Employer
Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad
Position
Head, Talent Acquisition
Qualifications
Bachelor’s in Economics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), 1999; Master’s in Industrial & Organisational Psychology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) 2000; Registered Coach under the International Coaching Federation
Has been with the company for
8 years
How has the covid pandemic affected your graduate recruitment efforts?
We see an increase in the number of applications as job opportunities for fresh graduates have declined, possibly due to a freeze in hiring in other industries. We expect graduates who are entering the job market for the first time to be more competitive as the job demand is higher than supply.
How would you advise a candidate to make a good impression during a virtual interview?
I expect the candidate to practise proper interview etiquette during an online interview. This includes being punctual for the interview, being professionally attired and having a basic understanding of the company or job that they are applying for.
I also encourage candidates to ensure that their internet connection is stable and to look for a quiet spot to have their interview.
What is the one skill (or quality) you think is more important for fresh grads to have now compared to pre-pandemic times?
Communication is key. As organisations adapt to working remotely, it is crucial to keep consistent communication with your teams to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Self-discipline is another essential trait when working remotely.
How would you recommend students increase their chances of landing a job in our tough times?
The job market has become very competitive in recent times. We advise candidates to build on the following skills to enhance their chances of being selected:
a. Be clear and concise when communicating your thoughts and ideas to the recruiter.
b. Be open and adaptable to changes.
How feasible and/or effective are non-face-to-face internships? How has your organisation prepared for this?
As mentioned previously, self-discipline is key to remote working. The interns must be proactive and take the initiative to learn, even if they are not physically in the office. We may be able to provide interns with the infrastructure for work, but it is up to them to maximise their learning.
We ran remote internships in May last year. We took three months to understand the needs and challenges of working remotely to plan a practical and meaningful remote internship experience. We developed a proper schedule and laid out tasks for our interns. We also held frequent online catch-up sessions to engage our interns and enable them to have an effective learning experience.
