TO prepare youths for the job market, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Bachelor of Communications students organised three roadshows.
Titled “Jom Kerja: Unlock Your Future”, the roadshows were part of a final-year project of 90 public relations undergraduates of the Arts and Social Science Faculty from UTAR’s campus in Kampar, Perak.
The events were held at the organising students’ campus as well as Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) in Seri Iskandar and Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT), also in Kampar.
Held in collaboration with the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO), the initiative aimed to equip students with employability skills and resources.
It also reinforced a key message that “Industry exposure builds employability”.
The roadshows built youths’ awareness about MYFutureJobs, the national job-matching portal created by PERKESO.
Other employment-related services under the organisation as well as upcoming job fairs were also highlighted.
Several PERKESO representatives gave advice on job placement programmes, social security benefits and other forms of support.
The roadshows saw 170 students register with the portal.
Perak PERKESO director V. Mohanadas said many students were unaware of the career resources available to them.
He said MYFutureJobs stands out from other job platforms as it offers PERKESO statistics on top of job-matching services to support jobseekers.
“As a government-managed portal, it helps students find suitable jobs more effectively.
“During the roadshow, the Jom Kerja team displayed knowledge and confidence in promoting MYFutureJobs to these students, making it easier for them to explore these resources,” he explained.
Jom Kerja leader Lai Young Chi said the team believes in empowering youths with the right career exposure and opportunities.
She described the roadshows as a way to help university students prepare for the workforce, and to bridge the employability gap between graduates and industries.
“The success of the Jom Kerja roadshows at UTP, TAR UMT and UTAR marked a big step in preparing students for their career journeys,” she added.
The Jom Kerja team also organised a career talk titled “Shape Your Future, Start Your Journey” at SMK St Michael, Ipoh.
Attracting over 180 of the school’s Form 5 students, the talk was based on another of the roadshow’s key messages, “Building bridges for your future success”.
It provided insights into career paths to help the students make informed decisions about their future.
Speaker Lu Wei Hoong, a journalist, shared how he overcame work challenges and prompted audience members to think about their career aspirations.
This interactive session also helped the students better understand industry trends and job opportunities.
Lu emphasised soft skills such as communication and teamwork.
“No matter what career path you choose, the most important thing is to learn how to apply the knowledge and skills you have now.
“Work is not just about completing tasks. Knowing how to communicate effectively, handle differences and working as a team will set you apart in any profession.
“Your career aspirations may change over time but if you cultivate adaptability, problem-solving skills and a mindset of lifelong learning, you will excel,” he added.
The talk also included a video presentation on MYFutureJobs.
Teachers and school representative said the event provided insights into job market trends, essential work skills and career exploration tools.
They also said that the event would help inspire students to plan their futures, explore career paths and build employability.
“This talk opened my eyes to new career possibilities.
“I feel more confident about my future,” said one fifth former.
“The session was informative, and we appreciate the effort put into guiding students on career planning,” shared a school representative.
