Would like to share my working experience before I become a “Wong Min Po”. Has always wanted to post about this but do not have the time to until I read about MG’s and Leah’s post on their career line.

I think I have done more odd jobs than having a proper job and I don’t think I ever have a career. It’s just purely work for the sake of having a job and being employed. I didn’t get to experience much, see the world before I say “Sayonara to working world”. No…I didn’t married into a rich family or datuk, I didn’t quite my job to become a mak datin or tai tai, but I packed my office attire, put away my make up and become a housewife…ok..make it sound better..a Stay At Home Mum. I decided to quit at the age of 29 where others are trying to climb the corporate ladder. In total I only have 6 years of working experience.

My very first odd job that last probably 2 months was while I was waiting for result. Can’t remember whether it was public school result or college result. I taught in my primary school. One of my former teacher has to undergo surgery, I was there to fill her post.

When I was in Uni in Australia, I worked as waitress part time (well , that’s the most common job for international students) and also babysit a family friend’s son occasionally. After I got back, there’s when I started looking for proper job where I deposited my resume with various head hunters.

The very first job I’ve landed with was with Microsoft. It was a contract job which I got it from the head hunter. I do not know what’s the job spec and landed the job blurry. At that time all I think about is to get whatever job that land at my foot. After I started working there only I realize it has nothing to do with what the field I major in. It’s some odd job which I helped to run and coordinated some events run by MS. Right after the contract ended, I got another offer from another head hunter to work as software support in a local software development house. Again after I started working there only I realize my job doesn’t have much to do with IT support (maybe because I’m not well verse in accounting and they are developing accounting software) so I ended do more on sales coordination than software support. Boring job, learn nothing. That was in 1999.

After 5 months with the local software developer, I got an offer as IT Helpdesk with Ericsson Mobile (The factory that manufactures Ericsson Handphone in Shah Alam. Now no more Ericsson phone, it’s called SONY ERICSSON) . I always go into interviews in daze without knowing the job scope and job function. Even though I went in daze without knowing what a helpdesk should do, but I was lucky to secured the job. The helpdesk team was newly set up with only 1 member, so another girl and me joined to form a team of 3 as the first level support to all IT related problems for the factory’s staff, logging calls, ticket escalation etc etc. I consider this as my first proper job which I’d able to pick up new skills and knowledge and I also realize that what I’ve learned in uni (I majored in CS) is so different from the working IT world.

Mid of year 2000, hubby joined the same company , he was in the engineering department. We only became friends in Dec 2000 and by Jan 2001 we were an item. March 2001, there’s some reorganization in the IT division. Our group of helpdesk was relocated to Ericsson IT service in Kelana Jaya. Though still colleague but we no longer work under the same roof. The same year , we got married. Year 2002, the whole Ericsson Mobile was outsourced. So hubby and me no longer are colleague. Our group of helpdesk that used to support the factory staffs were called off and I was transfered to 2nd line support doing system admin work for global support, supporting the other Ericsson staffs around Asia. JS came along end of year 2002. Year 2003 seen not much changes. Still in the same old job.

Year 2004, conceived WH, hubby got new job and needs to be relocated to another town. Ericsson IT service outsourced to HP. That’s how from Ericsson’s staff I became HP’s worker, but still doing the same job, supporting the same people. Was in a dilemma to either continue work or quit. Not because I dislike the job, it’s more because of who’s going to take care of the kids. Babysitting fees is expensive. MIL not able to take care of 2 kids, even if she does, I don’t always agree with her style. The babysitter who’s babysitting JS while I was at work is not able to give full attention to two young kids plus her son. She was also quite fickle minded whether to take care of both my kids or not. She’s also the one that in a way or two inspired me to become a SAHM. She herself is a Australia Uni grad, gave up her high paying job to look after her only son. My parents at that time also kept telling me that I should consider the kids first, be there for them during their formative years and it’s important for the family to stay together (they are the one who encourage me to shift to where hubby’s working)

I tendered my resignation when JS was 18th month old and when I was about 6 months pregnant. But the company countered offer me with a chance of working from home. I took up the offer, doing the same 2nd level support at the comfort of my home until I pop. I don’t say it’s easy, as JS was testing at that time and there’s also colleagues that’s jealous over the opportunity that I’ve got. I don’t have hubby around to help, as he was working outstation, back twice a week. I’ve to put in extra hours when working from home and I worked until I pop. Even during confinement period, I occasionally got calls to do some support work at home.

After 2 months confinement leave, I tendered my resignation again. It was time for the family to be together. We (the kids and me) shifted to Sban. Even though I wanted very much to continue to work from home, but it was really not possible, as our housing area has got no broadband and I really can’t be working from home 5 days a week. Traveling from Sban to KL occasionally to work in the office is really not something I want to consider at that time. My concern was always, who’s going to take care of the kids?

That’s how I ended as a SAHM in year 2004. That year was a relaxing year which I only focus on the kids. In year 2005, where finally fixed phone line is available at our housing area, I started blogging and at the same time signed up for Montessori course. Too arrogant to join in the blogging for money bandwagon when the hits just started, I only succumb to the temptation in March this year. Now after 7 months of monetizing my blog, I don’t know to consider myself part time working, full time mother , working from home or what….. my job title becomes too complicated. I’m still struggling to strike a balance. I enjoy the thrill of earning the extra cash but at the same time I feel guilty of not spending enough time with the kids which I have intended to.

To think of it, I only have 5 years of working experience and ONE proper job. Almost the same job function but with 2 different employers some more it’s not by choice I changed employer.