From Zero Sales Experience to Leading a Team: Jacy’s Journey of Growth, Resilience, and Purpose at Reeracoen Malaysia

In today’s evolving job market, recruitment is more than just matching candidates to job descriptions. It is about understanding people, building trust, and guiding individuals through one of the most important decisions in their lives.

At Reeracoen Malaysia, our consultants play a meaningful role in connecting talent with opportunities while supporting both candidates and clients through every step of the journey. In this employee spotlight series, we speak with Jacy, Career Advisor Team Lead, to explore her growth, challenges, and unforgettable moments since joining the company.

From a fresh graduate with no sales experience to a confident team lead, Jacy’s journey is a story of stepping out of comfort zones, embracing challenges, and finding purpose in helping others build their careers.

Employee Spotlight Interview
 

1) Can you briefly introduce yourself and your role at Reeracoen? How long have you been with the company, and what attracted you to join us initially?

Hellooo, I am Jacy, currently the Career Advisor Team Lead in Reeracoen, a Psychology graduate passionate in human interaction and human behaviour. I have been with Reeracoen for more than 4 years now 🤓

I actually joined Reeracoen as Career Advisor in early 2022 which was after MCO. There are 2 reasons I joined Reeracoen, the first is the combination of sales and human interaction for the position and the second one is the well-organised and systematic process for their hiring.

Until now I still remember my first interview with my manager, she asked me “Do you think you can do sales?”, I actually stunned a little bit as I have never done sales before, I am not sure if I can do it😯 . But that question kinda hit me in a way to try something I have never done before. I am glad to challenge myself for the position as I love more and more about my job after joining Reeracoen. I enjoy assisting my candidates throughout their job searching journey from building trust with them, understanding their preference and concerns, to securing the job position for them. Seeing my candidates getting the job is already incredibly rewarding. And getting commission by hitting the target and KPI makes this success even more satisfying.

The speed of hiring in Reeracoen really impressed me. I actually completed all the 3 interviews in a week. Even though the whole process was fast, I did not feel insecure at all. They are very professional in a way that I feel the company is very structured, organised and everyone can communicate easily to get things done. They guide me step by step throughout the process and makes me feel like they are very serious with the hiring.

2) What is the most important responsibility in your job as a career advisor?

The most important responsibility of a Career Advisor is to connect the right candidate with the right opportunity, kinda like a matchmaker 🤣 . While this may sound simple, but actually a lot happens behind the scenes.

The process first starts with understanding our client's hiring needs in detail, including the company background, job scope, working arrangement, salary range, benefits, specific requirements, etc. We then search through numerous candidate profiles across different job platforms for suitable talent.

Once we find potential candidate, we not only introduce the job opportunity, but we need to understand the candidate’s career goals, motivations, expectations, and concerns. We also need to double check the background and ensure the information on the resume is accurate.

Then if the candidate is keen to proceed to apply, we guide the candidate through every stage of the hiring process—from application and interview preparation to offer negotiation and onboarding. This requires strong multitasking skills to coordinate between candidates and clients, managing schedules, sharing information, addressing concerns, and ensuring both parties are aligned throughout the process.

From my perspective, a Career Advisor is not just a recruiter but also a companion during an important stage of a person's career journey. Candidates often share their preference, expectations, concerns and challenges with us, sometimes more openly than they would with a future employer. Because of this, I believe the most important responsibility of a Career Advisor is not only to fill a position, but to truly understand people and support them in making career decisions. Ultimately, a good Career Advisor must be able to put themselves in someone else's shoes and understand what matters most to them.

3) Can you share one candidate or client story that has left a deep impression on you?

Sureee, I have a lot of interesting stories to share but the most memorable one definitely will be this. I still remember this candidate is a managerial level technical candidate, and the candidate accepted our client company’s offer and signed back. However this candidate had to serve 3 months notice before joining the company.

Even though the working position was the same as the candidate’s living location, for onboarding purpose, the candidate had to report to the HQ which was located in another state. The company actually arranged the accommodation for onboarding. However, on the onboarding day, the client contacted us that the candidate did not report to work and did not check into the accommodation arranged. I quickly got in touch with candidate and was informed that the candidate’s son was sick hence the candidate was unable to report to work that day. I advised to the candidate that we should be informed earlier about this to avoid such situation.

Lucky enough, after our effort in comforting the client, the client was okay with candidate not reporting to work at the HQ and requested the candidate to just directly report to the working location nearby the candidate’s living location on the following day. The candidate reported to work on the following day as promised and we were actually relieved because we knew client lost trust in candidate when the candidate did not report on the first day of work but we did our best to manage this situation. At the end of the “first” working day, I followed up with the candidate and I was reassured that there was no issue.

On the third day, we were contacted by the client again that the candidate did not report to work, and we were really panicked. We quickly got in touch with the candidate and the candidate just told me that “the position was not suitable for me” and would not want to proceed with the position anymore. I tried to be calm and professional but I also knew that the client would give up on this candidate. Hence, we sincerely apologised to the client for all the inconvenience caused to them and we were really thankful for the understanding from our client.

The reason I am sharing this is because not all the difficult case we have gone through will come to a positive outcome and this is one of the examples. This is definitely the most dramatic and rollercoaster incident for me. On the good side, I learnt to make sure client’s and candidate’s expectation on the position are aligned before signing the contract, follow up even more closely with my candidates, being firmer in certain situation and advising candidates to hold on to the promise they made to the company.

4) What has been your most challenging experience in this role, and how did you overcome it?

Being a team lead at first is actually quite challenging for me as I do not have any team management experience before. On top of that, overseeing a team remotely due to geographical location is even more challenging than I expected.

Even though I do struggle with this position at the beginning, I am really grateful with the support and help I get from the management, team members and my colleagues. Reeracoen has given me the opportunity to meet, interact and exchange ideas with other leaders from other overseas branch through training or exchange visit. I learnt a lot from other leaders on how they manage a team, set clear guidelines and SOP for the team, delegate tasks to team members and grow each member. I believe the fastest way to learn is to look at how and what others do in the same position.

Besides, I am really grateful for the understanding and support I get from my team members. Initially, me and my team members may not know each other well but we still make effort to understand each other as a team. Through regular 1-1 meeting, team meeting, working together in the same office, we become closer as a team. I am really thankful to each of them for willing to share to me from small things to challenging situation. Open communication is the key we come closer as a team.

I have to admit that I am still learning and growing every day. While there is always room for improvement but I believe that as long as I am better tomorrow than I am today, I am making meaningful progress.

5) How does your role contribute to Reeracoen’s mission of “Creating a wonderful future with those pursuing happiness”?

I believe happiness comes in many different forms, and if getting a job is an important part of that happiness, this is where I come into play. I believe most of us still need a job for a living and my role allows me to help people find opportunities that support both their personal and professional goals.

From my experience, what people look for in a job varies differently across different stage of their life. Finding a job is not just always about securing an income, some may look for personal growth, some may look for self-satisfaction and some even look solely for new challenges. As a career advisor, my role is to understand what matters most to each individual and help connect them with opportunities that align with their needs and aspirations.

When I see candidates successfully transition into a role that fits their goals and brings them satisfaction in any way, I feel that I am contributing, even in a small way, to their happiness and future. At the same time, by helping companies find the right talent, I am also supporting their growth and success. To me, this is how my role contributes to Reeracoen's mission of creating a wonderful future with those pursuing happiness.
 

6) Can you describe a moment where you felt proud, emotional, or even “goosebumps” in your job?

Most of the moments that makes me emotional come from my candidate. There is one moment recently that really gave me a sense of pride and even “goosebumps” in my job.

I found out that one of the candidates I successfully placed is still working with the same company after 4 years. She was one of my first few candidates when I was still new in recruitment, and the position I helped her secure was a Human Resource role.

After she joined the company, she actually became the PIC (person-in-charge) who liaised with my colleagues regarding recruitment matters for the company. Although we have not been in contact for a long time, recently my colleague mentioned this company during a discussion, and I suddenly remembered that I had successfully placed a candidate there before.

When my colleague told me that she is still working there after all these years, I was genuinely surprised. The reason I was surprised was because, throughout these 4 years, the colleagues from our side who were handling the account had changed several times, but she was still there, continuing her career journey with the company.

That moment gave me goosebumps because it reminded me that our work is not just about making a placement and moving on to the next case. The impact of what we do can continue for years. Behind every successful placement is a real person, and being able to contribute a small part to someone's career journey is something that makes me feel very proud.

7) How have you grown personally and professionally since joining Reeracoen?

Ever since I joined Reeracoen, personally I have become more adaptable. Recruitment is a fast-paced environment where we meet different people every day and they behave differently. I learnt that not everything will go according to plan and not everything will lead to a good outcome. What is most important is to learn from it and become a better self. Those experiences taught me resilience and how to stay calm under pressure.

Professionally, I started as a Career Advisor with no sales experience and limited knowledge of the recruitment industry. Over the years, I have learned how to build relationships with candidates and clients, understand hiring needs, manage expectations from both parties, and navigate different challenges throughout the recruitment process. Through continuous learning and hands-on experience, I have developed stronger communication, negotiation, problem-solving, and multitasking skills. Taking on the Team Lead role has also taught me how to guide and support others, delegate responsibilities, and think beyond my individual performance to focus on the growth and success of the entire team.

Looking back, I am proud of how far I have come, but I also believe there is always more to learn. My goal is to continue growing, improving, and contributing positively to both my team and the people I work with.

8) Why would you recommend Reeracoen as a place to work?

Definitely. The main reason I would recommend Reeracoen as a place to work is that it accepts people for who they are and provides opportunities for them to grow and become a better version of themselves.

One thing I truly appreciate about Reeracoen is that it is a place where you are allowed to make mistakes. Of course, mistakes are not encouraged, but they are treated as learning opportunities rather than reasons to blame someone. Throughout my journey here, I have always felt that my managers, colleagues, and team members were willing to guide, support, and train me instead of focusing on finding fault. This creates a positive environment where people feel safe to learn, ask questions, and continuously improve.

Another reason is the exposure to different cultures and perspectives. Reeracoen is a multinational company, and I have had the opportunity to work with colleagues from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds, including many native Japanese colleagues. Through daily interactions, training sessions, and exchange opportunities, I have learned not only about recruitment but also about different working styles, communication approaches, and cultural values. This has broadened my perspective and helped me grow both professionally and personally.

Looking back, I joined Reeracoen without any sales experience and eventually grew into a Team Lead role. This journey would not have been possible without the opportunities, guidance, and trust that the company has given me. That is why I would confidently recommend Reeracoen to anyone who is looking for a workplace where they can learn, grow, and challenge themselves while being supported along the way.

Final Thoughts
Jacy’s journey is a powerful reflection of what growth truly looks like by stepping into the unknown, learning through challenges, and continuously evolving both as an individual and as a leader.

From her first sales conversation to leading a team, and from handling difficult placements to witnessing long-term candidate success stories, her experiences highlight the real heart of recruitment: people, trust, and impact that lasts beyond the job offer.

At Reeracoen Malaysia, we believe in creating a “wonderful future with those pursuing happiness,” and stories like Jacy’s remind us that this mission is not just a statement. It is something we live every day through our people.
 

Interested in joining Reeracoen Malaysia? 
Apply here: https://www.reeracoen.com.my/en/recruitments