TalentCorp’s YES-2-Work: Levelling Up Malaysia’s Graduate Employability

On 21st January, we were excited to welcome over 200 graduates at TalentCorp’s first series of the YES-2-Work programme for 2020 at Spacerubix. YES-2-Work, a new solution-focused graduate employability initiative designed by TalentCorp in collaboration with strategic collaborators aspires to empower Malaysian graduates through providing industry exposure and developing them to be industry-ready by increasing their employability levels. 

While welcoming the audience, Nazrul Aziz, Head of TalentCorp’s Graduate and Emerging Talent department encouraged the graduates to continue to strive and work hard, as challenges are a catalyst of growth in life.

He said, 

The very fact that you’re here today shows that you have a growth mindset. That’s a great start to wanting to make a difference in your life. 

The morning programme followed with a resume writing and interview clinic by Karen Lim from GTI Media. Karen, who has worked with 70 different universities and colleges gave important insights on how resumes and CVs should be written. 

“Put more time into the content of your resume, and not on the design,” she shared. “Every CV is unique to the individual, but there are certain standards and practices that have to be maintained.” 

Karen also reminded the audience to be well-prepared, saying this, 

Your interview is your date with your future employer. 

Next, participants were divided into smaller groups to enable the facilitation of a focused coaching session, led by certified coaches from institutions such as PETRONAS, Impact Malaysia, Solution Focused Academy, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman. From there, they engaged in a series of questions led by their coaches aimed at evaluating their strengths and weaknesses of personal employability. 

“It’s all about the mindset,” said Sunil Hasmukharay from Solution Focused Academy. “If we can shift our mindset about a problem, our perception will change as well as our solution to the problem.”

For Mika Angelika, getting a job after graduating has been particularly tough despite having attended at least 10 interviews. 

“Coming here today, I really hope I get to secure a job,” said the Chemical and Gas engineering graduate. “I think that YES-2-Work is a great platform, and a good opportunity to network with other graduates who are facing the same struggles.” 

For Ahmad Farhan, attending the programme was aimed at improving his personal development through the workshops and coaching sessions.

“For graduates looking for jobs, you need to be comfortable about getting out of your comfort zone. I’m usually very nervous about attending these programmes but I knew I had to join if I wanted to expand my opportunities,” he said. 

Fellow participant Erique Phang concurred. The law graduate who is also a JPA scholar shared that standout session that resonated with him was the focused coaching session, which gave important solutions on how to tackle issues such as skills development and attending interviews.

Beaming, he said this, 

I think I understand myself better now.