JPA Scholars: From SPA to Government Job Offers and My Experience

The selection process does not include PTD's PAC and Exam and other related posts that require candidates to undergo multiple selections and procedures.

My list below is just for job specific scheme. Eg, An engineering graduate applying for J41 post (Jurutera) and an accountant graduate applying for W41 (Pegawai Akauntan/Kewangan) post.

1. Get a JPA Sponsorship during your study or before study (like SPM)
2. Study for 3-5 years and aim above 3.5 CGPA or equivalent
3. Apply jobs through SPA one year before your final exam of your final semester of your final year (Apply jobs that either relate to your degree or not, as long as it fills all 15 choices. You never know what you gonna get)
4. Wait for job interviews from SPA (this is uncertain as it can be months or years after you complete your study).
5. If you get the interviews, go for it (Make sure you already have all academic transcripts and degree scroll before going to the interview)
6. After the interview, pray a lot so that you gonna get the job offer
7. Wait for the results (It usually takes 1-2 months to know the results)
8. If successful, accept the offer
9. You will be given 2 letters, one from SPA and one from your specific department. Eg. For engineering graduate just now, one from SPA and one from JKR.
10. In one of the letters (The Department), you will know your placement and report for duty date.
11. Arrive at the office on that day, along with all the documents that you need to give to the admin staff at that particular office. The staff will guide you from time to time.
12. Get to know all the staff and start your working day from that day onward.

As for my experience,

I must say that I have a moderately short time with the interviewers. One is from SPA, another one is from the department that you will be working with if you get the job offer.

In my case, the interviewers were Dato Norsham (SPA) and En Azizan Ali (MinGeoDept). From what I know and from reliable sources (including online blogs), SPA will contribute about 70% of your interview marks while the department officer will contribute 30% of your remaining interview marks. So, make sure you prioritize SPA interviewers than the department one.

My question started with:

• My biodata
• My university life
• How to make the field that you venture in be known to the community,elaborate.
• Current events-Helicopters Crash in Sarawak,the victims,MP of which parliament etc
• Technical questions asked by the department officers-Rock type,its uses,identify the minerals etc

After 15 minutes, they no longer asked questions because I responded every single question with the best extent of my knowledge and what I have read for the past few weeks on the internet, TV,radios, and newspapers and magazines/books. Make sure you impress them with all the knowledge and experience that you had gathered from school, university to early job experience. Those knowledge and experience are somehow invaluable because they might hold vital info about who you are really. Never remain silent if you do not a thing, unless you want to sway away from the question being asked.

Then, I parted with the interviewers and said thank you. It was just that I did not shake hands with them because I was already holding my file folder that was used for them during the interview session.

This is only for SPA aka Kerajaan Persekutuan as one of is Pihak Berkuasa Melantik.

You can also apply to Kerajaan Negeri, Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan, Badan Berkanun Negeri dan Persekutuan to increase the chances of you serving in the government sector.

Note that some badan berkanun is not that "government" after all because they are more or less like a private organization.

Eg. Bank Negara, Suruhanjaya Sekuriti

Eg. Malaysia Institute of Accountant

Keep on asking and searching for better opportunities from time to time.