MSJ 121013

Saturday 13 OctOber 2012
YOUR ULTIMATE CAREER

& TALENT RESOURCE
Do what you love
T: 03 7966 8388
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a career IN
FINaNce
read abOut the excItINg
OppOrtuNItIeS IN thIS
FlOurIShINg INduStry
pageS 8-11
My First Job
We talk to Gatehouse
Bank Plc chief
executive officer
Richard Thomas about
how his first job as a
junior banking officer
and tea boy provided
a strong ethical
foundation for his
career
Page 3
Page 5
Page 12
Page 15
Be a Leader
How To
Dear Careernomers
says sitting in a classroom may

not be the best way to learn
gives tips on how to network

effectively
advises Simon who is thinking

about a career shift
mystarjob, saturday 13 October 2012
roShan SayS
bankerS, we love
E all seem to love or chase money to some

degree in our lives, and yet most people that
you speak to seem to have a jaded view of
banks and financial systems. This could partly
be attributed to individuals fearing what they
do not really know or understand, or it could be because the
world economy seems to be in such a mess and the banks
have taken a huge chunk of this blame and were a major part
of the cause.
In addition to this feeling of discomfort with banks in general, many of us think that a career in this arena would be well,
a little boring! We had to do some research on this issue, and I
must say that some of my team members were quite surprised
by many of the findings. I hope that this issue sheds more light
on this industry and dispels some of the myths about banking
and financial services at large. I actually started my career with
GE Investments and later with GE Capital, so I must credit the
financial sector for my interim personal growth and development.
Just as in any other industry, you will discover that the financial field is as diverse as the people who choose it as a career.
Banking is a very broad term and it tends, nowadays, to incorporate a range of activities that may not be classified as traditional
banking - the act of investing and lending.
When we think of a bank, we probably think of the branch
at the corner of the street where we will go and open our first
savings account, or borrow money for our first car or home. This
is indeed traditional banking, and perhaps, for some a little
boring! But there is a world of banking that beckons in the form
of trade finance, business and investment banking, derivatives,
futures, options and swaps. It is fast-paced, potentially thrilling
for some and is fulfilling for many when they manage to help
a customer build a business, negate a risk, or land his first shipment of goods.
It must also be said, that there is immense gratification to
be had to watch and assist as people save towards a dream
home or holiday, their first car or pay for their childrens education. Part of the perks of banking. And of course, there are
some banks, like the Grameen Bank founded by Mohamad
Yunos, who were set-up to truly help people, and develop
nations. Grameen helps thousands of women and propels the
Bangladeshi economy through its social enterprise banking
model.
Banking is process-driven, and it is for those of us who want
a more disciplined approach to our working lives. That is the
nature of the beast! There are rules to be followed and it is an
industry that has become highly regulated the world over. This
is perhaps long overdue, especially in Western markets where
there is a propensity to borrow and engage in debt, rather than
to save, or live within ones means. The Malaysian banking
industry is a little more conservative and perhaps a little less
sophisticated, but it has ensured that our financial system is
strong, robust and one that is infused with integrity.
I hope that you find this weeks issue as interesting and
enlightening on banking as we did doing the research and
speaking to some of the participants.
If you have any feedback on areas
that you would like to see covered in this career guide, do
send your feedback to me at
roshan.thiran@leaderonomics.com. I look forward
to hearing from you
on how we can continually improve
this weekly pullout
and ensure that
our content is relevant to your needs
and growth.
Keep growing! Keep
smiling!
Angie Ng talks to Gatehouse

Bank Plc chief executive officer
Richard Thomas and finds
out his reasons for shifting to
Islamic Banking
career tipS
to hate theM!
an
elevator Speech
1have
An elevator speech is a quick,

30 second spiel about your
experience and career goals.
Its a great way to quickly
introduce yourself at networking
opportunities and is also a good
way to answer the tell me about
yourself question at interviews.
Sign Up
linkedin
2for
LinkedIn is a great social media

site to get all your professional
contacts in one place for
networking. Sign up for it, add
everyone you know, and make
sure to complete your profile
properly. LinkedIn also comes
with a job search tool, so take
advantage of that.
Roshan Thiran
explores the
attributes that
make great leaders
great, by looking
at how education
cannot always
guarantee success
This week, Lim May

Lee gives advice on
how to effectively
network to further
your career
Johan Merican
and Ang Hui
Ming advise
Simon who is
considering
changing
career paths
Terry Small
teaches
us how to
remember
peoples
names
Our reader Lily

Norfeshah talks about
her journey after SPM
and her determination
to improve her English
Send thankyoU noteS
do what
yoU love
After every interview, be sure to

send thank-you notes to every
person who interviewed you.
Sending one shows that you
appreciate the interviewers
time and places you at a point of
advantage over other candidates
who didnt.
Regardless, you should strive to

take a job that you will love. If
not, you might be miserable and
probably wont end up staying at
your job for very long. Be sure that
you are happy with what you are
doing.
dont get
5diScoUraged
If you are facing a lot of rejections,

dont get discouraged. Remember
that times are tough right now
and getting a job is hard. Keep
sending out your resume and stay
positive.
Sincerely yours,
Roshan Thiran
Editor, myStarjob & CEO Leaderonomics
EDITORIAL
Editor
RoshanThiRan
ContributingEditors
angieng
LiLyCheah
evangeLiaChRisTodouLou
debbiepozzobon
SubEditor
LeeKaRyean
l Editorial | mystarjob@leaderonomics.com
Layout,Art&Design
Tungenghwa
MohdizudinisMaiL
zuLhaiMibahaRuddin
hassanbahRi
MohdKhaiRuL
KaLaiseLvi
Muhdhafeez
nuRuLaMni
aRiszaRiL
Writers&Contributors
JohanMeRiCan
l Advertising | imran.hashim@leaderonomics.com
banizainaL
JessiCaong
eLisadass
anghuiMing
JaMesLee
RiCKngu
SalesManager
iMRanhashiM
bAnkER on A
CRUSADE
RiChARD ThomAS
ADvoCATES ThE nEED
foR EThiCAl bAnking
By ANGIE NG
angie@thestar.com.my
IS first job as a junior banking officer more than

three decades ago was not merely a launching
pad for his career but also played a significant
role in instilling invaluable lessons and values
about the need to adhere to sound banking
principles and practices.
A strong grounding in the values practised by banks
before the days of the Big Bang has made Gatehouse
Bank Plc chief executive officer Richard Thomas a
strong advocate of ethical banking practices.
I was very lucky to have started out (my
career) in an organisation (Brown, Shipley & Co)
that adopted very high ethical values and standards. Although it was already at the tail-end of
the old banking days, I counted my blessings to
have the opportunity to be a part of the true
Merchant Banking Era as I called it.
It has imparted the right values in me; that
the main role of banks is to help create real
value and productivity with their clients and
the real economy. This made me abhor the
way conventional banks of today sometimes
conduct themselves,Thomas shares during a
recent trip to Kuala Lumpur.
He is a picture of cool and collected serendipity when talking about that subject; and
with tongue-in-cheek, he confides that he is
a happy man in not having contributed to
this problem caused by the global financial
meltdown.
I am glad I am not part of the problem,
he enthuses.
Thomas says that before the onset of the
Big Bang, working in a bank was so much
simpler and straight forward as the values they
adhered to were based on sound ethical values
and principles.
But within the first three years after he
joined the banking industry, the world of banking
changed forever.
According to Wikipedia, the phrase Big Bang is
used in reference to the sudden deregulation of financial markets by the United Kingdom government in 1986.
The measures included abolition of fixed commission
charges and of the distinction between stockjobbers and
stockbrokers on the London Stock Exchange and change
from open-outcry to electronic, screen-based trading.
Thomas says following that episode, the big banks
started dabbling in more risky banking practices, such as
highly leveraged transactions (HLT) and other financial
papers including derivatives. The rest is history.
Recalling his first job, Thomas says he was fresh out
of university when he landed a job in Brown Shipley
in 1979 as a junior officer in documentary credits.
Brown Shipley was then an Accepting House - a
long-established British private merchant bank, based
in London, providing trade finance, corporate finance
and associated advisory services for private, institutional and corporate clients.
Humility Helps
Besides learning the ropes about trade financing facilities

for import of goods from China and Russia, Thomas also
appreciated his de-facto job as the tea boy in charge of
making tea and coffee for his fellow colleagues.
It is important to remember how each one of them
wanted their drinks. Thats how it was in those days - making drinks for the other members of your team; this was
how we integrated new recruits to the team, he reminisces.
Although it may seemed like a regular, unimportant
chore, Thomas says the tea boy role taught him some
invaluable lessons about responsibility, serving others, and
to develop respect and trust for his fellow colleagues.
Before starting out in their first job, most young people
are usually rather self-centred and think that the universe
revolves around them. Somehow once they step into their
maiden job, they start to think and act more responsibly.
From being a self-centred person, they start to realise
that their decisions and choices will have an impact not only
on themselves but also on other people. This will spur them
to act with more accountability and responsibility, he says.
That must also be the case with the young Thomas going
by the fact that he still relishes his tea boy role days serving drinks to his former colleagues.
On the job, the decisions we make are not only based
on academic principles, but we need to apply what we have
learned in the real world.
He believes his first job has had a huge impact on his
belief system and career.
His disillusionment with conventional banking after the
advent of Big Bang did not stop him from carving an illustrious career in banking and finance.
After working for three years at Brown Shipley, he decided
to move into Islamic finance in 1981. He has never turned
back. Today, Thomas is a veteran in the field of syariah-compliant finance, with over 30 years of experience in the sector.
I was attracted to the ethics and principles of Islamic
financing; principally in the way it promotes knowledge and
understanding of their customers and their business needs.
If there is a good understanding of the customers and what
they do, then the banks should know how much credit to
extend to them without over lending, he reasons.
Banking on ethics
Thomas believes Islamic finance is a very practical business; it is transactional, adds value and raises productivity.
It is about engagement with the real economy, and so
to prosper you must understand and engage with the real
economy, he explains.
His first job in Islamic finance was with Saudi
International Bank in London where he stayed for 10 years
until 1991. He then moved on to United Bank of Kuwait
where he worked until end-1999.
Thomas became the Head of Islamic Financial Services at
the Arab Banking Corp in London (ABCIB), as well as CEO of
ABCIB Islamic Asset Management Ltd and Alburaq.
In 2007, Thomas was approached by some principal
shareholders from Kuwait to set up Gatehouse Bank. Today,
Gatehouse Bank is a British wholesale syariah-compliant
investment bank focusing on how to support cross-border
flows and undertake Islamic finance transactions at an
international level. It has a paid-up capital of 150mil and
assets under management of 1.7bil.
He says given the immense opportunities for Islamic
financing services, Gatehouse is on the verge of moving
from a starter phase to a growth phase, and it will be
venturing into the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the
United States, and Asia. In recognition of his civic excellence
in duties for the UK Islamic finance industry, Thomas was
last year bestowed the honour of OBE (Order of the British
Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II.
Thomas is also the UK Trade and Investments Special
Representative for Kuwait, assisting in the UK governments
policy on the promotion of bilateral business and trade
development between the UK and Kuwait, and a Fellow of
the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment. Given
his long and illustrious career in banking, would he recommend it to young Malaysians?
Without hesitating, Thomas says: Whatever field
one aspires to be in, it is necessary to find out more and
research on the sector. Dont just accept what has been told
to you, but build your own understanding and knowledge
in advance. That way, youll be able to have the right picture
of what you want to do and achieve in life.
Guided by his principles, it is no wonder Thomas continues to uphold his role as a crusader of ethical banking
practices.
iSnap me
for a video
http://thestar.com.my/isnap
myStarjob, Saturday 13 OctOber 2012
A Leader
Guides
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, better known as
Mahatma Gandhi, was born of humble beginnings.
From a young age, he had an unquenchable
determination to create a better future for his
people. His policy of pacifism and protest through
civil disobedience eventually succeeded when he
led his country to freedom in 1947.
Like Gandhi, many leaders believe in the power
of teamwork and collaboration. Winston Churhill,
George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln all led
their people through difficult times to a future
based on equality, fairness, and truth. Their
persistence, courage, and belief in their ability to
craft a new destiny are what distinguish them as
great leaders of the past.
Leaders are not born. Everyone can realise their
loftiest dreams by guiding the people around
them in the right direction.
Be A Leader.
We can help your organisation develop leaders. Write in to: people@leaderonomics.com or call 6012.343.7716
www.leaderonomics.com
straiGHt
as
Richard
Branson
doesnt
mean You are learned
GettinG Your
Hands dirtY
KeY to real
learninG
They didnt complete their education but

made it through the school of hard knocks.
By ROSHAN THIRAN
roshan.thiran@leaderonomics.com
HAT do Steve Jobs, Michael

Dell, Bill Gates, Sir Richard
Branson and Simon Cowell
have in common? Other than
being incredibly rich and
successful, they are also drop-outs. Apple Inc
founder, Jobs, did one semester in college before
taking his chances on the real world. So did Dell,
who started Dell Inc (then PCs Limited) with
just US$1,000 and a short-lived college career.
Gates is still on leave from Harvard to run his
billion-dollar company, Microsoft Corp. Branson
didnt finish high school but did manage to
make Virgin one of the most valuable and bankable brands in the world. Before he was making
Idol wannabes miserable, Cowell was just a
humble mailroom boy.
Evidently, somebody forgot to tell these
guys that they need to score straight As first
and then make a success of themselves! Dont
get me wrong. I believe in the value of a good
education as much as the next person. I thoroughly enjoyed all my years at the University
of Bridgeport in the United States and later
even went to work at GEs corporate university
Crotonville for a number of years. So, I would be
the last person to condemn having a great education as both my university experiences added
tHe
mYtH
Bill
Gates
Simon
Cowell
immensely to my personal, social and professional development.

But, I am also a firm believer that getting
your hands dirty on the job is perhaps far more
important than a good report card. Work experience always triumphs over the classroom
because people learn better while they are
doing something. The common myth is that
our growth and learning is mainly attributable
to course work or formal training. Most people
believe that 70% of what we learn comes from
training and classroom sessions. Networking,
role modelling and mentorship (about 20%
of our learning) comes next and finally job
experience (10% of what we learn). There is an
over-emphasis on classroom learning because
of the belief that training is the way to enhance
knowledge. Most corporations structure their
organisations and training teams based on this
belief that more classroom training means better, more learned employees.
However, based on research conducted by
a number of multinationals, including GE, and
later validated by research firms, classroomstyle training, in fact, accounted for a mere 10%
of real learning and growth. In reversal, it is onthe-job experience that develops business acumen and long-term career growth. The harder
the role, the tougher the environment, the more
challenging the assignments, the more you
learn and grow.
of
How we
learn
For the perennial proof in the pudding, consider various management trainee programmes.
I was part of a leadership development entrylevel programme when I first started working in
the United States. When I returned to Malaysia
I helped set up and manage numerous such
entry-level programmes across Asia. I recall that
we hired some brilliant recruits but many were
also average students in whom we saw drive,
potential, and a desire to make a difference in
the world. This was evident in their non-academic experiences even if their report cards
were decidedly ordinary. I remember we picked
these passionate average students over some
super straight-As students, even turning away
a seemingly brilliant Ivy League student. Today,
many of these graduates are holding senior
positions around the world regardless of their
grades when they joined these programmes.
How did they become great leaders? I believe
a major part of our success in churning out
global leaders lies on the intent of these programmes, which pushes each trainee into new
job rotations throughout their trainee stint.
This is where real learning and growth happens at the job and on the job. There is an
importance to classroom training especially in
functional and technical matters but the learning that comes from the field is invaluable as it
changes based on context and situation. Each
new instance is a new learning experience and
Most people believe that learning happens

in the classroom. In fact, our entire education system is structured on the premise
that learning is best in a classroom setting.
New research has shed light on this myth.
In fact, it is completely the opposite. Real
learning only happens when you practise or
experience it. Classroom learning is usually
content-driven. Experiential learning is context-based and provides deeper and more
sustainable learning. so, if you have been
spending too much time in the classroom,
take some time off to get an internship, visit
a company or just start practising what you
learnt. Your learning curve will immediately
grow exponentially.
Live
experience
Networking
and role
modelling
mentors
Formal
classroom
training
a new growth opportunity.

As we look back on the Bransons, Gates, and
Jobs of this world, its not surprising why they
succeeded. They learnt their trade in the field
facing new situations and learning and growing
through experiences. And the more experiences
they accumulated, the greater their learning
and growth.
Classrooms learning will always have its place
and relevance. In fact, part of what the team at
Leaderonomics is now working on is to ensure
classroom training is action-learning based
(which literally means training that is experiential-based) in all our modules. This will be the
future of training experiential based learning.
I have had nine jobs, and a number of roles
in the 13 years I was with GE. In that time, Ive
been exposed to different industries from oil
and gas to TV/Media to financial services to aviation and healthcare. My job functions ranged
from finance to HR to operations to various
leadership roles. Each experience helped build
my personal learning and each experience contributed to my personal growth. So, although
classroom training has its benefits, my advice
is if you really want to be a leader, go out there
and get some experience even if it means
working in a dingy start-up or a company that
is struggling. Those experiences will mould and
teach you much more than you would ever gain
from attending a lecture from a professor.
Formal
training
Networking
and role
modelling
mentors
Live
experience
GeT
nervous
Now were not ASKING you to get
10
nervous, were saying its ALRIGHT to feel

nervous. Even the most seasoned public
speaker usually has a slight case of the
nerves before speaking. Being nervous is
good because it shows that you recognise
the significance of your presentation and
that you are not numb to reality.
pause To leT
iDeas
sink in
Building on number 8, do more
keep iT slow
anD
sTeaDy
Presentations at work have the sole
Be
prepareD
Feeling nervous is justified
even if you are properly

prepared. Depending on your
experience with speaking
in public, you should give
yourself sufficient time to
prepare. Get your points
down early and practise,
practise, practise! You can do
this in front of your mirror or
simply in your head.
12
Top
10
ways
To Deliver a GreaT
presenTaTion aT work
than just pace yourself. Add vocal

variety and pauses to allow your
audience to really digest and
absorb your ideas. Again, having
your audience understand the
information you are conveying is
paramount.
purpose of conveying important

information. It is crucial that the person
you are conveying the message to is
able to understand you. Make sure you
pace yourself well. Keep it slow and
steady, but dont let it drag on.
3
6
manaGe
Time
wisely
No one wants to know how to
build a clock when he asks for

the time. Make sure you use
your time wisely, and focus on
your main points. Adding some
flair to your presentation is
great, but, dont deviate too far
from your main points.
make
your auDience lauGh
A little humour can go a long way, just dont overdo it.
Making a quick joke or witty remark at the beginning of

your presentation can help ease some tension. If you get
your audience to laugh, itll show that your audience is
engaged with you and thats a great confidence booster.
Did you know that our Top 10 lists are in video form too? Check out www.leaderonomics.tv/top10
1
2
JusT Be you
We allwere
all human
get a little afraid of the podium.
Be an experT
who
speaks
Know your content inside out! When
presenting at work, you dont want to come

across as a person dictating some main
points. You need to appear as an expert who
is sharing his knowledge and expertise. Be
ready to answer all questions.
iSnap me
for a video
http://thestar.com.my/isnap
Despite what you may think, your

audience ultimately wants to see
you succeed. Just be yourself when
presenting, especially if your audience
knows you as an individual. This will give
your audience the genuine you and help
you be somebody believable. Dont be a
speaker.
Top3 ways
show
passion
It takes experience to be a great
public speaker. However, you
can always be passionate when
you are presenting. Make your
audience see that you believe
in what you are saying.
Be passionate!
1. show passion
2. JusT Be you
3. DonT Be a speaker.
Be an experT
limiT amounT
of
TexT on sliDe
Powerpoint slides are great and are
always encouraged! Never forget however,

that your slides are a TOOL, you are the
presenter. Limit the amount of text on
your slide. Let your slides complement
your presentation, not be your actual
presentation.
THE
FINANCIAL
SYSTEM IN
MALAYSIA
By DEBBIE POZZOBON
debbie.pozzobon@leaderonomics.com
HE Malaysian financial system comprises a diversified range of institutions that serve the varied and complex needs of the domestic economy.
The banking industry can be divided
into the conventional financial and Islamic
financial systems respectively. These two systems co-exist and operate in parallel.
The CenTral Bank
At the heart of Malaysian banking is Bank

Negara - the central bank of Malaysia. This is
the apex of the monetary and financial structure of the country. The principal objective of
the bank is to promote monetary and financial stability that is conducive to the sustainable growth of the Malaysian economy.
The banking system, comprising com-
mercial banks, investment banks, and Islamic

banks, is the main source of financing that
supports economic activities in Malaysia.
Banking institutions operate through a network of more than 2,000 branches across the
country.
Islamic finance in Malaysia continues to
demonstrate dynamic growth with a comprehensive Islamic financial system that is supported by robust regulatory, legal and syariah
governance frameworks. The Islamic financial
system comprises four main components,
namely Islamic banking, takaful and retakaful,
(Islamic Insurance and re-insurance); Islamic
interbank money market and Islamic capital
market. Islamic banks accounted for 24.2%
or RM69.5bil of the countrys total banking
assets as of end-July, up from 23.7% last year.
Total assets grew at a faster rate of 20.6%
between January and July, compared with
15.4% in the same period last year.
Total
Commercial banks
Islamic banks
International Islamic banks
Investment banks
Insurers
Takaful Operators (Islamic Insurers)
International Takaful Operators
Reinsurers
Retakaful Operators (Islamic Reinsurers)
Development Financial Institutions
25
16
5
15
36
12
1
7
4
6
MalaysianForeigncontrolled controlled
institutions institutions
8
10
0
15
19
9
0
3
1
6
17
6
5
0
17
3
1
4
3
0
Source: MIDA (Malaysian Investment and Development official website)
The non-bank financial institutions such as

development financial institutions and insurance companies exist in conjunction with
banks to create platforms for savings. The
insurance and reinsurance companies conduct
life and general insurance businesses.
The development financial institutions (DFIs)
in Malaysia are specialised financial institutions
established by the Government with a specific
mandate to develop and promote key sectors
that are considered to be of strategic importance to the overall socio-economic development objectives of the country. These strategic
sectors include agriculture, SMEs, infrastructure, maritime and export-oriented sectors, as
well as capital-intensive and high-technology
industries.
As specialised institutions, DFIs provide a
range of specialised financial products and

services to suit the needs of the targeted sectors. Ancillary services in the form of consultation and advisory services are also provided
by DFIs to nurture and develop the identified
sectors. DFIs, therefore, complement the banking institutions and act as a strategic conduit to
bridge the gaps in the supply of financial products and services in the interest of long-term
economic development.
Now you have an understanding of the
broader market structure. What about the
jobs and opportunities in this market? Well,
according to Allyhunt.com, a 29-year-old top
investment banker with six years experience
can earn a basic salary of up to RM180,000
per annum! This number was extracted from
Robert Walters Global Salary Survey 2011. The
best paying finance job is managerial-related,

but if youre at entry-level, the best-paying
work is in the field of financial analysis or
sales. However, the true money churners
are the stock market traders or brokers that
receive attractive commissions. If money is
the driving force, well then that may be the
choice for you.
Many career choices in this market offer
opportunities to individuals with different levels of skill. I started in a bank in South Africa
as a teller, and progressed through the various
administration sections, until I was promoted
to a senior corporate banker many years later.
For me, this was one of the most challenging
and interesting jobs I have ever held. I had a
portfolio of clients that ranged from telecoms
to construction, importers, exporters, manu-
facturers, and property developers. Every day

was different, and I had the opportunity to get
to understand divergent industries and companies. I was fortunate that this position had
enabled me to meet so many different kinds
of people some great characters and others
that would remain etched in my memory for
different reasons!
The Malaysian banking market is currently
developing at a rapid rate. Datuk Seri Nazir
Razak, group chief executive of the CIMB
Group sums it up well: There are things that
we can learn from Australia, there are things
that we can learn from the West, things that
we can learn from China, we are very open. .
Internally, we have a culture where we must
learn from where there is a reservoir of knowledge, he says.
mystarjob,
saturday
October
2012
mystarjob,
saturday
13 13
October
2012
FiNANCe
Overview
The Malaysian financial system has played a catalytic role in

facilitating the growth of the Malaysian economy. Since 2001,
the financial sector has expanded at an average annual rate of
7.3% to RM3.2 trillion in 2010*, accounting for 11.7% of gross
domestic product (GDP). This strategic role of the financial sector will increase in importance as Malaysia becomes integrated
with the global economy.
Size of the
financial system*
9.1
DO wHAT YOU
LOve
Upside potential
from grater
internationalisation
(RM trillion)
6.9
11%p.a.
*Proxied by loans
outstanding, equity
market capitalisation
& bonds outstanding
8%p.a.
Name: Ronnie Lim

Role: Executive vice-president, head
of consumer banking
BaNk: Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd
YeaRs iN BaNkiNg: 24
educatioN: Bachelors of Arts in
Economics (Hons) Universiti Malaya
Love what I do in
banking and
finance because
3.2
Group
TechnoloGy and
operaTions : iT
11%p.a.
1.2
T
nc
u
F
alisT
speci
Source: Capital Market Masterplan 2 & BNM
u
ns
co
According to Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar

Aziz, significant new trends continue to reshape the financial
services industry. The intensification of the globalisation process, the advancement in technology and the unprecedented
consequences of the global financial and economic crisis have
contributed to a future that has become more complex, and
ambiguous. In the context of these fundamental and far-reaching changes, talent also needs to be transformed. There is now
an increased demand for highly-skilled knowledge workers
that are able to meet the changing requirements of an
increasingly globalised and borderless workplace.
Transition towards a high value-added, highincome economy and greater regional and international integration will require that the financial sector enhances its role in increasing the
potential capacity of the economy to grow and
become more developed. It is envisioned that
in this decade, the sector is expected to grow
Debt
at an annual rate of 8% to 11%, increasing the
Markets
depth of the financial system to six times of
including
Sukuk
GDP in 2020 (2010: 4.3 times of GDP).
Wealth
Management
(HNI)
er
ba
nk
Human
Resources
Corporate
Finance
Investment
(Asset)
Management
Derivatives
Corporate
Governance
Insurance
Broking
Loss
Adjustment
Focus on sales and

customer-service
arising from the
rapid expansion
in consumer
banking. Customer
segmentation,
loyalty and reward
programmes are
now becoming the
norm.
Sector is harnessing
use of technology
to introduce new
products and delivery
models. The advent
of mobile banking,
social media etc.
requires employees
with communication,
marketing and
branding skills.
reers iN
Financial services is no longer mundane. One can grow with the bank and take on so many
enriching and challenging roles in ones career. Lets take a look at some of the industry
trends which are influencing the demand for talent in the sector.
CA
emergiNg TreNDs
Claims
Management
Information
Technology
Credit
Risk
NCe
Ts
e
k
r
CApiTAL mA
Business
Development
and
Marketing
Reinsurance
for three things how to

preserve their wealth, how to
grow it further and how to
protect it. This is why I say
wealth management is the
future in Malaysia. This is also
why there is a need for knowledgeable financial advisers.
Lim shares that building
a knowledgeable advisors
proposition has presented
Alliance Bank with an opportunity to make a difference to
the customers.
We are working together
with our partners such as the
insurance companies, other
investment Banks, asset management companies and stock
brokers to create a unique
and compelling proposition
for our customers, this gungho consumer banking head
said. To gain their trust, we
must train advisers to educate
and provide advice on investments to them. We have been
attracting excellent talents in
the last 12 months to meet
this demand.
success mantra
Winning is not important;
wanting to win is!
Im the 14th child out of
15 siblings, Ronnie reveals.
It has taught me the value
of working hard. There is no
shortcut to success.
Love what I do in banking

& finance because
Shahnaz believes everyone must learn
to ask questions. Yes, including stupid
ones because he knows the fear of not
speaking up can lead to dire consequences.
When his job involves looking after
millions belonging to CIMBs clients and
the group, no question is too stupid to
ask as it is better to look ignorant for
a moment if that can prevent loss of
capital.
This KL-born banker began his career
in London in the 1990s, the financial
hub of the world and a great training
ground for banking talent. There, he
gained valuable experience in investment banking, risk advisory, trading and
sales, and risk management.
Shahnaz, who joined the CIMB Group
in March 2009 said: Its still relatively
early days for me in my current role and
the learning curve in banking is always
steep. I need to be focused, work hard,
apply my knowledge and experience
wherever possible, as well as learn from
and leverage off those around me.
Having spent many years abroad,
Shahnaz is of the opinion that
iNsU
Corporate
Social
Responsibility
COme Be A
pArT OF HisTOrY
iN THe mAkiNg!
Hamidah Naziadin, head of
group corporate resources
of the CIMB Group shares
the exciting times ahead
as Malaysian banks make a
regional footprint. As CIMB
is undergoing an exciting
transformation pace while
cementing its Asean footprint, it is also extending its
reach into Asia-Pacific with
the acquisition of selected
RBS cash equities and associated investment banking
businesses.
C
N
A
r
HOTJOBs
Malaysias quest to become a financial

hub will depend on its ability to build
the environment and infrastructure
needed to attract bankers, including
Malaysians.
Shahnaz, who gets a thrill from managing money, quotes Karl Marx who
said:Money plays the largest part in
determining the course of history.
Banking is a fast-paced, dynamic and
competitive environment, and Shahnaz
finds that it really stimulates and challenges the intellect, encourages creativity and promotes innovation. And there
is always reward for excellence and
performance.
The younger generation is increasingly well-educated, well-travelled,
inquisitive and tech-savvy, said this
married banker who describes himself
as a prolific armchair sportsman. We
need talent who have integrity, technical expertise, attention to detail and
organisational skills and expose them to
a range of banking activities.
success mantra
Always ask questions!
The financial services job market is hot! Bank Negaras Financial sector Blueprint 2011-2020
envisages a 8% to 11% growth per annum in the sector. The demand for skilled talent is
expected to increase significantly, particularly in specialised and niche areas, says Tay Kay
Luan, CEO of Institut Bank-Bank Malaysia (IBBM). Companies are hiring in following areas:
WeaLTh ManageMenT:
Driven by growth of SMEs and
high net-worth individuals as we
move towards a high-income nation
status
foothold both regionally and internationally, the need for experts in corporate advisory, corporate finance,
and structured finance is expected to
increase
InveSTMenT advISory:
Driven by new products in
Islamic finance, unit trusts and larger
participation of the rakyat in investor
base
rISk ManageMenT: The Asian

financial meltdown in 1998 and
more recently, the eurozone crisis has
highlighted the need for effective and
robust risk management frameworks
IT ServIceS: Huge demand as

more commercial and investment banks incur significant
expenditure on technology, in line
with a growing dependence on IT for
day-to-day operations
TreaSury and InveSTMenT

BankIng: As the sukuk, takaful
and asset management markets in
Malaysia continue to grow and gain a
SyarIah advISory: Driven

by expected four-fold increase
in global Islamic finance assets from
2010 to 2016
InSurance ManageMenT,
underWrITIng: Driven by
higher penetration of insurance
products
FiNANCiAL serviCes
OFFer OppOrTUNiTies
ACrOss BUsiNess
DisCipLiNes AND CATer TO
ALL TYpes OF iNTeresTs
AND persONALiTies. THe
iNDUsTrY ALsO TeNDs TO
COmpeNsATe weLL.
Chief executive officer of Citibank
Malaysia Sanjeev Nanavati feels that
banking has something for everyone.
From marketing and people-oriented
roles to more specialised technology and quantitative-driven careers,
banking is about different strokes for
different folks. Avid golfer Sanjeev can
vouch for different strokes, you see!
COmmerCiAL
Name: Shahnaz Farouque Jammal Ahmad

Role: Deputy group CFO, head of group CEO office
BaNk: CIMB Group
educatioN: Masters of Philosophy in Economics
University of Oxford, UK Bachelor of Arts in
Economics University of Cambridge, UK
Underwriting
Treasury
Client
Coverage or
Relationship
management
A
N
i
F
This article is brought to you by:
bankinG
Actuarial
Investment
Banking
Research
Fund
Management
shift in
population
dynamics has
driven the
private banking
and asset
management
industry.
Lim sees consumer banking

as the new glamorous sector in banking. With 24 years
of professional experience
garnered from international
banks and a 14-month stint in
Singapore, Ronnie is bursting
with ideas and a long to-do
list to make over consumer
banking in Alliance Bank.
While housing loans, credit
cards, hire purchase and personal loans are the bread and
butter of consumer banking,
Ronnie sees wealth management as the new frontier
that banks will focus on.
Lim is of the view that
discerning customers look
Compliance
Who
lesale
Size of financial system is proxied by the sum of loans

outstanding, stock market capitalisation and bonds outstanding. Source - Bank Negara Financial Sector Blueprint
2011-2020
growth of the
capital market and
securities sector
is a major player
in the financial
services industry
such as Investment
banking, asset
management,
wealth
management and
insurance.
Risk
Management
Internal
Audit
Retail Banking
Credit Cards
and Mortgages
Equity
Market or
Stockbroking
kiNg
BAN
AL
COm
me
rC
i
io
n

InTernaL audIT and coMpLIance: Specialist roles stemming from increasingly complex business environments and internalisation
Be OpeN,
Be HUNgrY.
Treasurer and managing director of financial
markets at Standard
Chartered Bank Leon
Koay looks for the right
attitude in potential
hires. Koay also believes
a hunger for knowledge
and exposure to various departments in the
bank early on can help
build a successful banking career. A lawyer by
training, he busts the
myth of boring banker
with weekends outdoors
bird-watching, diving
and biking.
BANkiNg
gOiNg regiONAL
Name: Nandha Kumar a/l Subramaniam
Role: Head, model validation and assurance,
group risk management
BaNk: Malayan Banking Bhd
educatioN: Masters of Science in Applied
Statistics Universiti Putra Malaysia Bachelors
of Commerce, Universiti Utara Malaysia
Finance is cool because

Numbers tell stories. Numbers paint
pictures. For Nandha, those stories
and pictures keep him on track to
manage risk at Maybank.
As head of model validation
and assurance, Nandha analyses
numbers and models to see how
they present risks to and affect the
banks bottomline. In 2009, Nandha
started the model validation unit in
Maybank from scratch.
I built the team, set the operating procedures and standards which
are still in use today, a determined
Nandha said, adding the model
has been expanded for use to the
rest of Maybank group in Malaysia,
Singapore and Indonesia.
Im proud the team has received
recognition. We completed validating all models as required by
Bank Negara within the stipulated
timeline which was crucial for the
bank to obtain its IRB (International
Ratings based approach for complying with Basel II norms) status in

2010.
In banking, Nandha said talents
must constantly take advantage of
opportunities to learn and create
better processes. For him, experience-changing events happened to
me throughout my career.
The merger between Pacific
Bank Bhd (first employer) and
Maybank was a turning point in my
career, Nandha recalled. It allowed
me to learn a wider scope of banking operations as I moved from a
small bank to the leading financial
institution.
success mantra
Always improve self and processes!
Next, Nandha, the eldest of seven
siblings, has set his sight for the
No.1 spot as group chief risk officer.
To know more about financial sector job

opportunities visit the IBBM FSI career
fair
The IBBM Financial
Services Industry (FSI) Careers 2012 is
heading your way once again
When: Oct 20, 2012
Where: Conference Hall 1, 2 and 3, KL
Convention Centre
Start by pre-registering or creating you Quick
Resume at www.ibbm.org.my/FSI2012/
dId you knoW?
The financial sector hires

graduates not just from
accounting , finance and business disciplines. Graduates
from diverse backgrounds
such as engineering, actuarial
science, psychology, marketing, communications, political
science and even microbiology
are working in the sector.
THe DemAND FOr TALeNTs iN

HigH grOwTH AreAs sUCH As
weALTH mANAgemeNT, COrpOrATe
ADvisOrY, sTrUCTUreD
FiNANCe AND risk mANAgemeNT
is immeNse.
Chew Siew Suan, head of group human resource
at Alliance Bank on the shortage of skilled talent
in specialist roles: Chew feels banking is not just
for accountants or finance people anymore and
welcomes graduates from diverse backgrounds
such as actuarial science, psychology, engineering, marketing and other fields. Increasing investments in technology have led to huge demand
for professionals in IT and customer relationship
management too. This travel enthusiast is on the
hunt for talent to make Alliance go places!
10
Name: Leong Mi Li
educatioN: Bachelor of Commerce, Finance and Marketing
Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
Name: Zulfa Malik
educatioN: Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Microbiology
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Name: Ahmad Al Farouk Ahmad Kamal

Role: Senior associate, investment banking
BaNk: JP Morgan Investment Bank
YeaRs iN BaNkiNg: Seven
educatioN: MSc Finance and Economics
BSc Economics London School of Economics,
London, UK
Love what I do in capital

markets because
Love what I do
in investment
banking because
The 1997 Asia financial crisis
left a deep impression on the
then young Farouk. The event
inspired him to discover how
the global economy works and
how issues related to it can
impact peoples lives.
I was part of a young
generation that grew up experiencing multiple financial
crises that were reported on
an almost daily basis by the
world media, said Farouk, who
was raised in Seremban. As a
result, I became interested in
the events that were occurring,
which led me to study economics.
During his time at LSE,
Farouk met and spoke to many
professionals at career fairs
before deciding on a career

in investment banking. He
said one of the most exciting aspects about investment
banking was the excitement of
successfully completing a transaction for a client that might
take months of hard work
to launch and knowing the
positive impact the deal would
have on a company or economy.
Its really rewarding, he said.
Farouk studied and now
works in a truly international
and diverse environment,
which, he said, has only been
positive. He believes it has
taught him the importance of
flexibility and how to deal with
different personalities from different cultures.
At JP Morgan, I am responsible for the origination (sourcing

for business) and execution of
mergers and aquisitions as well
as capital markets transactions
in Malaysia, said Farouk, who
has also worked with Credit
Suisse. I look after all aspects
of the deals that we are mandated on and project-manage
them through to completion.
Farouk particularly enjoys
working for a foreign bank
because he gains exposure to
many parts of the investment
banking business, which may
not necessarily be the case
elsewhere.
success mantra
Never stop learning!
CAPITAL
MARKET
- UNABATED GROWTH
RegulatoR sPeak
Name: Datin TheIja Mohd Jalil

Role: Executive Director, Corporate Resources
BaNk: Securities Commission
Capital market needs 14,000 new

talent over the next three years
The Malaysian capital market is
expected to more than double
from RM2 trillion in 2010 to
RM4.5 trillion by 2020, creating
some 229,000 new jobs. Linked
to significant growth prospects,
opportunities abound for individuals and organisations alike
in the challenges of developing
further scale, increasing liquidity,
diversity, and competing both
regionally and globally.
Malaysias comprehensive capital market encompasses a robust
conventional market - equities,
bonds, derivatives and investment
management - and a leading

global Islamic finance centre with
strong growth including sukuk
issuance and investment advisory
services. From a survey earlier
this year by SCs training and
development arm, the Securities
Industry Development Corp,
some 14,000 new personnel are
required for the capital market
industry between 2012 and 2014
alone. This includes 2,800 entrylevel executives, 4,900 licensed
representatives and 2,100 executives with dual conventional and
Islamic capabilities.
Role: Associate director, Financial Markets

BaNk: Standard Chartered Bhd
YeaRs iN BaNkiNg: Eight
Leong Mi Li and Zulfa Malik

are poised, articulate and
financially savvy. Truly epitomising the adage beauties
with brains, they are the
new breed who thrive
on the buzz of Standard
Chartereds trading floor.
Banking is IT for Mi Li
and Zulfa as they get to
execute deals worth millions on a daily basis. Mi Li
helps her corporate clients
buy currencies, hedge funds
and invest; Zulfa deals with
financial institutions to park
their cash in bonds and
commodities to increase
yields.
Mi Lis ride into banking was smooth. Though
she had no banking
experience, her double
degree got her hired into
the glamorous world of
investment banking!
My mentor, Eric Liaw,
was very patient in guiding
me on the basics of Treasury
and Forex, Mi Li recalled.
He made sure I practised
my Forex calculations and
assisted me in solving many
Treasury-related issues, thus,
helping me to be calmer
when dealing with clients or
complex situations.
In contrast, Zulfa, a
trained microbiologist, has
no financial knowledge.
Zulfa shifted focus from
looking at microbes to
studying numbers. Her yearlong stint with another foreign bank gave her insights
into Corporate Banking and
Credit Risk.
The first milestone was
passing the certification
exam with distinction,
Zulfa shared, adding she did

it within six months of joining the Fixed Income team.
It showed my managers
my drive and commitment.
I was also part of a team
that closed the first Korean
bond issuance in MYR for
the bank and the market. It
was hard work getting the
Malaysian investors to open
up to a new issuer but it
paid off in the end.
success mantra
Be brave and strive to be the
best!
Mi Li and Zulfa said to
be successful dealers, they
must be brave to make the
trade. Despite the stress,
they would not trade the
buzz on the trading floor for
anything tamer.
WHAT Is THE CAPITAL MARKET?

Capital Market
Overview
Size (RM bil)
Stock
market
1,246.7
Bond
market
758.7
Total: 2,033.9
Stock
market
273.1
Bond
market
444.4
Total: 717.5
2000
2010
This is the market where individuals and institutions trade financial securities i.e. shares or bonds. When we think of capital we think of raising
money or as bankers like to phrase it - funding. So in this market, shares
(equity) or bonds (debt) are often sold to raise capital or funds for organisations and/or governments. Funding through shares can occur at the
beginning of the companys life cycle as part of their start-up capital. This is
called their initial public offering (IPO) which is the first time that they issue
shares during the actual listing of the company on the stock exchange.
Alternatively, established companies can offer shares to the public to raise
money to fund projects. Bonds are interest-bearing instruments issued to
raise capital and usually with a pre-decided redemption date another
name for the bond market is fixed income. Malaysia has a distinction of
having the third largest bond market in Asia.
This dynamic market can change in the blink of an eye! The equity market witnesses rises and falls as prices of shares are sometimes influenced by
company results, projections, analyst reports, and economic data. However,
sometimes the market is driven by pure perception and is fuelled by expectations. Traders and bankers live and die by the opening and closing bells.
IN 2012, THE DOMEsTIC EqUITy MARKET REGIsTERED

A sTRONG GROWTH WITH INITIAL PUBLIC OffERINGs
(IPOs) WORTH RM17.4BIL. THIs REfLECTED A sHARP
INCREAsE Of 162% COMPARED WITH 2011. HIsTORy
WAs CREATED WHEN TWO OUT Of THREE LARGEsT
GLOBAL IPOs WERE RAIsED DOMEsTICALLy, NAMELy
fELDA GLOBAL VENTUREs HOLDINGs BHD WITH AN
IssUANCE Of RM9.9BIL AND IHH HEALTHCARE BHD
WITH RM6.3BIL. IN ADDITION, AsTRO MALAysIA
HOLDINGs BHD WHICH WILL BE LIsTED ON OCT 19, Is
ExPECTED TO BE THE LARGEsT IssUANCE.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in
his Budget 2013 speech.
IslaMIC fInanCe:
Name: Nor Hanifah Hashim
Role: Head/executive director fixed
income
FiNaNcial iNStitutioN: Franklin
Templeton GSC Asset Management Sdn
Bhd
YeaRS iN FiNaNcial SeRviceS: 19
educatioN: Bachelor of Science in
Economics and International Relations
University of Wisconsin, Madison, US
IslaMIC fInanCe
Love what I do in the

asset management
industry because
SLAMIC FINANCE is gaining more and

more traction globally. The global economic crisis in 2008 and the ongoing
turmoil in the eurozone have exposed
the weakness of conventional banking, while highlighting the advantages of
Islamic finance which is a safer option as
it is linked to real economic activity. The
underlying principles that govern Islamic
banking are mutual risk and profit sharing
between parties, the assurance of fairness
for all and that transactions are based on
an underlying business activity or asset.
The Islamic finance industry has grown
tremendously since it first emerged in the
1970s. There are over 300 Islamic financial
institutions worldwide across 75 countries
today. In the last five years, global Islamic
finance assets have grown more than 20%
per annum and this trend is expected to
continue in the long term. Islamic finance
worldwide assets reached US$1.3 trilion
in 2011, and are expected to increase to
US$5 trillion by 2016 a four-fold increase.
Internationalisation is expected to be the
billion
2,000
1,500
RM756.1
billion
RM254.1
1,000
500
billion
2000
(Actual)
2020
2010 (Projected)
(Actual)
driving force behind this growth.

Malaysia pioneered Islamic finance
30 years ago and is a global hub for syariah-compliant services. Today, Malaysias
Islamic finance continues to grow rapidly, supported by an environment that is
renowned for continuous product innovation, a diversity of financial institutions
Name: Phon Wai Choon

Role: Analyst, corporate finance
and capital management
BaNk: Malayan Banking Bhd
YeaRS iN BaNkiNg: Two years
educatioN: Bachelor of
Business, Finance Charles Stuart
University, Australia
Love what I do in
banking & finance
because
tor first started, Hanifah is at a privileged position

to push investment in sukuk to the international
market.
At Franklin Templeton, we are entrusted with
clients funds and sukuk is a great alternative for
lower-risk investment management. Sukuks are
linked to actual returns and cash flows of the assets
purchased (the real economy), as interest is prohibited under syariah-financing.
Success mantra
The Kaizen way continuous improvement.
Datuk Lee Kok Kwan has instilled in Hanifah the
need for continuous improvement. As her mentor,
he demonstrated the difference between being
No.1 and in second place. Hanifah is a firm advocate of continuous learning; Im still learning new
things every single day.
from across the world, a broad range of

innovative Islamic investment instruments,
a comprehensive financial infrastructure
and adopting global regulatory and legal
best practices. Presently, Malaysias Islamic
banking assets have reached US$65.6bil
with an average growth rate of 18% to
20% annually*. Currently, Malaysia has a
significant number of full-fledged Islamic
banks including several foreign owned entities, conventional institutions who have
established Islamic subsidiaries, and also
entities who are conducting foreign currency business.
The country has the worlds biggest market for sukuk, or debt that complies with
the religions ban on interest. The fastest
growing segment of Islamic finance is the
bond market or sukuk. Here, Malaysia, who
pioneered sukuk, accounts for 70% of total
issuance globally. However, sukuk is not
the mainstay of Islamic finance business
as new growth areas beyond sukuk are
being pushed by the regulator and market
players.
takaful, pensIon funds, wealth and fund ManageMent

thIs Is the future of IslaMIC fInanCe. InternatIonalIsatIon
Is also the way forward. prevIously IslaMIC fInanCe
was doMestIC-orIentated; now, It has an InternatIonal
dIMensIon that Is rapIdly expandIng.
Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Bank Negara governor
InternatIonalIsatIon
the way forward
Hanifah, whose passion lies in the bond market,

enjoys managing the sukuk and fixed-income strategies for her clients.
I joined Franklin Templeton to take on a pivotal
role in managing and promoting the global sukuk
and local fixed-income investment capabilities for
the Malaysia office. Hanifah explained why she
joined Franklin after 18 years with her previous
employer, CIMB.
I saw how the Malaysian corporate bond market
grew since 1999. Ive seen the incredible growth of
Islamic finance in Malaysia and internationally. Im
now even more excited to be part of the growth
in the sukuk market particularly from the buying
side. With Malaysia being the global sukuk market
leader (almost 70% of sukuks worldwide are issued
in Malaysia), I am glad to be where the action is.
Having helped to establish CIMB as the market
leader in the corporate bond market when the sec-
Market capitalisation of
Shariah-compliant
companies RM1,551.1
11
In Malaysia, the push is for new growth

areas such as asset and fund management;
for more innovation in products and services and, last but not the least, for greater
diversity of players in the industry. The sector is poised for exciting times ahead which
makes it the right place for you to build a
career.
Strong growth prospects for

sukuk market
RM1,331.1
1,500
billion
1,200
900
RM294
600
billion
300
RM39.6
billion
0
2000
(Actual)
2010
(Actual)
2020
(Projected)
There continues to be significant growth potential for

Islamic finance in Malaysia and the Asean region, says
HSBC Amanah Bhd CEO Rafe Haneef.
In MalaysIa, IslaMIC fInanCe Is 25% of the

total bankIng Market. If you look at the
CapItal Market, It Is More than 60% to 70%.
Phon dreams big. He grew up in a singleparent family with three siblings, yet saw
only opportunities in his life. His first break
into the banking world came in 2010 when
he was selected for Maybanks apprentice
programme.
I got to experience various roles from
front line serving customers to assisting
corporate execution decisions like working
on mergers and acquisitions, Phon said.
Now, Im an analyst in corporate finance
and capital management.
Basically, my job is to interpret, evaluate and inter-relate data, and develop integrated business analyses and projections
for incorporation into decision making on
corporate finance matters.
Another break came when he was asked
to handle an acquisition call by the management.
I was involved from identifying a target

to managing the potential risk, financial
performance, and due diligence. It was an
amazing and rewarding experience. I got
to apply theoretical knowledge to solve
real-life issues.
He appreciates having a mentor. Being
new in Maybank and the industry, he
admitted having a senior on call was
comforting.
I could just go up to my mentor, without the protocol of setting appointment,
and talk to him about challenges at work,
Phon said. The best advice my mentor has
given me is to think about work from the
other persons perspective. He taught me
to value add to the work Im doing.
Success mantra
Seize the opportunity!
12
How to
Network
By LIM MAY LEE
maylee@mystarjob.com
ETWORKING lunches, networking dinners,

networking opportunities: Weve all had
those moments when we have had to talk
to total strangers. Some people take to it
like ducks to water, but charming new people doesnt come naturally to everyone. If you fall in the
latter category, then this how-to is for you!
The first thing you should do when youre about to
make the rounds is to take a few deep breaths and put
on a confident front. Note: Confident is not synonymous with Aggressive. Dont pounce on people while
brandishing product brochures; try a firm handshake
and a Hello, how are you? held together with a friendly smile instead (you can practise the smile at home).
Feeling self-conscious and uncomfortable is normal,
but it could help to remember that while the people
you are meeting could be rich and successful, theyre
still human and can be persuaded to listen if you carry
yourself well.
Strategise, strategise, strategise. Just as how you
wouldnt run headlong into a war, so you shouldnt run
headlong into a networking occasion. Have a game
plan, so to speak, where you fix some goals you want to
achieve and results you want to see. For example, you
could plan to speak to, and follow up with, at least 10
people; or you could aim to set up a meeting with at
least one CEO. With those goals in mind, you can work
towards them instead of flailing around aimlessly.
The paradox of sales is as such: You need customers

to sell to, but selling too hard results in no customers.
This also applies to networking. Try not to lunge at people while enthusing about your company, product, or
even yourself. People respond to warmth and genuineness, so keep the conversation away from sales pitches,
unless they are really interested. Try asking about THEM
instead. After all, networking is supposed to be about
building a base of contacts. The more you know about
others, the better.
In the event that you do get an opening to talk about
your job, its a good idea to keep handy a short Unique
Selling Point (USP) that lasts about a minute or less.
Keep it just long enough to cover the important points,
but short enough to be interesting. Think of television
or radio commercials: They have to be pithy but yet
attention-grabbing. Your USP should follow those lines.
Its a good idea if you draft it beforehand and practise
on other people to gauge their reactions.
Lastly, walk around. Shyness has a tendency of rooting people to the spot, but networking means needing
to be seen and heard, and that means having to move
around and approach people. Try to meet as many
people as possible and not get monopolised, no matter
how interested that person is in you. You could always
take that persons card and contact him or her after the
event.
Not everybodys natural inclination is to be the life of
the party, but a little mind over matter (and this howto) should do the trick. Be prepared to make a serious
dent in your stack of name cards!
Be confident and
friendly, and avoid
standing in the
corner. The point
of a networking
event is to meet
new people and
project a positive
image of yourself.
Bite-Sized
HappiNeSS
By SIYAN LOH
siyan.loh@leaderonomics.com
WORK-life balance has become a common phrase in most workplaces these days. As a young working adult myself, I know
work-life balance is not as easy as balancing on a see-saw. It is
somewhat like Chinese acrobatics. We all are in a constant state
of spinning plates on sticks, concentrating on multiple balancing
acts. If any of the plates were to slightly tip over, all hell would
break loose. We yearn for more time, wishing we had more of it.
Time always seems to get in the way, doesnt it? We rush from one
thing to another, proclaiming Im so busy. Its almost a badge of
honour. Ridiculously, working adults do feel guilty for staying idle.
That thought scares me sometimes. It is scary to know how people
can be so consumed in the rat race
and, if we are not cautious, we might
become boring and bitter working
adults. Being a new kid on the block,
I do wonder if all working adults are
like that. Have they forgotten how to
have fun? Have they not taken notice
of the simple pleasures in life? Too busy, they say. It seems like
such a natural thing to say. But does that mean we are enslaved
to time, that time has gotten the better of us? I might be overly
optimistic, but I do believe that we can make time for everything
if only we want to. Next time, take a few minutes to acknowledge
and chat with the cleaning lady; celebrate the little victories with
your colleagues; look up at the clouds in the sky if you find yourself
stuck in the traffic jam; grab an ice cream from 7-11 if you are too
stressed out with work. We all have to remind ourselves to step
back and marvel at the heroism of the ordinary; take pride and
joy in the nuts and bolts of our everyday working life. Dont rush.
Simple things like these are commonly overlooked, but surely are
much needed daily sources of happiness and joy.
n Siyan enjoys popping bubble wraps. Her favourite past time is
staring at the sky and looking out for fluffy clouds. Buy her a balloon
and you shall make her day.
guts to
take the leap
13
have the
Lily with her

international
colleagues
working in a lab
in Holland.
Your courage to take the road less travelled

will lead You oN a woNderful jourNeY
By LILY NORFESHAH MOHD SHAH
HENEVER I have a
chance, I like to share
my post SPM story
with youngsters who
complain about their
proficiency in English. My decision
to improve English after my SPM has
allowed me to be what I am today.
Whilst being aware of our weaknesses is important, it is of even
greater significance to take corrective
actions. These actions mould our life
journey. Only when we strive towards
a defined goal do we grow in our
desire to be the best person we can
be.
Here is my story
I come from a middle-class family

where both my parents did not have
the privilege of going to school due
to difficulties during those years.
Being the eldest of their brothers and
sisters respectively and coming from
large families, my parents had to
sacrifice their childhood. My dad had
to quit his third grade studies to work
in order to support his family. My
mother had to handle all of the house
chores helping my grandmother

instead of going to school.
Because my parents suffered these
misfortunes, they take their childrens education very seriously. For
example, although my mum did not
understand a word of English or any
Maths, she sat beside me every night
to check my school homework. My
dad would tell me the same thing
every day before school: Sweetie,
I dont have any wealth to give to
you. All I can provide you with is the
education that I didnt get. So I want
you to always hunger for knowledge.
We have to take care of our wealth,
but our education takes care of us.
His words have echoed throughout
my life.
I went to a boarding school and
thoroughly enjoyed my high school
years. My only setback was my poor
command of English. One day, while
I was in Form Four, I met my best
friends brother who had returned

from the United States on his summer break. He went to there to study
Chemical Engineering after his SPM
through the PPP a preparation programme to help students who are
going to study abroad. Since that day,
I had this clear goal that I wanted to
go to the United States to pursue my
studies after SPM.
Finally, the SPM results were
released. I achieved good grades
in Physics, Chemistry, Biology,
Modern Maths and Additional
Maths. However, I only managed to
score a disappointing C in English.
Nevertheless, with courage, I applied
for the PPP programme. I was lucky
to be selected to study Chemistry for
my bachelors degree in the United
States.
However, after registering for the
programme, my joy was diminished
when I found out that the rest of the
PPP students had all obtained As in
English. In addition, they all appeared
to be from wealthy or educated families and who seemed to have strong
English backgrounds. After three
months in the programme, I started
to feel the pressure. I did not under-
how the
By TERRY SMALL
terry@terrysmall.com
REMEMBERING a persons name is one of the most important
business and social skills on the planet. Nineteen out of
20 people at my seminars tell me they are terrible at
this important skill! When we forget a persons
name, especially in an important business or
social situation, its not good. We feel socially
inept, uncomfortable, and embarrassed. Not to
mention the bad first impression we have just
made. You can change this. Fast. The secret lies
in your brain.
Close your eyes and think of a horse. No...
stop and really do this! Notice you thought up
a picture of a horse. You didnt see the letters
h-o-r-s-e floating nowhere in space. You saw a
picture of a horse. Your brain thinks in pictures,
not words. Case in point... you never walk up to
someone and say: You know, I remember your
name, but your face escapes me! When you picture something vividly in your brain, your memory improves 800%. Anything that improves your
memory 800% should get your attention! The
reason that you forget names is that you focus
on the word not the picture.
in Holland. Recently I was awarded a

scholarship to pursue my Ph.D in the
United Kingdom.
I am still learning and improving
my command of English every day.
The moral of the story is no matter
at what stage of life we are at, be it
post SPM; post Bachelors Degree, post
Master degree or Ph.D, we must not
stop learning. We must always strive
towards a clearly defined goal. A great
leader will never stop learning. Only
through the process of continuous
learning will we have the confidence
to leap from our comfort zones, come
out of our cocoons and fulfil our
desires.
Recently, I encountered these
words: If you do a task for just three
hours a day and keep practising for
10 years, it will make you an expert.
Whoow! Now I know what I would
love to do next. I want to be a writer.
I love to share stories and inspire others. I love to see people feel motivated
to pursue their dreams. Every success
starts with a dream. We must never
be afraid to explore the unknown and
winding road. After all, we choose to
live in this crazy world so we may as
well make the best of it!
ake you 10 times

Here are four steps to m mes (or anything):
better at remembering na
BraiN rememBers
Names
stand what was taught in classes.

It was difficult to translate words
from English to Bahasa Malaysia
and simultaneously understand the
concepts of Science and Maths. One
night, I called my dad begging him
to get me out of the programme.
My dad replied in his calm manner: Sweetie, you are the one who
chose this programme. You must be
responsible for your decision. I didnt
raise my child to be a quitter. Listen,
I will neither go there nor fix this for
you. You must finish what you have
started. That night, I took a crucial
leap in deciding on the course of my
future. I made the effort to listen to
and sing English songs as well as to
watch English-speaking movies. I was
lucky to have friends who encouraged
me to learn and speak more in English
without any embarrassment. They
also gave me constructive criticisms
on my writing. The rest, as they say,
is history.
I completed my B.Sc. in Chemistry
with Maths minor, and worked in
American and French companies
based in Malaysia. I later gained my
M.Sc. in food quality management
specialising in post harvest quality
Pay Attention: You

cant remember
what you dont pay
lf
attention to. Train yourse
ide
ins
ce
voi
to hear a little
is
your head that says: Th
.
ant
ort
imp
is
e
persons nam
it.
ber
em
rem
to
ose
I cho
Repeat The Name. When you hear something again out loud
retention improves 400%. This activates auditory neural pathways to your brain. It is not enough to hear it in your head. It must
go through your ears. So use the persons name back to him in your
response (e.g. Its nice to meet you, Tom. My name is Susan).
Write It Down. Writing

the persons name down
will improve your memory
another 50% (even if you
never look at it again). This
activates visual neural
pathways to your
brain. If you cant
write it down on
paper, write it
on the big picture screen of
your mind (e.g.
Spray painting
the name on a
wall or hanging
the name in neon
lights on Broadway).
Turn It Into A Picture. Thi

s is the big
pay-off! All memories are
created in
association with other me
mories. Here is my
favorite: I just picture the
person I have just met
doing something with som
eone I know who has
the same name (e.g. I mig
ht put them on a teeter-totter together). Later,
when you are trying to
remember the name, the
picture will drive your
memory. You will recogn
ise the other person in
the picture and say, Oh
yeah, thats Tom.
A persons name is the mo
st important sound
to that person in any lan
guage. You can get better at this. Start tomorrow
. Its good practice for
your brain.
In the next Brain Bulletin
Ill reveal more foods
that are good for your bra
in.
n Terry Small is a brain expert who resides in Canada and believes that anyone can learn how to learn easier,
better, faster, and that learning to learn is the most important skill a person can acquire. To interact with Terry,
email mystarjob@leaderonomics.com or terry@terrysmall.com
14
Careers with
long,
Confusing,
unpronounCeable titles
A CAR FOR YOUR RESUME
INSPECTION
Get that job you love and drive home a free car!
Despite the obvious guess, a carroter is not

what you think it is. No, it has nothing to do
with the vegetable. A person with this title
makes a living by increasing the quality and
condition of furs for felt hats.
( Contest period: 20 September - 14 November 2012 )
Contrary to the impression this job title

makes, an amalgamator does not have a
career based around action,
weaponry or power. Far from
it, an amalgamator is an
individual who attends to the
machinery that separates gold
or silver from other rock matter.
Just submit your resume online and youll

automatically be in the running to win a Proton Persona 1.6!
There will also be 7 shopping vouchers worth RM100
to be won every week!
Visit mystarjob.com now!
An agronomist does not

specialise in anger,
but in the sustainable production of
crops. Experiments are
conducted by this expert to
determine the best breeding patterns of a certain
species to improve quality of the product. The
solving of common
crop problems also falls
onto the shoulders of an
agronomist.
GOLD FOUND! !
TEST
RESU LT
EARTHQUAKE POTENTIAL AREA
Seismologists study the patterns of earthquakes and observe movement along fault
lines, through the use of various instruments. In
researching such areas, seismologists can pinpoint locations of potential earthquake risk.
Someone who works as a nematologist

studies the science of nematodes. But what
exactly are they? Nematodes are parasites
found in plants that attack plant cells, soil
and insects. Therefore these scientists study
the lives of these parasites, and how they
interact with their victims.
6
Contest rules and regulations apply.
A common medical specialist, that many have visited, has a very long
scientific title
that is usually unknown
to most. Normally
known as an ENT
or an Ears Nose
and Throat doctor,
this profession is also
termed otolaryngologist.
L ANG
GUAG
An aerial-photograph interpreter
does exactly what the name
implies, but for what purpose?
These interpreters take note
of details within photographs taken
from a birds eye view for the military.
Details such as resources, camouflaged
campsites and terrain are all important
aspects to take note of.
A speech pathologist does not study

communication per
se, but aids in the
improvement of communication. These specialists work
with people who have a wide
range of impairments that
detrimentally affect their use
of language.
15
We have four experts on

career management, HR
and office issues who
will address your questions weekly. We refer to
them as Careernomers
- experts in career matters who will help you in
your career journey. So
if you have any burning
questions to ask, send it
to dearcareernomers@
leaderonomics.com and
we will get the panel to
answer your questions.
I studied engineering because both my elder
brothers did the same. But now that I am in the
field, I have little passion for it although I may
excel in it. I am 30. Is it too late to switch careers
now after I have put in so much effort into studying and excelling in it? But if I switch, how would
I know what area to go into? Please advise.
Simon
Dear Simon,
I believe in pragmatic idealism

. On one hand,
from an idealistic point of view
, one must have passion
for ones work. I find myself con
tinu
work because I passionately con ously thinking about
nect with my work and
believe that through my work,
I can make a difference. It is not
too late to
switch careers. I was also abo
ut 30 years old when I switche
d from a career
in the private sector to one in
the public sector and I have not
regretted it.
Further, I believe that it is only
when you have passion for you
r work that
you can truly excel at it. On the
other hand, you need to be pra
gmatic from
the point of earning a living and
to
family. Hence, it requires connec meet your obligations of supporting your
ting your passion to your com
petencies and
to a viable economic profession.
For example, you can be passion
football but it is highly unlikel
ate about
y you can switch to become a
professional
footballer at 30. There is also
an element of your risk appetit
e, in the sense
of how willing are you to jum
p into a completely new field
. From your question, I sense a degree of risk ave
rsion. Hence, to reduce the risk
, you may wish
to research the possibilities of
switching into areas of work
that leverage on
your engineering competencies.
A small switch for example are
those who
switch from practising as an eng
ineer towards roles which are
more towards
commercial contract managem
ent or sales of engineering-ba
sed products.
Beyond that, the numeracy from
engineering will also bode wel
l going into
more financial related careers.
Banks are known to focus on
recruiting graduating engineers. It is a difficul
t decision to make but at 30,
you should be
willing to at least risk some cha
nge. So at the end of the day,
if you dont see
a future in what youre doing
today, dont procrastinate a swi
tch, it will be
harder the longer you delay it.
Johan merican
are those of the

n The opinions expressed
y those of myStarjob.
aril
ess
nec
not
authors and
to Just Do It...
u
Hi Simon!would be if I could just suggestcotomyo
plex creatures.
g
How nice it
to consider bein if you are 30, these are
beings have lots
hat
Alas, we human is... anythings possible. So w learn new things if you
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The good news
nce and
s never too late
majored in Fina
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the best days of ssic example of someone who crazy switch to Human
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ent nine ye
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built your cred
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le. Some say it ld, excelling in it and having
ledge and skillse
ib
ss
ow
kn
po
s
ur
It
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s.
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r
la
hn
Resour
icu
ric
rt
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th
pa
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ssion for it, imag
er
ev
d,
te
as
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ings w
w
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great passion fo
you can excel in
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for a second. If in doing something you have
is
th
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Thin
ld excel
more you wou
ine how much
u
to consider as yo
you would have new:
gs
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a
But here are
to something
lf to venture in
prepare yourse
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reer switch into neers, or
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i) Your appt aetbig risk taker, then you probinabglyanwengineer, maybe lead a grns
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ar
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If yo
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be
ted to engineer ing engineering projects, or passionate about.
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t you have passent lead
you are
em
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t
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ec
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th
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take bigger risks
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If you da
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sion for and lear
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Y
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ii) Your ficanreaernpaths after being stable anr al
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os
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and benefits. Af ifies your experience. Switchi nt career path, some
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th
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te
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an
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.
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n bu
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your passion is
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Y
switch especia
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ab
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ility and potent s. It
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im
no
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tle
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In th
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basically have
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u
yo
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If you have to go oyer that you would be able
of a pay cut by to speed in your
ty
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scratch and expe
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Deciding which are you passionate about? Do of free job inventory assessm for their opinyou
what
tons
t
to
is
n
st
ou
y
se
tio
tr
es
clo
so
le
qu
al
y
op
n
ke
ca
pe
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that passion in
you m
bs
jo
hours in a day.
ch
hi
w
e
e eight working to take some
th
s lie.
the web to se
d
th
en
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ke
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w youd lik
t needs you
ions on where
is your choice ho ings youre passionate abou
it
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da
er switch and it
e
th
of
At the end
try the new care engineering
ve. Doing th
u
lo
u
yo
if
yo
en
ng
hi
pp
et
ha
ck to
som
can
Ideally its to do k of it, whats the worst that ilure and you can always go ba ied, instead of
fa
thin
u tr
ur
yo
yo
y
sa
m
d
fro
an
n
ck
ar
!
risks. Come to
le
, you can look ba
t? At most you
rpe Diem Simon
doesnt work ou k out. 20 years down the road ur passion. Good Luck and Ca
yo
wor
if things dont regretting not trying to follow
d
an
ck
ba
g
lookin
ang Hui ming
Coming up in next Saturdays issue . . .

Building the
ultimate team
We find out how
from The Avengers
Also next week

In My First Job, business
writer and corporate growth
strategist,
, talks about how
he started at a supermarket
Christopher
Zook
bagging groceries
Dont fear
failure. Be A
Leader explains
why we should
embrace
mistakes
and struggles
Terry Small lists

We highlight
United Voice
and their efforts to
provide employment
to persons with
learning disabilities
20 brain
foods that
are tremendously
good for your
brain in Brain
Bulletin

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Saturday 13 OctOber 2012

YOUR ULTIMATE CAREER

says sitting in a classroom may

gives tips on how to network

advises Simon who is thinking

mystarjob, saturday 13 October 2012

E all seem to love or chase money to some

Angie Ng talks to Gatehouse

An elevator speech is a quick,

LinkedIn is a great social media

This week, Lim May

Our reader Lily

Send thankyoU noteS

After every interview, be sure to

Regardless, you should strive to

If you are facing a lot of rejections,

mystarjob, saturday 13 October 2012

IS first job as a junior banking officer more than

Besides learning the ropes about trade financing facilities

myStarjob, Saturday 13 OctOber 2012

mystarjob, saturday 13 October 2012

They didnt complete their education but

HAT do Steve Jobs, Michael

immensely to my personal, social and professional development.

Most people believe that learning happens

a new growth opportunity.

mystarjob, saturday 13 October 2012

nervous, were saying its ALRIGHT to feel

even if you are properly

than just pace yourself. Add vocal

purpose of conveying important

build a clock when he asks for

Making a quick joke or witty remark at the beginning of

presenting at work, you dont want to come

Despite what you may think, your

always encouraged! Never forget however,

mystarjob, saturday 13 October 2012

The CenTral Bank

At the heart of Malaysian banking is Bank

mercial banks, investment banks, and Islamic

Source: MIDA (Malaysian Investment and Development official website)

The non-bank financial institutions such as

range of specialised financial products and

best paying finance job is managerial-related,

facturers, and property developers. Every day

mystarjob, saturday 13 October 2012

The Malaysian financial system has played a catalytic role in

Name: Ronnie Lim

Source: Capital Market Masterplan 2 & BNM

According to Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar

Focus on sales and

for three things how to

Love what I do in banking

Malaysias quest to become a financial

rISk ManageMenT: The Asian

IT ServIceS: Huge demand as

TreaSury and InveSTMenT

SyarIah advISory: Driven

Name: Shahnaz Farouque Jammal Ahmad

This article is brought to you by:

Lim sees consumer banking

Size of financial system is proxied by the sum of loans

Finance is cool because