Buyer's Diary

What Leaders Do

2012-01-01T03:57:00.000-08:00

First of all......Happy New Year 2012!!!
Today I am cleaning my documents and I this photostat article which I want to share with all my readers.

Is not everyone can become a leader have a special criteria which manager do not have in general.

Leaders relentlessly upgrade their team,using every encounter as an oppurtunity to evaluate, coach and build self-confidence.
Leaders make sure people not only see the vision, they live and breathe it.
Leaders get into everyone's skin, exuding positive energy and optimism.
Leaders establish trust with candor, transparency, and credit.
Leaders have the courage to make unpopular decisions and gut calls.
Leaders probe and push with a curiosity that borders on skepticism, making sure their questions are answered with action.
Leaders inspire risk taking and learning by setting by example.
Leaders celebrate.

These 8 criteria is in the article but I do not have the author name with me. Anyway, I do agree with the criteria stated to become a good leaders.

“Think globally act locally”

2011-11-04T08:24:00.000-07:00

This is a famous tagline for most of the company especially on the expansion into the Asia countries such as Malaysia, China or India. We have read lots of success stories of the expansion strategies but I what I want to discuss is the companies which is still fail in this respect even they have understand the important of this tag or slogan.

I have read an article on why there is some multinational companies still fail after aware on the important of “Think Globally , Act Locally” approach. There are 3 main issues which is discussing in the article which is people, ideas and tools.

I do agree with the writer perspective because this is the reason why companies hired consultant, local employees or local expert. These local contacts are really important as it can speed up the expansion initiative of the companies. Ideally, the multinational companies will have hard times to understand the management differences between western and eastern. Reading or attending the culture awareness or culture management course is just a form of preparation and this does not guarantee in the understanding of the way of working in the Asia countries.

The second failure is ideas because of the cultural mindsets. Western and Eastern do have lots of different mindsets because we have brought up in a different way. Mindsets are totally different from person to person and this is the important factor to determine the failure or success of the company.

The third failure is tools. What does this statement means? Initially, the tools here is focus on what is the tools have been applied. Assumption that all the tools of method are same is a big NO NO!!! Studies need to be done to ensure the right tools can be implemented.

ARE YOU READY ???

Is retrenchment strategy the fastest way to reduce expense?

2011-11-04T07:51:00.000-07:00

Actually it have been a while I never update “Buyer Diary”.

Recently, I have been thinking why some company will agree to take retrenchment strategy to reduce expense. I believe most of us still remember that early 2009 many MNC have using the retrenchment strategy as a temporarily solution to reduce expense due to economic crisis.

When we talk about retrenchment, I believe the first thing come to our mind is retrenching the employees. Actually to reduce expense, the retrenchment strategy can involve withdrawing from certain products or service in order to make a beneficial turnaround. Besides that, back to focus on the company core competencies is one of retrenchment strategy as well.

Honestly, I believe we will have a tough beginning of 2012. There is lots of analysis stated that we will have a soft market in the beginning of the year 2012. We can start feeling the pressure of soft market due to the recent Euro Crisis and US Debt Crisis. Theoretically, these crisis have a huge impact to the world crisis because “The World is Flat”

Communication

2010-07-21T01:28:00.000-07:00

What is communication? Communication is defined as a process by which we assign and convey meaning in an attempt to create shared understanding. Effective communication is the powerful tools in determine the successful of an organization.

I really feel that my division has a communication breakdown symptom where proper information not channels effective. When some of the facts not channel correctly, misunderstanding will arise and this indirectly affect the morale and motivation of the entire teams.

This scenario is what currently happens in my division as I am the one who always feel unsecure with the lack of information and planning. The re-organization which is schedule will effective on this coming August just meaningless for me.

My current motto is “When you have tried to change the environment but still do not see any progress, just change your mindset”.

Life ain't that serious!

2010-05-26T22:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I received an e-mail from my friend. I just wonder how many people really achieve life-balanced......

Honestly, I think I not really apply lifebalanced concept because I alwalys think that I should work harder if I want to achieve better life.
Below article is written by Chetan Bhagat :

Don't just have career or academic goals.Set goals to give you a balanced,successful life. I use the word balanced before successful. Balanced means ensuring your health, relationship, mental peace are all in good order. There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup. There is no fun in driving a car if back hurts. Shoppping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tensions.

Life is one of those races in nursery school where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your month. If the marble falls, there is no point coming first. Same is with life where health and relationship are the marble. Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your life. Else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of being excited and alive, will strat to die.

One thing about nurturing the spark-don't take life seriously, Life is not meant to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up?

It's ok, bunk a few classes, scoring low in couple of papers, goof up a few interviews, take leave from work, Enjoy with your friends, fall in love, little fights with your loved Ones. We are people, not programmed devices.

China no longer a cheap production. What you think?

2010-05-09T23:28:00.000-07:00

China is known to low-cost production base due to cheap production cost compare to country like Malaysia. Recently, China no longer a cheap production base due to the monthly wages have increase tremendously from 30% - 40% within 5 years.

Many of us think that, since China starts from a very low base the increment of 30% - 40% do not consider expensive. Besides that, China is investing in his labor forces where to become productive liked most of western countries of their workers in less than 10 years.

Another concern on low cost-production is the quality of production. As all of us know, most of its bulk production of goods has a poor quality but it remains cheap. One of the problems facing on China is that manufacturers continue to engage in a practice which someone calls "quality fades." This is the deliberate and secret habit of widening profit margins through a reduction in the quality of materials.

It depends on how you judge whether China is still a low-cost production based or countries such as Vietnam, Mexico or India will be consider the low base in the next 5 years.

A brilliant interview... What you think?

2010-04-15T22:02:00.000-07:00

This is just for sharing. Everyone have their own justification on the job and the environment. Is money play the most imporatant point?

Some, rather most organizations reject his CV today because he has changed jobs frequently (10 in 14 years). My friend, the ˜job hopper™ (referred here as Mr. JH), does not mind it. well he does not need to mind it at all. Having worked full-time with 10 employer companies in just 14 years gives Mr. JH the relaxing edge that most of the ˜company loyal™ employees are struggling for today. Today, Mr. JH too is laid off like some other 14-15 year experienced guys “ the difference being the latter have just worked in 2-3 organizations in the same number of years. Here are the excerpts of an interview with Mr. JH:

Q: Why have you changed 10 jobs in 14 years?
A: To get financially sound and stable before getting laid off the second time.

Q: So you knew you would be laid off in the year 2009?
A: Well I was laid off first in the year 2002 due to the first global economic slowdown. I had not got a full-time job before January 2003 when the economy started looking up; so I had struggled for almost a year without job and with compromises.

Q: Which number of job was that?
A: That was my third job.

Q: So from Jan 2003 to Jan 2009, in 6 years, you have changed 8 jobs to make the count as 10 jobs in 14 years?
A: I had no other option. In my first 8 years of professional life, I had worked only for 2 organizations thinking that jobs are deserved after lot of hard work and one should stay with an employer company to justify the saying ˜employer loyalty™. But I was an idiot.

Q: Why do you say so?
A: My salary in the first 8 years went up only marginally. I could not save enough and also, I had thought that I had a ˜permanent™ job, so I need not worry about ˜what will I do if I lose my job™. I could never imagine losing a job because of economic slowdown and not because of my performance. That was January 2002.

Q: Can you brief on what happened between January 2003 and 2009.
A: Well, I had learnt my lessons of being ˜company loyal™ and not ˜money earning and saving loyal™. But then you can save enough only when you earn enough. So I shifted my loyalty towards money making and saving “ I changed 8 jobs in 6 years assuring all my interviewers about my stability.

Q: So you lied to your interviewers; you had already planned to change the job for which you were being interviewed on a particular day?
A: Yes, you can change jobs only when the market is up and companies are hiring. You tell me “ can I get a job now because of the slowdown? No. So one should change jobs for higher salaries only when the market is up because that is the only time when companies hire and can afford the expected salaries.

Q: What have you gained by doing such things?
A: That's the question I was waiting for. In Jan 2003, I had a fixed salary (without variables) of say Rs. X p.a. In January 2009, my salary was 8X. So assuming my salary was Rs.3 lakh p.a. in Jan 2003, my last drawn salary in Jan 2009 was Rs.24 lakh p.a. (without variable). I never bothered about variable as I had no intention to stay for 1 year and go through the appraisal process to wait for the company to give me a hike.

Q: So you decided on your own hike?
A: Yes, in 2003, I could see the slowdown coming again in future like it had happened in 2001-02. Though I was not sure by when the next slowdown would come, I was pretty sure I wanted a ˜debt-free™ life before being laid off again. So I planned my hike targets on a yearly basis without waiting for the year to complete.

Q: So are you debt-free now?
A: Yes, I earned so much by virtue of job changes for money and spent so little that today I have a loan free 2 BR flat (1200 sq.. feet) plus a loan free big car without bothering about any EMIs. I am laid off too but I do not complain at all. If I have laid off companies for money, it is OK if a company lays me off because of lack of money.

Q: Who is complaining?
A: All those guys who are not getting a job to pay their EMIs off are complaining. They had made fun of me saying I am a job hopper and do not have any company loyalty. Now I ask them what they gained by their company loyalty; they too are laid off like me and pass comments to me “ why will you bother about us, you are already debt-free. They were still in the bracket of 12-14 lakh p.a. when they were laid off.

Q: What is your advice to professionals?
A: Like Narayan Murthy had said “ love your job and not your company because you never know when your company will stop loving you. In the same lines, love yourself and your family needs more than the company's needs. Companies can keep coming and going; family will always remain the same. Make money for yourself first and simultaneously make money for the company, not the other way around.

Q: What is your biggest pain point with companies?
A: When a company does well, its CEO will address the entire company saying, ˜well done guys, it is YOUR company, keep up the hard work, I am with you. But when the slowdown happens and the company does not do so well, the same CEO will say, It is MY company and to save the company, I have to take tough decisions including asking people to go. So think about your financial stability first; when you get laid off, your kids will complain to you and not your boss.

Experience Counts . . .

2010-03-30T16:22:00.000-07:00

A giant ship engine failed. The ship's owners tried one expert after another, but none of
them could figure but how to fix the engine.

Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was a young.

He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work.

He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom.

Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do.

After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer.

He gently tapped something.

Instantly, the engine lurched into life. He carefully put his hammer away.

The engine was fixed!

A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for $10,000.

"What?!" the owners exclaimed. "He hardly did anything!"

So they wrote the old man a note saying, "Please send us an itemized bill."

The man sent a bill that read:

Tapping with a hammer...... ......... ........ $ 2.00
Knowing where to tap.......... ......... ...... $ 9, 998.00

Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort makes all the difference!

Look East Policy

2010-01-27T18:38:00.000-08:00

Anyone still remember "Look East Policy" which us implement by our "Father of Modernixation". This policy is designed to emulate the ways of the developed country such as Japan. I just wonder how much we really have adapt their secret indgredient of success.If compare to Japan I do feel we are still far behind from their technology.

Below are some of the interesting picture of Japan which take 65 years to develop their country after explosion of ATOMIC BOMB in August 1945.

We all know that Hiroshima and Nagasaki

were destroyed in August 1945 after explosion

of atomic bombs.

However we know little about the progress

made by the people of that land during the

past 65 years.

and NOW

I am really impress that they only use 65 years to re-build from a piece of empty land........

Water.....

2010-01-19T16:00:00.000-08:00

Present situation : There is war for Oil and Gas

Future situation: War for water

Alexander Story (Worth Reading)

2010-01-19T13:50:00.000-08:00

The great Greek King, Alexandar, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and he was bedridden for months. With death drawing close, Alexandar realized how his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no use.

He called his generals and said. "I will depart from this world soon.But I have three wishes. Please fulfill my wishes without fail." With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king's last wishes.

"My first desire is that, "said Alexandar."my physicians alone must carry my coffin." ' Secondly, when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard should be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury. My third and last wish is that both my hands should be kept dangling out of my coffin." The people who had gathered there wondered at the king's strange wishes, but no one dared to question. Alexandar's favorite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart, "0 king, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled, but tell us why do you have such strange wishes?"

At this Alexandar took a deep breath and said,"I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learnt. I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really cure anybody. They are powerless and cannot save a person from cluthes of death. So let not people take life for granted.

The second wish of stewing gold,silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to telll people that not even a fraaction of gold can be taken by me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.

About third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I want people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world"

Alexander's last words: "Bury my body, do not build monument, keep my hands outside so that the world knows the person who won the world had nothing in his hands when dying"

The Mayonnaise Jar

2010-01-17T14:31:00.000-08:00

The Mayonnaise Jar

When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle,

When 24 Hours in a day is not enough,

Remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee..

A professor stood before his philosophy class

And had some items in front of him.

When the class began, wordlessly,

He picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar

and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students, if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured

them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.

The pebbles rolled into the open Areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively

filling the empty space between the sand... The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided,

'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things - family,

children, health, Friends, and Favorite passions ˆ

Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, Your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else --The small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued,

'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,

You will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Play With your children.

Take time to get medical checkups.

Take your partner out to dinner...

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal...

'Take care of the golf balls first --

The things that really matter.

Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.

'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,

there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

Why Worry (Cartoon)

2010-01-17T14:23:00.000-08:00

The Boy & The Apple Tree (Cartoon)

2010-01-17T14:19:00.000-08:00

Everyone has an apple tree in their life si we must know how to appreciate it .......

Leading Bold Change

2010-01-17T12:56:00.000-08:00

Last 2 weeks, I have read a book which related to organizational changes. This book do provide us understanding on Change Management and how to utilize the 8-steps process to implement change in our workplace.

The 8 steps which I wish to share is as below:

1. Create a Sense of Urgenc

Help others to see the need for changes and the importance of acting immediately. Doesn’t matter whether you are a manager or just a worker.
Not necessarily to inform/explain it to the person who has authority/member councils.

2. Pull Together the Guiding Team

Ensure there is a powerful group guiding the changes. The team must have but not necessarily a diversified character/personality like leadership skill, analytical skills, communications ability, proactive, innovative, creative, sharing ideas, fairness, willing to listen, understanding, caring, etc
Not only that, the team members must also have a teamwork spirit, accept each other strengths and weaknesses and must be cooperative/supportive to each other

3. Develop the Change Vision and Strategy

Explain and clarify the future/environment will be different from the past or current situation/behavior and how we can help to make it a reality
It must be simple, clear and understandable

4. Communicate for Understanding and Buy In

To ensure that as many as possible understand and accept the vision and the strategy for the benefits of the entire organizations
Use any resources to communicate so others can gain the confidence level and trust the guiding team

5. Empower Others to Act

Remove any obstacles/barriers so that others can act to achieve the vision by following the strategy
The obstacles can be for examples; old process, old technology, negative person, limited resources and time, poor management/planning etc
Guide others to act accordingly

6. Produce Short Term Wins

Create some visible, unambiguous and clear success once others followed the strategy
This is to increase the motivation and self morale

7. Don’t Let up

After achieving the first success, continue with the motivation and recognition. Press harder and faster so that the momentum of doing the right thing will continue.
Once succeed, the vision will be more closer and become reality

8. Create a New Culture

Hold the new ways or culture and ensure we are stick to it
Changing to a new culture or traditions will also ensure and improve our organization survival

Personally, this is a great book to read as I promise you will not get bored while reading it as there are many penguinds illustration and the font is big.

Outsourcing

2010-01-03T17:43:00.000-08:00

What is outsourcing? Generally, outsourcing happen when a business secures products and/or services from a third party, as opposed to producing them in house because of several factor. Outsourcing is not new "term " for the services and manafacturing industries as many services and production have been transferred to the outsource company.

Actually, they are many argument occurs whether the company should outsource their products or goods to other party or not. Companies should think carefully before outsourcing because there is some disadvantage of outsourcing. Proper planned approach towards outsourcing need to take into account the interests of employees and customers alike to come up with balance advance.

Below are the reason why companies decide to outsource their product and services:

Focus on core activities
Cost savings
Cost Restructring
Improve quality
Knowledge
Contract
Operational expertise
Capacity Management
Catalyst for change
Enhance capacity for innovation
Reduce time to market
Commodification
Venture capital
Tax Benefit
Scalability

Critism on the outsourcing:

Quality Risk and services
Loss of managerial control
Hidden cost
Language Skills
Public Opinion
Social Responsibility
Staff Turover
Company Knowledge
Qualifications of outsourcers
Failure to deliver business transformation
Productivity
Stanpoint of labor
Security

Nothing Is Impossible (Motivation)

2010-01-03T16:12:00.000-08:00

Actually I have received this motivation e-mail several time and again last week I received this e-mail. This e-mail is really meaningful and do alwalys have a positive attitude.

When someone tells you that you can't do something

Look around

Consider all options

Then GO for it!

You've gotta stick your neck out

Use all your skills and positive attitude

Be Creative.

In the end, you will succeed and prove them wrong

Alwalys bear in mind that nothing is imposible if your heart is willing and your attitude is positive.

Thanks Wolvexx for sharing this article again and for the good writing.

Don't Ask Life, Why Me? ( Management Cartoo )

2010-01-03T15:59:00.000-08:00

Alwalys remember:

Smooth roads never make good drivers
Smooth sea never makes good sailors
Clears Skies never makes good Pilots.

Problem and hassle free Life NEVER makes a strong person.

Corporate Lesson (Management Cartoon)

2009-12-13T19:16:00.000-08:00

Online Road Tax Renewal

2009-12-08T19:49:00.000-08:00

Just browse through internet and I find out "Online Road Tax Renewal" . Here you go for the website address: http://www.myeg.com.my/

I really think this is great especially for the busy people who not free to renew their roadtax but I never try this services yet. Besides that, other services which is available are Renewal of Driving License , PDRM Summons Alert and other.

The differences between YOU and YOUR BOSS

2009-12-02T18:22:00.000-08:00

I just copy this from forward e-mail and what you think on this.........

ME and MY BOSS

_________________

When I Take a long time to finish,

I am slow,

When my BOSS takes a long time,

He is throrough.

When I don't do it,

I am lazy,

When my BOSS does not do it,

He is busy.

When I do something without being told,

I am trying to be smart,

When my BOSS does the same,

He is cooperating.

When I make mistake,

I am an idiot,

When my BOSS makes a mistake,

He's only human.

When I am out of office,

I am wondering around,

When my BOSS is out of office,

He's on business.

When I am on a day off sick,

I am alwalys sick,

When my BOSS is a day off sick,

He must be very ill.

When I apply leave,

I must be going for interview,

When my BOSS applies for leave,

It's because he's overworked.

When I do good,

my BOSS never remembers,

When I do wrong,

he never forgets

What to do ????

Admit Mistake and Earn Respect ( Management Cartoon)

2009-11-30T19:00:00.000-08:00

This is the reality in working environment. What you think?

No pain No gain (Management Cartoon)

2009-11-25T12:10:00.000-08:00

No Pain No Gain.....

Accept the Pain as there is always a reason for that pain work.

Promotion (Management Cartoon)

2009-11-25T11:49:00.000-08:00

What do you think of this statement ? Actually, I do agree with this as sometimes organization will not promote the people who looks happy with their job. Sometimes, they intend to promote or raise your salary once you are planning to resign. I just wonder why organization do not how to appreciate the people.

This really happen to me........as last time I still remember that when I tender my resignation letter then my superior said he will promote me. Honestly, on that time is just too late as I have already sign the offer letter.

13th Month salary/bonus

2009-11-24T13:22:00.000-08:00

Everyone in my company is waiting patiently for the "MEMO on 13th Month Salary". Actually, I think all of us are deserve for the 13 month.

I have review the contract but there is an ex-gratia term which means there was no obligation for the company to paid the 13 month. By stated this in the contract, this just simply means that 13th month have become a type of bonus and not entitlement for employee.

There is some company does not implement the 13th month bonus for their emploeyees but there will paid higher monthly salary due to the company have factor in the 13 month. Do you think no increment and year end bonus because of the current economic situation is fair for all of us?

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

2009-10-10T08:21:00.000-07:00

The Secret is a really famous book in bookstore and it cost about RM 79.90. This main idea of this book is the law of attraction. The law of attraction doesn't compute "don't" or "not" or "no" , or any other words of negotiation. This means if we think about something you were not happy about and more ; you thought about it the worse it seemed to be.......

This book is suitable for all types of readers and the main focus is "The law of attraction". What I like most in this book is Rhonda summarize for each chapter. The paper is quality and colourful as well. I believe all he readers will gain something after reading this book.

(Transfer from previous blog which posted on Sunday, February 15, 2009 )

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

2009-10-10T08:17:00.000-07:00

I just finish reading this book - "The Last Lecture"."We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand" - Randy Pausch.

The title look weird as this book really not like a motivation book and it have been in my book rack for a week and I have no intention to read this book until one night suddenly I take up this book and start the reading.

This book inspire me in different way where Randy who know that he still have few month try to tell us importante of overcoming obstacles,of enabling dreams of others and seizing every moments.In this book I learn how to work hard and think positive. Besides that, it is really importance to have a dream which can keep us moving. In life, nothing is easy as to achieve success we need to work hard and smart.

(Transfer from previous blog which posted on Thursday, March 12, 2009 )

Winning by Jack Welch & Suzy Welch

2009-10-10T08:14:00.000-07:00

I just finish reading a very interesting Management Book by Jack Welch. "Winning" is complete management book as it include all the management topics and surely can become the bible of business.

After I read this book, I understand more on leadership. This word is really truth "Before you are leader, success is all about growing yourself and when you become a leader, success is all about growing others."

Besides that, I also like the way Welch written all the personal anecdotes in this book. His style of writing will keep you reading and thinking of the management style which is realistic and logic.
P/S: There is a chapter about layoffs due to economic downturns in "FIRING" as well.

(Transfer from previous blog which posted on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 )

Culture Shock.....

2009-09-21T18:42:00.000-07:00

A condition of disorientation affecting someone who is suddenly exposed to an unfamiliar culture or way of life or set of attitudes meaans culture shock. Honestly, sometimes we are too comfortable with current environment it is hard for us to have a move to another organization due to culture shock.

Frankly speaking, I do face the culture shock when I decide to move for a big MNC to a smaller MNC is a small town. The environment is totally different and the culture and management is 100% different and when I reported to work on the first day I do feel regret for the WRONG decision which I have made.....moving from big MNC to a small factory in small town. Hahahaha - this is my feeling for that point of time.

Anyway, today I really feel worth it because I do learn lots of stuff in the small company. We need to pick up and do most of the manual stuff as the system is not that advance compare to big MNC company. Besides that, I guess office politic is worst in small company compare to big company. I will discuss on office politic in next blog :)

Actually, I do feel it is alright for us to change the working environment after few years of working experience in one company unless the current company where you are working really provide you good future development in term of skills and other. This is what I think because changing job or job scope make you become a faster learner in the competitive environment. Culture shock may make you feel not comfortable but if you manage to handle well you will gain many of the benefit.

It is not easy......so my advice to people who plan to change their job must be physically and mentality ready. There are many reason people want to change this job and below are some reason which I can think of :

Looking for better salary
Looking for better future
Looking for better development skills
Dislike the current environment
Layoffs/ firings
Want a job closer to you home
Ethical reason

Internal Contractor

2009-09-18T17:32:00.000-07:00

Hmmm - after a few months of hard-work my BOSS decide to convert me to "Internal Worker". This means I will deal directly with HR team in the company rather than outsourcing job agency. Generally when you converted from External to Internal contractor you get more benefit as below:

- Allow to park the car inside the company compound aread.
-Allow to see the panel doctor
-Get the same badge and domain name in e-mail (indirectly means people cannot really different you with current employee and internal contractor)

Anyway, contractor is still a contractor. There is still a bunch of benefit you are not enjoying because you are contractor such as:

-dentist/spec benefit ( RM200 during 2004)
-no profit sharing even how hard you have contributed as you are just contractor.
-maximum 2 years of renew contract ( withing 2 years, you may get convert to permenant or terminate from company).

Honestly, this really make people feel unsecure. Sometimes the reason given by management to terminate you is simply because of not enough headcount, budget and a bunch of management excuses. Anyway, if you think you are capable enough don't worry as you still can search for other better job oppurtunity as what I am doing.

Actually when people inform me their feeling of unsecure when working as a contractor I really understand as I do go through all this stages before become a permenant worker as what I am today.

Good luck and will blog more on procurement/buyer stuff.......

External Contractor

2009-08-26T18:02:00.001-07:00

As promise, I will blog on life as contractor buyer in a MNC company based on my personal experience. I agree to become a contractor because I can’t really get a good job and on that time I really have no idea the difference on the life as contractor and permanent staff. I just bank on my application through job agency and jobstreet.

There are 2 types of contractor in the company where I worked which is external contractor and internal contractor. External contractor is recruited by job agency and our salary, annual leave or bonus is taken care by the job agency. Internal contractor is the once who recruiting by the company and is contract based. The contract is 1 year and this can be renewing in yearly basis.

Now let us discuss on the disadvantage by an external contractor. According to the policy the external contractor are not allowed:

- Park the car in the company premises.
- Get food allowances (last time is RM1.50/day).
- Attend training.
- No OT since you is hired as executive level with the salary of RM 1800.
- No dentist or medical benefit.

Besides that, what me feel uneasy is the feeling no sense of belongings in the company. Since you have a blue batch, you need to go through very tight security checking while the permanent and internal contractor has exception. I really hate this feeling as I do think this is discrimination issue. Honestly, I have addressed this issue but I believe no issue has been taken.

Honestly, I do feel not happy with all these disadvantages I get but I still promise myself that I must work harder and even better as I need to have working experience before I really can move on other stage.

Next post will be on internal contractor based on my experience………

What is your ambition?

2009-08-26T16:20:00.001-07:00

I am graduated with Degree in International Business Management. After graduate, my first job is as a buyer in one of the MNC in Penang as an external contractor. The contractor life as buyer is really terrible and you may feel discrimination occurs between permanent staff and contractor staff.

I will describe more on this in my next post......