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SM Investments Corporation

  • #18 in Banking & financial services
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

SM Investments Corporation Graduate Programs & Internships

  • Banking & Financial Services
  • Construction & Property Services
  • Retail & Consumer Goods

What it does: SM Investments Corporation engages in the banking, real estate, and retail industries in the Philippines.
Best known for: The corporation is the country’s biggest conglomerate based on market value.
Staff stats: more than 10,000 employees
Financials: Php23 billion in net income for 2020
The good bits: SM Investments Corporation ranks among the Top 100 Graduate Employers in the Philippines.
The not-so-good bits: SM Investments Corporation doesn’t seem to offer plenty of entry-level career opportunities for fresh grads.

The SM Investments Corporation (SMIC) story

SMIC became incorporated in 1960 as the holding company of the SM Group. More than 60 years later, the corporation evolved as the largest conglomerate in the Philippines based on market value. SMIC engages in three core industries: banking, retail, and real estate.

SMIC dabbles in the banking sector through its BDO Unibank and China Banking Corporation. The conglomerate’s retail operations under SM Retail account for the biggest and most diversified in the Philippines.

In the property sector, SMIC’s SM Prime Holdings has invested in commercial and residential developments, hotels, and shopping malls.

The real estate company, which is one of the country’s largest property developers, also has interests in convention centres, offices, resorts, and tourism-related projects.

The culture

SMIC’s conducive workplace culture served as one reason for multiple top-employer awards. In 2021, the company joined the Top 100 Graduate Employers in the Philippines.

Some insiders, though, said that the company should have allowed a transition to a work-from-home arrangement during the COVID-19 pandemic. More in-house training and upskilling programs would also improve talent retention.

In terms of work-life balance, most employees work during regular business hours from Monday to Friday. Certain roles like HR assistants may need to work overtime.

Despite a competitive work environment and long hours at the office, many have worked at SMIC for several years. Based on a headcount of 500 employees, their median tenure is 4.4 years.

The competition

SMIC’s direct competitors include Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Ayala Corporation, and San Miguel Corporation.

Social contributions

SM Foundation has taken care of the corporation’s corporate social responsibility projects since 1983. The foundation’s milestone projects include 1,000 houses for Typhoon Yolanda victims and scholarships for 1,000 technical-vocational students.

Since 2020, SMIC has also raised Php30.40 billion in COVID-19 relief aid. These initiatives included Php11 billion in donations to employees and third-party service providers.

The vibe of the place

SMIC’s established footprint in the country instils a strong sense of job security among employees. While there are limited entry-level opportunities for fresh grads, it shouldn’t discourage them from pursuing the company.

Once they successfully join SMIC, it broadens their professional network that can be useful for their careers. Plus, any CV will look good when it mentions the country’s biggest conglomerate.

Recruitment Process

Most fresh grads register on SMIC’s careers site before they apply for jobs. This only takes a few minutes. Once they create an account, applicants may go through five recruitment rounds:

  1. Phone interview
  2. Written exam
  3. Initial interview
  4. Final interview
  5. A background check (eg drug test)

Previous candidates said that they did a presentation instead of completing a written test. Some of them also showed a portfolio of job-related samples.

During the interview stages, many candidates choose to observe a formal dress code. If a business suit or blazer isn’t practical, then a business-casual outfit can be a good alternative.

SMIC may take 30 days on average to complete the hiring process. The actual timeline depends on the role, especially for urgent vacancies.

Remuneration & Career Growth

Remuneration

Entry-level employees at SMIC may earn between Php12,000 and Php20,000. Certification and licensure boost a fresh grad’s base salary.

For instance, a SMIC accountant’s average salary is Php16,000 per month versus Php26,000 per month for a Certified Public Accountant. The company’s benefits package includes dental and medical coverage, as well financial assistance (eg loans). 

Career prospects

Most of SMIC’s entry-level roles look for people with at least one year of professional experience. The company still considers fresh grads for assistant-level roles. Tech graduates may also join SMIC as programmers.

Data control assistant 

Fresh grads of accountancy, financial or managerial accounting, or any business-related course may become data control assistants. If they have at least six months of real estate experience (eg internship), SMIC will be inclined to hire them.

Data control assistants generally implement approved buyer, inventory, and seller requests in SAP software and other relevant systems.

Leasing assistant

SMIC welcomes anyone with a four-year degree from a reputable school to apply as a leasing assistant. Business management and marketing graduates will stand out as preferred candidates.

This role involves administrative requirements of leasing-related tasks (eg processing service agreements).

Programmer

This role needs someone with a degree in computer science or any IT course. New programmers train for two weeks to learn about AngularJS, Language Integrated Query, and.NetC# MVC Framework.

Jobs & Opportunities

Locations With Jobs & Opportunities
  • Philippines
Hiring candidates with qualifications in
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M
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P
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Sciences
T
Teaching & Education