Qualification
- BSc Psychology, University of Southampton, 2020
How did you get into your current line of work?
Despite my young age, I have been a proud Maybanker since 2015, when I was accepted into the Maybank Scholarship Programme! Since then, I have been constantly exposed to the various initiatives done by the Bank, giving me further insights into Malaysia's most significant Bank working environment and culture. After graduating and going through a series of assessments and career conversations, I was accepted as an Executive Trainee in my current department – a chance that, until today, I am forever grateful for being able to kick-start my career in the line of Human Resources; something that I have always wanted since completing my summer internship with Maybank London's Human Capital team.
What do you do day-to-day on the job?
My job revolves around driving futuristic workplace initiatives to prepare our workforce and workplace to be future-ready.
This often encapsulates institutionalising new ways of working and accelerating our talents' development and productivity.
Since 2020, I have been allowed to proactively plan and implement Maybank's permanent work-from-home policy, the Mobile Work Arrangement. It was indeed an eye-opening experience to discover the various aspects that relate to employees' need to shift from working in the office towards working from home and, now, moving towards a blended or hybrid workplace – such as curating policies and providing the necessary transitional support.
What would you say is the coolest thing about your current role?
Undoubtedly, it would activate our new alternate site, Mercu Maybank, at i-City.
The new office will act as one of Maybank's alternate sites as part of its business continuity plan and will house over 1,500 Maybankers involved in critical business functions. It was a remarkable experience as I was granted the opportunity to host hybrid onboarding sessions, design guidebooks and content that act as handrails for these employees, and plan their entire relocation journey. I was also one of the first few people to view the new office before the relocation took place!
What were the most challenging parts of your role, and how did you overcome them?
Due to my go-getter personality, I am always eager to contribute to the various projects and tasks I am assigned. I sometimes overburden myself in the process. I realised that this is not only counterproductive but also takes away the learning outcomes of the tasks and dilutes their impact. Slowly but surely, I began to learn to pace myself and take breaks when I needed to, striving towards quality and being impact-driven rather than spreading myself too thin and risking burnout.
What essential skills do you think are needed for your role?
One soft skill I think is important is the ability to articulate your message clearly and concisely, including your thoughts, as it shows confidence in your knowledge. Being able to justify it is also an excellent complementing skill. Another skill would be that whenever you have a problem at work, it is always important to frame that problem positively and be more proactive by recommending possible solutions.
Do you have any advice for your fellow graduates/juniors?
My advice is never to give up and be persistent, especially when you are just about to kick-start your career. Also, try to keep an open mind and not restrict yourself to the course you took in university. The skills and knowledge you picked up during your university days will help your career journey regardless of your role. Never be afraid to venture outside your comfort zone and try new things. Be proactive in your life, in every aspect. Do not be too comfortable or become a creature of habit. Recognise that the biggest hustle in life is the hustle towards self-development to become the best version of yourself.
