Malaysia : Job market

What are my chances of getting a job?

• Typical problems encountered: there is a large number of qualified nationals that graduate each year, making competition for jobs quite high. UK graduates need a work permit to work in Malaysia and, therefore, need to find an employer who is willing to sponsor and apply for the work permit on their behalf.
• How to improve your chances: it may help to work for a company in the UK that has offices in Malaysia and transfer a few years later. There are generally more opportunities for skilled and experienced employees particularly at middle and senior management levels, so waiting for a few years may also help in this respect. Networking may increase your chances of finding opportunities.
• Language requirements: Bahasa Malaysia (Malay) is the official language and is used in most government offices. English is the second language and is widely spoken - commonly used in commerce and industry and taught as a compulsory subject in all schools. Various dialects of Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka) are also spoken, as is Tamil.

Where can I work?

• Major industries: Islamic finance, biotechnology, electronics, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, palm oil, rubber, timber, tourism.
• Recent growth areas: biotechnology, optics, nanotechnology, information and communication technologies.
• Industries in decline: the manufacturing sector is being challenged by other low-cost economies.
• Major companies: Accenture, CIMB Group, ExxonMobil, HSBC, KPMG, Maybank, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Public Bank, Schlumberger, Shell.
• Search for more companies: GRADMalaysia  and Graduan  have a list of Malaysia’s leading graduate employers. You can also search for companies through Kompass , the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (BMCC) , the Malaysia Yellow Pages  and Wikipedia - List of Companies in Malaysia .
• Major cities: Kuala Lumpur (capital and largest), Putrajaya (administrative centre).

What’s it like working in Malaysia?

• Average working hours: most offices operate Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, but many government offices will open until noon on a Saturday. Lunch breaks are usually one hour long, except on Fridays when there is a longer break (usually midday to 2pm) for Muslim males to allow for Friday prayers.
• Holidays: annual leave is based on how long you have worked for a company. Employees also receive a minimum of ten state holidays per year.
• Average graduate starting salary: with graduate employers, salaries usually start around RM2000. See the XE Universal Currency Converter  for current exchange rates.
• Tax rates: if you stay in Malaysia for more than 182 days in a year, you must pay taxes. You can register to pay your tax online or at the nearest branch of the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia .
• Working practices and customs: as with many other Asian countries, individuals do not want themselves or others to ‘lose face’ (lose status or appear less respectable). This may result in someone not giving you a direct answer in order for you not to ‘lose face’. Similarly, you do not want your Malaysian counterpart to ‘lose face’. Hierarchy is very important in Malaysian business, and employees will not address their bosses by their first names. When meeting someone for the first time, a firm handshake is appropriate. Not all Malaysian women will shake hands, and you should wait for this to be initiated. Initial conversations can sometimes include questions on your personal life, such as marital status and income, and this is viewed as acceptable in Malaysia.