Anonymous career talk from Malaysian job seekers — salary, interviews, company culture, WFH and more.
At most companies, yes. Many graduate hires are converted interns. If you performed, they'll remember you. If not, they'll politely say there are no openings. Your intern reputation follows you.
Use e-Filing via MyTax portal. Claim all reliefs: medical, books (RM2,500), sports equipment (RM500), SSPN, life insurance, EPF. Even RM200 in missed relief = real tax saved. Do this yearly.
Big tech and telco presence. Pay is fine. Traffic is brutal unless you live nearby. Lots of campus-style offices which is nice. MRT improvements helped. Wouldn't commute from Cheras though.
Solve problems before being asked. Take notes in meetings and send summaries. Volunteer for visible projects. Always follow through — never drop a ball. Consistency over one brilliant moment.
Marketing internship. Good mentorship, structured programme. Brand is fun to work with. RM1,500 allowance which isn't bad. Real projects. Would be a strong retail/telco internship on any CV.
First: understand specifically why. Ask your manager directly. If the feedback is vague, that tells you something. Set clear expectations for next cycle. If nothing changes in 12 months, start looking.
KL mid-level SWE: RM8,000–12,000. Singapore equivalent: SGD6,000–9,000 (RM20,000+). London: GBP55,000+. US: USD110,000+. Talent quality is comparable. The pay gap is the issue.
1. Hours ≠ output. 2. Camera on doesn't mean engaged. 3. Monitoring software creates mistrust not performance. The best productivity signal is deliverables — full stop.
Read 5 industry reports. Follow 10 domain experts on LinkedIn. Interview 3 practitioners. Take one targeted online course. Do a small applied project. 3 months of this gives you enough foundation to be useful.
Corporate real estate and retail internship. Got exposure to tenant relations, lease management, and events. Quieter pace than startup. Team was professional. Good if you're targeting property or retail.
On RM4,500, 20% savings (RM900) is achievable with shared accommodation and meal planning. 30% if you sacrifice most lifestyle spending. Build 3-month emergency fund first before investing anything.
Diagnose first: is it personality, performance, or politics? Then address. If personality, find advocates elsewhere. If performance, get specific feedback. If politics, decide if the environment is fixable.
GLC-backed pharma. Stable employment, strong benefits. Bureaucratic but not chaotic. Pay is average for pharma. Growth is slow unless you move into management. Decent quality of life.
If you're in a role beyond your capability and not getting support. After a health crisis. To care for family. When the next step up isn't what you actually want. Stepping back can be strategic not a failure.
Document every internship project with results. Create case studies from theoretical scenarios. Run a personal brand social account with analytics. Write 3–5 blog posts on marketing topics. LinkedIn presence.
They don't give feedback, avoid difficult conversations, ignore your development. Workaround: find mentors elsewhere in the company. Build your own development plan. Don't wait for them.
PETRONAS sustainability arm, SEDA, Sunway sustainability team, Gentari (PETRONAS EV). Roles: ESG analysts, sustainability consultants, energy transition engineers. Still niche but growing fast.
In visibility-driven cultures, yes. If your manager doesn't see you, they don't think of you. Counter: deliver visibly, share updates proactively, get face time strategically. Remote bias is real.
Keep it short and professional. Include: your last day (per notice period), a brief thank you, offer to transition. No need to give reasons. Email + physical copy. Burn no bridges in writing.
Company car: maintenance covered, but it's taxable benefit-in-kind. Car allowance: is mileage reimbursement, typically non-taxable up to RM6,000/year. Do the math based on your actual mileage.