The majority of respondents in the Graduates’ Choice Award (GCA) 2022 said that they would expect a starting salary of RM2,500 to RM3,000.
GCA organiser, Talentbank said that this mirrors the findings of last year’s GCA and further cements this wage bracket as the most commonly sought after.
Fresh graduates looking for a fair wage would do well to take this as an industry benchmark to aid in their job applications moving forward, it said.
“For the fourth year running, Malaysian university students have made their voices heard, weighing in on some of the most crucial criteria when it comes to finding the right organisation and job for them,” Ben Ho, founder of Talentbank said.
“I firmly believe that the list of organisations and other findings will serve as an important guide for the millions of fresh graduates across the country as they venture out into the job market in search of their dream job,” he added.
For the Top 25 Most Preferred Employers to Work For, Maybank clinched the top spot for the fourth year running.
Meanwhile, Shopee climbed up from fifth last year to secure the second spot this year. Rounding out the top five were Google, PETRONAS and Microsoft. For a full list of all the Most Preferred Employers to Work for in 2022, visit www.graduatechoiceaward.com.
“Being listed as one of the most preferred employers in GCA, is a truly significant achievement as it is 100% determined by the votes of Malaysia’s graduates, making it the voice of the next crop of potential employees,” added Ben.
Beyond specific organisations, the respondents also detailed other important employment preferences that would shape their decision-making process. Some of the key considerations included good bosses and leaders, salary and bonuses as well as career development opportunities.
Other key attributes and preferences that were highlighted included learning and development opportunities, company culture, flexible working hours, work-life balance, job security, the ability to contribute back to society. The undergraduates also voted on the most preferred industries for employment with e-commerce marketplaces, telecommunications, accounting, tech and banking ranking amongst the top five.
Over 23,000 undergraduates from more than 100 private and public universities, voted to recognise various organisations from 48 industries.
Source: The Malaysian Reserve
