TalentCorp: The Graduate Employability Boot Camp

Employers and universities working together to produce work-ready graduates

Did you know?
Although over 100,000 students graduate each year with a first degree, roughly one out of 3.2 remain unemployed six months after graduating.

The Graduate Employability Boot Camp is an employability enhancement programme initiated by Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (TalentCorp) together with employers and universities, which equips fresh and job-seeking graduates with commercially useful soft skills that will make them attractive to employers.

Selected graduates participating in the boot camp undergo three days and two nights of training conducted by human resources (HR) experts and industry practitioners who play key roles in delivering the training modules.

Following on from the success of boot camps organised last year in Kelantan, Penang, Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur which benefited over 350 graduates, universities and employers are increasing their support this year to ensure more graduates benefit from this once-in-a-lifetime training opportunity.

Providing skills geared towards employment

Based on graduate employability survey findings by the World Bank and TalentCorp published in the Malaysia Economic Monitor June 2014, firms regularly cite talent as one of their top business challenges, suggesting a mismatch between recent graduates and employers’ demands.

More than 80% of the 200 employers polled highlighted the need for university curricula to be more applicable to industry needs, particularly in providing students with more practical training and industry exposure.

In line with TalentCorp’s efforts towards motivating industry-academia collaboration, the Graduate Employability Boot Camp encourages industry practitioners to adopt a hands-on approach in shaping their future talent.

As part of a talent-tiering intervention mechanism which aims to streamline talents according to their competency levels and match them to the right interventions, the graduates who complete the employability boot camp will be interviewed by hiring employers with the aim of securing employment.

Those who do not secure employment immediately will have the opportunity to undergo further employability enhancement programmes tailored to their needs.

What do employers says?

What do graduates say?

A quick guide to the graduate employability boot camp

What is the graduate employability boot camp?

A 3D/2N residential boot camp tailored to prepare graduates for the workforce through a series of intensive, fun and invaluable workshops covering CV tailoring, grooming etiquette and interview skills.

Why join the boot camp?

• Improved job interview skills and soft skills through activities designed for the boot camp.
• Understand graduates’ strengths and interests, and discover their potential.
• Learn to communicate well with recruiters.
• Connect with potential employers and understand what they look for in prospective talent.
• Enhanced personal presentation skills, and get help with writing the perfect CV.

What kind of activities are there?

Ice breaking : A series of activities to help participants get to know each other.

Grooming Etiquette : Grooming tips to help you fit into the working environment.

Talent Matching : Helps graduates understand their capabilities towards gaining employment.

Cover Letter and CV Review : Guides graduates on preparing an informative resume and cover letter which will help them get through that first shortlist.

Know Your Company : Activities include participants conducting research on an assigned list of companies, to help them understand the industry and respective companies.

Interview Do’s and Don’ts and Responding to Interview Questions : Tips and tricks for job-seekers during an interview.

Unleashing Your Thinking : Experiential learning and free debate to encourage creative and critical thinking.

Who can take part?

• Malaysian citizens under 27 years old
• Bachelor’s degree holders from local public or private universities
• Fresh graduates, or graduating students seeking employment less than 12 months after final exams
• Have not participated in any government-funded programmes (e.g. SL1M, SL1M-GREEN, Bank Negara Graduates Programme)

How do I sign up?

Sign up via http://bit.ly/BOOTCAMP2016 or contact your university career centre.

To find out more about the other initiatives by TalentCorp, click here.

For more articles on Company Profiles, click here.