Does it matter whether you apply directly vs through a headhunter in Malaysia?

Short answer: it depends on the company and role, but it matters more than most people think.

Through a headhunter:
- You get a human advocate who can brief you on the hiring manager's preferences
- Negotiation is somewhat buffered, the agency handles the awkward money conversations
- Your CV goes in with context, not cold
- Downside: you're one of their placements, so their incentive is to close deals, not necessarily your best outcome

Direct application:
- Shows initiative and genuine interest in that specific company
- Avoids the agency fee (which companies sometimes try to recover by lowering your offer)
- HR may deprioritise unsolicited CVs without an internal referral

Best approach: If you have a referral at the company, use it. If not, try both channels and see which one gets traction first.