June 6, 2014, by Beth Dawson
Home, sweet home: returning to Malaysia
By Kohila Palanisamy, Global Employment Consultant (South East Asia)
Nasi lamak, roti canai, thosai, kuey twow goring and a good glass of The Tarik might be some of the things that you’re looking forward to now your exams are over and you’re heading back home. But what do you need to know about Malaysia’s labour market to find the graduate position for you?
Why look for a job in Malaysia?
It’s a good time to be looking for a job in Malaysia. Due to the current economic boom in Asia, numerous multinational companies (MNCs) are seeking returning graduates. MNCs listed in Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2013/2014 are actively hiring returning graduates with international outlooks to be part of their global teams. Brands you may have heard of, such as Accenture, GSK, IBM and Agilent have programmes designed for graduates returning home after studying abroad.
What qualities do employers want to see from returning Malaysian graduates?
The standard of Malaysia’s education system is high, however employers associate returning students with having excellent ‘soft skills’ in business such as communication, teamwork and networking. Be sure to draw attention to how you’ve developed these desirable skills outside you studies, using examples such as voluntary work you’ve done, societies you’ve been part of or work placements you’ve undertaken.
To articulate these experiences in a way that will impress employers in interviews and applications, use the STAR technique – be sure to describe the Situation, Task, Action and Result. You can find out more about this technique on our website.
The knowledge of global markets and cultural awareness gained during your time at Nottingham will also make you desirable to employers. As will your expertise in your chosen field and English language skills – be sure to mention any additional classes you’ve taken to improve your English proficiency in your applications.
Online resources
We have a number of resources to help you start your job hunt back home. You can search for opportunities on My Career, when searching for vacancies and employers use the keyword ‘Malaysia’ to view updated information about opportunities in Malaysia and companies who are eager to employer students from Nottingham.
You can also find more advice about returning home to find work on the ‘Asia’ section of our working abroad pages.
We’ll see you back home!
In late September, we’ll be holding an event in Kuala Lumpur to welcome you back to Malaysia, this will be a great opportunity to network with employers and alumni who can give you insights into job hunting at home. To receive your invitation, make sure your personal email address is listed on the student portal.
If you want more advice to help you prepare for your job hunt when you return home, visit our international stand at our Graduate Jobs Fair on Monday 9 June, where our team will be on-hand to talk to you about finding opportunities. You can also find more information about returning home on our website.
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