Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by Keitsu

To accept or not to accept

Keitsu — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:12:58 +0800

Hi everyone.

Looking for quite a bit of advice...

I am a graphic designer in a DTP/Printing company for nearly and
I just received a job offer from a digital advertising company offering
the same pay for probation of 3 months and the increment will match
my performance. Since they need my response asap since I need to
give my current company 2 months notice and they like me to hop in
asap.

So the diff. between both companies are:

Pay: Same (new company have increment after 3 months)

Location: JayaOne (current), Hartamas shopping mall (new)

Parking: RM60 self pay (current), free parking nearby (new)

Hours: same hours (current has OT every day with RM10 allowance,
new company does not do OT)

Days: 5 days + 1 halfday everymonth (current), new: 5.5days.

Clothing: as long as it isn't pajamas (current), uniform (new)

Benefits: as usual... current has 16P.Hols + 10AL, new 14P.Hols + 14AL

Self-Growth: (current) very slow, (new) as fast as you can learn

Increment: (current) depending on company profit, (new) 6months evaluation - if reach benchmark, there is increment.

The new company focus more on new challenge and looking at wider
range of clients on the web area and still provide print graphic services
with event management as well.

Current one focuses more on DTP and annual reports with catalogues
around.

It is quite a huge change from basic mundane to challenging....

Is there any other things I should think about before I give my answer?

Warm Regards, Thanks for viewing.

MNC for graphic designers

Keitsu — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:42:00 +0800

There were discussions on Oil n Gas, accounting etc on how great it is to work in some MNC company due to benefits and pay... the hours may vary but 'rewarded' sufficiently i assume.

I am curious with the ones for graphic designers, like ogilvy, saatchi & saatchi etc. How's the lifestyle there? Terrible hours with OT allowance? Never see the daylight? Anyone with any insight?

Thanks

Too early promotion leads to a downfall

Keitsu — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:27:33 +0800

Here's the scenario:

A month and a half in a company doing the job of a "junior", whatever manager gives you - you complete and pass on.
You received a promotion way before the end of the probation to take over the manager position - how attractive it was: challenging, learn new skills, no need to do a "junior/senior" job unless all are busy, mainly do client servicing, quality control, time/people management. Because they saw the potential in you.

You were assured the previous manager will be there to train/guide you thru the process, bit by bit easing you into the new job (which you have no exp at all) so you may familiarize with the new jobscope before letting go of your hand and will constantly watch/observe what you are doing. As delicious as this bait is being, you are uncertain because it looks very risky but you can't advance if you don't take the risk. You believe your boss's assurance and took the leap.

Interesting thing is: metaphor-wise --- you didn't even realise you were on a unicycle and have a stack of books on your head with dumbbells attach to your seat when they shove you off the cliff when everything official begins.

Not only you do your previous (and seem to be continuing) "junior/senior" job due to lack of staff, you have to handle your new position with the barest understanding of receive client's work, delegate, receive work from downline, check and deliver during the peak time. With crazy deadlines. With calls almost every few hours in a bundle asking for their job to be prioritize. You are doing two jobs with five times the responsibility. Best thing is, if you believe you're not suitable for the new promotion, you can't go back to your previous jobscope because it will show that company is having a problem (in fact, you were forbidden to go back to your previous position). But weren't you told you will be trained before you are officially the new manager? Where's the training? Where's the handbook on this?!!

You WILL make mistakes but you learn quickly when your client point out angrily and ex-manager 'goreng' you a little to a lot. With no training whatsoever. Just immediate toss you in the deep end of the sea and observe as you try to bypass the sharks in it (wait a minute, of all places they toss you?!!). And when you face some cramps, at times the lifeguard is looking elsewhere and checking back on you when you manage to get thru the cramps with a few bleeding wounds.

Instead of learning how to do your job(s) very well, you were taught how to lie to put the blame onto someone else and save the company's face. But if you do a good job, no need to lie, yea?

After struggling the final weeks of your probation running on everything you have, you were given a terrible review stating you made petty mistakes and the client wants you to be laid off. The higher ups believes in you (since it WAS their huge gamble in promoting someone who barely knew what is going on) and fought to give you another chance so the final review will be in another 3 months times. Rest assured, you are confirmed with no extra benefits but everyone will be keeping an eye on you, including the client's big boss. And if you still cannot do it, we lay you off.

Enough pressure for someone who JUST able to see the shore and the waves pull you back into the deep sea. Wow.

At this point, you wonder whether you shouldn't have taken the promotion no matter how promising the promises are or are plain incompetent. You work hours end, trying not to overwork your downline and appease the clients - check your downline's work... who check yours?!! Not only that, you are training a new downline how to work and function well.

As you suck up your terribly battered pride, collect your badly stomped dedication and hardwork... It takes a lot to get out of this slump.

But the end of the day - you learn something valuable, even when you were beaten around with metal spiked bats with no protection at all.

You did not lose anything out of this, just a possible good job. You walk away with greater experience and way tougher than before.

What are your opinions?

WTA Viva Speedometer

Keitsu — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:54:04 +0800

Tonight on my way back from Casa Tropicana, I was driving up a slope highway when the speedometer got stuck at 60/hr when I clearly am going faster.
And when I slow down (dayem worried and a bit panicked), the needle didn't drop.... only when gear 3 before it started to twitch.

At fullstop and start drive, normally it would run up (pick-up) to 10-15km/hr before I changed gear... Only at gear 3 it THEN started to move and very VERY gradually indicates my speed...

Pick-up speed and slowing down, the needle is really slow response... what exactly is wrong with the rascal?!! Just last friday I had my 2nd service...

Thanks.

Huuu first saman!

Keitsu — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:53:16 +0800

If... I cause unnecessary obstruction on a road, how much is this particular parking saman?

Is there any chance getting a discount or something? And where to pay?

Question: Master File Format

Keitsu — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:14:56 +0800

Hi everyone!
Sorry for this slightly silly question but just wondering what is a ".master"?

I am working on an .aspx website done by the programmer and attempting to make changes. Having a wee bit of difficulties as I am more of a designer than a coder, but I could read basic HTML coding and stuff and tweaking them to fit.

So pretty much working on an aspx file is very new, and while going through it... I found its 'other pages' (profile, testimonial - everything except the main page) has this coding:

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

The pages allow me to change the content but not the main links (which I suspect is due to the master file which my DreamWeaver is unable to open).

So if anyone could please explain to me what this file (.master) and (.aspx.cs) really is and what softwares used to edit it would be great.

Thanks a lot