gradmalaysia Banking & Financial Services 2020

gradmalaysia Banking & Financial Services

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gradmalaysia.com Graduate jobs, internships & careers advice

Editor's Note Hello reader! It appears you have picked up a copy of gradmalaysia Banking and Financial Services 2020. Now, before you dive deeper into the contents of this magazine, allow me to hold your attention for a little while longer. I have something important to tell you.

Here’s the bitter truth: the struggle is real when it comes to securing a job, and we’re not just talking about the economy. Sometimes we can’t help but wonder if we are making the right decisions, whether we have what it takes to pursue what we love, or whether we are ready to take that first step into the working world! While these are all valid concerns, you can’t worry about them forever. You must take charge of your life, chart your own course and stick to it – no matter what!

Let us help you through your career journey.

The team behind gradmalaysia have worked diligently in ensuring this publication contains the best career advice for students and fresh grads alike. You will find informative articles in Let’s Get You Hired, designed to guide you from the moment you start thinking about your career plans to the moment you step out of the interview room. Sector Synopses, as the name implies, summarises the industry sectors within Malaysia. For career advice from working professionals, look no further than our Employer Hubs! Last but not least, find out more about leading employers in Malaysia through our Jobs 101: Listings section.

The most important thing you need to remember is this: the first step in getting hired starts with you. Trust yourself to make the right decisions. Make that effort to gain the right qualifications.

Above all, don’t let fear hold you back. You can do it.

Shiffa Aziz

/gradmalaysia

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@gradmalaysia

@gradmalaysia

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HOW TO GET HIRED CAMPUS TALKS

CONTENTS HIRING

Let’s Get You Hired DECIDING YOUR CAREER CHOICE

WRITING YOUR JOB APPLICATION

10 Working In Banking And Financial Services

22 Crafting Your Résumé For The Financial Sector

PLANNING YOUR JOB SKILLS

ACING YOUR INTERVIEW

14 Five Key Skills Finance Recruiters Are Looking For

26 12 Ways To Ace Assessment Centres

12 Entering The Finance Sector Without A Finance Background

16 Professional Qualifications In The Finance Sector

UTILISING YOUR INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE 18 Getting An Internship For Your Finance Career 20 How To Make The Most Of A Finance Internship

24 Preparing Your Cover Letter For The Financial Sector

28 Acing Interviews In The Financial Sector

Sector Synopses

Employer Hub

32 Accounting

46 AmBank Group

33 Banking

50 BDO

34 BPO & Shared Services

56 EY

35 Consulting

60 Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad

36 E-commerce 37 Fintech

64 KPMG

38 Insurance

70 Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank)

39 Retail

74 OCBC Bank (M) Berhad

40 Sales and Marketing

78 PwC

41 Tax

82 RHB Banking Group

Flip to page 86 for

Jobs101: Listings

Employer ENCYCLOPEDIA Your graduate job may be in the hands of these employers!

Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad

Banking & Financial Services Listing: page 88

AmBank Group

Banking & Financial Services Employer Hub: page 46 Listing: page 90 – 91

Professional Services (Chartered Accountants) Employer Hub: page 50

Advertisement: Special insert

Listing: page 92 – 93

HSBC Bank Malaysia

Employer Hub: page 56

Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad

Advertisement: Inside front cover

Employer Hub: page 60

Advertisement: page 89

EY

Professional Services Listing: page 94 – 95

Insurance

Listing: page 96 – 97

Advertisement: Special insert

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BDO

Banking & Financial Services 2020

Advertisement: Special insert

Banking & Financial Services Listing: 98

Advertisement: 99

KPMG

Audit, Tax and Advisory

Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank)

Employer Hub: page 64

Banking & Financial Services

Advertisement: page 67 and 69

Listing: page 102 – 103

Listing: page 100 – 101

Employer Hub: page 70 Advertisement: Special insert

PwC

Accounting & Professional Services Employer Hub: page 78 Listing: page 106 – 107

Advertisement: Outside back cover

OCBC Bank (M) Berhad

Banking & Financial Services Employer Hub: page 74 Listing: page 104

Advertisement: page 105

RHB Banking Group

Banking & Financial Services Employer Hub: page 82 Listing: page 108 – 109

Advertisement: Inside back cover

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 7

Let’s Get You Hired Dedicated to exploring your interests,

developing your potential, and ultimately – getting you hired!

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

DECIDING YOUR CAREER CHOICE

WRITING YOUR JOB APPLICATION

10 Working In Banking And Financial Services

22 Crafting Your Résumé For The Financial Sector

12 Entering The Finance Sector Without A Finance Background

24 Preparing Your Cover Letter For The Financial Sector

PLANNING YOUR JOB SKILLS

ACING YOUR INTERVIEW

14 Five Key Skills Finance Recruiters Are Looking For 16 Professional Qualifications In The Finance Sector

UTILISING YOUR INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

26 12 Ways To Ace Assessment Centres 28 Acing Interviews In The Financial Sector

FO YO UR

18 Getting An Internship For Your Finance Career 20 How To Make The Most Of A Finance Internship

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 9

LET'S GET YOU HIRED! DECIDING YOUR CAREER CHOICE

Working in BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES If you’re wondering whether a career in finance is the right path for you, consider the following points in this article and make your decision from there!

F

inance is a vast and constantly-evolving industry with many different sectors to choose from. For each sector, a specific set of skills and knowledge is required, which may be obtained through a finance degree, graduate training programmes, internships or professional qualifications. While it may seem arduous, the benefits a finance career could bring are worth it.

However, that doesn’t mean a career in finance is all sunshine and rainbows. Let’s find out what you can expect from the finance industry.

CONTINUOUS LEARNING

From the very beginning of your finance career, you will have much to learn. Think a university qualification is sufficient enough for you to rise up the ranks? Think again – you will have to obtain certain professional qualifications to progress further. For example, the kind of changes the finance sector goes through includes digital transformation, which means you need to acquire the proper qualifications in order to specialise in that area. You may even be required to sit for certain examinations while working in a financial organisation (check out our “Professional Qualifications in the Finance Sector” article to find out more). If you are looking for a career that challenges you to learn new things, then this is a career worth looking into.

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LET'S GET YOU HIRED! DECIDING YOUR CAREER CHOICE

ENDLESS RANGE OF JOBS

While it is true certain qualifications are required for certain sectors in the finance industry, this by no means shuns those who have an academic background in other areas.

With the existence of divisions and teams that require expertise in areas such as information technology, a huge variety of jobs exists for these graduates. Not to mention on-the-job training schemes that are offered by companies to their employees. Look no further than the employers showcased in this magazine to find that they are committed to recruiting well-rounded and promising candidates.

FAST-PACED ENVIRONMENT

One thing about the finance industry is that it is dependent on the performance of markets domestically as well as globally. Thus, if the economy does poorly, those in the finance industry are required to take action, such as dealing with clients or handling work behind the scenes.

You will constantly be kept on your toes and be under pressure while completing your tasks. Good organisational skills, such as time management, are needed so that you could keep track of your work and deliver on time. The bottom line is you need to be prepared to deal with highstress situations and long working hours. So if you are up for the challenge, why not go for it?

A REWARDING CAREER

While a job in finance does pay well, it is not the only “rewarding” aspect of the job. The perks of a finance career include exceptional professional experiences.

Employees within this industry are constantly exposed to new opportunities, whether it is getting assigned to big company projects or handling engagements with various clients, giving employees a sense of achievement. When that feeling of accomplishment is coupled with a passion for their work, job satisfaction also comes into play. If that isn’t enough, the rewards are bound to grow as you progress further into your career.

Now that you know what to expect in the banking and financial services industry, it is up to you to make that fateful decision. Ask yourself: do I find myself intrigued with what the finance industry has to offer? If the answer is yes, then you are ready to take that first step in exploring your career in finance!

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LET'S GET YOU HIRED! DECIDING YOUR CAREER CHOICE

Entering The Finance Sector Without a FINANCE BACKGROUND Interested in banking but didn't study finance? No worries – we’ll show you how different degrees can be applicable in commercial banking.

W

ith statistics from M100’s survey showing that 64 percent of Malaysian graduates are interested in business-related sectors (eg accounting, finance), you can rest assured many with different degree backgrounds do break into this industry.

Think about your various skills and pull out those you think could relate to the finance industry. There are many different skills you will have picked up in your studies that will put you in good stead for a finance job – you just need to be good at explaining why they are relevant.

Here are a few ideas for different fields of study to give you a head start.

A TECHNICAL DEGREE

It might not be immediately obvious how a technical degree such as engineering or IT can apply to the finance industry but students with a tech or engineering background are among the most highly sought-after.

For example, if you have worked with computers, you will probably be able to quickly grasp how investment banking operating systems work. Modern banks rely heavily on technology, and will employ an army of tech experts to keep things running smoothly and ensure they’re

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at the cutting edge of new developments. Moreover, they increasingly require staff that have a keen understanding of where the technology sector is moving and how this will relate to the evolution of banking. An engineering background shows that you have great analytical skills and problem-solving skills, which are critical in a banking environment. You’re likely good with numbers and a logical thinker, which is a diverse skill applicable across the entire bank. Engineering graduates will often take quickly to financial modelling and analysis, taking advantage of Excel skills and structured problem-solving skills they’ve developed while studying.

LET'S GET YOU HIRED! DECIDING YOUR CAREER CHOICE

ARTS

Arts degrees encourage students to think critically about their world, environment and major works.

Questioning the motivations and logic behind concepts is a critical component of Arts, whether this is in political economy, anthropology, international relations, gender studies, philosophy or history. This thought process and logic is a universal skill that can easily be applied to the banking industry. These subjects also often provide a broad understanding of the world and current affairs that are important to staying on top of and predicting the trends of any industry.

LAW

The legal landscape in banking and finance can be complex, with many banks using large in-house legal teams in the course of their day-to-day business.

Moreover, the banking industry is facing increasing regulatory scrutiny and compliance requirements. Having a background in law is increasingly valuable in this context.

Think about how the banking or finance field you’re applying to is influenced by the law, and be prepared in your interview to talk about examples that interest you.

Have you studied any commercial law subjects in your degree? These are often directly relevant to how banking and finance business is conducted. For example, having an interest in and understanding of the legal framework of mergers and acquisitions is sure to impress.

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Marketing and communications are crucial to any business, and the banks are no different. The marketing engines in commercial banks are often vast and well-resourced. If you have studied communications or marketing and have an interest in finance, you could well become a part of the

team writing media releases, covering public relations, and driving marketing campaigns for the company.

Moreover, a strong understanding of marketing often comes with a solid business acumen and understanding of the customer needs. If you’re interested in other divisions within banking and finance such as research, sales, or trading, make sure you showcase your relevant strengths in the recruitment process. For example, with a marketing background you may be familiar with consumer opinion and sentiment – paint this as a strength that will help you judge how stocks can move with company announcements.

Regardless of your field of study, graduate jobs in banking and finance are still well within reach. It simply takes some insight into how your skills are suitable for the role, then going after the position with passion.

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LET'S GET YOU HIRED! PLANNING YOUR JOB SKILLS

Five Key Skills Finance Recruiters Are Looking For

It's time to flaunt your skills and show recruiters what you've got to offer!

B

anking and finance firms look for grads with a whole range of skills and backgrounds as this brings diverse ideas and thought processes to an organisation. The trick is to know how to

Understanding

Finance graduates need to be able to grasp new concepts quickly – whether it is assimilating new information or data, managing a project, or meeting a new client. If something is new to you, you need to be able to ask the right questions and follow the right leads during research. Your intellectual skills will not be judged by your academic grades alone: recruiters like to see that you can apply your knowledge to practical situations. Show them you really know what the job entails. Recruiters don’t expect in-depth knowledge, but a good grasp of the basics (hint: read the “Sector Synopses” section on page 30!) will help you to impress them.

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effectively sell the different skills you have and position them as relevant to the industry. Here are five skills they say are always in demand.

Innovation

Recruiters are on the hunt for freethinkers with fresh ideas who are going to make an impact. Do you have the ability to create or identify new opportunities to develop the business? Many firms use processes that have lasted for years but are frequently tweaked to create improvements. Have you done something similar? For example, if your student society was planning on promoting itself via a stall at a student fair and you suggested giving out some freebies to attract people to the stand, then went about sourcing suitable items, you would have provided a basic innovation to improve society membership and increase awareness among students.

LET'S GET YOU HIRED! PLANNING YOUR JOB SKILLS

Communication

In the finance sector you need to convey complex information in a professional and jargon-free manner, so learning to tailor your communication style is vital.

You will also need to be able to work with colleagues, often in a team, at all levels of the business – good teamwork won’t happen without good communication between members. You need to be able to express yourself concisely, but you also need to be a good listener and good at asking questions. Recruiters will be assessing your communication skills through your application form answers, how you go about answering interview questions, and group work and presentations at assessment centres.

Commercial awareness

Knowledge of the business you want to work in, the sectors you would be working with, your employer and your employer’s competitors – aka commercial awareness – is essential if you want to work in the finance sector. You can demonstrate commercial awareness at an interview, even by talking about a casual job. If you’ve worked stacking shelves in a supermarket, make sure you are able to identify the issues facing the supermarket industry. Who owns the company? How is it structured? Give the recruiter answers that demonstrate an insider’s – not a customer’s – perspective.

Enthusiasm

Recruiters are impressed by candidates who take the initiative, and are enthusiastic and interested. Candidates who get in touch with recruiters and make themselves known are more likely to stand out. It’s a good idea to attend events and fairs, and meet people from the firm you’re interested in. Enthusiasm is also shown by doing research – you wouldn’t bother researching something and keeping up to date with it if you weren’t genuinely interested in and enthused by it. Mention an aspect of the firm’s work that interests you and find a way to link it to your own skills and experience.

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LET'S GET YOU HIRED! PLANNING YOUR JOB SKILLS

Professional Qualifications

in the Finance Sector One of the ways to expand your knowledge and develop your career in finance is by completing professional qualifications offered in Malaysia.

A

n undeniable advantage of a finance career is the abundance of opportunities to develop your knowledge. On top of the ongoing training and progress reviews you receive when you join your first employer, in most areas of finance you can gain a professional qualification.

Professional qualifications

Professional qualifications award professional status, which is an internationally recognised mark of quality and professionalism. Employers usually encourage their employees to become qualified because it signals to clients and the industry that their workforce is top-notch. Professional qualifications are conferred by professional associations. There is an association for virtually every financial specialism you can think of. Some

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sectors in which you can study for a professional qualification are accountancy, actuarial work, banking and insurance. In certain sectors you are encouraged to become qualified; in others, it is expected. In some sectors, such as accountancy, there are a number of professional qualifications for you to choose from. Qualification processes can vary but you will need to complete examinations.

You will have to carry out your full-time job as you study.

Professional associations do a lot more than just give you letters after your name, however.

They represent your interests at national and international levels and keep you updated on sector developments and new legislation.

Especially useful for graduates is the access they give to other members’ contact details – a great networking tool.

LET'S GET YOU HIRED! PLANNING YOUR JOB SKILLS

Professional bodies

Some of the major professional bodies which provide training, qualification and representation include: Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) The ACCA is the world’s leading body for professional accountants, with over 110 years of experience, and innovation in the accounting profession. Visit their website www.accaglobal.com/ my/en.html to see what they have to offer students, and why students choose ACCA. They even have some free online courses to get you started.

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) In 2014, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA) and the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) united to become the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. CA ANZ’s strategic intent is to proactively shape the profession of the future by developing opportunities for their members that build value for themselves, their clients and the communities in which they live and work. To find out more about CA ANZ, visit www.charteredaccountantsanz.com.

CPA Australia CPA Australia is one of the world's largest accounting bodies with a global membership of more than 150,000 members working in 150 countries and regions around the world. Their core services to members include education, training, technical support and advocacy. For more information about their programmes, visit www. cpaaustralia.com.au.

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) CIMA is the world’s largest and leading professional body of management accountants.

They have more than 229,000 members and students in 176 countries. CIMA works at the heart of business in industry, commerce and not-for-profit organisations. Visit www.cimaglobal.com for more information.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) Founded in the 1800s, ICAEW is a world leading professional membership organisation that provides qualifications and professional development, shares their knowledge, insight and technical expertise, and protects the quality and integrity of the accountancy and finance profession. Visit www.icaew.com to find out more.

The Malaysian Institute of Public Certified Accountants (MICPA) MICPA has been developing the accounting profession in Malaysia for over five decades by providing accounting graduates with an avenue to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Since its establishment in 1958, MICPA has played a key role in the setting of accounting standards and technical advisory for the Malaysian regulatory bodies responsible for carving out the business and financial landscape of this nation. Head on over to www.micpa.com.my to see what they have to offer.

Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) Established under the Accountants Act 1967, MIA is the national accountancy body that regulates, develops, supports and enhances the integrity, status and interests of the profession in Malaysia. MIA accords the Chartered Accountant Malaysia or C.A. (M) designation to a professional in accountancy, business and finance with a recognised qualification and relevant work experience. You can check them out at www.mia.org.my.

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LET'S GET YOU HIRED! UTILISING YOUR INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

Getting

an Internship

For Your Finance Career

Internships help you stand out from other applicants, gain experience and make contacts – here’s how to get started.

F

or many students, an internship is the first step into the working world. It’s an opportunity to get to know the sector, make contacts and see whether an employer or a type of work is a good fit. This is especially helpful if you are looking for a career in the banking and financial services sector. Let’s dive deeper and go through everything you need to know about internships.

What is an

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Internships offer a structured introduction to working life in the sector and the organisation. Most finance internships are aimed at students in their final year of study – usually one semester before the last – and are about three months long.

As an intern, you should be treated as a member of the team and given meaningful work to do. Interns are usually offered an initial training programme, but you’ll also be expected to participate rather than observe from day one. You are likely to be given a small project to work on, for example yield curve analysis, some IT testing or researching a market.

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INTERNSHIP?

What’s in it

FOR ME? You will get to test your skills in live situations, explore your career options and gain an insight into the organisation. It’s an unrivalled opportunity to find out about different areas of the business, and to network with other professionals and like-minded ambitious students. An internship is not a ticket to a job, but it can raise your chances significantly; it’s not unusual for employers in the finance sector to take on 60–90 percent of their interns permanently. On the other hand, you might find that the area of work or the organisation isn’t right for you – it’s much better to discover this during an internship than after you’ve graduated and accepted a permanent job offer.

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LET'S GET YOU HIRED! UTILISING YOUR INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

How do I find the

RIGHT INTERNSHIP? There are many internship opportunities listed on gradmalaysia.com for you to apply for, ranging from auditing firms to banking institutions. All you need to do is ensure the details you filled in for your gradmalaysia profile are accurate and up to date, and don’t forget to attach your résumé. Ready, set, apply!

You will usually be expected to apply to a particular business area so it’s important to spend time exploring the different divisions and career opportunities that exist within a firm before submitting your application. Attending company presentations, speaking to students who have completed internships and reading organisations’ websites will help you gain an understanding of the business areas, and also give you a feel for the culture of the organisation.

How do I prepare for

APPLICATIONS AND INTERVIEWS? Apply early! Many focused students will apply long before the deadline, so consider doing the same – if you leave it too late, recruiters may already have offered the internships to strong candidates who applied earlier than you.

Treat an application to an internship programme as seriously as you would one for a permanent role – read the “Employer Hub” section on page 44 for starters. If you want to know how important internships are, check out the Employers’ Expectations profiles, as recruiters from different financial institutions share their thoughts on the matter. The Intern Insights profiles from interns are also useful, as they narrate the application process, their experiences and handy tips in surviving an internship. An overriding theme of these is to make sure you understand why an internship is useful for your career, and what you can expect as an intern.

Applying...

Internships are not compulsory, but ask any intern and they will tell you that they have at least gained some useful experiences. If you want to beef up that job application of yours and impress potential employers, start your internship search now!

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LET'S GET YOU HIRED! UTILISING YOUR INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

How to

Make The Most

Of A Finance Internship

A finance internship will provide you with your first real hands-on insight into how things really work within a financial firm, a professional services firm, or a bank.

I

n order to do that though, you’re going to have to make the very most out of the time you spend with the company and the things you observe and do during your internship. It’s a learning experience that needs to deliver, and all the while you want to make the best impression you can on your potential employers. Where do you start?

Learn the

TERMINOLOGY The world of finance is a complex one, ruled by regulations, terms and conditions, and terminology. And this can vary from company to company. It can take a while to get your head around – particularly if you’re not from a finance background.

Don’t be conquered! Write down every new thing you hear and learn, whether it’s whilst you sit in on meetings, something you pick up when you’re working on a task, or even something that crops up in a more general conversation with a colleague.

By jotting them down and then giving them a read through and imprinting on to your memory for later use, you’ll be gaining a much broader learning experience.

Know your

INDUSTRY Working as an intern in a financial environment means learning what it means to be commercially aware in everything you do. To do this, it’s best if you try and get an overall understanding of the sector and the industry.

Read business pages, investor publications, monitor the news that is breaking in the sector. Not only does it provide you with topics of conversation, but it will provide you with insights about the direction of the company you’re working in and the work that you actually do. There is so much information out there, much of it free, that there really is no excuse not to get informed about the industry where you want to build a career.

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LET'S GET YOU HIRED! UTILISING YOUR INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

Be commercially

AWARE

Talk to colleagues about what they do and how it fits in with the overall business mission of the company. This will help you get a grasp of what the strategy of the company is, where they operate and why they work the way they do. Then you can find your place within that, being commercially aware enough to know how the work that you do, even as an intern, contributes in some way to the objectives of the company. Find out where colleagues get their information and tap into those sources too, every little bit you learn helps expand your skills portfolio and builds your commercial awareness. At the end of the day, employers are looking for future talent that has a real grasp on what the company does and is commercially aware enough to carve out a niche for themselves within that. That could be you!

There are

NO STUPID QUESTIONS Everyone makes mistakes, that’s part of life and definitely part of working life. Learning from mistakes is how we shape our skills and our character, developing resilience and a mindset that can cope with setbacks. Don’t be afraid to use the knowledge around you. Of course, be polite, and recognise when people are busy, but if you’re genuinely curious you will find that those around you will be only too happy to help. The more you know, the better you can help them in their work and be a real asset to the company. Remember, he who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever!

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LET'S GET YOU HIRED! WRITING YOUR JOB APPLICATION

Crafting

Your Résumé for the Financial Sector Creating a digital representation of yourself by summarising your professional experiences and best qualities could be a tricky task, as you need to quickly grab the attention of recruiters and communicate the key points. Here are some tips to help you craft the perfect résumé.

Customise each and every résumé sent out

First and foremost, tailor your résumé to the firm and role that you are applying to. Make it obvious that you have made a genuine effort to think about what the company is looking for, and what makes you the best candidate. Do thorough research and check with individual employers as some may have specific requirements. If you are indicating a career objective at the top, pay special attention to it. Remember to keep it simple and state your ambition.

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Specify your skills and area of expertise

Instead of a career objective, you can opt for a section on technical skills or your main areas of expertise. While recruiters do not have time to look through what you did in your previous positions in detail, they are on the lookout for specific skill sets, which you can show through a skill set summary.

Alternatively, you can also state your core skill set in each work experience that you have.

For instance, if you are listing a marketing experience, use a line or two to highlight the key areas of expertise which you have gained, such as market research, market sizing, interviewing, public relations and business development. On the other hand, if it was a business management position, state the relevant areas of expertise such as executivelevel communication, strategic planning, business analysis and client management.

LET'S GET YOU HIRED! WRITING YOUR JOB APPLICATION

Highlight relevant experiences

Think through the experiences you have had and how they might be relevant; don’t miss out on any finance-related experiences, even if they are just short-term gigs or unpaid. You should also mention any work experiences with transferable skills, especially if these skills correspond to the job requirements.

For example, waitressing at a café could be relevant in showing recruiters that you are able to manage and cater to customers’ needs. This could be helpful if you are applying for a clientfacing role, such as being a fund manager, insurance broker, or bank teller.

Don’t neglect unique experiences that could help you stand out from the crowd, even if they seem unrelated to finance. Spent a summer taking care of elephants in Thailand? Put that in, and be prepared to talk about cross-cultural experiences which are relevant to investment and financial services careers.

Remember to highlight your job rank along with the job descriptions especially in a hierarchical industry like investment banking, as recruiters tend to take note of such roles.

Likewise, state so if your previous job was on a short contract term to prevent misunderstandings about job-hopping tendencies – usually frowned upon in the financial sector.

Show your strengths and interests

Knowledge and competency in at least one foreign language would come in handy for servicing clients and dealing with partners from another part of the region or corner of the globe.

Similarly, having won an app-building contest or being involved in the robotics club during your university days would demonstrate your proficiency in IT and coding skills. Do not be shy to briefly include your personal interests at the end of your résumé. Particularly, participation and leadership in team sports indicate high potential for success in a corporate environment, while sharing that you can play a musical instrument demonstrates your discipline and ability to focus.

Quantify your achievements

Numbers matter in your résumé. How else can you measure your impact and the difference you made as an employee elsewhere, even as an intern? If you were expanding the client pool in your previous role, you can state how many new clients you brought on board within a specific time period. If it was a sales role, state the growth in revenue under your purview. If you have led teams, show their sizes and again, include details of growth and time period, which give the recruiters a good impression of what you have handled and attained before.

Time your submissions

Last but not least, try not to wait until the last minute to submit your applications as deadlines are sometimes brought forward due to overwhelming responses. First impressions aren’t everything but they definitely make a difference.

Likewise, presenting a strong résumé will help immensely in the process of landing your dream job in the financial sector. Good luck!

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LET'S GET YOU HIRED! WRITING YOUR JOB APPLICATION

Preparing Your

Cover Letter for the Financial Sector It is always advantageous to have a cover letter as it shows sincerity and provides an additional platform for you to impress recruiters before the interview stage. Here are some tips to help you write a compelling cover letter that could become your golden ticket to an interview!

Show, don’t tell

Keep to the standard structure; start with a brief introduction of yourself and explain why you are dedicated to a career with the company. Be clear on the specific position you are applying for, explain why it is of interest to you and convince the hiring manager that you are a good fit. Be succinct and avoid falling into the trap of rambling too much on your personality, skills and qualifications, as recruiters can assess these for themselves by going through your application and CV. Similarly, avoid describing yourself with words such as “passionate” or “ambitious” as these qualities are better exuded in person during the interview stage.

Prove your competence

Read the job description and address the selection criteria; highlight relevant experiences that could put you in the best position to do the job. For instance, if you are applying for a management accountant job, you could mention a 35% increase in returns for a specific project that you have previously worked on.

In the same vein, explain how your skills could be put to good use in the specific role. For example, show that your extensive knowledge of international current affairs would be beneficial for the investment banking analyst position because markets and investors would be affected by key events around the world.

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

LET'S GET YOU HIRED! WRITING YOUR JOB APPLICATION

Demonstrate your enthusiasm

After doing some comprehensive research about your potential employer, make use of the information to include specific aspects of the company that appeal to you and show how you could add value to their organisational culture. One way to stand out from the crowd is to mention events organised by the firm that you have previously attended, or if you have visited its booth at a career fair.

Name-dropping employees that you have met would also add a more sincere touch to the cover letter. By showing your enthusiasm in networking and initiatives in building relations with the company, you could score an advantage over other candidates.

Do a thorough check

Last but not least, take a break from your cover letter and check it again later. You are more likely to spot any error with fresh eyes. Print it out and pore over it. If this is the first time you are writing a cover letter, get someone with a good command of the English language to help you proofread it.

Use a spellchecker to prevent spelling and grammar mistakes as they reveal a lack of attention to detail, which is a big no-no for the financial sector. Having clear and appropriate points in your cover letter shows the recruiters that you are an effective communicator with strong writing skills.

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 25

LET'S GET YOU HIRED! ACING YOUR INTERVIEW

12 Ways

to Ace Assessment Centres Know what to expect

The tests give you the opportunity to demonstrate that you possess the personal and technical skills for the job. Every organisation will design its own assessment centre. If you identified its selection criteria for your first interview, keep them in mind throughout your time at the centre: every test, exercise and interview will match you against these criteria.

Make the most of group exercises

Group exercises include discussion groups, exercises that involve role-playing a specific brief, leadership tasks and, most commonly, job-related scenarios that test your ability to operate in a task that approximates the area you have applied for.

Remember that through your actions and words you must help the group to complete the task and promote your own cause.

Perfect your presentations

You could be asked to give a presentation, usually to a mixed group of candidates and assessors. A structure is helpful to prevent your mind from going blank and will help the audience keep track, too. Use whatever form of notes you feel comfortable with, but never speak from a script. Don’t attempt to fit in too much information or your audience will switch off. Five minutes is only enough time to present four big ideas or messages. Much of the message of your talk will be transmitted non-verbally, so your body language can make a huge difference to your presentation. You may be invited to use a flipchart or PowerPoint slides – use these to your advantage to support and back up your presentation.

Smile

Yes, it’s that simple. Smiling is good for you – it eases the tension in the face – and your audience.

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

LET'S GET YOU HIRED! ACING YOUR INTERVIEW

Highlight your abilities

Ability tests assess general and specific intelligence. With general ability testing, expect to be asked to use complex information, in the form of words, numbers and diagrams, to solve problems using logical or lateral thinking. Ability tests are most likely to be numerical or verbal reasoning tests, specific to the job for which you have applied.

Show you’re a quick learner

Aptitude tests assess your ability to learn something new. Employees are increasingly expected to be flexible and adaptable in the workplace, so those who can prove that they are able to develop new skills quickly and competently are in high demand.

Let your personality shine through

Don’t forget that during the recruitment process, employers only have a short space of time in which to get to know you. Personality tests help to give them a better picture of the kind of person you are. They are not in-depth analyses of your innermost thoughts and there are no right or wrong answers. To be successful, honesty is the best policy.

Manage your nerves

Try to relax – this will make the whole experience much more enjoyable for you and, as an added bonus, you’ll have a much better chance of making a good impression. Don’t let nerves get the best of you! Recruiters invest a lot in the recruitment process leading up to the assessment centre; they want the candidates to do well and show them who they are.

Stand out but don’t show off

You are most likely not in direct competition with the other candidates. You’re being assessed against the employer’s criteria, not against each other, and it’s vital that you show you can work in a team.

Be yourself

It may sound cheesy, but your best chance of success is to be the best possible version of your true self. If you find yourself having to make major personality changes to feel comfortable, it probably means the organisation isn’t for you.

Achieve a good mix

If you’re achieving a mix of taking charge and taking a back seat, it’s a good sign. And if you find you are enjoying yourself in doing so, that’s a really good sign.

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 27

LET'S GET YOU HIRED! ACING YOUR INTERVIEW

Acing Interviews

in The Financial Sector

Interviews always seem scarier and tougher than they actually are! With sufficient preparation, you can breeze through job interviews in the financial sector with no sweat – if you know what to expect and remain calm.

Revisit the job description and your application forms

At the interview stage, employers are looking to get to know you better. From the application materials you have submitted, they found you to be a good fit for the role at first glance. You want to impress recruiters and let them know how you can contribute to the job.

Firstly, make sure you have a clear idea of what they already know about you, and how your profile fits into what they are looking for, in terms of how you stand out and where you lack in. Do you, for instance, possess a specific language skill set which they hope to tap into for certain markets?

How much do you know about the financial sector if you do not have a finance-related degree?

You can show how you are keen to make up for this gap, by demonstrating knowledge of how financial markets work and an understanding of the firm’s business objectives.

Similarly, if you come from a related area of study, how much do you know about real world application of the technical knowledge you gained in school?

Do you have hands-on internship experiences which taught you about client servicing, an important aspect in the financial sector?

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

Anticipate common interview questions

Think through from the recruiters’ perspectives and expect questions tailored to the specific role and company you are applying for. For example, if you are applying to a local bank, be prepared to explain why you are choosing a homegrown bank over an international one, and vice versa in the converse situation.

Having an awareness of the company’s positioning helps you to understand what is at the top of recruiters’ minds. For instance, if you are applying to enter a small accounting firm as a fresh graduate, decipher if the company wants you for an area of specialisation or as a generalist, and tailor your answers accordingly.

When asked about your strengths and weaknesses, be prepared to list examples of prior work and study experiences which demonstrate what you have been through and how you adapted to become a better person.

LET'S GET YOU HIRED! ACING YOUR INTERVIEW

Prepare a list of targeted questions to ask

At some point of time, you would likely be asked “do you have any questions for me?”. This is an opportunity to engage and impress the recruiters with intelligent questions, demonstrating both insight into the industry and your enthusiasm to work for the firm.

For example, you could ask about how a recent industry trend has affected the firm, or how does the company position itself against competitors for long term prospects. Asking smart questions helps to end the interview with a lasting impression. This is also the part which can help you make a decision if you are handed more than one offer eventually, as it gives hiring managers a chance to impress you. From these answers coming across the table, you can also gain deeper knowledge about the company’s plans for the years ahead.

Be careful not to ask cliché or generic questions such as “how is a typical workday like?” and “what are the working hours?”. It might work against you by signalling a lack of research or being overly concerned with the nitty-gritty aspects of the job. However, if the employer takes an initiative to share perks of the role with you, such as flexibility schemes and training opportunities, this is a good sign which shows they are enticing you for the position.

Stay informed about the industry

Staying updated with the latest market trends and news is crucial for a career in the financial sector.

For example, a potential investment banker would be required to be well acquainted with major stocks from around the world and able to explain how historical milestones affect movements in the markets. In addition, make reading the financial news a habit, as the knowledge could come in handy during job interviews.

Be prepared for questions like “tell me about a recent development you read about in the news and how do you think it will affect the financial sector”. But also, be careful not to get too carried away when answering as that might come across as arrogance.

Follow up

On the same day of the interview, send an email to thank the recruiters for their time. Highlight how the conversation helped in affirming your decision to join the firm. You can include specific references to issues discussed in the session to show your commitment and attention.

Take the initiative to keep in contact if there are no follow-ups within the next two weeks. Call or email again to reiterate your interest in the role, and find out if there are further steps in the hiring process, such as attending an assessment centre, or taking aptitude tests.

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 29

Sector Synopses Sectors – synthesised and simplified just for you, #gradsters!

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

Have a look at these sectors within the world of banking and financial services.

Page

Page

33 Banking

38 Insurance

34 BPO & Shared Services

39 Retail

35 Consulting

40 Sales and Marketing

36 E-commerce

41 Tax

32 Accounting

37 Fintech

It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires great strength to decide on what to do. – Elbert Hubbard

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 31

SECTOR SYNOPSES ACCOUNTING

A

ccountants tend to specialise in a practice area (these include assurance, auditing, and business and financial advice), while some accountants focus on a particular business area – for example, a management accountant helps managers plan and budget ahead, while a forensic accountant investigates possible financial fraud.

To be a qualified accountant, you need to possess a recognised degree (offered by a majority of local universities) or passing examinations offered by professional accounting bodies, eg The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) or the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

AccounTING SALARY SCALE

MAIN AREAS OF WORK Junior Executive (RM)

Job Categories

Min

Max

Audit

2,000

4,000

Finance/Accounting

2,500

4,000

• Assurance & audit services • Commercial finance • Corporate finance • Financial accounting • Forensic accounting • Management accounting

Source: hiredNOW Salary Guide 2019/20 (www.hirednow.com.my)

FUN FACT:

WHAT DO I NEED

In 2017, the Malaysian government wished to increase the number of accountancy professionals from 30,000 to 60,000 by the year 2020.

According to the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) however, there are only 36,046 members as of 2019, which means we have a long way to go before reaching the target!

• Analytical skills • Commercial awareness • Excellent numeracy skills • Good communication • Time management • Teamwork skills

Top popular employers in this sector

first runner-up 32 |

Banking & Financial Services 2020

WINNER

second runner-up Source: Malaysia's 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019 (www.malaysias100.com)

SECTOR SYNOPSES BANKING

B

anking can generally be described as an assortment of highly evolved and complex organisations that provide financial services. These organisations operate at the top end of the market, working with clients such as corporations, institutions, governments and wealthy individuals to meet their financial objectives.

Salesperson, major investor, provider of research, innovator, middleman: these are just some of the ways in which you could describe the roles that people working in banking may find themselves in. Banking is a global business and most large investment banks operate across the world, which means there may be opportunities for you to start your career overseas.

BANKING SALARY SCALE

MAIN AREAS OF WORK Junior Executive (RM)

Job Categories

Min

Max

Personal Banking/Financial

2,500

4,000

Equity

2,500

4,000

Financial Analysis

3,000

5,000

Investment Share

2,000

3,500

Risk Management

2,000

2,500

• Commercial banking • Investment banking • Islamic banking • Private banking • Risk management

FUN FACT: The word ringgit originally meant “jagged” in Malay, which referred to the jagged edges of the silver Spanish dollars which were used in the 17th century Portugese colonial era. In August 1975, the term “ringgit” (along with the term “sen”) were made official.

Source: hiredNOW Salary Guide 2019/20 (www.hirednow.com.my)

WHAT DO I NEED

• Excellent analytical, technical and numerical skills • Client management and teamwork • Resilience and endurance to work round the clock • Time management skills and accountability to shareholders

Top popular employers in this sector

first runner-up Source: Malaysia's 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019 (www.malaysias100.com)

WINNER

second runner-up Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 33

SECTOR SYNOPSES BPO & SHARED SERVICES

B

usiness process outsourcing (BPO) is a third-party service provider where an organisation may enter into a contract with a BPO company to carry out certain tasks that are required for the organisation to run smoothly.

The practice of outsourcing business tasks is done by engaging with the employees of a BPO company who will perform the tasks using their skills and resources. Essentially, shared services also provides the same functions, but unlike BPO, it is an internal service provider across different business units in an organisation.

The BPO and shared services sector offers many opportunities for Malaysians with careers ranging from human resource to finance and accounting.

BPO & Shared Services SALARY SCALE

WHAT DO I NEED Junior Executive (RM)

Job Categories

Min

Max

Human Resource (General)

2,500

4,000

Payroll

2,500

4,000

Finance/Accounting

2,500

2,500

Technical Support

2,000

3,500

Accounts Payable/ Receivable

2,000

4,000

Source: hiredNOW Salary Guide 2019/20 (www.hirednow.com.my)

• Effective communication skills • Basic computer skills • Must be familiar with third platform technology such as social media, cloud computing, and information/analytics

MAIN AREAS OF WORK • Accounting and finance • Administration • Customer service • Human resource • IT operations

Top popular employers in this sector

first first runner-up runner-up 34 |

Banking & Financial Services 2020

WINNER

second second runner-up runner-up Source: Malaysia's 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019 (www.malaysias100.com)

SECTOR SYNOPSES CONSULTING

C

onsultants are problem-solvers for hire: businesses and government agencies bring them on board to solve their most pressing problems. The mysterious world of consulting eludes most people outside the industry but those in the know understand the satisfaction of taking on complex issues that have real impact on businesses and people.

Business and enterprise, government and not-for-profit organisations seek out advisory services from consulting firms on matters ranging from technology, policy, marketing and strategy to people, pricing and products. Typically, a consultant or a consulting team will be called in to advise a senior decision-maker because their staff are too busy to consider long-term strategies, or the problem is too complex and outside the skill sets of the people in charge.

Consulting SALARY SCALE Job Categories

MAIN AREAS OF WORK Junior Executive (RM) Min

Max

Functional Consulting

2,500

6,500

Education Consulting

2,500

4,000

Pre-Sales Consulting

2,500

5,000

• Economics consulting • Human resource consulting • Information technology consulting • Management consulting • Strategy consulting

FUN FACT:

Source: hiredNOW Salary Guide 2019/20 (www.hirednow.com.my)

There are two ways to get into consultancy: you can either get hired by the many firms that offer consultancy services or you can start your own consulting business! Keep in mind though – you need the expertise before setting up your own business, so be smart about it!

WHAT DO I NEED

• An analytical mind • Good communication skills • Problem-solving abilities • Teamwork skills • Widespread interests and a hunger to delve into areas outside their expertise

Top popular employers in this sector

first runner-up Source: Malaysia's 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019 (www.malaysias100.com)

WINNER

second runner-up Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 35

SECTOR SYNOPSES E-COMMERCE

T

he Malaysian e-commerce market is undoubtedly one of the most dynamic digital ecosystems in Southeast Asia, which ensures that we are well on the way to reach the annual growth rate of 20% in 2020. In fact, the e-commerce industry managed to contribute RM85.8 billion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2017.

In 2018, Malaysia signed the ASEAN Agreement on Electronic Commerce, which allowed for smoother cross-border e-commerce transactions by reducing barriers and lowering entry costs. Another major step was taken by the government as they allocated USD20 million for the Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) initiative, which aims to boost e-commerce in Malaysia.

E-Commerce SALARY SCALE

MAIN AREAS OF WORK Junior Executive (RM)

Job Categories

Min

Max

E-commerce

2,000

4,000

Mobile Application Development

3,000

5,000

Software Research and Development

3,000

5,000

Web Application Development

3,000

4,500

Source: hiredNOW Salary Guide 2019/20 (www.hirednow.com.my)

WHAT DO I NEED

• An understanding of the internet is necessary (data analysis) • A keen eye for predicting consumer behaviour and tracking current trends • Content writing (eg product descriptions) • Technical knowledge, such as writing codes (HTML, CSS)

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

• Digital marketing • Market research analysis • Web administration • Web development

FUN FACT: The Alibaba Group started the 11.11 Sales, which is currently the biggest 24-hour online sale event globally.

The 11.11 Sales in Malaysia showed a significant shift in consumer spending behaviour, with e-commerce platforms such as Lazada, Shopee and 11street experiencing great surges of traffic respectively.

SECTOR SYNOPSES FINTECH

F

intech is the use of technology in financial services ranging from backend systems for financial institutions, to customer-oriented services in various industries. It is utilised to aid organisations and users with financial services and operations such as payments, investments, commerce, insurance, and cryptocurrency. Companies use fintech to make financial services more efficient, while consumers are able to keep track and manage their finances effectively.

According to the Fintech Malaysia Report 2019, the largest representation of the Fintech scene in Malaysia are payments and e-wallets, which collectively make up 38% of the fintech market.

Fintech SALARY SCALE Job Categories

MAIN AREAS OF WORK Junior Executive (RM) Min

Max

Mobile Application Development

3,000

5,000

Front-End Development

3,000

5,000

Web Application Development

3,000

4,500

Web Development (Java/PHP)

2,500

5,000

Source: hiredNOW Salary Guide 2019/20 (www.hirednow.com.my)

WHAT DO I NEED

• Communication skills • Familiar with financial concepts • Problem-solving skills • Programming skills (eg Java, Javascript, C++, C#, Python) • Teamwork skills • Up-to-date on the latest trends in the finance industry

• App/Web development • Data analytics • Digital marketing • Product management • Web programming

FUN FACT: As of 2019, there are 42 licensed e-money issuers granted by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), with 37 of them being non-banks while only five of them are banks. This is stemming from the fact that BNM is pushing for Malaysia to become a cashless society in the near future.

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Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 37

SECTOR SYNOPSES INSURANCE

I

nsurance work essentially involves safeguarding a person or organisation’s financial assets in the wake of an unexpected event. The insurance industry provides livelihoods to thousands of professionals from a wide range of disciplines in the nation.

Job titles vary according to employer, but the main types of graduate job roles in insurance are: Graduate underwriter, claims management trainee, trainee loss adjuster, business development, business finance and sales graduate roles, graduate insurance broker, trainee actuary, graduate product manager, operations management and support functions.

Insurance SALARY SCALE Job Categories

MAIN AREAS OF WORK Junior Executive (RM) Min

Max

Actuarial

3,000

5,000

Bancassurance

2,000

3,000

Claims

3,000

4,000

Underwriting

2,500

3,500

• Actuary • Claims • Insurance sales agent • Underwriting • Investment

FUN FACT: One of the earliest insurance policies was recorded in the Code of Hammurabi, whereby one of the 282 rules stated that a debtor does not have to pay back a loan if a catastrophe (eg disability, death, flooding) prevented the debtor from doing so.

Source: hiredNOW Salary Guide 2019/20 (www.hirednow.com.my)

WHAT DO I NEED

• Business/management-related degrees • Good attention to detail • Great client-facing skills • Numeracy • The ability to react promptly

Top popular employers in this sector

first runner-up 38 |

Banking & Financial Services 2020

WINNER

second runner-up Source: Malaysia's 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019 (www.malaysias100.com)

SECTOR SYNOPSES RETAIL

T

he retail sector comprises a vast range of career paths, from IT and logistics to finance and property, as well as shop floor positions. Along with clothes and goods that are typically associated with shopping, this sector covers retail banking, e-commerce and food technology, and, as such, employs a lot of graduates. There is consequently a big demand for graduates in this sector who have an understanding of customer needs.

In the 2nd quarter of 2019, the Retail Group Malaysia (RGM) reported that the yearon-year retail sale growth rate is 4.5%, which is an increase from 2018’s growth rate of 2.1%.

Retail SALARY SCALE

MAIN AREAS OF WORK Junior Executive (RM)

Job Categories

Min

Max

Merchandising

1,500

3,000

Retail Operations

2,500

3,500

• Buying • Marketing • Merchandising • Retail management • Sales

Source: hiredNOW Salary Guide 2019/20 (www.hirednow.com.my)

FUN FACT:

WHAT DO I NEED

Black Friday is a day where retailers offer customers shopping deals and huge discounts on items. In Malaysia, the data shows that there was a 448% increase in sales compared to a normal day during Black Friday in 2018.

• Analytical skills • Commercial awareness • Communication skills • Leadership skills • Teamwork skills

Top popular employers in this sector

first runner-up Source: Malaysia's 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019 (www.malaysias100.com)

WINNER

second runner-up Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 39

SECTOR SYNOPSES SALES AND MARKETING

A

career in sales involves business development, promoting a business, obtaining orders, and maintaining customer relationships. Marketing, on the other hand, involves the maximising of profits through developing strategies that cater to the demand of the market, and by promoting products, services or ideas.

While salespeople are mainly involved in promoting business growth, marketing professionals will need to work closely with colleagues across several departments to successfully expand the organisation’s reach. This may include the sales team, market research team, and production and distribution staff.

Sales and Marketing SALARY SCALE

MAIN AREAS OF WORK Junior Executive (RM)

Job Categories

Min

Max

Advertising & Promotion

2,500

4,000

Event Coordination

2,500

4,000

General Marketing

2,500

4,000

Sales Coordinating

2,000

3,000

Source: hiredNOW Salary Guide 2019/20 (www.hirednow.com.my)

WHAT DO I NEED

• Ability to communicate well, in terms of describing a product and listening to the customer’s needs • Aware of market trends • Confidence, both in face-to-face meetings and over the phone • Digitally savvy

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

• Account management • Advertising • Business development • Events and services

FUN FACT: With the rise of content marketing and social media marketing, many brands are making use of applications such as Instagram by investing ad dollars to the platform. According to Mediakix, the surge of interest in influencer marketing has caused Instagram to grow into a billion-dollar influencer marketing industry.

SECTOR SYNOPSES TAX

T

ax is a dynamic and fast-paced career. The tax implications of transactions must always be considered. Tax advisers are at the heart of the decisionmaking process, finding the best tax solutions to deal with commercial and personal circumstances. The role of a tax adviser is exciting as it is ever-changing.

Combining analysis and interpretation of tax law with excellent communication skills and business acumen, tax advisers bring logic and problem-solving to bear whether they are advising a major multinational, a family business or a private individual. Tax advisers can find themselves working in many environments, not only in professional services firms and legal firms.

TAX SALARY SCALE Job Categories Tax

MAIN AREAS OF WORK Junior Executive (RM) Min

Max

2,500

3,500

Source: hiredNOW Salary Guide 2019/20 (www.hirednow.com.my)

WHAT DO I NEED

• A talent for analysis and problem-solving • A high level of numeracy • Ability to build good working relationships based on trust • Practise discretion when dealing with the financial arrangements of clients • Up-to-date knowledge on tax laws

• Commerce and industry tax • Corporate tax • Indirect tax • Private client tax • Transfer pricing

FUN FACT: The origin of the word “tax” came about in the early 14th century, where it was derived from the Latin word taxare, which means “to assess” or “to appraise”. Initially, the word “task” was used in the English language to assume this meaning.

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 41

F S A #MC

S R E E R A C A MEG R I A F Y D U & ST Centre n o i t n e v KL Con

Register now at

www.mcasf.com

Employer Hub Where recruiters, employees and trainees of leading companies converge!

44 |

Banking & Financial Services 2020

Don't just take it from us – discover personalised career advice

on getting hired, work-life balance and job experiences from the following organisations!

Page

Page

50 BDO

70 Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank)

46 AmBank Group

56 EY 60 Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad

64 KPMG

74 OCBC Bank (M) Berhad 78 PwC 82 RHB Banking Group

Peek and pick the brains of working professionals of different levels in these segments:

EMPLOYERS' EXPECTATIONS All things related to résumés, job applications and interviews.

CAREER CORNER First-hand accounts of the hiring process, daily tasks and adulting.

INTERN INSIGHTS Of internship experiences, memorable moments and life lessons.

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 45

EMPLOYER HUB AmBank Group

AmBank Group

AmBank Group is a leading Malaysian financial services group that has been in the banking and financial services industry for the past 44 years. Our aim is to help individuals and businesses in Malaysia grow and win together.

Head on to page 90â&#x20AC;&#x201C;91 to find out more!

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

EMPLOYERS' EXPECTATIONS AmBank Group

Working skills

AmBank Group John Chin Yu Fatt

Manager, Engagement Communication

What is needed in a fresh graduate’s application?

Cover letter

Yes

Professional photo

Yes

Career objective

Yes

Fancy résumé

No

References (referees)

Yes

LinkedIn profile

Yes

Maximum number of résumé pages: Max

2 pages

When it comes to selecting a candidate, there are a handful of significant skills that employers are seeking from young talents. Most managers assess candidates based on their communication, problemsolving and critical thinking skills. It is important for candidates to have the ability to analyse and solve problematic situations. Therefore, developing your skills throughout your time in college or your internship by showing strong work ethics as well as possessing good GPA will give you more opportunities in securing your dream job.

Résumé mistakes

In a competitive job market, it is essential to have a good résumé that works for you. In order to demonstrate how awesome you are in your CV, try to avoid these common mistakes.

The first mistake you should avoid is having grammatical errors; it is important to find someone who is capable of proofreading your résumé before sending it out. Second, having a generic résumé for all your applications as if it was copied from one source might not interest your hiring manager. Job seekers need to be aware that hiring managers have been looking over thousands of résumés and they hardly spend a lot of time on just one profile. Thus, it is important for your résumé to capture their attention.

Internship importance

An internship helps you gain firsthand exposure of working in the real world. Internship programmes help expose you to new challenges, people

and experiences in a controlled environment. During the programmes, you have the opportunity to show your talents, values and commitment to your prospective employers. Given these points, undergoing an internship is like building the blocks to create your path to a successful career.

Ideal interviewee

Even the most qualified candidate needs to prepare for his or her interview. The perfect candidate always shows up at the interview armed with lots of knowledge about the company and the role that he or she is applying for. Do note that there are no second chances in making a great first impression. Hence, if you believe that you are cut out for the job you are applying for, make sure that the interviewer believes that you are too!

Word of advice

Finding good jobs is important to kickstart your career. However, finding good leaders will lead you to the right direction in developing your future career growth.

“The best way to predict your future, is to create it” - Abraham Lincoln

It is important for candidates to have the ability to analyse and solve problematic situations.

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 47

CAREER CORNER AmBank Group

AmBank Group Name Calvin Swah, 23

Position Executive, Group Internal Audit Department Qualification Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Accounting and Finance Been working here for 3 months

Career choice

I chose to be an Internal Auditor for my career path after much consideration.

First and foremost, it all started from my passion to become an investigator or police officer. An Internal Auditor is similar because it is the final line of defense in an organisation to ensure that it complies with regulatory requirements and is free from the possibility of fraud and corruption.

Internal audit in the financial industry encompasses a variety of learning opportunities. Due to the rotational basis, junior staff have the opportunity to gain diversified audit experience and knowledge in different areas such as commercial banking, Islamic banking, investment banking and others. This gives us a bigger picture and a clearer understanding of the financial industry.

Into the company

Once I completed my Bachelor in Accounting and Finance, I searched for accounting-related jobs in auditing firms. However, I did not receive any replies from these firms. When I attended a career fair in Mid Valley, I found out about the FSTEP Programme.

It is a full-time, three-month intensive training programme for fresh graduates who are keen to join the financial industry, which is in collaboration with well-known financial institutions such as Malaysia Central Bank, AmBank Group, Maybank, Public Bank, UOB Bank and others. After several rounds of interviews, I was chosen to be a FSTEP trainee sponsored by AmBank Group.

48 |

After completing the training, I started my journey as an Internal Auditor in AmBank Group.

Daily hustle

I started to understand the roles and goals of an Internal Auditor when I first came across the audit of Group Human Resources in AmBank Group. The first task of audit is to understand the key activities and working procedures of Group Human Resources. The auditors must identify whether there are any risks and appropriate control in the activities and procedures that align with our audit plan. Then, there is the selection of samples to review and evaluate whether the controls are effective in terms of completeness, accuracy and timeliness. The audit findings are documented into the working paper. Any audit issues raised in the vouching process need to be discussed amongst the managers and auditee.

Skill set

There are several soft skills which are imperative to be acquired as an Internal Auditor: • Communication skills – an audit process involves a lot of communication with team members in regards to delegation of tasks and discussion of audit issues and findings.

• Critical thinking – an Internal Auditor needs to think broadly in identifying any deficiency in the process and any areas for improvement after

Banking & Financial Services 2020

performing the attribute test and reperforming test.

• Time management – an Internal Auditor always needs to meet the challenging deadline. It is critical to organise and execute tasks based on priority in order to accomplish tasks effectively and completely, within the timeframe.

Then and now

I adjusted my lifestyle from being a student to a working adult in terms of changing my mindset. First of all, I try to be more proactive in my work. I am willing to accept any tasks given by my superior with a mindset of taking it as a golden opportunity to improve myself.

I am willing to help my teammates after completing my tasks and I am not afraid to ask work-related questions.

Every problem is an opportunity for me to grow.

Culture 80%

Work-life balance 80%

Travel opportunities 80%

Professional development 80%

Personal growth 80%

CAREER CORNER AmBank Group

AmBank Group

Name Eugene Koh Wye Xiang, 28 Position Associate Audit Head (VP) Qualification Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) Been working here for 4 years and 6 months

Career choice

Ever since I was little, my ambition has always been to build a career in the banking and insurance industries.

Hence, I pursued a professional qualification in accounting, finance and business to steer me closer to my goal. I started my career as an external auditor in the Big Four and my audit reviews were mostly focused on the insurance industry, which taught me invaluable lessons on the “figures” in financial statements. Subsequently, banking was the next natural choice and auditing remains the best for me to continue learning about the banking operations at a fast pace.

Into the company

In 2015, I wanted to gain exposure in banking after a number of years conducting financial audit within the insurance industry. Most importantly, I wanted to learn about the banking strategies employed and operations established. Therefore, I sent an email to the former Group Chief Internal Auditor (GCIA) to express my interest. Shortly after, an interview was scheduled for a role in AmBank Group’s Internal Audit Department.

I was interviewed by two esteemed individuals who were both deputies to the previous GCIA. This was subsequently followed by an interview with the previous GCIA before successfully securing the job. Indeed, this was a humbling experience.

Daily hustle

Generally, auditing, whether internal or external, is a challenging role which grants exponential growth and invaluable knowledge and experience.

The daily hustle of an Internal Auditor is of course, performing the required fieldwork to substantiate an opinion.

However, there is more than meets the eye as an enormous amount of time is also spent in understanding the business, establishing an annual audit plan, identifying the key risks and controls within the business, carving the appropriate audit procedures, writing a holistic audit report which presents a balanced view, and most importantly, engaging with Heads of Business Units as a trusted advisor to improve governance.

Skill set

Personally, an auditor needs to be an all-rounder, someone who is not only technically competent but also possesses the people skills required to drive stakeholder management.

This is vital to ensure the audit work carried out is meaningful, the quality is up to standard and the audit findings/ improvement points are well accepted by the Heads of Business Units. As we move into the era of “Big Data” and Digital Banking, knowledge in data analysis and programming will indeed be an added competitive advantage as the audit profession moves in tandem with the trend to enable “Continuous Auditing”.

Then and now

Over the years, I have come to realise that a degree/qualification acts as a passport for entry into the workforce.

As a millennial myself, switching my mindset from carefree student life to being career driven was a rather difficult task, but having an end-goal in mind to build a career in banking and being supervised by a good mentor/ superior definitely helped me through this journey. A note to millennials: follow the adage of “Choose Your Boss, Not Your Job!”

Culture 100%

Work-life balance 100%

Travel opportunities 80%

Professional development 100%

Personal growth 100%

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 49

EMPLOYER HUB BDO

BDO

BDO is a limited liability partnership, that has been in the accounting and professional services industry for the past 50 years. People who know us says that “BDO is the ‘People’ firm”. Hence, our EVP themed “BDO. Because Relationships Matter” truly resonates with us and is what makes BDO distinct.

Head on to page 92–93 to find out more!

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

EMPLOYERS' EXPECTATIONS BDO PLT

Working skills

Communication and digital skills are key! BDO’s business is all about people, hence communication is a very important factor in maintaining good client relationships. In this era of technology disruptions, there will be more emphasis on digital skills. Fresh graduates who possess the digital quotient will have a competitive edge over other applicants.

Nevertheless, fresh graduates also need to be versatile and proactive in equipping themselves with the necessary skills in order to stay relevant.

Résumé mistakes

BDO PLT

Cover letter

Yes

Professional photo

Yes

Career objective

Yes

Fancy résumé

No

References (referees)

No*

One common mistake is failing to proofread your résumé. In fact, proofreading your résumé is as important as writing a good résumé!

To employers, typos and grammar mistakes indicate that the candidate 1) Did not go the extra mile in their application; 2) Is not concerned over the quality of their output and 3) Reflects a lack of proficiency in their level of the English language.

Another common mistake is the inability to highlight important points to capture the attention of the hiring manager. Quantifying your achievements or using “power words” accentuates the positives that will give you extra brownie points.

LinkedIn profile

No*

Internship importance

Bonnie Tham

Head of People & Support

What is needed in a fresh graduate’s application?

Maximum number of résumé pages: Max

2 pages *optional

Having an internship definitely plays a part in considering whether or not to hire a candidate, however, it is not a prerequisite. Doing an internship is the best way to gain practical work experience before officially stepping into the working world. This is a good opportunity to find out more about the industry and the companies in your field of choice which will also help

in your employment decisions when you graduate. As an intern, you learn to put theory into practice and you also have the experience of applying important business skills such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving.

Ideal interviewee

On top of a polished appearance, an ideal candidate is someone who has a pleasant personality, is genuine in their responses and is eager to learn! Being courteous and polite to the interviewer leaves a good first impression. When answering questions, be honest and do not give rehearsed responses that do not truly reflect yourself. Lastly, being able to showcase that you are flexible enough to learn and adapt is also important.

Bear in mind that attitude trumps academic results and achievements in an interview.

Word of advice

There is a quote by Winston Churchill that I am very fond of. “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” So for jobseekers struggling to find the right job, don’t be discouraged! As the job market landscape is changing, finding a job is not easy to begin with, what more the right job.

So for jobseekers struggling to find the right job, don’t be discouraged! As the job market landscape is changing, finding a job is not easy to begin with, what more the right job.

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 51

CAREER CORNER BDO PLT

BDO PLT Name Shobha Ashwinie Subarau, 25 Position Senior Tax Associate Qualification ACCA Affiliate Been working here for 1 year and 5 months

Career choice

I developed a strong interest in business planning of taxation strategies and tax advisory whilst I was pursuing the ACCA qualification. I was keen in learning more and specialising in this area of work. Hence, I decided that this shall be my career path and soon joined the BDO Tax Department to fulfill both my professional learning and personal growth objectives.

Into the company

I learnt about Tax Investigation & Field Audit (TIFA) and this position through a friend who is an Assistant Manager here at BDO. Upon submitting my résumé to the Executive Director of TIFA and also to the People & Culture team, I was then interviewed by the Executive Director. The interview process was rather seamless as my friend had explained to me about the job scope, work culture, employers’ values and also tips on how to adapt to this new work environment.

Daily hustle

As a Senior Tax Associate, I prepare individual and company tax returns for individuals with business income and employment income, and corporate tax returns for SMEs and large companies.

I have a portfolio of companies that I manage and on top of that, I assist in the preparation of the transfer pricing reports for various clients to fulfill legal requirements and client expectations.

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Skill set

Problem-solving skills and communication skills! There is no doubt on how crucial these skills are especially in getting things done efficiently and professionally while simultaneously ensuring high quality work and maintaining strong relationships with clients. Apart from that, proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word are necessary to improve your work performance.

Then and now

It was not an easy journey to start as a fresh graduate. However, my seniors were helpful and they guided me whenever I needed the support.

This has made the learning process easier for me. Aside from that, I always keep an open mind, consistently ask questions and maintain a positive attitude at work. Most importantly, always remember to enjoy work and make the best out of it!

Culture 80%

Work-life balance 80%

Travel opportunities 60%

Professional development 100%

Personal growth 100%

There is no doubt on how crucial these skills are especially in getting things done efficiently and professionally while simultaneously ensuring high quality work and maintaining strong relationships with clients.

Banking & Financial Services 2020

INTERN INSIGHTS BDO PLT

Internship application

When I was in university, I was actively participating in both internal and external events. These events broadened my insight into the corporate world and allowed me to explore different industries and career opportunities from industry experts such as BDO. Thus, when I was in my third year with UUM, I decided to enroll in the MICPA-CAANZ accounting qualification programme. I chose BDO as my training employer under its MICPA Student Sponsorship, as I believed BDO could help my development towards becoming a Chartered Accountant. I was offered an internship with BDO and I am rejoining as an Audit Associate in September 2019. “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” Understanding yourself and your employer well is the key to securing a job placement.

Enjoyable moments

BDO PLT Name Ooi Kee Sang, 23 Department Audit Internship Programme Internship Programme in BDO Malaysia & BDO-MyASEAN Internship

Do's

• Be willing to seek for information and guidance • Ensure that you have attempted to learn and understand your work before approaching seniors for questions • Be independent, always take the initiative to assist seniors and equip yourself with the necessary knowledge

Don'ts

• Bring in personal emotion into work • Fail to seek help, when required • Disclose confidential information

I concur with BDO’s motto “Because Relationships Matter”. As an intern and soon, a fresh graduate, I treasure friendly working cultures where seniors are willing to teach and guide new learners. True to its core, I met many supportive seniors in my job engagements. I enjoyed learning from their experiences, interactions with clients and especially, their sense of humour. I’ve also joined the BDO-MyASEAN Internship in Cambodia for two months on an audit engagement related to a special industry, i.e. casino. This engagement introduced me to the business model and intricacies of the gaming industry. I even crossed the border into Vietnam with the team for leisure activities. It was an unforgettable internship indeed; six months, three countries!

Learning curve

One of the common lines of thinking about audit is that it requires long working hours. This is an undeniable fact. The toughest moment for me was when I had to manage my professional paper and work at the same time. I soon discovered that self-discipline is the key factor to manage my time. Every sacrifice comes with a return, and every cost will certainly come with benefits. I would say, it really is worth it as audit provides me a platform to explore a business operation from a holistic perspective. Working with different people from various industries definitely gives me the opportunity to learn and develop myself to be a wellrounded leader.

Life hacks

To make the job interesting, it is important to not blindly perform the tasks given by your superiors without understanding what you are doing. I will always try to comprehend the objectives behind each task. This helps me apply the appropriate audit procedures and it eases the workload in the engagement. To me, I believe that effort comes first before a reward. This is the value that pushes me harder to take initiatives in assisting my superiors so that I can gain as much knowledge as possible. Learning is a never-ending process, and adopting the right attitude as a lifelong learner is one of the ways to ensure a fruitful journey for me in BDO.

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 53

EMPLOYER HUB ADVERTORIAL

Digital Transformation and How it Affects Students How does this impact you?

D

igital Transformation is the use of new, fast and frequently changing digital technology to solve problems. It is the profound transformation of business, processes and competencies to fully leverage the changes and opportunities of technologies and their accelerating impact across society.

Digital disruption is a transformation that is caused by emerging digital technologies and business models. These innovative new technologies and models can impact the value of existing products and services offered in the industry.

This is why the term “disruption” is used, as the emergence of these new digital products, services and businesses disrupts the current market and shifts our mindset.

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

Students have become customers who bring their own digital world expectations to university. It has transformed the lives of students from using hardcopy books to online materials; from handwritten notes to digital learning apps such as AnkiCards or Evernote; from relying on attending scheduled classes to on-demand webinars; from paying by cash to using Apple Pay; and collaborating through social media such as Facebook and WhatsApp. This rapidly evolving young audience takes on new tools and apps at a pace that even the most agile university struggles to keep up with.

Innovative companies in the education and training sector, also known as “Edtech”, are facilitating the life of students by providing them with quality tools to evolve with today’s complex world.

EMPLOYER HUB ADVERTORIAL

Digital disruption models

Digital disruption can occur at various levels from the individual or student who uses mobile connectivity, where social media participation can disrupt public opinion. The following business models1 behind digital disruption help to illustrate what makes these changes disruptive: 1 Jo Caudron and Dado Van Peteghem in their book Digital Transformation • The Subscription Model (Netflix, Dollar Shave Club, Apple Music) disrupts through “lock-in” by taking a product or service that is traditionally purchased on an ad hoc basis, and locking-in repeat custom by charging a subscription fee for continued access to the product/service.

• The Freemium Model (Spotify, LinkedIn, Dropbox) that disrupts through digital sampling, where users pay for a basic service or product with their data or “eyeballs”, rather than money, and then charging to upgrade to the full offer.

• The Free Model (Google, Facebook) which disrupts with an “if-you’re-not-paying-for-the-product-you-arethe-product” model that involves selling personal data or “advertising eyeballs” harvested by offering consumers a “free” product or service that captures their data/attention.

• The Marketplace Model (eBay, iTunes, App Store, Grab, AirBnB) providing a digital marketplace that brings together buyers and sellers directly, in return for a transaction or placement fee or commission.

• The Access-over-Ownership Model (Zipcar, Peerbuy, AirBnB) disrupts by providing temporary access to goods and services traditionally only available through purchase.

• The Hypermarket Model (Alibaba, Apple) disrupts by “brand bombing” using sheer market power and scale to crush competition, often by selling below cost price.

• The Experience Model (Tesla, Apple) which disrupts by providing a superior experience, for which people are prepared to pay such as driverless cars.

• The Pyramid Model (Amazon, Microsoft, Dropbox) which disrupts by recruiting an army of resellers and affiliates who are often paid on a commission-only model.

• The On-Demand Model (Grab, Operator, Taskrabbit) which disrupts by monetising time and selling instant-access at a premium.

• The Ecosystem Model (Apple, Google) which disrupts by selling an interlocking and interdependent suite of products and services that increase in value as more are purchased which creates consumer dependency.

Impact on competition

Because technology is so integrated in today’s business landscape, almost every business is a digital business to some extent. Old systems and processes have to be rethought, and new technologies have to be put in place in order for businesses to stay competitive within their industry. Companies are faced with many challenges as they navigate their way through this digital transformation. These hurdles can range from limited budgets for new technology to lack of the expertise or know-how required to roll out new digital initiatives. But the one challenge that is crucial to overcome is creating an effective digital strategy.

Strategy is what gives businesses the framework they need to effectively utilise the digital tools they have on hand. And without it, efforts and funds can go wasted.

Trends in education

As we have seen, technology’s reach is vast and it can change how students experience subjects and learn, making it easier for lecturers to prepare course content. Five key trends impacting education are: • Greater use of personalised learning. Use of digital tools such as augmented analytics will allow student insights to be gathered far more quickly, helping to shape a more personalised experience that reflects the preferred style and pace of individual learners.

• Interactive learning, augmented and virtual reality. Augmented and virtual reality is already sweeping the market and stands to provide more immersive experiences for students, particularly as more free and affordable apps appear in the market.

• Internet of Things (IoT) will boost efficiency in education. From equipment that can re-order consumables and predict maintenance, to sharing data about students’ grades in real time and collecting data on students’ homework habits, this will help educators focus on teaching and less on administration.

• Role of classrooms. Creation of digital campuses and tech-integrated and flexible spaces will replace traditional classrooms, offering students the opportunity to switch between individual and group work with ease, supporting them in their new learning behaviours.

• Information security is a key priority for educational institutions and figures show that malicious attacks on student data are on the rise.

Although the transition into the digital age can be daunting, developing the right business strategy that includes responsibility for digital technologies across each business area can open up a host of exciting new opportunities to engage with consumers including students. The opportunities are out there and businesses are learning how to survive and thrive in these changing times. How will you take advantage of the digital age and stay relevant in the future?

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 55

EMPLOYER HUB EY

EY

EY is a professional services firm, that has been in the industry for the past 130 years. Our aim is to build trust and confidence in the capital market; develop outstanding leaders and work towards building a better working world for our people, clients, and communities.

Head on to page 94â&#x20AC;&#x201C;95 to find out more!

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

EMPLOYERS' EXPECTATIONS EY

Working skills

The skills needed for a job vary from industry to industry and job to job; but there are skills that are valued by employers across the board. These are the soft skills. In our industry, language and communication skills are particularly important. Language proficiency will help you perform your jobs more effectively and provide greater opportunities for career mobility.

Besides communication skills, a range of other soft skills are also needed to be “workplace-ready”, such as agility and complex problem solving. Proactive steps should be taken by graduates to understand what it takes to succeed in the workplace and seek opportunities to gain relevant skills and experience.

EY

Lee Soo Fern

Malaysia Talent Leader and Asean Diversity & Inclusiveness Leader

What is needed in a fresh graduate’s application?

Cover letter

Yes

Professional photo

Yes

Career objective

Yes

Fancy résumé

No

References (referees)

Yes

LinkedIn profile

No

Maximum number of résumé pages: Max

2 pages

Résumé mistakes

One is submitting a generic résumé for different positions. CVs for different roles should be tailored to emphasise the candidate’s key strengths and abilities (tip: use the right keywords that match the job requirements). Let employers know what you can bring to the table or why you would be a good fit for the position.

Many grads also list “attention to detail” in their résumés, but ironically submit résumés filled with errors. Grammar, spelling or even punctuation mistakes will not only reflect their level of attentiveness, but can also impact their chances of getting the job they are applying for.

Internship importance

It would be advantageous for fresh grads to have had a few months of internship experience in a relevant organisation or industry.

Such experience can provide them with a better understanding and appreciation of what they can expect to experience when they enter the employment market. While having the right internship experience is good, this does not mean that applicants’ chances will be jeopardised if they do not have one.

Ideal interviewee

The best candidates are those who walk into an interview demonstrating confidence and positivity. While most interviewees are understandably nervous, a recruiter is more likely to hire a candidate who begins the interview with a strong handshake and a relaxed, warm smile, than one who fidgets throughout the session.

Recruiters are not necessarily looking for candidates who have all the answers; they are looking for those who are good problem-solvers, who have a sound understanding of the business, and are well-prepared for the role for which they are being interviewed for.

Word of advice

The key to finding a job is networking and persistence. If your network is small, then you will have to be more persistent in your job search. Don’t take rejection as a personal failure, as every interview is good practice to prepare you for the next one.

Keep applying, keep working on personal projects to keep your skills sharp, and continue to learn more in the meantime. Remember to be flexible to adapt and take on new roles, if given the opportunity.

In our industry, language and communication skills are particularly important. Language proficiency will help you perform your jobs more effectively and provide greater opportunities for career mobility.

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 57

CAREER CORNER EY

EY Name Kong Yan Xian, 25 Position Senior Associate, Ernst & Young (EY) Qualification Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons), UNIMAS Been working here for 1 year and 3 months

Career choice

Numbers and calculations have always excited me, so that is why I decided to pursue a degree in Accounting, which eventually brought me into this career path. I am glad I made the right choices along the way, because I am certainly enjoying what I do now.

Naysayers in the past used to tell me how mundane and routine Accounting can be, but that is not true at all because the industry is always evolving and there is always something new to learn, especially when it comes to preparing ourselves for the Future of Work.

Into the company

After submitting my internship application through EY’s website, I first had to go through a phone interview, and was then required to complete an online assessment before I received the offer for an internship placement. I enjoyed my internship very much and did not realise how fast seven months went by until I received a conditional offer to join EY on a full-time basis! I immediately accepted the offer and that’s how I started my journey with EY.

Daily hustle

I specialise in banking audits, focusing on analysing our clients’ credit models to assess expected credit losses and ensure compliance with the Malaysian Financial Reporting Standard (MFRS 9). I also collaborate with our Financial Services Risk Management (FSRM)

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team to test and assess these models, which I find very exciting! As a Senior, my day-to-day tasks include audit planning, coaching Associates and monitoring work progress to ensure that our audits can be completed within the timelines. I also have discussions with my manager on a daily basis to ensure that tasks are delivered on time and as accurately as possible.

Skill set

Apart from knowledge in business intelligence software, expertise in forensic accounting, statistical data mining and risk management are some of the hard skills highly valued in the profession.

In addition to that, I think auditors should also have effective communication skills, as our daily interactions with clients and team members certainly require us to be clear in conveying our thoughts, ideas and suggestions during meetings and presentations. One can be a skilled auditor when it comes to compiling reports, but if the person cannot convincingly communicate when called upon to present their work, their efforts will be futile.

Then and now

The transition from student to working adult was not as difficult as I anticipated. My internship experience in EY helped a lot in preparing me with the right mindset and setting the right expectations. I felt welcomed right from

Banking & Financial Services 2020

day one, and I truly love EY’s strong people culture, particularly my inclusive and supportive team that keeps me motivated at work. Unlike when I was a student, I now work in a team which means I need to be more agile in what I do. But it is a positive change and I am happy to be part of it!

Culture 100%

Work-life balance 80%

Travel opportunities 80%

Professional development 100%

Personal growth 100%

INTERN INSIGHTS EY

Internship application

EY was always at the top of my list for internship placements, so when I saw a few EY ambassadors at my college during a career fair, I knew it was a good opportunity for me to learn more about what EY’s internship programme entails.

To deepen my understanding about the organisation and its business, I then joined a campus sharing session conducted by experienced professionals from EY, and from there, I was convinced right away to apply for the programme!

Enjoyable moments

My internship in EY has taught me more than I could have imagined. I am grateful to have been placed in a special project taskforce, where I had the opportunity to work closely with a Partner and a Senior Manager throughout the period. The direct guidance and input from them were valuable to me as they taught me to identify and solve issues from a completely different perspective.

Learning curve

EY Name Koay Xiu Hau, 24 Department Assurance (Financial Services Organisation) Internship Programme EY Internship Programme

Do's

• Prepare yourself mentally, physically and technically • Maintain a balanced lifestyle between work and personal life • Stay humble

Don'ts

My internship has definitely given me a better understanding of my skill set and where my career may take me; but most importantly, I have learnt to not be afraid to take up more responsibilities. When my superior assigned me a more challenging or complex task, I took it as a recognition of my abilities and did my best to complete the task. It is also important to keep the team updated and not be afraid to seek help from seniors or communicate with them when experiencing any difficulties.

Life hacks

• Do not view yourself as just an intern or use it as an excuse to avoid taking up complex tasks. It’s an opportunity to step up to prove what you’re capable of.

• Mingle around with your peers (or even seniors and leaders) during work or at informal sessions – the conversations will be insightful, and do not be afraid to ask for advice or tips on enhancing your career journey.

• Find the right balance between efficiency and work quality. And it always helps to align expectations and understand the objectives of tasks assigned!

Mingle around with your peers (or even seniors and leaders) during work or at informal sessions – the conversations will be insightful, and do not be afraid to ask for advice or tips on enhancing your career journey.

• Limit yourself to easy tasks • Be afraid to make mistakes • Stay in your comfort zone

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 59

EMPLOYER HUB

Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad

GREAT EASTERN LIFE ASSURANCE (MALAYSIA) BERHAD

Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Eastern Holdings Limited, and has been in the insurance industry for the past 112 years. Our aim is to make life great by providing financial security and promoting good health and meaningful relationships within the communities that we operate in.

Head on to page 96â&#x20AC;&#x201C;97 to find out more!

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

EMPLOYERS' EXPECTATIONS

GREAT EASTERN LIFE ASSURANCE (MALAYSIA) BERHAD

Working skills

Generally, I would say that the most in-demand skill everyone should have is communication – at Great Eastern, this is the first thing we look for in candidates. Being able to communicate is key in establishing relationships, whether you are in an interview, or at your first day of work.

Beyond that, I think it’s also crucial for graduates to learn how to deal and work with different people because you won’t always get to do things your way, so it’s important that graduates learn to work collaboratively with others before entering the workforce.

GREAT EASTERN LIFE ASSURANCE (MALAYSIA) BERHAD

Nurul Afifi Ryana Adnan Human Capital Business Partner

What is needed in a fresh graduate’s application?

Cover letter

No

Professional photo

Yes

Career objective

Yes

Fancy résumé

No

References (referees)

Yes

LinkedIn profile

Yes

Maximum number of résumé pages: Max

2 pages

Résumé mistakes

As the saying goes, you only get one shot at a first impression. Informal photos aren’t very professional for a résumé, especially when you use self-portrait shots from unflattering angles, or when the lighting is off. I would recommend a professionally shot photo with a plain-coloured background. Other than that, I also think it’s best to leave out irrelevant details like marriage status, height, weight, or hobbies, as they take up space. If there is one thing you should avoid as a fresh graduate, it’s a résumé that is more than two or three pages long.

Internship importance

Internships are valuable because it gives you a glimpse into the real working world. Apart from getting a taste of what the industry is like, you learn the importance of punctuality, integrity, and perseverance. Many university leavers are terrified of the idea of “growing up” and being a practical adult, but that is inevitable.

Everyone needs to work for a living, and internships can provide the starting ground during that uncomfortable transition period. Try to go for ones that are at least four to five months long; you’ll learn a lot more, and it will definitely help in that “adulting” process.

Ideal interviewee

I believe every candidate has their own charm but as a general rule, if you want to leave a good impression on the interviewer, shake hands when you enter the interview room. Make sure you are properly dressed, and when you are invited to sit, be sure to sit up straight instead of slouching.

The ideal candidate takes care of their appearance, and ensures that they look presentable at all times. Speak at an appropriate volume, and at the end of the session, thank the interviewer for their time. Politeness goes a long way.

Word of advice

Keep an open mind, be adventurous, and try new things! You might not get the job you want, or it may not be related to your field of study, but if you’re adventurous, you can do almost anything you set your mind to. We all start somewhere; the important thing is to start!

The ideal candidate takes care of their appearance, and ensures that they look presentable at all times.

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 61

CAREER CORNER GREAT EASTERN GENERAL INSURANCE (MALAYSIA) BERHAD

Great Eastern General Insurance (Malaysia) Berhad Name Clester Ng Lin Jian, 28 Position Assistant Manager, General Actuarial & Pricing Qualifications: BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science (Currently pursuing Actuarial Fellowship) Been working here for 2 years

Career choice

Enrolling into an Actuarial Science course in university certainly paved the way to my current career as most analytical and statistical knowledgerelated jobs are closely linked to the insurance sector. It goes hand in hand, really. As someone who embraces challenges, this profession has further motivated me to continue my career journey in becoming a fully qualified actuary.

coming out with the technical pricing, I would also liaise with colleagues from various departments to get their input and expectations during the product development stage. I also prepare monitoring reports to track and ensure that product prices are appropriate for the market whilst still profiting the company. Most of the time, such monitoring will incorporate pricing recommendations to the management of the products.

Into the company

Skill set

It is actually quite tough to get into the industry because there is a high supply of Actuarial graduates in the market. I think it has become the new â&#x20AC;&#x153;hot jobâ&#x20AC;? so everyone is aiming to be an actuary. I was lucky to be shortlisted for an interview, and I made sure I did my research on the company and the job role to better understand what is expected of me. Prior to the interview, I had to complete assessments to test my mathematical and language proficiency in order to get to the next step of the recruitment process. Overall, I did my best, and here I am now!

Daily hustle

I am involved mainly in the pricing of general insurance products, so my day-to-day tasks can be quite dynamic. Amidst the process of

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I believe problem-solving and communication skills are crucial soft skills to be equipped with in my line of work. Apart from liaising with people from different departments, my role also requires me to articulate actuarial technicality effectively so that everyone can understand the message. I would avoid jargon and try to package it in a way that is comprehensible to everyone. More often than not, my team and I will provide recommendations or solutions to management for their decision-making. In terms of hard skills, proficiency in programming is definitely helpful for statistical analysis and actuarial modeling.

Banking & Financial Services 2020

Then and now

Time management, coupled with the right mindset, is essential in adapting to working life. Between juggling work and professional exams, I have to manage my time to ensure I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fall behind at my job as well as my studies. Waking up early in the morning helps because it makes me more productive, and finishing work early allows me to have more time for myself. The change of mindset is also important; as a working adult, you have to act responsibly and with integrity, which is something students will have to grow into once they get into the workforce.

Culture 80%

Work-life balance 80%

Travel opportunities 60%

Professional development 100%

Personal growth 100%

INTERN INSIGHTS

GREAT EASTERN LIFE ASSURANCE (MALAYSIA) BERHAD

Internship application

I discovered Great Eastern on social media two months before my internship started. The company was recognised as the Top 100 Graduate Employers in Malaysia and since then, my interest towards the company grew. I did my research and learnt the nature of its business and operations, the products, the work culture, and thought it was a good place to apply to. I sent an application for the internship programme through the website and two weeks after, I got the offer! I have to say I’m quite lucky to be doing my internship here, because it was clearly the fastest response I received out of all the other applications I sent to other employers.

Enjoyable moments

Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad Name Nuramirah Azwar binti Shamaludin, 23 Department Group Insurance – Employee Benefits Internship Programme Great Eastern Internship Programme

Do's

• Discipline yourself • Ask the team directly for further clarification if anything is unclear • Offer to help with additional tasks/projects

It’s hard to say because there are so many! But what I love most about my experience here is the opportunity to work with other interns in managing and executing industrial visits from universities. We get to plan the activities from A to Z, we do the emceeing, and we ensure everything runs smoothly throughout the event. On top of that, my job scope requires me to liaise directly with clients to answer and fulfill any enquiries so I’m really glad to be given the opportunity to carry out real world tasks with my fellow colleagues and supervisor. It gives me great exposure to the working world.

Learning curve

I learnt a lot of industry-related knowledge, but I think what’s even more important are soft skills. For instance, delivering error-free tasks to avoid causing inconveniences to the team or clients. It’s easy to take criticism negatively, which is why one of the biggest lessons for me is how to use criticism as a means to do better. It’s never personal, and you can learn a lot from feedback. Additionally, I now know the importance of networking and building relationships with people beyond my circle or department; it really broadens my perspective, which I think is vital for this age. Everything is changing rapidly, and talking to different people might help you see things differently.

Life hacks

Tip 1 – Never complain! Do all you can and absorb everything you learn because an internship is an opportunity for you to experience the working world before officially entering the workforce. Being busy is good, so never complain about your tasks.

Tip 2 – Take things seriously. Never do something just to fulfill the internship requirements. Be proactive in your tasks and see how you can improve as you progress.

Tip 3 – Enjoy yourself! Make new friends, do your best, and savour the experience. Be the best version that you can be and you might just land a permanent job when you graduate!

Don'ts

• Procrastinate, even if the task is not urgent • Try to hide a mistake that has been done • Act beyond the boundary – always consult first

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 63

EMPLOYER HUB KPMG

KPMG

KPMG is a global network of independent member firms offering audit, tax and advisory services. With passion and purpose, we work shoulder-to-shoulder with our clients, integrating innovative approaches and deep expertise to deliver real results.

Head on to page 100â&#x20AC;&#x201C;101 to find out more!

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

EMPLOYERS' EXPECTATIONS KPMG

Working skills

IR 4.0 is driving the way businesses are being transformed. At the rate things are changing these days, the most in-demand skill that anyone should possess is having a growth mindset. What you learn today could be outdated by next year and hence, continuous learning is key. You need to know how to learn, unlearn and relearn. Being agile or adaptable to the environment will help you adjust to the ever-changing world we live in today, especially at the workplace.

Organisations are looking for people who are open to change and do not fear trying new things.

KPMG

Résumé mistakes

Siew Monsy

Executive Director of People, Performance & Culture

What is needed in a fresh graduate’s application?

Cover letter

Yes

Professional photo

Yes

Career objective

Yes

Fancy résumé

No

References (referees)

Yes

LinkedIn profile

No

Maximum number of résumé pages: Max

2 pages

Good résumés should have the right chronological order of employment history, academic qualifications and skills for the employer to get a clear overview of the candidate’s overall experience and background information. The common mistakes graduates often make are crafting their résumés with opinions rather than their objectives. There are those that lack quantitative evidence and do not highlight their accomplishments.

Some of them are too wordy with poor grammatical inaccuracies and full of information that are irrelevant to the job application. A cardinal sin is addressing that company’s competitor when you are referring to them in your cover letter.

Internship importance

Having some internship experience gives graduates an added advantage as it provides them with a great introductory experience to the professional world. Besides giving them a sneak peek of the expected roles and responsibilities of the job, it also helps to build their confidence in performing the work and in facing their next job interview. With the experience gained during that period, they should be able to articulate the theoretical and

practical knowledge better. Other than that, going for voluntary internships would convince the employers that the candidate is motivated and committed to keeping their skills current, which indirectly could increase their chances of getting hired.

Ideal interviewee

Ultimately, employers will have their eye on candidates who have a positive and uplifting personality. The best contender would usually reflect a high level of optimism, possess a hunger to strive for continuous success, a growth mindset and one who likes to leave an impact on whatever they want to accomplish. Someone who can demonstrate proactiveness and high resilience will also be a good fit in high performing organisations.

Word of advice

Don’t give up easily. There’s a job for you somewhere. It’s only a matter of time when you find it. The first job might not be at the company of your choice, the location you prefer or the pay is not what you expect, but do accept it with an open mind as you would not know where it might take you. Every job opportunity is a chance for you to learn a new skill and discover your potential. Even if it is not your ideal job, do it with passion and give it all you got.

Being agile or adaptable to the environment will help you adjust to the everchanging world we live in today, especially at the workplace.

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 65

CAREER CORNER KPMG

KPMG Name Muhammad Nazreen bin Rosli, 21 Position Associate in Information Technology Enabled Transformation (ITET) Qualification Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology from Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) Been working here for 7 months

Career choice

Graduating with a degree in IT really sparked my interest in programming and database management. However, it wasn’t something I’d see myself doing long-term. With my interest in the ever-growing Emerging Technologies, I was fortunate enough to find a great career match in KPMG as an Associate in Information Technology Enabled Transformation (ITET). Reading about high-flying, jet-setting careers really sparked my interest in becoming a professional. I got the opportunity to gain extensive knowledge by serving multiple clients in a variety of industries.

And what better way to start off my career than in a Big Four?

Into the company

I applied through KPMG Malaysia’s Career website a month after I graduated in October 2018. I filled up the necessary information and submitted along the supporting documents. I was contacted by a recruitment officer in December and we had a short over-the-phone interview. I was then forwarded an email regarding an online assessment, and once I passed the assessments, I was called in for the first interview with the ITET reporting manager. After that, I was called in again for another interview, but this time with my Associate Director, who wanted to know me better, and the rest is history.

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Daily hustle

My current daily tasks revolve around supporting my team leads and reporting manager with any projects or tasks that they’re currently involved in. That may include drafting and creating proposals and reports for clients, performing desktop studies and research on new emerging technology trends that will be of use for publishing and internal circulation.

Within seven months of being in KPMG, I have already taken part in a major project with a government agency and assisted in research that has been published and circulated by other parties. What brings me satisfaction is knowing that the work I do will be used and shared.

Skill set

English is primarily used in all of our work, with the exception of working with clients at government agencies whereby the work could be conducted in Malay. In addition to having soft skills, being a team player is very crucial, as this helps accelerate our work to completion. Having the necessary computer software skills such as being proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel really helps as most of our tasks revolve around these. The ITET department doesn’t really require you to have any IT background, only the interest in it, which explains why most of my colleagues come from various backgrounds.

Banking & Financial Services 2020

Then and now

During my final few semesters, my lecturers really helped me adjust my mindset. I had reached that phase of being independent and responsible for any type of work that Iʼd do. Hence why I’d say that I prepared myself quite early. As an intern, you’ll realise that it won't be long before you become a working adult. Upon graduation, I really wanted to make my parents and myself proud of my achievements; and hoping that one day I would be able to repay them back for their endless support.

Culture 100%

Work-life balance 100%

Travel opportunities 100%

Professional development 100%

Personal growth 100%

INTERN INSIGHTS KPMG

Internship application

Your network is your net worth. In April 2019, I was part of a corporate luncheon at the UKEC-GRADUAN career fair in Royal Lancaster, London. During that time, I had the opportunity to network with CEOs, directors as well as other corporate leaders. At the luncheon, I had a conversation with a KPMG Partner in regard to the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects under KPMG’s purview.

Buoyed by my keen interest in public relations, publicity and volunteering, I met KPMG’s Talent Acquisition and Branding (TAB) Manager who offered me an internship opportunity under the Branding team.

Enjoyable moments

KPMG Name Nur Dinie Binti Mohd Fadil, 22 Department Branding Team Internship Programme People, Performance, and Culture (Human Resource)

Do's

• Respect timelines • Build connections • Take initiatives

Don'ts

• Gossip • Give up • Overstep your boundaries

After one month in the Branding team, I came to a realisation in which its actual work differs in comparison to the fanciful vibes its name entails. The most valuable experience garnered was learning how to communicate and express my write-ups professionally. I have conducted supplementary research to improve the recruitment process at KPMG and it has allowed me to acquaint with other corporate leaders as well. Besides that, I was given the opportunity to handle a pet project #KPMGInternRep that features interns sharing their working experiences in KPMG across our Instagram platform every week (You may watch them at @KPMGmalaysia). I believe these invaluable experiences will equip me to survive and excel in my future endeavours.

Learning curve

I took this opportunity to give myself a chance to grow as well as to explore and learn as much as I can. Working life is way different than studying. At KPMG, I learned how fast the corporate world moves and identified a set of techniques to compose myself in the midst of pressure. I appreciate the environment and working culture in KPMG that has empowered me to deliver my very best to clients and partners. Accompanied by the stellar support and expertise of my colleagues, my confidence brews as I embark on my remaining days in KPMG.

Life hacks

I would advise using these 2A’s tips. Firstly, always ASK if you don't understand.

When you are in the working environment, you will occasionally feel nervous to approach your superior, however, if you do not comply with the art of two-way communication (Clarifying & Understanding), it will be an uphill task to climb.

The second A is to take ACTION immediately. In the corporate world, do not delay your work in order to effectively manage the workload ahead.

In the corporate world, do not delay your work in order to effectively manage the workload ahead.

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

EMPLOYER HUB MAYBANK

Maybank

Maybank is a multinational corporation (MNC), that has been in the banking and financial services industry for the past 59 years. Our aim is humanising financial services.

Head on to page 102â&#x20AC;&#x201C;103 to find out more!

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

EMPLOYERS' EXPECTATIONS MAYBANK

Working skills

MAYBANK

Sophia Ang Wui Jiun Head, Talent Attraction & Workplace Futurisation

What is needed in a fresh graduate’s application?

Cover letter

Yes

Professional photo

No

Career objective

Yes

Fancy résumé

No

References (referees)

No

LinkedIn profile

Yes

Maximum number of résumé pages: Max

2 pages

Most colleges and universities provide an expanded curriculum to equip students with digital skills. Many institutions are starting to realise that application is critical and have established joint ventures and MOUs to enable students to obtain handson experience in a real working environment. We do not expect fresh graduates to be experienced in immediate application of what they have learnt, but strong work ethics, communication, creative and critical thinking, problem-solving, and being a team player are what we do look out for.

Machines will change how we work, and we believe because of that, these soft skills and digital literacy – knowing how to use big data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) – are increasingly important for us to become better performers. So is the propensity and interest to learn.

Curiosity and experimentation. All these show your potential. Hard skills can be taught but the mastery of it depends on one’s mindset and attitude.

Résumé mistakes

A common mistake would be to submit a résumé without knowing your audience. As an employer, we would want to see résumés that reflect they have done their homework. That they have a sense of who they are as a person and the assuredness of their strengths and goals. 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.

Internship importance

to say it. Internships are a rich source of giving one the "edge" when it comes to screening résumés, so take the opportunity to build up your experience.

Part-time jobs, freelance work or even volunteering experiences too are considered valuable work experiences.

It does not matter where you gained your experience from, it just matters that you did it.

Ideal interviewee

Authentic and prepared. The ideal candidate exudes confidence. A person who embraces their true self, their values. They acknowledge their weaknesses and use their strengths for the benefit of all. They are passionate about what they do, driven and committed to excellence.

Each company has a culture and it is important you are a right fit. With the ever-changing work landscape, we value agility in a person; fastthinking, responsive, and having quick decision-making abilities. Most importantly, the hunger to learn, unlearn and relearn to stay ahead. It is also very important to know what is happening in the world today.

Word of advice

The right job is rarely found on the first try because sometimes, we are not even sure what "right" is, and its meaning differs for everyone. One way to find it is by experiencing and learning, via internships for example.

Having an ambition helps too. That can guide you. So, do not worry about finding the right job at your first try. The process will be the one that takes you there. Resilience is going to take you far, right up to the top of the career ladder so to speak.

Internships are an avenue to gain work experience and a great way to accrue skills and network for a good job. It is also the best opportunity to "practice"; try new things and learn from trials and errors. Going for multiple internships indicate you are a driven and learningoriented individual without you having

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 71

CAREER CORNER MAYBANK

Maybank Name Bhavan Sarpal A/L Pardeep Kumar, 25 Position Global Maybank Apprentice Programme Qualification Bachelor in Economics & Finance Been working here for 6 months

Career choice

Like there are two sides to every coin, it’s always a tough choice for fresh graduates to decide on where to begin their career. With the advent of FinTech and start-ups, we mull over: would going to non-banks be more exciting and challenging, or should we go to a prominent financial institution for the chance to climb the corporate ladder?

To me, joining a corporation like Maybank made more sense because of the depth and steady opportunities to learn, its regional presence and more possibilities to network. Corporations today are also embracing digital trends and flexible working, and the opportunity for employees to push boundaries and explore – all in a responsible way, of course. So, if one is up for a challenge supported by futureready infrastructure, go corporate.

Into the company

I was a finalist of "Maybank GO Ahead.

Challenge", an international, multidimensional case competition that tests undergraduates’ competencies including strategy, behaviour, corporate responsibility and general knowledge.

At the end of the challenge, candidates who exuded and demonstrated a strong balance between leadership, intellect and teamwork were offered to join the Global Maybank Apprentice Programme, a two-year rotational programme that offers best-in-class development, incorporating on-thejob training and an international

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assignment to offices where Maybank has a presence. It also allows graduates to design their career based on their interest and personal preference. I was fortunate enough to receive the offer, which I then gladly accepted.

Daily hustle

As part of my rotation in the Group Digital & Strategic Alliance department, my daily tasks include researching on global digital & technological trends to preparing research decks for the Group President & CEO of Maybank.

There are also times where we are required to meet and discuss collaboration opportunities with local and global FinTech. This can get very exciting especially since ASEAN is the hotbed of FinTech innovation. Other tasks include recommending how to digitise Maybank’s presence in other ASEAN countries and strategising Maybank’s digital journey moving forward. Not a day goes by without me learning something new.

Skill set

One soft skill that I feel 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 I’ve learnt and gained is that whenever you have a problem at work, it is always important to frame that problem in a positive manner and

Banking & Financial Services 2020

be more proactive by recommending possible solutions.

Then and now

To me it’s more on reprioritising my to-do list to ensure I can stay productive at work because as a working adult, you spend a lot of time at the office, and travelling to and from work. Hence, before joining the workforce, I made small efforts to better manage my time and priorities.

In terms of projecting the image of a working adult, I am actually glad Maybank encourages a smart-casual, modern way of dressing at work. This goes to enabling an agile and adaptive mind. So, I can still wear my collared T-shirts and jeans to office, which used to be my uniform when I was a student.

And this reminds me that learning is a life-long journey.

Culture 100%

Work-life balance 100%

Travel opportunities 100%

Professional development 100%

Personal growth 100%

INTERN INSIGHTS MAYBANK

Internship application

I was afforded the privilege as I was a scholar. Although completing an internship is part of the scholarship requirement, I went through the same application and interview process as the rest and was offered an internship placement with Maybank Etiqa, the insurance arm of the company.

Enjoyable moments

Maybank Name Ahmad Fikri bin Abdullah Asuhaimi, 21 Department Human Resource Internship Programme Maybank Internship Programme

Do's

• Be proactive and willing to learn new things • Make friends with everyone!

• Let others know your boundaries to avoid potential conflicts

Don'ts

• Be restricted and confined to what you think you can’t do or achieve • Forget to plan both your work and life!

• Be compelled to please everyone and leave your own set of principles!

Being entrusted to organise an engagement called "FuturEtiqa with Maybank Etiqa" that connected me to all the Senior Management Committees. By observing the way they think, how they communicate and lead their teams have helped me to expand my perspectives and the insights were beneficial. Also, I had the privilege to be part of the "Maybank GO. Ahead Challenge (MGAC)", Maybank’s annual student competition as a marshal and I would not trade the experience for anything! I love how it gave me a reality check on the steps that I needed to take before reaching the top. There is no shortcut to any success, but with grit, determination and hard work, we’ll get there.

Learning curve

Part of my daily work is to do research and present my findings to my manager, and she will always remind me: one can never be perfectly prepared, but being over-prepared is always good. Her wise words propelled me to always be hungry to learn and grow. I become more proactive. I no longer wait for instructions from her, but would actively seek out to do more and to gain constructive feedback.

Life hacks

I think most interns think they are limited by experience and work structure, hence they tend to confine themselves to the amount of work that they can easily complete. The truth is the only limit we have is ourselves. Do ask for more work and constantly seek for feedback and advice from your superiors.

You should always push the bar higher and deliver your best—always have a growth mindset. Maybank’s values are dear to me, so always build and nurture relationships by being a strong link and helping others grow too.

The truth is the only limit we have is ourselves.

Do ask for more work and constantly seek for feedback and advice from your superiors.

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 73

EMPLOYER HUB

OCBC Bank (M) Berhad

OCBC BANK (M) BERHAD

OCBC Bank (M) Berhad is a multinational corporation (MNC), that has been in the banking and financial services industry for the past 87 years. Our aim is to help individuals and businesses across communities achieve their aspirations by providing innovative financial services that meet their needs.

Head on to page 104 to find out more!

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

EMPLOYERS' EXPECTATIONS OCBC BANK (M) BERHAD

Working skills

OCBC BANK (M) BERHAD

Mohd Ikzalhadim Bin Mat Zin

Organisational Development Specialist

What is needed in a fresh graduate’s application?

Cover letter

No

Professional photo

Yes

Career objective

Yes

Fancy résumé

No

References (referees)

Yes

LinkedIn profile

No

Maximum number of résumé pages: Max

2 pages

Communication – Ability to communicate, both verbal and nonverbal. This affects every aspect of professional life. From the ways ideas are viewed to one’s relationship with co-workers, communication skills are essential.

Analytics – In the age of information, everyone from those involved in data science to marketing and even human resources is expected to have some idea of how data impacts their organisation.

Organisational skills – Things like frequently updating and prioritising your to-do list, organising your inbox, keeping track of important documents, and project management are all essential for workplace success.

Résumé mistakes

Unpolished résumé – First impressions count, and the résumé is the first opportunity to sell yourself to the hiring manager. Spelling, grammar, and syntax need to be in perfect order. If it isn't, employers will read between the lines and draw not-so-flattering conclusions about the candidate.

Poorly described experiences – Make the most pertinent experience pop out.

I've looked at thousands of résumés and these include those containing extraneous fluff instead of what was actually done. Share what you've done, and if you haven't done anything, either do it or find a field that inspires you to do things you will be proud to share.

Generic résumé – Whenever candidates try to develop a one-size-fits-all résumé for all employers, it almost always ends up being skipped or cast aside. A customised résumé is worth the effort. Read the job description and determine what skills should be specified in the customised résumé.

Internship importance

An internship is basically an audition in disguise, not only for the company but also for the student. It is the ideal way for both sides to test out if a working relationship is possible. Internships

provide both companies and students with the opportunity to test out a new relationship over a short time before being able to commit to it fully.

Internships give you the chance to make use of the knowledge that you have while learning new skills in the process. Moreover, internships give you the chance to learn hands-on about the industry that you’re interested in which is impossible to learn just through a course.

Ideal interviewee

Pay attention to your body language as the interviewer will be watching and listening to what you say. Sit or stand tall with your shoulders back. A good handshake is a firm one. Sit in a relaxed way, make frequent eye contact and smile. This shows that you are a likeable person who gets along with others.

Show enthusiasm. It’s not just about what a candidate says – it’s about how they say it. If the interviewer can see and sense the enthusiasm in your body language and excitement in your voice, it’s a great sign.

Never exaggerate or lie when answering any questions during the interview. But don’t be too humble either. If you have received awards or recognitions for your accomplishments in relatable positions, mention them.

Word of advice

My humble advice to all fresh graduates: keep it real! Represent yourself honestly and seek to understand the company, the role, and how it fits into the overall organisation.

Ask questions to understand how success will be measured for the position and how it fits into the big picture. In my experience, the best interviews happen when you have a genuine conversation. You will find that both interviewer and candidate open up much more when engaged in an authentic manner. So, no matter what questions you choose to ask, remember to KEEP IT REAL! Even if the job is not right for you, it would still be a good experience. Good luck!

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 75

CAREER CORNER OCBC BANK (M) BERHAD

OCBC Bank (M) Berhad Name Shafiq bin Sheikh Mohamed, 37 Position Head of Islamic & Structured Finance, Global Investment Banking Qualification BBA (Hons) Banking and Finance Been working here for 2 years

Career choice

A strong interest and passion in the investment banking area was a sure-fire reason when determining my career path. Having seen several other relatives gaining success in the banking and finance industry was an additional motivation point. I had planned my career path well before I decided which course I wanted to pursue for my undergraduate degree.

I also did some thorough research on the organisation I intended to join to ensure that it would provide me the opportunities to achieve my career goals.

Into the company

I was contacted by an executive search company who shared an opportunity to join one of the world’s strongest banks.

I was first interviewed by the Head of Investment Banking, Malaysia and the discussion centered on the experience I had in my previous bank, including my role as the team leader, types of transactions completed and my level of networking in the corporate market.

Being from a local bank without an international presence, the question about my capabilities to manage cross border and foreign currency denominated transactions was inevitable. The final interview was via a video conference with the Group Head of Investment Banking.

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Daily hustle

Then and now

Skill set

Culture

• Identifying new business opportunities and conducting preliminary credit analysis • Preparing financing proposals to be presented to clients • Communicating with other internal stakeholders and providing assistance to the relevant business units as part of the internal credit approval process • Coordinating the legal documentation process amongst all stakeholders • Functioned as the main contact point for clients in any transaction until successful closure • Maintaining the relationship and rapport with clients for future business opportunities Interpersonal skills: • Communication and presentation skills • Client and people management skills • Problem solving skill (the ability to think out of the box) Technical skills: • Credit analysis • Credit writing • Basic Microsoft Office skills

Banking & Financial Services 2020

My strong interest and passion in my career are the key motivations for me. I found it useful to set a career development goal and be clear about what I want to achieve in the next five years in terms of experience and position. My advice to those seeking to transition is to set your mind towards achieving your career goals. If need be, identify someone successful within the industry as your role model and benchmark yourself against that person as an additional source of motivation. I was driven by my career development target the moment I started my career, hence the change in lifestyle was natural.

100%

Work-life balance 60%

Travel opportunities 60%

Professional development 80%

Personal growth 100%

INTERN INSIGHTS

OCBC BANK (M) BERHAD

Internship application

I came across this internship programme through my lecturer who was liaising with OCBC Bank’s Human Resource personnel and when he knew that I was keen on joining the banking industry, he suggested that I apply, given their strong reputation in the banking industry. Hence, I applied. In about a week, the hiring manager from Branch Distribution and Premier Banking picked my application and called me. A few days after the telephone interview, I received an e-mail from the Human Resource division about my internship application. The entire process took about three weeks to complete due to the background checks.

Enjoyable moments

OCBC Bank (M) Berhad Name Chan Jia Wen, 22 Department Branch Distribution and Premier Banking, Consumer Financial Services Division Internship Programme Internship at OCBC

Do's

• Have mutual respect for everyone without regard for their roles • Be on time, dress appropriately and maintain good work ethics • Give your best in the things that you do, be dedicated and dutiful

Don'ts

• Take things for granted. Do not exploit colleagues who show you leniency • Pick and choose your tasks.

Do everything that is assigned to you • Be afraid to ask questions and voicing out the reason for your opinions

The thing I enjoyed the most from this internship was meeting new people who have become my friends and mentors. This includes both interns from other universities and the Bank's staff members. The culture at OCBC Bank is extremely warm; everyone is friendly and willing to help; which I believe is one of the key factors that enhances an internship experience. Furthermore, I had the privilege to be involved with planning and coordinating the half-yearly sales convention — it was an interesting and fun experience. Being an intern in this department has exposed me to many different aspects of the Bank, not only limited to finance-related matters but also sales planning, analytics and event planning.

Learning curve

One prominent skill, which I picked up during the course of this internship, is Microsoft Excel. I knew the basics but through this internship I got the opportunity to learn advanced Excel functions and formulas that I know is one of the many highly valued things that one can bring to the table. A piece of career advice I received is to always find a reason to learn and to always keep learning. I think that this is extremely true as personal development is always an important aspect of life. Do not perform any task just for the sake of completing it but always find something to learn, and if possible, initiate a method to improve things.

Life hacks

Learn as much as you can. An internship is the perfect opportunity for you to learn. Never be afraid to ask questions, to get further clarification and to drill deeply into something. Be inquisitive and observant about your surroundings as there are many new things to discover. Build friendly relationships with everyone but remember to remain professional and take on as many tasks as you can. You never know; you might just land yourself a job after the internship. Don’t be afraid or shy to ask for new tasks and take on challenges. Most importantly, have fun!

Learn as much as you can. An internship is the perfect opportunity for you to learn.

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 77

EMPLOYER HUB P C

PwC

PwC is a global network of firms in the accounting and professional services industry. Our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems.

Head on to page 106â&#x20AC;&#x201C;107 to find out more!

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

EMPLOYERS' EXPECTATIONS P C MALAYSIA

Working skills

PwC MALAYSIA Michelle Hew

Talent Acquisition Lead

The most in-demand skills in today’s workforce is analytical thinking skills. It is the ability to analyse information in detail, making sense of data derived from different sources, identifying trends from the data, before coming to a conclusion. It’s a collection of several skills – creative thinking, problemsolving, and critical thinking, among others.

In a data-driven organisation like PwC, analytical skills are very important. You will see a problem from different points of view which gives you a broader perspective in solving the problem. So how do you demonstrate analytical thinking in your résumé?

• Highlight the projects/events that you have been involved in where you handled a complex situation.

• Share how you have been involved in research projects at university, your findings and the results.

Résumé mistakes

What is needed in a fresh graduate’s application?

Cover letter

No

Professional photo

Yes

Career objective

No

Fancy résumé

No

References (referees)

No

LinkedIn profile

Yes

Maximum number of résumé pages: Max

2 pages

• Lengthy résumés – Keep your résumé short and concise by highlighting your academic results and achievements, preferably in reverse chronological order, and indicating the skills that you’ve gained in activities outside your lecture theatres and classrooms.

Keep it to a maximum of 2 pages.

• Omitting the academic results – To stand out among other graduates, you should highlight your academic results (eg Second class upper/ CGPA 3.0). This helps increase your chances of being shortlisted.

• Spelling mistakes – Believe it or not, we still see spelling mistakes in some résumés. It’s really disappointing, especially when the organisation’s name is spelled incorrectly. At this stage, your résumé is more often than not your only chance to make a positive impression, so before you click the “Submit” button, go over your résumé thoroughly or get a friend to help you.

Internship importance

While internships have their benefits and give you early exposure to the working world, they do not guarantee you a job. At PwC Malaysia, we have hired students who have had no internship experience at all.

Employers look for candidates who are adaptable, possess the maturity to deal with complex and ambiguous situations and are able to interact with team members of various backgrounds. These skills can be gained by working part-time, travelling, or getting involved in the community.

Ideal interviewee

An ideal candidate is humble, yet able to articulate their achievements with confidence. This candidate would be appropriately dressed for the interview as first impressions do matter. They would also be able to indicate their interest for the firm, which is often demonstrated during the “Q&A” part of the interview. I tend to remember those who ask me about the firm’s trust-building efforts because this is an indication that they have done their homework on our purpose, which is about trust.

Word of advice

While job hunting, don’t get discouraged when you’re unsuccessful in your application. Every experience in your life teaches you something you need to know to move ahead. Seek feedback from recruiters for insights on your performance during the interview. You can also reflect on how the interview went and how you could have done it better. Jot this down and practise before your next interview.

To quote from the movie, KungFu Panda 2, “Your story may not have such a happy beginning but that does not make you who you are, it is the rest of it – who you choose to be”. Just like Po, you should not let difficult times define you. It’s the strength to overcome it that makes you who you are.

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 79

CAREER CORNER P C MALAYSIA

PwC Malaysia Name Jenani Segarajah, 27 Position Senior Associate Consultant, Tax Qualification MICPA-CAANZ Been working here for 3 years

Career choice

Back when I was in university, I did my internship with PwC, and I enjoyed the work culture and environment.

However, as an accounting major, I knew that audit was not where I wanted to build my career. In my final semester of university, I took the taxation law paper and to my surprise, I enjoyed the subject very much. The fact that I did really well in the subject also inspired me to consider a career in tax. That’s how I ended up being a tax consultant at PwC.

Into the company

Although I was PwC’s former intern, I went through the entire application process as I was looking to get into a different line of service (previously I was in Assurance). After I submitted an online application for tax, I went through the group assessment and I passed. I was then called for an interview with the managers from the tax department and they are now my senior manager and partner. I talked about why I wanted to join the tax department and shared my strengths and weaknesses. The interview was also my chance to find out about the type of work involved in tax. I received a call from the HR team about a week after my interview and was told that I got the job! There are many buffer periods between each stage of the job application, so remember to be patient and wait.

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Daily hustle

Then and now

Skill set

Culture

When I first joined tax, I did more tax compliance tasks which mainly involved the preparation of tax computations and tax returns. Now I have moved on to more advisory jobs which include incentive applications, tax audits and dispute resolutions as well as general advisory work.

While advisory seems like a pretty glamorous job, my formative years in tax compliance was necessary to build the foundation in tax and to familiarise myself with compliance matters.

Without the basics, how could I be a reliable consultant?

One of the PwC values that we uphold is “Work Together”, which encourages collaboration and sharing ideas with one another. To work together, communication skills and teamwork are definitely important. In tax, however, there are also elements of independence that is required when carrying out tasks or researches and being able to convey the outcomes to the team. Hard skills, which is the technical knowledge required in tax, and the ability to retain them is also important.

Banking & Financial Services 2020

There is definitely a big change between the freedom as a university student compared to being a working adult. It did not help that I started working and doing my professional exams at the same time. It definitely took some getting used to. However, with my peers being on the same boat, we were able to motivate each other and learn from each other’s experience, which was definitely helpful. I was also very fortunate to be staying at home even as a working adult, so at least I had one less thing to worry about; cooking dinner!

80%

Work-life balance 80%

Travel opportunities 40%

Professional development 80%

Personal growth 80%

INTERN INSIGHTS P C MALAYSIA

Internship application

As an accounting student, I was required to complete a 6-month internship as part of my study programme. As I have always been interested in PwC, I went to their website to find out more about the internships they offer and their availability.

I applied a few months before my internship period to secure a placement. A month after I submitted my application, the recruitment team contacted me to have a chat and find out what I was looking to get from an internship with PwC. To my delight, they contacted me again after a few days to inform me that I had been offered the internship!

Enjoyable moments

PwC Malaysia Name Ibrahim bin Said, 25 Department Assurance Internship Programme General Internship

Do's

• Be punctual, always come on time • Be proactive, ask questions or for new tasks to do if you have completed your work.

• Maintain a positive attitude when your opinions are challenged.

Don'ts

• Miss the opportunity to learn new things.

• Be afraid to make mistakes – it is one way to learn • Forget to note down what you have learnt. We tend to forget new things.

One of the things I like about PwC is their commitment to support work-life integration through the flexibility the firm provides, such as flexWear (dress for your day, every day) and flexFriday (where we have the option of leaving at 12:30pm on every second Friday of the month, barring urgent work commitments). What I enjoyed the most was having team members who were very helpful and guided me in the tasks that were assigned to me. My senior gave me the opportunity to learn new things and empowered me to take on bigger tasks when I demonstrated that I could complete them proficiently. I was encouraged that the team could trust me to get the job done. The main thing, of course, is to be responsible and show that you’re willing to learn.

Learning curve

Before my internship, I used to be nervous when talking to new people, especially if I needed to converse in English. The firm encourages us to speak in English to promote diversity and inclusivity. So, every time I spoke to someone, I tried to push myself to speak better. I started by using simple words, practised by speaking and listening to learn. By the end of my internship, I was able to communicate professionally with my colleagues and clients. The good thing about being an intern is that you don’t need to worry too much about making mistakes, because this is when you learn and grow.

Life hacks

Being in the Assurance line of service, sometimes you will be assigned to the same team for as long as three months to as short as a day. I like meeting new people, and whenever I was assigned to a new team, I tried to get to know them.

To be a good team member, it’s important to know your team and what makes them tick. To break the ice and bond with my team, I’d always have lunch with them to talk about things outside of work. The key to being a team player is having a positive attitude and the curiosity to ask the right questions. It is safe to say that most people look for qualities like these in their team.

The key to being a team player is having a positive attitude and the curiosity to ask the right questions.

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 81

EMPLOYER HUB

RHB Banking Group

RHB BANKING GROUP

RHB Banking Group has been in the banking and financial services industry for the past 106 years. We are a multinational regional financial services provider that is committed to deliver complete solutions to our clients through differentiated segment offerings and an ecosystem that supports simple, fast and seamless customer experience, underpinned by our cohesive and inspired workforce and relationship built with our stakeholders.

Head on to page 108â&#x20AC;&#x201C;109 to find out more!

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

CAREER CORNER RHB BANKING GROUP

RHB Banking Group Name Liew Zhi Yang, 26 Position Equity Investment Analyst Qualification Bachelor of Commerce, University of Melbourne, Australia Been working here for 3 years

Career choice

My interest in finance began with the global financial crisis in 2008. I was perplexed as to how a subprime mortgage crisis in the US could evolve into a full-blown international crisis.

Fast forward to today, I crunch numbers daily. People say that numbers are meant to provide surety, but I can assure you this is not always the case in our line of work. Nobody has yet been able to predict the global economy with 100% accuracy, and so the challenge continues!

Into the company

I got to know about RHBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Management Associate Programme through a friend who was accepted into the programme earlier. The process thereafter was a seamless experience for me, with the application, online tests, assessment centre and final interview completed within two to three weeks.

After joining RHB, I met and even worked under a few of my assessors.

One feedback I received from the assessors was that I was able to articulate my approach to solving problems clearly, which showed that I had done some research and homework on the Bank before the interviews.

Daily hustle

Then and now

Skill set

Culture

In a nutshell, my job is to assess the investment proposition of companies from an equity perspective. I build financial models and conduct research on the companies and their related industries. After that, I present my findings to our investment committee, where a decision is made on whether to invest in that company or not. Our goal is to maximise our investment returns while managing risks.

Soft skills: In any job, communicating well and being able to work with others is an extremely important skill to have. Learning is also a never-ending requirement, so one will always need to be dedicated and hardworking.

Hard skills: Microsoft Excel and the Bloomberg Terminal. Other skills that will be helpful â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but not necessary at the beginning â&#x20AC;&#x201C; are basic coding knowledge and an understanding of the three financial statements, which are the income statement, the balance sheet, and the statement of cash flows.

Before my first job, I did a lot of reading. I had to learn about the companies and job positions I applied for, how to approach interviews and to keep up to date with the latest news.

After starting my first job, I realised that my free time was a lot less than before, and the world felt a lot larger.

Nonetheless, earning your own salary and added financial flexibility makes it worthwhile.

80%

Work-life balance 80%

Travel opportunities 80%

Professional development 80%

Personal growth 80%

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 83

CAREER CORNER RHB BANKING GROUP

RHB Banking Group Name Muhammad Azim Bin Mohd Azmi, 27 Position Business Analyst, Group Digital Transformation Qualifications • BSc in Computer and Information Technology, Purdue University, US, 2015 • MBA, INTI International University with an MA in Management Studies, University of Hertfordshire, UK, 2017 Been working here for 2 years and 7 months

Career choice

I started as Management Associate where I had the opportunity to rotate within four different job functions.

Through these rotations, I uncovered my passion for Equity Research and Digital Transformation. Having found myself at a crossroads, I asked myself one important question before making my decision: “do I want to be in the line of predicting future business performance or be the one that helps to shape the future?” I said “yes” to the latter and that is how I got into my current role, where I work with a team of brilliant people to implement the bank’s digital transformation initiatives to shape the future of the banking landscape.

Into the company

I applied for the Management Associate role and was then contacted by the Bank’s Human Resource (HR) Department to complete some assessments, after which, I was called for a half-day group assessment where I needed to work with other candidates to solve a case study and present it to HR and certain Department Heads.

I passed that round and was called in for the final round where I was interviewed by two Group Managing Committee (GMC) members before I successfully got hired for the position.

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Daily hustle

I am currently with the Digital Channel Platform (DCP) project where we are working towards reimagining RHB Bank's mobile and internet banking platforms. I collaborate with product owners, business users, UI/UX, end-users and other stakeholders to identify pain points in the existing customer journey and help to deliver innovative solutions to the problems.

My day-to-day tasks include requirement gathering and analysis, writing business requirements, requirements walkthrough with Software Architects, coordinating with the SIT/UAT team to ensure test completeness and liaising with the Change Management team to ensure operational readiness for new feature launches.

Skill set

Soft-Skills: problem solving, communication, negotiation, collaboration, listening, presentation, decision-making, leadership, stakeholder management skills.

Hard-Skills: writing and documentation, technology and technical, research, analytical, requirement modelling, software development methodologies, prototyping skills.

Banking & Financial Services 2020

Then and now

I feel that being a working adult is about having more accountability and discipline. Thus, transitioning is not so difficult if you have already developed these qualities as a student. The major difference is that there is no absolute right or wrong answer when solving problems in the working world. This differs from school, where your teacher already has the absolute answers to the problems given to you.

I learned that it is fine to throw out new ideas, test it out and learn from your mistakes if it doesn’t work out.

There is no perfect solution in the working world.

Culture 80%

Work-life balance 80%

Travel opportunities 60%

Professional development 80%

Personal growth 100%

INTERN INSIGHTS

RHB BANKING GROUP

Internship application

I first met with RHB recruiters during a career fair at KLCC, where I consulted one of them about the application process for RHB. The recruitment process included an online application, an online assessment, a video résumé and lastly, a faceto-face interview. The entire process was a fruitful experience indeed, especially considering it was my first time undergoing a lengthy yet comprehensive hiring process.

Enjoyable moments

Being in the Branding & Sourcing team at Group Human Resource, I was required to attend various events, especially career fairs and career talks. My first career fair, the Mega Careers and Study Fair, was organised by gradmalaysia at KLCC. I also attended the Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Career Fair in Kedah, which was the furthest place I went to during my internship. These are the more memorable and enjoyable experiences for me as I can travel with my team and meet all kinds of people as well as students.

RHB Banking Group Name Azizul Hakim Bin Zuhairi, 22 Department Group Human Resource Internship Programme RHB Internship Programme

Do's

• Complete the tasks given on time • Adhere to rules and regulations • Gain exposure and experience from senior staff

Don'ts

• Disclose any private information • Give excuses • Be absent without reason

Learning curve

Since starting my internship, I have learnt a lot throughout my internship programme. Even though my field of study is not related to Human Resource, it was fun meeting people during the career fairs to talk to them regarding internships and graduate programmes. I also improved my communication skills as well as my proficiency in English. Apart from that, I also learnt more about recruiting. Recruiting was fun as I got to call candidates, liaise with hiring managers and set up interviews. I would consider these as valuable experiences for me as an intern at Group Human Resource.

Life hacks

• Do ask for work if you don’t have any work at hand.

• Consult with senior staff when you are unsure or when you need something to be clarified; don’t be too shy to ask.

• Mind your attitude when you are at the workplace. Develop a good relationship with your supervisors and senior leaders.

Mind your attitude when you are at the workplace. Develop a good relationship with your supervisors and senior leaders.

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 85

Jobs101: Listings

Discover how you can ulitise these listings to your advantage.

LISTING

LISTING

GTI Media www.gtimedia.asia

gradmalaysia.com/graduate-employers/gti-media

1.

About us

GTI Media is Malaysia’s premier advertising suite for graduate job and internship vacancies from the nation's best employers. We ensure that students and graduates who use gradmalaysia are the best candidates by combining employment opportunities with expert careers advice and independent employer information.

We target our marketing to Malaysia’s largest private and public universities, and work in partnership with the careers services centres at these institutions to maintain a constant presence on campus throughout the year, every year. We manage a growing database of 40,000+ students and recent graduates to meet our clients' needs, making us the most effective graduate job board for recruiters.

Our unique gradmalaysia sector microsites bring together specialised career advice and curated job opportunities for the major industry sectors in

Malaysia. These groom students and graduates with the key skills and knowledge needed for success in each sector.

Then there’s the popular gradmalaysia HowTo Get Hired publications which are targeted at penultimate, final year undergraduates and fresh graduates who are serious about their work and study options.

These publications aim to attract graduates into specific sectors.

We target our marketing to Malaysia’s largest private and public universities, and work in partnership with the careers services centres at these institutions to maintain a constant presence on campus throughout the year, every year.

Visit www.gradmalaysia.com to find out more about how we can help meet your recruitment branding needs!

2.

3.

CONTACT P-7-12, Street Mall One South, Jalan OS, Taman Serdang Perdana, Seksyen 6, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor +(603) 8953 0055 +(603) 8953 0066 contact@gtimedia.asia 3 Résumé and cover letter 3 Online application 3 Email application

LOCATIONS

Main location

Selangor, Malaysia

Additional locations

Nationwide: Ipoh, Penang Worldwide: Germany, Ireland, UK

4.

SIZE

Number of employees

6.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS Level of study

Bachelor’s degree

Field of study • • • • •

Business Development Design English Literature Mass Communication Marketing

Minimum grade requirement • CGPA 3.0 and above • 2nd Class Upper

7.

INTERNSHIP/TRAINEE PROGRAMME(S) Internship programme(s) offered

GTI Internship Programme • Must be a Malaysian citizen • CGPA 3.0 and above • Excellent communication skills • Active participation in extracurricular activities

>3,000

5.

BENEFITS

Employee benefits • • • •

Financial protection Access to health care Paid time-off Family-friendly initiatives to support work life integration.

“GRADUATE JOBS, INTERNSHIPS & CAREERS ADVICE” 132 |

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

1.

A brief write-up about the organisation.

2.

All the details you need to send in your job application.

3.

Whereabouts of the company: nationwide and worldwide.

4.

Number of employees currently within the organisation.

5.

Benefits you can expect to receive as a full-time employee.

6.

The minimum requirements you need to join the company.

7.

Internship/apprenticeship/trainee programmes available.

Banking & Financial Services 2020

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 133

20%

80%

TO DO LIST

VAC

ANT

Connecting you to fresh graduate jobs by top Malaysian companies!

Page

88 Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad 90 AmBank Group

Page

98 HSBC Bank Malaysia

100 KPMG

92 BDO

102 Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank)

94 EY

104 OCBC Bank (M) Berhad

96 Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad

106 PwC 108 RHB Banking Group

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 87

LISTING

Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad www.alliancebank.com.my

About us Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad is a dynamic, integrated banking group offering end-to-end financing solutions through its consumer banking, SME banking, wholesale banking, Islamic banking, investment banking and stock broking businesses, having served the financial community over the past five decades.

The banking group is involved in the provision of financial services through its principal subsidiaries, Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad, Alliance Investment Bank Berhad, and Alliance Islamic Bank Berhad. It provides easy access to its broad base of customers throughout the country via multi-pronged delivery channels which include retail branches, Alliance Personal branches, Privilege Banking Centres, Business Centres, Investment Bank branches, and direct marketing offices located nationwide.

CONTACT

Group Resourcing Level 20, Menara Multi-Purpose, Capital Square, 8 Jalan Munshi Abdullah, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia +(603) 2604 1226 careers@alliancefg.com 3 Email application

LOCATIONS

Main location

Menara Multi-Purpose, Kuala Lumpur

SIZE

Number of employees 3,600

BENEFITS

Employee benefits

• Annual leave • Birthday leave • Unlimited medical coverage for self • Dental and optical • Staff loan and preferential staff rate financing

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS Field of study All disciplines

Minimum grade requirement 2nd class upper and above

INTERNSHIP/TRAINEE PROGRAMME(S) Internship programme(s) offered Yes

“BUILDING ALLIANCES TO IMPROVE LIVES”

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

Management Trainee Programme

You see potential, so do we!

Alliance Bank Management Trainee Programme offers you the ideal platform to build a solid foundation in your banking career by accelerating your performance and personal development.

Through this specially tailored 12-month structured programme, you can expect interesting job rotations, functional development, personally focused mentorship and the prospect to greatly expand your connections.

Have YOU got what it takes?

- Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Degree (Second Class Upper / CGPA 3.0 & above) - Less than 2 years working experience - Results and customer service oriented - Resilient and enjoy working in thriving environments - Possess excellent communication skills Email your CV to us at abmt@alliancefg.com For more information, log on to https://www.alliancebank.com.my/career-centre/home.aspx

HR Asia Recruitment Awards 2016 Best Graduate Recruitment Programme Bronze Winner

HR Excellence Award 2016

RBI Asia Trailblazer Awards 2017

Excellence in Graduate & Development

Best Graduate Employment Scheme - Retail Banking

Silver Winner

Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad 198201008390 (88103-W)

Winner

Graduate Recruitment Awards 2016

ABF Retail Banking Awards 2016

Best Management Trainee/Graduate Programme

Graduate Employment Programme of the Year - Malaysia

Finalist

Winner

LISTING

AmBank Group www.ambankgroup.com

About us

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 sixthlargest 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 highflying workforce of over 9,970 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 to its customers by providing an extensive network of 170 AmBank branches, 183 electronic banking centres, 766 ATMs, a 24-hour 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.

“In AmBank, we don’t offer jobs, we offer careers”

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

LISTING

gradmalaysia.com/graduate-employers/ambank-group CONTACT Nur Izyanie Syaznie Mohd Sadani Group Human Resource Level 38, Menara AmBank, No.8 Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, 50450 Kuala Lumpur +(603) 2167 3000 +(603) 2167 9567 fly-high@ambankgroup.com ambankgroup.com/eng/career 3 Résumé and cover letter 3 Online application 3 Email application

LOCATIONS

Main location

Menara AmBank, Kuala Lumpur

SIZE

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS Level of study

• SPM (5 years of relevant experience) • Diploma (3 years of relevant experience) • Degree (fresh graduates)

Field of study

Any related/relevant field

Minimum grade requirement CGPA 2.7

INTERNSHIP/TRAINEE PROGRAMME(S) Internship programme(s) offered

AmGraduate Programme (Management Trainee) • Candidate must possess a bachelor’s degree in S.T.E.M. field with a CGPA of 3.5 and above • Less than one year of working experience • Good communication and interpersonal skills • Open for fresh graduates

Number of employees 9,970

BENEFITS

Employee benefits

• Performance bonus and incentives • Attractive staff loans • Customer experience • Staff club activities • Special promotions, opportunities for staff

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 91

LISTING

BDO www.bdo.my

About us

At BDO, we understand that exceptional service to our clients begins – and ends – with exceptional regard for our people.

With more than 50 years of history, BDO in Malaysia is one of the five largest professional firms providing Audit & Assurance, Advisory, Tax and Business Services & Outsourcing (BSO); and plays a key role in the operation of offices in Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei and Lao PDR. Internationally, BDO operates in 167 countries, and employs over 88,000 people in 1,809 offices.

BDO is founded on the culture that people, and hence relationships matter. People who know us say that “BDO is the ‘People’ firm”. Hence, our Employment Value Proposition (EVP) themed ‘BDO.

Because Relationships Matter’ truly resonates with us and is what makes BDO distinct.

Our EVP can be described in four components, which complement each other and act as strong pillars in delivering our promise to our people, ensuring relationships matter and continue to matter in BDO. The four components are People, Development, Purpose and Recognition.

People We cultivate trust and build meaningful lasting relationships Development We nurture future leaders – your career, our journey Purpose We empower our people to make a positive difference Recognition Be part of our growing global network and trusted brand BDO in Malaysia has also been awarded the: • ACCA Approved Employer for Trainee Development – Platinum Level • Authorised Training Employer for the ICAEW ACA Programme • Authorised Training Organisation for MICPACAANZ • Recognised Employer Partner for CPA Australia Come and be part of BDO’s team and experience a life enriching journey with us.

Your Career, Our Journey!

“BDO. BECAUSE RELATIONSHIPS MATTER..”

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

LISTING

gradmalaysia.com/graduate-employers/bdo-malaysia CONTACT BDO Talent Recruitment Level 8, BDO @ Menara CenTARa, 360 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, 50100, Kuala Lumpur +(603) 2616 2888 +(603) 2616 3197 jobs@bdo.my www.bdo.my/careers 3 Résumé and cover letter 3 Online application 3 Email application

LOCATIONS

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS Level of study

Bachelor’s, Master’s, Professional Qualifications (i.e. ACCA, CPA Australia, ICAEW, MICPA-CAANZ); or other disciplines

Field of study • Accounting • Finance • Economics • Law

Minimum grade requirement

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) 3.2, 2nd Class Upper, WAM 70%, or equivalent

Main location

INTERNSHIP/TRAINEE PROGRAMME(S)

Additional locations

Local Internship (Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru) & BDO-MyASEAN Internship (Cambodia & Myanmar)

Kuala Lumpur

Nationwide: Penang, Johor Bahru Worldwide: Cambodia and Myanmar (through the BDO-MyASEAN Internship Programme)

SIZE

Number of employees

Approximately 900 in Malaysia

BENEFITS

Internship programme(s) offered

Internship programme(s) requirements

• Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) 3.2, 2nd Class Upper, WAM 70%, or equivalent • Minimum internship duration is three months for local internship & eight weeks for BDO-MyASEAN Internship.

Employee benefits

• Flexible working arrangements • Regional secondments • Professional exams & membership subsidy • Medical and hospitalisation claims • Surgical and personal accident insurance • Sponsored BDO Toastmasters membership • Dental and optical allowance • Mobile allowance

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 93

LISTING

EY www.ey.com/my

About us EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory 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 doing so, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

In Malaysia, we are one of the largest professional services organisations with more than 3,900 professionals in 15 locations throughout the country. The work we do helps our broad range of clients grow, solve complex challenges and thrive. Every question we ask, every solution we recommend is the drop that starts the ripple and makes a difference to our ambition to help businesses work better – for when businesses work better, the world works better.

“Better” defines the way we work and starts with asking questions like, what’s next? The biggest breakthroughs in the world happen by asking these two small but powerful words. With the world in the midst of a Transformative Age, we need to respond to rapidly changing circumstances. And that’s what we’re all about at EY.

Awards: • Winner, Most Popular Graduate Employer in Accounting and Professional Services 2019, Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers • Winner, Most Popular Graduate Employer in Consulting 2019, Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers • Second runner-up, 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

“WHENEVER YOU JOIN, HOWEVER LONG YOU STAY, THE EXCEPTIONAL EY EXPERIENCE LASTS A LIFETIME.” 94 |

Banking & Financial Services 2020

LISTING

gradmalaysia.com/graduate-employers/ey CONTACT Talent Team Level 23A Menara Milenium, Jalan Damanlela, Pusat Bandar Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur +(603) 7495 8000 eymalaysia@my.ey.com 3 Résumé and cover letter 3 Online application 3 Email application

LOCATIONS

• Computer Science • Cyber Security • Economics • Engineering • Finance • Human Resource Management • Information Systems • Information Technology • Law and other related disciplines

Minimum grade requirement

2nd Class (Upper) Hons or equivalent

Main location

INTERNSHIP/TRAINEE PROGRAMME(S)

Additional locations

Yes

Kuala Lumpur

Internship programme(s) offered

Nationwide: Petaling Jaya, Penang, Ipoh, Malacca, Iskandar Puteri, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Kuching, Miri, Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau and Labuan.

Internship programme(s) requirements

• 2nd Class (Upper) Hons or equivalent • Minimum internship duration is eight weeks • Active in extracurricular activities

SIZE

Number of employees >3,900 in Malaysia

Summer Internship Programme (SIP) Networking Dinner

BENEFITS

Employee benefits

• EY FlexiLeave • EY FlexiCare allowance • Fitness membership subsidy • Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA) • Professional exam sponsorship • Professional membership annual subscription fee sponsorship • Various employee discounts

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS Level of study

Bachelor's Degree, Master’s, Professional Qualification

Field of study

• Accounting • Actuarial Science • Business Administration • Commerce

Bring Your Kids To Work Day

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 95

LISTING

Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad www.greateasternlife.com

About us 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 inter-company career mobility opportunities across the Group regionally for our employees.

We are the LIFE company

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.

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 well-being 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!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;TO MAKE LIFE GREAT BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL SECURITY AND PROMOTING GOOD HEALTH AND MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS.â&#x20AC;?

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LISTING

gradmalaysia.com/graduate-employers/great-eastern-life-assurance-m-berhad

CONTACT Eileen Lim Human Capital Level 19, Menara Great Eastern, 303 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur +(603) 4813 3221 +(603) 4813 3299 hr-my@greateasternlife.com https://gecareers.jobs.net 3 Résumé and cover letter 3 Online application 3 Email application

LOCATIONS

Main location

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Additional locations

Worldwide: Singapore, Indonesia

SIZE

Number of employees >2,000

BENEFITS

Employee benefits

• Financial protection • Medical coverage • Optical & dental

• Subsidised gym memberships • Maternity assistance • Special leaves (eg birthday leave, career break leave) • Educational support (eg professional memberships, examination subsidies, study leave) • Health & wellness programmes and incentives

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS Level of study

Bachelor’s Degree

Field of study All disciplines

Minimum grade requirement CGPA 3.0 or 2nd Class (Upper)

INTERNSHIP/TRAINEE PROGRAMME(S) Internship programme(s) offered

Great Eastern Internship Programme • Malaysian student, currently pursuing Bachelor Degree programmes at local or overseas public or private universities in any related field • Second year student and above • Minimum CGPA of 3.00 or equivalent • Strong command of English and Bahasa Malaysia (written and spoken) • Able to commit to an attachment period of two months and above

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 97

LISTING

HSBC Bank Malaysia www.hsbc.com CONTACT About HSBC Malaysia

About us

HSBC's presence in Malaysia dates back to 1884 when the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (a company under the HSBC Group) established its first office in the country, on the island of Penang, with permission to issue currency notes.

HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad was locally incorporated in 1984 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. In 2007, HSBC Bank Malaysia was the first locally incorporated foreign bank to be awarded an Islamic banking subsidiary licence in Malaysia, HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad. Today, HSBC in Malaysia has a network of 68 branches nationwide, of which 26 are HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad branches. HSBC Bank Malaysia offers a comprehensive range of banking and financial services including Retail Banking and Wealth Management, Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets, and Islamic financial solutions. HSBC Bank Malaysia has also led innovation in Malaysia by introducing Malaysia’s first ATM and Electronic Touch Banking in the early 1980s. Today, HSBC Bank Malaysia has launched innovative solutions such as HSBCnet for secure banking for businesses, Trade Transaction Tracker and Facial Recognition.

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited is the founding member of the HSBC Group, which serves our customers through four global businesses: Retail Banking and Wealth Management, Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets, and Global Private Banking. HSBC serves customers worldwide from offices in 65 countries and territories in our geographical regions: Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, and Middle East and North Africa. With assets of US$2,728bn at 30 September 2019, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations.

Bangunan HSBC, No. 2 Leboh Ampang, 50100 Kuala Lumpur www.hsbc.com/careers 3 Online application

LOCATIONS

Main location

Leboh Ampang, Kuala Lumpur

Additional locations

Nationwide: 68 Branches throughout Malaysia Worldwide: HSBC is present in 65 countries and territories, covering Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, and Middle East and North Africa.

SIZE

Number of employees >4,000

BENEFITS

Employee benefits

HSBC’s approach to remuneration consists of four main elements: • Fixed pay • Annual leave • A range of benefits, which may cover areas such as work-life balance, insurance and savings, health and personal development • Employee share plans and discretionary pay awards based on performance

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS Level of study

SPM, Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s etc.

Field of study

Open to any field

INTERNSHIP/TRAINEE PROGRAMME(S) Internship programme(s) offered Yes

“TOGETHER WE THRIVE”

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Banking & Financial Services 2020

We are people with purpose

hsbc.com/careers

Issued by HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad (Company No : 127776-V).

LISTING

KPMG www.kpmg.com/my

About us KPMG first established a presence in Malaysia in 1928 and has grown to be a part of the global success of KPMG’s international network of member firms. With a nationwide team comprising over 2,200 staff across eight offices.

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 inclusivity, 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’s Awards: • Malaysia's 100 Leading Graduate Employers 2019 – KPMG Malaysia ranked Top 10 Overall Leading Graduate Employers, second runner-up in Accounting and Professional Services and second runner-up in Consulting • Top 3 Most Attractive Employer in Accounting & Professional Services and Consulting for Graduate Choice Award (GCA) 2019 • 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 2017, 2018 & 2019 – Company of the Year Award (Professional Services) • Universum’s Top 21 Employer Most Attractive Employer Award Malaysia 2017 • Employer Branding Institute India – Best Employer Brand Award 2017 • Malaysia and Asia Best Employer Brand Awards 2016 & 2017 – Employer Branding Institute

“INSPIRE CONFIDENCE, EMPOWER CHANGE…KPMG THE CLEAR CHOICE!” 100 |

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LISTING

gradmalaysia.com/graduate-employers/kpmg CONTACT

BENEFITS

Talent Acquisition Team KPMG Tower, 8 First Avenue, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia +(603) 7721 3388 +(603) 7721 3399 talent@kpmg.com.my www.kpmg.com/my/careers 3 Online application

Employee benefits

LOCATIONS

CGPA 3.2 and above, 2nd Class (Upper) qualifications or WAM 70 and above

Main location

Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Additional locations

Nationwide: Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Labuan, Pulau Pinang, Miri

SIZE

Number of employees 2,200

• Professional qualification sponsorship • KPMG Golden Week • Flexi working arrangements • MC Free

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS Field of study All disciplines

Minimum grade requirement

INTERNSHIP/TRAINEE PROGRAMME(S) • Internship programmes • ASEAN Scholarship • KPMG Ambassadorship Program

Internship programme(s) requirements

CGPA 3.2 and above, 2nd Class (Upper) qualifications or WAM 70 and above

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 101

LISTING

Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank) www.maybank.com

About us Maybank is among Asia's leading banks and South East Asia’s fourth largest by assets. It is also Malaysia’s largest company by market capitalisation and has a global network of over 2,600 offices in 18 countries including all 10 ASEAN countries, employing over 43,000 employees.

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 2018, Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers Awards 2018, Randstad Employer Brand Awards 2018 and Asia Recruitment Awards 2018.

Maybank has a unique mission of humanising financial services. This is demonstrated through its commitment to provide easy access to financing at fair terms and pricing, advising customers based on their needs and being at the heart of the community.

Maybank Foundation, the regional arm for corporate responsibility initiatives, is a key vehicle through which the Group supports its sustainability agenda across its network. Working hand-in-hand with stakeholders and employees, the Foundation helps to ensure that the Group creates a long-lasting impact to improve the lives of communities wherever it operates.

“HUMANISING FINANCIAL SERVICES”

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LISTING

gradmalaysia.com/graduate-employers/maybank CONTACT

SIZE

Group Resourcing Centre Level 44, Group Resourcing Centre, Menara Maybank, 100 Jalan Tun Perak, 50050 Kuala Lumpur +(603) 2070 8833 maybankjobs@maybank.com www.maybankjobs.com 3 Résumé and cover letter 3 Email application 3 Online application

Number of employees

LOCATIONS

Maybank Internship Programme • All disciplines • No minimum CGPA • Minimum 8 weeks duration

Main location Kuala Lumpur

Additional locations

>43,000

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS Level of study All

Field of study All

INTERNSHIP/TRAINEE PROGRAMME(S) Internship programme(s) offered

Worldwide: Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Myanmar, Laos, Hong Kong, China, UK, US, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 103

LISTING

OCBC BANK (M) BERHAD www.ocbc.com/group/ CONTACT

Resourcing Centre (RC), Human Resources Division, Level 4, Wisma Lee Rubber, 1, Jalan Melaka, 50100 Kuala Lumpur +(603) 2034 5034 +(603) 2026 0837 www.ocbc.com/group/careers/ 3 Résumé and cover letter 3 Online application

LOCATIONS

About us 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 highlyrated 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 Singaporebased 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 the 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 helps them to achieve their career goals.

At OCBC, we believe that everyone should be given the opportunity to succeed. No matter where you see yourself in the future, we want to help you get there.

“WE HELP INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES ACROSS COMMUNITIES ACHIEVE THEIR ASPIRATIONS BY PROVIDING INNOVATIVE FINANCIAL SERVICES THAT MEET THEIR NEEDS.” 104 |

Banking & Financial Services 2020

Main location

Menara OCBC, Kuala Lumpur

Additional locations

Nationwide: All across Malaysia Worldwide: Singapore, Indonesia, China, Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Australia, USA, UK, UAE

SIZE

Number of employees >5000 in Malaysia

BENEFITS

Employee benefits

Continuing education scheme, Employee share purchase plan, Preferential interest rate for loans – (home, car), Scholarships and bursaries for staff's children, Recreational club, Holiday chalet facilities, OCBC staff store, Flexible working hours, OCBC Flex Plan

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS Level of study

Bachelor’s Degree

Field of study

We welcome all disciplines to apply

Minimum grade requirement

Minimum CGPA of 3.0 or Second Class Upper

INTERNSHIP/TRAINEE PROGRAMME(S) Internship programme(s) offered Yes

Internship programme(s) requirements

• Malaysian citizen • Minimum CGPA of 3.0; Second Class Upper or equivalent • Preferably second, third and/or final year students

LISTING

PwC www.pwc.com/my/

About us Learn and Grow with PwC Malaysia

PwC is one of the world's leading professional services firm with more than 250,000 people across 158 countries. We are committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax, and advisory services.

At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. In Malaysia, PwC employs more than 2,700 people in Kuala Lumpur, Pulau Pinang, Ipoh, Melaka, Johor Bahru, Kuching, and Labuan who are dedicated to solve complex problems that many businesses are facing in today’s disruptive world.

Whether you've just graduated or have years of experience, this is a firm where you can learn and grow, anytime and anywhere.

The PwC experience provides you opportunities to build strong networks and make lasting friendships.

Be part of a larger team as we work together, drawing on everyone's knowledge and skills to reimagine the possible. We also believe that learning happens every day, which is why we’ll

provide you with various digital learning platforms that allow you to learn at your own pace, whenever and wherever you are.

It’s also important to show that we care, and to grow not just professionally, but also personally.

That’s why we encourage life beyond work through flex+, with initiatives like flexFridays, flexWear, Rest & Refresh, and flexBenefits.

Join PwC for the experience that stays with you. #MyPwCExperience

“THE EXPERIENCE THAT STAYS WITH YOU”

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LISTING

gradmalaysia.com/graduate-employers/pwc CONTACT Graduate Recruiter Level 10, 1 Sentral, Jalan Rakyat, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50706 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia +(603) 2173 1188 +(603) 2173 1780 career.enquiries@my.pwc.com www.pwc.com/my/careers 3 Online application

LOCATIONS

Main location Kuala Lumpur

Additional locations

Nationwide: Penang, Ipoh, Melaka, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Labuan

SIZE

Number of employees 2,700

BENEFITS

Employee benefits

• Personalised guidance with your learning and development with Vantage, a mobile learning app which gives us the convenience to learn on-the-go, whenever and wherever • Attractive financial and leave support for professional certification • Professional membership subscription subsidy • flexPoints: A web/mobile app that allows us to receive and give real-time recognition • Corporate responsibility events that provide opportunities to make a difference • Opportunity to work cross borders in Southeast Asia • flex+ programme that includes: −− flexBenefits: Flexibility to use your benefits in areas that you need the most at different phases of your life

−− flexWear: We dress for our day! 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 • #PwCWellbeing programme to encourage a healthier lifestyle that encompasses the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of life.

• Birthday leave • Career breaks to pursue personal interests • Mobile subsidy • Travel allowance

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS Level of study

Bachelor’s Degree, Diploma or equivalent (depending on programme)

Field of study

From any discipline

Minimum grade requirement Preferably a CGPA above 3.0

INTERNSHIP/TRAINEE PROGRAMME(S) Internship programme(s) offered Yes

Internship programme(s) requirements

Preferably penultimate year students from any discipline who are considering a career in a professional services organisation, and who have the agility and enthusiasm to take on any role assigned to them.

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RHB Banking Group www.rhbgroup.com

About us

RHB Banking Group is a multinational regional financial services provider that is committed to deliver complete solutions to customers through differentiated segment offerings and an ecosystem that supports simple, fast and seamless customer experiences, underpinned by a cohesive and inspired workforce and relationship built with stakeholders.

Ranked among the top banks in Malaysia and with a significant presence in ASEAN, RHB has strong market leadership in Malaysia across targeted products and segments. With employee strength of 14,425 employees group-wide, RHB’s presence spans across nine countries in the ASEAN region and Hong Kong. RHB also has representative offices in Vietnam and Myanmar.

As an organization that has been delivering in Malaysia for over 100 years and one that is expanding at great speed, our work culture is one

that is diverse. We are who we are today because of our people. We are not only an employer but we are a partner in ensuring they experience a fulfilling and holistic work life. We ensure a nurturing workplace by putting in place multiple initiatives and activities, ranging from employee social gatherings, mountain climbs to public runs.

At RHB, we believe in nurturing you to realize your full potential and advance in your career by providing opportunities to continually develop your skillsets in order to meet your career aspirations.

We have in place a support system to ensure you realize your aspirations. This begins with the Career Discussions sessions to discover your ideal career path and work towards ensuring you gain fulfillment from your time in RHB. Our collaboration with top graduate schools including INSEAD, ICLIF, Harvard Business School and PBMP offers you the platform for continual growth. With an annual investment of close to RM40 million for development, over 98,000 RHB participants were enrolled in internal, external and e-learning courses which enabled them to enhance their skills and gain a competitive edge in their career development.

STRATEGY STATEMENT

We are a multinational regional financial service provider that is committed to deliver complete solutions to our clients through differentiated segment offerings and an ecosystem that supports simple, fast and seamless customer experience, underpinned by our cohesive and inspired workforce and relationship built with our stakeholders.

“TOGETHER WE PROGRESS”

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LISTING

gradmalaysia.com/graduate-employers/rhb-banking-group CONTACT Talent Acquisition & Manpower Planning, Group Human Resource Level 8, Tower 1, RHB Centre, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur +(603) 9280 2840 +(603) 9281 2935 career@rhbgroup.com 3 Résumé and cover letter 3 Email application 3 Online application

LOCATIONS

Main location

RHB Centre Jalan Tun Razak

Additional locations

• 9 countries in ASEAN region and Hong Kong • Representative offices in Vietnam and Myanmar

SIZE

Number of employees >14,000

BENEFITS

Employee benefits

RHB Cares • Flexi-Work arrangement and telecommuting • Two days compassionate Child Care leave • Annual RHB Touch Hearts programme – a community outreach initiative aimed at embedding a culture of caring and giving among our employees RHB Leads • Quarterly Townhall meetings – Keeping employees abreast with updates of the organization • Periodical chat sessions between our Group Managing Director with our talents

RHB Inspires • Workplace by Facebook – RHB uses this tool for communicating for all levels within RHB to promote updates and information sharing among employees not only in Malaysia but in other countries where RHB has a presence RHB Progresses • Employee training and educational initiatives to prepare employees to face the challenges of the workplace and provide the space for them to achieve their individual aspirations • Various learning and development programmes through internal and external trainings and enhancement of employee skills based on RHB’s Learning Needs Analysis provided by line managers RHB Rewards • A robust pay-for-performance policy • A structured rewards policy based on a HighPerformance Culture concept • Annual dinner

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS Level of study

Postgraduate/Degree/Diploma

Field of study All disciplines

Minimum grade requirement CGPA of 2.80

INTERNSHIP/TRAINEE PROGRAMME(S) Internship programme(s) offered Yes

Internship programme(s) requirements

• Open to all Malaysian students, second year and above • Possess at least a Bachelor’s Degree in any field • Current CGPA of no less than 3.00 • Internship duration of eight weeks or more

Banking & Financial Services 2020 | 109

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06 EMPLOYER ENCYCLOPEDIA

Your graduate job may be in the hands of these employers!

08 LET’S GET YOU HIRED!

Dedicated to exploring your interests, developing your potential, and ultimately – getting you hired!

30 SECTOR SYNOPSES

Sectors – synthesised and simplified just for you, #gradsters!

44 EMPLOYER HUB

Where recruiters, employees and trainees of leading companies converge!

86 JOBS 101: LISTINGS

Connecting you to fresh graduate jobs by top Malaysian companies!

Editor Shiffa Aziz

Publisher Jaideep Patel

Lead designer Daryl Lu

Published by GTI Media Sdn Bhd P-7-12, Street Mall One South, Jalan OS, Taman Serdang Perdana, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia

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