chemicals & Heavy Industries

88

FMCG

98

Automotive

89

Electronics

99

3rd Insurance

90

Property & Construction

20 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

100

Banking & Financial Services

malaysias100.com

S E C T I O N

2

BY THE NUMBERS What do graduates who took the Malaysia’s 100 Survey expect of their first jobs and employers in 2019? You’ll find a breakdown of some interesting recruitment trends right here!

Behind the survey

The Survey By The Numbers Here are some of the most interesting findings on local student and graduate job-hunting preferences from this year’s Malaysia’s 100 Survey!

SURVEY FIELDPHASE

MAIN SUBJECTS OF STUDY (top 5 subjects only)

50.6%

January

TO

September 2019 15.8%

7.9%

GENDER

36.9% 63.1%

3.8%

3.4%

Business/Management (Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Management, etc) Engineering (Electrical/Electronics, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Industrial, etc) IT and Technology Mathematical Science/Statistics/ Actuarial Science Natural Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth Sciences, etc)

SURVEYS COMPLETED

44,906 RESPONDENTS Respondents completed 36,207 surveys in 2018

22 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

malaysias100.com

Behind the survey

NATIONALITY Malaysian

97.1%

Non-Malaysian

2.9%

CAREER SECTORS OF INTEREST

START OF FIRST YEAR AT UNIVERSITY

2015

67.8% Business-related (Accounting, F&B, Finance, HR, Management, Marketing, Media, etc)

2019

2018

2016

2017

40.2% 21.7%

3.O%

32.2% Science & Technology-related (Architecture, Biology, Construction, Engineering, IT, Life Sciences, Medicine, etc)

FORMAL INTERNSHIPS

(with employers/professional organisations)

42.0%

Yes, more than 1 internship

malaysias100.com

22.6%

12.5%

BINDING JOB OFFER OR CONTRACT (from employers/professional organisations)

28.1% Yes

Yes, 1 internship

7.2%

OR EARLIER

50.8%

71.9% No

No

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 23

Behind the survey

EXPECTED STARTING SALARY IN FIRST JOB

RM2,868

PER DAY IN FIRST JOB

8.5 hours

Respondents expected to earn RM2,792 in 2018 Respondents were prepared to work 8.4 hours in 2018

MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS (for choosing first job)

94.6%

Stability and reputation of company Accessibility to place of work

5.4% 8.4%

91.6%

Success of company within its industry

90.5%

Monetary benefits (allowances, bonus, etc)

88.6%

Salary

86.4%

9.5% 11.4% 13.6%

83.0%

Non-monetary benefits (annual trips, insurance, etc) Digital presence of company (online, social media, etc)

17.0%

76.3%

Years in operation (number of years company has been active)

23.7%

69.7%

Type (global company vs local company)

30.3%

66.4%

Industry (private sector vs public sector)

62.7%

Size of company (number of staff and/or branches) Cool job titles

60.2% 42.4%

Important

33.6% 37.3% 39.8% 57.6%

Not Important

CGPA

(estimated or actual)

34.7%

3.50-4.00/Above average achievement Up from 33.3% in 2018

48.3%

3.00-3.49/Average achievement Down from 49.8% in 2018

17.0%

2.99 and lower/Below average achievement Up from 16.8% in 2018

24 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

malaysias100.com

Behind the survey

EXPERIENCES IN UNIVERSITY (of at least 3 months’ in length) 89.1%

70.9%

70.2%

65.7% 34.3%

58.3%

41.7%

29.8% 29.1%

Yes

No

Work, study or voluntary activities in a foreign country

Yes

10.9%

No

Yes

Social activities (eg. social societies, charities, religious groups, NGOs)

No

Political activities (eg. political parties, lobbying or special interest groups)

APPLICATIONS

Yes

Work experience unrelated to my course

Yes

No

Work experience related to my course

EXPECTED YEAR OF GRADUATION

(expected to be sent before landing first job)

14

29.9%

Applications

22.5%

26.7% 12.9%

Respondents were prepared to send 15 applications in 2018

Already graduated

malaysias100.com

No

2019

2020

2021

6.5%

2022

1.5%

2023 OR LATER

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 25

L A T I G I D S R E E R A C A MEG R I A F Y D U & ST 0

02 2 V O N PT - 30

1 SE

F S A C #M

Register now at

www.mcasf.com

S E C T I O N

3

THE TOP EMPLOYERS BY CAREER SECTORS Most graduates would prefer to work in specific sectors, so this section reveals the most popular employers by sector. We also identify key differences between the aspirations and behaviours of students interested in these sectors.

Accounting & Professional Services............................. 28 Automotive..................................................................... 30 Banking & Financial Services........................................ 32 BPO & Shared Services.................................................. 34 Broadcasting & Media.................................................... 36 Chemicals & Heavy Industries...................................... 38 Consulting...................................................................... 40 Education....................................................................... 42 Electronics..................................................................... 44 Energy/Oil & Gas/Utilities............................................. 46 FMCG.............................................................................. 48 Government-Linked Companies (GLC).......................... 50 IT .................................................................................... 52 Insurance....................................................................... 54 Leisure, Travel & Hospitality......................................... 56 Pharmaceutical.............................................................. 58 Property & Construction................................................ 60 Retail.............................................................................. 62 Telecommunications...................................................... 64

Inside Malaysia’s 100

+ 9 8 35 4 91 6 4 + 9 5 21 4 54 6 4

ACCOUNTING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

Sector awards sponsored by ICAEW

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

21

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

1.3% 0.9%

When did you start university?

When are you expected to graduate?

2017 2020

28 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Business/ Management

92.6%

0.8% 0.6%

Economics Mathematical Science/ Statistics IT and Technology

Engineering malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

49.5

60.1%

HOURS PER WEEK

No. I have not undergone any internships

26.5%

5.2%

34.7%

Yes! More than 1 internship

Yes! 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

73.5% YES

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

54.7%

NO

25.7% 74.3% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

16 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES

27.4%

NO malaysias100.com

72.6%

NO

45.3%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

64.4%

NO

35.6%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,948 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,919) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 29

ACCOUNTING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

Inside Malaysia’s 100

AUTOMOTIVE

We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

23

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

49.2% 11.0% 9.4%

When did you start university?

When are you expected to graduate?

2017 2020

30 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

3.7% 3.2%

Business/ Management Natural Science Engineering

Medicine, Dentistry and related subjects Architecture, Building and Planning malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

43.5

52.3%

HOURS PER WEEK

No. I have not undergone any internships

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

26.3%

5.9%

Yes! More than 1 internship

Yes! 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

73.7% YES

NO

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

60.2%

NO

22.9% 77.1% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

13 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES NO malaysias100.com

36.9% 63.1%

39.8%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES NO

78.0% 22.0%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,813 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,618) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 31

AUTOMOTIVE

41.8%

Inside Malaysia’s 100

BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES

We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

Sector awards sponsored by INCEIF

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

23

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

68.0% 5.0% 4.9%

When did you start university?

When are you expected to graduate?

2017 2020

32 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

4.6% 2.9%

Business/ Management Mathematical Science/ Statistics Economics

IT and Technology Engineering malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

50

57.7%

HOURS PER WEEK

No. I have not undergone any internships

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

29.9%

5.8%

Yes! More than 1 internship

Yes! 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

70.1% YES

NO

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

56.2%

NO

30.1% 69.9% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

12 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES NO malaysias100.com

32.8% 67.2%

43.8%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

68.0%

NO

32.0%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,633 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,534) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 33

BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES

36.5%

Inside Malaysia’s 100

BPO & SHARED SERVICES We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

25

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

44.3% 10.7% 10.4%

When did you start university?

When are you expected to graduate?

2017 2020

34 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

8.3% 5.5%

Business/ Management Natural Science

Mathematical Science/ Statistics/Actuarial Science Medicine, Dentistry and related subjects

IT and Technology malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

47.5

53.1%

HOURS PER WEEK

Yes! 1 internship

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

41.4%

8.9%

Yes! More than 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

58.6% YES

NO

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

64.9%

NO

61.8% 38.2% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

17 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES NO malaysias100.com

33.4% 66.6%

35.1%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

68.3%

NO

31.7%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,927 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,839) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 35

BPO & SHARED SERVICES

38.0%

No. I have not undergone any internships

Inside Malaysia’s 100

BROADCASTING & MEDIA We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

23

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

13.6% 9.2%

When did you start university?

2017

When are you expected to graduate?

2020

36 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Business/ Management

36.9%

7.4% 5.7%

Media IT and Technology Creative Arts & Design

Languages, Literature and Classics malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

43.5

60.2%

HOURS PER WEEK

No. I have not undergone any internships

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

26.0%

4.6%

Yes! More than 1 internship

Yes! 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

74.0% YES

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

59.8%

NO

30.1% 69.9% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

18 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES NO malaysias100.com

34.5% 65.5%

NO

40.2%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES NO

72.7% 27.3%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,438 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,377) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 37

BROADC A STING & MEDIA

35.2%

Inside Malaysia’s 100

CHEMICALS & HEAVY INDUSTRIES We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

23

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

47.2% 19.9% 12.4%

When did you start university?

2017

When are you expected to graduate?

2020

38 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

1.2% 1.1%

Engineering Business/Management Natural Science

Economics Creative Arts and Design malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

44.5

66.7%

HOURS PER WEEK

Yes! 1 internship

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

28.8%

12.3%

Yes! More than 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

71.2% YES

NO

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

69.7%

NO

27.0% 73.0% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

16 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES NO malaysias100.com

38.8% 61.2%

30.3%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES NO

74.5% 25.5%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,748 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,610) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 39

CHEMIC ALS & HE AV Y INDUSTRIES

21.0%

No. I have not undergone any internships

Inside Malaysia’s 100

CONSULTING We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

22

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

88.6% 2.9% 2.6%

When did you start university?

2017

When are you expected to graduate?

2020

40 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

2.4% 0.8%

Business/ Management Mathematical Science/ Statistics Economics

IT and Technology Engineering malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

50.5

65.9%

HOURS PER WEEK

No. I have not undergone any internships

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

28.9%

5.5%

Yes! More than 1 internship

Yes! 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

71.1% YES

NO

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

46.7%

NO

21.2% 78.8% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

14 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES

24.3%

NO malaysias100.com

75.7%

53.3%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

66.4%

NO

33.6%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,810 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,795) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 41

CONSULTING

28.6%

Inside Malaysia’s 100

EDUCATION We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

25

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

14.5% 14.5%

When did you start university?

2017

When are you expected to graduate?

2020

42 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Business/ Management

31.3%

7.2% 7.2%

Education Medicine, Dentistry and related subjects Engineering

IT and Technology malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

43

53.8%

HOURS PER WEEK

No. I have not undergone any internships

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

30.1%

7.7%

Yes! More than 1 internship

Yes! 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

69.9% YES

NO

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

67.1%

NO

37.8% 62.2% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

18 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES NO malaysias100.com

36.5% 63.5%

32.9%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

81.8%

NO

18.2%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,778 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,548) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 43

EDUC ATION

38.5%

Inside Malaysia’s 100

ELECTRONICS We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

23

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

62.7% 16.3% 9.2%

When did you start university?

2017

When are you expected to graduate?

2020

44 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

2.6% 1.3%

Engineering Business/Management IT and Technology

Natural Science Languages, Literature and Classics malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

44

63.6%

HOURS PER WEEK

Yes! 1 internship

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

26.7%

16.2%

Yes! More than 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

73.3% YES

NO

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES NO

14.9% 85.1% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

18 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES

29.7%

NO malaysias100.com

70.3%

76.2% 23.8%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES NO

76.9% 23.1%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,576 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,568) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 45

ELECTRONICS

20.2%

No. I have not undergone any internships

Inside Malaysia’s 100

ENERGY/OIL & GAS/UTILITIES We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

23

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

31.9% 7.8%

When did you start university?

2017

When are you expected to graduate?

2020

46 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Business/ Management

36.3%

5.0% 2.4%

Engineering IT and Technology Natural Science

Economics malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

42.5

48.4%

HOURS PER WEEK

Yes! 1 internship

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

24.8%

7.2%

Yes! More than 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

75.2% YES

NO

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

61.6%

NO

23.4% 76.6% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

14 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES NO malaysias100.com

39.0% 61.0%

38.4%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES NO

72.7% 27.3%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,918 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,693) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 47

ENERGY/OIL & GA S/UTILITIES

44.4%

No. I have not undergone any internships

Inside Malaysia’s 100

FMCG

We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

23

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

44.8% 11.1% 10.7%

When did you start university?

2017

When are you expected to graduate?

2020

48 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

3.3% 2.9%

Business/ Management Engineering Natural Science

Mathematical Science/ Statistics/Actuarial Science Medicine, Dentistry and related subjects malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

42

50.7%

HOURS PER WEEK

No. I have not undergone any internships

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

28.5%

7.1%

Yes! More than 1 internship

Yes! 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

71.5% YES

NO

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

59.0%

NO

24.9% 75.1% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

15 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES NO malaysias100.com

33.4% 66.6%

41.0%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES NO

75.8% FMCG

42.2%

24.2%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,786 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,632) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 49

Inside Malaysia’s 100

GOVERNMENTLINKED COMPANIES (GLC) We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

24

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

58.2% 14.2% 6.3%

When did you start university?

2017

When are you expected to graduate?

2020

50 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

4.4% 2.8%

Engineering Business/Management IT and Technology

Architecture, Building and Planning Natural Science malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

50

70.6%

HOURS PER WEEK

Yes! 1 internship

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

39.3%

8.2%

Yes! More than 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

60.7% YES

NO

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

61.6%

NO

43.6% 56.4% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

15 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES NO malaysias100.com

42.8% 57.2%

38.4%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

59.9%

NO

40.1%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,572 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,395) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 51

GOVERNMENT-LINKED COMPANIES (GLC)

21.2%

No. I have not undergone any internships

Inside Malaysia’s 100

IT

We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

23

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

58.2% 14.2% 6.3%

When did you start university?

2017

When are you expected to graduate?

2020

52 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

4.4% 2.8%

Engineering Business/Management IT and Technology

Architecture, Building and Planning Natural Science malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

50

70.6%

HOURS PER WEEK

Yes! 1 internship

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

21.2%

39.3%

8.2%

No. I have not undergone any internships

Yes! More than 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

60.7% YES

NO

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

61.6%

NO

HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

18 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES NO malaysias100.com

42.8% 57.2%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

59.9%

NO

40.1% IT

43.6% 56.4%

38.4%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,793 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,637) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 53

Inside Malaysia’s 100

INSURANCE

We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

22

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

69.6% 23.9% 1.4%

When did you start university?

2017

When are you expected to graduate?

2020

54 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

0.7% 0.7%

Mathematical Science/ Statistics/Actuarial Science Business/Management IT and Technology

Education/Teaching Economics malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

42

78.3%

HOURS PER WEEK

No. I have not undergone any internships

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

22.1%

0.7%

Yes! More than 1 internship

Yes! 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

77.9% YES

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

28.8%

NO

13.5% 86.5% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

9 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES

25.2%

NO malaysias100.com

74.5%

NO

71.2%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES NO

78.2% 21.8%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,776 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,661) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 55

INSURANCE

21.0%

Inside Malaysia’s 100

LEISURE, TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

23

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

54.7% 10.2%

IT and Technology

8.9% When did you start university?

2017

When are you expected to graduate?

2020

56 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

2.7% 2.7%

Business/ Management

Engineering Mathematical Science/ Statistics/Actuarial Science

Media malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

42.5

58.2%

HOURS PER WEEK

No. I have not undergone any internships

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

29.4%

0.1%

Yes! More than 1 internship

Yes! 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

70.6% YES

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

57.3%

NO

26.1% 73.9% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

13 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES NO malaysias100.com

35.2% 64.8%

NO

42.7%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

69.7%

NO

30.3%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,535 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,594) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 57

LEISURE, TRAVEL & HOSPITALIT Y

41.7%

Inside Malaysia’s 100

PHARMACEUTICAL We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

24

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

30.4% 18.6% 18.2%

When did you start university?

2017

When are you expected to graduate?

2020

58 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

7.9% 1.6%

Natural Science Business/Management Medicine, Dentistry and related subjects

Engineering Geography and Environmental Science malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

47

59.7%

HOURS PER WEEK

Yes! 1 internship

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

25.7%

9.7%

Yes! More than 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

74.3% YES

NO

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

68.1%

NO

37.7% 62.3% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

15 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES NO malaysias100.com

31.1% 68.9%

31.9%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

65.7%

NO

34.3%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,770 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,727) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 59

PHARMACEUTIC AL

30.6%

No. I have not undergone any internships

Inside Malaysia’s 100

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

22

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

13.7% 7.5%

When did you start university?

2017

When are you expected to graduate?

2020

60 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Business/ Management

52.4%

4.0% 4.0%

Engineering Architecture, Building and Planning Mathematical Science/ Statistics/Actuarial Science

Psychology malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

42.5

62.7%

HOURS PER WEEK

No. I have not undergone any internships

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

31.9%

5.0%

Yes! More than 1 internship

Yes! 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

68.1% YES

NO

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

59.1%

NO

17.7% 82.3% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

18 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES

27.6%

NO malaysias100.com

72.4%

40.9%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES NO

71.7% 28.3%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,986 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,800) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 61

PROPERT Y & CONSTRUCTION

32.3%

Inside Malaysia’s 100

RETAIL We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

22

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

56.2% 7.9% 6.8%

When did you start university?

2017

When are you expected to graduate?

2020

62 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

4.0% 3.4%

Business/ Management IT and Technology Engineering

Architecture, Building and Planning Creative Arts and Design malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

43.5

70.9%

HOURS PER WEEK

No. I have not undergone any internships

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

35.0%

3.8%

Yes! More than 1 internship

Yes! 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

65.0% YES

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

56.7%

NO

33.5% 66.5% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

11 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES NO malaysias100.com

45.0% 55.0%

NO

43.3%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

16.7%

NO

83.3%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,551 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,530) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 63

RETAIL

25.3%

Inside Malaysia’s 100

TELECOMMUNICATIONS We take a closer look at the students and graduates who want to work within this sector.

SECTOR WINNER FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HOW OLD ARE YOU?

23

WHAT COURSE ARE YOU STUDYING?

(Top 5 responses only)

YEARS OLD STUDY LEVEL

29.5%

IT and Technology

17.0% When did you start university?

2017

When are you expected to graduate?

2020

64 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Business/ Management

33.3%

3.9% 2.3%

Engineering Economics

Media malaysias100.com

Inside Malaysia’s 100

HAVE YOU EVER UNDERGONE A FORMAL INTERNSHIP WITH AN EMPLOYER?

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

48

51.6%

HOURS PER WEEK

No. I have not undergone any internships

DO YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

30.1%

7.1%

Yes! More than 1 internship

Yes! 1 internship

HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED A JOB OFFER?

69.9% YES

NO

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

54.0%

NO

41.1% 58.9% HOW MANY APPLICATIONS ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEND OUT BEFORE LANDING YOUR FIRST JOB?

14 Applications HAVE YOU STUDIED, WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED OVERSEAS?

YES NO malaysias100.com

36.3% 63.7%

46.0%

DO YOU HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE* NOT RELATED TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY?

YES

71.0%

NO

29.0%

*Minimum duration of 3 months

HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO EARN IN YOUR FIRST JOB?

RM2,695 PER MONTH

(Previous average was RM2,450) gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 65

TELECOMMUNIC ATIONS

41.3%

O

OUR Y T E

FR

OPY EE C

AT

G

AR W.C W W

M Y.CO TUD S D AN EERS

S E C T I O N

4

EMPLOYER SHOWCASE What drives the nation’s best graduate employers? How is it like to work with them?

Flip the page and find out!

AmBank Group................................................................ 68 EY................................................................................... 70 KPMG.............................................................................. 72 Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank).............................74 OCBC Bank...................................................................... 76 PwC Malaysia................................................................. 78

Employer showcase

AmBank Group JOHN CHIN Senior Manager, Human Resources

W

hy does the M100 matter to your organisation?

We strongly believe M100 is one of the right platforms for us to feature our progressively growing and evolving organisation in the right light to the right individuals who aspire to be part of our journey and family. Thus, it is important for us to collaborate with M100 to help us to strategise in reinforcing our brand presence and being recognised as one of the top graduate employers in the industry.

In doing so, this recognition will help us to attract new highly potential young talents into the organisation.

WE VALUE PEOPLE WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT TAKING NEW CHALLENGES AND EXPLORING NEW FRONTIERS.

How does your organisation remain relevant as a top-of-mind employer amongst students? How do you communicate your organisation’s EVPs to such a young audience?

At AmBank Group, we take pride in creating work environments that enable our multigenerational and diverse employees to be at their best every single day. We continuously listen and act on our young talents’ needs by ensuring that our 18-month AmGraduate Management Trainee programme is agile and adaptive.

We work our best to promote our organisation’s EVP values through our employees’ testimonials during talent networking events and also by sharing our company culture through our company video. That shows other than being collaborative, we recognise talent by creating the opportunities to grow, providing attractive benefits, building up leadership skills and many more.

68 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

In short, AmBank Group certainly believes in the importance of a fine balance between attractive employee’s benefits with a healthy work-life integration.

Speaking in terms of career progression and benefits, what can a fresh grad hire expect when they walk into your organisation’s doors?

We find it crucial to identify, nurture and motivate young talents whilst they are with us. Being a well recognised organisation, we place great attention in equipping our people with the right skills, whilst ensuring that we offer attractive benefits that are parallel to the current market’s practice. To us, managing the young talents’ expectation is equally as important as creating the awareness in their minds, that we value people who are passionate about taking new challenges and exploring new frontiers.

malaysias100.com

Employer showcase

WE BELIEVE THAT YOUNG GRADUATES SHOULD HAVE STRONG FUNDAMENTALS TO ALWAYS STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE. We believe that young graduates should have strong fundamentals to always strive for excellence. Hence, our continuous efforts in creating the right platform to develop and groom our young graduates’ interpersonal and technical skills to be future leaders of tomorrow.

What are your organisation’s ambitions for the M100 in 2020?

We aspire to associate our brand as one of the AmBank Group financial institutions that focuses on building Internship applications accepted: Yes long-term plans for our young talents by Job applications accepted: Yes providing extensive experience and skill sets that are beneficial for their career growth, regardless of the field that they are in. At the same time, we aim to continue building a strong employer branding and improve our current ranking whilst working towards being an employer of choice in the banking industry.

What are the main challenges you face as a graduate recruiter in Malaysia?

How do you strive to overcome them?

With the emergence of new jobs in new spaces, we recognise that the appeal of our industry remains with a small, but steadfast group of young graduates. This is coupled with opportunities made available today that enable high levels of mobility.

It is therefore crucial for AmBank Group to identify, nurture and motivate young graduates whilst they are with us. What is equally important is our role in developing their talents. The interventions, knowledge, skills and experiences imparted to our talents, such as risk, financial, customer management and people management, allow us to build on the necessary skills required in our nation-building goals.

malaysias100.com

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 69

Employer showcase

EY

W

hy does the M100 matter to your organisation?

The M100 award is a recognition that helps us attract new talents to our organisation. This is particularly important as we want our people to feel a deep sense of pride in working for a recognised top graduate employer.

Through M100, we are also able to benchmark ourselves in terms of how we are performing as we continue to strive to be a leading graduate employer in Malaysia.

WE NEED TALENTS WHO ARE CREATIVE, CURIOUS AND ADAPTABLE, WITH EFFECTIVE PROBLEMSOLVING SKILLS AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE.

How does your organisation remain relevant as a top-of-mind employer amongst students? How do you communicate your organisation’s EVPs to such a young audience?

Our promise is focused on the “exceptional EY experience”. That’s why we continuously empower our young talents to be intentional about their careers, to seek out the experiences that will help them bring out the best in themselves and others.

The experiences they can have at EY – and the perspectives, skillsets and mindsets that these experiences deliver – are the keys to helping them become the leaders they want to be; the leaders that we, our clients, and our society, need.

As a professional services organisation, learning and knowledge are important to us. We place great emphasis

70 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

on equipping our people with skills, competencies and experiences that are relevant, future-focused, and valuable to their career growth. That’s why we strive to provide the opportunities to help make these experiences a reality for everyone in EY, every day.

malaysias100.com

Employer showcase

Speaking in terms of career progression and benefits, what can a fresh grad hire expect when they walk into your organisation’s doors?

At EY, we pride ourselves on having a collaborative environment and an inclusive culture. We have a friendly work environment, with highly approachable and supportive colleagues and leaders.

We empower our people to take on early responsibility and encourage them to seek new challenges. We assign them challenging and meaningful work that helps develop their skills and knowledge. We expose them to a wide variety of experiences that allow them to learn and progress more quickly.

We also provide our people with a clear career continuum and the opportunity for career development and advancement.

Fresh grads can expect to receive comprehensive training programmes that are structured around experiences, learning and coaching. All these are designed to help them create and succeed in careers that match their ambitions and life goals.

As a highly integrated global organisation, we have mobility programmes that are open to our highest-performing people. They can experience working with people from different countries and cultures as part of their everyday job.

EY is also focused on the health and wellbeing of its people and has various programmes dedicated to maintaining good wellbeing. Our MYWellbeing initiative covers physical and mental health, flexibility programmes, and family and community

activities to help our people balance their work and personal responsibilities.

The knowledge, skills and experience that our people gain equip them to take on new or added responsibilities. All these, together with the relationships and networks that they build while in EY, last a lifetime. This is the exceptional EY experience that will remain with them even after they leave EY and that will contribute towards their professional and personal success.

WINNER GRADUATE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

SECOND RUNNER-UP

2019

What are the main challenges you face as a graduate recruiter in Malaysia?

How do you strive to overcome them?

In this age of technology disruption, we need talents who are agile and who possess an innovative mindset, besides technical skills and digital know-how. We need talents who are creative, curious and adaptable, with effective problem-solving skills and emotional intelligence. However, finding talents with such qualities and skills locally is a great challenge.

To try to overcome these challenges, we work closely with universities to host workshops, training programmes, lectures and sharing sessions with the students, where we stress the importance of investing in life-long learning, and in regularly acquiring and using new knowledge and skills to stay relevant.

What are your organisation’s ambitions for the M100 in 2020?

WINNER ACCOUNTING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

2019

WINNER CONSULTING

2019

We aim to continuously raise the bar and to lead as an employer of choice.

EY Internship applications accepted: Yes Job applications accepted: Yes

malaysias100.com

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 71

Employer showcase

KPMG MONSY SIEW Executive Director – People, Performance and Culture

W

hy does the M100 matter to your organisation?

M100 brings us closer to our vision of being The Clear Choice for Malaysian talents. Being featured as one of the leading graduate employers in M100 helps to attract a large number of outstanding candidates to our talent pool, which supplements our frequent hiring process significantly.

Additionally, being listed for the M100 awards will further motivate our employees and helps us retain our talented workforce.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WANT OUR TALENTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR POSITIVE CAREER GROWTH IS ALWAYS PREVALENT IN KPMG.

This is important for our organisation as satisfied and engaged employees translate to positive growth for the company.

How does your organisation remain relevant as a top-of-mind employer amongst students? How do you communicate your organisation’s EVPs to such a young audience?

We place a lot of emphasis on branding efforts by working closely with professional bodies, universities and students through career preparatory events like technical and non-technical workshops, guest lectures and mock interview sessions.

Additionally, our recently launched KPMG Ambassadorship Programme allows us to bridge the gap with talented fresh graduates and the firm. We provide our KPMG ambassadors with direct mentorship and an equal platform to showcase their talent. Over time, we have seen that this has helped us to communicate our firm’s EVP to our upcoming young audience.

72 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

On top of that, we are an active participant of career fairs and utilise these opportunities to remain relevant as a top-of-mind employer amongst Malaysian students all over the world. At the end of the day, we want our talents to understand that the opportunity for positive career growth is always prevalent in KPMG. We are The Clear Choice.

malaysias100.com

Employer showcase

SECOND RUNNER-UP ACCOUNTING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

IN REALITY, WE HIRE CANDIDATES FROM ALL DISCIPLINES SUCH AS ENGINEERING, CYBER SECURITY, TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS, PSYCHOLOGY AND MORE. Speaking in terms of career progression and benefits, what can a fresh grad hire expect when they walk into your organisation’s doors?

In KPMG, we are an advocate for worklife balance so you can expect multiple initiatives which maintain the welfare of our employees. We offer a range of flexible work arrangement to suit our people’s needs and priorities, which they need to balance outside of work. From flexi hours to working from home, reduced/part-time work, to being able to go on career breaks from as short as one month to one year, these are some of the options available to our people to flex when the need arises.

We also recognise the value of providing career growth opportunities for our people to expand their skills and knowledge.

Thus, we encourage them to participate in initiatives such as The Global Opportunities (GO) mobility programme where employees attain international experience through international assignments in various countries such as the UK, Japan, Australia, Indonesia and more. These opportunities are offered through our branded programmes such as US Mobility Program (USMP) and Audit Career Enhancement (ACE).

Most importantly, we have an open culture where all employees are welcome to engage with Partners during our frequent Coffee Sessions. Regular townhalls act as a malaysias100.com

2019

get together to ensure that all employees remain updated on important matters and to encourage two-way communication between management and staff.

What are the main challenges you face as a graduate recruiter in Malaysia?

How do you strive to overcome them?

SECOND RUNNER-UP CONSULTING

2019

Over the years, my team and I have faced challenges in acquiring a diverse range of talents for our organisation. Many graduates still carry the belief that KPMG is purely an accounting firm, so our pool of applicants come from a narrow line of disciplines.

In reality, we hire candidates from all disciplines such as engineering, cyber security, technology systems, psychology and more. In order to overcome this, we place extra branding efforts to ensure that graduates understand our organisation’s work, culture and dynamics. Some of these efforts include frequent campus visits, participation in career fairs and scholarship programmes.

What are your organisation’s ambitions for the M100 in 2020?

We hope to strengthen our ranking in the professional services industry and continue to be recognised as one of the leading graduate employers in Malaysia. With this recognition, we aim to attract outstanding candidates who share the same values as us and supplement them with the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.

KPMG Internship applications accepted: Yes Job applications accepted: Yes

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 73

Employer showcase

Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank) SOPHIA ANG WUI JIUN Head, Talent Attraction & Workplace Futurisation

W

hy does the M100 matter to your organisation?

The M100 through its career fairs, graduate publications and its annual survey highlights the importance of continuously engaging with students and fresh graduates from various academic backgrounds. It enables us to understand their needs and expectations as they decide on their career paths. It also provides us with a basis to benchmark ourselves against our competitors while acting as a platform for validation for our efforts, on what works and what doesn’t.

Maybank and M100’s shared values and approach, combined with the recognition granted by the M100 survey, allow Maybank to continuously tap into the student and fresh graduate pool

throughout Malaysia. Thus, we are able to provide deserving millennials and Gen Zs opportunities to develop themselves and fulfil their potential through our various employee-centric programmes.

How does your organisation remain relevant as a top-of-mind employer amongst students? How do you communicate your organisation’s EVPs to such a young audience?

Our Employer Value Proposition “GO Ahead.” speaks of self-empowerment and inspires ambition, being both a mantra and a statement of intent. Maybank communicates this to our young audience through the plethora of programmes we offer students and fresh graduates.

74 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

This includes the Maybank GO Ahead.

Challenge (MGAC), which receives tens of thousands of applications each year; our flagship student ambassador programme, #Mbassador, which is a platform for university students to receive mentorship, networking and upskilling opportunities; and of course, our Global Maybank Apprentice Programme (GMAP), which is our award-winning apex programme for graduates.

I think the various career opportunities offered with the potential for personal development and our continuous efforts in inculcating new ways of learning have enabled us to push boundaries while helping us remain as a top-of-mind employer amongst students.

malaysias100.com

Employer showcase

WINNER GRADUATE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

2019

Speaking in terms of career progression and benefits, what can a fresh grad hire expect when they walk into your organisation’s doors?

Apart from competitive and industry-leading benefits, Maybank offers fresh graduates an avenue for both professional and personal growth through its various programmes.

Take the GMAP for example; our Global Maybank Apprentices are able to customise their rotations based on their interests and career aspirations while fostering accelerated professional growth through mentorship by our senior management. No two apprentices will go through the same experience in the programme because we recognise the importance of empowering our talents to take control of their career path. This enables them to truly excel in their journey.

What are the main challenges you face as a graduate recruiter in Malaysia?

How do you strive to overcome them?

I think one of the main challenges graduate recruiters face today is ensuring that our recruitment strategy and methods are effective and in line with the aspirations of the youth. We strive to ensure that our recruitment methods are not only grounded in sound principles that project our core values but are also an effective method of reaching our target audience.

At Maybank, we ensure this through platforms such as MGAC where we directly hire participants into our Global Maybank Apprentice Programme. Our apprentices, in turn, are tasked with designing programmes with the aim of hiring more fresh graduates and university students. This recruitment model remains in touch with the aspirations of the youth and has proven to be very effective for us. malaysias100.com

MAYBANK OFFERS FRESH GRADUATES AN AVENUE FOR BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH THROUGH ITS VARIOUS PROGRAMMES.

WINNER BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES

2019

What are your organisation’s ambitions for the M100 in 2020?

Maybank and M100 have been working together for many years now and we wish to continue this relationship while strengthening our position in the M100. It is our belief that we have to continuously innovate our methods to maintain our relevance in these ever-changing times.

Maybank, to-date, is the only financial institution to be awarded the title “Graduate Employer of the Year”, the top spot across all industries. We believe this is not only a recognition of our hard work but also an attestation of our efforts in truly impacting lives, be it at career fairs or university engagements.

Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank) Internship applications accepted: Yes Job applications accepted: Yes

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 75

Employer showcase

OCBC Bank KOK LAI CHING Head of Human Resources

W

hy does the M100 matter to your organisation?

The M100 matters to OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad because it serves as one of the platforms for us to reach out to undergraduates and graduates across Malaysia. It helps us to connect with students and showcase ourselves as an attractive employer for graduates as well as to create brand visibility.

Being a locally incorporated foreign bank, we understand how we are not just competing with local banks for the same pool of talents, but we are also in the same race with e-commerce platforms and other start-ups including fintechs which appeal better to the current generation, given how flexible and fluid their structure is, as opposed to very structured and highly regulated financial institutions.

AT OCBC WE BELIEVE IN PROVIDING CONTINUOUS LEARNING, GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO FLOURISH, AND BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN YOU.

76 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

malaysias100.com

Employer showcase

How does your organisation remain relevant as a top-of-mind employer amongst students? How do you communicate your organisation’s EVPs to such a young audience?

“We See You” is not just our tagline. It is what we truly believe in.

We have made it known that we welcome graduates from all backgrounds of studies to join the bank. That is something that we have always prided ourselves in.

We believe that when fresh graduates join the bank they can always bring their ideas forward in two prominent areas: “Change the Bank” or “Run the Bank”.

This is vital in ensuring that we are relevant, not only through the products and services we provide, but the role we play in championing diversity and inclusion. Thus, it is important for us, as an employer, to offer attractive and meaningful roles and demonstrate what it means to work and have fulfilling careers that are aligned with the Bank’s Purpose and Values.

Speaking in terms of career progression and benefits, what can a fresh grad hire expect when they walk into your organisation’s doors?

A fulfilling career begins with being recognised for the work that you do. At OCBC we believe in providing continuous learning, giving you the opportunity to flourish, and bringing out the best in you.

We are aware that each individual has a different lifestyle preference, so we provide flexible but yet competitive benefits that you can select and tailor to your needs.

malaysias100.com

What are the main challenges you face as a graduate recruiter in Malaysia?

How do you strive to overcome them?

One of our main challenges in recruiting fresh graduates is when they tell us they don’t know what they want to do.

We would come across great profiles, and when asked why they chose to study what they had studied they would say things like, “I completed my studies because my parents made me do it” or “I was good with a subject and I pursued it”.

The “what’s next” question is something that I notice students are struggling with.

To help the graduates of today, OCBC plays a proactive role in ensuring that these talents are developed when they join OCBC. Our development programme supports graduates in possessing the right values, mindsets, and skills. Our blended learning approach provides a wide range of learning opportunities, including learning sessions covering technical banking, functional knowledge and leadership skills. OCBC also remains committed in empowering our young graduates to undertake socially responsible initiatives as part of their development journey.

OCBC Bank Internship applications accepted: Yes Job applications accepted: Yes

TO HELP THE GRADUATES OF TODAY, OCBC PLAYS A PROACTIVE ROLE IN ENSURING THAT THESE TALENTS ARE DEVELOPED WHEN THEY JOIN OCBC.

What are your organisation’s ambitions for the M100 in 2020?

In the graduate recruitment space, being listed on the Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers chart would mean that we are able to attract better candidates and have a wider pool of talent to choose from. What we hope to be known, in 2020 and in the coming years, is as an employer that provides meaningful jobs for young graduates. We, like others, had a rough start to 2020 with the pandemic. While we see businesses shutting down, the outbreak has also brought us more opportunities. These opportunities are what we want to provide and continue to provide not just for this year but the years to come. gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 77

Employer showcase

PwC Malaysia AZIZAN ZAKARIA People Partner

W

hy does the M100 matter to your organisation?

At PwC, we understand that graduates have different priorities when looking for their first careers. The M100 survey has been able to gather and analyse the needs and wants of graduates in their first job. As we hire many fresh graduates each year, M100 is important for us to understand the hiring trends and remain an employer of choice for leaders of the future.

How does your organisation remain relevant as a top-of-mind employer amongst students? How do you communicate your organisation’s EVPs to such a young audience?

As we continue to engage and work with both students and young graduates, we actively listen to them to understand their needs and wants. An example of that would be our various graduate programmes.

Graduates today tell us they’re not sure about committing to begin a career in a Big 4, so we introduced the Junior Xplorer

78 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

programme which allows them to try out life as an auditor for about five months before taking the next step. Other programmes like our Industry Xplorer and Tax Management Trainee programmes give them the opportunity to work in different industry groups or experience life in various areas in our Tax practice on a rotational basis.

When they gain meaningful experience in PwC, our people become our brand ambassadors, they advocate our People Value Proposition to graduates.

malaysias100.com

Employer showcase

FIRST RUNNER-UP ACCOUNTING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Speaking in terms of career progression and benefits, what can a fresh grad hire expect when they walk into your organisation’s doors?

To cater to different priorities in terms of career progression and benefits, we focus on four areas to help them GROW. We offer: • Growth anytime, anywhere, in a “learning-by-doing” environment. They can expect to have access to a vast amount of learning resources, including access to Vantage, a mobile learning app with personalised guidance that allows learning on-the-go. All employees will be assigned a career coach to guide and support them, upon joining us.

• Recognition for effort and a job well done through flexPoints, a real-time recognition mobile and web application that allows us to give and receive appreciation through badges and points. The points can then be used to redeem gifts.

• Opportunities to solve important problems. We create opportunities for our people to work with leading clients on meaningful engagements, and to prepare our people for the future of work, we introduced Future Skills to upskill them and build their digital awareness.

• Ways of working that maximises impact. With our flex+ programme, there are initiatives for our people which addresses different needs, such as flexSpace (flexibility to work from anywhere outside of work if the need arises), flexFriday (employees are allowed to leave work at 12:30pm every second Friday of the month), flexBenefits (flexibility to allocate the distribution of benefit allowance in areas that you need the most), birthday leave for all employees, and many more.

malaysias100.com

What are the main challenges you face as a graduate recruiter in Malaysia?

How do you strive to overcome them?

Students today are exposed to so many career opportunities, even before they graduate. Our challenge is to be proactive in engaging them early and attract graduates whose values are aligned with ours. We continue to differentiate ourselves by highlighting the experience they will gain with us, for example, our Future Skills initiative to upskill our people and prepare them for the digital world.

We hope to build both their human and digital skills so that they remain competitive to take on purposeful challenges in this increasingly disruptive business world.

2019

FIRST RUNNER-UP CONSULTING

2019

What are your organisation’s ambitions for the M100 in 2020?

We’d like to be recognised as a firm that continues to focus on developing our people to be agile and to remain relevant. At the same time, we will continue to strive hard to maintain our M100 ranking as one of the leading professional services firms in Malaysia.

PwC Malaysia Internship applications accepted: Yes Job applications accepted: Yes

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 79

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LEARNING FROM LEADERS Top-level managers at highly-rated employers share stories about their careers so far, and pass on advice that they would like to give to you!

AIA Shared Services Sdn Bhd......................................... 84 Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad..................................... 85 AmBank (M) Berhad....................................................... 86 Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad......................................... 87 Evonik Malaysia Sdn Bhd............................................... 88 EY................................................................................... 89 Gamuda Berhad............................................................. 90 KPMG Malaysia .............................................................. 91 Maybank ........................................................................ 92 NestlĂŠ Malaysia............................................................. 93 OCBC Bank...................................................................... 94 Pharmaniaga Logistics Sdn Bhd ................................... 95 PwC Malaysia ................................................................ 96 Samsung Malaysia Electronics..................................... 97 TDCX (MY) Sdn. Bhd. ...................................................... 98 Top Glove Corporation Berhad....................................... 99

AIA Shared Services Sdn Bhd LEARNING FROM

LEADERS

HOOI SOON WAI Head of Finance

Name three (3) things an employee can do to build up their leadership skills from a very early stage in their career e.g. their internship or probation period.

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Accounting, Universiti Malaya, 1995

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS Chartered Accountant, Malaysian Institute of Accountants; Certified Public Accountant, Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 4 years and 2 months

Leadership is a loosely-used term.

How do you define leadership, and how can a fresh grad grow as a leader within your organisation, and subsequently, your sector?

Leadership is about enabling those around you to do the very best they can every day and guiding them to develop from strength to strength. It is about giving others the freedom to express themselves and to bring ideas and innovation to their roles and the organisation.

For those stepping out of the university, they will need to open their minds to new experiences and the opportunities around them. Learn what is good and apply them. At the same time see what is not so good and avoid mimicking them.

• Do not be shy to ask and to learn from those around you. The more you learn, the more you grow in your experiences and knowledge.

• I was once told that as an accountant, I had a choice. I could either stand at the end of a pipe at the bottom of a hill and await whatever flowed out and do what I could with it, or I could hike up that hill and make sure only the good stuff is put into that pipe so that only positive outcomes flowed into my in-tray. In other words, see what is happening around you and influence it before it influences you.

• Take on challenges and be willing to step away from your comfort zone. I speak from experience, having been asked to look after warehouse operations, HR, and even IT in the past when my qualification is in accounting.

In your opinion, what are the qualities that separate the leaders from the managers?

Leaders typically have people who follow them and enjoy working with them as they can inspire, motivate and develop those around them. Managers on the other hand usually have people who work for them, not necessarily because they are inspired to do so, but because that is part of their job.

How do you find that balance between your personal commitments and your professional ambitions?

The key is to know what you want in both your professional and personal lives. Once you have the objectives properly framed in

your mind, you can set the priorities in your daily and/or weekly schedule to try to have the proper balance between the two.

Things will never be static or take place at your convenience, so another important aspect is to have the understanding of your loved ones so that they are able to support you in your everyday activities, be it at work or at home. You in turn will need to make time for those at home to give back for the support they have given you.

In your opinion, what is your most winning personal habit i.e. something you do every day that continues to help you grow as a person.

In today’s world, no one is an island. It is not about the “me” but the “we”. Hence, it is imperative that we understand that we need to build bridges and work closely with those around us. We need to harness the strengths of everyone around us to enable all of us to grow individually and collectively.

Can you tell our readers one thing they may not know about you i.e. an interesting hobby you might have, or a personal accomplishment you have attained in the past, etc There was a time when I didn’t exercise, blaming a pain in my knee. Since I joined AIA, I have been motivated by my team and the AIA Vitality programme to get active again.

Surprisingly, the more I ran, the less pain I felt in my knee, as the running helped to strengthen my muscles and ligaments. I lost weight too! Today I feel much fitter and enjoy running, so much so I now take part in some 10K runs.

“THE KEY IS TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT IN BOTH YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LIVES.”

84 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

malaysias100.com

Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad LEARNING FROM

LEADERS

PANG CHOON HAN Group Chief Risk Officer

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS Associate – Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), UK; Associate – Chartered Banker

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 13 years and 6 months

Leadership is a loosely-used term.

How do you define leadership, and how can a fresh grad grow as a leader within your organisation, and subsequently, your sector?

Leadership is the art of guiding, directing and influencing people to achieve common goals. The test of leadership occurs when attempting to bring together people with divergent interests.

Being a leader requires oneself to empathise with the other person, and understand what motivates them. People are generally driven by a combination of rewards, recognition, ambitions, beliefs, and fears. Understanding a person’s motivation enables oneself to find common ground upon which to work together.

Name three (3) things an employee can do to build up their leadership skills from a very early stage in their career e.g. their internship or probation period.

• Apply good sense and good governance.

Understand the principles of good codes of conduct and ethics

malaysias100.com

• Be knowledgeable and resourceful. Draw upon the knowledge gained from school or university, and apply it to the right situation • Distinguish yourself in the right manner. Get noticed for handing in good work on time

This is actually harder than it sounds, because you can physically put away your computer and phone, but your mind might still dwell on issues at work. When this happens, remind yourself that the Company does not own your life; you do.

In your opinion, what are the qualities that separate the leaders from the managers?

In your opinion, what is your most winning personal habit i.e. something you do every day that continues to help you grow as a person.

Managers attempt to “manage” problems that appear before them, and address previously-faced issues.

In contrast, leaders should: • Develop a passion for the job • Look further ahead, view issues from different, broader perspectives • Anticipate opportunities and threats • Consider various alternatives • Weigh potential outcomes • Listen to advice • Provide clear directions • Have courage to decide on a course of action • Inspire and convince others to follow your lead • Persevere and make course-corrections when faced with hurdles • Have even more courage to stop, if proven wrong • Take responsibility for mistakes • Learn from mistakes • Share success and acknowledge contributions from others

How do you find that balance between your personal commitments and your professional ambitions?

You have to know when to cut-off after working hours. You need to devote a few hours each day for family time and “Me” time. The last 2 are equally important.

When I come across an interesting topic, I try to learn more about it, to better understand and appreciate the world we live in. Movies or novels tend to over-dramatise some perspectives and whitewash others. The non-fiction version provides deeper perspective on the “unvarnished truth”. I learn about the various characters’ motivations, circumstances which they operated under, their triumphs and mistakes.

News portals help keep oneself updated on current issues. Opinion columns allow one to understand different, sometimes opposing perspectives. One additional advantage from reading: It helps to improve one’s writing style.

Can you tell our readers one thing they may not know about you i.e. an interesting hobby you might have, or a personal accomplishment you have attained in the past, etc Movies and books are often centred on tragic or dramatic events. This makes me wonder how this world that we live in would have turned out if different decisions were made in the past.

When I watch a movie or read a book, I tend to draw comparisons to real-life situations, to examine the moral, legal and ethical choices that the protagonists had to make; and wonder what decisions I would have taken in their place.

“BEING A LEADER REQUIRES ONESELF TO EMPATHISE WITH THE OTHER PERSON.” gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 85

AmBank (M) Berhad LEARNING FROM

LEADERS

YONG LOONG WEE, DANNY Senior Vice President, HR Operations & Project

Name three (3) things an employee can do to build up their leadership skills from a very early stage in their career e.g. their internship or probation period.

QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor Degree of Business Administration, majoring in Human Resources Management from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), 2002; Master in Business Administration (MBA), University of Wales Trinity Saint David, 2019

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 2 years and 1 month

Leadership is a loosely-used term.

How do you define leadership, and how can a fresh grad grow as a leader within your organisation, and subsequently, your sector?

Leadership can be defined as the art of motivating, engaging and influencing a team of people driving towards their future goals and successfully achieving them with the precise strategy. A great leader has a futuristic vision and knows how to turn his/her ideas into real-world success stories. In AmBank, Group Human Resources had developed a series of AmGraduate Programmes to develop leadership skills for fresh graduates from various universities.

The 2 years’ programme is a basic foundation for fresh graduates to evolve leaders and inculcates key leadership skills such as communication, strategic thinking, critical thinking, problem solving based on real scenarios, and future thinking, among others.

An employee is able to nurture his/ her leadership skills during the early stage in their career through internship programmes. These programmes offer chances for graduates to cultivate actual skills and knowledge according to industry requirements. The graduates will have the opportunity to obtain an insight of leading businesses as well as solving the challenges faced by the companies. An employee is also advised to get involved in projects and lead the project team if given the opportunity.

Through the project, an employee is able to apply the concepts and strategies of their studies in a live working environment. Apart from that, an employee is encouraged to have a rotation in other departments to learn various skills and knowledge practices by different leaders.

In your opinion, what are the qualities that separate the leaders from the managers?

In my opinion, the biggest difference between leaders and managers are, leaders create and design the vision for the organisation and turn it into reality while managers create goals to support the vision.

Leaders are change agents and are always seeking innovative ways to improve the structures, processes, businesses, etc., while managers follow the refined processes and structures. Leaders usually take risks in order to make the best decision for the business while managers are always looking at controlling risk levels. Apart from that, leaders are always looking for improvement through learning and coaching the team members whereas managers rely on their existing skills to manage and instruct the team to perform given tasks.

86 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

How do you find that balance between your personal commitments and your professional ambitions?

Time management is the key element to maintain life balance. I maximise the efficiency and always prioritises core activities for both work and personal commitments. It is a necessity to have clear and specific goals for both personal and professional commitments to ensure the success in both areas. To have a clear goal, a realistic timeline and schedule must be developed and strictly complied to. Not to forget, I practise a healthy lifestyle and engage in physical fitness to ensure that I am always physically and mentally prepared in achieving my goals.

In your opinion, what is your most winning personal habit i.e. something you do every day that continues to help you grow as a person.

I believe in being wise and taking the right action(s) for a win-win situation.

In the digital world today, I must ensure that I always keep abreast on the latest technologies to innovate new solutions for problem solving. When solving an issue, I’ll take the lead to provide action instead of speaking out loud without taking any action.

I will constantly adapt to the situation and make the necessary adjustment before executing any action to keep myself moving forward, especially when confronted with challenges.

Can you tell our readers one thing they may not know about you i.e. an interesting hobby you might have, or a personal accomplishment you have attained in the past, etc My biggest accomplishment thus far was being in a global HR role in South Korea and managing key regional HR offices for China, South Africa, North America, Middle East, Europe, Latin America, Russia, South East Asia and South West Asia.

malaysias100.com

Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad LEARNING FROM

LEADERS

ISKANDAR SHAH ZULKARNAIN Chief Human Resources Officer

QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor of Information Technology, Multimedia University, 2004; Masters of Business Administration, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), 2007

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 10 months

Leadership is a loosely-used term.

How do you define leadership, and how can a fresh grad grow as a leader within your organisation, and subsequently, your sector?

Leadership is about influencing people by your actions and words to produce results.

At Bank Islam, we’ve developed the Young Leaders Programme (YLP), a structured talent development programme to nurture and grow young graduates as our future leaders. Under the mentorship of our existing leaders, our trainees will grow to become the next generation of leaders in Bank Islam.

Name three (3) things an employee can do to build up their leadership skills from a very early stage in their career e.g. their internship or probation period.

• Be agile – The rapid pace of change around us requires us to be fast, nimble, and adaptive. Equip yourselves with information and knowledge and move forward quickly. Avoid limiting yourself mentally and emotionally as things evolve. malaysias100.com

• Be courageous – Take that difficult assignment or project. Stay focused during the difficult days, and once that is over, the experience and achievement is lifelong.

• Be humble and respectful – As you progress through your career, remember that we all started somewhere, and we will not possibly know everything. Treat everyone with respect and sincerity, learn from those with experience and put your best foot forward.

In your opinion, what are the qualities that separate the leaders from the managers?

Can you tell our readers one thing they may not know about you i.e. an interesting hobby you might have, or a personal accomplishment you have attained in the past, etc I was an IT guy, and am now leading a HR team for a great Bank. I am blessed to be given the opportunity to venture into HR despite a lack of direct experience in the area. The coaching and mentoring I received from the various leaders that I had the privilege of working with have enabled this very fulfilling journey. I hope to inspire others along similar journeys.

A good leader enables his team, clears the path, picks the team up when they are down and celebrates their success.

How do you find that balance between your personal commitments and your professional ambitions?

Family matters most to me. In today’s world, the boundary between work time and personal time is blurred. Hence, I find that the flexibility provided by Bank Islam in our ways of working enables me to be fully committed to both. We recently launched Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) which allows us to work from anywhere, with flexible hours and an option for compressed work week.

“A GOOD LEADER ENABLES HIS TEAM, CLEARS THE PATH, PICKS THE TEAM UP WHEN THEY ARE DOWN AND CELEBRATES THEIR SUCCESS.”

In your opinion, what is your most winning personal habit i.e. something you do every day that continues to help you grow as a person.

Time for daily reflection is important. As I settle down at the end of a long day, be it on work or personal, there are ups and downs of the day, and I reflect upon the things that have gone well, or learn from things that didn’t go too well. Linking that reflection back to my sense of purpose helps me improve.

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 87

Evonik Malaysia Sdn Bhd LEARNING FROM

LEADERS

THOMAS VERCRUYSSE Head of Finance Shared Service Center

Name three (3) things an employee can do to build up their leadership skills from a very early stage in their career e.g. their internship or probation period.

QUALIFICATIONS Master in Applied Economic Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2003; Master in Financial Management, Vlerick Business School Ghent, 2004

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 12 years

Leadership is a loosely-used term.

How do you define leadership, and how can a fresh grad grow as a leader within your organisation, and subsequently, your sector?

Good leaders are like guides that give a clear and understandable direction to their employees. They also create the right environment so that employees can use their competencies and feel empowered to achieve their goals.

Successful leaders are those who empower others, employees need to be given the opportunities for growth and professional development.

The key for a fresh grad to grow in a company is to learn, to be determined to do and try things, to be pro-active and above all: to be curious.

Once you become a leader yourself, success is about growing and empowering others.

As mentioned, I personally enjoy working with people who possess a high sense of curiosity. I encourage you to try to understand the bigger picture of the specific process you are working on during your probation.

Secondly, it is all about learning. Never stop learning! If you are doing a job in which you are no longer learning new things, then talk to your leader: it might be an indication of a bigger issue.

Thirdly, I would advise young graduates to be pro-active. Do not be afraid to try things out even if they may lead to mistakes, because it is part of the learning process.

Show up and show initiative. This will be noticed by your colleagues, who will see you as a future leader.

In your opinion, what are the qualities that separate the leaders from the managers?

The common perception is that managers are supposed to do things right, whereas leaders are considered to do the right thing. However, I do not see why we should distinguish between the two terms.

In my opinion, managers are good leaders if they empower their people and are able to create performant teams with a high level of trust.

In other words, leadership is a quality that managers should have in order to become good managers.

How do you find that balance between your personal commitments and your professional ambitions?

Personally, I have worked in four different countries over the past 10 years. This has brought myself and my family a lot of opportunities and great experiences.

88 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

However, my frequent travelling has also put a lot of pressure on my partner and children.

This has led to guilt, and at times, stress.

But what I try to do is include block-out dates in my calendar for family activities.

During these times, work is not allowed.

Making simple changes to your work calendar can turn you into a happier person, and a highly motivated employee in the long run.

In your opinion, what is your most winning personal habit i.e. something you do every day that continues to help you grow as a person.

Every night before I sleep, I try to read a book for at least 15 minutes. It calms me down and helps me dwell on things other than my work, which in turn improves my night’s rest.

I indulge in a range of genres but, more often than not, I settle for non-fiction as it helps me understand new things and broaden my view of the world.

As Dr Seuss would say, “The more you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you will go.”

Can you tell our readers one thing they may not know about you i.e. an interesting hobby you might have, or a personal accomplishment you have attained in the past, etc I have always dreamt of living abroad and experiencing new cultures – of which I have achieved. I’m currently living in Malaysia, and I seek to experience the great natural surroundings this country offers. So, my eldest daughter and I have decided to engage in an online dive course, which will be followed by a practical course when the Covid-19 situation allows it. Learning a new hobby in a new environment is a personal accomplishment that drives positive energy in me.

malaysias100.com

EY LEARNING FROM

LEADERS

JALBIR SINGH RIAR Partner, Indirect Tax

Name three (3) things an employee can do to build up their leadership skills from a very early stage in their career e.g. their internship or probation period.

QUALIFICATIONS BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance, University of East London, UK, 2005; GST Tax Agent License, since 2014; Malaysia GST Compliance Assurance Programme (MyGCAP) accredited reviewer, since 2018

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP Member of the Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia (CTIM)

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 13 years

Leadership is a loosely-used term.

How do you define leadership, and how can a fresh grad grow as a leader within your organisation, and subsequently, your sector?

Being a leader has a lot more depth and layers to it; it is not just about being “the boss”. Good leaders should be honest and uphold a high level of integrity in their actions and decisions as they set an example for their teams. They are people who inspire, empower and motivate others to do more than they thought possible.

Taking an example from my experience in the organisation, you need to have the right mindset, focus, drive and sense of responsibility, not only to yourself but also to the team, to grow as a leader.

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In order to develop leadership skills, it is important to take ownership of your own work and ensure that you give your best.

Being proactive and willing to learn in order to improve will give rise to many opportunities in your career.

It is also critical to recognise the importance of teaming in an organisation, as we will need to work with many different people from various backgrounds and cultures. We should acknowledge our differences and make the effort to work well with one another to achieve greater results together.

In your opinion, what are the qualities that separate the leaders from the managers?

Leaders inspire and empower their teams to be enthusiastic about their work or careers, whereas managers’ key focus tends to be on the deliverables of an engagement. Leaders are also able to communicate effectively with different generations, appreciate diverse cultures, and accommodate various working styles within the team, understanding that everyone works differently and adjusting accordingly to what is needed.

Managers often delegate work and try to complete the work in the most efficient manner. Leaders listen and foster good relationships within the team, while acknowledging everyone’s differences and understanding that each has his or her own strengths in contributing to an engagement.

How do you find that balance between your personal commitments and your professional ambitions?

I have to admit that finding balance between personal commitments and professional ambitions is perhaps more challenging than doing the actual work itself. Frankly, I believe it boils down to self-discipline and being able to allocate our time accordingly.

“Work for a firm that believes in you, because when they believe in you, they will invest in you” is a phrase I truly believe in, as the organisation has given me opportunities to pursue my interests as well as spend time with my family.

Achieving balance between personal commitments and professional ambitions will be beneficial to the individual and the organisation in the long run.

In your opinion, what is your most winning personal habit i.e. something you do every day that continues to help you grow as a person.

I believe one of my winning personal habits is being able to connect with my team, from management level to the associates. I motivate my team members to be their best selves and invest time to organise team-building events, such as get-togethers, birthday celebrations, friendly badminton matches, or even a simple lunch or coffee, just to reach out to them and build good working relationships.

We have to do our part to create strong connections, so we can work towards building a better working world for each other and ourselves.

Can you tell our readers one thing they may not know about you i.e. an interesting hobby you might have, or a personal accomplishment you have attained in the past, etc A little-known fact about me is that I appreciate and enjoy looking at different properties to get ideas on the build and architecture of houses, be it an old-style house or a modernlooking one (you would be surprised at how creatively designed some houses are).

As I am a firm believer that we should always give back to the community, I am also an active member of my Residents Association, where we work together with the residents to improve the wellbeing of residents and address any issues faced.

There is nothing more fulfilling than giving back to society.

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 89

Gamuda Berhad LEARNING FROM

LEADERS

ONG JEE LIAN General Manager & Chief Sustainability Officer, Group Corporate Communications & Sustainability Name three (3) things an employee can do to build up their leadership skills from a very early stage in their career e.g. their internship or probation period.

QUALIFICATIONS BA in Communications (Journalism & Media Analytics), Murdoch University, Australia, 2001; Certified Sustainability GRI Reporting Specialist, Institute of Certified Sustainability Practitioners, 2018; Master in Sustainable Development Management, Jeffrey Sachs Centre on Sustainable Development, Sunway University, ongoing

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 12 years

Leadership is a loosely-used term.

How do you define leadership, and how can a fresh grad grow as a leader within your organisation, and subsequently, your sector?

Leadership is often regarded as being that person in authority, someone who’s accountable and has the ability to be an effective role model to drive a team and company towards a common goal, and subsequently, success.

When fresh grads begin their career, it’s important to path their development with clear milestones that are also aligned with their personal milestones. Having a five-year marker to plot their progression allows them to stay focused in knowing what hard and soft skills to acquire.

Always keep an open and objective mind, especially when receiving feedback and handling a problem or crisis. The economic and social trends in today’s world are rapidly changing, so it’s important to stay agile and receptive to all sorts of ideas and processes.

Sometimes, the tried and tested ways from the past may continue to work, and sometimes they may not. As such, it’s useful for a new employee to be exposed to as many aspects of work and culture as possible.

In your opinion, what are the qualities that separate the leaders from the managers?

Leaders are confident and self-assured of their capabilities. They know that he or she may not have all the necessary skills and experience to manage a project or complex task, however, he or she also knows that the right people can be brought on board to fill in the gap. Leaders are also able to see both the forest and the trees, and think 10 steps ahead to route the journey which is part of strategic planning.

On the other hand, managers are implementers who are equally important in an organisation. They complement the leaders in executing the plan, and get the team on board to follow their vision to achieve business goals.

How do you find that balance between your personal commitments and your professional ambitions?

There is a misconception that it’s always harder for females to balance personal and professional ambitions. In today’s modern world, the word “merit” and not “balance” should be the focus. Everyone has the same 24 hours, and it’s important how one manages their time effectively.

I’m able to strive relatively well as a working mother as I’m always open with

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my family on what’s needed to be done, both at home and at work. By having open communication, I get to manage my own expectations as well as my family and business needs while delivering the best I can in a given period.

I’ve come to realise from an early stage of my career that if I want to fulfil both my personal and professional goals, I have to first build a supportive ecosystem comprising my close family members and my immediate superiors and team.

In your opinion, what is your most winning personal habit i.e. something you do every day that continues to help you grow as a person.

Perseverance.

It’s certainly hard to always stay optimistic in life, especially when you hit a few bumps.

Hence, I find it’s good to surround oneself with good role models who can always be your bouncing board, and help you steer yourself back to the right direction in life and work.

On a daily basis, or at least once a week, I always indulge in some “me time” to just have a quiet moment to myself. I find it particularly helpful to organise my thoughts in today’s rat race.

Can you tell our readers one thing they may not know about you i.e. an interesting hobby you might have, or a personal accomplishment you have attained in the past, etc It has always been my dream to take part in combative sports and percussion music as I enjoy the adrenaline rush and upbeat tempo.

However, coming from a conservative family, it had to be ballet and piano!

Hence, in the last two decades I’ve been ticking off the items in my bucket list: I play the drums, have taken up fencing, and climbed Mt Kinabalu. On top of that, I have done five sessions of white-water rafting on Grade 4 & Grade 5 rivers; something I hope to do more of in the near future. malaysias100.com

KPMG Malaysia LEARNING FROM

LEADERS

DATUK JOHAN IDRIS Managing Partner

their area of interests and competencies through mentorship in different sectors.

Name three (3) things an employee can do to build up their leadership skills from a very early stage in their career e.g. their internship or probation period.

QUALIFICATION Bachelor in Accounting (Hons), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), 1990

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS Member/EXCO – Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Fellow – Chartered Institute of Management Accountants; Member – Malaysian Institute of Accountants

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR Over 20 years

Leadership is a loosely-used term.

How do you define leadership, and how can a fresh grad grow as a leader within your organisation, and subsequently, your sector?

Personally, leadership entails being a visionary and responsible individual. It’s vital that leaders are clear on purpose and organisational mission, while still being tactically responsive to changes. Leadership is primarily supported by passion, motivation and energy pushing leaders upwards; so acknowledge that it’s not just about you, it’s about them, too.

In KPMG, we value empowerment by ensuring inclusivity and building bridges for potentials to be met. For instance, our Advisory Ace programme provides fresh graduates the opportunity to distinguish

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• Identify your strengths and weakness through active participation in extracurricular activities • Strengthen communication skills by volunteering to speak or present in public.

These experiences will enhance your confidence over time • Seize opportunities provided to you.

Companies are frequently looking for ways to attract and engage with passionate students – find those opportunities instead of waiting for them to come to you.

In your opinion, what are the qualities that separate the leaders from the managers?

In my opinion, leaders are focused on long term vision, while managers focus on getting the job done. So, a good leader won’t just give instructions, he or she will show you how it’s done and do it with you.

Again, it’s not about you or me – it’s about us.

How do you find that balance between your personal commitments and your professional ambitions?

Proper scheduling helps significantly. This way, I’m attentive to my commitments and I know exactly what I must prioritise at a given time.

On top of that, it’s important for me to practice open communication with family

and colleagues. I seek support from them and ensure that there’s a two-way understanding between us. This allows all of us to achieve our full potential. I’ve practiced this for years and benefitted a lot from it.

In your opinion, what is your most winning personal habit i.e. something you do every day that continues to help you grow as a person.

I believe that one can never have too much knowledge, so make it a habit to learn something new every day through reading.

The internet and social media make it easier for me to carry this habit, but some days I still prefer reading ‘real’ books.

It’s also a habit of mine to always look presentable wherever I go, not just through physical appearance, but through emotions and communications, too. For instance, keeping a positive mental health to remain composed.

How you carry yourself is important because it influences how others see you.

As a leader, this is something I hold on to.

Can you tell our readers one thing they may not know about you i.e. an interesting hobby you might have, or a personal accomplishment you have attained in the past, etc People may not know that I’m an extremely organised person. I can’t stand messiness because I believe that it causes more stress than we typically realise. I always tell myself that when I get rid of physical clutter, I’m simultaneously getting rid of mental clutter.

“COMPANIES ARE FREQUENTLY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO ATTRACT AND ENGAGE WITH PASSIONATE STUDENTS – FIND THOSE OPPORTUNITIES INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR THEM TO COME TO YOU.” gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 91

Maybank LEARNING FROM

LEADERS

DATUK NORA A MANAF Group Chief Human Capital Officer

QUALIFICATIONS Diploma – Accountancy, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 1985; Bachelor of Arts – Accountancy, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 1987; Masters – International Finance, North London University, UK, 1988; Postgraduate – Human Resource Development, Cornell University, US, 1996; Professional Qualification – Advance Bank Management Programme, Harvard Business School, US, 2018; Professional Qualification – Chartered Banker (Level 3), Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers Malaysia (AICB), 2020

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS Gallup-Certified Strengths Level II Coach; Chartered Accountant, Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA), 1991

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 11 years and 8 months

Leadership is a loosely-used term.

How do you define leadership, and how can a fresh grad grow as a leader within your organisation, and subsequently, your sector?

Many people believe that leadership is inherent or innate, personally I disagree with this notion. Leadership is a journey of

growth that is unique to everybody and is made up of a few constants. A leader shows initiative when there is none, empathises with one’s surroundings and communities and encourages others to do the same even in an environment that may suppress it.

For fresh grads, my advice is to be agile and adaptable. Disruption has now become the norm, so treat change as a given. Strive to learn as much as you can and be a constant source of inspiration for others who will join you on this venture into unchartered territories.

Name three (3) things an employee can do to build up their leadership skills from a very early stage in their career e.g. their internship or probation period.

During the early stages of a career, one can go a long way by staying curious and asking questions. The thirst for knowledge would not only connect you with the correct people but also puts you on the right career path.

Secondly, keep an open mind. The world is constantly changing and work is being transformed alongside it, so it takes true agility to thrive in the workplace.

Lastly, stay focused, persevere and be adamant about bringing the changes that you wish to see, in yourself and in the work that you do.

In your opinion, what are the qualities that separate the leaders from the managers?

Leaders build relationships; they look beyond the immediate result towards a grander vision, by focusing on people. In line with Maybank’s mission of ‘Humanising Financial Services’, we strive to unlock new ways to humanise, to uncover a sense of meaning and shared purpose that drives motivation, loyalty and growth.

Leaders nurture; they have an eye for talent and provide the right space and encouragement for people who work for them to grow. They take a great deal of interest in the success of their people. If I have to make a stark comparison between

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a leader and a manager, it would be this: a manager orders you to do a task, a leader inspires you to want to do it.

How do you find that balance between your personal commitments and your professional ambitions?

True success comes from not needing to compromise one for the other. Today, worklife separation has simply become work-life integration. It is impossible to abandon our personal responsibilities for example, as a mother or a husband, when we enter the office. Acknowledging that is the first step to planning ahead, and fulfilling both personal and professional roles, to the fullest. Having an employer that is understanding also goes a long way.

In your opinion, what is your most winning personal habit i.e. something you do every day that continues to help you grow as a person.

I truly and thoroughly enjoy reading and will always find some quiet time to myself every day to do so. Reading keeps my mind sharp, aware and updated about industrial changes and everything else. It’s that desire for new knowledge that enables you to grow. George R.R. Martin so accurately described it: “A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.” If I do not have time to indulge in a book, I would usually keep myself informed by reading articles, through various platforms, including LinkedIn.

Can you tell our readers one thing they may not know about you i.e. an interesting hobby you might have, or a personal accomplishment you have attained in the past, etc A lot of people may not know this but I am quite the movie buff. In my spare time, I would watch and discuss the latest movies with my family. You would be surprised to learn that movie nights, complete with snacks and drinks, are an important pastime that my family and I practise.

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Nestlé Malaysia LEARNING FROM

LEADERS

APRIL WONG Business Executive Officer

Name three (3) things an employee can do to build up their leadership skills from a very early stage in their career e.g. their internship or probation period.

QUALIFICATION BCom (Management), NMIT New Zealand, 1997

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 11 years

Leadership is a loosely-used term.

How do you define leadership, and how can a fresh grad grow as a leader within your organisation, and subsequently, your sector?

We’ve all read many articles and theories on leadership where great values such as courage, resilience, trust, agility etc are widely mentioned. I’m a great advocator and believer of these values.

However, to me, leadership should stem from the belief of “The GREATER thou are, the more HUMBLE thyself”. It is about humility and self-reflection. Leadership is not about oneself, it’s not about the title one has attained, and it’s not about protecting one’s ego and having authority and control. It’s about standing behind the team, recognising their experiences and knowledge, and bringing out the best in them.

To grow as a leader, while it helps to be ambitious and driven, always remind yourself that being respectful and courteous across all levels is an important fundamental of leadership. This should apply across all organisations, regardless of your background.

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• Learn the hard way I usually urge young graduates to start their career from the bottom of the ladder and get their hands dirty, especially by working in the frontlines. The invaluable exposure helps build character and allows them to be street-smart, resourceful, and adaptable which helps lay a solid foundation for success.

• Be humble and respectful I can’t stress the importance of this enough. Arrogance and false confidence will only act as a barrier to progress as the inability to accept criticism and feedback often leads to negativity. When you’re humble about what you know, and how much you still have to learn, it helps others to behave the same way. Humility is a two-way street.

• Be accountable and responsible You should not be afraid to own up and take responsibility should you make a mistake. If mistakes are made by others, encourage the spread of responsibility.

Avoid the blame game and move on. Focus on working on actions to resolve it and ensuring that mistakes are not repeated.

In your opinion, what are the qualities that separate the leaders from the managers?

Leaders are visionaries, they inspire you to work towards the future GOAL. They set the direction and communicate the reasons on why we should head towards that path.

They value empowerment and trust. I’m a believer that in a company, we need to have both leaders and managers to work hand in hand.

Managers help to make sure that these visions are being executed by working with the team, establishing roadmaps and timelines, as well as managing resources.

But of course, managers should also be guided by principles and values that help cultivate a positive working environment.

How do you find that balance between your personal commitments and your professional ambitions?

It’s challenging, but it’s important that you define upfront what your personal, family and professional goals are so that you get your priorities right.

I also try to find time at the end of each day for some quiet, personal time to unwind. My weekends are important; that’s when I focus on my family and close friends. I am blessed to have an extremely supportive husband and family members as well as helpful work colleagues who keep me motivated in attaining my goals and ambitions.

In your opinion, what is your most winning personal habit i.e. something you do every day that continues to help you grow as a person.

Curiosity and self-reflection. If I’ve observed and/or experienced something interesting in the day, I will usually reflect upon it to see if it’s something worth embracing.

Can you tell our readers one thing they may not know about you i.e. an interesting hobby you might have, or a personal accomplishment you have attained in the past, etc Nothing unusual, unfortunately! My favourite hobby is going for roadtrips to the countryside, escaping from the hustle and bustle of the city. Each year, my husband and I make it a point to explore new places, be it within Malaysia or overseas. And it has to be a road less travelled, away from major tourist destinations.

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 93

OCBC Bank LEARNING FROM

LEADERS

TAN AI CHIN Managing Director, Senior Banker Client Coverage & Head of Global Investment Banking

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Economics Degree (Honours Class 1), University of Malaya (UM)

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 17 years

Leadership is a loosely-used term.

How do you define leadership, and how can a fresh grad grow as a leader within your organisation, and subsequently, your sector?

Leadership starts with self-discipline and demonstrating a good attitude towards work and dealing with other stakeholders which will then set a good example to motivate and guide people to act towards turning a common vision into reality. Leaders inspire people through a shared goal and create an environment for people to grow intellectually, emotionally and mentally.

Fresh graduates should hold themselves to the highest ethical standards. Be reliable, take ownership and be decisive. Constantly seek out solutions by thinking out of the box and be proactive and strategise. Plan ahead and do not be afraid to take calculated risks.

Name three (3) things an employee can do to build up their leadership skills from a very early stage in their career e.g. their internship or probation period.

• Develop discipline in your professional and personal life. It is crucial in order to be an

effective leader. Step out of your comfort zone and have the initiative to always be proactive and inquisitive, and keep learning • Strive for intellectual curiosity and a desire to solve complex problems. Always volunteer to work on tasks or projects beyond your normal course of duties to gain valuable experience especially as a leader and not mere follower • Dive deep into enhancing your communication skills. Successful communication helps us better understand people and situations. It helps us overcome diversities, build trust and respect and deepen relations in personal and professional life.

In your opinion, what are the qualities that separate the leaders from the managers?

I believe in the saying, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way”.

• Leaders are change adopters; managers maintain the status quo Leaders are proud disrupters. Innovation is their mantra. They inculcate the “thinking out of the box” mentality, and know that even if things are working, there could be better ways forward. Managers merely stick with what works without seeking out what could work better • Leaders take risks, managers control risk Leaders are willing to try new things even if they may fail miserably. They know that failure is often a step on the path to success, therefore are willing to take calculated risks. Managers work to minimise risk. They seek to avoid or control problems rather than embracing them to improve • Leaders are compassionate, show empathy and humility The daily practice of putting the wellbeing of others first has a compounding and reciprocal effect in building mutually trustful relationships.

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How do you find that balance between your personal commitments and your professional ambitions?

• Focus & Plan I determine my priorities and make a mental to-do list at work and at home. I plan my work, and then work that plan and turn my priorities into achievable goals. I set aside some time the night before and early morning before I start the day to plan my tasks and activities for the day and sometimes a week ahead • Self-Care & Discipline Being in good shape physically, mentally and emotionally is crucial for achieving good work and personal life balance. As I grow older, I’ve realised that self-care is the best way to relieve stress, raise energy levels, increase stamina, improve mental clarity and boost the immune system.

In your opinion, what is your most winning personal habit i.e. something you do every day that continues to help you grow as a person.

I subscribe to the mantra of always giving my best in whatever I do and to never settle for mediocrity. Striving to be better means adopting a learning mindset and being inquisitive. With this, even the simplest things will spark joy such as recognising others’ enjoyment of the fruit of your labour or when you see your stakeholders acknowledging tasks that have exceeded their expectations.

Can you tell our readers one thing they may not know about you i.e. an interesting hobby you might have, or a personal accomplishment you have attained in the past, etc I enjoy cooking and can cook reasonably well, too! People always have the perception that corporate ladies are only effective in the workplace but would not get their hands dirty in the kitchen.

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Pharmaniaga Logistics Sdn Bhd LEARNING FROM

LEADERS

ROSHADA DAUD Manager, Training & Development

Good communication skills. This is the common skill all high-performance leaders possess. It is crucial to have good communication skills especially when cascading messages down to your team.

You have to clearly explain your vision to your team and be transparent when communicating so that they will understand and work together to achieve the common goals.

QUALIFICATION BSc Nutrition & Community Health

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 11 years

Leadership is a loosely-used term.

How do you define leadership, and how can a fresh grad grow as a leader within your organisation, and subsequently, your sector?

Leadership to me is how you inspire others to achieve their goals. As a fresh graduate, you have to be passionate in what you do and be positive about the challenges that you will inevitably be facing. Do not be shy to show your talent, communicate well with others, and deliver your tasks creatively.

Name three (3) things an employee can do to build up their leadership skills from a very early stage in their career e.g. their internship or probation period.

A positive attitude is key to success. Without a positive attitude, it will be hard to influence your followers and further build up your leadership skills.

Serve as a role model. People observe everything you do; how you react, how you respond, how you deliver your message: all of it will be evaluated by others. If you portray good behaviour, the result will be visible to the people around you, and they will start admiring you.

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In your opinion, what are the qualities that separate the leaders from the managers?

Leaders should lead by example and continue to guide and coach their teams to achieve success together. Great leaders always have a vision in mind on what to achieve in the future, and they will regularly share the vision with their team and discuss on ways to achieve it.

Leaders are also always eager for opinions and suggestions for improvement.

Managers on the other hand are mostly concerned about operations. They sometimes tend to overlook employees’ needs.

How do you find that balance between your personal commitments and your professional ambitions?

I think it goes well together and I love what I am doing right now.

I’m very passionate about learning and development. I am also excited when it comes to analysing their training needs and possible trainings to fill up the gaps.

Seeing our employees attend trainings

and listening to their success stories about how they have made a difference in their department or how they have been recognised by their immediate superiors is the highest satisfaction in my job.

As someone who has been servicing this company for more than 11 years, I still find my job doing training analysis, configuring the next leaders in the organisation, and upskilling our employees enticing and exciting. We have a lot of opportunities to explore and a lot of potential to tap into.

In your opinion, what is your most winning personal habit i.e. something you do every day that continues to help you grow as a person.

Think Positive! Just focus on good things instead of having bad thoughts. If you think positively, you can make your life easier and you can always find the solutions you need.

It is also good for your health!

Can you tell our readers one thing they may not know about you i.e. an interesting hobby you might have, or a personal accomplishment you have attained in the past, etc I just discovered that I have talent in baking.

I was experimenting during the Movement Control Order where I had to work from home with all my kids around. Trying new recipes, as a working mother, I was surprised to find that I could still cook good food for my family.

“THINK POSITIVE! JUST FOCUS ON GOOD THINGS INSTEAD OF HAVING BAD THOUGHTS. IF YOU THINK POSITIVELY, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER AND YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND THE SOLUTIONS YOU NEED.” gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 95

PwC Malaysia LEARNING FROM

LEADERS

YAP SAU SHIUNG Partner, Tax Technology

Name three (3) things an employee can do to build up their leadership skills from a very early stage in their career e.g. their internship or probation period.

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Economics (Accounting & Finance)

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP CPA Australia

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 25 years

Leadership is a loosely-used term.

How do you define leadership, and how can a fresh grad grow as a leader within your organisation, and subsequently, your sector?

I think of leadership as the art of leading.

Leadership encompasses a wide variety of styles and skills that are employed as appropriate, depending on context and circumstances. Fresh graduates need to recognise that leadership is not binary, and developing leadership is a lifelong process, as with many other aspects of growing in any organisation.

Start with the foundational areas, such as communication skills, managing people, technical capabilities, and business acumen, and grow your range and depth of mastery from here. There is plenty of literature out there to help you understand leadership frameworks, which should be supplemented with learning on the job.

• Learn by observing and interacting with the leader(s) within your organisation that you admire. Their experiences can be an invaluable resource in developing your career • Read books, articles, or listen/watch online resources • Find opportunities to get involved in a range of projects that will allow you to build on different skills

In your opinion, what are the qualities that separate the leaders from the managers?

The roles of a leader and a manager are often indistinct as both roles may be held by the same person. However, the difference between leading and managing is: • A leader provides vision and direction for the organisation and aligns the people and the organisation to the vision • A manager manages – this includes organising and coordinating activities and ensuring the performance of teams to make sure goals are achieved

How do you find that balance between your personal commitments and your professional ambitions?

It is a matter of priorities and setting goals, and then making choices. There are always going to be trade-offs: more of this and less of that.

For me, it is often down to what is important at different stages of my personal life and professional career. In seeking

that balance, I think taking a step back and having a few moments for self-reflection every now and then helps me assess what my priorities are, and what works or doesn’t in achieving them.

In your opinion, what is your most winning personal habit i.e. something you do every day that continues to help you grow as a person.

It would be my pursuit of continuous improvement: “How can I do this better?” or “How do I explain things so that the team understands me better?” and more.

A good way to continue improving myself is by doing regular “Take 5” – a real-time, informal chat after a meeting or a project, to solicit feedback from my team members.

This forces me to think outside the box, to collaborate with and to learn from others in the moment, which helps steer myself and my outcomes in the right direction.

Can you tell our readers one thing they may not know about you i.e. an interesting hobby you might have, or a personal accomplishment you have attained in the past, etc I am a fan of Jack Reacher, who is the protagonist of a crime thriller novel series

by Lee Child. I have a huge collection of these books, and a growing collection at that. Apart from reading, I also love ironing. I regard ironing as my “me time” and actually look forward to my ironing session every weekend!

“FRESH GRADUATES NEED TO RECOGNISE THAT LEADERSHIP IS NOT BINARY, AND DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP IS A LIFELONG PROCESS.”

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Samsung Malaysia Electronics LEARNING FROM

LEADERS

SEAN OH Head of Online Business

Name three (3) things an employee can do to build up their leadership skills from a very early stage in their career e.g. their internship or probation period.

QUALIFICATION MBA – Business Admin, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, US, 1997

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 1 year and 2 months

Leadership is a loosely-used term.

How do you define leadership, and how can a fresh grad grow as a leader within your organisation, and subsequently, your sector?

I define leadership in three key points. First, a leader should have the ability to build trust and communicate well with his or her team. Second, a leader should provide clear directions, priorities and achievable goals.

Finally, a good leader must understand each team member’s strengths and weaknesses and be able to maximise those strengths, while helping them overcome areas in which they are weak in.

In the e-commerce area, there are lots of great opportunities for fresh grads. In fact, it has been the most popular industry among fresh grads with opportunities in Sales, Marketing, Merchandising, IT, Customer Support to Logistics and Warehouse Management.

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First, when you take on an internship, do try to experience this to the full. Besides learning about the business, processes and strategies, make sure you observe current and potential leaders that are within the organisation. Who or what do you think makes a good leader and who would you want to emulate?

Second, expand your interests and knowledge and deep dive into them. Set up different projects with measurable goals or KPIs. This will broaden and test your project and timeline management skills which are crucial traits required by leaders.

Finally, take on responsibilities to lead and grow. If you fear failure, you’ll never succeed. Know that you will make mistakes and you will fail at times, but make sure you learn from them.

In your opinion, what are the qualities that separate the leaders from the managers?

All leaders make good managers but not all managers make good leaders and there are a number of qualities that explain this. Your personality and attitude define you. If you are negatively inclined, can’t see beyond a problem or seek to blame others, then you can’t lead. You need to be responsible and have a sense of ownership and should be able to tolerate changes and pressure, whether from your team or client.

Strong inter-personal skills will help future leaders not only manage people and deadlines, but also enable collaboration and build strong relationships. Your attitude also shapes your ability to lead. If you nurture a fighting spirit and train yourself to believe everything is possible, then these skills will help you overcome challenges as they arrive.

How do you find that balance between your personal commitments and your professional ambitions?

It is always hard to keep a good balance between work and personal commitments.

Both areas will keep changing over the years.

My advice is to plan ahead and understand your own ability and capacity. There will be some periods when work consumes your time, especially when you are nearing completion of major projects. You will have to keep in mind that these aren’t permanent and learn to balance this by focusing on your personal growth.

In your opinion, what is your most winning personal habit i.e. something you do every day that continues to help you grow as a person.

With the pandemic upsetting every sector of the economy, remaining positive has helped me find possibilities even amidst the uncertainty. I also advocate remaining humble and understanding, as these qualities help me empathise and see the world from the perspective of others, making it easier for me to know when someone in my team may be struggling.

Can you tell our readers one thing they may not know about you i.e. an interesting hobby you might have, or a personal accomplishment you have attained in the past, etc I have extensive experience in the e-commerce sector in Malaysia. I was a pioneer in helping help big corporations such as Reebonz.com, Axiata, 11street.my and JD.com build their entry strategies and goto-market plans to launch their e-commerce platforms in Malaysia and other South East Asian countries.

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 97

TDCX (MY) Sdn. Bhd. (formerly known as Teledirect Telecommerce) LEARNING FROM

LEADERS

JACKIE CHAN HR Director

Name three (3) things an employee can do to build up their leadership skills from a very early stage in their career e.g. their internship or probation period.

• Pick up organisational and leading competencies • Put people at heart and lead with empathy • Work in teams rather than in isolation.

QUALIFICATIONS BA (First Class Honours) Business Admin, University of Herfordshire, UK, 1999; MBA (Strategic Marketing), University of Lincoln, UK, 2005

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP CAHRI

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 2 months

Leadership is a loosely-used term.

How do you define leadership, and how can a fresh grad grow as a leader within your organisation, and subsequently, your sector?

Leadership is the ability to get things done through others without putting others at a disadvantage. It is about helping ordinary people achieve extraordinary results. It’s about developing critical thinking, problem solving, and processing improvement skills in others as well as giving them the opportunity to apply these skills and have an input on decisions.

Leadership is not about titles, neither it is about seniority. It is the ability to identify the individual strengths of your team and become more.

In your opinion, what are the qualities that separate the leaders from the managers?

The leader inspires trust whereas the manager relies on control.

The leader is someone who inspires someone to be their best and knows how to appropriately set the tempo and pace for the rest of the team. Leadership is not what you do, it’s what others do in response to you. As the saying goes, “If no one shows up to your march, then you’re not really a leader.”

How do you find that balance between your personal commitments and your professional ambitions?

A well-organised schedule, time management, and organisational skills are my priorities so that I can focus on both my professional and personal commitments. Especially during this COVID-19 period where working from home is the norm, what’s important is knowing when you’re working and when you’re not. If you’re constantly on-call or are always ready to respond to an email, your time at home will start to feel like an extension of the office.

Having designated hours to work and designated hours of rest increases your happiness and productivity across the board. Work-life balance isn’t just about putting the appropriate number of hours into each facet of your life, it’s also about being around for the key moments.

98 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

In your opinion, what is your most winning personal habit i.e. something you do every day that continues to help you grow as a person.

I have the qualities of a coach and mentor.

I strive to empower and inspire those around me, and seeing them grow is my greatest joy. I try to give one piece of constructive feedback each day as it puts me in the mindset of constant growth and improvement.

I also make it a point to meet with my team every day. This helps us to stay close and gain valuable insights as to how we can better achieve our goals together. Begin with an end in mind and always believe in “sharpening the saw” as it is written in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Can you tell our readers one thing they may not know about you i.e. an interesting hobby you might have, or a personal accomplishment you have attained in the past, etc I may look serious, but I am a comedian, I love making people laugh. I also enjoy travelling for work and leisure, and listening to music helps me to relax and focus.

My greatest accomplishment is to be where I am today, to have been able to contribute my knowledge to various industries over the years. I have mentored and created leaders in my field of work.

As for my aspirations, I have always believed in a lifelong learning journey and I hope to someday pursue my doctorate in business administration.

malaysias100.com

Top Glove Corporation Berhad LEARNING FROM

LEADERS

MELISSA CHEOH HOOI GAIK Chief Financial Controller

Name three (3) things an employee can do to build up their leadership skills from a very early stage in their career e.g. their internship or probation period.

QUALIFICATION Master of Business Administration (MBA), International Business, University of East London Royal Docks Business School, UK

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 1 year and 4 months

Leadership is a loosely-used term.

How do you define leadership, and how can a fresh grad grow as a leader within your organisation, and subsequently, your sector?

Fresh grads can learn best by having an open mind and by not being too fussy about what tasks they want or prefer to do. Every task, no matter how menial it appears to be, has a particular purpose.

In manufacturing, it is all about precision and discipline, as well as adopting a mindset of safety. To excel, one must be prepared to be hands-on in every single aspect. Only when armed with real hands-on experience can a fresh grad someday lead with conviction and respect.

The three key things critical to a fresh grad in honing their leadership skills are (i) listening, (ii) communication, and (iii) execution.

Listening skills are one of the most important traits. Your future bosses will not repeat instructions twice, and if you didn’t catch the meaning, this is where your communication skills come in. Please do not hesitate to ask questions to your colleagues or superiors: it is better than keeping quiet and making things worse. Execution, on the other hand, is always easier said than done, but what can really prove your worth is the determined result of your execution.

In your opinion, what are the qualities that separate the leaders from the managers?

Here’s the way I see it: A leader influences, a manager instructs.

A leader helps to bring out the best in their people and lets the staff take the credit.

A leader will always be there to push the team to excel as a whole.

How do you find that balance between your personal commitments and your professional ambitions?

Enjoying my work and achieving my personal goals is my method of integrating my professional and personal commitments.

When one enjoys what they are doing, that in itself is the balance.

In your opinion, what is your most winning personal habit i.e. something you do every day that continues to help you grow as a person.

I read every night, no matter how late I finish work. I must read. There is always something to learn. It is the power of tiny and consistent gains.

Ask yourself this: If we can improve by 1% every day, how much can we improve in 365 days? We will be better by 38 times. It isn’t so hard to improve by 1% every day, to add value to our lives. All we need is to push ourselves a little, and give ourselves a pat on our backs afterwards. As I mentioned earlier, it is all about adding value to our lives every single day.

Can you tell our readers one thing they may not know about you i.e. an interesting hobby you might have, or a personal accomplishment you have attained in the past, etc I play the piano. When I hear the sound of the notes, it relaxes my body and soothes my soul.

“IT ISN’T SO HARD TO IMPROVE BY 1% EVERY DAY, TO ADD VALUE TO OUR LIVES. ALL WE NEED IS TO PUSH OURSELVES A LITTLE, AND GIVE OURSELVES A PAT ON OUR BACKS AFTERWARDS.” malaysias100.com

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HOW TO GET HIRED CAMPUS TALKS

S E C T I O N

6

WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT In this section, we speak to leading graduate employers on their ideal job candidate. Here is what they have to say.

AIA Shared Services Sdn Bhd....................................... 102 Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad................................... 103 AmBank (M) Berhad..................................................... 104 Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad....................................... 105 EY................................................................................. 106 Gamuda Berhad........................................................... 107 KPMG............................................................................ 108 Maybank ...................................................................... 109 Nestlé Malaysia............................................................110 OCBC Bank.................................................................... 111 PwC Malaysia ...............................................................112 Samsung Malaysia Electronics....................................113 TDCX (MY) Sdn. Bhd. .................................................... 114 Top Glove Corporation Berhad......................................115

AIA Shared Services Sdn Bhd

WHAT EMPLOYERS

WANT

What would you say are the weakest areas within the entry-level job applications you and your team review day-in and day-out?

Starting off with a job for the first time after graduation is a big change for the candidates.

Firstly, they are not sure of what kind of roles they are interested in, and secondly, they are not able to articulate clearly on their career goals. Achieving these goals during the interview would help both parties ensure that the candidate is the right fit for the role.

What is the first thing a fresh grad should unlearn from his/her days in university?

On the flip side, what is the one lesson (or habit) they should carry with them from the classroom to the boardroom?

HIEW KUM YUEN Head, Hong Kong Claims

QUALIFICATION BSc (Hons) University of Malaya

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI); Associate, Life and Health Claims (ALHC); Associate, Customer Service (ACS); Associate, Insurance Agency Administration (AIAA); Certificate, Underwriting Life and Health Insurance

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 11 years

The classroom and boardroom have similarities and differences. Similarities include the freedom to ask questions and seeking clarity from the lecturer or team leader, while differences include managing customers’ expectations which is nonexistent in the classroom. Fresh grads should quickly unlearn “me” and learn more of “we” when it comes to the boardroom.

One habit they should carry with them is making new friends, collaborating via great teamwork and seeking clarity when unsure, so that the learning and self-development can continue into their working life.

Please name just one skill (or quality) you think is more important for fresh grads to have today as compared to ten years ago.

With the advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the rapid adoption of social media, especially amongst young adults today, the way individuals communicate has changed drastically.

Today, communication via apps using short words and abbreviations instead of full sentences have somehow affected the ability of a person to communicate articulately.

This is especially crucial in service-oriented industries where communication skills are vital in dealing with customers, whether verbally or in written form.

102 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

On the other hand, what skill (or quality) do you think is becoming more and more irrelevant?

Rapid technological advancements have transformed many processes into full automation, including complex mathematic calculations, decision making process and data analysis through the use of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). Therefore, skills related to calculations or those based on logical formulations may become irrelevant.

How would you recommend students improve their communication skills before they head out for interviews?

Communication comes with confidence and being at ease. Such ability may not be able to change overnight, therefore constant practicing of verbal conversations with friends, coursemates and family members would help build confidence and sharpen communication skills in the long run.

How big of a role does common courtesy play during the job application process?

“Manners maketh man.”

Our mannerism and courtesy project an image of who we are in general. Therefore, having good common courtesy will give a good first impression, especially during the interview process. Along the way, being able to express oneself clearly would help the interviewer and interviewee assess the suitability and fit between the candidate and the role.

“HAVING GOOD COMMON COURTESY WILL GIVE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION, ESPECIALLY DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.”

malaysias100.com

Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad

WHAT EMPLOYERS

WANT

SEE YAP SIANG Head, Talent Acquisition

QUALIFICATIONS Degree (Hons) in Economics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), 1999; Masters in Industrial & Organisational Psychology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), 2000

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 6 years and 8 months

“FOR A START, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS RESEARCH THE ROLE THAT YOU ARE APPLYING FOR AND THINK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN ADD VALUE TO THE COMPANY.”

malaysias100.com

What would you say are the weakest areas within the entry-level job applications you and your team review day-in and day-out?

Please name just one skill (or quality) you think is more important for fresh grads to have today as compared to ten years ago.

It pleases recruiters to have candidates who are well prepared and clear on the role they have applied for. Talk to friends or seniors who have been in the workforce to discover the roles or company culture. While the transition from being a student to working adult can be frightening and unsettling, you should embrace the change and adapt quickly to it.

For a start, you should always research the role that you are applying for and think about how you can add value to the company. Having a firm grasp of the details pertaining to the role and organisation is also crucial because it builds trust and facilitates meaningful communication with the recruiter.

Agility is an indispensable skill in today’s business climate. This skill is important as it allows you to better adapt to changes. Being agile also means that you are able to seize opportunities that come your way, as well as anticipate issues or trends that you can capitalise on.

On the other hand, what skill (or quality) do you think is becoming more and more irrelevant?

While I believe all skills are relevant and needed at the workplace, a top-down hierarchical approach is now less significant. Today, the workplace is diverse, inter-generational, and multi-racial. The younger workforce is driven to work for an organisation that shares their purpose and values; hence an open two-way communication between the employer and employee is key.

What is the first thing a fresh grad should unlearn from his/her days in university?

On the flip side, what is the one lesson (or habit) they should carry with them from the classroom to the boardroom? How would you recommend students The one thing that fresh graduates should improve their communication skills unlearn is that not everything is made ready for them. They must understand that, in the before they head out for interviews? working world, they need to learn to adapt and be resourceful.

I recommend that young graduates always stay curious about the world. Curiosity reflects a person’s constant awareness of his surroundings. But don’t just limit to observing what is around you; go a step further to understand because that breeds agility and innovation.

Never shy away from asking questions too! This will help you better understand how things work in a company as everything in an organisation is interlinked. Ask the hard questions because you will never know what new ideas it may spark!

You are also encouraged to get involved in projects that are outside of your work scope to expand your horizons and gain new knowledge.

I suggest that fresh graduates read up about the company they are applying to, understand the competitive landscape, and keep themselves updated about the industry.

It is also good to learn more about the company’s vision and values. They should also practise the interview with a friend beforehand.

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 103

AmBank (M) Berhad

WHAT EMPLOYERS

WANT

What would you say are the weakest areas within the entry-level job applications you and your team review day-in and day-out?

It has been a common observation that the expected salary stated in fresh graduate profiles tend to be a bit on the high side. Fresh graduates must understand that employers’ salary scale commensurate with the years of experience and required competencies.

While fresh graduates may have their own expectation, they should not be quick to reject job offers just because the salary is unattractive. Instead, consider the offer as an opportunity to gain the working experience needed to enhance their profiles.

ARIFF IKHWAN BIN FAADRUL REZA Human Resource Business Partner (Manager)

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) Human Resource Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 2013

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 2 years and 6 months

On the other hand, what skill (or quality) do you think is becoming more and more irrelevant?

The advancement in technology has created new avenues for employees to explore. For example, manual skills are being replaced by automation through software and machines, especially in routine operations. Therefore, employees should explore the possibilities of acquiring new skill sets in line with the rapidly changing workplace, in order to keep themselves relevant.

How would you recommend students improve their communication skills before they head out for interviews?

The key to improving one’s communication skills is confidence! The best way to build confidence and succeed an interview session is through preparation. Before attending an interview, students may brainstorm the expected questions and responses. Be ready to elaborate on the achievements and Once a fresh graduate enters the working experiences stated in your résumé. Read world, he or she should come to realise that up on the company that you have applied not all answers to the everyday challenges for and the current issues pertaining to can be found in a book. Instead, critical the company and industry. Preparation thinking and experience will help in coming enhances confidence and this will help you up with the ideas and solutions to address communicate fluently during the interview. such challenges.

During university days, a positive attitude How big of a role does common courtesy towards learning is one of the contributing play during the job application process? factors to academic success. Similarly, in As the saying goes, a little bit of courtesy goes the workplace, success starts with the right a long way. Similarly, in the job application attitude; strong work ethics. Attitude is one of process, common courtesy plays a role the elements possessed by a high potential in making an impression to your potential employee, in addition to knowledge and skills. employer. This could be as simple as being

What is the first thing a fresh grad should unlearn from his/her days in university?

On the flip side, what is the one lesson (or habit) they should carry with them from the classroom to the boardroom?

Please name just one skill (or quality) respectful of the interview session scheduled you think is more important for fresh for you, by showing up prepared and early. grads to have today as compared to ten years ago.

Successful people in the world have one skill in common, which is creative and critical thinking! This skill is particularly helpful in the development of new ideas and solutions to address business needs in the continuous evolving world. Particularly with more and more companies embracing digital transformation, it becomes vital that the creative and critical thinking skills of students should be honed in universities today.

104 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

“PREPARATION ENHANCES CONFIDENCE AND THIS WILL HELP YOU COMMUNICATE FLUENTLY DURING THE INTERVIEW.”

malaysias100.com

Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad

WHAT EMPLOYERS

WANT

What would you say are the weakest areas within the entry-level job applications you and your team On the other hand, what skill (or quality) do you think is becoming more and more review day-in and day-out?

At the start of any career, one should strive irrelevant? to acquire knowledge and experience.

Communication is key. The first step to effective communication is to listen well before responding. By listening well, candidates reflect qualities of tenacity and humility, seeking to understand before being understood. Another area for improvement is the sense of accountability to see things through to completeness.

SAZRIN BINTI MOHD RAZAK Assistant General Manager, Strategic Planning

QUALIFICATIONS BA (Hons) Accounting & Financial Management, University of Essex, UK, 1998; Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK, 2000

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 7 years and 10 months

“FAILURE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW. SO, FRESH GRADS NEED TO BE ABLE TO “UNLEARN” – TO BE AGILE AND ADAPTABLE. ”

malaysias100.com

Labour markets across the globe are in dire straits as the COVID-19 pandemic has restricted movement and economic activities, raising unemployment rates. However, there is a silver lining to every crisis – the epidemic presents an opportune time to reinvent our labour market.

Technology is a double-edged sword. We are now seeing a pivot to automation and digitisation at the workplace. It can replace What is the first thing a fresh grad should workers but can also create new jobs. The unlearn from his/her days in university? Malaysian economy has seen a rise in serviceOn the flip side, what is the one lesson based activities. The way work is organised (or habit) they should carry with them is also changing, as repetitive tasks are from the classroom to the boardroom? automated. The focus in the past was on hard, Fresh graduates need to unlearn the belief routine skills, which can also be laborious, and that preparing a long time for something, it is no longer the case now. New demands are then showing up and proving yourself in a created not only for digital literacy but also singular moment is the way to success. That soft skills, such as innovation. was how exams worked. One cannot look How would you recommend students back and improve on it. Even researchers improve their communication skills take a few iterations to “get it right”.

Therefore, one of the most common before they head out for interviews? questions in any job interview is, “How did We must look and feel comfortable when you deal with a failure in a previous project?” communicating our thoughts across. To be Failure is an opportunity to grow. So, fresh able to do that is to know the subject matter grads need to be able to “unlearn” – to be and to articulate it well. Exposure – through materials and actionable or interactive agile and adaptable.

On the flip side, those long, hard work environment. The more we read, the more nights preparing for exams reflect one’s exposed we are, not only in the subject area tenacity. Bring that hunger with you, for but also vocabulary, linguistic styles and resiliency is a capability that lasts a lifetime. more importantly, flow of thought.

Please name just one skill (or quality) you think is more important for fresh grads to have today as compared to ten years ago.

How big of a role does common courtesy play during the job application process?

Common courtesy is an opportunity to demonstrate one’s social and emotional capabilities when interacting, reflecting not only For fresh graduates, the ability to maturity and humility but also self-leadership demonstrate higher cognitive capabilities when faced with opportunities yet challenged is the turnkey to an excellent career by interviewers as well as competitors. opportunity. Strategic thinking and I am fortunate to have had the chance articulating it is about having a clear flow of to work with a prominent leader who has thought on any subject matter. Graduates can led organisations in various industries – enhance their value proposition by providing his thoughts to excellent and sustainable a big picture of why their response is such, leadership?

Unquestionable Integrity; then substantiate it with statistics or real-life Competency; and Humility. cases. This increases the graduate’s standing I stand by these prerequisites to take one from “employable” to “high growth potential”. far and beyond.

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 105

EY

WHAT EMPLOYERS

WANT

What would you say are the weakest areas within the entry-level job applications you and your team stay ahead of the competition, because the review day-in and day-out?

Spelling and grammatical errors are a relatively common sight. A résumé speaks a great deal about candidates; hence it is important to have a structured, well-positioned and concise résumé to make a positive first impression.

A well-written résumé should also be tailored to the organisation and the role that the candidates are applying for as it will help recruiters easily evaluate their skills to match the job specifications.

future of work will be radically different, and the pace of change today is much faster than what it was 10 years ago.

On the other hand, what skill (or quality) do you think is becoming more and more irrelevant?

As technology advances, many human abilities will be replaced with automation. The skills that will become irrelevant are those that involve significant physical or basic cognitive abilities, as there is a higher likelihood that automation and artificial intelligence may replace the need for these skills.

What is the first thing a fresh grad should unlearn from his/her days in university?

On the flip side, what is the one lesson (or habit) they should carry with them How would you recommend students from the classroom to the boardroom? improve their communication skills Some graduates have a habit of waiting before they head out for interviews?

LEE SOO FERN

Partner, Malaysia Talent Leader, EY Asean Diversity & Inclusiveness Leader

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting & Finance), University of New South Wales

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS CPA Australia; Member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA); Member of the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA)

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 31 years

“ATTITUDE PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN THE WORKPLACE; THEREFORE, IT IS OBSERVED RIGHT FROM THE JOB APPLICATION STAGE.”

for instructions before starting on a task.

In university, it’s understandable that lecturers may first provide instructions on how assignments should be done, but in the working world, everyone is encouraged to take initiative and “think outside the box”. Those who are curious and proactive are usually the ones who can keep up with new ideas as they emerge, unlike the ones who keep waiting to be told what to do.

On the other hand, if there is one lesson that graduates should bring from their university days, it is knowing how to get along with different types of people, or what we call “networking”. It is important to build relationships in business as it helps to put people ahead of latest trends in the industry, meet prospective mentors and clients, and gain access to necessary resources that will foster their career development.

Communication is a skill that requires technique and real-life practice to master.

Before an interview, it’s advisable for students to run through the job description of the position they’re applying for and prepare a few statements about their background that concisely explain why they are the right person for the job.

Remember that non-verbal communication such as gestures and eye contact also play an important role in demonstrating confidence.

Always stage a rehearsal, as rehearsed job interviews often result in better actual interviews.

How big of a role does common courtesy play during the job application process?

Demonstrating common courtesy is of course very important in any job application process, since it provides recruiters and interviewers a glimpse of the candidate’s personality. It can Please name just one skill (or quality) be expressed in many ways, such as greeting you think is more important for fresh others warmly, being respectful of others’ time grads to have today as compared to ten and opinions, dressing appropriately, and even years ago. something as basic as saying “please” and Amidst the current digital disruption, “agility” “thank you”. is one of the critical skills that is fundamental Attitude plays a key role in the workplace; to graduates looking to start their careers and therefore, it is observed right from the job prepare for the future. Being agile is essential application stage. There is always a fine as it gives fresh graduates a leading edge in balance between confidence, professionalism adapting to different situations and embracing and modesty regardless of whether one is a the rapid and constant change in today’s fresh graduate or an experienced professional, industries. Being agile will also help them be so, demonstrating good manners certainly flexible to market demands and continuously goes a long way.

106 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

malaysias100.com

Gamuda Berhad

WHAT EMPLOYERS

WANT

What would you say are the weakest areas within the entry-level job applications you and your team review day-in and day-out?

In my opinion, it is not easy to generalise the weakest areas amongst applicants as each individual is uniquely qualified. However, if there are specific areas to look into, it would be the insufficient preparation shown by potential candidates, coupled with the lack of hunger for the job applied, even though they are capable or have the right qualifications for the role.

What is the first thing a fresh grad should unlearn from his/her days in university?

On the flip side, what is the one lesson (or habit) they should carry with them from the classroom to the boardroom?

ONG BOON TEIK Manager – Talent Acquisition

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Business (Accounting), Monash University, Australia

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR About 2 years

“IN THIS FAST-MOVING DIGITAL AGE, THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO RESPOND SWIFTLY WITH INNOVATIVE, YET PRACTICAL IDEAS ARE USUALLY A FEW STEPS AHEAD OF OTHERS.”

malaysias100.com

Set behaviours and habits are often difficult to break but to succeed in the working world, graduates should learn not to depend on others to actively provide them with information. Instead, they are required to take initiative and be an employee who is continuously curious to learn and not be afraid to ask the right questions in order to be equipped with knowledge.

Hard work combined with tenacity (or grit) are key qualities to have for self and career development. Similar to the pursuit of a university qualification, climbing the corporate ladder or leading successful projects would demand the same attitude, dedication, and commitment.

On the other hand, what skill (or quality) do you think is becoming more and more irrelevant?

Any operational or administrative skill-sets that can be easily automated will risk being made irrelevant with time. Students are advised to keep abreast with employment trends and to be in the know of skill-sets and qualities that employers look for from time to time. These should align with their desired fields of studies, and eventual career path, thus ensuring their employability and remaining relevant within and beyond industries.

How would you recommend students improve their communication skills before they head out for interviews?

An interview session, be it face-to-face or via a digital platform, is an opportunity to discuss the candidate’s suitability. It is also for both interviewer and interviewee to find out more about each other, the company, and the role.

Having good written, verbal and nonverbal communication skills are equally important in the job application and interview process. A simple way to improve verbal communication is to practise having conversations and observe one’s response and body language, as well as getting constructive feedback for self-improvement.

Lastly, nothing is more important than to have confidence and an open mind when attending an interview session. Do remember to smile too!

Please name just one skill (or quality) you think is more important for fresh How big of a role does common courtesy grads to have today as compared to ten play during the job application process?

I would say common courtesy can be a key years ago.

With the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) upon us, graduates today need to be skilled in a multitude of things, and learning agility is probably the most relevant skill in current times. This translates into the ability to adapt and learn new things quickly, and apply it effectively and efficiently in managing and solving issues at hand.

In this fast-moving digital age, those who are able to respond swiftly with innovative, yet practical ideas are usually a few steps ahead of others. Fortunately, it is a skill which can be trained and honed.

determining factor whether the candidate, however qualified, gets the job or not. Common courtesy applies to everyone from the candidate to the company’s representative, as a sign of professionalism.

We have been taught to have good manners: to be polite, respectful, and kind to others. All of these are applicable during the job application process, and it starts from the time the candidate submits a job application to being shortlisted and called for an interview.

These qualities should also extend throughout one’s career and come as second nature.

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 107

KPMG

WHAT EMPLOYERS

WANT

It is also a good time to sharpen your What would you say are the weakest areas within the entry-level job capabilities and be recognised as a valuable applications you and your team employee to your company. At the same time, don’t forget to be humble and be open to review day-in and day-out?

The biggest key to nailing an interview is preparation. When candidates come to interviews with insufficient knowledge of the firm or the applied role, recruiters find it quite alarming. It may convey the applicant’s lack of preparation and interest, which is unfavourable for any recruiter. This applies to typos on résumés as well. Always make sure that your résumé has been proofread several times before submitting your applications.

DHARSHINI GUNASEELAN Talent Acquisition Lead

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management, SEGi University, 2013

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 4 years and 1 month

“WE SEEK ALLROUNDERS WITH BOTH ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.”

What is the first thing a fresh grad should unlearn from his/her days in university?

On the flip side, what is the one lesson (or habit) they should carry with them from the classroom to the boardroom?

Fresh graduates should unlearn the habit of missing classes or meetings. In university, classroom attendance may not affect others as much. However, this changes in work environments, as colleagues may be depending on them to update them regarding on-going engagements.

On the flipside, they should carry forward the culture of working in teams as they may have familiarised themselves with in university. Especially in large organisations like KPMG, working in teams is a common culture so always remember to remain diligent in this, regardless of how small or large the team is.

learning and feedback from your colleagues and seniors.

On the other hand, what skill (or quality) do you think is becoming more and more irrelevant?

One should have the ability to create data visualisations and analytics. This added skill will be of value to the organisation as it helps understand trends, outliers and patterns of data.

Recruiters don’t just focus on academic achievements when reviewing candidates.

Instead, we seek all-rounders with both academic excellence and active participation in extracurricular activities. We believe that academics is merely one of the many ways to assess the candidates’ capabilities and potential.

Relevant skills in the workplace are gained through leadership positions and volunteerism, not only through theoretical knowledge.

How would you recommend students improve their communication skills before they head out for interviews?

Personally, I benefitted tremendously from active participation in extracurricular activities, so I encourage students to be involved outside of their classrooms too. In university campuses especially, there are plenty of career preparatory events such as Please name just one skill (or quality) career fairs, workshops and forums. you think is more important for fresh Participate in those events as it helps grads to have today as compared to ten you familiarise with your company of years ago. interest. When participating, remember It’s important that fresh graduates learn to to ask questions to enhance confidence take advantage of the opportunities given to and communication skills. This is the best them and outperform. Often, fresh graduates way to practice theoretical knowledge on are hesitant and passive during first few communicative skills, before going for actual rounds of work engagements. This is normal, interviews. but try undertaking projects and engagements seriously and use them to learn about your personal strengths and weaknesses.

108 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

malaysias100.com

Maybank

WHAT EMPLOYERS

WANT

What would you say are the weakest areas within the entry-level job applications you and your team review day-in and day-out?

A common mistake applicants make would be to submit a résumé without knowing their audience. As an employer, we want to see résumés which reflect that applicants have done their homework for the position they are applying for. Showing us what you stand for and the value that you can bring to an organisation makes it easier to visualise what we can offer you.

SOPHIA ANG WUI JIUN

Head, Talent Attraction and Workplace Futurisation

QUALIFICATION Bachelor’s Degree, Biotechnology, Monash University, 2007

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 11 years and 5 months

“WE WANT TO SEE RÉSUMÉS WHICH REFLECT THAT APPLICANTS HAVE DONE THEIR HOMEWORK FOR THE POSITION THEY ARE APPLYING FOR.”

malaysias100.com

What is the first thing a fresh grad should unlearn from his/her days in university?

On the flip side, what is the one lesson (or habit) they should carry with them from the classroom to the boardroom?

Fresh graduates should remove the perception that whatever they studied for their degrees will decide their career paths or that their job scopes will exclusively remain within that area of study. To remain resilient, graduates must be agile. There are many situations where people who studied X, were hired for job Y and then ultimately practice Z. We realise that the highest CGPA does not guarantee the best performance in the workplace and we have to seek for more holistic individuals. Hence recruitment platforms like the Maybank GO Ahead.

Challenge (MGAC) were designed.

Please name just one skill (or quality) you think is more important for fresh grads to have today as compared to ten years ago.

a graduates’ potential. Hard skills can be taught but the mastery of it depends on one’s mindset and attitude.

On the other hand, what skill (or quality) do you think is becoming more and more irrelevant?

I don’t think any skill will become irrelevant over time, it may just be less utilised. As you pick up newer soft skills, you would just be increasing the arsenal of skills that you have, thus making you more attractive to employers. After all, no learning is wasted learning.

How would you recommend students improve their communication skills before they head out for interviews?

Do the necessary research on the company they are pursuing, be it details about the company or the specific job position they are applying for. We also encourage graduates to practice answering some of the most commonly asked interview questions.

The internet is a great source of information that graduates can utilise to read, research and even watch relevant videos to upskill themselves. Practice makes perfect and students should start early by seeking feedback from their mentors at universities, or even attend career engagement sessions to be fully exposed and maybe pick up a thing or two from the people they are networking with.

How big of a role does common courtesy play during the job application process?

It reflects a lot about a candidate. It gives an impression of congeniality and is definitely an important value. Being book smart does Possessing applicable soft skills such as not equate to being a good team player and strong work ethics, communication, creative ultimately, success in the workplace is a team and critical thinking, being a team player and effort and organisations value the ability of the ability to connect the dots are traits that individuals to work together in teams.

However, candidates should be able to appeal strongly to us.

Machines will change how we work and differentiate this trait from being a people we believe that these soft skills and digital pleaser. You must be able to speak up and be literacy; knowing how to use big data and firm about your thoughts. Having common Artificial Intelligence (AI) are increasingly courtesy should not make you afraid to important for us to become better performers. assert your opinions when it is necessary Additionally, the propensity and interest during any job application process. to learn and the courage to experiment remains an important indicator to us of

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Nestlé Malaysia

WHAT EMPLOYERS

WANT

What would you say are the weakest areas within the entry-level job applications you and your team review day-in and day-out?

BAANUPRIYA GUNASEGRAN Recruitment Specialist

QUALIFICATION BSc (Hons) Psychology, Sunway University, 2013

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 5 years and 6 months

“BEING CURIOUS AND EAGER TO LEARN AT EVERY POINT OF THE CAREER IS A TRAIT THAT WILL MOTIVATE ONE TO BUILD ONESELF PROFESSIONALLY.”

One of the weak points in entry level applications is a lack of details in a specific area of interest, making résumés appear rather generic. Recruiters are then unable to identify the candidates’ area of interest especially if their education background differs from the position they have applied for or are keen on.

Additionally, entry level applicants can improve their chances by including a practical showcase of their experience, projects, or tasks during university, especially in their area of interest. This is key as it outlines the candidates’ interests and active involvements as well as the potential experiences they have gained, highlighting not only functional but leadership and soft skills that they may have developed. This serves as an added advantage to any entry level application.

bringing new ideas to the workplace. Being connected allows us to be instantly exposed to creative solutions and new ways of working, and this helps us incorporate ideas and innovate in our respective work areas.

On the other hand, what skill (or quality) do you think is becoming more and more irrelevant?

The mindset shift that is currently being widely adopted is the notion of quality over quantity. In comparison to the ways of working in the past, the quantity or number of working hours are no longer viewed as highly in comparison to the quality of output one can deliver. Similarly, other shifts have resulted in improved working environments and conditions, and this is especially appreciated by young adults in the workforce.

How would you recommend students improve their communication skills before they head out for interviews?

It is key to prepare yourself for any interview session before you head out for it.

Firstly, ensure that you have thought your responses through, at least for the common interview questions so that they don’t catch you by surprise. Do have an idea of your responses in your mind. However, do not Fresh graduates should unlearn the concept memorise them word for word as this will of gaining knowledge or skills through appear rehearsed and insincere, leaving a lessons being presented to them in forms of poor impression among interviewers. teaching, or rather, obtaining answers to a Lastly, it is normal to feel nervous, problem from a textbook. especially before your very first interview.

They should take their learning up a notch Nevertheless, ensure that this does not by networking, being resourceful, and getting restrict you from speaking clearly and their hands dirty to learn a new skill or gain confidently during the session. Be ready to new experiences. In addition to that, being share your responses in a conversational curious and eager to learn at every point of manner as this will help you ease yourself the career is a trait that will motivate one to into the conversation. build oneself professionally.

What is the first thing a fresh grad should unlearn from his/her days in university?

On the flip side, what is the one lesson (or habit) they should carry with them from the classroom to the boardroom?

Please name just one skill (or quality) you think is more important for fresh grads to have today as compared to ten years ago.

Technology has grown so vast, it has become an important aspect in all job functions and industry. Using this to advantage, being resourceful is an important quality to be coupled with being technologically savvy in

110 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

How big of a role does common courtesy play during the job application process?

Common courtesy, especially during the job application process, does play a vital role. It creates the first impression of the candidate to the recruiters or the hiring panel.

malaysias100.com

OCBC Bank

WHAT EMPLOYERS

WANT

What would you say are the weakest areas within the entry-level job applications you and your team review day-in and day-out?

A modest résumé is what we are unenthused about the most. The résumé serves as document to market yourself to the employers, and a résumé that was created without much effort or thought put into it indicates that you don’t take the job application wholeheartedly.

For example, you should never eliminate important information or specifics even if it’s a role as simple as being a part-time promoter during your semester break. Typically, the work you have done may not correlate with that of your job application, however, the soft skills you have acquired from this experience is more significant than you may think.

KONG MUN HEING Tech Recruiter, Resourcing Centre

QUALIFICATION Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, UCSI University, 2012

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 2 years and 3 months

“AS A FRESH GRADUATE, YOU HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF MAKING MISTAKES, BUT LEARN FROM THEM AND SHOW THE EMPLOYER THAT YOU ARE WORTHY OF HIRE.”

malaysias100.com

What is the first thing a fresh grad should unlearn from his/her days in university?

On the flip side, what is the one lesson (or habit) they should carry with them from the classroom to the boardroom?

Fresh grads should stop thinking that they would continue to be spoon-fed once stepping into employment. You can’t keep relying on your co-workers or managers to solve the tiniest of problems. As a fresh graduate, you have the privilege of making mistakes, but learn from them and show the employer that you are worthy of hire.

The term “analytics” has become a household word and this word is commonly seen in job descriptions. There are a lot of jobs out there which will require you to make important decisions or develop solutions, and you will most likely need analytical skills to guide you with it.

On the other hand, what skill (or quality) do you think is becoming more and more irrelevant?

Employers look for two sets of skills when considering a job application: hard skills and soft skills. Most, if not all soft skills are undeniably still relevant today and will continue to be essential for employment.

It is however a different scenario for hard skills, whereby the skills needed for jobs today may not be the skills needed for jobs tomorrow.

One good example would be Microsoft Office, which has become so common.

How would you recommend students improve their communication skills before they head out for interviews?

You can have a first class degree and the perfect résumé but if you are lacking in communication skills or are unable to communicate effectively during the interview, chances are you would not be hired.

There isn’t any definite method to improve your communication skills for an interview.

Still, with enough time and continuous practice, anyone can master it. You can start by speaking English to everyone, but before doing so, you will need to get rid of the fear.

Additionally, for those who dislike reading, you can try watching movies or TV series in English, and you can start using those words in your everyday conversation so that you can talk fearlessly and confidently.

How big of a role does common courtesy play during the job application process?

There are many components in a job application.

First, there are the obvious things: have you done your research, have you fully understood the job description, etc. But then there are the Please name just one skill (or quality) less obvious things.

For example, you should avoid interviewing you think is more important for fresh pre/post lunchtime, or after official business grads to have today as compared to ten hours. There is a good chance that your time years ago. with the interviewer could either be shortened Emotional intelligence plays a big role in or you could be left waiting for a longer period the workplace. Research has shown that it of time. influences how one performs at work, manages Another piece of advice: be aware of how stress and conflict, and views job satisfaction. you treat recruiters. At the end of the day, hiring This emotional quotient or EQ as it is sometimes managers often circle back to the recruiters for referred to comes in handy when you undergo opinions, and if the recruiters aren’t treated well, the decision-making and problem-solving you might just miss a job opportunity. processes.

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PwC Malaysia

WHAT EMPLOYERS

WANT

What would you say are the weakest areas within the entry-level job applications you and your team review day-in and day-out?

The ability to share their experiences and their unique strengths can be improved.

Although technical capabilities are important for some roles, but for entry-level jobs, a lot of times attitude is more important as technical skills can be trained. Hence the ability to share their experience will provide employers with a good overview of what they are capable of, resulting in a higher chance of standing out among other applicants.

KENT TAN

Campus Engagement Lead, Manager

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Business Administration, UCSI

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 6 years and 1 month

“THE WORLD IS EVOLVING FASTER THAN WE THINK IT IS, HENCE IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE AGILE IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS.”

What is the first thing a fresh grad should unlearn from his/her days in university?

On the flip side, what is the one lesson (or habit) they should carry with them from the classroom to the boardroom?

There shouldn’t be anything that they should unlearn as everything that they have learned is important and can be applied in different situations. However, what’s equally important is the adaptability or agility to apply what they have learned. Instead of applying one approach for all situations, they should learn how to select from the pool of knowledge and skills they have and construct the best solution to the situation.

Please name just one skill (or quality) you think is more important for fresh grads to have today as compared to ten years ago.

Agility. The world is evolving faster than we think it is, hence it is important to be agile in various situations. Compared with the technologies we have now versus ten years ago, if we are not agile enough, then we will not be able to leverage on these technologies and move on to greater heights no matter how great they are.

112 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

On the other hand, what skill (or quality) do you think is becoming more and more irrelevant?

None. In fact, we believe that skills need to be developed and not replaced. Which is why PwC Malaysia has launched Future Skills, an initiative to help our people develop both their human and digital skills to prepare them for future roles.

How would you recommend students improve their communication skills before they head out for interviews?

Practise more. And there are many ways an individual can do this. For example, record your own answers to some common interview questions and listen to them again to see if there can be any improvements. You could also conduct mock interviews with your friends or family members. Also, make sure you do enough research for the interview as you will only be able to communicate well if you already have the talking points on-hand.

How big of a role does common courtesy play during the job application process?

Common courtesy is important not just during job application, but at all times. Having good manners and being polite represents who you are. Even though we are developing skills to be fit for the future, we should never forget the basic fundamentals of being a human being.

During job application, you will be dealing with different stakeholders across different stages and it is important to always be polite.

These people may be your interviewer, your potential colleagues, the receptionist who attends to you while in the office, or any other individuals that you would have met along the way.

More often than not, a job requires an individual to work or have interactions with other people, and it goes without saying that everyone would prefer someone who is pleasant to work with.

malaysias100.com

Samsung Malaysia Electronics

WHAT EMPLOYERS

WANT

What would you say are the weakest areas within the entry-level job applications you and your team ideas, solidify relationships and articulate review day-in and day-out?

Candidates leave a poor impression when they are uncontactable because they provided the wrong contact number or email address on their résumé. Small details like double-checking the information on your résumé go a long way.

It also doesn’t help a candidate’s chances if he or she is unprepared for the interview and doesn’t show interest in, or knowledge of the company. Some research and initiative goes a long way as this demonstrates your interest in the role and can make you stand out from the rest of the applicants.

FIORNNE OW Head of Talent Acquisition

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 8 years and 6 months

“AN INTERVIEW IS A TWO-WAY SELECTION PROCESS. YOU ARE BEING INTERVIEWED, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU ARE EVALUATING THE COMPANY THROUGH THE PERSON THAT IS INTERVIEWING YOU.”

malaysias100.com

What is the first thing a fresh grad should unlearn from his/her days in university?

On the flip side, what is the one lesson (or habit) they should carry with them from the classroom to the boardroom?

In university, you have the choice on the number of subjects that you want to take, i.e. you have control on the amount of work you take on. But work life, especially in the Covid-19 reality, means you need to get used to diving headfirst in unchartered waters.

As corporations seek to maintain their balance in a halted economy, your workload can evolve within days or hours. Deadlines can move forward, project scopes can change and last minute demands will need to be addressed. So learn to explore more than the calm waters you are used to and don’t be afraid. Today’s talent will need to get comfortable living in the uncomfortable zone!

solutions, which are key characteristics of strong communication skills, will always remain an in-demand trait that employers seek in a talent.

On the other hand, what skill (or quality) do you think is becoming more and more irrelevant?

A skill should never be deemed irrelevant, especially in this time. Instead, the understanding of skills needs to be reformed.

Each talent should have at least one core skill, and multiple supplementary skills. Each skill that we learn carries an understanding of a subject matter, and the principle of transferable skill tells us that generally, solutions are not derived from a single subject matter but from connected knowledge. In this hyper-connected world, multiple intelligence is key, because the more that you know, the more that you can connect the dots.

How would you recommend students improve their communication skills before they head out for interviews?

You can practice for an interview, but show the interviewer the real you. Nobody is perfect, so don’t fall into the trap of trying to be the ideal candidate. Some interviewers throw a curve ball question to catch you off guard, so if you’re comfortable in your skin, this confidence will help you shine through.

Do remember, an interview is a two-way selection process. You are being interviewed, but at the same time, you are evaluating the company through the person that is interviewing you.

Please name just one skill (or quality) you think is more important for fresh grads to have today as compared to ten How big of a role does common courtesy years ago. play during the job application process?

We are living in a volatile world now, where you only have two days to prepare your employees and business before a lockdown comes into effect, where the old normal of business has changed and almost all forms of travel, business or otherwise, is at a standstill. A microscopic bug has, within three months, changed business tremendously. Yet, strong communications skills are more relevant than ever.

How else do you exert your influence during a voice or video call? How else do you project confidence through a con call when body language can be missed? The ability to express

If you are courteous, it shows you have good personality traits that demonstrate you are capable of doing the same with our customers and vendors. But it goes further than just saying thank you in the interview room.

If you ignore the tea lady who served you warm water, or were dismissive to the receptionist, you can come across as shallow. If you arrive late to the interview, without informing the recruiter, you come across as disrespectful of others. And if you forget to follow up with the interviewer after the interview, you may appear to be lacking interest in the role.

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 113

TDCX (MY) Sdn. Bhd. (formerly known as Teledirect Telecommerce)

WHAT EMPLOYERS

WANT

There is one other skill that I think is What would you say are the weakest areas within the entry-level job increasingly important: analytical thinking applications you and your team skills. These are critical in the workplace because they help you to gather information review day-in and day-out?

Excellent written and oral communication skills are the weakest areas within entrylevel job applicants in the BPO industry.

Having good communication skills is a must for business. It also conveys the effort that you put in to express your ideas and thoughts professionally.

HALIFUJIANG ABUDUREXITI

Senior Talent Acquisition Expert

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Business Management (Hons), SEGi University, 2015

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 2 years and 7 months

“YOU WANT YOUR EMPLOYEES AND ESPECIALLY YOUR BOSS TO TRUST THAT YOU WILL MAKE THE MOST WELL-INFORMED AND CORRECT DECISIONS.”

What is the first thing a fresh grad should unlearn from his/her days in university?

On the flip side, what is the one lesson (or habit) they should carry with them from the classroom to the boardroom?

The first thing that a fresh grad should unlearn is the idea of studying for the grade you want in a test. But when it comes to work it is the total opposite – the information you need and matters in your job will never be put to you in a test.

One habit that fresh grads should carry forward from the classroom to the workplace is embracing new cultures. Most Malaysian students are lucky enough to have foreign classmates in university. Working together with different people is the skill that we need to bring into workplace from university.

as well as articulate, visualise, and solve complex problems.

Even with comprehensive training, there will be many times where you will be put on the spot to think analytically, and the right or wrong answer could make a difference with regard to your upward mobility within the company. You want your employees and especially your boss to trust that you will make the most well-informed and correct decisions. Some decisions can even make or break your career. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to have well-developed analytical thinking skills.

How would you recommend students improve their communication skills before they head out for interviews?

Communication skills can be improved by engaging in certain school activities, for example, group presentations and assignments can help students sharpen both oral and written communication skills.

Not only does it offer students the chance to work in small groups, thereby reducing some of the pressure, but it also gives them the opportunity to debate their opinions, take turns, and work together towards a common goal.

Please name just one skill (or quality) you think is more important for fresh grads to have today as compared to ten How big of a role does common courtesy play during the job application process? years ago.

The one skill I think is more important for fresh grads to have today as compared to ten years ago is learning new skills. When you learn a new skill or language, the doors open for you to work in different types of companies (especially those that require dual-language speakers).

Not to mention, it gives you a better opportunity to work overseas.

We are living in a world that changes every single day, and the skills you have today may not be marketable after few years.

Thus, it is very important for fresh grads to have not just a strong learning ability but also a strong desire to learn new skills.

114 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Common habits such as studying about the company and position applied for, learning about hiring manager and products, arriving on time and dressing well definitely play a significant role in job application process.

Simple courtesy can also help to give the hiring manager or recruiter a very good first impression of you.

malaysias100.com

Top Glove Corporation Berhad

WHAT EMPLOYERS

WANT

What would you say are the weakest areas within the entry-level job applications you and your team review day-in and day-out?

Many fresh graduates need to learn how to take the initiative and learn on the go. We all hear common excuses like “This is not taught in school” or “I don’t know”, and some even have the audacity to say that their bosses have failed to teach them.

An effective university graduate is one who knows how to self-learn, study and develop solutions on their own. Your mentors and teachers can only serve as your guide; they can’t take the exam for you.

GEORGE TONG WEI ZHI

Senior Manager, Human Resources Information Systems

QUALIFICATION BSc (Hons), E-Commerce and Digital Business, University of Nottingham

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 6 months

“EVERYTHING WE LEARN HAS VALUE, AND IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW YOU APPLY IT IN THE CORPORATE WORLD.”

malaysias100.com

On the other hand, what skill (or quality) do you think is becoming more and more irrelevant?

While some may consider certain skills or qualities to be outdated, I for one do not believe that there are outdated skills or qualities. Everything we learn has value, and it all depends on how you apply it in the corporate world. Good strategy is one that survives the test of time.

How would you recommend students improve their communication skills before they head out for interviews?

By practicing. Presentation skills such as public speaking can be improved by practicing What is the first thing a fresh grad should in front of a mirror and watching how the unlearn from his/her days in university? experts do it on the news. Watch more news On the flip side, what is the one lesson presenters on BBC, CNN, and other news (or habit) they should carry with them channels. Through these practice routines, you from the classroom to the boardroom? become more self-confident and won’t need to change who you are. Confidence is a function Traditional Asian parenting has taught us that of good practice and not about pretending to only children who become doctors, lawyers, be someone you’re not. or accountants are successful children.

Thus, many of us fall into the trap of trying to How big of a role does common courtesy satisfy our parents’ desires. play during the job application process?

Only by letting go of that mindset and The decline of common courtesy is perhaps discovering what your true passions are in one of the biggest pet peeves I have with life will you be able to achieve greatness. fresh graduates. Common courtesy should Carrying over your curiosity from the be in our blood as it helps foster a respectful, classroom to the boardroom will also get you positive and collaborative working culture. No far in life. one enjoys dealing with rude, negative and

Please name just one skill (or quality) disrespectful people. you think is more important for fresh grads to have today as compared to ten years ago.

Teamwork. No man is an island and individuals in companies come from diverse backgrounds with different skills. A bundle of chopsticks will always be stronger than a mere pair. Some of the greatest industries and sports in the world, like Formula One, rely on the power of teamwork to create something meaningful.

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S E C T I O N

7

WORKING LIFE EXPLAINED Let’s meet some employees from Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers and get a feel of what they do day-to-day!

AIA Shared Services Sdn Bhd........................................118 Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad....................................119 Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad........................................120 AmBank (M) Berhad..................................................... 122 Gamuda Land................................................................123 EY..................................................................................124 ICAEW........................................................................... 126 KPMG Malaysia .............................................................127 Nestlé Malaysia........................................................... 128 OCBC Bank.................................................................... 129 Maybank ...................................................................... 130 Pharmaniaga Berhad....................................................132 Samsung Malaysia Electronics....................................135 PwC Malaysia............................................................... 136 TDCX (MY) Sdn. Bhd..................................................... 138 Top Glove Corporation Berhad..................................... 139

AIA Shared Services Sdn Bhd

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

I joined the company in 2016, under the Reporting Department to lead a newly set-up team. The role was challenging but provided me the opportunity to travel internationally and work with a wide range of people. We successfully completed the project and the reporting team eventually expanded its scope to include more countries.

I have now moved on to work with a new team that is currently handling the implementation of a new accounting standard for the AIA Group. The role has a lot of challenges with various downstream implications which need to be considered to make this implementation a success. My current role has given me the opportunity to grow at every level in my professional career.

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

The coolest thing about my current role is being able to work with people from various departments. Due to the complexity and the various implications of implementing a new accounting standard, I have the privilege to work with people from IT solutions, accounting policy, financial reporting, investment accounting, internal audit, external auditors, senior management and even other people working in other insurance companies.

Being able to work with such a diverse group of people makes work exciting and rewarding.

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

I learnt how important it was to have good leadership in a company. During my probation period, I was fortunate enough to be guided by very experienced, charismatic and knowledgeable leaders who shaped my thinking and work ethic. They provided the right amount of support and empowerment to me, which has allowed me to get accustomed to the work culture in the company.

WORKING LIFE

EXPLAINED

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

When things get hectic at work and stress levels reach a high point, I ask myself if I would rather be in a role with less challenges. Till now, my answer has been “No”.

My work environment is fast paced, and I can cope as I am surrounded by dynamic, capable people who push me to do better.

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

DENNIS MATHEN KOSHY, 33 EMPLOYER

POSITION Senior Manager, Investment Accounting

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting & Finance), Curtin University, INTI International College Penang, 2010

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION

When you first join the workforce, you are excused for your lack of experience.

However, your technical knowledge, communication skills, social skills have a strong impact on your future professional career. This is where maximising your experience in university will help you.

Take the time to participate in classes, join career fairs, attend social events, and engage with international students. These experiences will come in handy in your career.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

The job market is expected to be challenging in view of the recent global developments. You may not be able to find the exact position you first had in mind. It is important that you do not be disheartened. Take this opportunity to learn and expand your horizon in a different role, which may end up making you a more rounded candidate, with hopefully a better position in the future to land the role you have aimed for.

Also take this time to increase your attractiveness to employers by obtaining a professional qualification or working on your soft skills. First impressions count in an interview.

ACCA, Sunway University College, 2011

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 3 years and 10 months

118 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

malaysias100.com

Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad

WORKING LIFE

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

As a mortgage product manager for individual clients of Alliance Bank, I look after the planning and launching of new mortgage products to support our business goals. I also oversee and help manage the sales and marketing channels to drive the sales. This includes the marketing efforts at branches, our corporate website, and digital marketing.

To do this, I collaborate with my internal stakeholders in compliance, credit, risk, and marketing, to name a few.

A lot of my day-to-day activity involves analysing data, understanding and problem solving with the sales teams, and preparing key updates for my internal stakeholders.

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

The coolest thing about my current role is the amount of trust my supervisors have in me. This enables me to perform my role well, knowing that I am trusted to do the job. When I was a management trainee at the Bank, I was tasked with the launch of Alliance ONE Account, our loan consolidation solution for consumers.

I genuinely believe that an individual should be placed in a specific role.

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

During my probation period, I learnt that making mistakes does not mean the end of the world. What matters is how fast you are able to recover and learn from the experience, and rectify the mistake.

Failing can actually be good sometimes because you learn faster when you fail.

Having said that, it is important to avoid critical mistakes from happening. To avoid making critical mistakes, don’t be afraid to ask the right questions to get the right answers.

malaysias100.com

EXPLAINED

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

Life in the corporate world can be quite hectic and exhausting. What keeps me going is knowing that I have the support of my supervisors. When it has been a tough day at work, their door is always open for me to have a conversation about the problems I face in my job or career. It is reassuring to have someone you can always count on. Find a mentor or leader to help guide and grow your career – this is most important.

ADRIAN TAN YENN WEI, 26 EMPLOYER

POSITION Assistant Vice President Mortgage, Consumer Asset Group Consumer Banking

QUALIFICATION Degree in Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Accounting, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), 2014

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 5 years

“TO AVOID MAKING CRITICAL MISTAKES, DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO GET THE RIGHT ANSWERS.”

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

The most important thing I learnt at university, which has prepared me for the working world, is assignments because it taught me about the time management and responsibility required to deliver tasks within the given deadlines.

Similar to university assignments, the working world comes with different tasks to be completed within predetermined timeframes. This is especially true of the countless times I burnt the midnight oil to complete an assignment within the deadline, as it has prepared me for the working world and dealing with last-minute tasks or unexpected deadlines.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

My advice to all fresh grads having a tough time finding jobs, especially during such an unprecedented time, is to be patient and stay hungry. Be open to ideas and opportunities, and grab the opportunity when it presents itself. While waiting for that chance, pick up a new skill or sharpen your existing skill sets so you can be ready when it presents itself.

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 119

Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad

WORKING LIFE

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

As part of Bank Islam’s Young Leaders Programme (YLP), I have to undergo a two-year structured job rotation training in various core divisions of the Bank, under the supervision of experienced leaders. The experiences I gained through on-the-job training has helped develop my fundamental technical skills. I was able to see how the roles of different divisions within the Bank are complementary.

Through my attachment at Operations, Consumer Banking, and Strategic Management Division, I had the chance to be part in the development and implementation of Bank Islam’s electronic channels operations, products and business design, as well as partake in the planning and monitoring of the Bank’s strategic initiatives. The learning curve was very challenging and fastpaced, but here is where I get the best learning experience.

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

The programme provides attachment and mentorship from top management throughout my placement in the Bank.

For me, having direct access to senior leaders with vast experience and resourceful insights are vital in guiding and shaping my career aspirations.

This is important, especially for fresh graduates, as most of us have no idea of what we want to do. Feedback given by my mentors have helped in identifying my strength and weakness, thus enabling me to focus on developing skills that I’m lacking.

The perks of being able to rotate in different divisions allow me to explore different job functions, further enhancing my knowledge and skills that will spark my passion and interest in making finance as a career.

EXPLAINED

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

Being teachable and humble – always be ready to be a student every day. In today’s fast-paced workplace, one should be able to learn, unlearn, and relearn for one to grow.

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

AMAR FAIZ BIN MOHD PAUZI, 25 EMPLOYER

In a difficult time, digging deep for inspiration is crucial to keep us motivated. Purpose always go hand in hand with motivation. Thus, creating a goal in every task I do is how I motivate myself.

Apart from that, I will always remind myself that difficult times are just a phase that will eventually disappear.

“This too shall pass” – realise that I have come a long way, learn from mistakes and move on.

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

POSITION Young Leaders Programme (YLP)

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Science in Finance, Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, US, 2018

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 1 year and 6 months

“AS CLICHÉ AS IT MAY SOUND, REMEMBER THAT TOUGH TIMES DON’T LAST, TOUGH PEOPLE, DO!”

120 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Adaptability. Having the opportunity to leave the comfort and familiarity of home has opened my eyes and changed my perspective on the world. Being in a foreign environment can be daunting and overwhelming. Nevertheless, it strengthens my ability to adapt.

The experience has helped me with my transition into the professional working landscape. So to students out there, keep exploring new things and don’t restrict your learnings only within your classrooms.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

Keep going and never sell yourself short. Be open to change and learn from mistakes. As cliché as it may sound, remember that tough times don’t last, tough people, do!

malaysias100.com

Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad

WORKING LIFE

EXPLAINED Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

My role is to ensure that solutions ideated are structured and integrated into a cohesive framework of an enterprise.

Before embarking on any solution, this role needs to ensure it has a thorough understanding of the organisation’s strategic imperatives. All efforts following up from there is to close the gap between the current state and the desired state. I have to work closely with the head of engineering to align technical solutions to business needs.

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

The organisation has placed emphasis on delivering great products. As such, we are able to work with the best partners to develop new digital propositions.

Best partners come with best practices, coupled with world class-knowledge.

Having that exposure is invaluable.

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

Don’t get hung up over your day to day tasks; focus more on the outcome and what value you bring to the table.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

LEONA LIM EMPLOYER

POSITION Business Architect

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Business, (Economics and Finance) Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

I love the saying “Tough times don’t last, tough people, do”. Learn to leave work at work and resist the urge to ruminate, gossip or complain about it once you’ve left the office. Take a breather.

At the same time, once the initial anxiety has subsided, it is good to selfreflect. Sometimes we get caught up in our state of mind that we’re not able to approach a difficult situation with an objective lens. Ponder the possibility that it could be our attitude that keeps us from progressing.

malaysias100.com

My dad used to instil in me that knowledge is seamless. He’d say “What is the difference between you and the professor? The answer is 10,000 hours of learning”. His message resonates till today. Many things are learnable and surmountable if you put in the hours and persist. Also, his message is intended to allay fears when venturing into a new field of study.

The overarching advice here: If opportunities are limited, don’t be afraid to venture into roles unrelated to your discipline. Be adaptable. As long as you show your passion for learning, employers more often than not, are looking for a right attitude and a good fit.

“IF OPPORTUNITIES ARE LIMITED, DON’T BE AFRAID TO VENTURE INTO ROLES UNRELATED TO YOUR DISCIPLINE.”

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR Less than 1 year

“DON’T GET HUNG UP OVER YOUR DAY TO DAY TASKS; FOCUS MORE ON THE OUTCOME AND WHAT VALUE YOU BRING TO THE TABLE.”

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AmBank (M) Berhad

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

Internal audit acts as the third line of defence for any organisation which provide an independent review of internal controls and processes of the Business Units (BUs) and reports a reasonable assurance directly to the Audit & Examination Committee (AEC).

The ‘Audit Charter’ which was approved by the AEC allows us to conduct our work with full and unrestricted access.

Therefore, we become an avenue for BUs to raise their concerns, suggestions or even disagreements to the AEC with strict confidentiality and independence.

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

I would say that viewing confidential documents which many have never seen before in their lifetime is the coolest thing about my job. But please bear in mind these are within the ambit of the audit, with respect to the ‘Audit Charter’ and it was done to provide our opinion on the audit work done.

These include exceptions, recommendations and objective identified in various BUs across AmBank Group. This is to ensure that the reporting made to the AEC provides true and fair view of the current situation of the BUs, either it is good or otherwise.

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

As auditors, we are required to read, learn and understand each activity of each BU to provide valuable insight during our independent review and reporting. As such, the skill of being ‘jackof-all-trades’ is greatly valued in GIAD and is complemented with cumulative audit knowledge and experience gained over the years.

Most of my fellow colleagues had previous experience either in external auditing, financial institutions operations or even commercial conglomerate organisations.

WORKING LIFE

To know that my fellow colleagues are always around to give positive feedback such as non-work related conversations, after-work sport activities, those who have extra cash buying us Starbucks, celebrating birthdays during lunch hour even at peak period or better still, free variety of foods and beverages every fortnightly which is entirely sponsored by a pool of funds from members of GIAD. We may work hard, but we also play hard. Thus, despite all the casual interactions, we always remember to maintain our professionalism both within and outside the department to portray the values of an AmBanker.

MOHAMMAD HAKIMIN HANAFI, 23

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

EXPLAINED

EMPLOYER

POSITION Audit Executive, Group Internal Audit Department (GIAD)

QUALIFICATION Certificate of Finance, Accounting and Business from Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales (CFAB-ICAEW), Sunway University, 2016

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 1 year and 8 months

“NEVER EVER GIVE UP, ALWAYS PERSEVERE AND YOU WILL BE REWARDED.”

122 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

In my opinion, critical thinking skill is the most valuable skill I have adopted and practiced during my university years. Back then, being one of the Directors in Student Council, some decisions were required to be made in that instance and often significant resistance will exist. Hence, a strong justification must be made concurrently with the decisions made. Critical thinking requires immediate reasonable response when given a scenario which comes in handy at work.

As an auditor who is often confronted with critical issues during discussion with Senior Management, the cumulative knowledge and audit experience gained will be used to ensure that the decisions we made are just and firm to be implemented and reported to the AEC with substantial evidences to validate our claims.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

To all fresh graduates, there will always be challenges in life either at school, university or at work. But that does not mean that it will always be hard on you.

Sometimes these challenges are just another repetition where you know how to overcome them and sometimes they are unique to that specific moment. So my piece of advice to all fresh graduates out there, ‘Never ever give up, always persevere and you will be rewarded.’ malaysias100.com

Gamuda Land

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

Being in the Project Management Department, my job scope involves liaising with various stakeholders from different departments; be it inter-departmental (contract and commercial, sales, marketing and finance, etc) or externally with various consultants and contractors.

In simpler terms, my job is to ensure that the procurement and tender timelines, construction planning, and operations are completed effectively and within the cost and timeline required by the project and management.

To achieve this, it involves attending various meetings, solving and managing various challenges and coordination issues on-site with the construction team. Most importantly, it involves making the right decisions by giving clear directions on how the team should move forward.

WORKING LIFE

EXPLAINED

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

Coming from a smaller company prior to this has allowed me to understand the importance of having proper procedures and systems in place.

I’ve learnt that no matter how tedious or difficult the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) can be throughout the execution of the project, it is important to respect and appreciate it.

As a new joiner, these processes involve communicating with different departments to seek help and advice from them. It is therefore important to build a rapport by having good people skills. malaysias100.com

Apart from the support given by my superiors and colleagues, it’s about adopting a growth mindset.

I constantly reframe my challenges as opportunities to learn. In instances where I do not face tough times, it is implied that I’m not growing enough or that I’m not being proactive in taking on extra responsibilities. It is easier said than done, but it’s also a matter of training up my mental muscles.

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

LOW YEN WEI, 26 EMPLOYER

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

The township I am currently involved in is Gamuda Cove, one of the biggest ongoing developments by Gamuda Land.

It is a 1530-acre township set next to the wetlands and forest reserves in Southern Klang Valley, within close proximity to Cyberjaya and KLIA. Being part of the infrastructure team, I’m given the opportunity to manage contracts for such a huge project. It is indeed an eye-opening, challenging, and rewarding experience for me.

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

POSITION Senior Project Executive, Project Management Department

QUALIFICATION Masters in Civil Engineering, University of Nottingham, UK, 2017

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR About 1 year

“GO THE EXTRA MILE BY BEING HUNGRIER, MORE PROACTIVE, AND MORE UNCONVENTIONAL THAN THE REST.”

Surprisingly, it does not come from any of the exams, courses, or lectures I’ve undertaken. To me, the most important lessons came from the various leadership positions I took up in the co-curricular activities.

The experience of dealing with challenges and conflicts is reflective of how the working world can be like.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

Go the extra mile by being hungrier, more proactive, and more unconventional than the rest. One cannot be passive and solely rely on traditional routes of applying for jobs such as depositing countless CVs and then waiting for a reply.

Here’s what you can possibly do: • Plan ahead and do some groundwork by obtaining strong referrals from career fairs, employer presentations at your university, networking events, etc • Drop an email or text employers immediately after meeting them at networking events to build rapport • Make follow-up calls or email to check on your application status • Be a strong advocate on LinkedIn. Fresh graduates should build their online presence and fully utilise LinkedIn to amplify their career opportunities.

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 123

EY

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

That’s the question I get a lot, especially from students who are eager to join the workforce! I would like to think of myself as a corporate doctor on a mission to help my clients strategise for the future or improve their current performance.

I work closely with my clients to first understand the issues they’re facing or the aspirations they’re working towards.

As consultants, we bring our knowledge of industry best practices to help our clients. It is typically an interactive, cocreation process with the client to arrive at the final recommendations together.

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

Not a single working day and project are the same! Personally, I like how the steep learning curve of each project allows me to grow technically and how working across different teams sharpens my adaptability.

Consulting is very collaborative in nature. For example, we leveraged our strengths recently to help the local community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Within seven days, we managed to plan and kickstart a successful online fundraiser to help cushion the financial impact of the pandemic and the Movement Control Order (MCO) on the urban poor.

The coolest thing of all – you do develop genuine friendships with your colleagues outside of work.

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

Being resilient and committed to your goals. My transition from studying to working life wasn’t smooth sailing; there were lots of challenges along the way.

What kept me going was my strong determination to achieve my career goals in consulting.

Being open to learning isn’t enough; you need to be hungry to learn, be resourceful and always be a team player. Beyond your daily work, try to collaborate with cross-departmental colleagues to deliver more value and widen your professional circle.

WORKING LIFE

EXPLAINED

During my probation period, I had the opportunity to organise the EY Annual Dinner with cross-departmental colleagues. I wouldn’t trade that opportunity for anything else.

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

CHARMAINE CHOW, 27 EMPLOYER

POSITION Senior Associate, Advisory – Performance Improvement

QUALIFICATION BCom in Accounting, McGill University, Canada, 2016

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 3 years and 7 months

“BEING OPEN TO LEARNING ISN’T ENOUGH; YOU NEED TO BE HUNGRY TO LEARN, BE RESOURCEFUL AND ALWAYS BE A TEAM PLAYER.”

124 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

A strong belief that tough people outlast tough times. Have a firm goal in mind and the right attitude to achieve it. When I look back at the hurdles I went through, I am thankful for those experiences as they have shaped me into who I am today.

In consulting, we work closely in teams so having the right support system helps. I am fortunate to have had the support of my project team members, many of whom I call friends today. The challenges we faced together at work has built solid trust and genuine friendships.

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

When I studied in Canada, I learnt the importance of having your own viewpoints and conveying them confidently. I was encouraged to speak up and learnt that there is no right or wrong answer if your opinions are constructive and help in problemsolving. Contributing well-formulated, fresh points of view can be one of our key value-adds as young professionals.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

Have a strong presence on LinkedIn and in professional networking events.

It is imperative to differentiate yourself, especially in today’s economic climate, hence be sure that you bring value to the table. Online learning platforms are abundant now where you can pick up new skillsets, especially those that are in demand today. Master the technical, hone up your soft skills and present them to recruiters with a great, eager-tocontribute attitude.

The views reflected on this page are the views of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the global EY organisation or its member firms.

malaysias100.com

EY

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

I work in Assurance Services, focusing on the oil and gas industry. In my job, I meet clients to request for their internal company documents for auditing purpose and discuss the related accounting standards to be applied in the company’s financial statement report.

WORKING LIFE

EXPLAINED

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

I would say one of the coolest things is that I am able to advise my clients on the appropriate accounting standards to be applied in their company’s financial statement report. It is also exciting that my role requires me to meet different people which has helped me build professional relationships and expand my network.

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

I believe that teamwork is very important in any job. There may be situations where we may not be able to do things on our own. Therefore, do not be afraid to seek help and advice, as well as be humble to learn from other colleagues regardless if they are more senior or junior to us.

Apart from that, I also regularly had check-in meetings with my career counsellor in EY during my probation (even until now!) to get feedback on my performance and from there I started seeing how important it is to have an honest and meaningful conversations about my contributions in the team in order to succeed in my role.

MUHAMMAD AKMAL HA JAM, 28 EMPLOYER

POSITION Audit Assistant, Assurance Services

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Business (Accounting & Finance), Monash University, 2015

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

Being in the audit line certainly has its own hurdles and challenges. However, I always tell myself that it is only seasonal, so I just have to persevere, and that the period will be over in a matter of time. What’s more important for me is the satisfaction that I get out of a job well done, so being able to achieve selfactualisation is what usually drives me forward. Needless to say, my supportive colleagues play an important role too, and it’s comforting to know that whatever challenges we may face, we are in it together. malaysias100.com

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 2 years

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

Working on group assignments during my university days has really taught me the importance of teamwork because that’s how I learnt the basics of communicating and negotiating effectively, which is very useful in business, especially in my current role. Being able to communicate well demonstrates high emotional intelligence, as it is indeed a skill that transcends environments.

I am particularly grateful that the teaming and collaborative culture in EY has encouraged me to further improve these soft skills which I believe will be valuable throughout my career.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

It is important to stay resilient and to not be too fussy in accepting job offers that come your way. When there is an opportunity, engage in as many professional networking events as it can really pay off during a job search. Often, it’s not what you know, but who you know.

Career fairs, for example, are a great platform to network and build rapport with prospective employers. Keep your eyes open for such events by checking online, in newspapers, and by watching the news. It is understandable that you may be eyeing specific roles in certain companies, but in challenging times, don’t be afraid to give other available opportunities a try if they are in line with your passion and see where the job takes you.

The views reflected on this page are the views of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the global EY organisation or its member firms.

“DON’T BE AFRAID TO GIVE OTHER AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES A TRY IF THEY ARE IN LINE WITH YOUR PASSION.”

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 125

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

I am currently working in the Valuations and Modelling team as part of Financial Advisory. The team supports companies with their unique challenges who need an independent view during important events such as business combinations or shareholder disputes.

I am currently seconded to Deloitte Singapore, assisting an investment firm with their annual valuation and impairment reviews. The experience and work during this secondment taps into my business knowledge – especially the things I learned during the ICAEW Advanced Level and case study phase.

Thankfully, the training as well as the intense curriculum from the ICAEW ACA has strengthened my accounting foundations and sharpened my business acumen for my current role.

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

The valuation work and modelling we do for the companies we support are very exciting because it exposes me to different industries and business models.

The advantage of the ICAEW qualification to be recognised in Singapore allowed me the opportunity to be seconded to Singapore and gave me good opportunities to broaden my horizon and develop better business acumen especially in a unique economic environment following the circuit breaker lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

One of the greatest lessons learned is that the practitioner needs to exercise professional judgement, maintain a longer-term outlook, and go back to first principles.

I’ve also learned to be inquisitive and that there’s always more to learn especially when you are working with different clients.

WORKING LIFE

EXPLAINED

A SHLEE PHUAH JIA CHIAN, 26 EMPLOYER

POSITION Senior Associate, Financial Advisory

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Accounting, University of Malaya (UM) (Completed the ICAEW ACA examinations)

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 2 years

“IT’S ALWAYS WORTHWHILE TO PICK UP NEW SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE, AND CONTINUE TO UPSKILL YOURSELF.”

126 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

Going through the ICAEW examinations and training has given me the grit to overcome stressful situations, and the modules and case study are very relevant and up to date – thus, helping me through the tough times at work.

My counsellor at Deloitte – who is also an ICAEW ACA member as well – is very supportive and is someone that all of us in the team can always go to for advice. My immediate team manager is also an ICAEW ACA member, who often shares his thoughts and insights on our work as well as his experiences to excel in the ICAEW ACA exams.

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

University of Malaya’s accounting degree helped mould me with the knowledge I need for my work, but the ICAEW professional qualification gave me the insight into applying my knowledge and skills in a professional environment and strengthen the accounting foundations and sharpen my business acumen.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

A wise man once said, “The best investment you can make is in yourself”.

That’s the reason why I took up the ICAEW ACA qualification. Even though I already have a degree from University of Malaya, I know it will help elevate my professional brand, and at the same time, the training and skills gained from the ICAEW ACA qualification has given me the confidence to pursue good employment.

It’s always worthwhile to pick up new skills and knowledge, and continue to upskill yourself. The ICAEW qualification’s CPD continuously ensures that even after we qualify as a Chartered Accountant, the learning never stops: there are always new technologies and new ways of doing things.

malaysias100.com

KPMG Malaysia

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

As the Head of Financial Services and Head of People, Performance and Culture, my job not only entails auditing but includes leading and managing the people aspect of our firm.

It is my responsibility to ensure that the well-being of all our extraordinary employees are taken care of, so that they can continue to deliver high quality work for the clients whom we serve.

WORKING LIFE

EXPLAINED

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

That I get to work with talented young individuals! People might be surprised to know that 80% of our employees are from Gen-Y and Gen-Z. This age diversity comes to us as an advantage as we’re always learning something new from each other.

It’s really inspiring when minds with different outlooks collaborate, so I always make it a point to acknowledge their opinions when making decisions for the firm.

In KPMG, we practice an open culture where anyone is welcome to engage with the management – even interns!

As a leader, it feels absolutely rewarding to witness the growth of a former fresh graduate as they progress to become managers and partners, knowing that your leadership played a key role in their growth journey.

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

The probation period is the best time to create a good impression for yourself. It is important because this ‘first impression’ gives an indication to others that you are an asset for the company.

During my probationary period back in the day, I made sure that my work was consistent to what was said during my interview. For example, I made an emphasis on being an organised individual – so punctuality was vital when submitting tasks. On top of this, I learned that it was also the best time to attain constructive feedback that helps in the long run. Always pay attention to what your managers say about your work. malaysias100.com

ADRIAN LEE EMPLOYER

POSITION Head of Financial Services & Head of People, Performance & Culture

QUALIFICATION BSc (Econ) Accounting and Finance, The London School of Economics and Political Science, 1994

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 26 Years

“THE PROBATION PERIOD IS THE BEST TIME TO CREATE A GOOD IMPRESSION FOR YOURSELF.”

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

Taking breaks at work helps me go through those tough times. Personally, this ‘break’ can be as simple as going out to lunch, calling family at home, or even talking about non-work-related stuff to colleagues: anything that helps me take my mind off the issues at work.

Sometimes, being too focused on solving problems at work may lead to a mental block or increased stress in overcoming it. So, make sure that you find time to wind down and take a breather before your second attempt to overcome that problem.

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

Practising open communication.

Being familiar in the practice of open communication has helped me gain confidence when contributing fresh ideas and has led me to be an active listener when others are speaking. This also encourages a positive working environment where everyone feels valued.

As a leader, I value this practice as I’d want to ensure that my team is comfortable reaching out to me even during tough situations.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

Take advantage of the internet and social media. In this modern era, we are blessed with an endless supply of information at the tip of our fingers, so use it at maximum capacity to discover job opportunities that best fits your calling.

Learn about employment trends, companies and their leaders, and career growth possibilities before choosing which organisation you would like to apply to. A common mistake made by fresh graduates is blasting off résumés to companies they don’t even know about. As a result, they face a higher rate of rejection, which can be demotivating.

Instead, choose four or five companies to target, then research and tailor your résumés accordingly. Always prioritise quality over quantity.

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Nestlé Malaysia

WORKING LIFE

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

The bulk of my role is to provide real-time support to my business unit. In addition, I also wear the hat of being a trusted adviser where I analyse and provide indepth financial analyses that in hopes will add value and ultimately aid in my decision-making process.

My role allows me to contribute and help the business generate optimal results. I contribute to this by advising and guiding the business on how to allocate our resources and budgets in the most efficient manner. For example, prior to making any business investment in production capacity expansion, I will have the responsibility of simulating multiple financial scenarios to forecast the minimum sales growth trajectory to further justify the investment.

Furthermore, I actively partake in seeking opportunities to further improve the efficiency of the operation across the value chain in my business unit.

EXPLAINED

The willingness to work towards the attainment of goals is the main source of motivation at work. Having clear, specific, and measurable goals can help you to stay focused during tough times.

Another key element is PASSION. Be truly passionate about your job, as it will be your motivation fuel to drive one mile further than the rest.

JAMES SEOW, 27 EMPLOYER

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

You will observe directly the improvement in financial performance which was gained as a result of the advice given by you.

Apart from that, this is a fully commercial-facing role, so you will be exposed to daily business issues in the real world. For example: How would the COVID-19 impact operations across the value chain? What are your key actions to mitigate the risks or capitalise on the opportunity?

Being situated in such a dynamic business environment, it keeps me on my feet as I am faced with various challenges on a daily basis.

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

Always be proactive in learning new skills and don’t be afraid of approaching others to seek solutions to your queries whenever you’re in doubt.

“There are no foolish questions and no man becomes a fool until he has stopped asking questions.”

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

POSITION Business Unit Controller

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), Monash University, 2016

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 3 years and 8 months

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

I was fortunate enough to be part of the student council as it provided me the opportunity to organise several extracurricular activities on campus.

This experience helped me develop my communication and stakeholder management skills.

The skill of influence is one of the most sought-after skills in the corporate world. Having this is the key factor in helping you convince your co-workers to visualise mutual goals as a team.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

Have a clear thought on what your shortterm goals are, what you want to pursue in the next three to five years. Indeed, it is easier said than done.

Strike a brutally honest conversation with yourself to understand your inner needs. There are no right or wrong answers, as long as you have this intentional self-reflection and are bold about your decision. With this, you will stand a higher chance to secure the right job during the interview.

“BE TRULY PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR JOB, AS IT WILL BE YOUR MOTIVATION FUEL TO DRIVE ONE MILE FURTHER THAN THE REST.”

128 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

malaysias100.com

OCBC Bank

WORKING LIFE

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

I am currently in a two-year management associate programme with OCBC Bank which requires active participation in several rotations, mostly within the designated division. A daily routine at the office usually consists of picking up new technical skills involving the work I am associated with during each rotation, in addition to providing ideas in elevating the efficiency of the current system while also adapting together as a team to the fast-paced technological evolution, particularly in the financial sector.

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

I have had the privilege of becoming part of the Graduate Talent Programme, which is the management associate programme in OCBC. The role I have been assigned to offers an abundance of learning opportunities, which broadens my perspective and practical skill set in each rotation.

Since my involvement in the banking industry is considerably very recent, this opportunity is highly sought after among my peers as we all seek the best ways to understand more about the industries we venture in, and eventually increase our individual potential in various areas.

Every single day feels like a brand new day to learn something new!

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

My colleagues and I went to our respective assigned branches across Klang Valley during the early days of our employment to get better first-hand exposure on the banking mechanism with the customers through detailed observation of each department prior to starting our rotations at the headquarters. I’m glad to say that we have acquired adequate insights that have been beneficial for our subsequent assignments.

malaysias100.com

EXPLAINED

All the managers we have been delegated to had been helpful in making sure we understood everything, but most importantly, it had been shown to us there is always plenty of room for improvement, even if you are in a senior position. I think that was the greatest lesson we derived from the whole experience.

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

HAZIQ ADLIN BIN AHMAD FUAD, 25 EMPLOYER

There were 19 other colleagues who joined the company via the Graduate Talent Programme in the same intake as myself. We have only grown closer after attending multiple courses together for almost half a year, and we continue to provide moral support to each other.

This is especially important during this Covid-19 pandemic when the new norm has to be instantly adapted to.

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

POSITION Graduate Talent, Audit

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting & Commercial Law), The University of Auckland, New Zealand, 2017

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 10 months

“EMPLOYERS TODAY WANT TO KNOW YOU AS A PERSON WITH SOME SEMBLANCE OF FRESH PERSONALITY.”

My friends and I promised each other to get the best out of our university experience. Instead of only studying 24/7, we joined a few clubs, volunteered for some causes and events, worked part-time and even went on trips together during semester breaks. All of us still managed to find time to discuss and revise together each week, despite our busy schedule. Time management is the most important lesson we have learnt together.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

Good grades alone will not guarantee a job. Employers today want to know you as a person with some semblance of fresh personality. Always be yourself, maintain your humility, and be open to learn every day from the people around you. More often than not, learning opportunities only arise when mistakes are made, so it is okay to slip up and not know everything, but be sure to learn and grow from each experience.

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 129

Maybank

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

As a Global Maybank Apprentice (GMA), I have the opportunity and flexibility to select my rotations in different departments of my choice as an accelerated training requirement. In my current department, Group Corporate Affairs, I conduct research, perform analysis and provide advice pertaining to the Group’s public relations and reputation. Simultaneously, as a GMA, I participate in Group-wide initiatives that drive our Employer Value Proposition while engaging with our many stakeholders.

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

Every team that I’ve had an opportunity to be a part of had consistently reflected and worked towards Maybank’s mission of ‘Humanising Financial Services’. I think it’s cool that my company constantly strives to serve the community, through embodying our mission – be that through pushing for financial inclusivity agendas, advising and providing for businesses or creating opportunities for fresh graduates.

To be a part of a bigger purpose – to serve our community together with the company and witness the impact made is truly humbling and empowers you to work harder to serve others better.

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

I’ve noticed that fresh graduates are very eager to occupy themselves with countless projects and tasks to the point of overburdening themselves in the process, especially during their probation period. This takes away the learning outcomes of the tasks and dilutes its impact.

The greatest lesson during my probation would be to pace myself, strive towards quality and to be impact-driven rather than spreading myself too thin.

Adding to that would be the importance of consistency in delivering high quality results. The quote, “Talent gets you through the door, but character keeps you in the room” is something that has resonated with me since day one.

WORKING LIFE

EXPLAINED

ELIS A NAOMI TIBOK , 25 EMPLOYER

POSITION Global Maybank Apprentice

QUALIFICATION LLB (Hons) Bachelor of Laws, University of Manchester, UK, 2018

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 1 year and 5 months

“ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES THE FUTURE SEEMS BLEAK, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMAIN HOPEFUL EVEN IN TOUGH TIMES LIKE THESE.”

130 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

It would definitely be the network of colleagues I’ve met through the Global Maybank Apprentice Programme, who have become close friends of mine, as well as bosses who have become important mentors to me. They consistently inspire me to do better and have sailed me through many challenging days.

It’s important to surround yourself with the right support system, it doesn’t necessarily have to be people – it can be found in the form of hobbies and interests – as these are the things that will guide you through rough times.

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

That would be the self-discipline it instilled in me to meet deadlines. It is always important to remember that in every task, there is a team that depends on your delivery and an organisation that has objectives to meet. A respected boss has echoed since day one to our team, “On-time and in full” and I believe that this has significantly shaped our corporate characters to enable us to drive results for the organisation.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

The worry over the scarce job opportunities in the market, compounded by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is shaking the entire world. Although sometimes the future seems bleak, it is important to remain hopeful even in tough times like these.

Equally important is adopting a growth mindset and embracing life-long learning by equipping yourself with digital awareness and readiness as well as soft skills. You must also be more resilient and agile, break your mould, and see the world differently to thrive. All the best to everyone and may your choices reflect your hopes!

malaysias100.com

Maybank

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

Being a part of Maybank’s awardwinning programme for graduates, the Global Maybank Apprentice Programme (GMAP), allowed me the opportunity to rotate within the many departments in Malaysia’s largest bank.

My rotations included Corporate Banking, where I drafted credit papers for corporate clients and Leverage Finance, Debt Capital Markets, where I was responsible for analysing cash flows and the creditworthiness of target companies for potential corporate acquisitions.

I was also part of the Maybank GO Ahead. Challenge (MGAC) 2019 Organising Committee, as a Case Designer. Currently, I am rotating in Client Coverage, Maybank Investment – serving Maybank’s corporate clients. In this department, I am responsible for working on placemats for our clients and carrying out account plannings.

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

The coolest thing about GMAP is the deep insights and knowledge gained while having the opportunity to contribute to the growth of Maybank.

As I am empowered to select my own rotations from departments across the Bank, I could also tailor them based on my interests and career aspirations.

More importantly, I am also given the opportunity to gain wider experience from the exposure of the many functions and segments within the Bank.

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

The greatest lesson I learned during my earlier days at work was the importance of aligning myself with Maybank’s mission of ‘Humanising Financial Services’ and the organisation’s core values; T.I.G.E.R. which stand for Teamwork, Integrity, Growth, Excellence & Efficiency and Relationship Building.

Approaching my work and the various projects I was involved in through this lens allowed me to identify why we do certain things and how we can improve the benefits derived for our stakeholders,

malaysias100.com

WORKING LIFE

EXPLAINED

H.P. L AKSHAN S ANJANA , 24 EMPLOYER

POSITION Global Maybank Apprentice

QUALIFICATION BSc (Hons) in Accounting & Finance, Sunway University, 2018

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 1 year and 6 months

“ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT NOT TRYING IS WORSE THAN FAILING AND SOME OPPORTUNITIES NEVER COME BY TWICE!”

be it my colleagues, management or the university students and fresh graduates whom we interact with.

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

Having a solid group of friends both within and outside Maybank definitely helped me during my tough times at work. The saying “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with” rings true to me as they have inspired and guided me to be a better version of myself.

A good relationship with my bosses who have mentored, guided and eased my transition into the working world had also been pivotal in getting me through tough times at work.

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

Time management is probably the most important takeaway from my time in university. As a student, I was juggling between my studies, my involvement in various clubs and societies, as well as working part-time. In the working world, the ability to manage time is more important than ever, whether it’s prioritising urgent work or meeting proposal deadlines while not compromising quality.

As highlighted by one of my line managers, “Consistency and agility are what sets the top talent apart from the rest”.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

My advice is to never give up, especially when you are just about to kick-start your career. Also, do try to keep an open mind and not restrict yourself to the course you took in university. The skills and knowledge you picked up during your university days will help you in your career journey regardless of your role.

Never be afraid to venture outside of your comfort zone and try new things. Always remember that not trying is worse than failing and some opportunities never come by twice!

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 131

Pharmaniaga Logistics Sdn Bhd

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

My job revolves around recruiting, managing disciplinary issues, conducting employee engagement programmes, and monitoring employee performance in the Logistics & Distribution Division (LDD). To add, I also conduct sharing sessions for the team to enrich their knowledge during their employment with Pharmaniaga.

WORKING LIFE

EXPLAINED

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

The coolest thing about my current role is that I am able to analyse the organisation’s behaviour, identify the gaps, and propose solutions to the division. I really love doing organisation development. LDD has been open to new ideas and new approaches. The cooperation from the leaders really eases my work in cultivating cooperation among the employees. We even take one step further by inviting other departments to these engagements so that we can understand them better.

We believe we can do much more in the future.

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

During my probation, I learnt that it is important for an organisation to have a visionary leader who drives the team towards excellence. I also learnt that it is the duty of the leader to ensure the team works together to achieve the company’s vision and mission.

As HRBP, I must align my thinking with the division I am attached to, analyse the pain points, and plan programmes to fill the gaps. With the right leadership style, right trainings, and proper remuneration, I believe our organisation can go beyond our current achievements.

ABDUL RAHMAN ABDULLAH, 30 EMPLOYER

POSITION Human Resource Business Partner (HRBP) for Logistics Division, Human Capital Management

QUALIFICATION Bachelor (Hons) Information & Communication Technology (ICT), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), 2012

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 2 years and 6 months

“THERE WILL BE REJECTIONS AND FAILURES. TAKE IT AS LESSONS LEARNT, AND MOVE FORWARD.” 132 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

The wellness and welfare of my fellow employees. The company’s philosophy of taking care of its employees really strikes a chord with me, and pushes me to give my best to the employees. I have been in several companies before this, and I can say this is among the best working places I have been attached to.

On top of that, I can see great potential for this company to move further, and I am here to help make it happen.

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

My university has exposed me to many people from different backgrounds and how to handle them. This helps me in my work as I meet a lot of people. Besides, my experience in managing events during my university days assist me with things like planning for budgets, monitoring event flow, and conducting post-mortem after events.

I am so grateful I was exposed to so many technologies and applications during my university, which I find useful during my work. For example, my knowledge in Microsoft applications assist my team in simplifying certain processes and speeding up the work so that it can be delivered in a shorter turnaround time.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

My advice to fresh graduates out there: having a positive attitude is key throughout your employment. I advise fresh graduates to be patient, especially in their first jobs. Learn the curves and challenges. There will be rejections and failures. Take it as lessons learnt, and move forward.

Lastly, due to the rapid changes in work environments, it is essential for us to equip ourselves with new skills and knowledge to keep us relevant within the organisation. It is a big world out there and the sky is the limit!

malaysias100.com

Pharmaniaga Logistics Sdn Bhd

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

I am responsible in managing complaints and recalls received from customers.

From my point of view, my customers include those from the public, pharmacists, and all the suppliers as well. Managing complaints and recalls for a logistics company means my team are responsible to entertain request from both customers and suppliers to ensure the activities and/or requests have been handled and followed-up accordingly.

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

We started with a very small number of team members: from 4 people we grew to 10 members now. I am blessed to be one of the pioneers in the team. Since it’s green, it gave me ample opportunities to be fully involved with the direction and expansion of the team. I went to hospitals, clinics, and manufacturing sites all over the country including East Malaysia while handling the quality complaints received. I find it very interesting to connect the end users to the suppliers, and understand the needs and challenges from both sides.

Besides, we have so many opportunities to grow here. So far, I have taken exams for my CCCP Certification as well as undergone Beauty and Health classes. The best part, it is all for free!

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

I remember during my probation period when my boss asked me to prepare and join her for a site visit to Pergigian Negeri Sembilan. It was on the third month of my engagement with the company. Of course, I felt a little uncomfortable in the beginning: I had to study medical jargon on top of the names of the products that I was not aware of. After all, I came from an accounting background. But I took the challenge and I made it! Since then, I’ve come to know that I can take on more and more, and I consider myself ‘a big fish in a small pond’. The key is to always challenge my abilities and perform with all my heart. malaysias100.com

WORKING LIFE

EXPLAINED

FATIMAH MUHAMAD, 35 EMPLOYER

POSITION Certified Contact Centre Professional (CCCP), Customer Care Department

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Accountancy with Honours, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 2008

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 6 years

“REMEMBER TO PERFORM AT YOUR LEVEL BEST DURING YOUR PRACTICAL TO SHOW YOUR ABILITY AND CREDIBILITY.”

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

I am blessed to have great team members to support me during my hard times.

Other than that, I have great bosses who always inspire and challenge me, but at the same time, remain supportive and close to me.

The learning process never ends, and the tough times have definitely taught me to appreciate what I have now and prepare me for betterment in the future.

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

As an accounting student in UiTM, I was exposed to working with Excel formulas ie IF Functions and Pivot Table especially during my practical training. I’m able to apply the knowledge that I have while preparing trending and reports for submission to higher level management and the authorities.

Other than that, I am a meticulous person and that has given me the opportunity to be different from the majority. It makes me value my education background even though it is not directly related to my current position in the customer care line and in the pharmaceutical industry.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

From my observation, there is something missing from graduates: passion.

Of course, not everyone is like that.

However, the majority that I have come across during practical training were not performing at their level best. Yes, the salary is always a driving force, but passion and having an overall positive attitude towards the tasks that have been given to you must be your motivators, too. Remember to perform at your level best during your practical to show your ability and credibility.

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 133

Idaman Pharma Manufacturing Sdn Bhd

WORKING LIFE

EXPLAINED Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

My scope of work is to ensure the IT infrastructure and application systems used in the manufacturing plant is running smoothly and is well maintained. I’m also responsible for the process improvements within the plant to achieve an efficient workflow using IT solutions.

Working in the technology field has always been my passion. I really enjoy what I’m doing now. During tough times, I treat my work like a puzzle, and try to solve it bit by bit. Errors are part of the process of learning, but when I finally manage to complete the puzzle, it is pure satisfaction!

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

Technology is dynamic i.e. is always changing and evolving. In Pharmaniaga, I have been blessed with opportunities to get my hands on the latest innovations the industry can offer. Experiencing new ideas and solutions really make me think outside the box when solving a problem.

I also love the autonomy over my responsibilities given by the management. It allows me to set my task and strategies to meet objectives as efficiently as possible.

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

Regulatory compliance. In my opinion, flexibility and compliance to regulatory somehow contradict each other.

In the pharmaceutical industry, there is a strict guideline that we need to comply and breaching it is not an option.

Coming from an IT background, which offers flexible approaches to solutions, regulatory compliance always pushes me to make sure all steps taken adhere to what is required by the industry.

MUHAMMAD FAUZI BIN DAWI C AHYONO, 35 EMPLOYER

POSITION Information Technology Senior Executive

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Information Technology, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 2008

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 9 years

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

The best things I’ve learnt during my university days: to always value my options and to be focused in meeting objectives. Also, being creative when approaching a solution, as there is more than one way to skin a cat. But I have to ensure that the step chosen is the best for all parties without compromising the objective.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

Take the time to brush up your communication skills. Read on how to tackle questions during an interview.

Interviews are platforms for employers to see how confident the candidates are.

Excel in the interview session and you’re good to go.

The technology field is a vast environment. Do consider expanding your requirements while job-searching. Being a software engineering major doesn’t mean that you will be a programmer for life.

Take your first step into the industry as a learning opportunity, and then build up your portfolio from there.

“INTERVIEWS ARE PLATFORMS FOR EMPLOYERS TO SEE HOW CONFIDENT THE CANDIDATES ARE.” 134 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

malaysias100.com

Samsung Malaysia Electronics

WORKING LIFE

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

Under the Samsung Management Associate Program, my field of work varies greatly as I get to rotate through multiple functions in less than two years.

I am currently at the end of my second rotation in HR Rewards & Operation, whereby I’ve gained in-depth knowledge on HR operations and employee benefits. I also have the opportunity to work closely with our Strategy and Engagement team, rolling out key programmes with the employee experience in mind and devising plans to engage with external talents to join the Samsung fold.

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

One of the greatest perks on being a Management Associate (MA) is the extensive knowledge that I get to acquire and be exposed to. Since the objective of the program is to leverage a talent’s potential at an accelerated time, my learning experience is designed to be an adrenaline-filled journey since Day 1, and this has definitely been the case.

The learning culture that the company cultivates gives me a sense of ownership to my work and therefore pushes me to be impactful in everything that I do.

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

Looking back now, I think the one lesson that strikes me the most is that the learning process involves making mistakes. In my early days with Samsung Malaysia, I didn’t know what to expect and I felt like I needed to prove my worth. So, in other words, I tried too hard, without much experience and knowledge on the subject matter. Slowly, I have come to terms that learning is not easy and it’s about abandoning your ego and making mistakes while you are still in the midst of learning. Because when you’re in a decision-making position, you simply can’t afford to make any mistakes anymore.

malaysias100.com

EXPLAINED

NUR RA SHIDAH BINTI Z AINAL , 24 EMPLOYER

POSITION Management Associate, Human Resources

QUALIFICATION BSc Psychology & Language Sciences, University College London (UCL), UK, 2019

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 8 months

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

Success doesn’t come easy. Stepping into the working world as a fresh graduate, there were times when I felt lost in things that I do. And for that, I greatly owe it to my team who has been very supportive and seniors who are willing to guide and help me to stay on track. There are many things that are yet to be learned from these amazing people, so quitting is not an option. When things get too overwhelming, I always tell myself to “Take it one step at a time”.

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

To stay inquisitive, always. When you are curious with things around you, you are more open to learning from others. Never waste the learning opportunity to futureproof yourself and learn as much as you can while you’re at it. Intellectual humility is also a crucial quality in the working world because it helps in fostering a positive relationship with your team members.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

Be bold and stand apart from the rest! With the current economy being impended by the pandemic, employers are becoming more stringent in recruiting talents. So dropping your CVs may be inadequate for you to stand out. While you are staying safe at home during this time, be the kind of talent that employers fight after – build your presence online, hone your soft skills and be an avid reader!

“WHEN YOU ARE CURIOUS WITH THINGS AROUND YOU, YOU ARE MORE OPEN TO LEARNING FROM OTHERS.” gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 135

PwC Malaysia

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

I work in Deals Advisory, specifically in Transaction Services. As the name “Deals Advisory” suggests, we are involved in the entire deal continuum, right from the origination of a deal (market assessment, feasibility studies, finding the right buyers/sellers), to execution (due diligence, valuation, liquidation, business recovery) and post-deal integration and management (working capital, business restructuring).

My role in this cycle is to perform financial due diligence, i.e. to look at companies’ historical business performances and tell the “story” of companies, often from a merger & acquisition (M&A) lens. The reader can be a buyer or seller, in which I tell them what the numbers mean and suggest to them what to do next. Our analysis generally helps clients to (i) decide if the deal is a go or no-go, and (ii) determine the final purchase price and negotiation points to protect themselves in the deal.

As the nature of our work has been evolving and expanding, we also review and suggest financial clauses in a sales and purchase agreement. Sometimes we perform financial review even though there is no deal involved.

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

The coolest thing about this role is the opportunity to learn from a diverse group of people and industries.

I get the chance to analyse numerous companies’ financials in a short span of time. I’ve learnt about several industries and their key financial drivers, i.e. what drives and affects the specific industry.

Coupled with ICAEW classes in between work years, I can immediately see the knowledge in the books come alive in the real world. The ability to apply the knowledge motivates me and makes me appreciate the learning opportunities.

Whilst analysing numbers, I also had the chance to meet people from different industries, such as fashion, education, healthcare, oil and gas etc. I have met people who care about children and charity more than profit; I have seen jobs requiring people to act quickly before a trend ends.

WORKING LIFE

EXPLAINED

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

Put in effort to work as if you’ve gotten confirmation. Remember that the probation period is a good opportunity to learn not only about the job but also about yourself. To me, it is important to understand what interests you in the job you do. It keeps you going when it is your interest driving you!

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

ELYN KUAN YIE MENG, 26 EMPLOYER

POSITION Senior Associate, Deals – Transaction Services

QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor of Accounting (Honours), Multimedia University (MMU), 2017; ICAEW World Prize Winner for Financial Management

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 2 years and 9 months

There are a few things I do to motivate myself to keep going: • Kill A.N.T. – Automatic Negative Thoughts. It’s okay to make mistakes!

• Keep my focus at the finish line • Watch light-hearted family sitcoms and have a laugh • Talk with my family and friends on the issues at hand or any random stuff.

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

I had a lot of presentation opportunities in classes and in business case competitions. Though some opportunities may or may not be within my comfort zone, they have helped to build my confidence in doing my work, speaking my mind and socialising with people.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

Never give up! Everything happens for a reason. Maybe, having a tough time finding a job is because you’re blessed with a chance to understand more about what you can do and what you want to do. So keep an open mind; you may find a good opportunity where you least expect it.

“REMEMBER THAT THE PROBATION PERIOD IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN NOT ONLY ABOUT THE JOB BUT ALSO ABOUT YOURSELF.”

136 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

malaysias100.com

PwC Malaysia

WORKING LIFE

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

I am part of the PwC Data and Analytics (D&A) team that falls under Risk Assurance Services (RAS). Our D&A team covers various areas of data solutions including data audit, data management, analytics and technology solutions.

Currently, my main role involves performing data analytics procedures to support the financial audit. I process large client data sets using analytics tools and technology to identify potential risk areas and provide audit evidence for accurate financial reporting. On top of that, I also analyse trends and identify anomalies to provide useful insights that could help our clients understand their data better and draw meaningful conclusions.

EXPLAINED

FARAH AZIZUDDIN EMPLOYER

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

My role allows me to work at different locations depending on where the engagement takes me. Hence, I am not always chained to the same desk from 9 to 5 every day. One of my most exciting experiences so far was getting to tour around an aircraft hangar and working in an office with a view of an airport runway.

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

Be more proactive in reaching out to people for guidance. People do not expect you to get everything right the first time. As much as we strive for perfection, there will be situations where you’d find it difficult to do so. However, you should not be too hard on yourself.

It’s not a mistake if you do not get it right the first time – it’s a learning process.

POSITION Senior Associate, Risk Assurance Services – Data Analytics

QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Technology (Hons) Business Information System, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), 2017

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 2 years and 4 months

“IT’S NOT A MISTAKE IF YOU DO NOT GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME – IT’S A LEARNING PROCESS.”

malaysias100.com

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

I would always remind myself that whenever I am having a tough time at work, it means that I am growing and stepping out of my comfort zone. Having a good support system that understands the nature of your work does help too. I would also take some time off whenever I can to refresh. It’s a good thing that PwC promotes flexible working initiatives such as flexFridays (working half a day every second Friday of the month) and Rest & Refresh (firmwide block leave at the end of the year) to encourage people to take well-deserved breaks and rejuvenate.

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

For me, university isn’t just about hitting the books. My university experience allows me to connect with people from a spectrum of diverse educational, professional and cultural backgrounds through volunteering, internship and exchange programmes both locally and abroad. These opportunities gave me an edge to build a professional portfolio that is more competitive in the job market and trained me to become a wellrounded professional.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

As a graduate, you may be unemployed for a certain period of time and it’s up to your personal efforts to determine how long this will last. You should know that everyone gets opportunities in different ways and one should never compare.

You may not be sure of what you want to pursue as a career. You may not even land the job of your choice the first time. However, your first job can be a good starting point to explore the options that suit your interest, find your forte, and eventually build the career path you’ve always wanted.

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 137

TDCX (MY) Sdn. Bhd. (formerly known as Teledirect Telecommerce)

WORKING LIFE

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

As the team leader in Google DSA team, my main responsibility is to ensure the team achieves KPIs on a quarterly basis.

I am very keen to support my team, hence I have regular coaching sessions with each team member to communicate with them closely. We discuss their performance as well as what their strengths and areas of improvement are so that they can improve and achieve their targets.

Besides that, I also perform call reviews/listening and call calibration to ensure that the call quality of each team member meets the criteria set by Google.

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

The coolest thing in my current role is to work for the biggest technology company in the world, Google, and work cooperatively with great teams within a multinational environment. Working for Google has given me the motivation to not only to work hard, but also to work smart. I also have the chance to establish direct communication with the Googlers which makes this role more impressive because I can learn and understand their thoughts about the business.

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

Well, the probation period has given me very rewarding experiences and lessons, not only learning in-depth about my job scope but also for my long-term career progression in the future.

I am grateful to work in Google DSA because I have met many mentors that were very helpful during my probation.

The greatest lessons I learnt in my probation period were how to enhance my analytical skills, how to initiate critical thinking in certain situations, and how to improve my communication skills when talking to different types of people.

EXPLAINED

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

There must be difficult times at all workplaces but I do believe that there must also be solutions to overcome them.

I have gone through some challenging situations in work, but I am a person who never gives up during the tough times as I believe that I can gain experiences from them. I keep going because I’m focused on my responsibilities to deliver the best results and achieve the company’s goals.

WINA APRILLIA WIDYA , 26 EMPLOYER

POSITION Team Manager for Direct Scaled Acquisition (Google) – SEA & Thailand Market

QUALIFICATIONS BA Hons in International Business Management, Asia Pacific University (APU), 2015; MBA in Global Business, Coventry University, UK, 2020

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

My university has prepared me exceptionally for a smooth transition from school to work by providing me with the skills necessary to succeed. The subjects have taught me about real-life situations and jobs. Some of the difficult courses have even taught me about employability, consulting skills, solving complex problems within teams, and working on projects successfully. I was also taught about leadership styles that are practiced by well-known leaders in the world.

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

Never give up and always keep your spirits up. There are many opportunities out there. In the meantime, it is important to keep honing your basic skills such as effective communication or any other particular skill that you need to prepare yourself for the real working life.

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 10 months

138 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

“THE PROBATION PERIOD HAS GIVEN ME VERY REWARDING EXPERIENCES AND LESSONS.”

malaysias100.com

Top Glove Corporation Berhad

Can you tell us what you generally do in your job?

My job responsibilities involve coordinating the monthly production schedules based on sales orders received, raw material availability and plant capacity. My day-to-day tasks require that I work closely with the maintenance and packing departments to ensure that our production process runs efficiently and productively.

I am also responsible for the monitoring of the production line which requires me to troubleshoot and make necessary adjustments to ensure that our products meet the specifications required by our customers. I also work closely with the QA and R&D teams whenever evaluation of new raw materials or product types are required.

What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?

The opportunity to learn many new things. Throughout my role, I have gained invaluable experience as a production planner and gained the opportunity to interact with all levels of the workforce – my superiors, peers and subordinates.

At times, this poses a challenge to my communication skills (especially when dealing with subordinates from different nationalities). I believe these opportunities would provide good stepping stones towards my career path in the future.

What is the greatest lesson you derived from your probation period at work?

Being inexperienced and a fresh graduate, it was a struggle for me to begin adapting from a learning environment to a doing environment. I was challenged to adapt to the working environment and also manage interactions at my workplace. I was fortunate to have understanding superiors and peers who were always willing to guide and stand by me as I fulfilled my duties.

A critical point I learnt was that perseverance and self-belief are very important in difficult and challenging situations. My most rewarding moment was when I received my confirmation as a permanent employee of Top Glove. In addition, another proud moment of my malaysias100.com

WORKING LIFE

EXPLAINED

working life was receiving the “2018 Best Staff Award”. This award has motivated me to work even harder and continue to be a valuable member of Top Glove.

What keeps you going during the tough times at work?

MELIS S A SHAREENA BINTI DANIAL IS WAN, 27

Self-confidence and never giving up during the most challenging situations.

I always look at things positively and believe that I can overcome the hurdles – no matter how tough they are as part and parcel of my learning curve. I feel motivated by the appreciation and encouragement shown by my superiors.

The support and cooperation from my peers and subordinates also help in many ways to overcome difficulties during tough times.

Name the most important thing your university prepared you for the working world.

Researcher II, Production

Having the right attitude to handle challenging situations and the drive to succeed are two important qualities that I developed during my university years to excel in my working life.

Being away from my family while studying in the University of Manchester, UK, has taught me the value of adaptability – the need to quickly adapt to a new environment or to deal with a diverse group of people from different races, backgrounds and cultures.

QUALIFICATION

What is your advice to fresh grads who are having a tough time finding jobs?

EMPLOYER

POSITION

MChem in Chemistry with Forensic & Analytical Chemistry, University of Manchester, UK, 2017

HAS BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY FOR 2 years and 2 months

“EACH EXPERIENCE YOU GAIN CAN BE YOUR STEPPING STONE TO GAIN MORE EXPERIENCE IN YOUR WORKING LIFE.”

Always stay positive, continue searching and do not be too picky when looking for the right job. Each experience you gain can be your stepping stone to gain more experience in your working life. Take every opportunity to enhance your soft skills as many employers are looking for them these days.

Spend time reading more about jobs that are aligned with your qualifications and interests. Remember to develop a digital perspective and learn what are the general industry expectations.

Volunteering in community activities is something you should consider too as it will widen your network of contacts while enabling you to improve your communication skills.

gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20 | 139

L A T I G I D S R E E R A C A MEG R I A F Y D U & ST 0

02 2 V O N PT - 30

1 SE

F S A C #M

Register now at

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S E C T I O N

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A-Z OF RECRUITERS Discover more about top employers and the most recent opportunities they have to offer students and graduates!

AIA Shared Services..................................................... 142 Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad................................... 144 AmBank Group.............................................................. 146 Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad....................................... 148 Evonik Malaysia Sdn Bhd............................................. 150 EY................................................................................. 152 Gamuda Berhad........................................................... 154 Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad...... 156 ICAEW Malaysia............................................................ 158 KPMG............................................................................ 160 KVC Industrial Supplies Sdn. Bhd................................ 162 Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank).......................... 164 Management and Science University ......................... 166 NestlĂŠ Malaysia Sdn Bhd............................................. 168 OCBC Bank (M) Berhad................................................ 170 Pharmaniaga Berhad....................................................172 PwC Malaysia ...............................................................174 Samsung Malaysia Electronics (SME) Sdn. Bhd......... 176 TDCX (MY) Sdn. Bhd. .................................................... 178 Top Glove Corporation Berhad..................................... 180

TH 26 OVERALL

RANKING

AIA Shared Services Talent Acquisition Department Wisma Mustapha Kamal, Menara 2, 02-06-01, NeoCyber, Lingkaran Cyber Point Barat, Cyber 12, 63000 Cyberjaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: +603-8213 2800 E-mail: my.career@aia.com Type of business Shared Services Number of employees AIA Shared Services (AIASS) is a subsidiary of AIA Group Limited (known as ‘AIA’), the largest independent publicly listed panAsian life insurance group and a market leader in the Asia-Pacific region for life insurance premiums. AIA has a presence in 18 countries and is recognised for its broad range of innovative insurance products and services.

AIASS was established in May 2009 to support AIA’s insurance operations across several markets, as well as groupwide support in Finance, Investment, Enterprise Application Support Center (EASC) and Technology Risk. Since its establishment, AIASS has grown from strength to strength in its vision to be AIA’s pre-eminent service partner, committed to providing best-in-class services to support AIA’s operations.

As a customer-centric company, we are strongly committed to providing our valued employees with a rewarding and satisfying work experience. Our unique learning culture enables employees to gain the right knowledge and skills to continually grow and nurture their career at AIASS.

1,000–10,000 Main Location Cyberjaya

WINNER BPO & SHARED SERVICES

2019

Minimum degree classification required Minimum CGPA 3.0 or 2nd Class (Upper) Degree discipline or/and requirements Relevant discipline from a reputable tertiary education institution Internship programme Yes Application deadline for internships All year round

Bring Your Ambition To Life

142 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

https://www.alliancebank.com.my/career-centre

ND 82 OVERALL

RANKING

Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad Group Talent Acquisition Level 20, Menara Multi-Purpose, Capital Square, 8 Jalan Munshi Abdullah, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: +603-2604 1230 Web: https://www.alliancebank.com.my/ career-centre E-mail: careers@alliancefg.com Type of business Banking Number of employees 1,000–10,000 Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad and its subsidiaries, Alliance Investment Bank Berhad and Alliance Islamic Bank Berhad, is a dynamic, integrated financial services group offering banking and financial solutions through its consumer banking, SME banking, corporate and commercial banking, Islamic banking, investment banking, and stockbroking businesses.

The Bank provides easy access to its broad base of customers throughout the country via multi-pronged delivery channels which include retail branches, Privilege Banking Centres, Business Centres, and Investment Bank branches, as well as mobile and Internet banking.

Jobs in these areas Sales Credit Finance Compliance Core skills required Ability to work under pressure Attention to detail Communication skills Initiative Motivation Organisational skills Problem solving skills Teamwork skills

How do we select?

Our application process has 3 stages: 1. Completion and submission of application form online 2. First round of interview with HR and business managers at the branch office or by virtual 3. Second round of interview with manager if required

Locations Nationwide

Minimum degree classification required 2nd class upper and above Degree discipline or/and requirements All disciplines Internship programme Yes Requirements for interns Ability to work independently and in a team Possess oral and written communication skills, able to communicate with all levels of management Possess good interpersonal and proactive skills Familiar with Microsoft Office applications Number of expected graduate vacancies in 2020 30

144 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Building Alliances To Improve Lives

Management Trainee Programme

Improving lives begins with you.

Start your future here.

As a Management Trainee, you will enjoy: • a 12-month career development programme.

• job rotation across all divisions in the bank.

• networking opportunities with banking professionals.

• coaching and mentoring from the bank's diverse pool of leaders.

8:30 AA

4G alliance bank management trainee programme

Welcome

Scan to apply.

Discover a holistic programme as you get rotated across divisions within the bank.

We are looking for strong candidates with the following: A Bachelor’s Degree with CGPA 3.0 and above / Master's Degree.

• Less than 2 years of working experience.

• Agile, creative and passionate about succeeding in a rewarding industry.

•

Apply now!

Scan the QR code or email your CV / resume to abmt@alliancefg.com with the subject title “Application for Management Trainee Programme".

Member of PIDM. Terms and Conditions apply.

Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad 198201008390 (88103-W)

AMMB Holdings Berhad is the holding company of AmBank Group and has been listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia since 1988. It is the sixth-largest banking group by assets in Malaysia, with a market capitalisation of around RM11.6 billion and assets of RM137.9 billion as at 31 March 2019.

AmBank Group is one of Malaysia’s premier financial solutions groups with over 43 years of experience in supporting Malaysians in their economic development.

AmBank Group offers a wide range of both conventional and Islamic financial solutions and services, including wholesale banking, retail banking, investment banking, underwriting of general insurance, life assurance and takaful, stock and share broking, futures broking, investment advisory and management services in assets, real estate investment trust and unit trusts.

The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) is the biggest shareholder in the AmBank Group with a 23.8% holding and provides support with Board and senior management representation, risk and financial governance, product offerings and new business developments. In the general insurance business, the Group has partnered with Insurance Australia Group Ltd (IAG). In the life assurance and family takaful businesses, the Group has a partnership with MetLife International Holdings Inc (MetLife). The Group benefits in terms of expertise transfer from IAG and MetLife.

Today, AmBank Group employs a strong high-flying workforce of over 9970 full time employees to serve the needs of more than three million individual and corporate customers nationwide. As part of the Group, AmBank (M) Berhad reaches out

146 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

to its customers by providing an extensive network of 170 AmBank branches, 183 electronic banking centres, 766 ATMs, a 24hour contact centre and a digital banking system, making access to AmBank’s financial solutions and services, ever so easy and convenient.

We at AmBank Group will remain steadfast and resilient in providing relevant financial solutions that will fit seamlessly into the daily lives of our fellow Malaysians.

Over the years, we have realigned ourselves and streamlined our operations better. We constantly strive to improve our products, solutions and services, leveraging on the power of digital technology in order to meet the growing needs of our customers and to stay competitive in today’s financial landscape.

ambankgroup.com/eng/career

TH 60 OVERALL

RANKING

AmBank Group

Nur Izyanie Syaznie Mohd Sadani/ Group Human Resource Level 37, Menara AmBank, No.8 Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, 50450 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603-2167 3000 Fax: +603-2167 9567 Web: ambankgroup.com/eng/career E-mail: fly-high@ambankgroup.com Type of business Banking & Financial Services Number of employees >10,000 Jobs in these areas Accountancy Actuarial Science Banking Business Administration/Management Business Studies Commerce Computer & Information Sciences Corporate Communications Economics Finance Human Resource Development Information Systems Information Systems & Software Engineering Information Technology Investment Analysis Law Mathematics Social Science Statistics Core skills required Ability to work under pressure Attention to detail Commercial awareness Communication skills Creativity Initiative Leadership potential Motivation Organisational skills Problem solving skills Teamwork skills

How do we select?

Our application process has 4 stages: 1. Submission of application form online 2. First round interview with Programme Lead at the branch office 3. Online Assessment for the shortlisted candidates 4. Second round interview by senior personnel at the branch office

Location Kuala Lumpur

Minimum degree classification required CGPA 3.5 and above Degree discipline or/and requirements Bachelor's Master's Internship programme Yes Requirements for interns CGPA 3.0 and above

Fly High with AmBank.

Launch your career to greater heights.

Bank Islam is the first Islamic bank in Malaysia as well as the first Shariah-based financial institution in South East Asia; and has the widest network of dedicated Islamic banking channels, with more than 140 branches and 1,000 self-terminals nationwide.

We are founded to provide banking and financial solutions that adhere to the Shariah rules and principles, which focus on the balance between meeting individual and social needs, and implementing economic activities that promote justice as well as responsibility to the society and planet.

Our pioneering endeavour has made us the source of Shariah guidance for a number of foreign banking and financial institutions, where we are bringing the Malaysian brand of Islamic finance to the regional and global markets. As a matter of fact, we have been providing advisory and consultation services that lead to the creation of a number of Islamic banks beyond the shore of Malaysia.

Guided by our mission “TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS THAT DELIVER VALUE”, we provide

an array of diversified Shariah-compliant solutions that best meet our customers’ financial needs. Our vision to be “THE BANK THAT ADVANCES PROSPERITY FOR ALL” ensures that our solutions and business activities are designed for wellbeing of all people, especially the marginalised and underprivileged communities, while safeguarding the world we live in.

Embracing the 'Value-based Intermediation' (VBI) principles as advocated

by Bank Negara Malaysia as our core, we aim to achieve our mission and vision in a sustainable manner that brings long-term values. Through greater product innovations and financial inclusion offerings, as well as progressive platforms and excellent service, we are building trust as well as lasting relationships with all of our stakeholders.

Through the combination of our activities and solutions, we are being recognised by the industry, as reflected by the awards and accolades received below: Won Al-Mansor Excellence in Islamic Financial Services Award at the Islamic Excellence Awards 1441H/2020

148 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Top Performance Award 2019 by Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan (SJPP) Restructuring Deal of the Year 2019 – Islamic Finance News Awards Malaysian Deal of the Year 2019 for Urusharta Jamaah’s RM27.56 billion Sukuk Most Innovative Islamic Bank – Malaysia, 2019 at the 5th Annual Global Business Outlook Awards IRBA Best Social Finance Initiative Award 2019 – by the Awards Committee of Islamic Retail Banking 2019 Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Platinum Award 2019 for the Islamic Finance Services category in Malaysia Excellence in Islamic Banking at the Global Business Leadership Awards 2019 by Asia Pacific Business Council for Sustainability Best Islamic Banking Brand, Malaysia 2019 by the Global Brands Magazine Awarded Malaysia Brand Leadership Awards 2019 at Malaysia’s Best Brand Awards 2019 Best Islamic Bank – Malaysia 2019 by the International Investor Magazine Award 2019 Best Corporate Social Responsibility – Malaysia 2019 by the International Investor Magazine Award 2019

www.bankislam.com

14TH

OVERALL RANKING

BANK ISLAM MALAYSIA BERHAD Employer Branding & Talent Sourcing 20th Floor, Menara Bank Islam, No. 22, Jalan Perak, 50450 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603-2688 2775 Fax: +603-2088 8325 Web: www.bankislam.com E-mail: career@bankislam.com.my Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad @GoBeyondAtBankIslam

Being part of Bank Islam will give you great opportunities to work with the thought leaders and learn from some of the best brains of the Islamic finance industry. The Bank offers lifelong and multi-faceted learning approach that goes beyond the norm to fulfil your career aspiration.

At the same time, our integrated approach to work and life balance allows employees to grow professionally as well as spiritually, as we adopt the practice of giving back to the society as part of our vision and mission. As a member of the organisation, you will be held together with a set of universally accepted values that are balanced on professionalism, integrity and mutual respect. All the elements above describe our value proposition in making Bank Islam a great place to be.

We continue to focus on creating a sustainable and diverse talent pool, and groom a responsive and productive team that is able to capitalise on rapid change by not only optimising readily available opportunities but also creating one.

Jobs in these areas Sales and Marketing Branch Operations Contact Centre Information Technology Shariah SME Banking Digital Banking

Core skills required Have the right fit job competencies to the offered role with commendable personality and attitude that align with Bank Islam’s TAAT values which are Think Customer, Act with Integrity, Advance Beyond and Take Charge How do we select?

Our application process has 3 stages: 1. Submission of résumé via career@ bankislam.com.my 2. First round interview with hiring managers on our virtual platform or at our offices 3. Relevant assessments if applicable

Type of business Banking & Finance Number of employees 1,000–10,000 Locations Nationwide SECOND RUNNER-UP BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES

2019

2019

Minimum degree classification required Minimum CGPA 2.80 Degree discipline or/and requirements Open to all diploma & degree holders from various study background with right fit job competencies with commendable personality and attitude Closing date for job applications On-going Internship programme Yes Requirements for interns Malaysian citizens who are currently pursuing a degree in a recognised university with minimum CGPA 2.80 Application deadline for internships On-going Number of expected graduate vacancies in 2020 On-going (As per current business requirement)

Assuring Trust.

Delivering Value.

www.evonik.com.my

Evonik Malaysia Sdn Bhd Human Resource Department Level 25, The Pinnacle, Persiaran Lagoon, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Selangor, Malaysia Tel: +603-7628 2000 Web: https://careers.evonik.com/en/ E-mail: hr-recruitment-my@evonik.com Type of business Specialty chemical; Shared services Number of employees Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals and active in more than 100 countries around the world. We go far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable and sustainable solutions for our customers. We may not manufacture tires, medications or animal feeds, but Evonik is part of all those products – and many more. With only small amounts of materials produced by Evonik, we can make tires fuel-efficient, medications more effective, and animal feeds healthier. That’s what specialty chemicals are all about.

And when it comes to specialty chemicals, we're among the best in the world.

In South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, our footprint spans across Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Headquartered in Singapore, each our site encompasses a different focus and technological expertise to better meet the needs of our customers by creating solutions for them.

This is a world of opportunities for you. In Evonik, we are always looking for creative and talented people. Our employees come from a wide range of career backgrounds to help us not only reach new markets – but reach new heights. Evonik is where you can make a difference. We give people opportunities to gain new knowledge and the space to create. Develop your potential with us and be a part of our international and diverse team. Visit careers.evonik.com and kick start your career with us.

Jobs in these areas Procurement Finance Information Technology Human Resources Core skills required Ability to work under pressure Attention to detail Commercial awareness Communication skills Creativity Initiative Leadership potential Motivation Organisational skills Problem solving skills Teamwork skills How do we select?

Our application process has 3 stages: 1. Initial phone interview with our Recruiter 2. Completion of psychometric test & submission of application forms (attached with relevant documents) 3. Interview with Team Lead & Functional Manager Minimum degree classification required Diploma Bachelor’s Master’s Professional Certification Degree discipline or/and requirements Accountancy Finance Business & Management Commerce Human Resources Information Systems Information Technology Sales & Marketing Supply Chain Procurement Logistics Other relevant fields

150 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

100–1,000 (Malaysia) >10,000 (Globally) Location Bandar Sunway Headquarters Essen, Germany More than 100 countries globally in Asia, Africa, Europe, North & South America

Closing date for job applications All year-round Internship programme Yes Application deadline for internships All year-round Number of expected graduate vacancies in 2020 10

Exploring opportunities.

Growing together.

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, strategy, transaction and consulting services.

The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

A better working world truly starts with the people at EY who are building it every day. In Malaysia, we are one of the largest professional services organizations with more than 3,900 people in 15 locations throughout the country.

We believe that a highly skilled and engaged workforce drives better business results. That's why we empower our people to be intentional about their careers, to seek out the experiences that will help them bring out the best in themselves and others.

The experiences they can have at EY – and the perspectives, skillsets and mindsets that these experiences deliver – are the keys to helping our people become the leaders they want to be; the leaders that we, our clients and society need. We're focused on providing equitable access to opportunities and sponsorship to help make these experiences a reality for all. We provide the opportunities. Our people build their own exceptional experience.

152 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Awards: Winner, Most Popular Graduate Employer in Accounting and Professional Services Sector 2019, Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers Winner, Most Popular Graduate Employer in Consulting Sector 2019, Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2nd runner-up, Most Popular Graduate Employer of the Year 2019, Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers World’s Most Attractive Professional Services Employer and World’s 2nd Most Attractive Employer Overall 2019, Universum

https://www.ey.com/en_my/careers

3RD

OVERALL RANKING

EY Jobs in these areas Assurance Consulting Strategy and Transactions Tax

Core skills required A team player with strong communication and interpersonal skills Proactive, dedicated, innovative, resourceful, analytical and able to work under pressure Good command of spoken and written English Strong drive to excel professionally Strong leadership qualities and a good record of extra-curricular activities How do we select?

Completion and submission of online application at EY Careers website link: https://www.ey.com/en_my/careers Minimum degree classification required 2nd Class Upper and above

Economics Econometrics Engineering Finance Financial Engineering Human Resource Management Information Systems Information Technology Law Mathematics Statistics Other related disciplines Closing date for job applications Applications are accepted all year-round Internship programme Yes Requirements for interns 2nd Class Upper and above Active in extra-curricular activities Application deadline for internships Applications are accepted all year-round

Degree discipline or/and requirements Accounting Actuarial Science Business Commerce Computer Science Cyber Security

Web: https://www.ey.com/en_my/careers (All applications should be made via the website) Type of business Professional Services Number of employees 1,000–10,000 Locations Kuala Lumpur Petaling Jaya, Selangor Penang Ipoh, Perak Malacca Iskandar Puteri, Johor Kuantan, Pahang Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Kuching, Sarawak Miri, Sarawak Bintulu, Sarawak Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Sandakan, Sabah Tawau, Sabah Labuan

WINNER

WINNER

GRADUATE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

SECOND RUNNER-UP

ACCOUNTING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

2019

2019

WINNER CONSULTING

The exceptional EY experience.

It’s yours to build.

2019

2019

www.gamuda.com.my

TH 38 OVERALL

RANKING

Gamuda Berhad

Innovate. Lead. Succeed.

Backed by a creative and innovative workforce, Gamuda has grown since 1976 into Malaysia’s leading contractor and property developer.

We deliver world-class products and solutions that connect people and cities and create sustainable transformation for an enhanced quality of life.

Our expertise in creating significant infrastructure and homes of the future have resulted in award-winning projects and townships and elevated industry standards.

With growing national and international market presence in Asia-Pacific region namely Taiwan, Australia, Singapore and Vietnam, Gamuda is poised to become a global player as we shift our focus towards sustainable townships and smart cities, digitalised construction ecosystem and innovative building solutions in line with the rapid changes brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In addition to an inclusive and diverse workforce, we also invest in talent growth and continuous development to create an environment that nurtures an all-rounded, competitive and self-driven workforce.

To keep up with Gamuda’s updates and development, follow us on: gamudagroup GAMUDA GamudaBhd GamudaBhd Gamuda Berhad

Jobs in these areas Civil/Structural Engineering Economics/Finance/Accounting Mechanical/Electrical Engineering Sales & Marketing Core skills required Ability to work under pressure Attention to detail Commercial awareness Communication skills Creativity Initiative Leadership potential Learning agility Motivation Organisational skills Problem solving skills Teamwork skills

Talent Acquisition Team Menara Gamuda, PJ Trade Centre, No. 8, Jalan PJU 8/8A, Bandar Damansara Perdana, 47820 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia Tel: +603-7491 8288 Fax: +603-7726 9217 Web: www.gamuda.com.my E-mail: gbhr@gamuda.com.my Type of business Engineering & Construction Property Development Infrastructure Concessions Number of employees 1,000–10,000 Locations Malaysia (Various locations), Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore and Australia

SECOND RUNNER-UP PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION

2019

How do we select?

Our application process has 3 stages: 1. Submission of online application or via referrals 2. Shortlist for interview with hiring manager 3. Complete selection with online assessment Minimum degree classification required CGPA 3.0 or Upper 2nd class, or equivalent Degree discipline or/and requirements Academic qualification(s) relevant to the job vacancies Closing date for job applications All year round Internship programme Available Requirements for interns Diploma/Degree with minimum CGPA 3.0 and able to commit to at least 10 weeks of internship duration

154 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Application deadline for internships Yearly intake in February, July and December Submit application 2 months before each intake Number of expected graduate vacancies in 2020 30-35

https://www.greateasternlife.com/my

TH 77 OVERALL

RANKING

112 Years of Financial Excellence As the largest and most established life insurer in the country, Great Eastern Life has served and protected millions of Malaysian families throughout their lives with its comprehensive policies since its establishment in 1908. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Eastern Holdings Limited, we have RM81.2 billion in assets, over 3 million policies in force, 21 operational branches, and a network of 19,000 agents nationwide.

In addition to life insurance, as a member of the OCBC Group, Great Eastern Life works closely with its parent company in Bancassurance partnerships, and offers general and Takaful insurances through its General and Takaful arm. With our pooled resources and collaborative efforts, we offer a variety of options and versatility in our business operations, as well as our hiring practices, allowing intercompany career mobility opportunities across the Group regionally for our employees.

We are the LIFE company Our people are at the heart of our success, and as a LIFE company, we empower our talents at every stage of their career. New employees are offered comprehensive training to orientate and ease them into their new roles and working environment, with continued professional and personal development provided throughout their journey!

Additionally, we encourage our employees to take charge of their wellbeing through our award-winning LIFE Programme, Making Life Great (MLG) activities, and several other incentives including subsidised gym memberships, free annual health checks, fun workout sessions, health talks by medical experts, and so much more!

Jobs in these areas Actuarial Agency Development Bancassurance

Claims Customer Service & Call Centre Finance Group Insurance Healthcare Services Human Capital Information Technology Marketing & Customer Management New Business Digital Transformation Digital Affinity Risk Management Compliance Core skills required Ability to work under pressure Attention to detail Communication skills Creativity Initiative Leadership potential Motivation Organisational skills Problem solving skills Teamwork skills How do we select?

Our application process has 3 stages: 1. Completion and submission of application form 2. Invitation for face-to-face interview 3. Invitation for second interview/ assessment as required

Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad Lim Jen Nie Human Capital Level 19, Menara Great Eastern, 303 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603-4813 3221 Fax: +603-4813 3299 Web: https://www.greateasternlife.com/my E-mail: hr-my@greateasternlife.com Type of business Insurance Number of employees 1,000–10,000 Locations Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia

FIRST RUNNER-UP INSURANCE

2019

Minimum degree classification required CGPA 3.0 or 2nd Class (Upper) Degree discipline or/and requirements All disciplines Closing date for job applications On-going Internship programme Yes Requirements for interns Malaysian citizen 2nd year and above Minimum CGPA of 3.00 or 2nd Class (Lower) Minimum attachment period of 10 weeks Application deadline for internships On-going Number of expected graduate vacancies in 2020 100

156 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Join us in our mission to make life GREAT!

icaew.com

ICAEW Malaysia Level 2, Chulan Tower, 3 Jalan Conlay, 50450 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603-2171 6022 Web: icaew.com E-mail: malaysia@icaew.com Type of business Business and Finance The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) is a highly influential, world-leading professional membership organisation that supports 154,000 Chartered Accountants worldwide and has been at the heart of accountancy since it was established in 1880.

We provide qualifications and professional development across accountancy, finance and business. Our chartered accountancy qualification, the ACA, is one of the most advanced learning and professional development programmes available. Our portfolio provides training and development programmes for chartered accountants throughout their careers, and offers a range of leadership programmes, helping to transform finance specialists into business leaders. As leaders in accountancy, finance and business, our members have the knowledge, skills and commitment to maintain the highest professional standards and integrity.

The ACA qualification has integrated components which give individuals an in-depth understanding across accountancy, finance and business.

The programme helps build technical knowledge, professional skills and practical experience needed to become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.

To be admitted as a member, applicants must have attained the required knowledge, skills and experience. This includes 450 technical days and 3 years of work experience with one of our Authorised Training Employers (ATEs) and a combination of studies and examinations complemented by professional experience.

In Malaysia, many of our members are leaders of industries and key influencers.

Among them are Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia Group; Dato’ Gan Ah Tee, Managing Partner of BDO; Dato’ Rauf Rashid, Country Managing Partner of EY Malaysia; Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi, Executive Chairman of PwC and Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz, President and Group CEO of PETRONAS. Jobs in these areas Follow your curiosity. Whatever the sector, they need the big ideas of a chartered accountant. Your vision can delve into a range of exciting challenges, from helping to launch a ground-breaking piece of new technology, to deciding whether to invest in a new start-up.

Core skills required Ability to work under pressure Attention to detail Commercial awareness Communication skills Creativity Initiative Leadership potential Self motivated Organisational skills Problem solving skills Teamwork skills

Locations We have over 180 Authorised Training Employers located in Malaysia to train you as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant

How do we select?

Write in to malaysia@icaew.com to know more about the ACA qualification Minimum degree classification required Minimum CGPA: 3.0 Degree discipline or/and requirements Students from all background of studies are welcomed to take up the ACA qualification Closing date for job applications We are open all year round Internship programme No Number of expected graduate vacancies in 2020 We provide support to ICAEW Authorised Training Employers who train future Chartered Accountants.

Building a world of strong economies together by innovation, collaboration and agility.

158 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

www.kpmg.com/my/careers

KPMG: The Clear Choice The history of KPMG in Malaysia can be traced back to 1928, and the firm has grown to be a part of the global success of KPMG's international network of member firms. With a nationwide team comprising over 2,300 staff across 8 offices, we work shoulder to shoulder with our clients to integrate innovative approaches and deep expertise to deliver real results.

We provide professional services in Audit, Tax and Advisory across a wide range of industries, government and not for profit sectors. Our focus on industry and country-specific knowledge helps us deliver exceptional people with an intimate knowledge of our client’s specific business issues, deep industry expertise as well as an overriding commitment towards service excellence.

Beyond our clients, we contribute in voluntary and honorary capacities to improve the communities in which we live and operate. We value diversity and inclusion, fostering a positive and encouraging culture. As a result, we attract passionate individuals who share a common purpose to ‘Inspire Confidence and Empower Change’ for our clients and the communities in which we live and work.

KPMG Awards: • Ranked at No.7 among Malaysia’s Leading Graduate Employers 2019 • Graduates’ Choice Award 2019: Top 3 – Consulting, Top 3 – Accounting & Professional Services • Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2018 – KPMG Malaysia ranked Top 10 Overall Leading Graduate Employers • Best Company to work for in Asia 2018 • INTI Employer of the Year 2018 • Graduate Choice Award 2018 – Best Employer Brand • CSR Malaysia Awards 2018 – Company of the Year Award (Professional Services) • Company of the Year Award (Professional Services) 2017 by CSR Malaysia • Universum’s Top 21 Employer Most Attractive Employer Award Malaysia 2017 • Employer Branding Institute India – Best Employer Brand Award 2017

Jobs in these areas Accountancy, Actuarial Science, Banking, Business Studies, Commerce, Computer & Information Sciences, Corporate Communications, Cyber Security, Economics, Engineering, Finance, Human Resource Management, Information Systems, Information Technology, Investment Analysis, Law, Psychology, Statistics and other related fields Core skills required Ability to work under pressure Attention to detail Commercial awareness Communication skills Creativity Initiative Leadership potential Motivation Organisational skills Problem solving skills Teamwork skills How do we select?

Our application process: 1. Submission of application form online 2. Phone screening with recruiter 3. Online Assessment for the shortlisted candidates 4. Face-to-face interview 5. KPMG Offer Minimum degree classification required CGPA 3.2 and above, 2nd Class [Upper] and above or 70% WAM and above SPM 5 As and above [Math, BM & English included] Active in extra-curricular activities with leadership positions Good command of spoken and written English MUET: Band 4 or IELTS: 7/9

7TH

OVERALL RANKING

KPMG Talent Acquisition & Branding – People, Performance & Culture KPMG Tower, 8, First Avenue, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Tel: +603-7721 3388 Fax: +603-7721 3399 Web: www.kpmg.com/my/careers E-mail: talent@kpmg.com.my Type of business Professional Services – Audit, Tax, Advisory & Business Support Number of employees 1,000–10,000 Locations 8 locations across Malaysia: Penang, Ipoh, Petaling Jaya, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Miri, Labuan, Kota Kinabalu SECOND RUNNER-UP ACCOUNTING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

SECOND RUNNER-UP CONSULTING

2019

2019

Degree discipline or/and requirements Bachelor’s, Master’s or any professional qualification.

Closing date for job applications Applications are accepted all year round Internship programme Yes (Internship, Data & Analytics Apprenticeship Program) Requirements for interns Minimum 12 weeks of internship CGPA 3.2 and above, 2nd Class [Upper] and above or 70% WAM and above SPM 5 As and above [Math, BM & English included] Active in extra-curricular activities with leadership positions

160 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Good command of spoken and written English MUET: Band 4 or IELTS: 7/9 Application deadline for internships Applications are accepted all year round Number of expected graduate vacancies in 2020 400 vacancies

Secure the best start to your career at KPMG.

www.career.kvc.com.my

KVC Industrial Supplies Sdn. Bhd. is Malaysia’s leading industrial solution provider, headquartered in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor. Founded in 1989, our business has grown and expanded across Malaysia. We have more than 20 sales offices with more than 700 associates serving 6,000 active customers.

To ensure sustainable growth, we diversified our business to continue to exceed our customer’s expectations.

In 2012, KVC formed an alliance with Sonepar (www.sonepar.com), the Number 1 Global Electric Distributor to pool industry insights and further accelerate our growth.

Jobs in these areas Product Engineer Sales Engineer Customer Care Procurement Logistics & Warehouse Finance Information Technology Talent Management

OUR PEOPLE ARE IMPORTANT TO US Besides hiring new talents, we spend a lot of our time developing our existing talents. No matter who they are, everyone is given equal opportunities to grow and develop in KVC. To succeed in our goal of “Growth Through Partnership”, we aim to create a strong performance culture by establishing a lifelong learning concept through our Learning and Development Program – • Next Generation Development Program • Manager Development Program • Executive Development Program • KVC Structured Internship Program

How do we select?

Our application process has 5 stages: 1. Resume/CV submission 2. Phone screening with the Talent Acquisition team 3. Interview 4. Written Assessment (if required, for shortlisted candidate) 5. Background check

KVC was awarded the Silver Award for Employer of Choice (Private Sector) in the 19th Malaysia-International HR Awards 2019, hosted by the Malaysian Institute of Human Resource Management (MIHRM).

Stay tuned to KVC’s updates and developments by following us on –

Core skills required Commercial awareness Communication skills Creativity Initiative Leadership potential Motivation Problem solving skills Teamwork skills

KVC Industrial Supplies Sdn. Bhd. Talent Acquisition Team/Talent Management Department Wisma KVC, Lot 3, Jalan P10/12, Kawasan Perusahaan Bangi, 43650 Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: +603-8925 2828 Fax: +603-8925 5899 Web: www.career.kvc.com.my E-mail: recruit@kvc.com.my Type of business Industrial Solution Number of employees 100–1,000 Locations Wisma KVC, Bandar Baru Bangi (Head Office) & branches nationwide in Malaysia

Minimum degree classification required 2nd Class [Upper] or equivalent and above Professional qualification Degree discipline or/and requirements Business: Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Marketing, Mass Communication, Procurement, Logistics, Information Technology Engineering: Electrical & Electronic, Mechanical, Mechatronic Closing date for job applications All year-round Internship programme Yes

KVC Industrial Supplies Sdn Bhd @kvc.career kvcindustrialsupplies

162 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Requirements for interns 2nd or Final year students Active in co-curricular activities Minimum CGPA: 2nd Class [Upper] Minimum internship duration: 3-months Application deadline for internships All year-round

2019

Maybank is among Asia’s leading banking groups and South East Asia’s fourth largest bank by asset. The Maybank Group has an international network of over 2,600 offices in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei, Laos, India, China, UK, USA, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Dubai. The Group offers an extensive range of products and services, which includes consumer and corporate banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, stock broking, insurance and takaful and asset management. It has over 40,000 employees worldwide.

The Group has extensive expertise in a wide area of financial services including commercial banking, investment banking, stockbroking, insurance and takaful, Islamic banking, offshore banking, asset management, venture capital financing and internet banking. This enables it to offer a wide array of products and financial solutions to meet the needs of any customer segment — whether retail, SME or multinational.

Maybank has long been acknowledged for its innovation, leadership and excellence, and has received numerous awards in recognition of the high standards it employs. In 2019, it was named among the world’s top 500 brands for the first time, in Brand Finance’s Global 500 Brands – the only Malaysian bank and one of two Malaysian brands in this prestigious listing.

The Bank has also been recognised as a leading employer through various awards such as the HR Excellence Awards 2019, Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers Awards 2019 and Asia Recruitment Awards 2019.

Maybank has a unique mission of ‘Humanising Financial Services’ and has been an essential part of the Asian landscape for close to 60 years. Maybank is committed to providing people with easy access to financing at fair terms and pricing; advising customers based on their needs and being at the heart of the communities it serves. A key goal while building its business is to also ensure that it manages to ride the wave of digital transformation.

Maybank continues to leverage on

164 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

innovation to remain a leading player in the digital banking space, in line with its 2020 strategic objective of becoming the digital bank of choice in the region.

Jobs in these areas Global Maybank Apprentice Programme (GMAP) Relationship Manager Development Programme (RMDP) Maybank PROTÉGÉ Programme Personal Financial Advisor (PFA) Core skills required Ability to work under pressure Attention to detail Commercial awareness Communication skills Creativity Initiative Leadership potential Motivation Organisational skills Problem solving skills Teamwork skills Degree discipline or/and requirements All disciplines Closing date for job applications All year-round

www.maybank.com

ST 1 OVERALL

RANKING

Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank) Group Resourcing Centre Level 44, Group Resourcing Centre, Menara Maybank, 100 Jalan Tun Perak, 50050 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603-2070 8833 Official website: www.maybank.com Official job portal: www.maybankjobs.com E-mail: maybankjobs@maybank.com Type of business Banking & Financial Services Internship programmes Maybank Young Banker Internship Programme (MYBIP) Requirements: Degree students from ANY background of study who are currently in their final semester are encouraged to apply Minimum internship period of 5 months Communicates effectively and have good interpersonal skills Reasonable analytical skills Forward-thinking and results-driven Willing to be relocated throughout the country

Number of employees Maybank Internship Programme Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma students in any field of study Minimum internship period of 8 weeks Possess strong analytical and interpersonal skills Forward-thinking, results-driven and willing to learn Application deadline for internships All year-round

>40,000 Locations Main location: Kuala Lumpur Additional locations: Malaysia Singapore Indonesia Philippines Cambodia Thailand Vietnam Myanmar Brunei WINNER

Humanising Financial Services

Laos India China UK USA Pakistan Saudi Arabia Uzbekistan Dubai WINNER

GRADUATE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES

2019

2019

www.msu.edu.my

ND 92 OVERALL

RANKING

Management & Science University (MSU) is a top international university focused on delivering quality human capital across national as well as global critical-need areas.

The university’s award-winning academic programmes in Medicine, Engineering, Pharmacy, Health Sciences, Information Sciences, Education & Social Sciences, Business Management and Professional Studies, Hospitality & Culinary Arts, and Music & Fashion meet stringent standards of local as well as international bodies.

Accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), the UK-based Accreditation Services for International Colleges (ASIC), the Netherlands-based Accreditation Council for Engaged and Entrepreneurial Universities (ACEEU), and the Japan-based Alliance on Business Education and Scholarship for Tomorrow (ABEST21), MSU has also been rated by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MoHE) and ranked by both Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and Times Higher Education (THE).

Rated Tier-5 for Excellent University on MoHE’s SETARA, MSU ranks at #1 in Malaysia for graduate employability, with 98.7% of its graduates securing employment within six months of convocation.

On QS, MSU has been rated 5 Stars in Teaching, Facilities, Graduate Employability, Social Responsibility, and Inclusiveness; and ranks at Top 100 among the world’s top young universities and Top 200 among Asia’s best universities. QS WUR 2020 by Subject places MSU at world Top 28 and Malaysia Top 2 for Hospitality and Leisure Management.

Winner in the Private University category of the Malaysia Entrepreneurship Award by the MoHE, MSU is ACEEU’s first in Asia to be recognized as an Entrepreneurial and Engaged University, and its Founder the inaugural recipient of the ACEEU Lifetime Achievement in Entrepreneurship Award.

Awarded Platinum 5 Crowns by ASIC; MSU is an ASIC Recognized Centre with ASIQUAL for the provision of ASIQUAL Qualifications, and a Validated Award Centre with ASIQUAL for the provision of ASIQUAL Validated Programmes.

Jobs in these areas Technical (IT, Analyst, Programming) Admin Marketing Academic Core skills required Ability to work under pressure Attention to detail Commercial awareness Communication skills Creativity Initiative Leadership potential Motivation Organisational skills Problem solving skills Teamwork skills

Management and Science University Dato’ Sharifah Huda Engku Muda, Senior Vice President for Administration and Human Capital/ Human Resource Department University Drive, Off Persiaran Olahraga, Section 13, 40100, Shah Alam, Selangor Tel: +603-5521 6802 Fax: +603-5511 2848 Web: www.msu.edu.my E-mail: hr@msu.edu.my Type of business Education Number of employees 1,000–10,000 Location Shah Alam WINNER EDUCATION

2019

How do we select?

Our application process has 3 stages: 1. Completion and submission of application form online 2. First round interview with senior personnel at the branch office 3. Second round interview with Senior Vice President of Administrative and Human Capital Minimum degree classification required CGPA 3.0; 2nd upper Hons Degree discipline or/and requirements Relevant to position and experience required Closing date for job applications Depends on the requirement needed Number of expected graduate vacancies in 2020 50-100

166 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Transforming Lives, Enriching Future

“SINCE 1912, WE HAVE BEEN NOURISHING MALAYSIANS THROUGH OUR QUALITY BRANDS AND PRODUCTS, WHILST MAINTAINING OUR HALAL EXCELLENCE AND INTEGRITY.”

Nestlé is the world’s largest food and beverage manufacturer. Headquartered in Switzerland, Nestlé is present in 189 countries around the world, and our 328,000 employees are committed to Nestlé’s purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future.

Our performance is driven by our Nutrition, Health and Wellness strategy. Since 1912, we have been nourishing Malaysians through our quality brands and products, whilst maintaining our Halal excellence and integrity. This is in line with our promise of delivering GOOD FOOD, GOOD LIFE to all.

168 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

Our world class top brands include MILO®, MAGGI®, NESCAFÉ® and KIT KAT®. To learn more about how we have been nourishing Malaysians for over a century, do visit www. nestle.com.my or our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Nestle.Malaysia

www.nestle.com.my

9TH

OVERALL RANKING

Nestlé Malaysia Sdn Bhd Talent Acquisition Team 22-1, 22nd Floor, Menara Surian, No.1, Jalan PJU 7/3, Mutiara Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya Tel: +603-7965 6000 Web: www.nestle.com.my Type of business Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Number of employees 1,000–10,000 Locations Malaysia HQ: Mutiara Damansara, Selangor Jobs in these areas Nestlé Management Trainee Programme

Internship programme Yes

Core skills required Communication skills Initiative Leadership potential Problem solving skills Ability to work in teams

Requirements for interns Must be a student with full time enrolment in a university that has mandatory university internship requirement Minimum CGPA 3.2 or equivalent

How do we select?

The Nestlé Management Trainee Programme application and selection process consist of: 1. Online application and completion of online assessments 2. Assessment centre at the head office 3. Face to face interview and final interview with business head or head of department

Application deadline for internships Internship intakes are open all year round Number of expected graduate vacancies in 2020 Approximately 35

Minimum degree classification required CGPA of 3.2 or its equivalent Closing date for job applications Look out on @Nestle Careers MY on FB and LinkedIn for application opening and closing date

Impact Locally, Influence Globally

Nationwide: Selangor Kuala Lumpur Negeri Sembilan Penang Perak Pahang Kedah Kelantan Terengganu Johor Sabah Sarawak Worldwide: 187 countries

WINNER FMCG

2019

OCBC Bank is the longest established Singapore bank, formed in 1932 from the merger of three local banks, the oldest of which was founded in 1912. It is now the second-largest financial services group in Southeast Asia by assets and one of the world’s most highly-rated banks, with an Aa1 rating from Moody’s. Recognised for its financial strength and stability, OCBC Bank is consistently ranked among the World’s Top 50 Safest Banks by Global Finance and has been named Best Managed Bank in Singapore and the Asia Pacific by The Asian Banker.

OCBC Bank’s key markets are Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Greater China with more than 600 branches and representative offices in 18 countries and regions. Since its incorporation in 1994, OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad (OCBC Malaysia) has grown to become one of Malaysia’s largest foreign banks by most counts. Our Islamic banking subsidiary, OCBC Al-Amin Bank Berhad (OCBC Al-Amin),

was the first Singapore-based Islamic Bank established in Malaysia in 2008. To date, OCBC Malaysia has grown its total network size to 46 branches, comprising 33 conventional branches and 13 Islamic Banking Branches. OCBC Bank was also named Best Employer for 2017, for second consecutive year. It is our great honour to be recognised for our commitment towards a sustainable talent strategy and for providing employees with differentiated experiences that help them to achieve their career goals.

At OCBC, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to succeed. No matter where you see yourself in the future, we want to help you get there.

We provide career mobility opportunities across our different business units, subsidiaries or even country offices; from Consumer, Corporate and Private Banking, to Treasury, Securities, Insurance or Investment Management.

170 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

We are committed to creating a conducive work environment – one that is inclusive, welcomes innovation and encourages continual learning and development.

We want you to enjoy and take pride in your work, be passionate, driven and have fun – after all, joy does bring out the best in people. And we want nothing less.

Jobs in these areas Graduate Talent Programme Sales Banking Operations IT AML Customer Service Risk Management Core skills required Attention to detail Commercial awareness Communication skills Creativity Initiative Leadership potential Motivation Organisational skills Problem solving skills Teamwork skills

www.ocbc.com/careers

TH 20 OVERALL

RANKING

OCBC BANK (M) BERHAD Resourcing Centre (RC) Human Resources Division, Level 4, Wisma Lee Rubber, 1, Jalan Melaka, 50100 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603-2034 5034 Fax: +603-2026 0837 Web: https://www.ocbc.com.my/group/ careers/opportunities-available.html Type of business Banking Number of employees 1,000–10,000 Locations Nationwide, Malaysia

How do we select?

Our application process has 3 stages: 1. Completion and submission of application form online 2. Phone Screening 3. Face-to-Face/Virtual interview with Hiring Manager Minimum degree classification required CGPA 3.0/2nd Upper Class Degree discipline or/and requirements We welcome all applicants from various degree background

WE SEE YOU

Closing date for job applications Open all year around except for the OCBC Graduate Talent Programme (GTP) Internship programme Yes Requirements for interns Malaysian citizen Minimum CGPA of 3.0; Second Class Upper or equivalent Preferably 2nd,3rd and/or final year students

Application deadline for internships Open all year around Number of expected graduate vacancies in 2020 100-200

7

2. MALAYSIA’S 100 LEADING GRADUATE EMPLOYERS: MOST POPULAR GRADUATE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR 2018 & 2019 Pharmaceutical 3. READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2018 Natural Health Category-Citrex Vitamin C Orange 100mg 4. FOCUS MALAYSIA: BEST UNDER BILLION AWARDS 2018 Best Sustainability Reporting

9

5. 100 COMMENTS PRODUCTS EXCELLENCE AWARD 2018 Citrex Vitamin C Orange 100mg 6. ASEAN ENERGY AWARDS - 2nd RUNNER UP Energy Management Industry & Sub-Category: Small & Medium Building (Idaman Pharma Manufacturing Sdn Bhd) 7. CSR MALAYSIA AWARDS 2019 Company of the Year Award (Integrated Pharmaceutical Group) 8. 19th MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL HR AWARDS 2019 Silver Award for Employer of Choice (Private) Category 9. ANTI-BRIBERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ISO 37001 : 2016

HCM-2020-038-Come & Grow With Us

1. GHP PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING & PACKAGING AWARDS 2018 1. Award for Excellence in Product Development 2. Best Contract Pharmaceutical Manufacturer-Malaysia

8

Providing products and services of high calibre is the core tenet of Pharmaniaga Berhad, particularly given our position as Malaysia’s largest listed integrated pharmaceutical group. We are driven by our motto of Passion for Patients which is reflected in everything that we do.

Propelled by our strong commitment to excellence, the Group is involved in various segments of the pharmaceutical value chain including research and development, manufacturing of generic drugs and medical devices, logistics and distribution, sales and marketing, as well as community pharmacy.

Established as one of the major players in the domestic market, we are strategically growing our international reach, especially in the regional market.

MALAYSIA'S 100 LEADING GRADUATE EMPLOYERS: MOST POPULAR GRADUATE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR 2018 & 2019 Pharmaceutical

ASEAN ENERGY AWARDS – 2ND RUNNER UP Energy Management Industry & SubCategory: Small & Medium Building (Idaman Pharma Manufacturing Sdn Bhd)

READERS' CHOICE AWARDS 2018 Natural Health Category-Citrex Vitamin C Orange 100mg

CSR MALAYSIA AWARDS 2019 Company of the Year Award (Integrated Pharmaceutical Group)

FOCUS MALAYSIA: BEST UNDER BILLION AWARDS 2018 Best Sustainability Reporting

19TH MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL HR AWARDS 2019 Silver Award for Employer of Choice (Private) Category

100 COMMENTS PRODUCTS EXCELLENCE AWARD 2018 Citrex Vitamin C Orange 100mg

GHP PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING & PACKAGING AWARDS 2018 1. Award for Excellence in Product Development 2. Best Contract Pharmaceutical Manufacturer-Malaysia

172 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

ANTI-BRIBERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ISO 37001 : 2016

www.pharmaniaga.com

RD 43 OVERALL RANKING

Pharmaniaga Berhad Recruitment No 7, Lorong Keluli 1B, Kawasan Perindustrian Bukit Raja Selatan, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor Tel: +603-3342 9999 Fax: +603-3344 5626 Web: www.pharmaniaga.com General Inquiry: info@pharmaniaga.com Job Application: recruitment@pharmaniaga.com Industrial Training Application: pharma_training@ pharmaniaga.com Type of business Pharmaceutical/Healthcare Number of employees 1,000–10,000

Jobs in these areas Human Resource Finance Corporate Communication Customer Care Clinical Affairs Regulatory Affairs Quality Control Quality Assurance Quality Management Supply Chain Management Sales & Marketing Logistics & Distribution Community Pharmacy Core skills required Ability to work under pressure Attention to detail Communication skills Creativity Initiative Problem solving skills

How do we select?

Our application process has 5 stages: 1. Application (online via website/email, via registered mail or by hand) 2. Receive the interview invitation 3. Interview 4. Second Interview (for certain positions only) 5. Assessment Test (for certain positions only) Minimum degree classification required Second Class Upper Degree discipline or/and requirements Pharmacy Finance/Accounting Business Administration Sciences Medical Sciences & Health Social Sciences

Locations Malaysia Selangor: Shah Alam, Bangi, Puchong, and Seri Kembangan Perak: Seri Iskandar Kedah: Sungai Petani Pulau Pinang: Juru Sabah: Kota Kinabalu Sarawak: Kuching Indonesia Jakarta Bandung WINNER PHARMACEUTICAL

2019

Closing date for job applications On-going Internship programme Yes Requirements for interns CGPA 3.0 and above Application deadline for internships On-going Number of expected graduate vacancies in 2020 60

Passion for Patients

Learn and grow with PwC Malaysia At PwC, we understand that each individual is unique and everyone has different priorities in life. To help create an experience that stays with you, we focus on four areas – Growth, Recognition, Opportunities, and Ways of Working.

In line with PwC’s purpose ‘to build trust in society and solve important problems’, the PwC experience provides you with opportunities to work with leading clients on challenging and purposeful work, supported by your colleagues within and outside the country.

To support you in achieving your potential and excel in the work you do, we provide you with growth opportunities through various digital learning platforms.

You will have: Vantage, a mobile learning app that provides you personalised guidance on your learning and development, whenever and wherever

Digital Fitness app with content for everyone to enhance their digital skills and improve their digital fitness score A learning-by-doing environment that is supported by real-time feedback, coaching, and a world-class curriculum Financial and leave support to complete a professional certification A subsidy on your annual professional membership subscription

We also value recognition and appreciation for a job well done, which is why we have flexPoints, a web and mobile app that allows you to give and receive realtime recognition through points and badges.

These points can then be used to redeem gifts from various brands on the platform.

Most importantly, we believe in growing not just professionally, but also personally.

To show that we care, we offer you different ways of working through initiatives such as:

174 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

flex+ programme that includes – flexWear: We dress based on our daily schedule! If we’re not meeting clients, jeans are the attire for the day.

– flexFridays: Every second Friday of the month, we’re allowed to leave work at 12:30pm.

– flexSpace: Work away from the office if the need arises.

– flexMed: Allows you to take medical leave without a medical chit.

– flexBenefits: Flexibility to use your benefit allowance in areas that you need the most.

Birthday leave A Career Break, providing you time off to pursue your passion The #PwCWellbeing health campaign to encourage a healthier you, encompassing the mind, body, and heart Diversity and Inclusion programmes like Human Library and #LunchwithaStranger to address stereotypes and unconscious bias

www.pwc.com/my/careers

4TH

OVERALL RANKING

PWC MALAYSIA Graduate Recruiter Level 10, 1 Sentral, Jalan Rakyat, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603-2173 1188 Fax: +603-2173 1780 Web: www.pwc.com/my/careers E-mail: my_recruitment@pwc.com Type of business Professional Services Number of employees 1,000–10,000

We believe that when unique individuals come together, we can make a difference and create the greatest value for our business, clients, and society.

Join PwC today for the experience that stays with you.

Jobs in these areas Assurance Consulting Deals Risk Assurance Services Tax

Core skills required Ability to work under pressure Attention to detail Commercial awareness Communication skills Creativity Initiative Leadership potential Motivation Organisational skills Problem solving skills Teamwork skills How do we select?

Our application process has 3 stages: 1. Online application with supporting documents 2. Assessments 3. Interview

Minimum degree classification required We assess applications holistically and consider various factors besides graduates’ degree qualifications, such as good reviews during their internship experience, strong involvement in student bodies/volunteering activities, or working part-time to fund their studies. Candidates are also assessed based on the PwC Professional framework

Locations Ipoh Johor Bahru Kuala Lumpur Kuching Labuan Melaka Pulau Pinang FIRST RUNNER-UP

FIRST RUNNER-UP

ACCOUNTING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

CONSULTING

2019

2019

Degree discipline or/and requirements All disciplines Closing date for job applications All-year round Internship programme Yes

2019

Requirements for interns Preferably penultimate year students from any discipline who are considering a career in a professional services organisation, and who are looking to take on any role assigned to them with agility and enthusiasm Application deadline for internships Apply online at least three months before your internship period. The intake dates are updated on our careers website.

The experience that stays with you

https://www.samsung.com/my/aboutsamsung/careers/careers-center/

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RANKING

Samsung is a South Korean multinational conglomerate headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul. It comprises numerous affiliated businesses, most of them united under the Samsung brand, and is the largest South Korean business conglomerate.

Samsung was founded by Lee Byungchul in 1938 as a trading company. Over the next three decades, the group diversified into areas including food processing, textiles, insurance, securities, and retail.

Samsung entered the electronics industry in the late 1960s and the construction and shipbuilding industries in the mid-1970s.

Since being established in 1969, Samsung Electronics has grown into one of the world’s leading technology companies, and become recognised as one of the top 10 global brands.

In 2019, Samsung Electronics’ market capitalisation was recorded at USD 263 billion, supported by Sales of USD 197 billion, Operating Profit at USD 24 billion and strong Total Assets at USD 302 billion.

Samsung Electronics is the 15th largest company in the world by revenue, and the 4th largest brand in the world.

Samsung Electronics is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, medical devices, semiconductors, and LED solutions. Samsung is also leading in the Internet of Things space through, among others, our Smart Home and Digital Health initiatives.

Our network now extends across the world in 73 countries, across every continent, and Samsung takes great pride in the creativity and diversity of its talented people, who drive our growth.

Core skills required Ability to work under pressure Attention to detail Commercial awareness Communication skills Creativity Initiative Leadership potential Motivation Organisational skills Problem solving skills Teamwork skills

Samsung Malaysia Electronics (SME) Sdn. Bhd. HR & General Affairs Department Level 15, Mercu 2, No. 3, Jalan Bangsar, Kampung Haji Abdullah Hukum, 59200 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603-2728 0000 Web: https://www.samsung.com/my/ aboutsamsung/careers/careerscenter/ E-mail: hrsme.kl@samsung.com Type of business Electronics Number of employees

Minimum degree classification required 2nd Class Upper

100–1,000

Degree discipline or/and requirements Any Discipline

Locations Mercu 2, KL Eco City

Internship programme Yes Requirements for interns A strong team player, shrewd interface agent and a confident communicator.

Always fueled with positivity, energy and can-do attitude in managing assigned responsibilities.

FIRST RUNNER-UP

SECOND RUNNER-UP

RETAIL

ELECTRONICS

2019

2019

Opportunities are vast, but if you're aiming higher, we could be exactly what you're looking for. #DoWhatYouCant 176 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

www.tdcx.com

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We serve some of the world’s best brands from our centers of excellence in Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Japan and Spain.

We specialize in perfecting our client's customer experience and elevating their sales.

We are guided by a talent philosophy – selecting and employing the best professionals to make the outsource industry better for our people and our clients.

Our company has won over 200 industry awards for delivering value driven by technology and continuously innovating our customer-facing brand solutions.

Thanks to our premium workspaces, above industry average compensation packages, career opportunities, and long list of perks, we were recently awarded as one of the best companies to work for in Asia.

Jobs in these areas Sales Marketing Customer Service Outbound & Inbound Call

How do we select?

Our application process has 3 stages: 1. Completion and submission of online assessment 2. Online interview with HR & Team Leader 3. Offer letter Minimum degree classification required Diploma Degree discipline or/and requirements Ability to handle Premium Customers Required language(s): Mandarin, English and Malay At least 2 year(s) of working experience in the related field Preferably Senior Executives specializing in Customer Service or equivalent Internship programme Yes Requirements for interns CGPA 3.0 and above or equivalent Proficient in spoken and written English Independent and self-motivated Excellent attention to detail

TDCX (MY) SDN. BHD. Recruitment Team Level 9, Axiata Tower, No 9, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5, KL Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: +603-2731 8888 Fax: +603-2731 8899 Web: www.tdcx.com E-mail: myrecruitment@tdcx.com Type of business Business Process Outsourcing Services Number of employees 1,000–10,000 Location Axiata Tower, KL Sentral

WINNER

FIRST RUNNER-UP

BEST NEWCOMER

BPO & SHARED SERVICES

2019

2019

Number of expected graduate vacancies in 2020 100

Core skills required Analytical skills Decision making skills Attention to detail Communication skills Initiative Organisational skills Problem solving skills Teamwork skills

To assist our partners and our people achieve higher success through innovative and high-performance solutions.

178 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

www.topglove.com

11TH

Established in 1991 and headquartered in Malaysia, Top Glove Corporation Bhd is the world’s largest manufacturer of gloves. What started as only a local business enterprise with 1 factory and 1 glove production line, has today captured 26% of the world market share for rubber gloves. The company has manufacturing operations in Malaysia, Thailand and China.

It also has marketing offices in these countries as well as USA, Germany and Brazil and exports to over 2,000 customers in 195 countries worldwide.

Listed on the Malaysian Bourse (2001) and Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange (2016), Top Glove has demonstrated steady growth with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.7% for revenue and 19% for profit after tax over the past 18 years. It is also a component stock of the MSCI Global Standard Index, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index, FBM Top 100 Index, FBM Emas Index, FBM Hijrah Syariah Index, FBM Emas Syariah Index, FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index and the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for Emerging Markets.

Top Glove offers a comprehensive product range, which now includes a non-glove segment comprising condoms, dental dams and exercise bands, fulfilling demand in both the healthcare and nonhealthcare segment.

In line with its commitment to sustainability, Top Glove will continue to level up its practices in the ESG space particularly in terms of labour practices.

The company’s outstanding achievements and global recognition are credited largely to its founder Tan Sri Dr Lim Wee Chai, the visionary and driving force, who within a short span of time, has built the company into a resounding global success.

With the help of its 20,000 employees, Top Glove continues to produce high quality gloves at an efficient low cost in line with its time-tested Business Direction. Not content to rest on its laurels, Top Glove has set its sights on higher aspirations, which include increasing its world market share to 30% by year end 2020 and becoming a Fortune Global 500 Company by 2040.

OVERALL RANKING

Accordingly, it continues to expand its business scope and to be on the lookout for M&A opportunities in similar and related industries.

Jobs in these areas Research & Development (R&D) Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) Supply Chain (Procurement/Logistics/ Warehouse/Documentation) Quality Assurance Information Technology Sales and Marketing Manufacturing/Engineering Business Development & Property Finance Internal Audit Human Resources Administration Core skills required Ability to work under pressure Attention to detail Commercial awareness Communication skills Analytical Thinking Initiative Leadership potential Agile Flexible Mathematical thinking Teamwork skills

Top Glove Corporation Berhad Level 21, Top Glove Tower, 16, Persiaran Setia Dagang, Setia Alam, Seksyen U13, 40170 Shah Alam, Selangor D.E., Malaysia Tel: +603-3392 2036 Fax: +603-3392 1291/8410 Web: www.topglove.com E-mail: career@topglove.com.my sales@topglove.com.my Type of business Glove Manufacturing Number of employees >10,000 Locations Setia Alam, Klang WINNER CHEMICALS & HEAVY INDUSTRIES

2019

How do we select?

Our application process has 3 stages: 1. Completion and submission of application form online.

2. First round interview with senior personnel.

3. Second round interview with Head of Department.

Minimum degree classification required Minimum of CGPA 3.0 and above Degree discipline or/and requirements A bachelor degree from a recognisable university Internship programme Yes Requirements for interns Diploma/Degree from higher learning institution or equivalent reputable university CGPA 3.0 & above in any discipline Minimum duration of 3 months Number of expected graduate vacancies in 2020 2,000

180 | gradmalaysia MALAYSIA’S 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019/20

To be your world class partner in gloves and healthcare products.

Ensuring safe human protection globally.

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