What Do Young People In Malaysia Expect From Work & Employers?
It is 2023 in the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur, two young people: Nurafiah and Kok Ming, fresh out of university (one local, the other overseas), found themselves in the maze of the job market. This, however, was not the adventure they had expected. As they searched for jobs relevant to their fields of study, they felt the tension between expectation and reality.
Like many young Malaysians, Nurafiah and Kok Ming were optimistic about finding gainful employment and hopeful about the many job fairs organised by the both the public and private sector. Yet, they couldn't shake off the disappointment from the lack of job variety; their aspirations didn't align with the multitude of opportunities in engineering and technology.
So, what are the young Malaysians like Nurafiah and Kok Ming truly looking for in their jobs, and how can employers meet their needs? Here are some potential answers:
Opportunities for Growth and Development: Young Malaysians are eager to grow and progress as professionals. They look forward to skill development and on-the-job training. They want to see potential in their roles and desire an opportunity to further their education with employer support. In other words, they do not just want to be regarded as “another necessary headcount.”
Competitive and Fair Compensation: Fair pay and sophisticated remuneration packages are non-negotiable. Salary, allowances, bonuses, and insurance make up the financial reward system expected by young professionals. They also advocate for fair pay for overtime and public holiday work. While money is not everything to them, it is still something that matters.
Work-life Balance: Maintaining a balanced lifestyle is crucial. The average young Malaysian professional values regular working hours, reasonable annual leave, and boundaries to be respected after office hours. They also appreciate flexible working hours and options for unpaid leave or cashing out of annual leave.
Good Leadership: Young Malaysians seek a solid foundation for their careers and look forward to working under skilled, effective leaders who can guide, inspire, mentor and coach them.
Clear Direction and Distinct Identity of the Company: Younger people are not bound by what older people are: bills, commitments, thinking of their children’s future etc. Beyond rewards, they want to work for a company that has a strong vision for where it is going and a clear purpose on why it exists. They do not just want to join a company, they want to feel like they can be a part of something.
Are your rewards systems and structure serving you well? Do you have a competency model / framework that helps you in your hiring, developing and promotion? Are your people managers up to the task of leading, coaching and mentoring? Do you have a clear employer brand and have defined your mission, vision and values?
We can make sure your compensation and benefits structure is aligned to your business goals and strategy; draw up a list of competencies with proficiency levels that support the performance and culture your organisation desires; plus up skill and train your managers to the next level or just need help defining or refining your mission, vision, values - reach out to us today.