Making the best of it: Nurul Amiza Jeffry (left), who holds a Diploma in Art Management, and Nur Syahirah Mohd Noor (right), who has a Bachelor in Special Education, are currently working for a local coffee chain in Kuala Lumpur. Many local graduates are struggling to find suitable careers in their chosen fields of study. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Finding a job that matches one’s qualifications is becoming an uphill battle for many Malaysians, prompting graduates to explore alternative career paths.
From diplomas to master’s degree holders, many struggled to land roles that fully utilise their skills, affecting both career satisfaction and disposable income.
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A woman who wished to be known as Sarah, 45, graduated with a diploma in Information Technology (IT) but never landed a job in her chosen field.
Instead, she worked as a counter nurse in a Subang hospital, moved into logistics, and eventually settled into an administrative role at a media company for over two decades.
“All the places I applied to were looking for candidates with experience and a master’s in IT, neither of which I had,” she said.
Financial pressures also weighed heavily on her then, as she was supporting her younger brother’s education.
“I wanted to continue to university, but circumstances back then made it very challenging,” she said. After her brother completed his studies, Sarah considered returning to finish her degree but ultimately decided against it.
She also reflected on her choice to study IT, influenced by the government’s Multimedia Super Corridor initiative to build Malaysia into a high-tech hub, but she regretted the path.
“If I had studied accountancy, perhaps finding a job would have been easier, with less competition,” she said.
Even holding advanced degrees does not guarantee a smooth path. Michael Ch’ng, 30, who holds a Master’s in Education, opted to open his own private tutoring centre.
“Some roles require a doctorate or professional certification. With just a master’s, I might have ended up in a psychology role paying only RM3,000 to RM4,000 a month,” he said.
Ch’ng noted that psychology graduates often struggle to find roles in their field.
“It may be easy for us to work in human resources in a corporate organisation, but I decided on a separate path,” he said.
Similarly, Lim, 26, who completed her Bachelor of Science majoring in Psychology, now works as a social media specialist.
She cited the unestablished market for psychology services in Malaysia and the high qualification requirements for practising therapists as barriers.
“In Malaysia, psychology graduates usually work in hospitals or childcare. That didn’t appeal to me. I wanted to work in counselling and therapy, but I was concerned about the qualifications required to provide such services,” she said.
Lim had also considered pursuing a master’s abroad to potentially practice as a psychologist in the United Kingdom, which would have offered higher income potential.
Despite the detour, Lim said she is satisfied with her current job.
