I'm officially looking for a job. My last paper would be on the 1st of October, whereby after that I would be joining the MMU CFers alumni for lunch at some posh place at Ikano or the thereabouts. Talk about an immediate graduation party. I just pray there won't be an interrogation on what's my future plans or even worse, a bash (*gasp*)
I seriously fear working, the pressures, the commitment and ultimately, the fact that working changes you, and yea, I worry I might change for the worse (like some workaholic whose dream is to own a Ferrari, or even worse, some uncle who brings out sweet young things, haih!)
But I'm already 2 years late, like some old chick hatching out after everyone flying about, and thus, the need my rubbery bum moving if I would ever get a job, ever. The sad thing about Malaysian companies is that they hate employing those older people. Seems like it's harder to train us huh.
The difference of a few hundred won't be a sticking point though, as I need to be free for our CrossRoadz on weekends. Been sickened out by the fact when my high school reunions would always be a game of comparing, whereby people start to compare their salary and assets, some going on proclaiming how 'great' someone has become because they hit the 4k ceiling or is almost retired from MLM. What happened to all our friendly chatter on life or Liverpool or even worse, Manchester United? Guess I should go around telling them my dog just had a litter of puppies, heh, or that I plan to do some low-paying job, hmmmm...
I have worked before, and saying that, I find office work, especially those 9-5 desk jobs type tires the heck outta me. Just find I couldn't seat still, as it makes me doze off *sigh* It must be the hormones of a young, macho, virile male at it's best.
Most of the time I would find myself going to the loo every odd hour or so for a 5 minute nap. Imagine having a nap at such places, I must be really desperate for sleep! Though, the good thing about a desk job would be the ability to chat and hit up a score with some old friends, tempting, no? (yea, and we hit the ALT-TAB key when the Boss passes by, sheeesh)
I work best if I'm given a chance to talk and yea, I need to move around. It's been a trait from young, thus, when people do tell me I would do good in sales, I would like to think so too. Unless of course there's an opening in Hitz.fm (but then, I do suffer from stage fright, sigh*)
So, thus, any job opportunities out there? It would be good to start working at the end of October :)
Will never beg for food, perhaps Chili's but, nahh..
my dear, 4k = not a ceiling.
ReplyDelete4 k won't get you anywhere these days.
at this point i'm looking as well. no harm looking early. I might be about 3 years behind but it's okay..
ReplyDeletewhile you're looking for a job, spend some time learning new things - employers are looking for an edge in their employees, not just your standard garden-variety degree-holder. cheers, and good luck!
ReplyDeletewah! like that iBridge is the place u gotta be, hhehehe... integrating faith and work
ReplyDeleteFew classifications of engineers:
ReplyDelete1) Applications Engineer: Moderately high interaction with customers, average level of pay.
JD: Interact with customer, get their product requirements, feed back to the design team/marketing. Go on site to set up the solution, customer training
Pro: Good expense account
Con: Customers are ALWAYS right (mostly)
2) Design Engineer: Minimal interaction with customers, above average pay (but it is always not enough)
JD: Design the product that the customers want, problem solving skills are a definate must
Pro: Slightly above average pay
Con: Work is never 100% done, schedule pressure
3) Field Engineer / site engineer: Moderate level of interaction with customer. Average pay.
JD: You see people who climb towers? they are field engineers. 2nd line support for customers (what the AEs cannot solve, you come in) & also in charge of maintance of equipments.
Pros: Moderate expense account, less average workload (if you are lucky)
Cons: Wierd hours. On call 24/7.
4) Industrial/Material engineer: Moderate interaction with vendors. Average pay.
JD: Procure equipments/materials, test them and maintain them. Sometimes doubles as operators for really complex equipments
Pros: Vendors have good expense accounts, you ARE the customer now
Cons: better hope your vendors are trustworthy
5) Product Engineer: Minimal interaction with customers, above average pay.
JD: Test the designs of the DEs and make sure that it is up to the standards required, decides if the product is ready to be productized
Pro: You can make life hell for the DEs
Con: Under heavy schedule pressure also
6) Quality/Reliability Engineer: Moderate-low interaction with customers, average pay.
JD: Test the product (after productization), reject those which are below standards, (or down bin them for a lower end market)
Pro: Don't know any Q/R Es
Cons: High pressure for good QAs as a false rejections impacts the bottom line and a false qualification can cause mass recall (MAJOR impact on bottom line)
7) Sales engineer: High interaction with customers. Lower than average pay, but makes up with commission. JD: Sales with technical knowledge, convince customers to use your solution. Doubles up as AEs usually (look above)
Pro: Very nice expense account. Potentially earning the highest among the engineers
Con: Customers are still ALWAYS right. If your product sucks, you have a lot of work to do...
8) Test Engineer (aka FAs): Minimal interaction with customers. Average pay.
JD: Test rejected products and find out what causes the failure (after productization)
Pro: Access to the coolest test equipments
Cons: Better hope manufacturing is doing a good job
Product time line and where the engineer comes in (is actually a cycle where the next exploration comes in somewhere in the middle of the design stage, to make sure that the DEs and PEs always have things to do)
AE(E) DE(D) PE (P)IE(MP) SE/AE FE/QRE TE (EOL)
-------------------------------------------------------------->
(E=exploration)
(D=Design)
(P=Productization)
(MP=Mass production)
(EOL=End of Life)
One little known fact: Engineers are generally exempt employees, so no OTs for them.
Pro: no fixed working hours, no need to punch card.
Con: Company have a right not to give you OTs, Occasional Crunch time where you may be working close to 24/7
Life as an engineer is not a bed of roses... (nix that.. it is a bed of roses... with thorns and all that) Just thought that you should be prepared for this, as i can probably tell that you are not. Industrial training is like honeymoon compared to real engineering work.
p/s you should try a sales engineer position, potentially good pay (just make a lot of sales, or one high profile sale), good expense account, good for people with a gift of gab (just don't make lame jokes, some customers hate that) and people who likes "pleasing" others (customers are ALWAYS right...just know where to draw the line) plus you get to travel alot and meet a lot of people. May not have time for marriage or serving in church though due to the travelling nature of your job
Design engineers are the closest to an R&D position, but i can tell that you may not like it here. you that you may not be able to take the deadlines, interactions with other DEs (they may not neccessary like you, some just hate your guts) long hours, and wierd problems to solve that may not neccessary have a solution. They also have a knack for demanding second uppers grads only
We will keep bulk for your convo. More people looking, more impact, and less possibility of getting sent to jail for public disorder. Just make sure you pass your paper this time.
P/S you sure have a terminal case of FYS...
ReplyDeleteJust find I couldn't seat still, as it makes me doze off *sigh* It must be the hormones of a young, macho, virile male at it's best.
I worry I might change for the worse (like some workaholic whose dream is to own a Ferrari, or even worse, some uncle who brings out sweet young things, haih!)
Don't delete this comment, you know what will happen if you do.
BTW... forget my recommendation... Sales... you may not be in church much, and you may not be able to serve fully... also you will get frustrated with your customers and take your frustration home with you. Maybe you should take up ibridge, or sufes (still a lot of talking, and a lot of moving around, pay is "low" but the retirement benefits is out of this world)
i wish you the best for your job hunt. it's not easy to get a good job in the market at the moment. i had a very hard time when i graduated.
ReplyDeletebtw, your 5 minute naps and going to the loo every odd hour is scary. try not to do that. lol.
i can write a bit about sales, since i am in it. hehee.
yes, the sales line is for people who enjoy talking, moving around and meeting people. meeting sales quota/target will be your main job objective. must be able to handle market pressure, customer rejection, product failure, rude people, ability to solve problems, and such. ie, you will need to have good interaction and multi skills. talk about the pressure first, most people are not interested in sales because of market pressure and achieving sales quota. but it's definitely a challenging job and it promises a much higher salary than most jobs. =)
hey dude...2 years late OR 3 years late? Want me do the counting? :)
ReplyDelete