Survey by Jobstreet shows 2023 remains to be a jobseekers’ market

2023 is expected to be a jobseekers' market in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, according to SEEK, the parent company of Asia's leading online employment marketplaces JobStreet and JobsDB. A new study conducted by SEEK, BCG and The Network found that 34% of talent surveyed are actively looking for a new job, with the top three motivations being looking for a more interesting position, lacking opportunities for upward career progress and unsatisfied with salary and benefits.

The study found that 74% of talent around the region are approached multiple times per year about new job opportunities, and 36% of those in Malaysia are approached every month. Additionally, 70% of the region's respondents and 69% of Malaysians feel that they are in a strong negotiating position when looking for a job. This suggests that potential talents are confident to look out for new opportunities despite fears of recession.

Findings – The Malaysian Context

In Malaysia, the study found that 1 in 3 employees are willing to try different careers by reskilling to new professions, approximately 5% more than the regional average.

Top 3 most coveted talent (based on the percentage of respondents who are approached frequently with job opportunities) are in the areas of:

• Information Technology
• Digitisation, data science and artificial intelligence, and
• Education, such as teachers and trainers.

Some 61% of Malaysians also expressed their preference for hybrid working models, translating to 7% higher than the global average.

Peter Bithos, Chief Executive Officer, Asia, SEEK, commented on the findings, noting that the balance of power in the labour market tends to shift towards employers as hiring tightens. However, many organisations in Asia are still recovering from the pandemic, and it is still a jobseekers' market. Employers need to know how to attract, recruit and retain talent.

The survey revealed that IT roles are the most sought-after talent in Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Philippines and Singapore, with job opportunities on a weekly and monthly basis. This is consistent with SEEK's observation of a 29% YoY increase in job ads for tech roles in the region, based on data from JobStreet and JobsDB platforms.

Talent’s Top Priorities

The majority of research participants (71%) stated that having a steady employment with a decent work-life balance is what they most want in life. This inclination is prevalent across occupations, nations, and age ranges.

This is consistent with the deal-breakers listed by job applicants when searching for a new position, with 17% naming work-life balance as the second-most important factor (after financial remuneration, or 22%). Both the amount of paid time off and job security rank third on the importance scale for job seekers.
The expectations of people with regard to their jobs have drastically shifted in recent years, according to Sagar Goel, Partner and Associate Director at BCG. Most job searchers today choose to work in order to live rather than the reverse. Companies need to understand that while offering a competitive wage may attract sought-after talent, it won't keep them on the job long-term. Equally significant is a business culture that values positive working relationships and promotes flexibility and work-life balance.

"The Malaysian Government has been visionary in introducing the Malaysia Digital (MD) strategic initiative to encourage and attract companies, talents, and investment while enabling Malaysian businesses and the rakyat to play a leading role in the global digital revolution and digital economy," said Vic Sithasanan, Managing Director of JobStreet Malaysia. With the Digital Economy projected to contribute 25.5% of our country's growth domestic product (GDP) from the existing 22.6% by 2025, MD is poised to be a significant growth engine for Malaysia.

Digital and technological abilities will continue to be emphasised. Companies must adapt to these evolving expectations if they hope to attract top personnel with the capabilities that their companies need, which includes putting an emphasis on work-life balance and flexibility through hybrid work models. (As was already indicated, 61% of Malaysians like hybrid work patterns, which is 7% more than the average worldwide.)

Ideal Hiring Journey

The survey also debunked and proved several recruitment myths and gave insight into what jobseekers want in their recruitment journey,for instance:

• A smooth and timely process is the number one way for an employer to stand out during recruitment (67%), as 49% would refuse an attractive job offer if they face a negative experience. 

• Recruitment platforms are the top channel used when applying for a job. Meanwhile, the best way to raise interest when someone is not looking for a job comes from a recommendation by a friend. Once they are interested, most will look for further information through social media and company websites.

 
• ​​​Advanced digital tools are not favoured even among the young generation. Many prefer to see personal interactions during the recruitment process, with only 24% stating they would becomfortable participating in an AI-led automated interview.

The report also offered suggestions for how employers could enhance the hiring procedure and the overall package they offer to applicants, including: how to get past their biases to expand their talent pool; how to adjust their strategy to different personas; how to get culture basics right; and more.

For more information on the reports in Asia, click here for Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines or you can also please visit: https://www.jobstreet.com.my/en/cms/employer/case-study/what-jobseekers-wish-employers-knew/

Local Merchants to lead Entrepreneurs

Growing a business in the food and beverage (F&B) industry is not an easy feat, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses which sustained growth are truly inspirational, especially homegrown brands that have built their business from ground zero and sometimes with limited resources compared to the bigger players.

It takes an immense amount of foresight and agility in adopting business models to suit current customer trends. The opportunities to do even better are aplenty, with many local merchant heroes opening new branches to meet popular demand for their food.

ShopeeFood is proud to partner with many of these local food enterprise heroes who have chosen the mobile app as their preferred digital solution and delivery provider. Many local merchants have successfully adopted digitalisation to expand their market. This is not a surprise as at least 90% of more than 800,000 local MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) are estimated to continue adopting digital solutions for their businesses by 2025.

“We are honoured that ShopeeFood has contributed to the success of our local merchants through our digital solutions. Being on our platform has opened up many potentials for our local merchants as they explore the advantages of incorporating digital solutions in their business models,” said Kwa Yin Leng, Head of Operations for ShopeeFood Malaysia.

“We are certainly proud of them and their successes. They are an inspiration not only to us but to other new entrepreneurs as well. We will continue to provide the support required to help uplift our local merchants, such as our upcoming year-end 12.12 Birthday Sale. Merchants can look forward to connecting with new customers as well as offer their loyal customers even more value and rewards via the promotions we have lined up,” she added.

ShopeeFood not only offers a convenient and seamless food delivery experience but also allow users to utilise its mobile wallet (ShopeePay) to make secure payments easily when ordering food. Merchants on ShopeeFood and ShopeePay can also leverage Shopee’s platform to discover and engage new customers. They are also able to generate more sales revenue via ShopeeFood’s regular promotions and special deals. Currently, ShopeeFood is available in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Selangor, Penang, Johor, Ipoh and Kota Kinabalu.

Hometown Favourite

ShopeeFood local merchant, Borenos Fried Chicken, has made quite a name as the favourite fast-food chain in Kota Kinabalu for their juicy fried chicken. The Sabah-based brand is so popular that they constantly receive requests from customers to open new outlets in other parts of the country. 

“Fans of our fried chicken are not only found in Kota Kinabalu but also from out of Malaysia, especially in Southeast Asia. We are thankful to our loyal customers who want us to open an outlet in their hometown,” said Janice Yeo, Founder of Borenos Fried Chicken.

The local enterprise started using ShopeePay in June 2021 and ShopeeFood in July 2022 to explore new ways to serve its customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. “As a business, we must evolve to suit the needs of the masses as the world becomes more technologically advanced. It was only natural for us to join ShopeeFood to reach a wider audience as well as to establish a more convenient platform for our customers to connect with us,” explained Yeo.

Yeo also added that customer transactions are more convenient and streamlined with ShopeePay which is easily available on the mobile app. “As both food delivery and payment are available under one application for our customers, there are fewer barriers for them to use either feature,” she said. 

Founded in 2015, Borenos Fried Chicken currently has three outlets in Kota Kinabalu – a flagship store in Asia City Complex, and two other locations in Plaza 22, Papar, and Alamesra, offering dine-in, takeaway and delivery services. The company is also planning to expand its delivery service to the peak of Mount Kinabalu for its fried chicken to be enjoyed just about anywhere.

Order these Borenos favourites from ShopeeFood: Full Spring Chicken Meal, a juicy whole chicken served with coleslaw, fries and drinks; the 1-Piece Cheesy Chicken Rice, Borenos fried chicken served with savoury cheese sauce and rice; and the Premium Chicken Burger, a made-to-order juicy chicken thigh drenched in sweet and smokey BBQ sauce between a charcoal bun.

Store link: Borenos Fried Chicken

Building Business Confidence

Dubbing itself as Malaysia’s #1 Tech-Driven Coffee Chain, homegrown brand ZUS Coffee first opened store in Kuala Lumpur towards the end of 2019. Today, it continues to brew success delivering over 8.8 million cups of coffee to date - staying true to its vision to evolve the concept of coffee consumption to make speciality coffee affordable for everyone, every day.

“Our journey has been positive with so many Malaysians loving our brand and products. Customers have been sending in requests for us to open up in their neighbourhoods. We also ensure that the local community benefits from our expansion through job opportunities,” said Stephy Foong, Vice President of Growth and Marketing, ZUS Coffee.

Since being on ShopeeFood three years ago, Foong says the coffee chain utilises customer data it receives from the platform to make better business decisions. “We can now predict a spike in sales period to better manage our inventories,” shared Foong.


For ZUS Coffee, going digital is not just an advantage for the business but also a way to give back to its customers, which in turn helps build loyalty. “The ease of ShopeePay and ShopeeFood have attracted many customers to utilise the platform, and in turn, we were able to reach out to new customers through it. The platform has also allowed us to better understand our customers’ taste preferences, and this helps us to create more innovative products around our coffee products,'' concluded Foong.

Try these ZUS Coffee bestsellers: Spanish Latte, espresso-based with sweet and textured milk, Gula Melaka Latte with espresso, gula melaka, pandan, and coconut cream, and CEO Latte, a stronger pick-me-up with less milk, stronger coffee.

Store link: ZUS Coffee

A Must for Survival

Not all F&B businesses were negatively impacted during the pandemic; in fact, some were even established at that time and have flourished since. One example is a popular local food enterprise brand: Classic Taiwan Braised Pork Rice and Dessert. This Malaysian homegrown brand selling authentic Taiwanese food with a local twist now has 29 outlets in Klang Valley, Melaka, Kampar and Johor with plans to open even more.

“Aside from constantly innovating our menu to attract customers and adopting technology for our daily operations, ShopeeFood has helped us improve our brand visibility,” said Tiang How Soon, the 36-years old founder of the brand. 

“We opened our restaurant around the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic lockdowns meant that we had to turn to technology to expand our sales avenues and discover more customers. We were also able to come on-board ShopeeFood easily and this was an important factor when we considered going digital. Since being on ShopeeFood two years ago, our sales have increased, and we often get positive feedback from our customers. More so because most of our customers are e-wallet users that enjoy seamless processes for ordering and enjoying their food,” added Tiang.

For new and modern entrepreneurs that are looking to start their own food business, Tiang offered good advice from his own experience. “Continuous learning is key. There is always a new concept, new taste and new service. There is no time for you to stop and rest,” he concluded.

Order these hot picks from Classic Taiwan on ShopeeFood: The classic comfort food Taiwan Braised Pork Rice, the popular street food Oyster Mee Shuah, and all-time favourite snack Taiwanese Salty Fried Chicken.

Store link: Classic Taiwan Braised Pork Rice and Dessert

The Sweet Taste of Success

It is no secret that Malaysians love bubble tea and dessert-inspired beverages. By just looking at the mushrooming of specialty beverage outlets, it is easy to tell how competitive the sector has become. Bubblebee in this respect is a local food enterprise that has done well.


Established just three years ago in Shah Alam, the Malaysian-based company now has 56 outlets in West Malaysia – and with growing demand, they are opening even more outlets nationwide in the near future. Currently, the business is also expanding into retail where loyal customers can also get their hands on Bubblebee merchandise.

“Bubblebee is recognised throughout Malaysia and we are grateful to our customers and their endless support since the opening of our first outlet. We believe in the idea that you don’t just build a business, but in building people and communities. This is why our motto is to bring smiles to everyone’s day – one person, one cup and one neighbourhood at a time. We are proud to have been able to deliver this and more to our fans,” said Shahmira bin Muhamad (Shuib), one of the three Directors for Bubblebee.

Incorporating technology into daily business operations has allowed Bubblebee to enhance its efficiency and food quality. This also enhanced customer experiences. Since joining ShopeeFood a year ago, Shuib said Bubblebee has leveraged on the platform’s seller features to improve its productivity significantly, which has led to an increase in profit margins as well.

Check out these Bubblebee bestsellers on ShopeeFood: Golden Series Ice Cream paired with honeycomb, Honey Ice Cream drizzled with honey and served with crispy cereal, and Milk Series for that creamy goodness.

Store link: Bubblebee

Make sure to check out December’s 12.12 promos and discounts from ShopeeFood and ShopeePay when ordering. Here’s what is in store: 

ShopeeFood

● Free Delivery with RM0 min spend

● Discounts up to 50% OFF on selected merchants. Lookout for these popular names: ZUS Coffee, Thong Kee Cafe, Old Town White Coffee, Bubblebee, Hotpot Kitchen, Black Whale, Coolblog, Tea Garden, Little KL Food Hall, Tea Can Tin, Pop Meals, Kee Nguyen - Vietnam Coffee, Nasi Lemak Saleha and much more

● Shocking Sale at RM12 until the 12th December 2022. Here are some yummy merchants to try from Marrybrown, Neighbourhood Food Court Kota Damansara, Restoran Mariya, Nurich Cafe and Catering, King Tomyam Kitchen, MyLaksa, BMS Organics, Tiger Sugar, Sangkaya, Baskin-Robbins, HWC Coffee, JuiceLab and lots more. Be sure to check details on ShopeeFood app:

https://shopeemy.onelink.me/356033421/cbsteheh

ShopeePay

● Get RM10 Cashback AND 500 Shopee Coins when you transfer with DuitNow min. RM50

Urban Bliss Wellness Putrajaya | The Journey Spa Package Review

Urban Bliss Wellness @ Mercure Putrajaya

When it comes to relaxation, the first thing that comes to mind would definitely be the word 'spa'. Going in depth into the word spa, of course, the behind keywords would involve the word 'wellness'. After all, what is relaxation when you don't talk about the overall wellness of both body and mind? In this post, I'll be taking you away to a little review of a recent retreat where I pampered myself with an excellent package that covers a full relaxation of body & mind with the Journey Spa Package by Urban Bliss Wellness Putrajaya. 

Upon arrival, i was served hot tea

Just before i jump into my review, let me just give you an introduction to the center. Located at Menara Shaftsbury interconnected to the soon-to-open Mercure Living Putrajaya, I found it to be located at an easy access location where right next to it would be a walking distance to Alamanda Putrajaya Mall. The property itself is very private and safe with security guards on patrol 24/7. Now to access Urban Bliss Wellness Putrajaya, it's not that obvious from the exterior, so you'll actually need to go through Mercure Living's entrance and inform the reception that you'd like to go to the spa, and the receptionist would be happy to lead you to the center. Talk about a hidden sanctuary, gotta love how it's very exclusive. 

Urban Bliss Wellness

Fifi getting my foot bath ready

As you enter the center, you will be greeted by their friendly receptionist who is ever ready to be at your service. Upon my arrival, the first thing I was offered was a cup of tea to welcome my visit. I definitely felt very welcomed and since I made a reservation, the receptionist was nice enough to host me while my therapist got the equipment and room ready for my 'spa spectacular'. Not long after, I was introduced to my therapist, Fifi, who will be providing me with the service throughout my stay at Urban Bliss Wellness. 

Washing feet before session with warm water

Disposables to change into before treatment starts

The session started with a foot wash where Fifi was directing me to change my footwear to indoor slippers and proceeded to wash my feet with warm water. I love how when the feet feel clean, your whole body feels pretty refreshed! After ensuring that my feet is well cleansed, Fifi then lead me to a private room where my full spa package would treat at. I love that the space was huge for a room of one, and to welcome my stay for this relaxing package, they offered disposable underwear, bra, and a hair cap to ensure that my clothes stay clean. My therapist left me for a while as i got myself changed into the disposables.

Inhouse products which features natural essential oils

Getting ready for my treatment

Skin after body scrub felt really smooth after showering

My session then began with a body scrub, and to my surprise, despite expecting it to be a little rough, Fifi was pretty good at giving a gentle body scrub. She was scrubbing in circular motions most of the time and she really made sure that every part of my body was well scrubbed and polished. The session was roughly about 40 minutes, and once we're done with the scrubbing, Fifi gave me a bath robe to change into and lead me to the shower room to wash all the residue off. My body really felt like it was well polished and all the dead skin was definitely scrubed away! The bathroom was decent and had shampoo and body wash prepared, so you dont have to worry about fully equipping yourself during your stay.

Aromatherapy Body Massage 

After coming back from the shower, we then proceeded to the next session which was the signature body massage (my favourite part of all!). Now, typically massages are pretty much about pressure over the body points, but at Urban Bliss Wellness, the massage i had was slightly different than usual. Instead of applying pressure, this was a full body aromatherapy massage. It was indeed a little different, but honestly speaking, i enjoyed the scent of the aroma used during the massage. I enjoyed it so much that i fell asleep throughout the 2nd half of the massage. It was really relaxing and Fifi was really gentle in massaging the body with slight pressure applied at my back area since i requested to put extra pressure on my back. Overall, i would have to say that it was really relaxing and the aroma made a good match with the massage. Recommended! That took about 80 minutes before we proceeded to the last session, which would be the rebalance facial. 

Fifi Cleansing my face

The aromatheraphy face oil massage

Face mask to clear clogged pores

The Rebalance facial happens to be the last session from my package and its estimated duration would be within 60 minutes. Since I was wearing light makeup, Fifi removed my eye makeup with gentle makeup remover and started cleansing my skin with their in-house cleanser, followed by a face scrub, face oil massage, face mask then application of toner, and cream then ending with an application of sunblock. I would have to say that the highlight of the facial was that I noticed that Fifi has a unique technique of giving me a face massage. So, not only that she was cleansing my skin, but my face was experiencing a massage that encourages smooth blood flow. My face felt really cleansed and lightweight after the session! Also, for the record, They actually use their in-house skincare set which is exclusive to Urban Bliss. Despite usually worrying about what my skin is exposed to, I can safely say that their skincare range is gentle and safe. My  skin felt amazing after the session 

After treatment is complete. Can you tell how relaxed and happy i am? 

I dont know about you, but my skin in glowing!

I started my spa at 11.30am and it ended at about 2.50pm! Talk about a full spa experience, at Urban Bliss, you can really pamper yourself with the full package of relaxation. Despite it being a 3-hour session, trust me when I  say that it felt really fast? I barely felt the time and throughout the whole session, I would have to say that it made my day. I really felt relaxed throughout my whole week after the spa package. It's definitely a mood booster if you ask me. 

The other massage area's avaialble

I believe this would be the foot reflexology area

My mind and soul is at ease after the treatment

All in all, for the full 3-in-1 Urban Bliss Journey priced at RM468, I would have to say that it was really worth it if you're looking to really relax your mind and body. I've been to a lot of centers myself and what makes Urban Bliss different would be that it focuses on destressing the mind and not just the body. Walking out of the center, I will tell you that my body felt so light while my skin feels amazing and my mind was just at ease thanks to the aromatherapy. Well, i guess this concludes my review and i hope you found it useful. I would definitely look forward to my next visit~

The Samsung Galaxy A33 User Experience | Foodie Content Creator

As a writer and a content creator, I would have to say that staying connected is key when it comes to my overall lifestyle. One of the gadgets that I cannot live without would be two things, one a mobile phone, and the other being my laptop. With these two devices that goes hand in hand for the past few years of my life, I can confidently say that I can live without them! But of course, when it comes to keeping up with the latest features and technology, an upgrade is always a must. And this time around, I'll be sharing with you a perspective of what it's like to be using the Samsung Galaxy A33 in my daily life as a content creator. 

I went to get myself the Samsung Galaxy A33 in white because I find white to be an everlasting classic color that would suit practically anything that I wear. It's also a very chic shade considering that it's full-on white even up to the lens of the camera making it look very modern in appearance. You might wonder why I got the Galaxy A33? Well, for starters, the reason why I went for this model because the specs of the camera suit the needs of my digital era lifestyle offering up to 48MP quality photos, plus the 5G specs that offer the speed that I need when I'm living in the city! Other than that, it has been designed to offer a two-day battery life, making it great for long usage when I'm out and about trying to explore and share about the everyday life as a blogger and for the purpose to create memories to be recorded in social media. 

 Sleek Body & Appearance

Starting with the appearance of the camera, I got to admit that the design of the Galaxy A33 is very stylish, slim, and sleek which reflects the era that we live in today. If I would have to describe the phone in 2 words, I'd say it's minimalist and techy! It's pretty, durable, and offers functions that would suit any person who is all about detail. The glass of the mobile uses the Corning Gorilla Glass 5, which makes it very durable and it also has IP676 water and dust resistance feature to ensure that it still looks good after any unexpected accidents. Being excited about everything that surrounds me, this mobile gives me the assurance that it will withstand even the toughest scenarios! 

Camera Features and Clarity

Taken with the Main Camera (8MP)

Taken with Main Camera (48MP)

Offering quad camera's in one lightweight device, I would say that this is an accomplishment of its own! I used to bring around my bulky camera with its interchangeable lenses to take different angles of photos, but with the Samsung Galaxy A33, all I need is to slide it into the back of my pocket and I'll be ready for any unexpected moments! The mobile offers a main camera of 48MP, a depth camera of 2MP, an Ultra Wide of 8MP, and a Macro Camera of 5MP with a front camera of 13MP. Overall, I think the main usages of the device would typically be the main camera which offers a huge clarity, and the front camera for any sudden video meetings to catch up with. 

Taken with Main Camera

Taken with Main Camera (48MP)

Taken with Main Camera (Night mode)

Honestly, it offers pretty good specs to suit today's digital era, where we revolve a lot around e-sports and mainstream social media because the features of the mobile complement the camera. Not many cameras offer good quality images when it's low in lighting, but this Galaxy A33 is ready for breathtaking sunset pictures! Since it offers an innovative AI-powered camera, the processor can improve night shots which synthesizes up to 12 images all at once. It even brightens up videos in low lighting while giving less noise quality to ensure that it performs at its best possible. I tried and tested this at night, and wow I am impressed!

Audio Accessories and Usage Speed

In terms of audio accessories that would be unique to the latest Galaxy A series would be that its designed to seamlessly work with other Galaxy devices. I was a little unsure about this feature at first, but then when I did a little more digging on this, I was surprised to find that with the Galaxy Buds Series, you can connect the buds with more than 1 pair of buds, which means that if you're listening to music or streaming through your mobile, you can stream together with a friend and use your device as a screen. To me, this feature is really handy when I want to get a little cuddly with my husband while the kids conquer the TV at home. On top of that, there's also this feature where you can link to windows 11 and connect the Galaxy A series to a windows PC to work effortlessly. I'd say that's pretty impressive.

On top of that, if you're a gamer, I would have to say that the Samsung Galaxy A33 is sufficient in ensuring that your gaming experience is a smooth one. With 2 days battery life and 90Hz Super AMOLED speed, it would give you a silky smooth experience. On top of this feature, I would have to say I enjoyed editing videos on the go considering it was very smooth to edit any films. Skip the hassle of transferring videos and photos into your desktop and do it while you're having lunch. 

The Final Verdict

Ultra Wide Angle Camera of Restaurant (8MP)

Portrait mode which offers harp clear images

As a verdict, I would say that I'm beyond impressed with the Samsung Galaxy A33. Being priced at RM1,499 only, it's a definite value for money to match the specifications and features of the device. If you're looking for a mobile within a certain budget, I would say that this mobile is decent for daily usage, even for a content creator! Offering a sufficient high megapixel camera quality that also takes portrait shots, plus the low light AI adjustments, it makes taking photos and being creative enjoyable. 

Landscape photography with backlights

Food photography to show enhanced color 

Food photography to test clarity

Considering this is one of the latest Galaxy A series, I can't deny that it's well crafted. A pretty good investment if you're looking to create content be it for youtube, Instagram, or simply just for a gaming experience to enjoy. Will continue using this mobile to explore and I'll be updating some content with what this mobile can do! Be sure to follow my social media accounts to keep yourself updated, or if you do have any questions in mind, feel free to leave a comment below and I'll get back to you soonest.

More details on Samsung Galaxy A33 (click here)

*All photos that were taken in this post is by the Samsung Galaxy A33 with no edits