On Friday, 16 January 2026, the Department of Social & Preventive Medicine (SPM) participated in a free live webinar titled “Tips & Tricks to Ace Your HLP Interview (Public Health)”, organised by RR Academy as part of its online webinar series.
The session, conducted via Zoom, attracted over 100 participants, mainly candidates preparing for the upcoming Hadiah Latihan Persekutuan (HLP) interview. The webinar began with a welcome remark by the moderator, Dr Rowena John, followed by three sharing sessions delivered by invited panellists, each addressing different but complementary aspects of interview preparation.
The first session was delivered by Associate Professor Dr Farizah Mohd Hairi (Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya). Drawing on her experience as an interview panellist, she shared practical insights on how candidates can present themselves clearly and professionally during interviews.
Her session focused on “selling yourself without overselling,” common mistakes to avoid, and what panels realistically listen for when assessing candidates. The sharing was conducted without slides, encouraging participants to focus on reflective listening and practical takeaways.
The second session, “Teh Tarik Your Story,” was presented by Dr Vivek Jason Jayaraj, who provided a concise and practical overview of how to structure an effective curriculum vitae (CV). He highlighted the importance of aligning one’s CV narrative with interview responses to project consistency, clarity, and direction.
The third session by Dr Nur Nadiatul Asyikin focused on “Interview Nuggets,” offering guidance on interview format, technical preparation, and strategies for responding to structured and technical questions commonly encountered during HLP interviews.
The webinar concluded with an engaging Q&A session, during which numerous questions were submitted via the chatbox, reflecting strong participant engagement. In line with RR Academy’s emphasis on live interaction, no recording was provided, reinforcing the value of real-time participation.
In her closing remarks, Dr Farizah reminded participants that being shortlisted already reflects baseline merit, and that interviews are opportunities to communicate with clarity, purpose, and readiness to serve. Overall, the session was conducted in a relaxed yet highly informative manner. Kudos to RR Academy for organising this timely and supportive initiative, and best wishes to all candidates attending their HLP interviews in the coming week.
RR Academy is a purpose-driven coaching and learning hub that empowers individuals from both medical and non-medical backgrounds to build confidence and competence in research, academic, and clinical skills. Grounded in the belief that growth flourishes through guidance and community, the Academy nurtures learners at every stage of their journey.
Its programmes are thoughtfully designed around small-group learning and personalised coaching, emphasising mentorship, hands-on practical guidance, collaborative networking, and open, meaningful dialogue. This approach creates a safe and supportive space where learners are encouraged to ask questions, refine their skills, and grow together.
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Dr Rowena John (MD, MPH, DrPH) (Malaya) alumni, is currently serving the Ministry of Health as the Head of Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) at Klang District Health Office.
Dr Vivek Jason (MD, MPH, DrPH) (Malaya) alumni, is currently serving the Ministry of Health as the Deputy Director of Analytics & Informatics at the Digital Health Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia.
Dr Nur Nadiatul Asyikin Binti Bujang (MD, MPH, DrPH) (Malaya) alumni, is currently serving the Ministry of Health as the Head of Non-Communicable Disease Unit, Occupational & Environmental Health Unit, and Head of Quality Unit at Lembah Pantai District Health Office.
This write-up was prepared by Associate Professor Dr Farizah Mohd Hairi from the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.
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