New Chapter

Warning: A very long post.

I gave my resignation letter a few days ago. My boss, Mr. A said he's devastated. I've always wanted to see how he would react when I give him the news. I wanted to prove to him there are other jobs out there and I can get better offer. Not too long ago he discovered I'm looking for another job and I overheard his conversation over the phone with our company associate who happens to be my former boss, Mr. J. Not the boss who thinks he's better than Bill Gates, Mr. G, but he's a friend to Mr. A and I worked for him temporarily. It's a long story. There's no short version of it. So being a former employer, soon-to-be-employer calls him as a referee.

You see, Mr. A got hearing problem and he thought he's speaking softly on the phone, with his room door ajar. I can hear every word from his mouth and I can imagine what Mr. J at the other end of the phone was saying. Mr. A laughed and said, "Not easy! Not easy!" several times, meaning not easy for me to find job nowadays. And then he went on and on about my 'faults'.

Apparently he's still pissed off I did not backed him up when he raised his voice to a client. Not just raised but shouted. Many times he tried to justify why he did that. I told him there is no need for him to repeat what happened coz I was there too. He still didn't get it. He thinks he's right. But we've agreed to disagree. He has to agree coz I'm not going to *fan* him just because he pays my salary. If I think he needs a piece of my mind, he'll get it. I wonder whether I can be as frank to people in my new job but we'll see.

I did not tell Mr. A where I'll be going no matter how much he insisted. He has this habit of commenting on the companies of ex staff. Something like they'll have no future there, they'll only be another corporate slave or things like that. I'm not going to give him the satisfaction of commenting on mine. He said he promised not to say anything but he needs the peace of mind I'll be joining a good company. I told him I know he'll say something behind my back. He didn't refute that.

We're still on good terms despite all that disagreement.

One Interview, Two Job Offer

A day before I get the go ahead to hand in my resignation letter, I received a call from someone doing Executive Search. He owns a consulting firm. Initially, he wants to recommend a position for his client, a company in automobile industry, but upon meeting and talking to me, he offered me a confirmed position in his consulting firm. I can still choose the automobile company if I want to. I thought, how nice to have 3 good offers to consider. The first is my soon-to-be-employer.

Though I still have to attend an interview with his client, normally a recommendation from Executive Search companies would have a higher percentage of being accepted. The magic words I used to charm him, "pay is not that important" heh. You should try using it too. And mean it. Of course the pay is important but what is also important is doing something you like, the opportunity of self development, learning something new and things like that.

The new staff in my current office asked whether he can get paid 4k after 3 years. That will be the determining factor of how long he'll stay with the company. Other ex-staff also cited higher pay as the reason for leaving. It saddens me to see money being the sole motivator of fresh grads. I understand a fresh grads main aim after graduation is to get a job. Any job with reasonable pay would do. But after getting the first job, they should consider the skills they want to acquire while they are still in the beginning stage of a career. Go for an organization that would polish those skills. Money should not be the sole motivator. But they retorted by saying they need the money to help their family, to pay for a car, etc.

So Laku

A client called Mr. A upon hearing I'm resigning. We're a small company so if the main consultant handling the client's project resigned, they're concerned. Later my boss told me the client wants to offer me a position in his company if I'm interested. Errr… certainly not. The reason I'm leaving is to try something new. Joining them would mean I'll be doing the same thing i.e. continue with the project I'm currently doing for them.

When I first told Mr. A I'm resigning, he did say since I'm so 'laku' to be getting 3 offers, why didn't I stay until end of the year. For what?? I'm not getting anything by staying a few more months. Only he will benefit. Depending on the market situation, I might not be so 'laku' by next year. Anyway, it feels nice to know you're needed. I mentioned I got 3 offers so Mr. A will not know which one I'll join. Since soon-to-be-employer calls Mr. J for my reference, Mr. A knows about it too. Saying I got 3 offers will keep him off track :)

Not Bragging

I'm not bragging about all these job offers. After anyone works for more than 5 years and especially if you have been loyal to one company, it is difficult to start finding a job again. I've worked for the same boss for 5++ years. You'll wonder if you're marketable. You'll wonder if your skills of doing the mundane job you've been doing for years is required elsewhere. You'll wonder at the current market condition whether you're overpaid and no other company would offer that high a salary. You'll wonder about change after being comfortable with your work environment, your boss and your colleagues. You'll wonder about so many things. I've been wondering too and I know some friends have been wondering and still are.

But we'll never know unless we try. I've proven that it can be done. I've interviewed many people for positions at current company but still gets very nervous when it is my turn to be interviewed. I've poured over books and the internet to write a convincing resume and finding tips on how to carry myself during an interview. Going into the job market again is definitely not easy. It is also good if we know what we're looking for. That way, we'll sound passionate about what we want to do when we're being interviewed. That makes a lot of difference. I believe if you do something because you like it, the money will come to you. Even if it didn't come as much as you want, you're doing something that you like anyway and wouldn't mind so much.

Anticipation

So, how am I feeling about finally moving on? Very excited and full of hope.

1. I'll be doing something I love doing
2. I'll acquire new skills
3. I'll travel a lot
4. I'll get to know new colleagues and experience new environment

A bit worried too.

1. I've been working with Chinese company, with mostly Chinese colleague, since I started working. The main benefit of not speaking Mandarin or Cantonese, I'm spared the office politics and gossips. They might be talking about me too but who cares. You don't disturb me, I'll not disturb you.
2. The Chinese do not bother about my single status. They didn't even bother to ask. Whenever I go to a potential client's or clients' place, the small talk with the Malays would include "are you married?"
3. I speak up my mind, I argue with my boss and I can kick him too. I'll wonder how it is in the new place. Hopefully the new boss won't have to be kicked :)
4. If I'm not feeling well, I wonder how I'll cope. At current company, we're quite relaxed. We'll not be penalized for taking MCs. Mr. A is aware of my condition and never complaints.

Well, we'll see how I'm doing some time next month. I'll start a new chapter in my life.