Cari Makan & Makan Gaji

It has been awhile i am not updating my blog. Too tied up lately. Anyhow, below is a bit about my journey towards a better life.... kerja..kerja..kerja...cari nafkah.

Last 7/7/2009 was 1st anniversary for my new job. This is my 5th job within a span of 13 years.

I initially started my career doing auditing and accounting (major), plus admin & HR job for an accounting firm. A small firm who “hidup segan, mati tak mahu” (malay proverb) meaning, just waiting to close down. No offer letter, nothing. You interview today, tomorrow you can start work. If you are lucky, you could start work immediately. How fast! They engaged practical students to save cost. That was suck. I pushed myself to create an interest in accounting, to get certified and become accountant. I know I’m good in accounting and finance. Proof? My colleague result. That was why I stayed on almost a year with that firm. The thing did not go as planned. Did I join wrong company? Hahaha! That’s life. People say, that would make you strong and tough to face challenging world ahead. I admit, I did learn from it.

They paid me very small sum. It was cash money and all depending to collections from clients. If collection are okay, you get your pay on time. Otherwise, you will get last day of month or 1st of following month. That sum less deduction for provident fund, whatelse is left? I found out later, they did not deposit my portion of contributions to my provident neither they did theirs. In Malaysia, if you are employed, you yourself have contribute from your earning salary as minimum as 11% (those day). On the other hand, the employer needs to top up another 12% (minimum) into my provident fund. It is a statutory contribution. Employers who are found violating this regulations, they shall be fined or imprison. Many have been held for this. However, I don’t see any employee is being fined for not contributing. All the funds go to and managed a government agency call Malaysian Employee Provident Fund (EPF). Since it is statutory, many fresh jobseekers are easily being cheated by the irresponsible employers. That had happened to me. They cut my genuine business travelling claims as well. I did not make noise about. I was sorry to the firm who was not well managed and poor cash flow and financial control. Then, I started actively looking for job for more security in term of financial and career growth. Attended interviews and finally 2 banks offered me. One offers me for HR job and the other to do internal audit. Again, it was hard to decide, though. I would prefer have no option rather than 2. You choose wrong way, you may turn it away or go on. Sometime, I am a not risk taker. Yezza! time to revenge. When I got my pay, I absconded...…. hahah PADAN MUKA. That the worst thing I can do to them. Kesian la pulak buat lebih-lebih. Next few days, join a local bank doing HR. That is where my real career growth is.

Between 1997-1998, economic turmoil hit the regions. Companies had closed down; people lost job, mergers and acquisitions had taken place. I had been through major merger and acquisition exercises among local banks. That was Government’s directive. It was high level business strategies. I had just played small part. That was checking, printing letters, folding them into envelops and sending to those employees who had opted to leave the bank voluntarily. As for compensations for them, those employees would get tokens calculated based on their last drawn salary multiplied years of service and rate determined by the management. It was quite good sum of money…….. but more important, I SURVIVE.

Along the way that almost 8 years, I sensed that I get stuck at the bank. I became stagnant and complacent. I was happy with job, worked with boss who is very understanding and flexible. What else. One thing I noted, I had no room to grow. If you want to move up, either you get rid of the other two seniors by all means or wait until they retire or die. The HR then had created the structure as such. Subsequently, one who had been promised for promotion but ended up nothing, had left the bank. Upset for so long waiting. Then, I left for another bank, to the first Islamic Bank in Malaysia. Well paid. Good position. But it was not able to stop me to leave…hehheha. A subsidiary company of London based Bank offered me. It is a shared services company, servicing to the entire bank worldwide. Great huh!!? The interview went well. I got what I had asked for. My expected salary was not negotiated. (I should had asked more). Done deal. Wow! There must be a rich company. That was the company I wanted to work for. After carefully thought, I accepted the offer. It took me weeks to accept the offer. I went around asking about the company.

First day in that company. A person by nickname of ‘LimTaT’ approached me. He is Malaysian. Damn! his English speaking …… . He is not like normal Malaysian English speaking. He got style. I later knew he is my colleague. The only men alive in that department. I was introduced to my boss, a person who interviewed me those days. Hmmmm! Looks nice. Gaya mak datin, but not yet. Well, everything went smoothly, manageable until top management changed. Suddenly, LimTat resigned 24 hours. It had puzzled me. Why? What a shock! Maybe, he cannot tahan the pressure anymore. I was not sure. Every month, I was required to sit in a forum and present to management team including my boss about related risks within HR. During the forum, I was blamed for not giving proper advices to line managers in handling employees’ attitude. All the presurres came in. That was not my fault after all. For first time in my life, I was so deeply down and depressed. Things become awry. I could not think rationally. I show my protest. I tendered resignation. My boss counter-offered to a position as HR Relationship Manager in newly form division or reduces my responsibilities. She acknowledged my area of responsibilities, too stretched. Why now? I’ve got to handle payroll, risk & compliance, service delivery, expatriate management, record management, policies and procedures, tax etc with only one staff to help…. Gila! Payroll alone is extremely taxing. Now you know. Thank you very much, I am done. I want to start fresh. Goodbye!! 2 men died in the unfinished battle.

bye!bye!

Thank God. A nice-bald-vocal-fierce-very experience-man offered to work under him. That was 7/7/08. Although the position and pay are not as good as I earned in previous job, at least I am happy here. Now I know the theory of OPPORTUNITY COST. Unfortunately, I get know him and work with him for 6 months. He left for early retirement.

with x-boss before his retirement

Today, I am there to continue my journey. For how long...... time will answer.