More than half a million Malaysians are currently
unemployed according to the recent DOSM report. More concerning is that
approximately three-quarters of them are below the age of 30. While the
government's investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training
(TVET) is helping to create opportunities for technically inclined Malaysians,
there may be value in developing another pathway that receives far less
attention but offers substantial employment opportunities: sales and services.
At any given time, thousands of vacancies exist across
sales, customer engagement, account management, business development, customer
support, and related functions. These roles span almost every sector of the
economy and can provide opportunities not only for fresh graduates, but also
for displaced workers, non-technical graduates, and aspiring entrepreneurs.
TVET is an important response to the needs of
industry. However, it naturally serves those whose strengths and interests are
aligned with technical and vocational careers. Malaysia's workforce is much
broader than that.
Every year, our universities and colleges produce
graduates from business, communications, social sciences, arts, humanities, and
many other non-technical disciplines. At the same time, automation and
artificial intelligence are reshaping many clerical, administrative, and
routine jobs. As a result, a growing number of Malaysians will need practical
pathways into occupations that rely more on human interaction, relationship
building, communication, and customer engagement.
Sales and services can provide such a pathway.
The demand already exists. Across manufacturing,
technology, healthcare, banking, logistics, tourism, retail, and professional
services, organisations continue to seek individuals who can engage customers,
support business growth, manage relationships, and deliver excellent service.
These opportunities are not confined to a single industry. They are present
throughout the economy and across locations in the country. This is
particularly relevant today as many young Malaysians, including Gen Z job
seekers, increasingly prefer employment opportunities closer to home, while
many parents share similar aspirations for their children.
More importantly, they offer an avenue for many
Malaysians who may not naturally gravitate towards technical careers but who
have the potential to excel in market-facing and customer-facing roles.
Furthermore, this pathway can support future
entrepreneurship and self-employment. Many successful entrepreneurs begin not
with technical expertise, but with an understanding of customers, markets,
relationships, and opportunities. These capabilities can be learned, developed,
and strengthened through structured training and practical experience.
Of course, the pathway must be developed carefully.
The objective should not be to produce transactional or high-pressure
salespeople. Nor should it be dominated by the usual "rah-rah"
motivational programmes that create temporary excitement but little lasting
change. We already have too many "kem bina semangat" programmes and
not enough "kem bina tabiat" initiatives.
Instead, the focus should be on developing
professionals with strong fundamentals, sound ethics, disciplined habits, and a
customer-centric mindset. Participants should learn how to understand customer
needs, provide solutions, create value, and build long-term relationships. Such
training can prepare individuals not only for successful corporate careers in
sales and services, but also for roles as intrapreneurs, entrepreneurs, and
self-employed professionals.
In an increasingly competitive economy, trust,
service, and customer experience matter more than ever.
Just as TVET provides a structured pathway for
technical talent, a Sales and Services Pathway can provide a structured pathway
for people-oriented talent. The two are not competing priorities. They
complement one another and serve both job seekers and employers.
Malaysia needs engineers, technicians, and skilled
tradespeople. We also need professionals who can connect organisations to
customers, markets, and opportunities. Both contribute to economic growth, job
creation, and national competitiveness.
By complementing TVET with a Sales and Services
Pathway, Malaysia can create additional opportunities for unemployed youth,
displaced workers, aspiring entrepreneurs, and many others seeking meaningful
careers. In doing so, we strengthen not only employability, but also the
resilience and adaptability of our workforce in a rapidly changing economy.
Peace,
Anas Zubedy
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