My career life started as early as after SPM. My first job:
Saleswoman @ Marks & Spencer
Don’t ask me why I wanna sell lingerie. Actually I just went for interview, 15mins later I got the job LOL. 2 months later, I can’t stand this job anymore cause I have to stand for more than 12 hours, legs also patah lahh…I resigned
Research Assistant (1.5 yrs)
Got this job after I resigned from M&S. It’s actually a part time job, RM5/hour. At that time, RM5 is quite big lah…can still buy alot stuff. This job doesn’t make a lot phone calls and do research, but dig newspaper and catalogues alot. Gotta research for the Quantity Surveyors. After few months, they converted me to permanent staff. Pay was little but I’m happy lah (still naive mah). I think it was like RM800!! Then one of the partner left to setup his own company, took along my Manager and myself to help him up. So off I went to the new co, got extra pay mah LOL
Research Executive
Same job scope as previous, but coverage is a bit more. Still pretty happy especially now got RM1.2K pay LOL. After few months, suddenly got the urge to go back to study. So I left the working industry and pursue my diploma in IT
IT Assistant (2yrs)
After finishing my diploma, I got a job as IT Assistant in the company which I worked as research assistant. Funny huh..you leave, you go back haha…I learned alot in this position. Everything was new, everything was adventure. I’m those itchy fingers type of person, likes to dismantle and touch things LOL. So this job is very suitable for me. Moreover, that time was recession, so I don’t have much choice. But BIG boss very kiam siap lerr, I worked for 1 year no increment at all!! Then Manager help me and got some increment. After that another round cause Mgr hinted to BIG Boss that I’m leaving (actually I’m not lah LOL). See my Mgr so nice huh..He’s born in year of Horsie, same like me. So sama gang lah hahaha…
But news of office move start to spread and I’m getting worried. I don’t drive at that time, and the new office location (now Kota Damansara), back then it was a jungle!! No taxi, no bus at all. So I started job hunt and landed myself an interview with an Accounting Firm (BIG 5)
IT Technologist (2yrs)
Got myself a new job, happy with the pay, happy with the work, happy to see the BOSS too. BOSS leng chai mah LOL…When I went for interview, I told myself, must get this job cause the BOSS so leng chai oo hahaha…BTW, later I found out he’s oso born in year of Horsie!! So when he offer me the job I was very happy lah. The job was wonderful. I was given alot of opportunity, travel to Singapore for deployment work. Getting more responsibilities as well. I truely enjoy it so much. At one point, I almost move ahead to Global role in APJ region, but company declare bankrupt cause of Enron. Aiyoo…why so sui one lahh…when merger came, my BOSS were pushed aside. They call it a merger, but it’s a takeover in actual fact. The new BOSS came in, never did like him. Treated us like “anaktiri”. One thing I hate about him is pronouncing my name wrongly!! I hate ppl that can’t pronounce my name correctly. And he has this hum sup look..yucks…disgusting. I heard a lot juicy story bout him too (from some insider news lahhh).
My original BOSS left the company 6 months after merger. Before he left, he recommended me to a outsource company. I went for the interview and got the job. I must consider myself lucky. My whole life I only go for interview like 4 times, and 3 times I got the job. And since I was really desperate to leave the newly merged company, I just went ahead and go for the job even it’s a contract. Yes, from permanent to contract, it is a big risk. But can’t think so much. I rather suffer as contractor than suffer under some hum sup BOSS.
IT Consultant/Team Lead/Delivery Lead/Transition Mgr/Bid Mgr (3 yrs – now)
So I started working as IT Consultant, working shift as a contractor, providing Remote Server Management Support. Life wasn’t that rosy, but I still tahan lah cause not easy to find job outside. The shift rotation was the one that’s taxing. We work day shift 2 weeks, swing to night shift 2 weeks, then back to day shift. Work 3 days off 4 days, work 4 days off 3 days. Day shifts are not so bad, but night shift is killer. Sometimes there’s really nothing to do just wait for backup to fail then run backup LOL…So most of the time I’ll bring a lot of food to munch to keep me awake. Not allowed to sleep mah, manager do spot check, if caught dead meat!!!
Six months later, the team lead left and some restructuring happened. I happily volunteered myself to be team lead for a change. It was pretty challenging to manage a team of guys. You know lah, they used to be colleagues, suddenly become their head. Some don’t really like it, some are OK. I don’t put on a BOSS look, to me we are still equal. When times are bad (flooding of tickets), we work together to ensure we meet the SLA. I can remember I even work during CNY and Christmas cause they go back hometown, myself no. Nevermind lorr..team work counts.
Six months later, another restructuring occur in the dept (growing big, always restructure one). My supervisor offered me to convert from contractor to permanent. Whoaa…big opportunity. Finally my patience pays off. But gotta wait for approval. Waited for like 3-4 months, finally it came. Just at the right time when I was preggy with Faythe. Good lah, after converted, got a lot benefits for the family and kids. So we are more or less covered since Daddy’s company does not provide the coverage back then. So in becoming a permanent employee, my role changed as well. Was assigned to be delivery lead for projects coming from America account. Something new..ahh..I love new stuff. Again I took on the challenge.
Six months later (why all 6 months one huh), before giving birth, again I was given the offer. This time to be Transition Manager. As the center is growing (from 50 to 100+), there are more roles sprouting. Somehow, the lady manager eyed on me and asked if I’m interested to join her to do transition. Hmm…interesting…I told her, OK lah, I’ll join you after I beranak. So I went off for maternity (2 months), came back and join her team. Started doing transition work into the center, very happy lah..new challenge mah 🙂
Nine months later (no more 6, this time 9 LOL), lady mgr decide to get me involved in more work. She wants me to help in bidding. OOhhh..again, something new and myself being the adventurous one ceased the opportunity.
As I speak today, I’m still double hatting my transition mgr role with the bid support role. I’m more involved in bid, less in transition especially after giving birth to Vyktore. Bid is a pretty taxing work when there’s a new deal. We work like no day and night to get the solution out (not forgotten the multiple changes we have to make). But when there’s no bid, we are very relax (got time to MSN haha). It’s very funny, bids always comes like a season. When it’s peak season, we get like 5-6 bids in a week!! Really madhouse. When low season, we get 1 bid in 2 months?? The center has grown from 100 to 600 people and we are still growing. Projected about 700 people by year end.
This evening, my ex-supervisor (whom is now the Biz Ops Mgr) came to me. We had a quick chat. He has something in his pocket to offer me.
- It’s tempting me because the work is more local (less interaction with overseas, so less late nite conference call).
- It’s tempting me because it’s a new role and gotta start from scratch. I like starting from scratch rather than taking over old work, at least no mess.
- It’s tempting me because he showed me the career growth..slurpss..I’m a sucker for more money (who isn’t eh..)
- It’s tempting me because this will definitely give my CV a new look too
The only drawback is, it’s like a demotion to me, because from a global role, I’m moving local. But the thing is things had changed. When I don’t have kids, I wanna be corporate lady, I enjoyed climbing up the corporate ladders. Now I have 2 kids, I can’t wait to go home everyday after 530 to kiss them, hug them and spend time with them. I’m more contended with a lower stress work (but still enjoying a good pay). Moreover I’m waiting for the day when Daddy gets his big promotion and I can be a part time SAHM maybe :P.
So should I take on this work…I have less than 8 hours to decide. Gotta give an answer tomorrow morning.
Go for it! The $$$ is more important than title… Big title pay peanut also useless mah…
I m sure u already hv the answer. U know ur priorities now. Apart from family’s n frens’ support, u oso hv all our ‘virtual’ support in ur decision. Good luck!
Looks like we’re on the same path (well almost). I’ve just taken the offer to do more inside stuff than outside sales. It seems like a demotion but if it doesn’t affect my paycheck, I’m all for it. I’m like you, priorities have changed, now that Belle is here. Careers can come and go but we can only see our children grow once.
lets put it this way. compare the two by projecting 2 years down d road n lets imagine w multiple promotions later in each one of em.
are you more comfortable being the higher ranked int route lady boss who is jetting off to paris today, tokyo tomoro or the lady boss of watever dis local thingy is and go home to check d kids’ homework? pay wise? differ by much? if so, could you live w the lesser paid but preferred job? watever u choose girl, i am confident u will excel in it! good luck 😀
I really admire you, you are tough and did so well in your career life.
I have just made a similar decision, change job again and go for $$$$!
go for it girl!
Maybe i can share something to you, my hubby was a asia regional finance analyst when we were still in KL, he had to travel every month and stayed overseas more than staying at home. Sometimes i even didn’t see him for a month long, i had to stay alone in the double storey house and i had been always scare my house would suddenly being break by thieves. I hate that kind of life, but no choice, that’s his job. He worked 5 yrs there, but be frankly, the days i was with him just less than the half, and another half he was fully sacrificed to his work. Then, he found a new job in China, in fact this job is like demotion to him, from asia region to local but the salary is much more difference than in M’sia one. We prayed hard to ask for God’s lead, and finally we decided to give ourself a big changes to relocate to China. I had to forgo my lovely job and followed him to here, but i know being together is only known as family, it’s no point for a couple to separate quite a long time since he used to have his business trip quite often. Now, though he just in-charged for local, we have plenty of family times together, he could bring Jo to play football everyday after he coming back from work, what we look back it’s actually paid off.
I won’t say “You take the offer la since the salary is enticing with less time spend”, but you can balance your weight and decide which one is more important to you.
Do pray and ask for God’s point. Let us know your final decision. Good luck my friend.
Wah… I admire you la… … . .can have more $$$ but less work….!! *jealous* *jealous* *jealous*….
Go home kiss & hug ur kids while you can…….. … .. . they grow up so fast one…
LOL! I guess I am the only one who will opt for stability and more benefits in your currect company 🙂
good luck!
Hm… I’m sure you already got the decision…. But i agree with you, when you say that when you have kids, priority changes, no more corporate lady, and instead looking for less stress and more time with kids…. So which did you choose to do???
sis…..i pray that god will give you wisdom to make the right decision concern your career….look at the bright side….if this job will free up more time for you to spend more time with the kids..then why not? demoted/not, is depend on the situation…
as the kids grow up you would need to spend more time with them…..
Trust you already got your answer, “choose d 1 u feel comfort, n love d 1 you have choose…” good luck
$$$$ is definitely important especially since it provides you with financial independence and foster self reliance. If things ever get tough, at least you know that you are financial secure. Alternative, you may want apply for flexi hours if your company provides that option – at least you can get to see the kids during the day. Our firm is trying that out and I may eventually go for it once I have my 2nd kid 🙂
me also in same dilema now. but hor *8* if more money and can spend more time..why not?
What’s the verdict? Whatever it is, family first is my key to decision making.
Waaa…you have a good career journey so far and can see why you are successful 🙂
Since preggy, I also switch my priorities already, concentrate on family first.
I thot, since God gave me a family, I must work on the family too. The journey might be a bit uncertain, but I am sure much more rewarding…
I pray that you will make a right decision and according to His will for you…
God Bless you and your family abundantly 🙂
Too late to advice you (as if I know how to! Ha ha). Waiting for your decision….
Well… I am a life example. I was used to those happening lifestyle in an international agency but because of bb, I quit to a less challenging and less pay job. hehehe!
Well, life is about chioces. Go watch “Devil wears Prada”.
i might be a little late in answering this. BUt u have to choose where your pririoties are. I left those high flying jobs to something more stable and was also a bigdemotion in terms of title. (but luckily the pay is better) so I can concentrate on my familiy. Once my girls are bigger I will focus on jumping in my career or who knows by then I can be a SAHM!!
all the best to you. 😉
for me, i prefer a work life balance so that i can spend more time with my kids. sometime i may get caught up with extreme work due to challenges in hand but as long as i know it’s only temporary, i don’t mind sweating it out to pull things thru’. I have been working day and night for the past weeks but it’s fine, cause i know it’s only short term and i don’t mind taking up the additional responsibilities. however, if my work life is gonna be like that for the forseeable future, i will give it a pass. family is always my first priority.
I suppose you have already made your decision. Like you, after having kids, I am more “low profile” now comparing to those days before I had kids. I used to travel quite a fair bit when I was still single but not now anymore. I prefer not to travel if given a choice. Just can’t bear the thoughts of being separated from the kids for a single night!
all, thanks for the comment. Yup I decided that i’ll go for it. But my current boss told my new boss, they gotta find a replacement within the center with at least 2 yrs experience then only can let me go…..and it’s 6 months transition…wuahhhhhhhh