(This is a sponsored article with Shopee.)
Before I started my current job, I worked on management trainee programs at various companies. My logic was that these programs would make me a more attractive candidate to be hired because I had no recent graduate experience.
Shopee Malaysia’s annual Global Leadership Program (GLP) is the company's specially developed management trainee program.
It is a two-year program that is currently trying to raise awareness of the e-commerce industry among a new group of bright-eyed youngsters through on-the-job training and education.
Admission criteria? You will qualify for the GLP if you have a new degree, graduate in 2021, or are currently working with less than 2 years of experience.
Here is a breakdown of the benefits GLP can offer its employees.
1. Get the chance to experience work abroad.
This could be one of the most obvious draws for many: the fact that you will be sent overseas for the GLP too. Shopee Malaysia’s GLP Associates will have the opportunity to also work at Shopee Singapore to improve trainees' understanding of the e-commerce landscape in the region.
The GLP lasts 2 years and is divided into four revolutions of six months each. During one of these rotations, you will receive an internship at Shopee Singapore and also learn from the senior team.
This way you get double exposure when you participate in effective projects in the core functions of Shopee in the areas of business development, operations, marketing or business intelligence from both offices.
2. An attractive, competitive salary package.
If you are scared of the 2 year duration because you thought you were simply being paid with knowledge and skills, calm down.
Shopee Malaysia offers GLP Associates a worthwhile salary package even if the Associates are involved in the development of the company's critical projects.
3. Experience the corporate culture up close.
"Dynamic and collaborative," was Kevin's answer when asked about Shopee's work culture. He is a GLP employee who joined the company in 2020 and is currently on the business development team.
At the Shopee Malaysia office / Photo credit: Shopee Malaysia
Make no mistake, this is not your typical 9-5 job with a series of repetitive tasks. There are always new initiatives and business problems to be resolved so you are constantly being pushed out of your comfort zone to contribute at the same time perform and learn. "
Wee Wen, a 2019 GLP employee who is also currently on the Business Development team, added, "It's also a really flat organization where there aren't any particular gaps between us and the managers. You can anytime Talk to them if you have suggestions or just want advice and guidance. "
"I would describe Shopee's work culture as challenging yet rewarding as we have both the trust and support from executives to do our best personally and professionally," said Mike, another 2020 GLP employee .
4. Implement theories in a dynamic environment.
I believe that what we learn in academic institutions can never really prepare us for the world of work. So it can be very helpful to have a “testbed” before we are introduced to the latter.
Kevin also shared: "Not only do you learn about different business processes, but you also need to drive new strategic initiatives and develop these business processes. The level of impact of your work will be noticeable."
Mike is currently working on a process improvement project in the areas of logistics and customer service.
“In that short period of time, I've experienced a very steep learning curve, and one of the reasons is that I need to equip myself with the skills and knowledge necessary to really understand the current processes, to work on initiatives that actually work those processes improve, ”he added.
GLP employees are deeply involved in the planning and execution of decisions so they can learn to be proactive and also improve their skills – both important skills in a workplace.
5. Get hands-on experience designing Shopee.
“Working in the business development department gave me a lot of insight into the warehouse business and the ability to even manage brands,” said Wee Wen.
In her first rotation, she had the opportunity to work with the team tasked with rolling out ShopeePay QR and more.
A team brainstorming session / Photo credit: Shopee Malaysia
In fact, to get an idea of how convenient the warehouse experience is, you are expected to help with the packing so that you can experience for yourself how important the job is.
"It's about paying attention to the smallest details," summarized Kevin. "Often we think of overall strategies, but the execution of a project down to the smallest level is really the fundamental determinant of whether a project is successful or not."
Kevin is currently leading new marketing solutions at Shopee that aim to optimize the brand's digital presence while diversifying the user base.
6th Benefit from direct support from the senior management team.
"This program is designed so that we will work directly with the managers and senior managers who have years of experience in the business world," said Wee Wen.
"While the initial learning phases can be a bit stressful, I think you have a great support structure from both your peers and your mentors at Shopee," added Kevin.
With your mentors, you will learn the importance of managing expectations and aligning with the overall goal to ensure that it is achieved in the end. These two skills are invaluable, especially since you will be working with different teams on different goals on each project.
"I can get direct feedback on my ideas and initiatives to really improve my work at Shopee," added Mike.
Final advice on boarding from a GLP employee
The selection process is not a joke. It's like taking an exam to even apply successfully.
For those of you who would like to sign up now, Kevin has some advice:
“I think the hardest part of the selection process would be the case interviews. Two important tips that I think are crucial: The first is to always precisely define the business problem within the case and to break it down to its root cause. "
"Don't rush to give answers, take the time to structure your thought processes in a logical and coherent way. The second tip would be to stay calm. One way to overcome the unrest is to do these case studies with your colleagues to practice so that you get a good overview of the process and dynamics of a case study interview. "
- Shopee's Global Leaders Program 2021 is currently open for applications until December 21, 2020. You can apply for it Here.
- You can read more about what we wrote about Shopee Here.
