KUALA LUMPUR, January 4 — Talentbank, a prominent player in Malaysia’s talent ecosystem, recently concluded its 6th Annual Graduates’ Choice Awards (GCA), honoring the nation’s top employers. The event, attended by leading figures from Malaysian universities and institutions, witnessed the participation of 30 vice-chancellors. GCA, recognized as the most authoritative graduate employer branding award in the Asia-Pacific region, saw a record-breaking 464,220 votes cast by university students, marking the highest participation since its inception.
With over 2,500 companies competing across more than 90 categories, AIA Shared Services, Johnson & Johnson, Petronas, Sunway University, Top Glove, and UNIQLO emerged as notable winners. UNIQLO secured its fifth consecutive win, while Maybank, EY, Maxis, AIA, Touch ‘n Go, and Intel maintained their winning streaks in respective categories. Ben Ho, CEO of Talentbank, emphasized the awards’ significance, stating, “The Graduates’ Choice Award, 100% endorsed by undergraduates, echoes the aspirations of the emerging workforce, setting a benchmark for excellence in graduate employment.” This year’s GCA, in collaboration with local universities, offered recent graduates a platform to voice their employment preferences.
Survey results revealed that fresh graduates expect starting salaries between RM3,000 and RM3,500. Work-life balance, job security, and career development ranked as top career goals for 2023. YBhg. Dato’ Dr. Haji Megat Sany bin Megat Ahmad Supian, Deputy Secretary-General (Policy) of the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, praised Talentbank’s efforts in bridging the gap between academia and the professional world. Dr. Iskandar Abdullah, Director of the Graduate Employability and Career Centre at Universiti Malaya, encouraged students to explore opportunities with these award-winning companies, known for their commitment to graduate employment.
