Anonymous career talk from Malaysian job seekers — salary, interviews, company culture, WFH and more.
Started learning Rust at 35 after 8 years of writing Python. HerE's what was different from learning your first language. What's easier at 35: - Understanding why language design decisions were made — you have context -…
I started investing in Bursa in 2022 with RM500/month. Three years in, here's what I know now that I didn't then. Starting out: Open a CDS account through a stockbroker — Rakuten Trade and MyEG Trade are popular for beg…
The e-invoicing mandate is rolling out in Malaysia and it affects freelancers differently depending on your annual revenue. Current implementation timeline: - August 2024: Mandatory for businesses with annual revenue ab…
I work closely with someone I find deeply frustrating. This is not a toxic situation — they're not doing anything wrong per se — but our working styles are so different that every interaction takes energy. What I've don…
I work at a company where about 30% of the team is Muslim. During Ramadan, here's what I've observed from both sides of the experience. From my Muslim colleagues: The hardest part is usually not the fasting itself — it'…
Started using Obsidian for personal notes and it's evolved into something more structured. Sharing what works. Folder structure I landed on: - /Daily — one note per working day with tasks, meeting notes, decisions - /Pr…
After years of accumulation and pruning, here's what actually runs on my machine every workday. Terminal: Wezterm + Fish shell + Starship prompt. Fast, configurable, doesn't get in the way. Editor: Neovim for most thin…
Asked around in my network of Malaysian tech leads and engineers. HerE's the aggregated picture. AWS: Most common, by far. The default choice for most Malaysian tech companies. ap-southeast-1 (Singapore) has excellent c…
I've been trying to make this work for 3 months. Here's my honest report. The math: 1-hour lunch break. Gym + change + workout + shower + change + back to desk = minimum 75 minutes. Something has to give. What I actual…
The promotion was to Regional Manager covering Malaysia and Indonesia. More pay (RM1,500/month), a team of 12, 30—40% travel. Why I said no: I had a 6-month-old at home. The travel was non-negotiable for the role and I…
Was on a 3-month internship and wanted to stay 2 more months. Step 1: Raised it with my direct supervisor first, not HR. If your supervisor supports the extension, the HR conversation becomes a formality. What I said:…
Just finished my internship. Reflecting on what I did right and wrong in week one. What worked: - Brought a notebook everywhere and actually took notes — signals you're serious, means you don't ask the same question twi…
Faced this at year 5. Took the management path because it felt like the logical next step — not because I wanted to develop people. I was miserable within 8 months. Not because I was bad at management — I was adequate.…
Compiled from 8 conversations with Malaysians who made industry switches in their 30s. "I'll have to take a junior role." Often true for 6—12 months, but transferable skills accelerate the timeline. Most people in my sa…
Tested 11 co-working spaces in KL and PJ over the past 18 months. Here's the honest ranking based on: internet reliability, noise level, value, and community. Tier 1 (worth the money): - Common Ground (multiple location…
Six things I now check before joining any company that makes DEI claims: 1. Who's actually in senior leadership? If every C-suite and VP is the same demographic, the policy is aspirational at best. 2. Is there a dedicat…
GLC interviews have a distinct character that's worth understanding before you walk in. Common format: Multi-stage processes with a written test or assessment centre component. PETRONAS, for example, uses a Problem Solv…
People always say you need an offer letter to negotiate. I didn't have one. Here's what I did instead. Step 1: Built the data case. Pulled salary data from JobStreet, LinkedIn Salary, and conversations with recruiters.…
Short answer: it depends on the company and role, but it matters more than most people think. Through a headhunter: - You get a human advocate who can brief you on the hiring manager's preferences - Negotiation is somew…
Based on my own experience and conversations with friends. Sample is small so treat this as directional, not data. MNCs: Usually tied to company performance (global or regional) + individual rating. Typical range 1–3 mo…