Life is all about risk
y entry is extremely random as for now. I don’t even know where to begin and what to enter in the blog. I am just typing away. Well I have been wanting to share a bit about my safari or journey – decision to ‘leave’ my country and decided to move on and being global. Being global, what a term!
My recent visit to Stockholm
When I was doing the Masters in the UK last year, it got me to think when my CV got some credible responses from recruiters. A lot had been interested in my experience. Some of my colleagues were so gung-ho about getting into investment banking, top consulting firms like McKinsey and all. I went to McKinsey interview of course. I was not too sure whether I really wanted to get into the kind of consulting – Monday you can be on Telecom, Tuesday you are on brewery case, Friday you are on pharmaceutical etc. I like telecoms. I like mobile telecoms. I wanted to stay in that environment. With telecoms recording such growth all over the world, how could I turn my back on it.
I got at least 15 interviews, some of them were something I was not interested in. I was interested in the big firms. I landed on 5 interviews with the big ones. I did not choose the ones in London (working for the British government, but not a bad pay!) and also, the in Amsterdam. I ended up choosing the one major places in Europe, let’s call it D. I wanted something new and for some reason I like the job description (minus the travelling, haha). Anyway, I was concentrating on going global and speeding my learning curve, really. At the same time, I wanted to use it as platform to get my professional certification. Am I a sucker for certificates? One thing for sure, I want the best for myself! I know that for sure. Anyway, I am doing my professional studies at the same time anyway!
Another one of Stockholm
Being in D and working for a very well-known global telecom company is out of this world. Not only that my first week was a blast – meeting great people in the office and everyone was eager to get me up to speed. I felt so blessed. It was a big step that I took. I left Malaysia. I left my family and friends (I will go back occasionally) and I needed this leap since I did not want to be complacent. I wanted to do something new, I did not imagine that I would do this – something beyond my expectation in terms of the things I do, the people I want to meet and the company I am working for.
One thing for sure, the assignments I have been involved in; they were all superb. I never had such steep learning curves like what I am facing now. Now I am servicing client with my expertise. It feels good when we as consultants were having ‘arguments’ and then, based on the outcome of the arguments, we tend to be appreciated by clients! I realise that I am now giving impact to people, to a company and to a country! What’s that all about. I remember, there was a friend back home who was stopping me from going saying that, “If I were you, I will not go and work in Europe. They will treat you like how the Bangladeshis are treated here”. He was referring to the foreigners who came to Malaysia to work at the construction sites. I am not certain what he was getting at. Anyway, he’s entitled to his opinions anyway. But so far, alhamdulillah, my life is fine. I can’t complain.
As for my family that I leave back there, I am coming back. Hopefully, I will be back this October, so that we can celebrate Eid together. That reminds me that I need to buy the air ticket back home. I will take 4 days to go and see dear friends, and of course to spend time with family. To my family back there – I do miss all of you, and to all my friends in Malaysia, I shall see you guys when I am back. Let’s do that!
