Personel Mystep at MATRADE - Personnel MySTEP Malaysia External Trade Development Employee Review

As an intern at MATRADE, I genuinely learned a lot, from administrative work to trade promotion exposure. The learning curve is quite steep, but in a good way. I was given meaningful tasks instead of just basic intern work. The exposure is big, especially if you are placed in an active department. My supervisor was very hands-on and supportive. The supervisor would regularly recap what I had learned and also ask what else I wanted to learn next, which really helped my development and confidence. The internship also helped improve my social and interpersonal skills, as I interacted with officers, stakeholders, and external parties regularly. The work environment is fun and engaging. Everyone is generally supportive, and interns are strongly encouraged to join MATRADE programmes, events, and activities. This made the internship experience more enriching and less isolating.

Work-life balance is quite challenging. The workload can be very stressful, especially during peak periods, and it largely depends on the department you are placed in. There were times when the work felt overwhelming. The internship allowance is relatively low compared to the workload. Interns may occasionally work overtime during busy periods without additional compensation, which can further affect work-life balance. As such, this experience may not suit interns who are looking for a more relaxed or flexible schedule.

During my internship at MATRADE, I gained a lot of real-world experience, especially in working with SMEs. I helped guide them on what programs they could apply for, like the Market Development Grant, and supported their efforts to expand into international markets.

One area that could be improved is the documentation process, as I did not receive an official internship completion letter or certificate, which is quite important as proof of internship experience.