Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by ventolin

Best telco deal for international roaming?

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 07:30:00 +0800

Best telco deal for international roaming?

ventolin — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 12:17:33 +0800

I go overseas for business trips from time to time (maybe once in 3-4 months), but I’m not sure which telco gives me the best roaming deal. I’m currently using UMobile RM48/month, and international roaming for ASEAN and a few countries is RM10/day. I find it reasonable if I’m away for 2-3 days.

But for longer trips (1-2 weeks), this would amount up to RM140+. I know Digi has free 5GB roaming if you subscribe to their RM110 postpaid plan but I’m not sure if it’s best for value.

Any input?

How helpful are Jobstreet and Linkedin?

ventolin — Fri, 17 May 2019 23:13:18 +0800

Majority of people that I know of are way too dependent on these two platforms when they do a job-hunt. I’m curious to see what the success rate looks like for these two websites. I have also heard that some HR depts just put up ads there for formality only. Has there been any study done to look at how helpful Jobstreet and Linkedin are in securing a job for jobseekers?

Salary in USD — what’s the acceptable pay raise?

ventolin — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 22:48:34 +0800

What would be an acceptable pay raise if you got a new job that pays in USD? Considering there will be no SOCSO, no EPF, etc, is 50% an acceptable raise? 40%? 60%?

“Salary breakdown” — what does this mean?

ventolin — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 22:32:32 +0800

I just got a job offer as an account manager and the email from HR goes like:

Ideal would be if you can send me your salary breakdown and we can talk about an attractive offer package in more detail

What exactly is salary breakdown? Is it like basic salary, conveyance, health, etc? Could this mean something else? I just want to be careful and not hurt my chances

Interview with Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)

ventolin — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 23:45:58 +0800

So I have a job interview with a CCO next week, and it will be a phone interview. What kind of questions do CCOs usually ask? CEO is more on leadership, COO is more on operational and strategies, CTO is obviously technical-heavy, but CCO...? I know this is generalising, but just kinda wanted to have some expectation for prepping purposes. The position I'm applying for is technical account manager.

Working for a US startup as an APAC rep in KL

ventolin — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 09:04:58 +0800

I just had this Skype interview with a US-based start-up (to give a sense of the size of the company -- $64.4M annual revenue). They just started a remote team in Asia Pacific region, with a few staff already based in Singapore and Indonesia. I am trying my luck for this APAC account manager position. They asked me if I would relocate to Singapore, but I said I'd rather stay in KL which is okay to them. They asked about my salary expectation but I wasn't really prepared for this question because I was absolutely clueless on how US companies. They asked me to get back to me with the figures by tomorrow.

So, what would be an acceptable range if I work for them but based in KL? My current salary is RM6000. If I were to relocate to Singapore, I would ask around SGD7500-SGD8000. Is it acceptable if I ask for SGD3800 - SGD4000 given that I'll be based in KL? If not what would be an appropriate range? Kindly advice. Thanks!

No commitment: effect on housing loan application?

ventolin — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 21:43:09 +0800

Does having no financial commitments at all affect your housing loan application? It means no credit score, doesn't it? I have no car, no education debt, no credit cards... I'm planning to buy a 200k house and my net income is around 5.5k, and based on this I should be able to pay ~1.5k/month... Thoughts?

Malaysian Employee Handbook? (and some extra Q)

ventolin — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 17:27:24 +0800

In the employment contract it says,

QUOTE

Your annual leave entitlement will be according to the grade of Manager as listed
in the Malaysian Employee Handbook, subject to the rules and regulations of the
Company and the express approval of your immediate superior.

Is this a thing in Malaysia? Like a standardized employee handbook? Or unique to the company??? I'm so puzzled.

Also some extra question:

What do we do if the employment contract doesn't mention anything about medical benefits? Is it appropriate to ask them this? Is it common for a global company to not provide medical benefit to their employees?

Withdraw from a job offer after signing contract

ventolin — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 09:59:29 +0800

So I accepted a job offer last month and the start date will be next week. The job will be based in KL. However due to an emergency i.e. family member illness, I will not be able to move to KL because I need to take care of that family member. That means I am no longer interested in the job. What is the best way for me to tell them? Will I get penalized? I have read through the contract and it says:

QUOTE

You are required to serve a probationary period of six months from the Commencement Date,
At any time during the probationary period, initial or extended as the case may be, your appointment may be terminated either by the Company or yourself without having to assign any reason whatsoever, by giving one month's written notice or one month's basic salary in lieu of notice.
Upon confirmation, your employment with the Company may be terminated by either party giving to the other two months' written notice or, in the case of termination by the Company, the payment of two months' basic salary in lieu of such notice period.

Am I subject to the notice period policy although I haven't even started working? Advice please. Thank you.

If contract period is not stated, is it permanent?

ventolin — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 12:39:34 +0800

I just accepted a job offer but being a careless person as I usually am, I forgot to ask the interviewer if the job is contract or permanent... but there is no contract period mentioned in the employment agreement... it only says 6 months probation and then confirmation... do we consider this position permanent then (given that I pass the probation)?

Requesting for allowance you didn't know exist?

ventolin — Fri, 26 May 2017 10:05:24 +0800

I just started a new job and I think my pay is pretty good for the little working experience I have. But I just found out from a few colleagues that there is an allowance for transportation that I didn't know exist. I am aware that my mistake is not asking the HR what are the miscellaneous allowances available when I was negotiating my salary. But during the negotiation process they only asked for expected salary and didn't even mention about allowances although they did ask "What are the current allowances you receive at your current job?"

Is it too much to ask for it now that I have started the job? I don't drive because I just returned to Malaysia from UK so I don't have a driver's license yet, so transportation allowance would be a great help.

Working at startups

ventolin — Sun, 07 May 2017 11:20:11 +0800

I'm going for an interview with next week... for an operation associate position... any idea on startup working environment? Personal growth opportunity? Salary?

Career ladder: Going downwards? Is it common?

ventolin — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 17:40:35 +0800

Just a question: what if you are already occupied a higher position in a company, and after a year or two, let's say you really want to quit because you can't stand the place... or the pople and you decided to apply for new jobs. My question is, is it common that managers/senior staffs go downward in their career ladder? For example from being a manager to an executive position? Or senior exec to junior?

Job hunting: Alternatives to JobStreet etc

ventolin — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 09:42:56 +0800

I don't know, but I know a lot of people don't have fair luck when it comes to applying jobs online. Especially when your field of study isn't too common. What are other alternatives than going through vacancies on these portals, and just hitting apply, apply and apply? I know there are also job fairs but some fairs are aimed towards specific fields or industries.

Is shooting an email to certain companies - particularly the HR department - a thing? Is it worth giving it a shot? Or how about physically going to the offices and leave our resume?

Feeling underqualified for a job

ventolin — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 12:21:11 +0800

So I just started my job... the place, the people, everything is perfect EXCEPT that I seem not to be able to cope with the tasks. When I applied for the job, the job scope didn't appear so advanced or intimidating at all. My resume does look quite good however, but how much can you extrapolate from just a piece of paper? The interview was done through Skype and it lasted for less than 10 minutes. Hours later I got called and they told me that I got the job.

A few weeks in I find the job way too tough for my capabilities and skill sets. I'm thinking of resigning so that they could replace me with someone who is better qualified and keep their momentum going since I think I don't do the job well enough. I could care less about pay anymore; I feel bad for the company and I feel I should go before I let anyone down. But I also don't want to let them down for them have put so much time and effort recruiting me.

What do you guys think?

EDIT: Oh I forgot to mention the most important part -- I was hired to replace someone who is WAY MORE SKILLED than I am, which is pretty much the root of all my anxiety...

Job contract question: contract & termination

ventolin — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 01:08:43 +0800

Hello guys

So I just got a job offer, which isn't a position that I want to have for a long time. I'm thinking of taking the offer for at most a year, while looking for a job that suits me better.

So in the job contract it says "Contract period: Your employment will be for a 3 year period" but at the same time there's a clause that says "Your employment may be terminated by either party upon giving one month's notice by either side or the payment of one month's salary in lieu of this notice"

What I don't really understand is will I get bonded for 3 years if I sign the contract? Can I legally quit the job before the 3 year period ends?

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ventolin — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 22:28:39 +0800

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