That's the reality in this line.
One of my best friends works in a cancer research, workload is massive. Long working hours due to in-depth research.
Of course pay is much better than yours (RM 2.8k) but don't expect it to be super high as time passes by.
She holds a Genetic Engineering Degree from UM and will be flying off to Japan March's month end for her Masters as she recently just got scholarship there. She said even with a Master, the pay is not going to be a lot of difference.

Another friend works in healthcare lab, life is indeed sucks over there.
Benefits are negligible. Pay is low around RM 2k. No future career development. She holds a Degree in Nutrition. She plans to switch job but it is difficult to find a job that related to her studies.

Guess what, exactly the same statement that they told me!
Anyway, another friend is in Australia now doing his PhD for Biotech but he enjoys his life over there.
He is paid to do PhD, some sorts like with salary every month.
Of course the pay is kind of OK, after all we are talking about Australia.

In overseas, these fields are widely recognized and appreciated, unlike Malaysia...

Well, she is not good in sales and never wants to move into that field.
She plans to look for a job that related to her studies. Something like Food Science, can work in food manufacturing lines.

They pay is OK what.
Now the next question is do you have much career development?
Annual leave is so important? After adding in this and that, I have around 30 days of annual leave every year but I only use about half of it every year.

Did you try talking to your manager?
Always talk to your boss first, that should be your first person to speak to for any problems that you encounter with.
If you are a good performer, the last thing he/she wants to do is to attend your farewell party.

Hi.
Nope, no encashment but 50% of annual entitlement can be carried forward.
That's how it gets accumulated over the time.

Nope, it lasts for one whole calendar year, until 31st Dec. If still fail to utilise, it will be forfeited.
Yes, if can't finish your leave means something wrong with your time management. Work is never ending, it is how your divide your time.
I always use about 15-20 days a year. Even I baring-baring at home also I feel happy.
Usually I use this opportunity to have a good rest before starting another new challenge.

13th month contractual bonus and 13 months bonus are different OK?
Reread the post again.
From your post, I see that you probably have thought it is 13 months bonus.

This post has been edited by fruitie: Feb 29 2012, 10:56 AM

How I wish that's the case.
Anyway, 13th month contractual bonus is mandatory in Singapore, Indonesia and Philippines. At least these are what I have known of as what my counterparts told me. Too bad, that's not the case in Malaysia...

Put aside salary, with all those external factors you are getting in workplace, I believe you need to sit down and think carefully what you should next now.

To me, nothing matters more than having a good working environment, good relationship with bosses and colleagues and most importantly a good balanced working life. By having said so, I could sacrifice a fraction of my pay to have all the above. Fortunately, my current situation doesn't require me to sacrifice my salary. I'm having a good working life now and with a quite satisfactory pay.

What's the point of having good pay but you are not motivated to work everyday, and seeing certain people in the office makes you feel uneasy?

Anyway, the salary you mentioned above is not that fantastic anyway.

So, let's move on and find a better place that you deserve for.

This post has been edited by fruitie: Mar 1 2012, 11:53 AM

Actually experience matters more in my opinion. Qualification is important when you apply for your first job.

At least when I screen through candidates, qualification is not the first thing I see.

For the industry where I'm based now, we look at the experience and all the technical skills the candidates possess before anything else.
As engineers, extra set of technical skills is crucial in order for them to climb higher in the corporate ladder.

Back to my own department, my big boss only has a HR professional cert, without Degree or anything. Yet, she is so up high now. Her experience in HR fields is undeniably strong.
Another colleague, 10 years ago was a secretary and decided to make a change in her career life - to take up HR. She is so successful these days that she gets outstanding rating in every appraisal. Truly a known great asset to the company. She doesn't even have any proper cert to begin with...
In my department, only my boss and myself have a Degree in HR. Having said so, my boss gets to where she is today is based on her experience in various HR functional fields, her qualification is probably important but that's not really a hiring criteria.

What I said above is based on my own experience, in my company and the industry I come from - telecommunications. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not generalizing.
I'm just in my third year of working as a HR practitioner.

This post has been edited by fruitie: Mar 3 2012, 11:15 AM

Well, so far I have screened through from entry level of exec to senior managers, qualification is not that crucial yet so far. I did check with my managers on how they do screening, they gave me a checklist and qualification checkpoint is at no.5 out of about 10 criteria.

Anyway, just don't argue this further. After all, Degree is so common these days and almost all new fresh grads have this these days. So, gotta equip yourself with the necessary knowledge and skill set to move higher. Good luck to all.

My friend majors in Psychology and got her Degree from a university in Perth. Straight went to Singapore and I heard is doing quite well.
Not sure how's the pay but in Malaysia ah...
Demand not that high in my opinion.

Yeah, a healthy debate. No right or wrong.
Yes, even I think my Degree is not sufficient these days.

Which HR field are you doing now? Recruitment, compensation, training or?

I'm a HR Generalist also, do you have hands-on experience in all HR functional fields?
Which functional field do you like the most?

Learn from your seniors, grasp as much knowledge as you can.
This is what I'm doing now, working very hard in order to climb higher and fetch higher salary.
Earning 4k+ at the moment, looking for 5k soon. Though I know sounds really impossible for me to get that high in such a short time, after all my experience doesn't justify for the asked price.
Anyway, certifications can put aside. Probably as others suggested to you, get a Degree, probably part time.
Then, at the same time, learn from your other HR colleagues. Trust me, if they are willing to teach, you can learn a lot.

The qualification.
You have to work hard to get more certifications.

You have to find your own free time.
Take part time course or something. It's either you want a higher salary or stay stagnant. You pick the choice.

Given a choice, I won't go for night classes. Too tired for brain.
You said it all. Good luck for your future then!

What's that so surprising? Finance Manager in my company earns way more than that.

This post has been edited by fruitie: Mar 10 2012, 07:30 AM

Your qualification? What is the position that you are applying for?