6 minute read
PwC Malaysia
How did you get into your current line of work?
Despite my young age, I have actually been a proud Maybanker since 2015, when I was accepted into the Maybank Scholarship Programme! Since then, I have been constantly exposed to thevarious initiatives done by the Bank, giving me further insights on the working environment and culture of Malaysia’s largest bank. After graduating and going through a series of assessments and career conversations, I was accepted as an Executive Trainee in my current department – a chance that until today, I am forever grateful for being able to kick-start my career in the line of Human Resources; something that I have always wanted since completing my summer internship with Maybank London’s Human Capital team.
What do you do day-to-day on the job?
My job revolves around driving workplace futurisation initiatives to prepare our workforce and workplace to be future-ready. This often encapsulates institutionalising new ways of working as well as accelerating development and productivity of our talents. Since 2020, I was given the opportunity to proactively plan and implement Maybank’s permanent work-from-home policy, the Mobile Work Arrangement. It was indeed an eyeopening experience to discover the various aspects that relate to employees’ need to shift from working in the office towards working from home and now, moving towards a blended or hybrid workplace – such as curating policies and providing the necessary transitional support.
Undoubtedly, it would be activating our new alternate site called Mercu Maybank at i-City. The new office will act as one of Maybank’s alternate sites as part of its business continuity plan and will house over 1,500 Maybankers who are involved in critical business functions. It was a remarkable experience as I was granted the opportunity to host hybrid onboarding sessions, design
Persistence and determination are keys to have a great career kick-off.
NUR FATINI ABDUL RAHIM
EMPLOYER
DESIGNATION Analyst, Talent Attraction, Workplace Futurisation & GHC Sustainability, Group Human Capital Maybank
QUALIFICATION BSc Psychology, University of Southampton, 2020
guidebooks and content that act as handrails for these employees, as well as plan their entire relocation journey. I was also one of the first few people to have a view of the new office before the relocation took place!
I noticed that due to my go-getter personality, I am always very eager to contribute to the various projects and tasks I am assigned to; to a point that I sometimes overburden myself in the process. I realised that this is not only counterproductive but it also takes away the learning outcomes of the tasks and dilutes its impact. Slowly but surely, I began to learn to pace myself and take breaks when I need to, striving towards quality and to be impactdriven rather than spreading myself too thin and risking a burnout.
One soft skill that I think is really important is the ability to articulate your message in a clear and concise manner including your personal thoughts as it shows confidence in your knowledge. Being able to justify it is also a good complementing skill. Another skill would be that whenever you have a problem at work, it is always important to be able to frame that problem in a positive manner and be more proactive by recommending possible solutions.
My advice is to never give up as being persistent, 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. Be proactive in your life, in every aspect. Do not be too comfortable or become a creature of habit. Recognise that the biggest hustle in life is the hustle towards self- development to become the best version of yourself.
How did you get into your current line of work?
I joined Nestlé in 2019, under the Management Trainee Programme, where I was placed within the Marketing division. I always envisioned working in a high-growth company like Nestlé, where I can gain abundant exposure to challenging assignments.
What do you do day-to-day on the job?
Marketing in Nestlé covers both above-the-line and below-the-line activations. My day-to-day responsibilities consist of closely monitoring market trends and curating campaigns catered toward the brands’ targeted audience. Within colleagues from the Consumers and Shopper Insights team to understand upcoming trends and behaviour to better serve our consumers and shoppers.
Nestlé Malaysia is a perfect example of an organisation that provides a holistic learning platform for its employees that highly encourages cross-functional collaboration. I am constantly surrounded by dynamic groups of talents from diverse backgrounds. Collaboration happens frequently within Nestlé, and I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to join forces with personnel across different divisions such as Sales, Digital, Supply Chain, Finance, and Shopper Insights. When the Marketing team has an idea, we have the chance to brainstorm further with our Innovation & Renovation department and discuss production feasibility with our factory colleagues. After that, it’s time to create product awareness and knowledge with our in the market.
One of the challenges I faced was trying to get the brand to constantly stand out in the crowded marketplace, especially when the industry is extremely fast-paced and challenging. Trends are continuously changing quickly, and consumers’ interests evolve rapidly. Hence, it is challenging for a marketer to ensure that their brand constantly stands out and remains relevant. Our team makes an effort to understand the consumer’s portfolio deeply in order to discover what makes our brand more appealing than the competition. In addition, it helps to localise marketing strategies and always prioritise the customer in everything that we do. Everyone faces obstacles both professionally and personally, I am not an exception. Each task requires meticulous attention to detail for smooth execution. With the supportive people at Nestlé Malaysia, I am able to push through and deliver satisfying results.
I believe one of the most essential skills required in any role is cultivating the concept of curiosity. Curiosity is imperative to our personal growth as well as our professional performance. Curiosity sparks inspiration and creativity, which results in an individual
Good and supportive team members is an essential part of a healthy working environment.
NATASHA MARIAN
EMPLOYER
DESIGNATION Assistant Brand Manager MILO® Nestlé
QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Business (Majoring in Marketing and Accounting) Monash University, 2019
solutions. Do not be intimidated to pose your questions and be inquisitive because learning is a lifelong process and there may be others as well.
My advice is to prepare for the future. You must develop competent, appropriate work habits and ethics early on. For instance, establish good time management skills at the beginning of your career, if not from your school time, and constantly work to improve yourself. It helps to have a good example to follow, whether it be a colleague, a leader you admire or even your own parents. Though everyone should progress through life at their own pace, an individual’s responsibilities and workload will only increase with time. By having early preparation, you will be more ready to face life’s challenges head-on and persevere when the going gets rough.
