1) Please share with us your background before joining AnyMind Group I was initially from the media industry, but somehow, I ended up in the corporate industry as HR Talent Acquisition for over three years now. Working at AnyMind has been a great fit for me, allowing me to tap into my passion for the creative industry while utilizing my talent acquisition skills to the fullest.
2) Explain like I’m five: What do you do in your role, and how does it fit into the wider range of AnyMind Group’s business? My role is like being a professional matchmaker for our company. Just like how matchmakers bring together two people who are a perfect fit, I do the same, but with job seekers and our company. Think of it this way: Our company is like a puzzle, and we need all the right pieces to make it complete. My job is to find those missing puzzle pieces, aka talented individuals, who will fit perfectly within our company culture, values, and job requirements. Being a Talent Acquisition specialist is not just about filling job vacancies. It’s about bringing together the perfect pieces of the puzzle, creating a vibrant and thriving workforce that contributes to the long-term success of a company.
3) How has your time been at AnyMind so far? What are the things that stand out to you about the company? My time in AnyMind has been amazing! Everyone is super down to earth and has a “work hard, play hard” kind of culture, where we put in our best efforts while also enjoying ourselves along the way. One thing that I truly appreciate about AnyMind is the flexibility in communication. Whether it’s interacting with my team or discussing matters with management, there’s always an open and supportive environment. It allows us to collaborate effectively and ensures that everyone’s voices are heard. It’s a place where I feel motivated, valued, and excited to come to work every day!
4) How is it like working as part of your local team and also as part of the wider regional unit? Working with my local HR team has been absolutely amazing! Despite being a small team, we work really well together. I want to give a special shoutout to my boss, Kye, who has provided me with tons of opportunities to explore new tasks and enhance my skills. The support and encouragement have truly been invaluable.
5) What are some key traits that you feel people in your role should have, and why? Wow, there are actually quite a few, but if I were to choose the top 3 traits, I would say Communication Skills, Expectations Management & Patience.
The most crucial skill is to have excellent communication, the reason being we are constantly communicating with candidates, hiring managers, and other stakeholders throughout the hiring process and have to make sure every piece of information and expectations are aligned with every party at all times.
The ability to manage the expectations of both the company as well as the candidate is crucial too. Candidates will have a prefixed notion regarding salary, responsibility, and culture they expect from the job. Whereas, on the other hand, the company will have expectations about the candidate’s skill set. The idea is to be forthright and balanced with everyone included in the process. The expectations must be laid out clearly to avoid any future tension.
There are a lot of things that could go wrong during the hiring process, for example, unexpected offer withdrawals, interview delays, ridiculous expectations, sudden headcount spikes, and the list could go on and on. Hence, patience is so important, and giving yourself constant reminders to have a positive mindset and not get demotivated easily whenever issues arise.
6) What is an often misunderstood aspect of your role? An often misunderstood aspect of Talent Acquisition is that it’s solely about filling job vacancies. It actually goes beyond simply filling positions. Talent Acquisition is about building a strong talent pipeline, developing employer branding strategies, fostering diversity and inclusion, and creating a positive candidate experience. It involves understanding the organization’s long-term talent needs, aligning recruitment strategies with business goals, and ensuring a cultural fit between candidates and the company.
7) What is that one favorite local food that you would like to introduce to readers? This is going to be a hard one, there’s just too much amazing local food in Malaysia. Well I think I’ll go with…. Apam Balik! Apam Balik technically is like a pancake-style snack wedded in a compact package like an omelet, stuffed with a sufficient amount of sugar, peanuts, and the occasional sprinkle of corn. Describing it already made me drool, haha! Not to mention, there’s also a crispy version of this!
Keen on starting your #AnyMindJourney? Find a role that you’re interested in here.
