Dato' Izzaddin Idris on working with integrity

 

Don't be blinkered by what you are studying, be guided by what you like to do!”

Dato’ Izzaddin Idris is the Group Managing Director and CEO of UEM Group Berhad, Malaysia’s leading engineering-based infrastructure and services group. He spoke at TalentCorp’s #TheChiefSpeaks event to share insights with students on picking the right career opportunities, and the best attitudes that employers look for in candidates. Here are some key points from his session:

Being mindful of your actions and the consequences they may bring, is part and parcel of having a successful career. When asked on what he looks out for in young recruits, Dato’ Izzaddin replied that the values he seeks are integrity and ethics. “Integrity will govern you in your daily lives; how you treat your colleagues, your work, yourself and so on,” he said. Stressing on this point, he remarked that he would rather employ a candidate with the right attitude, than one with the right credentials but with a questionable attitude.

At the end of the day, your paper qualification gets you an interview. Getting a job depends on you, the person you are.”

By and large, the employment landscape today requires a candidate to stand out from the rest. Dato’ Izzaddin shared that employers today seek candidates with the right character and holistic skills, instead of only focusing on their paper qualifications. What matters more is how a candidate handles an interview session, and how well they carry themselves. Dato’ Izzaddin urged students to  prioritise on developing their communication skills, their characters and professionalism. 

What about his personal success? What lessons could be learned from Dato’ Izzaddin’s own career path? He reflects, “In life, there’s always going to be challenges. If there are no challenges, there is no fun, and you don’t get to learn as you go along.” He reminds the students to set realistic aspirations and targets to keep moving, even if they stumble upon problems along the way.

Aim for the skies, fall on the mountains.”