A talk for fresh graduates looking for jobs and how to enhance their skills in writing resume and attending interviews

1. By Chuah Kee Man
www.chuahkeeman.com

2. Do you want a
job right after
graduation?

3. Choose not
to work
Job not
suitable
Low Salary
Unwilling to
relocate
Overqualifie
d
No confidence
REASONS GIVEN FROM UNEMPLOYED GRADUATES
Online survey on unemployed graduates (1 year after graduation)
Sample size about 1,400 graduates.

4. (Malaysia Economic Report 2013/2014)
(Employments: Main contributing sectors: services, manufacturing
& agricultural)
The Reality

5. Part 1
Passion or Pay?

6. What is your
goal?

7. Tricky Thought
What is your satisfaction?
Getting a pay or following
your passion?

9. Expected Salary of fresh
grads: RM1,800 to RM3,200.
But majority of employers are
only willing to pay between
RM1,000 to RM2,400.

10. Pay or salary is
important but don’t
forget the chances
to find your
passion.

11. Fresh graduates
should find the
opportunities to
practise their skills.

12. Part 2
Recharging Your Résumé

13. Résumé &
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Are they the same?

14. Résumé
a concise outline (1-2
pages) of your skills,
education and experience.

15. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
An in-depth document of your
qualifications, experience,
skills, publications,
achievements, etc. (can be
more than 3 pages)

16. Résumé is more
commonly used in the
industries (especially
private companies).

17. CV is mostly used when
applying for academic,
scientific, or research
positions

18. Let’s improve your résumé!

19. One recent study showed that
recruiters spend only
6.25 seconds looking at a
candidate’s résumé
before deciding whether he or she
is fit for a job.
~Forbes.com

20. So how to
increase your
visibility via
résumé?

21. #1
Use the Right Layout

22. Is this a good
layout?

23. Is this a good
layout?

24. Is this a good
layout?

25. Is this a good
layout?

26. Layout: The Basics
 Stick to standard paper size (A4)
and use left or justified alignment.
 Use neat and professional layout
(not too fancy/creative)
 Use suitable font type and font
size (10-11pt).
 Use proper headings for each
section/part

27. Layout: Best Fonts
• Arial
• Calibri
• Garamond
• Georgia
• Times New Roman

28. Layout: The Standard Parts
Use headings to indicate:
 Contact Details (No fancy email)
 Career Objective (Precise)
 Education
 Work Experience
 Skills
 Achievements/Awards*
 Activities and Interests*
 References
*optional

30. #2
Use the Right Language

31. Language Tips #1
Use strong action verbs
when listing your
experiences.

32. Worst Words Best Words
1. Best of breed
2. Go-getter
3. Think outside of the box
4. Dynamic
5. Synergy
6. Thought leadership
7. Value add
8. Results-driven
9. Team player
10. Bottom-line
1. Achieved
2. Improved
3. Trained/mentored
4. Managed
5. Created
6. Resolved
7. Volunteered
8. Influenced
9. Increased/decreased
10. Won

33. Language Tips #2
Keywords are the key
(use those keywords
mentioned in the ads)

34. Top Keywords
Problem solving
Leadership
Oral/ Written Communication
Team building
Productivity
Adaptable

35. Language Tips #3
Avoid improper
abbreviations

36. Example:
Ass. Manager (Marketing)
Don’t embarrass yourself

37. Language Tips #4
Ask someone to
proofread your resume

38. #3
Use the Right Focus

39. Customise Your Resume!
Make sure you modify
your resume to fit the
position

40. Customisation Example:
Highlight your academic
strengths (e.g. relevant
courses taken) instead of
putting only CGPA)

41. Customisation Example:
Move specific parts up
according to the job. E.g.
Move up skills if your work
experience is limited.

42. Part 3
Power Up Your Job Search

43. What are the best
ways to search for
jobs?

44. Job Search Tip #1
Make use of your
network of friends and
relatives

45. Job Search Tip #2
Don’t be afraid to
accept “walk-in
interviews”

46. Job Search Tip #3
“Advertise” yourself
on job portals (e.g.
Jobstreets or even
local forums)

47. Top Job Search Sites
1. JobsDB Malaysia
2. JobStreet Malaysia
3. MyStarJob.com
4. Mudah.my
5. Bestjobs.com.my

48. Job Search Tip #4
Capitalise on Social
Media especially
Facebook & LinkedIn

50. Part 4
Excel in Interviews

51. Basic Interview Tips
Be Prepared
Be Polite
Be Confident
Be Humble
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShRr5E4KbxI

52. Avoid These Statements
o I’m a team player
o I’m a perfect fit for this job
o I’m a perfectionist
o I’m a workaholic
o I have good leadership skills
(Be specific, in fact get ready the facts)

53. Be careful of these questions
during interviews
o “Tell me more about yourself”
o “Are you willing to be relocated?”
o “Why should we hire you?”
o “Why do you want this job?”
o “If we offer you lower pay, will you
accept this post?”
And also the “pause” by the interviewer
half way through.

54. Language Focus during Interview
o Use active voice more instead of
passive voice. (e.g. I conducted the
project…NOT the project was
conducted by me…)
o Use more first-person pronoun (e.g. I,
we)
o Avoid using run-on sentences. Pause
at the right time to highlight
keywords.

55. Part 5
Family First?

56. The Common Dilemma
Family or work?

57. “Family” is used as a reason
for…
• Not choosing a “different” job
• Not willing to relocate
• Not accepting a temporary post

58. Family First
Always try to discuss with your
family members openly about
your decision.

59. Are you ready to face
the reality?

60. Thank You & Good Luck!
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