Land the Job: Build a Standout CV and Ace the Interview

You do not find a career, you build one. Malaysia is a good place to start

Job finding platforms are online marketplaces where employers post roles and candidates apply. They work like search engines for jobs. You create a profile, upload your CV, and filter by role, industry, salary, and location. Many platforms use applicant tracking systems, so keywords from the job ad matter. Good platforms also offer alerts, company pages, and tips to improve your applications.

Platforms you should use

JobStreet Malaysia: The largest job site in the country with strong employer coverage and filters. Build a profile, upload your CV, and set job alerts.
LinkedIn Jobs: Follow Malaysian companies, set alerts, and apply with your profile. Use the new AI search and fit analysis if you have Premium to speed up shortlisting.
MYFutureJobs by PERKESO: Government portal with career fairs, coaching, and labour market data. Helpful for fresh grads and first jobs.
Hiredly: Popular with young professionals and startups. Rich company pages and quick apply.
Glints: Strong for digital, marketing, tech, and internships across Malaysia. Daily updates and category browsing.
Ricebowl: Broad roles including multilingual listings and internships. Simple search and fast apply.
FastJobs: Best for non executive, part time, and contract roles. Mobile first and quick to apply.
GRADUAN: Career content, fairs, and graduate friendly roles. Good for employer discovery and events.
Jobstore: Extra coverage and job distribution to multiple sites. Useful to widen reach.

Make your profile attractive

Use a clear headline. Example: Final year Computer Science student, Python and SQL, internship ready July 2026.
Add a tight summary. 3 to 4 lines. State degree, skills, outcomes, and visa status or graduation date.
Show outcomes, not duties. Example: Built lead scoring model that lifted demo bookings by 22 percent.
Upload a clean photo. Neutral background. Natural light. Smart casual.
List skills that match Malaysian job ads. Prioritize MS Excel, PowerPoint, English, Bahasa Malaysia if you have it, and any industry software.
Build social proof. Get two short recommendations from lecturers or supervisors.
Set alerts on all platforms. Apply within 24 hours for best response rates.

CV techniques that work in Malaysia

Keep it to one page for students and fresh grads. Use two pages only if you have a strong project or work history.
Use a simple layout. Sections in this order, Contact, Summary, Education, Skills, Projects, Experience, Activities.
Mirror the job ad. Repeat exact keywords in your bullet points so ATS systems match you.
Write outcome bullets. Verb plus task plus metric. Example, Led 4 person team to design bamboo footbridge prototype, cut material cost by 18 percent.
Quantify everything. Users handled revenue, time saved, response time, error rate, grades, awards.
Add a projects section. Show 2 to 3 relevant projects with links to a portfolio, GitHub, or PDF.
Name your file clearly. FirstName_LastName_Role_2025.pdf.
Remove noise. No photos in the CV for most roles, no long addresses, no generic objective lines.

Answering interview questions

Use the STAR method for behavioural questions. Situation, Task, Action, Result. Keep each answer under two minutes.

Tell me about yourself. 60 to 90 seconds. Education, one or two core skills, a short proof story, and why this role.
Why Malaysia and why this company. Tie your skills to their products and local market. Mention any Bahasa skills or regional
experience.
Strengths. Pick one technical and one soft skill with proof.
Weakness. Pick a small, fixable one. Show how you are improving.
Conflict or challenge. Use STAR. Show what you learned and what changed.
Salary. Give a range based on entry roles for your function in Malaysia, then pivot back to role fit.
Visa and start date. Be clear and positive. State your graduation date, available start month, and any pass you can hold after
study.

Networking that gets replies

Short outreach. 3 lines to hiring managers or alumni. Who you are, the value you bring, and a tiny ask, like a 10 minute chat or advice on a role.
Engage with posts by target employers. Comment with insights, not compliments.
Attend GRADUAN and MYFutureJobs fairs. Collect names, then follow up with a one paragraph thank you message and your

Portfolio and proof

Build a simple one page site or Notion page. Add 3 projects with a problem, approach, result, and link.
For marketing or design, show before and after screenshots and one metric.
For data or engineering, include a readme, code link, and a result chart or photo.
For business roles, attach slide snapshots and a summary of impact.

Common mistakes to avoid

Generic mass applications with no tailoring.
Long cover letters. Keep it to 120 to 150 words.
Missing outcomes. Duties without numbers reduce your signal.
Unclear work rights and start date. Always state them.
Using only one platform. Spread your search across at least four portals.

One week action plan

Day 1. Draft a one page CV and a 90 second elevator pitch.
Day 2. Build or update LinkedIn, JobStreet, and one more portal profile. Set three alerts on each.
Day 3. Create a project portfolio page.
Day 4. Shortlist 20 roles and tailor your CV to five of them.
Day 5. Do three mock interviews using STAR answers.
Day 6. Network with five people in your target companies.
Day 7. Review results, refine your CV bullets, and send five more tailored applications.