Hi All,

Any 1 worked before in Western Digital? Hows the enviroment and benifits there?Thanks

Which WD ? Location pls.

You mean WD in LDP there? near Kelana Jaya? I hear my friend said they are best employeer in 2004 if not mistaken.

I think benefit and enviroment good base on my friend as engineer inside. I still not sure that he still in the company or not

I've a couple of friends working there and they have no complaints about the place and it is a nice place to work at.

Yeah...At kelana jaya..with the sign "best employer 2001"

Depends on which department you're in. If in manufacturing side, it gets a little boring as everything is routine. Engineering side more stuff to do. Depends also which building you're at since there is a smaller building away from that 5 storey building you see by the LDP. There less chance to curi tulang by going to the canteen to play pool (there are pool tables, foosball and karaoke in the new canteen).

One thing though, WD is very strict in terms of clocking in and out. For salaried exempt need to work 44 hours a week minimum (exc lunch, cig break, etc). Everythime go in and out need to clock.

Bonus and other financial incentives are alot less compared to other major MNCs.

KB2005,
where got any other WD in malaysia?

hi miuk,

i thought the working hours in wd supposingly to be flexible though is written that at least 44 hours?hows bonus and increment? thanks

Sorry! WD used to have a plant in Prai, Penang. They have closed down many years ago. Initially i thought you're talking about WD in Singapore since no exact location of the factory was being mentioned before.

huh? Really? i thought the best employer should offer the best for the above??
while your saying a lot less compare others?
mayb the basic salary is much higher than others?

I think it is pretty standard to clock in and out when you work in a factory. Don't get them wrong, the standard is usually for the factory operators to be able to clock in and clock out. To avoid having double standards, most factories will apply this to all of their staff.

Just a little experience sharing with you all from my computer noob fren who went to western digital company for an interview. He was asked one question by the interviewer: "What is the main product manufactured in Western Digital?" He dared to answer don no..... I scolded him up side down....


So no nit to tell you the answer lor, cos LYN forumers know the answer well... haha....My then get no replies from them haha....

I went there for internview once and the interiview went on for almost 2 hours. Well, it was more like chit chatting with the manager that interviewed me.

What i remember is they pay extra 3% for your EPF as your retirement fund. Pretty nice I would say ...

How do u guys apply for Western D?
i mean is it better through post mail, email or jobstreet apply?

Well maintaining less than the required 44 hours will earn your name a place in the fortnightly Insufficient Hours list. But really depends on your manager whether action will be taken, but then it's bad for review it seems.

Basic is lower than Freescale. Bonus less than Freescale. Only thing better than Freescale is less pressure and less stressful. (I'm using freescale as an example because its next to each other.)

EPF they contribute 15%. As a norm with all US mnc's there's an ESOS which is quite good. Last time used to have stock bonus but from what I heard it's been a while since ethe last stock bonus. Every month will get some lunch coupon which can be used at the canteen, won't cover you for a month but enough to eat for 1-2 weeks.

Oh ya when working there everytime leave the factory premise will need to X-ray bag and walk thorugh metal detector

then whats's the pay for fresh grad in freescale?
thanks

WOW, interesting...
besides that, hows the transportation/parking over there?

that is seagate la

Did W.D accept any internship program student at there ?

Hi guys..
Is there a way for me to email in my resume using public email (yahoo, etc)?
it seems my mail got bounced when sending to Amir.Husin.Abd.Manaff[at]wdc[dot]com

Maybe you can try emailing to this address
hr.staffing@wdc.com ?

my fren jus left today.... for no reason

Sure got reason one. It's just that s/he doesn't want to tell you only.

This post has been edited by whoknows: Oct 18 2006, 10:43 PM

Thanks mate
*tested, no bounce back (submit at 12am )

Only managers and above get fixed parking lots under the factory, after that will be first come first serve. But the WD has leased an abandoned factory for staff to park. So parking not much of a problem unless you come really late and have to park along the roads risking saman. Bus transportation is for operators.

Yup they do. Try contacting the Training Dept.

hi, mind telling which position do u applied??

well, i believe i dont mention a specific ones (i dont know what they r offering now), so i mention in my c-letter, 'any position available' .

----------------

check out JobStreet..
Juz resent my application
*engineer that a freshie can apply

This post has been edited by e-jump: Oct 20 2006, 09:24 PM

i also apply it already... just send the email...
dont i got the chance to interview or not?

oh ho, anyone went to the walk-in interview session last sunday?
wow, what a crowd
i applied for FIT engineer..
guess will be reporting-in next week

I applied for position Advanced Read Channel Engineering. Anyone know what's the job entails ?

How's the working conditions in WD ?

I will be going for interview next week, any tips about the interview ?

You're applying something that you have no idea what is that ?

Good luck ~

chokemon...,i suppose you'll probably be organising bulks for their HD's very soon....

Never worked there...but went for an interview as well as knows a friend working there for 4 years now.

My interview was another building just after the checkpoint...it's the IT department.
I had a eyeful of what the ITdepartment did...and they wanted someone to handle the software section department,hence...my position.
At first the interview went accordingly to my technical and past experience. The lady seemed ok with everything, in terms of process knowledge and how I manage a team...and then she turned to the characteristic interview....which I find some questions far too personal, and which were not related....

At that moment... I just wanted to debrief her that her act or questions were inapproriate...and that I could end the interview stating her sense of discrimation...but I played along because a well connected headhunter recommended me after a friendly meeting with him.

Of course, it came to money....and she just shook her head when my expected salary could not even be incremented 5%...but decremented 3%...and told me to think about it...which I told her..."there nothing more to negotiate on such terms, and you put me in a very difficult decision".

Of course..all fake smiles... I walked out, knowing she had probably no intention of hiring me...or my pay has killed her bad budgetting.
Section Manager...and they can't even pay....that's...absurd.

Anyway...that's IT.
My fren has been there for 4 years, in the Technology side..just across the big 5 storey building.
It's as stated...clock in and out, and make 44 hours. It "used" to be flexible...but according to him that recently...the flexi hours are more rigid if one needs to know.....
poof...

good luck guys.

is really that bad?

This post has been edited by xSean: Sep 12 2007, 01:28 PM

i'm not surprise, when companies have super thin profit margin, the manufacturing side will always have to cut cost , especially with china on the rise.

but i am surprise that they even bother interviewing ou in the first place. most companies will just filter out all expected salaries above their budget.

This post has been edited by Drian: Sep 8 2007, 10:46 AM

Western Digital is going to have a new plant at Phase 3, Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone, Penang Island.

does u mean they will be going move to penang?

Doesn't mean that they have to move. They could operate more than one plants in Malaysia.

Recently they bought over Komag. There're two Komag sites in Penang if I'm not mistaken.

This post has been edited by David83: Sep 8 2007, 02:04 PM

Theres Komag in Penang, Johor and Kuching. Will now be named WD Media.

They took off KOMAG logo from Penang's Komag and Repalaced with Western Digital.

Bought over Komag already. Going to expand the old building which last time operated by Estern Knitter.

massive....hope freescale do the same.....

WD also recently open a new building in Sg Way, FTZ. To be used for PCBA.

WD is really expanding in Malaysia.

WD previously was hiring some ASIC designers. Dunno whether these jobs will be located at newly Penang site, since Penang is the design hub so far in Malaysia.

Company wise is doing so so only. Reason for expansion is that since drive capacity is increasing, backend time needed to prep one drive also increases. So more and more space is needed to 'process' the drives even though volume roughly maintains the same.

Expansion in Msia not that much, the plants in Thailand are undergoing massive expansion.

Im not sure if they are opening a new plant in Penang, but im working for a HDD repair company. And WD management come over to my company to look at the overview of my company on how we do repair on HDD. If we ger the project from WD, then i guess all warranty WD's harddisk will be coming to my company for repair.

Design works all in US. R&D all in US, once product is ready in US then it will be transfered to Msia and then will either continue to manufacture in Msia or in Thailand.

Penang site is solely media since Komag has been bought over.

u all working at komag ka?

I'm with the main WD site at Sg Way.

Yes, WD is expanding. Now, they're hiring for Penang new plant.

Me , previous Komag , now WD Media (MMO)

Which department are u?

How's the situation over there? Heard that Komag staff get a lot more privileges than WD (ie. internet access).

Wondering how's the work environment at the new Komag (WD Media). Still as bad as Komag last time. My colleagues are very terrified with Komag work style.

Any improvements after brought over by WD?

One of my friend's friend get retrenched by Komag and he got 100k+ for the package.

If the management team are the same after bought over by WD, i don't think the working style will change!

Even with the same management team but business policy that WD is implementing might change that.

It is too early to say that. Let's wait and see lah!

Ha! Ha! Hope that they won't maintain Komag hettic working culture ...

Internet access.... nope not got lah

100k+.... Ur friend manager there? Who is she/he?


Working style i think still same... hope will change in few weeks..

New rules.... all internet/email, msn & phone call usage will be closely monitor by itd.

Well at least WDMO still got internet access. Here at WDM, net access is by application and it's damn hard to get it. Even my manager also don't have. Plus due to the purchase of KOMAG, cut cost damn alot and damn stingy now.

wah, working in WD really tat bad ar? anyone know the working culture/environment in the dev dept?
very hard to work if dev dept no internet access. fr exp. most of the work/troubleshooting comes from googling

WD... i only know lots of yummy malay girls workin there.

You mean the Indons?

If your job truly requires the need for Internet access then I'm sure they'll approve it, but then very few Development work done in Msia, mostly done in US.

indo chinese gals ?

Working in WD ain't that bad.

Agreed that most development work are done in the US. Most of the work done here are factory process related (yield, cycletime, downtime, etc). However, we are getting some opportunities to do some small/minor product development work here too - takes some time as we lack the skills and technological knowledge. Some will also have the chance to train in the states for about 3-6 months doing product transfer/development work.

Well internet access is secondary... and depends on the scope of your work. You really got to have a good reason for it. I've got it.

wanna online to surf LYN ka?............

i think that one in Prai is Seagate, not Western Digital....yes, they close down in Prai, all move to Bayan Lepas

I think for net access most of the firmware lab guys have net access. Other depts not so sure, but then lately the idea of having a common public PC to surf is good

Maybe working culture in WD is ok... But for ex-Komag i think the work culture is sometimes stressful

If the management people is still the same for WD Media, then no different la from former Komag. Just change name only. Environment is still the same.

The same team of management might be sent for training (or braincwashing) to adopt new business policy. It takes time to revamp or switch from one current environment to another.

How bad was it under Komag?

One benefit for WDM is that we might follow Komag's practice of paying the 13th month salary, instead of totally relying on the current bonus system.

.............

This post has been edited by lcs1788: Aug 12 2008, 08:15 PM

And that also any connection with WD or Komag?

I am about to be offered a position in Western Digital Pasir Gudang, formerly Komag (USA). I'm now in the negotiation phase with the HR. Any advices from the current or ex-employee here? I will be handling the optical characterisation equipments there. Still waiting for the official formal name for this position.

i see tha WD is hiring IC designers nad IC verificationers. These 2 pose based in Penang or Sg Way??

I am wandering anyone with interview experience with WD. Anything unique about their interview process? For like any formal question?

No formal process for interview, just that interviews are conducted by individual departments and each department has their own styles.

yeah, heard that Western Digital is going to implement 13 month salary. Means that, we get 13 months salary on top of the bonus paid.

Just wondering, how long the probation period if I employed by WD as an Engineer?

The first question " do you bonded with any company ? "

My fren which is PETRONAS scholar had an interview session 2 weeks ago..and that was the first question being ask..

Normal probation is 6 months.

But based on my last experience in Vista Point Technology, the probation is 3 months only. It is WD probation is 6 months?

This post has been edited by newpda204: Dec 25 2007, 10:53 PM

What does Vista Point do?

ive been interview by WD, but stil no news yet..position applied is IT Assistant at Kuching Branch.

Vista Point Manufactures Camera Module for cellphone, LCD. Before that, it was name as Flextronics Component Group.

WD probation period is 6 months, although you might get confirmed earlier, depending on your boss. However do bear in mind that there's not much benefit after confirmation, just that you'll be more or less eligible for performance bonus and all the loans benefits. No extra increment.

Thanks for your information.


I would like to know more about WD working environments. I am looking for advance read channel FA engineering this position. In fact, I have been interviewed by them twice but interview case remain "KIV" until today. I am sure I was not successful in their interview, but I will looking for them again in the future because I am not happy with my current company so I will quit after obtain the bonus.

The salary increment or other benefit is ok for me, I heard their salary pay for fresh graduate quite high compare to other company, even my current company. As long as got OT claim is enough. (Most of ppl earn from OT claim in stead of waiting salary increment or bonus).

Normally, it is working so stressful in WD? How is the OT claim? And how long the working extent hour? These are most questions I really concern. Because I hope the working extent hour around 8pm or 9pm, for my current company I work even until 11pm everyday. And Saturday and Sunday are my off day, but because the manpower and higher staff turn over in my company, Saturday and Sunday also my working day. OT claim so so, not so many, RM6 per hour. And so many work load, I have to train myself become multi tasking. Sometime the managers always like to give last minute work but they want it faster. If cannot meet their requirement, they will complain this complain that.

I hope WD won't work like hell.

Initially I am looking for Flextronics shah alam, but I read other threads have a lot negative comment about Flextronics shah alam working environment and their management skill. In fact, similar thing to my current company. So I now head on (Should say head on again) to WD. I hope WD should be better than my current company.

---

Added on December 31, 2007, 9:39 pmWhy nobody answer?

This post has been edited by newpda204: Dec 31 2007, 09:39 PM

Anyone know what questions will be asked during interview? How will it be conducted?

I went for the interview conducted last year 29 July 2007. Held in PJ Hilton. Position i was applying back then is Techinian - Tools and Machine maintenance. I was interviewed by the Head of Department for Maintenance. It was my 1st interview of a job related to manufacturing. Questions asked was 70% technical.
* What is standard deviation in SPC ?
* Automation related questions
I don't recall much of what he asked, but seriously I don't respond to the questions well, it was out of my boundary, more or less I'm still new to this field, and lack of technical knowledge. He gave me a very stern look, indeed very serious during the whole interview session. Painful experience, but afterall it's a 1 point lesson to learn.

This post has been edited by cheong86: Jan 26 2008, 10:25 AM

I also went to walk in interview in PJ Hilton last year 29 July. When you apply for engineer position, i.e Test Development Engineer, Advance Read Channel, Test Process Development....., you will need to attend the paper test. The paper test question something like simple C programming, simple circuit theory like Ohm's law, Kirchoff Current law, Rectifier, and ask some simple question about digital device, what is EPROM.....etc. I not sure other position, but usually won't ask the Hard Disk structure and operation during paper test because it maybe ask during face to face interview.

After that, when you are calling for face to face interview, the interviewer will ask about your final year project if you are fresh graduate. Otherwise they ask your previous job scope. Also they will ask some top ten interview question. If you apply Engineer, they will do ask technical question as well. Last time I applied Advance read channel, they ask more on C programming in detail. So please be careful on that.


If you come just only ten minute, mean you have no chance to join in WD. If you take longer time in interview, mean you will have second chance join in WD. Basically, those who attend walk in interview, if you have been called by HR then you need to go for 2nd interview. 2nd interview usually is HR or the manager(your boss) interview you, they want to know more about you. So it just like a chit chat during 2nd interview. Sometime, if they don't ask you top ten interview question in walk in interview, then they will ask in 2nd interview.

I found WD is quite difficult to get in. Because last time, I able to answer all the test paper question, it is quite easy man! Also, during face to face interview I also able to answer the question they asked. I also had been called for 2nd interview, the manager said I got bigger chance but he has another candidate looking also. Properly either me or another candidate. Finally, my interview status keep in view . Sigh! I put much hope on this company and finally I still stand outside their door.

I got the job right now. However, I just wonder why WD keep on employ a lot of engineers, hold walk in interview about every 3 months? It is staff turn over so high? Or they want to expand more? Who know the situation?

Just let you guys know, although is too late already. Tomorrow, WD will have another walk in interview which is in their factory.

The honest truth why alot of people leave WD is that pay is some what low compared to other MNC companies. FYI for 2007 there was no increment (but in lieu they gave 1 month contractual bonus, which is to standardize finally with the other WD sites). I'm guessing that the current round of interviews are for those that left once they got their 1 month bonus. Another wave of job openings will come once they have paid out the February performance bonus.

My guess is that most people would rather leave if they can get better offers from other MNC companies. Most people including me, are getting sick of having to constantly support operations in Malaysia and still have to work on the issues at the Thailand plants (and yet Thais get higher bonus because their overall operating cost are lower due to the lower salaries there). Also, those in Malaysia will have to constantly deal with all the requests from US, as Msia is the staging point for new products being manufactured.

To answer your questions in the earlier post.
Fresh grad pay at WD is 2500. Currently bonus got 3 times a year. Feb and Aug will payout performance bonus (variable no fixed amount) and Dec bonus is contractual 1 month bonus. OT claims are rm20 + one way mileage, if you work more than 2 hours out of regular time. If you work more than 4 hours out of regular hours, its rm40. Coming back to work on weekends, you can claim OT as per above, but you can claim for journey 2 ways. Journey claims are distance from house to WD @45 sens per km. Normally, working hours are quite ok, average go home time is 7pm, max go home time is 8pm, unless got MAJOR issues.

Well, from your description, it's almost similar to my current company except for the OT portion.

Does the above also appliable to the recently bought over Komag (WD Media)?

As far as I know bonus scheme will be the same throughout WD, although different sites will definately get different performance bonus. No idea how much Penang site got this year. I think pay wise, definately Komag will be higher compared to WD @ Sg Way.

What made such difference?

I apply for Quality Engineer position. So I expect a LOT of questions related to quality sice it is 70% technical. OK, need to do some revision now.

Anyway, IF I got the job in PJ, will they let me work at Pasir Gudang? How to apply for WD Pasir Gudang?

I think from the beginning Komag's pay and benefits were alot more than WD (generally Penang electronics sector pays higher compared to KL). Also before the takeover by WD, Komag staff were given one final round of pay rise (sort of like a thank you and good bye gesture).



Julie28,

PJ plant and Johor plant totally different, Pj is drive manufacturing, Johor is substrate.

i was offered a post of Engineer in FIT... got back the offer letter, until now still 50-50...
i read thru its pay n benefit, think like so so only... The pay is a bit lower than i expected n some benefits might not be needed... Some more my current company increment is same level with what they're offering me already... But i just wanted to move on with other company...

They asked me to look at the bigger picture as i might get trained up in US for couples of months. But that is a chance from 0%. Anyone here really know about FIT work environment or anybody work in this department? And how regular a person got sent to US for training anyway?

Another thing they told me is that they wanna build up a team here so the chances of getting abroad will be much higher.

Then about the review/increment, the HR told me it is done once a year. But in the last few post, someone mentioned no increment for 2007. Is it really that bad?

Please help me... i need to reply back to them latest on Monday...