Aizal Anual - Communication

What is your full name?

Aizal bin Anual

What year did you graduate?
2001

What was your IRK & Human Sciences major in IIUM?

Communication

What is your Current Position & Company?

Principal Assistant Director - Public Service Department, Government of Malaysia

What are your responsibilities & achievements at this current position?

Managing matters related to restructuring and strengthening organizations, and the establishment of new agencies for the state of Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and Sabah from 2013.

Please share your work history, companies you've worked for, your responsibilities in each role and your achievements in those roles

• 2002 – 2008 Ministry of Transport: 1. Management Service Division, 2. Corporate & International Division, 3. Aviation Division
• 2008 Implementation & Coordination Unit, Prime Minister’s Department (Security Division)
• 2009 – 2010 Study leave (MSc Management UUM)
• 2010 – present Public Service Department: 1. Management Service Division, 2. Organisational Development Division

What are some of the challenges you faced as a IRK & Human Sciences student while you were studying at IIUM?

• IRKHS was perceived by some fellow colleagues as a ‘lower class’ degree as compared to Law or Economics  for instance.
• Few subjects have to be taken in Arabic – and it’s a must pass subjects and counted for CGPA.
• People are calling me ‘ustaz’ as soon they know I was an IRKHS student, even though IRK was my minor. To live up to that ‘association’ was the greatest challenge of all!

What are some of the challenges you faced as a fresh graduate?

• Finding a job. Frankly, I am a bit conventional type, because to me once you graduated, you should be hired and get paid (I am not into business I would say!)
• A normal question being asked during interviews, “What makes you better than other candidates because I see you have no experience at all?”

What advice would you give to IRK & Human Sciences students seeking to pursue careers using their qualifications?

• Your degree is just like other paper qualifications. There is nothing special or not special about it. As a candidate to a prospect job/career, you’ve the same potential like the rest. 
• Don’t confine your mindset to just hunting for a job (like me!), if you cannot find one, do ‘create’ one!

What else would you like to tell the IRK & Human Sciences students currently studying at IIUM?

• Enjoy your student’s life because you’ll be missing it whenever you’re busy at work.
• Get involve in societies, be it in campus or out campus because it helps a lot in your future undertakings. But make sure you manage your time well.
• Don’t forget that other than being a student, you’re also a child to your parents, a buddy to your siblings and a partner to your colleagues.

If you would like to ask more, email to: aizalazia@gmail.com