Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by pastafreak26

Am I making a big mistake quitting my job now?

pastafreak26 — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 20:49:52 +0800

Early 30s. Recently started a role in Project Management. Two weeks in, tendered resignation letter. To cut the story short, found out a bully from a former workplace works there and we'll be working laterally. When I tendered my resignation letter, HR did probe and I told them as is.

Can't do much as the bullying didn't fall under the current company's purview, and the most they can do is ensure the bullying will not happen in my new company. It's not so much of the intimidation I'm afraid of, I simply do not want to be in any proximity to them, let alone the same organization.

Have since been involved in several back-and-forth conversations with HR and eventually confirmed my intention to proceed with resignation. HR has informally suggested a reconsideration.

Truthfully, part of me wants to stay, as I can see the management and my manager are doing their best to ensure no harm comes to me. However, a part of me wants to go, simply because the bully's presence has stripped all excitement I have of the job.

Job-wise, I think the learning curve is great and the potential is there. It's an interesting role but as with all Project Management-based roles, client-facing is something I dislike. But I will say I had to take a far bigger paycut than I was expecting too.

My biggest concern is, will I be looking at long-term unemployment if I leave now? I have no commitments, but I don't want to be involved in a long-term unemployment with how everyone's been telling me the economy is absolutely bad now. Can I quit, and still find employment within 1-2 months time?

If any recruiters or HR practitioners are familiar with the job market, would appreciate your advice. Project Management is fine but given how short-lived my experience is, I suppose I'll have to return to a creative role.

Using your new salary as a benchmark

pastafreak26 — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 11:58:19 +0800

Doesn't feel like the title is properly worded. Here's some context. Writer with 2-3 years experience, currently averaging around 7-8k in salary. Recently accepted a managerial position. Job has steep learning curve with zero room for error. Furthermore, found out managerial position is actually just customer service in disguise, huge huge disconnection. 1 week training + 2 weeks of work later, one day boss and HR comes with a performance plan hinting about laying off if no improvement is demonstrated in the few weeks to come. Have since explored the job market and attended 1-2 job interviews, nothing exciting or fitting, just actively preparing plan B when shit hits the fan. So far, the companies I interviewed at are offering significantly lower than what I am earning now. One company even slashed asking salary to RM3k.

Consulted friends and ex-workplace mentors and they have all urged me to not accept jobs lower than my current offer, even if the position or job scope is something that I enjoy doing. They say if you take a job offering lower than what you're paid now, your new salary will serve as the benchmark for your next jump. Really?

What am I supposed to do then? Thankfully no financial commitments, but not exactly the type of person who wants to sit around unemployed for a long time. A little scary to be unemployed in a time when everyone you know is either jobless or financially struggling.

Is there a future in freelance/contract work?

pastafreak26 — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 17:08:21 +0800

Been feeling very very depressed. Ever since my last post about a PA for a Datuk, didn't hit the offer. Settled for a 2 months contract work in a Pharmaceutical company back in Jun - Aug 2016 for exposure. From Sep 2016 to Jan 2017, back to job hunting. Got a job in a startup firm but left within two days as I could see it wasn't the right environment and the people were clearly showing a lack of chemistry in the office.

Currently, managed to beat a few hundred applicants to work in a prestigious MNC (or so the world thinks) as a recruiter. Had a soft start since Wednesday till today, apparently tomorrow is technically my official first day because my payroll for last week till today is not calculated. I come in as a permanent employment, but go by the status of a contractor, which means zero fringe benefits. As usual, work environment didn't fit. People in the MNC are absolutely nice and are trying to make me feel at home, but I want nothing more to have my own space of privacy and chill out during lunch breaks.

To make matters worse, I can't drive to work daily because parking there costs a whooping RM50-60. Instead, I uber daily and pay RM30, saving only RM10 per day. On the way back yesterday, I spoke to an uber driver and asked how does he find his job. Uber driving for me feels very liberating in the sense that you get to decide when you wanna clock in and out. You decide if you wanna go hard and earn big, or go light and earn small. You're not the boss of the business, but you have the autonomy to decide how you want to do things without the pressure. Went home thinking how nice it'd be if I could work remotely.

Funnily enough, got a bit under the weather today, called in sick for work because if I came in today, I would basically be at field work from 9:30am to 6:30pm. The weather would worsen my state of health if I went and I didn't want to start off my first day in a bad note.

In the midst of feeling shitty and depressed, I figured perhaps I should head back to my alma mater to seek counseling help. Spoke to a counselor and really find myself speaking from heart. The fact of the matter is I was never one to commit to a long term employment ie: routine work in office doesn't appeal to me, permanent employment does not fit my style because I don't like staying too long in one place/company, personally prefer working from home vs. outside with a chilled environment, being able to have autonomy over my own jobs.

Just being in the counseling session itself, I find myself regretting the fact that I went along the MNC offer was because I was tired of people pressuring me, and I was thinking I would finally be seen worthy in people's eyes for landing a job in a MNC firm with a Psychology degree (perceived useless in the family). But quite frankly, all this while, I've always wanted to work as a freelancer/contractor, I would love to sit at home and write really pensive web articles (like thoughtcatalog, Ask Thelma) that are reflective of my inner thoughts or be a guy whose temporarily in a company for months, achieve and complete what I'm supposed to do, leave an impression there and then move on to the next project/contract.

At the end of the day, the take home inspiration from the counseling session was to urge me to find my passion and that there's an incongruency between my career personality vs. work environment.

So the main question I want to post is... are there anyone who go by freelance/contract work? If you happen to be a permanently employed writer who works exclusively from home/outside and do not need to report to the office, please do share your experiences. What are the kind of struggles do you go through? For those of you who are familiar with remote works, are there any platforms in Malaysia that I can find? If you want to knock some life advice in to me, by all means go ahead too.

TL;DR, feeling depressed because I'm not just inspired at work and feeling miserable daily.

Personal Assistant?

pastafreak26 — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 23:55:57 +0800

Hi guys, I'm relatively new here and I'd like to get an advice on a career that I've been offered yet feeling unsure of.

To begin with, I am a fresh grad currently looking to explore in my field of interest. Despite months of searching, I have failed to locate a desirable job that I'd apply for and out of nowhere, I was offered the position of a Personal Assistant by a friend of mine. Now, my friend isn't a dodgy person, he's got a reputable image and what not so I wouldn't doubt his offer. It just so happens that, of all people to offer and pick, he asked me if I was interested in applying for the job only because my linguistic skills are impressive for a fresh grad.

Now, before I go on, I'd like to mention this personal assistance role is for an English speaking celebrity within Malaysia, not your typical corporate office personal assistant. As such, I am having mixed feelings about the job offer but nonetheless, have since sent in my resume and am in waiting to have an appointment arranged with said celeb to discuss about the job itself. I for one, am not sure what to expect, I am somewhat interested yet wary of what I'm getting myself in to.

Given my background, I have zero knowledge of the way of life in the entertainment circle and my only understanding is that it is a dark circle that can break or make you. I suppose my fear and anxiety stems from the fact that I am getting myself involved in something I have no knowledge of, and as such, I'd like to ask the opinions of you /k experienced job makers.

If there are any personal assistant out there, I do not ask that you share who you work for, merely, I'd like to know what are some of your (worst/best) experience, how is the nature of the job like and what have you gained from it? I understand that certain PA jobs are on freelance-basis yet certain others are full time.. and to date, I am not sure what this job may encompass or entail..

My parents have spoken and while they do not stop me from applying for the job, my father in particular has somewhat hinted that he doesn't want me to fall through with the PA work. I for one, think that if the PA job pays well, I wouldn't mind taking the job for a few years in order to give my parents a better life. Career progression wise, I understand that PA will get you nowhere, but the networking aspect will net you a lot people, if lucky and I do sincerely hope to find a cooperate based job one day, but for now, I'd like to just ask about PA..

Share away .

Thank you.