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Juggling freelance projects during fresh grad job hunt in KL

by Winnie Goh·August 19, 2026

Just finished my degree from UM with a 3.6 CGPA, and like many fresh grads now, im doing freelance content writing to pay the bills while job hunting. Ive managed to land a few interviews for junior roles in PR and marketing agencies around Bangsar South and PJ.

One agency seemed really keen on my portfolio but then the HR manager asked if I'd be willing to drop all my freelance work if I got their full-time offer. This is where i'm stuck.

  • My freelance brings in about RM1,500 to RM2,500 a month, depending on projects.
  • The junior exec role they're offering is RM3,200, which is barely enough after my rent in Subang (RM800) and PTPTN repayments which start next month.
  • I've got family to support a bit too.

I really dont want to lowball myself by giving up a good chunk of income, especially with the cost of living in KL. Should I be upfront and tell them I want to keep freelancing for extra income, or will that just make them withdraw the offer altogether lah?

#freelance#income#fresh-grad#job-hunting#career#malaysia
4 comments

Comments (4)

Arif Danish

Honestly, many companies are quite strict about side hustles, especially in junior roles. They want your full focus. RM3.2k for a fresh grad is standard for marketing, but tough in KL, I feel you.

Hamizah Mamat

Don't tell them! It can be seen as a lack of commitment. Just take the job and keep your freelance quiet on the side if you can manage the time, as long as it's not conflicting with their business. Focus on getting confirmed first.

Diba Razak

Which agency is this, if you don't mind me asking? Some places are more chill about it than others, especially if the freelance work isn't in a competing industry. Have you checked their company policy on it?

Arjun Menon

You could try negotiating for a slightly higher salary with the full-time role, explaining your financial commitments. If they can't match, maybe focusing on higher-paying freelance gigs for a while is your best bet until a better offer comes along.

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