I used to work for a GLC Telecommunication company (not very hard to guess, right ?)

When I join there in 2002, the starting salary is RM 2157. Recently, they have increased that to RM 2400.

Considering GLC pay packet is at the low side of the industry salary range, in addition to the news that the government starting pay + allowance to be set at RM 2,800, I found it reasonable that fresh graduate at private local companies (especially that of MNCs) can earn RM 3,500++ for starting salary.

After working in that GLC company for 6++ years, I have recently joined a Big 4 consulting firm as Senior Consultant. The pay almost more than doubled from my last pay with my previous employer. The pace and work style/environment differs a lot and at times I wonder why I did make the move from the more stable work/life balance and slow paced work environment to this.

Don't get me wrong, I am an ambitious lot and I know before-hand what I am into once I resigned from old post. The point is...money is not everything and there are reasons why some ambitious people prefer to stay at one position in one company that pays lower than that of the market.

As one of my former boss (who worked in that GLC company) once said....if you're healthy and ambitious, go for the money at other firm....but if you're dying of cancer or need to be with your family all the time, this GLC is the best company for you to work in. As he said "my medical cost due to my chemotherapy runs from RM 20,000 a month at least, but the company is paying for it...no questions asked. If I was not feeling well, it's ok for me to stay at home without medical leave deducted....so what ever people say, this company is the best company I have ever worked with and I have no intention to leave the company, until the day I retire or die...." and he passed away a year after retiring from the company.

So the point is, there are many factors why one company is preferred to the other and there are reasons why people choose to stay at one company and that reason doesn't necessarily meant big bucks.

This post has been edited by aabrahim: Nov 20 2008, 04:37 PM