I graduate at 25, I apply for my first job at 26. I had no working experience and I lied my way through interview make RM5.5k per month. Soon, I will go through another assesment to be senior engineer.

Why did I graduate so late? I studied IT until Adv Dip, then I went to do Dip in Graphic Design. Before I pursue my Degree in IT, I worked for fun, mainly doing programming projects and website. I survived like this for 2 - 3 years before I do my Degree.

My Degree, I got Third Class Honours (almost no value ya..), because I support myself through work such as programming, design and a little sales.

Then, finally I decided to get a proper job. I mailed one of the recruitment agency who hooked me up with a MNC. At the interview, I told my boss that I graduate late cause I work in between (which is true) because my family is poor (which is not true). Sympathy points!

I bullshit my way to the top. Is that a good lesson to learn for you? I dont know. I only know I do my job pretty darn well so no one got any complains. Besides, what is 5.5k for a MNC? NOTHING!

Exactly, thanks for SHARING again....u proof a point here...

maybe a lot more than 5k

I would like to share my story to you...
Actually, I have a qulaification from Switzerland and work there for about a year as a trainee (Waiter). When I went back to Singapore, I started off as a Receptionist... a very low profile job earning about S$950 plus. But after 3 months, another Resort asked me to join them, so I join another resort as a Duty Manager and it gives me about S$1300.00 to start with. I am only 20 years of age then. I worked very hard and hope to be promoted fast...however, to my surprise, I was stucked there for awhile.  Of course, the reason is I am too young and can't go far from a junior management staff. However, they place me in various depts and I learned alot from that particular Resort. Meantime, I also took up a part-time master degree since I am single and had nothing much to do after work.
Guess how long I was in that Resort? Seven years, I learned almost all operations of running a resort plus a Master degree. Do you know how much was my salary after 7 long years from S$1300 when I started? Only to S$1800.00 - S$500.00 different.
Now the interesting thing happened to me, I was later head hunted by a Resort in Malaysia, they offered me RM4500.00 to manage their Resort. I was only 28 years old then. I worked hard and after 6 months, they added RM500.00 more to my salary that makes RM5000.00.
The only way to earn good money is .... hard work and continously upgrade yourself. Don't give up when you feel your career get you no where. Learn as many things as you can in a company irregardless is your job or not. Treat as though is your company and you will go very far. Is tough in the real world and if you don't work hard, someone will. Of course, some people believe in working smart but I personally feel that, first thing first, work hard then work smart.

i already work in oil n gas field as structure engineer just for 6 month...started july last year...with my salary 2.2k

then started new year 2008..i got 15% increment...so my salary around 2.5 k.....my age 24...4 years more to go to get my 5k? hoho...hope to

i can get more if i jump to other company but it will effect my career background...huhu

ah suknat...r u sure i can get 10 - 15k? i dont think i can get it because im a graduate engineer...not much experience...hoho

I dont quite agree on this....
in my first company , those sap people get peanut pay.

I'm not doing SAP but i'm earning RM3k per day, yes... per day. I'm a contractor, i work 20 days per month.
and i'm 27+ yrs old...

I'm doing IT also ;D

I came back to Malaysia because of a death in the family, have to respect the elders now right But I'm a bit concerned about the economy in the US so I'm no hurry to go back to the US. The UK doesn't seem particularly interesting either unless like robertngo said I can get a 100k GBP/year job.

Speaking with a UK accent is cool, unless you're an American citizen. So where are we sending the kids to school again to pick up this british accent? 

ermmmm, at least still got 5k. i think by the time i reach 30years old, 5k still will be quite a lot bah...