And they will find more than a few possible openings as employers are on the lookout for fresh talent as the new year begins.
Malaysian Employers Federation president Syed Hussain Syed Husman is upbeat about the outlook for jobseekers.
“There has been a surge in online job advertisements in Malaysia, particularly in information technology, healthcare, engineering, finance, and e-commerce, which have been active sectors for job opportunities.
“These industries tend to have consistent demand for skilled professionals,” Syed Hussain said, adding that renewable energy, digital marketing, and data analytics had also shown growth.
His comments came in response to a recent update from the statistics department, which said that online advertised job vacancies had jumped 23.5% to more than 260,000 in the second quarter of 2023.
Fahad Naeem, country manager of Randstad Malaysia, said his company had also observed activity in sectors such as construction and property, technology, shared services, data centres, and manufacturing.
However, Syed Hussain warned that Malaysia faced a skills gap in some sectors despite ongoing government efforts to plug this hole.
“This conundrum is particularly evident in the rapidly evolving landscape of digital technologies, where companies aspire to advance their capabilities but the pool of candidates often falls short of the specialised skills required for these advancements,” Syed Hussain said.
Bridging the skills gap
Aside from the technical know-how required to fulfil a role, recruiters are also hunting for stand-out soft skills.
Vic Sithasanan, managing director of Jobstreet, said preferred candidates must have these key attributes: digital literacy, adaptability, interpersonal skills, multi-tasking, efficiency, and time management.
“With the high demand for hybrid working, interpersonal skills are especially significant in creating sturdy work relationships.
“We have also seen much change across the employment landscape, with new roles being created due to the rise of disruptive technologies such as AI and automation,” he said.
Naeem added that many employers advocate continuous learning.
“Good business acumen and stakeholder management skills, even at a fresh graduate level, are also skills that employers look for in candidates. Having these competencies indicates the candidate’s genuineness in wanting to do a good job,” Naeem said.
Falling into the stagnation trap
Recruiters agree there is no precise timetable for any individual career path, but generally say if you have been doing the same job for more than three years with no change or hint of promotion, you are at risk of stagnation.
“The most important thing is to assess where you want to be and ensure you communicate this,” Sithasanan said.
“Start with a self-assessment and reflect on your career goals, interests, and values. Being open to possibilities can help you understand what you want from your career. This may lead to realising that your interests have changed, or that you have a newfound passion and drive to achieve your goals.
“Always be open to expanding your skillset and the power of networking. This can give jobseekers more opportunities, fresh perspectives, and even a mentor along the way.”
“Being comfortable in your job is a risky position to be caught in,” Naeem added.
He said companies would always update jobs to align with market trends and customer demands, so some roles might be phased out or redesigned to allow for automation and include new responsibilities that would add value to the business.
“If you notice that your peers are progressing much faster in their careers and income compared to you, find out where the skills gap is and close it through upskilling, or new projects or tasks.
“Upskilling is not limited to the training programmes provided to you by your employer. There are many avenues to do so, such as Udemy, LinkedIn or Coursera, or even through YouTube videos. Some reputable educational institutions also offer online courses,” Naeem said.
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