Human Resources job vacancies

How to Successfully Apply for a Human Resource Job in Malaysia

If you’ve always been a people person who loves discovering and managing new talent, a career in human resources would be the right fit. Those holding a senior position in the HR field could earn over RM80,000 per year, while those holding entry-level positions could earn between RM30,000 to RM35,000 per year. Read on to find out more on how you can successfully apply for a human resource job in Malaysia:

Develop Basic HR Skills

There are at least eight highly in-demand human resources skills that most employers look for in all HR jobs in Malaysia. The skills include: recruiting, screening, employee/human relations, onboarding (in person and remote), scheduling, knowing how to use the human resources information software (HRIS), social media, and performance management. While the skills mentioned are often taught in most HR-related degree courses, you can always take part-time courses if you lack any of the skills.

Develop Hard Skills

Whatever hard skills you have can be transferable when you’re trying to obtain HR jobs in Malaysia, especially if you’re effective in written and spoken communication. Other useful hard skills include conflict resolution skills, the understanding of finance and statistics, the ability to professionally deal with different people from diverse backgrounds (without any bias towards a particular race, religion, political affiliation, age, or gender), and great interpersonal skills.

Take Complementary Coursework

If you want to have a successful HR job in Malaysia, it helps if you take additional courses in finance, business, and social sciences such as sociology and psychology, in addition to HR-related courses. As a HR specialist candidate, you can increase your chances by obtaining knowledge in industrial psychology, organisational structure, principles of management, performance appraisal, training and development, recruitment, compensation, and any other basic HR skills required for a successful career in HR. 

Start From The Bottom

Senior positions on managerial level or even HR generalists require several years of relevant work experience, so the best way to break into the human resources industry is to start from the bottom, namely an entry-level position. To increase your chances in getting an entry-level HR vacancy in Malaysia, try to obtain a part-time job, an internship, or a volunteer work that involves managing, scheduling, and leadership tasks to add to your credibility. That said, if you’ve held positions on managerial level in the military, government, or business, you have higher chances of being considered for a senior HR position. 

Consider Pursuing A Graduate Degree

While not mandatory, you may want to consider pursuing a graduate degree. This may come in handy in case you’re gunning for a promotion or salary increase later on. To better compete for the high-paying and most desirable HR jobs in Malaysia, having a Masters degree in business admin, organisation development, or human resources will give you an edge over the others. If you’re transferring from a legal profession, you could also stand a better chance in getting a top management position.

While it’s not easy to break into the HR field, you stand a better chance of getting your foot in the door if you start to develop basic HR and hard skills, take complementary coursework, start from the bottom and work your way up, and consider getting a graduate degree if you’re aiming for managerial positions with no relevant experience.

Source: http://www.payscale.com/research/MY/Job=Human_Resources_(HR)_Manager/salary