This article is sponsored by Talentbank.
Image via Canva; Edited by MIX
Behind any successful business is a staff of employees who have chosen to devote their time and effort to the company. However, finding the right teammates isn’t always easy, especially when job seekers are spoilt with options.
So how do you attract them? You find out what they like.
A good place to start is through the Graduates’ Choice Award (GCS) by Talentbank, and they’ve recently published a list of the most sought-after employers to work for in 2024!
What’s the Graduates’ Choice Award about?
Image via Talentbank
GCA is Asia Pacific’s definitive graduate employer branding award, where university students across Malaysia vote for the companies they most want to work for. It serves as a valuable resource for graduates and job seekers (helping them with their career choices), and employers (helping them make strategic decisions in employer branding).
The award has been running for 6 consecutive years now, and for the recent 2024 instalment, it received an impressive 464,220 accumulative votes—its highest yet!
Who are the winners of GCA 2024?
More than 2,500 companies competed across over 90 categories, but only a handful made the cut.
Image via Talentbank
Image via Talentbank
Notable winners include UNIQLO, Top Glove, PETRONAS, Johnson & Johnson, Sunway University, and AIA Shared Services, who were crowned champion for 5 consecutive years.
Meanwhile, Maybank, EY, Maxis, AIA Bhd, Touch ‘n Go, Nestlé, and Intel retained the top position in their respective categories.
What other employment insights did GCA share?
Last year, GCA’s findings revealed that local undergraduates desired a starting salary between RM3,000 and RM3,500, work-life balance, job security, and career development.
Image via Mikhail Nilov/Pexels
The 2023 survey also identified key attributes that were deemed attractive to the new generation of the workforce:
- Flexible working opportunities
- Salary and bonuses
- Company Culture
- Career development
- Training and development opportunities
LinkedIn and job sites were deemed to be popular options for job hunting in 2022, with an increase in demand for career fairs in 2023.
On the other end of the perspective, employers rated graduates’ career readiness at 5 out of 10, indicating a need for universities to amp up trainings in job market preparation. Additionally, they expressed a preference in hiring people with a positive attitude, communication skills, and teamwork.
Voting for GCA 2025 is open!
Image via Talentbank
Uni students are invited to cast their votes for GCA 2025 at GCA’s website and influence the future. Every vote gives you a chance to win prizes that include the Apple MacBook Air and Apple iPhone 15. Voting period ends on 30 June 2024.