Yes, it is indeed my plan to continue to PhD after completing my Masters. I'm just looking for assurance from existing Malaysian academics on whether it is worthwhile to pursue an academic career.

I do understand that the academia's pay scale is at the lower end. But coming from a comms background where related jobs do not really have high income potential, I wonder why not doing something I like instead since I'm going to be paid peanuts anyway.

Plus, I do not fancy corporate world simply because I genuinely despise the fact that you will somehow be sucked into office politics (based on my previous job) even you do not actively participate in it. Though I cannot absolutely say it wouldn't happen in the academia because where there are people, there are politics.

Thank you for your advice on what I should do aside from obtaining a PhD, and I love your last line, definitely a life motto and words of encouragement for me!

That article about predatory journals issue is a perfect example to the proverb, kerana nila setitik, rosak susu sebelanga. There are many ethical researchers/academicians in Malaysia too but now getting snide remarks and being lumped together with the culprits.

Those who published in those xxx journals are their choice la. They are aware but they still choose to do so.
I have few colleagues who published over 20+, 50+, and 100+ articles in those journals, and they are Dean/ Prof now.
So, it is your choice to do it or not.

Hi, TS.

I believe my perspective will give you some insights.

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My background:
- I did a master's in communication (not mass communication, but corporate/marketing communication).
- I'm an INFJ-- just one letter different from your type, INTJ.
- I worked in the academia, as a lecturer, for many years.
- I like teaching, but I do not enjoy doing research. I don't work for research universities.
- I exit the academia last year. I hate the paperwork a lecturer has to do, every semester.
- I have no interest to climb the corporate ladder at all.

I am biz-minded. I started my first biz at 30 years old. I am building my 2nd and 3rd one now:
- My first biz is a training company for Gen XYZ. I love training and building people up.
- My second biz is emotional wellness. I'm into counselling and coaching (INFJs are great at it).
- My third biz is a content marketing agency. I love creating content and making videos for biz. Also, people pay me to teach them on how to create content, too.

I enjoy doing what I'm doing, a lot, and I get paid well for it. I am running them simultaneously, building them phase by phase, and then expanding with own manpower/some outsourcing. These are what I will do for life. I may venture into other businesses for investment purpose, but that's for later, in my late-30s/40s.

Also concurrently, I'm test-running my own Youth Mentorship Programme online, through which I teach young adults (age 19-28) practical biz skills. I don't charge my mentees a single cent, but I require them to do some simple tasks for me, in exchange for the biz knowledge/skills that I'm teaching them. This is a voluntary CSR project that I'm doing now, on my own initiative. If this programme runs well, I will monetize it from 2022/23 onwards. I always test-run biz ideas (test the market demand, gain deeper insights from participants/clients, refine the details/materials etc) before I launch them publicly.

In my free time, I also volunteer myself to help other NGOs. INFJs care for people and society, a lot. I happen to be a more biz-minded, success-oriented INFJ, because of my enneagram type 3- The Achiever.

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That said, I would suggest you to do more career profiling and personality tests, such as Enneagram and RIASEC. MBTI profiling alone isn't enough to discover what you truly wanna do in life.

Also, consider this:
If you don't want to climb the corporate ladder, or you find the academia too daunting/boring, then you need to develop biz skills to be self-employed (freelancer or SME owner).

If you're extremely good with digital marketing + communication skills (speaking, writing, presenting etc), you can earn a lot by doing what you're great at and passionate at. With so many platforms to choose from, you just need to focus on 1-3 platforms to make the most money for you.

I always get along with INTJs. From what I see, you seem so lost and clueless about where you're heading to. I hope you won't be lost in the sea of information you're getting. INTJs can really think a lot and sometimes get lost in their abstract thoughts.

Just sharing briefly, based on my background and experiences in employment and biz. I hope you find it useful.