Top tips for job seekers and fresh graduates by Lee Yat Thong

TOP TIPS FOR JOB SEEKERS
& FRESH GRADUATES
By LEE YAT THONG
PRIMED FOR SUCCESS SERIES ©2021
Volume 1, July 2021

TOP TIPS FOR JOB
SEEKERS & FRESH
GRADUATES
By Lee Yathong
Collection of Mentoring Notes for
Primed for Success Club Sessions
Volume 1, July 2021 #primedforsuccess 2

TABLE OF CONTENT
• Preface……………………………………………………………..………….4
• Getting to Know Yat Thong…………………………………………...5
• 19th July 2021 – Value Statement for Job Interview………7
• 18th July 2021 – Is MBA Necessary? ……………………………11
• 17th July 2021 – Design Thinking & Job Interview………..16
• 15th July 2021 – Writing an Enticing Resume……………….20
• 9th July 2021 – 2in1 Specials: ………………………………………24
• How to Bomb an Interview?...........26
• Being Effective at Work………………..27
• Introduction to Primed For Success Club……………………..29
#primedforsuccess 3

TOP TIPS FOR JOB
SEEKERS & FRESH
GRADUATES?
Yat Thong is one of the Primed For Success
Mentors, a platform that provides Fresh
Graduates, Undergraduates and Young
Professionals insightful ideas and perspective
on a weekly basis via virtual sessions.
This e-book is a collection of his sharing on
LinkedIn after each mentoring session.
Preface
Volume 1, July 2021
#primedforsuccess 4

PRIMED FOR SUCCESS MENTOR
LEE YAT THONG
GET TO KNOW HIM
#primedforsuccess 5

@REBELBADASS
Over the years, Lee Yat Thong has built his
reputation as having the ability to make complex
concepts into easy to follow approach. Known for
his ability to connect the dots to see bigger
strategic picture with his sensemaking skill. He
has a good articulation and writing skills, and
actively publishing articles.
Yat Thong is often acknowledged as the thought
leader amongst his peers. With his involvement in
strategy during military career enabled a systemic
view. Additionally he had personally ran a small
business outfit and get to apply his strategic
thinking and acting to return good financial
performance over 6 years.
LEE YAT THONG
Yat Thong received his Master of Science in International Business
from University of Liverpool. He is also an alumni of Harvard
Senior Executive Program. He was attached to the Australian Army
unit to learn on System Approach to Training (SATT). He also is
Certified trainer for various Siemens Core Learning Programs.
QUALIFICATIONS
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Yat Thong spend the past 11 years as Siemens Learning
Consultant for their Global Learning Campus Asia Australia (GLC
AA) in Beijing. He have travelled extensively across Asia Pacific
and Europe in leading and facilitating learning for Siemens
Regional Companies. He also serving PayPal in China.
HIS KEY CLIENTS
#primedforsuccess 6

“I spoke about creating
my #valuestatement to internalise
the winning deciding factors for me
to match.
Let me share my approach to
understand the job as well as
differentiate myself from others.
my #valuestatement consists of
three main parts; the job, the
company, the challenges.”
JULY 19th, 2021
How to
understand
the job scope
that one is
applying?
Photo Credit: Christina @ wocintechchat.com, Unsplash
VALUE STATEMENT FOR JOB
INTERVIEW
#primedforsuccess 7

JULY 19th, 2021
In last week’s #primedforsuccess, again one of the
common questions was; how to understand the job scope
that one is applying. I spoke about creating
my #valuestatement to internalise the winning deciding
factors for me to match.
Let me share my approach to understand the job as well as
differentiate myself from others.
My #valuestatement consists of three main parts; the job,
the company, the challenges.
INTERVIEW
THE JOB
From the published job scope, I will write my
own #valuestatement related to the job scope in term of;
skills, knowledge and experience required.
My #valuestatement is my comparative assessment of
where I match to build my base for conversation with the
interviewers.
I will focus in selling my strengths that matched the job to
increase my chance. with my #valuestatement I can
internalise how can I elevate, leverage and quantify my
skills, knowledge and values to contribute. my storyboard
on how I can and want to contribute.
PYSCHOMETRIC TESTS
I strongly recommend doing either MBTI and/or DISC
personality test and Gallup strength finder to know
yourself enabling deeper conversation about yourself with
interviewers.
#primedforsuccess 8

BIG PICTURE
Its always good to understand the big picture of the challenges from the industry and for the
company.
COMPANY
Find out the key information, including what they stand for in term of their values. their key
performance indicators. these data and information give the impression I am resourceful to
understand the company plus help me to visualise how I can fit in culturally and where my
personal values is aligned to the company, a good conversation piece. the information of the
company bridges the challenges from the market cum industry analysis.
INDUSTRY
What are current and future challenges within the industry so that I can offer my opinions should
I am ask. A good guide will be Michael Porter’s 5 market forces analysis that covers market
dynamics. Get to know some of your intended market and industry players to share on:
- threat of substitutes
- entry barriers and threats from new entrants
- industry rivalry and competition
VALUE STATEMENT FOR JOB INTERVIEW
JULY 19th, 2021 #primedforsuccess 9

INTERVIEW
This approach helps me to build my “must know
and good to know” information where I can be
impressed upon the interviewers that I have done
my research to know how the job scope, the
company and the industry, a holistic picture
approach.
I need to standout from my competition to win and
ace my job interview by tailoring my sale pitch with
the help of #valuestatement approach. I have the
relevant information to build a story of myself vis-
a-vis the job requirements.
Yathong Lee aka #rebelbadass
#unlearningenthusiast #veteran #borneoconsulting
#primedforsuccesslearning
JULY 19th, 2021 Photo Credit: Jacqueline Munguia, Unsplash
#primedforsuccess 10

Is MBA
NECCESSARY?
JULY 18th, 2021
Photo Credit: MD Duran, Unsplash

Another FAQ from #primedforsuccess.
For me, the distinction between an undergraduate
degree and an MBA lies in the following key areas:
IS MBA NECESSARY?
The MBA equip students with a macro view of how
business functions. You are exposed to being a business
manager, think as a business manager.
In B school, you get to reorientate yourself to see
business with a strategic leadership lenses as you must
think and act strategically. In addition, you must hone
your peer’s leadership; you learn to lead your peers,
crucial to break down real life silo environment for
collaboration in workplace. These combines to give you
business leadership.
MACROVIEW
LEADERSHIP
JULY 18th, 2021
Photo Credit: Scott Graham, Unsplash

MBA students are requiring to be able to develop
sound business strategy for performance. Strategy
Management tools are familiarised for application.
MBA prepare students to analyse and synthesise
financial data cum financial risks and decisions,
market trends and optimisation, future market
trending, goodwill capitalisation and other
financial matrixes.
STRATEGY & PERFORMANCE
JULY 18th, 2021 IS MBA NECESSARY?
MBA students are expected to be business
decision makers hence the B school laid the
foundation on the mechanics of sound and
quality business decision making.
DECISION MAKING
BUSINESS FINANCE & BUSINESS ECONOMICS
Some B schools goes give emphasis on
entrepreneurship covering aspects involve in
running your own business successfully.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Since we are dealing with daily constant
changes, project management is a key skill
acquired from MBA degree. Business is project;
to create uniqueness.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Photo Credit: Adeolu Eletu, Unsplash

All MBA students are expected to do research and
offer their findings as part of problem-solving
skills. Students must be able to defend their
conclusions and research skill is grounding for non
bias argumentation skill.
RESEARCH
In B school, networking plays an important part as
students ought to network with market and
industry players for projects and assignments.
These are some of the key distinguished skills,
knowledge and benefits from MBA study. To
succeed, MBA requires the maturity to see
theories and concept as the means to goals; the
contextual applications while contextual critics
towards concepts and theories from experiences
is required advantage.
NETWORKING
IS MBA NECESSARY?
JULY 18th, 2021
Photo Credit: Adeolu Eletu, Unsplash

Photo Credit: Honey Yanibel Minaya Cruz, Unsplash
IS MBA NECESSARY?
Doing an MBA is to gain a holistic view
of business and to acquire the
knowledge and skills to contribute and
add values as decision makers and
strategic movers in organisation.
The values of MBA lies in the ability to
creates opportunities from both
analytical and synthetical mindset.
Allow yourself the paradigm shift doing
your MBA, to think and act as business
owner.
#unlearningconsultant #veteran
#borneoconsulting
JULY 18th, 2021

Photo Credit: Daria Nepriakhina , Unsplash
Design
Thinking &
Job
Interview
JULY 17th, 2021

Photo Credit: Daria Nepriakhina , Unsplash
We often hear people saying use the thing outside the box approach to solve
problem, be innovative.
In yesterday’s #primedforsuccess, I throw in my unconventional #bisociation idea to
my mentees.
Can the popular #designthinking concept be adapted and tweaked to prepare for
job interview?
Let’s explore the adaptation briefly.
“By adopting and
adapting design
thinking framework, it
give you a structure
akin to holding a
candle in the dark for
yourself.”
JULY 17th, 2021
EMPATHIZE DEFINE IDEATE PROTOTYPE TEST

• Start your prep by wearing the shoe of the potential employer, to understand who and what are they
looking for to hire.
• The attitude, skills and knowledge, (the ASK) for the job.
• Extract and extrapolate from the job description given.
• Create your Value Statement pertaining to the skills and knowledge (SK) criteria including listing down
your SK inventory for matching mapping. Internalise your understanding on the why, where and how
of SK applicability.
• The key is proficiency & competency.
EMPATHIZE DEFINE IDEATE PROTOTYPE TEST
• Now is to go out to the market and industry to speak to industry practitioners for external data and
information for a more validated picture of job responsibilities.
• Check and validate both technical and soft skills competencies.
• With better in-depth data and information, start strategising your interview strategy.
• Create your #pitch story to sell yourself in the interview.
• Identify FAQ and build in your fact base convincing response.
• Opinions matter as much as answers in interview.
How to use 5 Phases of Design Thinking
• The last step is to test and validate your assumptions and strategy by seeking out career coach to help
fine tune your interview strategy and tactics.
• Get the industry practitioners to validate your understanding for data and information accuracy.
• Conduct interview rehearsals.
EMPATHIZE
DEFINE
IDEATE
TEST
PROTOTYPE
#primedforsuccess
18

By adopting and adapting design thinking framework, it give you a structure akin to holding a candle in the dark for yourself.
Ultimately you have to convince the interviewers that you are; well informed, educated, resourceful and a thinking candidate.
These qualities will differentiate yourself from others, demonstrating you are ready to contribute with your qualities and
values.
#unlearningconsultant
JULY 17th, 2021

Photo Credit: Markus Winkler, Unsplash
JULY 15
th , 2021
#prim
edforsuccess
W
hat is a resum
e?
How
to write an enticing
resum
e?

To secure a job, you need to get two things right to
attract;
• an enticing resume and
• a convincing performance during interview.
For me, I equate resume to a datasheet, which must
be able to differentiate you from others.
I listed the following as pertinent to be included in
your one-page resume from my experience.
What is a resume?
How to prepare an enticing resume?
JULY 15th, 2021
http//:bestresumeintheworld.com
WRITING AN ENTICING RESUME

COMPONENTS OF
AN ENTICING RESUME
BRIEF DESCRIPTION GIST OF EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT EXPLOITS HOBBIES
Brief description of
you as an unique
individual.
Concise narration of
you that highlight and
answer the question;
“Who am I?”. Do
include how others
describe you and the
why.
The gist of your area of study
(akin to your work experience).
Narrate your area of study as
a #valuestatement, highlight
the applicability of values creation
in areas of business.
focus on the what, why, where and
how of the applicability. This shows
your ability to use your knowledge
and skills (KS) to create values.
Narrate what are your
exploits and what did you
learn a.k.a complementary
KS, which can add on to
value creation. Key areas to
focus on; how these exploits
grow you as a person, what
are your contributions and
why in terms of areas of
contributions.
Why hobby(ies)?
hobby(ies) is a good
gauge of a social
person.
Focus on what are
the values towards
your self
development from
your hobby(ies).
JULY 15th, 2021
Writing an Enticing Resume

Photo Credit: Yogendra Singh, Unsplash
The bottom line; EXCITE and ENTICE the
readers to want to explore more about you
in person!
From my experience, these are the gist in
whatever format and sequence that suits
including ATS friendly.
#unlearningconsultant #veteran
#borneoconsulting
JULY 15th, 2021
Writing an Enticing Resume

Photo Credit: Priscilla Du Preez, Unsplash
2in1 SPECIAL JULY 9th, 2021
Being
EFFECTIVE
@ WORK!
#Howto
BOMB AN
INTERVIEW?
1
2

Photo Credit: Priscilla Du Preez, Unsplash
Yesterday marked the 20th session
of Mui Han’s #primedforsuccess,
congrats for reaching the milestone! And
words are spread far and wide about the
immense benefits for young grads and
professionals to have conversations with
the professional oldies.
I picked up two interesting questions
from yesterday’s session;
• What is considered being effective at work?
• How to bomb a job interview?
JULY 9th, 2021

How to BOMB AN INTERVIEW?
1
Photo Credit: RODNAE Productions, Pexels
An interview is one definite platform for mutual communication
and assessment of suitability. The objective is to convince a
conviction.
To do that, active engagement with the interviewers is highly
desirable.
Engagement also refers to asking questions intelligently. One
acknowledged fact is; no one has all the answers however
everyone has opinions!
Express your opinion logically and rationally with your
knowledge including how to contribute to the job.
Avoid being overwhelmingly intimidated by the interview (or the
interviewer). Open up, its okay to be an introvert but not overly
passive and timid.
Remember, they are selecting team member to work in a team.
Exhibit the qualities of being a contributing team member.
JULY
9
th
,
2021

There are many yardsticks to measure
effectiveness at work, however I listed this
two favourites of mine;
When you exhibit these fundamental
qualities, you are demonstrating
ownership that leads to empowerment;
“make it happen” with your enthusiasm to
work and learn.
Being EFFECTIVE @ WORK!
2
Photo Credit: Hamza Nouasria, Unsplash
• Willingness to work independently, that is
demonstration of responsibility and accountability.
You learn by doing, reflecting, drawing conclusion
for next application. your superior is there to
manage your ideas, suggestions and even
decisions, not to do your job.
• Always be part of the solution equation, not
the problem equation. use your knowledge to
think through any issue, ask critical questions,
look for pattern and abnormally, analysis and
synthesise.
JULY 9th, 2021

This is my thought for the two
questions asked.
#primedforsuccess is definitely
the go to platform to have
conversation that form the
base of reflection and retuning
of preparation to ace
interview.
To young graduates and
professionals out there, that
struggling with your prepare to
launch your career, make a
beeline to #primedforsuccess
#unlearningenthusiast
#veteran #borneoconsulting
#primedforsuccesslearning
JULY 9th, 2021 Photo Credit: Priscilla Du Preez, Unsplash
Being EFFECTIVE @ WORK!
How to BOMB AN INTERVIEW?

Introduction to PRIMED FOR SUCCESS CLUB
Learn about how our purely #payitforward movement,
supported by experienced Business Owners & Corporate Managers
(connections from LinkedIn) to help Malaysia’s next generation
to be more EMPLOYABLE!

Every Friday Evening (except Public Holidays) since
January 29th, 2021,
Together with a group of Mentors, we host many
Fresh Graduates, Undergraduates & Young
Professionals (with less than 3 years of working
experience) on
KOH MUI HAN
facebook.com/primedforsuccess
PRIMED FOR SUCCESS
Founder & Principal Facilitator
The mentors (average about 20 of them
each session), are from various backgrounds
come to join me in providing a psychological
safe learning environment for these young
Malaysian graduates.
The mentors are mainly
Mui Han’s
Family/Connections
(80%, he has not met face-to-face before)

Purpose for these sessions to provide:
• MENTORSHIP
• NURTURING
• ADVISORY
• CONVERSATION
• NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
• LAUGHTER
• ENCOURAGEMENT
• EDUCATION
• MOTIVATION
• and the list goes on.....
For all the young Malaysian
graduates so that they can
build KNOWLEDGE,
MATURITY &
CONFIDENCE to enhance
their EMPLOYABILITY!

FRIDAY (9th July 2021), we
celebrated our 20th Session
20th
Session
CRITICAL
MILESTONE

Celebrating our 20th Session
THANK YOU TO ALL
THE MENTORS!!!!
Dato’ Aliyah Karen
Founder AKRAB
Resources, Tulips
Advisor
MENTOR
Shahrulnizam Md.
Nur
Head of Talent
Management,
Tenaga Nasional
Berhad (TNB)
MENTOR
Lee Yat Thong
Business Learning
Partner, The Borneo
Consulting
MENTOR
Chris Chuang
Sales & Marketing
Manager, Sin Tong
Hwa Trading S/B
MENTOR
Ngiam See Wei
Consulting Director,
PeopleHive Consulting
& former HR Director
of Kimberly Clark
MENTOR
Ezwan Zakaria
Senior Supply Chain &
Procurement
Professional
MENTOR
Alice Yeap
Freelance Trainer,
Former General
Manager of Putrajaya
Holdings
MENTOR
“Amazing people, which I am proud to call my friends (friendship forged
through out weeks of engagement) with ONE SINGLE FOCUS – helping
young Malaysians to secure better employment!” – Mui Han

A mentor can
be helpful in
developing
communication
skills.
Some BENEFITS from interacting with our mentors
every week

See what the participants say about our sessions #primedforsuccess 35

THANK YOU TO ALL
THE MENTORS!!!!
Cazey Tan
Sales Professional,
Digital & IT based
MENTOR
Zohrab Chong
Founder & Principal
Consultant, Enablerz
Consulting & Solutions
MENTOR
James Foong
HSSE Professional,
Marine LNG &
Offshore,
Talk Show Host
MENTOR
Muzzil Khairat
Regulatory
Compliance
Professional,
based in HK
MENTOR
Bachik Hussain
Senior Industrial
Engineering Manager,
Sanmina (Semi
Conductor Industry)
MENTOR
Mok ET
Public Communication
Lecturer, MSU
MENTOR
Career Coach,
LinkedIn Inspirational
Icon, Former
Semiconductors
Professional
MENTOR
Ishak Karim
“I am blessed to have mentoring comrades that are genuine,
candid and determined to share their experiences, ideas and
knowledge on a weekly basis!” – Mui Han

Mentors can help
their mentees
identify
developmental
objectives.
every week

See what our Mentors say about our sessions #primedforsuccess 38

Tyler Chin
Career Coach &
Interview Consultant
MENTOR
Rev Ong
Sales Director,
Vectory Innovation,
Formerly Sales
Operation Manager for
OYO Malaysia
MENTOR
Fadzly Johar
Senior Mechanical
Engineer at Cricut
MENTOR
Alwan Ahimmat
Head of Business
Reporting & Analysis
Mydin Malaysia
MENTOR
Daniel Goh
Centurion Advisor,
American Express,
Podcast Host
(Choobub Creatives)
MENTOR
Syaza Nazura Noor
Azmi
Academic Advisor &
Career Coach, Alice
Smith International
School
MENTOR
Taranjeet Singh
Chair of Regional
Board Malaysia for
Chartered
Management Inst.
(CMI)
MENTOR
THANK YOU TO ALL
THE MENTORS!!!!
“I am happy and blessed to see how we have grown from Session
1 to now, Session 20! When we started in January 2021, we have
1 other mentor besides myself and 15 young graduates. Today we
have grown multiple fold!” – Mui Han

Mentors can
help mentees
overcome
obstacles in
their career.
every week

Muneswaran
Ramasamy
Founder & Executive
Director, Training &
Talent (T&T) Business
Solutions
MENTOR
Shin Tan
Transformational &
Communication Coach
& Facilitator
MENTOR
Haw Fee Ling
HR Business Partner,
HR Generalist, Talent
Management, Certified
Trainer
MENTOR
February Yoon
Continuous
Improvement
Manager,
Petrofac Malaysia
MENTOR
Bavani Periasamy
Speaker, Coach,
Gratitude Advocate
MENTOR
Tan Chin Aik
Project Manager, KDi
MENTOR
Edward Ng
Associate Product
Owner, Asst. Manager
CIMB
MENTOR
THANK YOU TO ALL
THE MENTORS!!!!
“The weekly interactions between the mentors and our young
graduates shows me that our Malaysian #kitajagakita is well and
alive. TRULY INSIPRATIONAL!” – Mui Han

Mentors help young
professionals
develop a broader
perspective.
every week

Lee Jun Hsien
HRBP, Talent &
Performance, Future
of Work Lead at
Unilever
MENTOR
Sameeta Sparks
Certified Therapeutic
Arts Practitioner,
Canadian International
Institute of Art Therapy
MENTOR
Teh Su-Ann
Digital Transformation
Director at GrowthOps
MENTOR
Zolida Md. Daud
Experienced HR
Professionals,
previously serving as
Head of HR for many
companies
MENTOR
Hoo Kuang Shan
Senior Manager,
Revenue Management
at PepsiCo
MENTOR
Koh Wyhow
Data Scientist,
Trainer & Speaker
MENTOR
Alpa Shah
Corporate Relations
Manager, UNITAR
International University
MENTOR
THANK YOU TO ALL
THE MENTORS!!!!
“I still very touched and amazed, each time there are new mentors
that respond to the calling on LinkedIn and show up and
contribute!” – Mui Han

Mentoring sessions
also help growing
the mentees'
professional
network.
every week

How Xiao QIan
Clinical Lead, Dietian
& Health Coach,
LiveSmart, UK
MENTOR
Michelle Lim
WISE Program
Professional Specialist &
Senior Instructional
Designer, Nagaoka
University of Technology
MENTOR
Husni Ariff Shah
Abdul Halim Shah
Head of Project
Management Office at
MBSB Bank Berhad
MENTOR
Qhaireel Anwar
Experienced O&G
Professional, serving
various roles in Shell
Malaysia for 21years
MENTOR
Alicia Carol White
Certified Management
and Business
Educator, Senior
Lecturer, INTI
International University
MENTOR
Ray Low
HR Business Partner,
MAHRI
MENTOR
Nurul Fathiyah Muen
Learning Experience
Designer & Facilitator
MENTOR
THANK YOU TO ALL
THE MENTORS!!!!
“Together with the other mentors, we aspire to create a new
generation of Malaysian graduates that are KNOWLEDGEABLE,
MATURE and SUCCESSFUL!” – Mui Han

To find out more about our sessions, kindly follow
and connect with MUI HAN KOH on LinkedIn.
Weekly posting for the registration of the sessions
will be shared and emailed to participants that
have registered previously.
Thank You!

TOP TIPS FOR JOB SEEKERS & FRESH
GRADUATES Volume 1, July 2021
PRIMED FOR SUCCESS SERIES ©2021
Every Friday Evening, a group of Experienced Malaysian Business Professionals &
Corporate Managers host a class of Fresh Graduates, Undergraduates & Young
Professionals (with less than 3 years of working experience) on Zoom for an hour-
long virtual mentoring session, better known as #primedforsuccess.
These tips are advices given by the Lee Yat Thong to the Mentees in his group and
reproduced in an engaging way to read and to share. He combines his strong
business acumen with more than 20 years of working and business experience to
provide succinct inputs to those in their early careers or just embarking on a job.
He has done various leadership and business appointments from an Army
Commander to fashion retailing, to running a SME business, to heading project
management and operational management for a leading global MNC.
Whether you’re still an undergraduate, or some recently graduated or even you
have a few years of working experience, Top Tips for Job Seekers and Fresh
Graduates Vol. 1 will help you to get ready for your next job interview and take you
to the next level!

Top tips for job seekers and fresh graduates by Lee Yat Thong

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