Talent Network
1,000,000+
young Malaysians on Hiredly
Hello Mentor
100 episodes
with the leaders and builders Malaysians look up to
Media
12 outlets
Astro Awani, The Edge, BFM, Bernama, The Star and more
Recruitment
16 years
from Robert Walters to founding Hiredly in 2014
Media platforms where I have shared ideas on careers, youth, AI, and the future of work.
Conversations about ambition, careers, and building in Malaysia.
100 episodes since 2020
There weren't enough relevant voices to inspire Malaysians on how to build a great career, so I started Hello Mentor to change that. Each episode features leaders and builders sharing ideas and their journey, in ways that Malaysians will connect with.
I'm a middle class Malaysian who did not grow up in a business family. I had no networks, no experience and relatively little money when I started Hiredly.
Like many Malaysians, I chose a safe, predictable path in my early career in accounting and auditing. My parents were proud. But I always felt a bit unsure, that I was really meant to be doing something else.
I made a big risky leap in my late 20s and pivoted to a career in recruitment. It turned out to be the best decision in my career. I loved what I did, and felt so lucky that I somehow found the path that I not only enjoyed, but was also good at. For the first time, I felt that my work had purpose.
Yes I got lucky. But I didn't want other Malaysians careers to have to depend on luck.
So I'm building Hiredly, and now the Hello Mentor podcast. I want to help people build careers they feel proud of. I also want companies to find the right people, not just fill a position.
I am still learning. I am still growing. But now, I can see how every step, even the confusing ones, has shaped me.
Thank you for reading.
Hiredly is a leading Malaysian recruitment platform for Gen Y and Gen Z. We focus on Malaysian youth and their early careers.
I believe our early years of work shape the rest of our lives. The first few jobs matter a lot. They build our skills, habits, and confidence. Yet this is also the time when many young people get the least support. Most job portals treat CVs like numbers. Recruitment agencies often focus more on experienced candidates, because that is how they earn more.
But then I always ask myself, who will help our youth reach that “higher value” stage?
That is why I built Hiredly, as platform to help them make better early career decisions. And Hello Mentor, as a place for them to get ideas and inspiration on how to achieve more as Malaysians.
Check Out Hiredly
Over the years, I've shared my ideas across different stages and media platforms.
I've been featured in major media channels such as Astro, The Edge, Bernama, The Star, and BFM, and have taken part in a global debate moderated by the BBC.
My topics focus on Gen Y and Gen Z, AI, workplace culture, and the future of work. I speak about Malaysian youth, how technology is shaping our roles, and the evolution of Malaysian company culture.
I keep things simple and practical. I share real stories, clear ideas, and lessons people can use straight away.
If you're planning an event, I'm happy to connect.
Contact MeTopics
What the first five years of work decide, and where employers, parents and graduates get it wrong.
What AI is already changing in Malaysian hiring, and the skills that still get people hired.
Why good people leave, what makes them stay, and how our companies are evolving.
A middle-class founder's playbook: no network, no family money, a platform used by over a million Malaysians.
For organisers and media
Everything a programme or a press piece needs, ready to use. Copy a bio, download the photos, and send the brief through the form below.
Derek Toh is the founder and CEO of Hiredly, Malaysia's recruitment platform for Millennial and Gen Z talent, with a Talent Network of over one million young Malaysians. He hosts Hello Mentor, 100 long-form conversations with the people who have built careers and companies in Malaysia, and speaks on youth careers, AI and the future of work.
Derek Toh is the founder and CEO of Hiredly and the host of the Hello Mentor podcast.
He did not come from a business family. He started out as an auditor at Ernst & Young in the UK, then moved into recruitment at Robert Walters in Malaysia, where he was one of the group's global top achievers in his first two years and went on to lead teams across technology, HR, banking, insurance and legal. In 2014 he founded Hiredly to help young Malaysians make better early-career decisions, and in 2018 Hiredly X, its placement service. Today Hiredly's Talent Network counts over one million young Malaysians.
Since 2020 he has hosted Hello Mentor, 100 long-form conversations with the leaders and builders Malaysians look up to. He has been featured by Astro Awani, The Edge, BFM, Bernama, The Star, Tatler and others, and took part in a global debate moderated by the BBC. He speaks on Gen Z and early careers, AI and the future of work, and Malaysian workplace culture.
Photos may be used for event and press material about Derek. Please credit Hiredly.
For speaking invitations, media interviews, partnerships, or founder conversations, send a request below.
