Who We Look For

Applications for our 2021 cohort are now open!
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The Fellowship is as challenging as it is rewarding.

We are looking for ambitious, resilient, and committed individuals who are passionate about our mission to end education inequity.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to join the Fellowship, you must

  • Be a Malaysian citizen, aged 32 years or younger at the start of the Fellowship
  • Hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
  • Have strong verbal and written English communication skills
  • Possess a minimum credit (C) for Bahasa Melayu in SPM
  • Be a graduate from a local public or overseas university recognised by Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and Ministry of Education (MOE)

Have a strong academic track record as stated in this table:

Malaysia United Kingdom (Class) United States Australia (Percentage) Australia (Band 7 scale) Australia Other countries
Eligible to apply 3.50 – 4.00 1st Class (1st) or 70% and above 3.50 – 4.00 80% and above 7 (High Distinction) H1 Please email us at recruitment@teachformalaysia.org
May apply, but eligibility is subjected to consideration and approval of the selection committee 3.20 – 3.49 2nd Class Upper (2:1) or 60% – 69% 3.00 – 3.49 70% – 79% / 60% – 69% 6 (or Distinction) / 4.67 (or Credit) H2A

Leadership Competencies

Teach For Malaysia Fellows come from very diverse backgrounds, but are united through a strong belief and purpose in the organisation’s mission. Our leadership competencies below should give you an idea of what we search for in our candidates and what we focus on further developing in your 2-year journey.

  • Motivation and Drive
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    Motivation and Drive

    You seek challenges and you understand that the path to success requires hard work. You have initiative, you are organised and you increase your effort as new challenges arise. As such, you achieve ambitious results.

  • Change Potential
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    Change Potential

    You adapt to new and unfamiliar situations. You are versatile in ambiguous situations. You remain calm and confident when the best laid plans do not materialise and you integrate new input or context into a flexible plan.

  • People Potential
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    People Potential

    You are able to work effectively and collectively in teams. You are aware of your impact on others. You listen, encourage participation and engagement to influence others. You create a positive culture for others especially in challenging situations.

  • Intellectual and Learning Potential
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    Intellectual and Learning Potential

    You are aware of your own strengths and weaknesses, you are comfortable giving as well as receiving feedback and coaching. You have a strong growth mindset and actively develop learning opportunities. You reflect and challenge your own assumptions.

  • Respect and Humility
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    Respect and Humility

    You do not generalise as you seek the best in other people’s wisdom despite it contradicting your own beliefs. You seek to understand and empathise with others. You understand that you are not an expert in ending education inequity and you are grounded in the limitations of your experience.

  • Sense of Possibility
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    Sense of Possibility

    You dream big. You can mentally visualise different versions of the future. You are fearless in your pursuit of that dream. You motivate others to do the same. You do not dwell on setbacks and you see new opportunities in every crisis.

  • Communication
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    Communication

    You command a presence through clear, compelling and passionate communication. You can adapt your communication style to different audiences in different situations. You are proficient in English and Bahasa Malaysia.

  • Mission Fit
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    Mission Fit

    Your personal vision and mission aligns with Teach For Malaysia’s. You are motivated to succeed as a Fellow on the 2-year leadership development programme. You are realistic that the mission would not be achieved overnight and you continue serving the mission in whichever pathway you choose as an Alum. You understand that the 2-year programme isn’t “just another teaching job”.

The Application Process

Your journey through the application process will take approximately 4 weeks.

  • 1
    The Application Form and English Test
  • 2
    Phone Interview
  • 3
    Assessment Centre
  • 4
    Provisional Offer
  • 5
    Ministry of Education (MOE) Assesments
  • 6
    Preparing For School
  • 7
    Pre-Service Programme begins!
  • "I felt the warmth of TFM's culture when I stepped into the office. I will never forget the insightful conversations I've had with the staff here, and am really thankful for the constructive feedback given to me on my strengths and weaknesses!"
    Fellowship Applicant

Tips for your Application

Ready to apply for the Fellowship, but unsure how to start? Here are some pointers from our selection experts on how to submit a successful application.

Do your homework.
We are looking for people who are aligned and committed to our Mission and Vision. Strengthen your understanding of the Fellowship by reading through our website, blog, and social media posts.
Use your best examples.
You will be asked to describe examples of past experiences so we may get to know you better. We recommend that you take time to consider the examples you use. We are more interested in the skills and behaviour you demonstrated than the opportunities you have had. You may draw on professional, volunteer, personal, or academic experiences.
Structure your answers.
We recommend you structure your answers according to the STAR method – Situation, Task, Action, Results. This ensures you provide comprehensive responses to our questions which will help us evaluate your application better.
Always double-check.
Before you submit your application, take a little extra time to double-check your responses. Avoid unprofessional language and grammatical errors, and most importantly, make sure all your responses are relevant to the questions.
Be prepared for your English Test.
Conduct the test in a quiet place where you have a stable WiFi connection and will not be disturbed.
Be sure to time yourself during the test, and submit your answers in a timely manner.