here Or abrOaD?€¦ · Sanjeev Nanavati, CEO of Citibank Malaysia, are expatriates who have come...
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myStarjob.com, Saturday 31 August 2013 myStarjob.com, Saturday 31 August 2013 By EVA CHRISTODOULOU eva.christodoulou@leaderonomics. com I T is a tough choice deciding whether you should start and continue building your career in Malaysia or relocate and do so in another country. Aside from the personal reasons that are likely to influence such a decision, the career implications can also be immense. Many people believe that building a career abroad, especially within particular sectors such as technolo- gy, is better because of greater level of exposure and sophistication. While some of these beliefs may be true, a decision to relocate for work needs to be based more than on hearsays and assumptions. And even though this article is by no means sufficient to guide you towards such an important deci- sion, we hope it gets you started on thinking about the different areas that you should consider before making up your mind on such a life- changing decision. EMPLOYEE PERCEPTIONS The Malaysia 2012 Michael Page Employee Intentions Report found that employees’ confidence in Malaysia’s job market has soared. The study was based on an online survey sent to nearly 2,000 white collar professionals in Malaysia from a variety of occupation groups and positions from entry level to senior management. The study found employee confi- dence in the job market to be high, with 67% of respondents describing the Malaysian job market as strong, or very strong. However, the same group of respondents also indicated that despite their belief that the job market was strong, 58% intended to look for job opportunities outside the country, focusing mostly on Asian neighbours (67%), followed by Australia/New Zealand (22%), and Europe (6%). The top five countries that the respondents were thinking of exploring for employment were Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Thailand. The same report includes the results of a study conducted on Malaysians living abroad, to gauge their perceptions on the Malaysian This was based on an online survey of 5,600 Malaysian expatriates, representing a vari- ety of occupational groups and positions. It aimed to assess their confi- dence in the current Malaysian job market, predicted employment out- look, and the possibility of returning to live and work in Malaysia. Malaysian expatriates, primarily located in Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Australia and Japan, indicated that they believe the job market would have improved (55%) in 2012 from the year before. Their intention to return to Malaysia for work was prima- rily due to family commit- ments (59%), followed by career progression (23%), international opportuni- ties (12%), salary (11%), culture (3%), and com- pany reputation (2%). The majority of Malaysian expatriates had plans to return after a period of one year or longer (48%), whereas 24% were planning to return within an even shorter period. Twenty-nine per cent of the respondents had stated that they had no plans to return. The study also found that those aged 29 and below were more likely to return (48%) followed by those between 30 and 39 (38%). Older Malaysian expatriates were less likely to return, with only 14% of them indicating that they would return to Malaysia for employment. The respondents indicated that the top areas in which returning Malaysian expatriates look for jobs are: > Accounting and finance. > Banking and financial services. > Engineering and manufacturing. > Procurement and supply chain. > Marketing. MALAYSIAN ECONOMY AND THE JOB MARKET The Kelly Services Malaysia Employment Outlook and Salary Guide 2012/13 has found a number of interesting industry-related mile- stones. The study reports that: > The Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector will become a key contribu- tor in Malaysia’s aim of achieving a developed, high-income economy by 2020. The ICT sector is expected to con- tribute 10.2% to the national gross domestic product by 2015. > Entry Point Projects (EPPs) that come under the Government’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) in the Klang Valley aim to generate 1.7 million incremental employment, attract- ing 2.5 million immigrants in the region by 2020. Twenty per cent of this number is expected to come from overseas, either in the form of foreign expatriates, or returning expatriate Malaysians. Activities under the EPPs in this region alone will be contributing RM190bil towards the gross nation- al income over the next 10 years, and will create over 300,000 jobs. > There seems to be an optimistic outlook in human capital develop- ment in the following five sectors – oil, gas and energy, tourism, electrical and electronics, com- munications content and infrastructure, and business services. > The study identi- fied a 32% growth in the shared services and out- sourcing sector, up from 23% two years ago. The main contributors towards this are the financial services, oil and sas, logistics and transportation sectors. Furthermore, the shared services sector has a total of 2,210 new jobs created, representing a 50.2% jump in jobs. There was also growth in the number of domestic players secur- ing more global work, re-investment from existing multinationals, and attraction of new ones. > The financial sector is expected to contribute RM121.5bil in GNI and create 45,000 jobs. The new Financial Sector Blueprint provides direction to the sector for the next decade, placing strong emphasis on the four core sectors in Islamic finance: > Islamic banking. > Takaful. > Islamic capital marke.t > Islamic money market. As demand for talent continues to exceed supply in this sector, talent development continues with sub- stantial challenges. However, considerable invest- ments have been made by Bank Negara to support the development of talent across all levels in the industry. > The study also found that there is a strong demand for engineering and technical positions in the oil, gas and energy industry. Various specialisations are required. Electrical, civil and struc- tural, mechanical and instrumenta- tion and chemical specialisations are highly valued. Geologists, petroleum and well engineers are also sought after. > As for human resources strat- egies, the study found that the demand for skilled talent continues to be high in the country. In the human resources area, professionals that focus on compen- sation and benefits, learning and development, and talent acquisition and retention are in demand. MOVING ABROAD Moving abroad for a career is an opportunity that many would look forward to. At the end of the day, experienc- ing a new environment can be beneficial not just in terms of your career, but also personally. Going abroad may also develop your career faster by widening your skillset as well as improving your cultural awareness. The experience could make you a rounded individual, which can trans- late into faster career progression. In addition, working abroad will bring about a higher pay package although this is dependent on the country and profession, as well as the cost of living. Further benefits are country-specific as well as sub- jective. So consider making your own list of advantages given your circum- stances. However, being far away from family is a factor that always weighs against moving overseas. Furthermore, bear in mind that if you are moving abroad at the begin- ning of your career, it may be hard to secure a job as you will have little or no work experience. This puts you on the same level with fresh graduates from the coun- try you are planning to go to, except that you will also have the disadvan- tage of a costly and strenuous work permit application process. This may put employers off. MAKING THE CHOICE There is no universal answer as to whether it is best to build a career in Malaysia or to go abroad. The answer is dependent on the circum- stances of each individual. Just as there are many advan- tages in working overseas, there are also countless opportunities here in Malaysia. The pros and cons are for you to analyse. Awareness of the state and potential of the Malaysian job mar- ket, proper consideration of circum- stances, as well as consultation of those whose opinions you value, will help guide you in your decision. We have interviewed some leaders who have made geophical moves in their career. Stuart Dean, CEO of GE Asean and Sanjeev Nanavati, CEO of Citibank Malaysia, are expatriates who have come to cherish their working expe- riences in Malaysia. Datuk Devinder Kumar, senior vice-president and chief financial officer of AMD Inc, a Malaysian who has chosen to build his career abroad, and Jamal A. Ainul, chair- man of Schlumberger Group of Companies, Asia Pacific, a Malaysian who has returned to the country after years abroad, also share the the reasons behind their career choices. STUART DEAN, CEO, GENERAL ELECTRIC ASEAN I was already working for GE when they offered me the Asean role in 2002. GE gave me the choice of where we should locate our HQ in Asean. What made you decide to come to Malaysia? I concluded that Kuala Lumpur made the most sense from market, regional access, cost and liveability points of view. In particular, KL Sentral is ideal for a large regional office like what we have now. How would you compare working here and abroad? What are the chal- lenges and advantages? The key to making the most out of an overseas environment is to focus on the positives of your new location. If you focus on the negatives, you will never be successful. Therefore, I have enjoyed all three of my non-US assign- ments. Most countries have unique cul- tures and languages. No country’s culture is better than the others, just different. I love the diversity of Malaysia and I am optimistic about being based here as the country offers a world-class environ- ment that is conducive for business. Malaysia offers an advantage to an American company like GE because most people speak English and its developed infrastructure makes KL an easy place to attract both great Malaysian and global talent. Further, Malaysia has a significant middle-class who want to see improved infrastructure and greater transparency, both of which are positive for GE. Do you feel that Malaysia can offer similar career opportunities in your field as other countries? We have been very successful in attracting great Malaysian talent to GE here as we grow our regional presence. We have seen Malaysians who work for GE elsewhere return to Malaysia. After working outside their home country, they have a much greater global perspective and are capable of taking on global roles. Furthermore, I am very encouraged by the promotion of talent and pro-growth policies under government initiatives such as the Economic Transformation Programme and TalentCorp in sectors rel- evant to GE such as Oil and Gas, Aviation and Healthcare. Would you recommend building a career here or abroad? I recommend that, if personal situa- tion permits, everyone should seriously consider an overseas assignment. It broadens a person’s perspective, develops his or her ability to manage cross-cultural teams and stretches lead- ership skills. If the individual brings his or her family, it also enriches their lives. DECIDING WHERE TO BUILD YOUR CAREER HERE OR ABROAD? SANJEEV NANAVATI, CEO, CITIBANK MALAYSIA I was offered a role in Malaysia by my company. My boss at that time described Kuala Lumpur as the “hidden jewel of Asia” to live and work. Having lived here for a number of years, I would endorse what I was told at the time I was asked to come to Malaysia. What made you decide to come to Malaysia? Primarily it was the role that my bank had offered. The fact that KL was and continues to be an exceptionally attrac- tive place to live and work was an added bonus. How would you compare working here and abroad? What are the chal- lenges and advantages? It depends which place abroad one is comparing Malaysia with. Since I work for a multinational company, our inter- nal working environment is relatively the same across the world in terms of culture and work practice. Malaysia, however, is relatively an easy place to adjust to, both personally and professionally. No place is perfect but Malaysia has a lot going for it, at least from an expatriate’s perspective. Do you feel that Malaysia can offer similar career opportunities in your field as other countries? Generally, Malaysia offers attractive career opportunities for Malaysians. However, I am not sure how receptive the government-linked companies and other major local companies are to expa- triate talent at the CEO or similar level. Would you recommend building a career here or abroad? This is a very personal choice. It depends on the person and the field of work. My view is that diversity of experi- ence will always hold you in good stead. DATUK DEVINDER KUMAR, SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, AMD INC I started my career as a financial analyst at AMD, Sunnyvale, California in 1984. I returned to Malaysia in 1989 and worked in Malaysia for 10 years taking on regional finance roles covering China, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. In 1997 I took on some corporate roles and, as part of career progression at the corporate headquarters, I moved to the US and assumed several corporate roles there before being appointed chief finan- cial officer in January 2013. What made you decide to move ou of Malaysia? I was given the opportunity for career progression at a Fortune 500 company and to work in a corporate environment for a global multinational. The jobs I have had since that time have allowed me to further develop my skills and thought-processes from a pro- fessional and personal perspective. How would you compare working here and abroad? What are the chal- lenges and advantages? Working in Malaysia established a good foundation for dealing with and overcoming the challenges of various languages, cultures and outlook. There is no right or wrong way to deal with a diverse workforce except that you must encourage and embrace diversity of thought and viewpoints. There isn’t a single global template which can be adopted but working in different parts of the world provides an incredible perspective to succeed in a global company and the global business environment that we live in. As a result of the diverse work environ- ment in Malaysia, executives in Malaysia who are open and tolerant to diversity have a unique advantage over others in managing a global workforce. Do you feel that Malaysia can offer similar career opportunities in your field as other countries? Yes and no. Malaysia has the type of companies that are themselves global and have invested or have operations in other regions of the world. However, at the highest executive levels of large global enterprises, the number of opportunities is limited. Also for a Malaysian to succeed at the highest levels, it takes a certain determination, career progression and skills that have to be developed over time. For Malaysians to succeed out- side Malaysia, whether or not they are based in Malaysia, requires excellent command of the language of business – English. Thus I would encourage anyone seek- ing that type of role or career to focus diligently on all aspects of communica- tion – written, spoken and presenta- tion. Malaysian educational institutions and graduates must have the ability to communicate fluently in global busi- ness languages, in particular English. Having the right infrastructure – both physical and human capital – and the right cost makes it attractive for value- added jobs to be based in Malaysia. What is needed is a multi-skilled work- force; one that is capable of tackling glo- bal requirements and delivering global solutions. To other Malaysians, would you rec- ommend building a career here or abroad? I would tell every Malaysian, beyond a college education, to ensure continuous training and learning throughout their career. It is equally important to get expo- sure to global values, processes and solu- tions. Every employee, even those working for Malaysian companies, should become part of a system that adds value on a global scale. Never be afraid to try and learn new skills and continue to improve yourself – especially by focussing on your weaknesses to develop yourself. Invest in yourself! JAMAL A AINUL, CHAIRMAN, SCHLUMBERGER GROUP OF COMPANIES, ASIA PACIFIC I initially went abroad due to work commitments and personal development opportunities offered by my employer, but also to broaden my experience and outlook. I am interested in working over- seas for my personal career goals. What made you decide to come home? My parents were getting older and weaker, but also I felt I was in a position to make an impact both for the country and my employer. Hence, I am actively setting up regional centres in Malaysia for Schlumberger. How would you compare working here and abroad? What are chal- lenges and advantages? In my opinion, they are different envi- ronments, but most important of all is the existence of good succession plan- ning in the organisation you work for. Clearly, exposure to different markets overseas will put you at an advantage when promotions are considered, but you will also be better prepared for the challenges that come with added responsibilities when your experience is very broad. Do you feel that Malaysia can offer similar career opportunities in your field as other countries? There is progress here in Malaysia but it is definitely not similar to those in developed countries. One can have a long debate as to why and why not, but perhaps that would need another, more extended forum. Would you recommend building a career here or abroad? I think having both is a necessity; not an option.
Transcript of here Or abrOaD?€¦ · Sanjeev Nanavati, CEO of Citibank Malaysia, are expatriates who have come...
mystarjob.com, saturday 31 August 2013� mystarjob.com, saturday 31 August 2013 �
By EVA [email protected]
IT is a tough choice decidingwhether you should start andcontinue building your career inMalaysia or relocate and do soin another country.
Aside from the personal reasonsthat are likely to influence such adecision, the career implications canalso be immense.
Many people believe that buildinga career abroad, especially withinparticular sectors such as technolo-gy, is better because of greater levelof exposure and sophistication.
While some of these beliefs maybe true, a decision to relocate forwork needs to be based more thanon hearsays and assumptions.
And even though this article isby no means sufficient to guide youtowards such an important deci-sion, we hope it gets you started onthinking about the different areasthat you should consider beforemaking up your mind on such a life-changing decision.
EmployEE pErcEptionsThe Malaysia 2012 Michael Page
Employee Intentions Report foundthat employees’ confidence inMalaysia’s job market has soared.
The study was based on an onlinesurvey sent to nearly 2,000 whitecollar professionals in Malaysia froma variety of occupation groups andpositions from entry level to seniormanagement.
The study found employee confi-dence in the job market to be high,with 67% of respondents describingthe Malaysian job market as strong,or very strong.
However, the same group ofrespondents also indicated thatdespite their belief that the jobmarket was strong, 58% intendedto look for job opportunities outsidethe country, focusing mostly onAsian neighbours (67%), followed byAustralia/New Zealand (22%), andEurope (6%).
The top five countries that therespondents were thinking ofexploring for employment wereSingapore, China, Hong Kong,Indonesia and Thailand.
The same report includes theresults of a study conducted onMalaysians living abroad, to gaugetheir perceptions on the Malaysian
This was based on an onlinesurvey of 5,600 Malaysianexpatriates, representing a vari-ety of occupational groups andpositions.
It aimed to assess their confi-dence in the current Malaysian jobmarket, predicted employment out-look, and the possibility of returningto live and work in Malaysia.
Malaysian expatriates, primarilylocated in Singapore, China, HongKong, Australia and Japan, indicatedthat they believe the job marketwould have improved (55%) in 2012from the year before.
Their intention to return toMalaysia for work was prima-rily due to family commit-ments (59%), followed bycareer progression (23%),international opportuni-ties (12%), salary (11%),culture (3%), and com-pany reputation (2%).
The majority ofMalaysian expatriateshad plans to return aftera period of one year orlonger (48%), whereas 24%were planning to returnwithin an even shorter period.Twenty-nine per cent of therespondents had stated that theyhad no plans to return.
The study also found that thoseaged 29 and below were more likelyto return (48%) followed by thosebetween 30 and 39 (38%).
Older Malaysian expatriateswere less likely to return, withonly 14% of them indicating thatthey would return to Malaysia foremployment.
The respondents indicated thatthe top areas in which returningMalaysian expatriates look for jobsare:> Accounting and finance.> Banking and financial services.> Engineering and manufacturing.> Procurement and supply chain.> Marketing.
malaysian Economyand tHE job markEt
The Kelly Services MalaysiaEmployment Outlook and SalaryGuide 2012/13 has found a numberof interesting industry-related mile-stones.
The study reports that:> The Information
Communication Technology (ICT)
sector will become a key contribu-tor in Malaysia’s aim of achieving adeveloped, high-income economyby 2020.
The ICT sector is expected to con-tribute 10.2% to the national grossdomestic product by 2015.
> Entry Point Projects (EPPs) thatcome under the Government’sEconomic TransformationProgramme (ETP) in the KlangValley aim to generate 1.7 millionincremental employment, attract-ing 2.5 million immigrants in theregion by 2020. Twenty per cent ofthis number is expected to comefrom overseas, either in the formof foreign expatriates, or returningexpatriate Malaysians.
Activities under the EPPs in thisregion alone will be contributingRM190bil towards the gross nation-al income over the next 10 years,and will create over 300,000 jobs.
> There seems to be an optimisticoutlook in human capital develop-ment in the following five sectors
– oil, gas and energy,tourism, electricaland electronics, com-munications content
and infrastructure,and business services.
> The study identi-fied a 32% growth in the
shared services and out-sourcing sector, up from 23%
two years ago.The main contributors towards
this are the financial services, oiland sas, logistics and transportationsectors.
Furthermore, the shared servicessector has a total of 2,210 new jobscreated, representing a 50.2% jumpin jobs.
There was also growth in thenumber of domestic players secur-ing more global work, re-investmentfrom existing multinationals, andattraction of new ones.
> The financial sector is expectedto contribute RM121.5bil in GNI andcreate 45,000 jobs.
The new Financial Sector Blueprintprovides direction to the sector forthe next decade, placing strongemphasis on the four core sectors inIslamic finance:> Islamic banking.> Takaful.> Islamic capital marke.t> Islamic money market.
As demand for talent continues toexceed supply in this sector, talentdevelopment continues with sub-stantial challenges.
However, considerable invest-
mentshave been
made by BankNegara to support the
development of talent acrossall levels in the industry.
> The study also found that thereis a strong demand for engineeringand technical positions in the oil,gas and energy industry.
Various specialisations arerequired. Electrical, civil and struc-tural, mechanical and instrumenta-tion and chemical specialisations arehighly valued.
Geologists, petroleum and wellengineers are also sought after.
> As for human resources strat-egies, the study found that thedemand for skilled talent continuesto be high in the country.
In the human resources area,professionals that focus on compen-sation and benefits, learning anddevelopment, and talent acquisitionand retention are in demand.
moving abroadMoving abroad for a career is an
opportunity that many would lookforward to.
At the end of the day, experienc-ing a new environment can bebeneficial not just in terms of yourcareer, but also personally.
Going abroad may also developyour career faster by widening yourskillset as well as improving yourcultural awareness.
The experience could make you arounded individual, which can trans-late into faster career progression.
In addition, working abroad willbring about a higher pay packagealthough this is dependent on thecountry and profession, as well as
the cost ofliving.
Furtherbenefits are
country-specificas well as sub-
jective.So consider
making your ownlist of advantages
given your circum-stances.However, being far
away from family is a factorthat always weighs against
moving overseas.Furthermore, bear in mind that if
you are moving abroad at the begin-ning of your career, it may be hardto secure a job as you will have littleor no work experience.
This puts you on the same levelwith fresh graduates from the coun-try you are planning to go to, exceptthat you will also have the disadvan-tage of a costly and strenuous workpermit application process. This mayput employers off.
making tHE cHoicEThere is no universal answer as to
whether it is best to build a careerin Malaysia or to go abroad. Theanswer is dependent on the circum-stances of each individual.
Just as there are many advan-tages in working overseas, there arealso countless opportunities here inMalaysia. The pros and cons are foryou to analyse.
Awareness of the state andpotential of the Malaysian job mar-ket, proper consideration of circum-stances, as well as consultation ofthose whose opinions you value, willhelp guide you in your decision.
We have interviewed someleaders who have made geophicalmoves in their career.
Stuart Dean, CEO of GE Asean andSanjeev Nanavati, CEO of CitibankMalaysia, are expatriates who havecome to cherish their working expe-riences in Malaysia.
Datuk Devinder Kumar, seniorvice-president and chief financialofficer of AMD Inc, a Malaysianwho has chosen to build his careerabroad, and Jamal A. Ainul, chair-man of Schlumberger Group ofCompanies, Asia Pacific, a Malaysianwho has returned to the countryafter years abroad, also share thethe reasons behind their careerchoices.
Stuart Dean, CeO,General eleCtriC aSean
I was already working for GE whenthey offered me the Asean role in 2002.GE gave me the choice of where weshould locate our HQ in Asean.
What made you decide to come toMalaysia?
I concluded that Kuala Lumpur madethe most sense from market, regionalaccess, cost and liveability points of view.In particular, KL Sentral is ideal for a largeregional office like what we have now.
How would you compare workinghere and abroad? What are the chal-lenges and advantages?
The key to making the most out of anoverseas environment is to focus on thepositives of your new location.
If you focus on the negatives, you will
never be successful. Therefore, I haveenjoyed all three of my non-US assign-ments. Most countries have unique cul-tures and languages.
No country’s culture is better than the
others, just different.I love the diversity of Malaysia and I
am optimistic about being based here asthe country offers a world-class environ-ment that is conducive for business.
Malaysia offers an advantage to anAmerican company like GE because mostpeople speak English and its developedinfrastructure makes KL an easy place toattract both great Malaysian and globaltalent.
Further, Malaysia has a significantmiddle-class who want to see improvedinfrastructure and greater transparency,both of which are positive for GE.
Do you feel that Malaysia can offersimilar career opportunities in yourfield as other countries?
We have been very successful inattracting great Malaysian talent to GEhere as we grow our regional presence.We have seen Malaysians who work for
GE elsewhere return to Malaysia.After working outside their home
country, they have a much greater globalperspective and are capable of taking onglobal roles.
Furthermore, I am very encouraged bythe promotion of talent and pro-growthpolicies under government initiativessuch as the Economic TransformationProgramme and TalentCorp in sectors rel-evant to GE such as Oil and Gas, Aviationand Healthcare.
Would you recommend building acareer here or abroad?
I recommend that, if personal situa-tion permits, everyone should seriouslyconsider an overseas assignment.
It broadens a person’s perspective,develops his or her ability to managecross-cultural teams and stretches lead-ership skills. If the individual brings his orher family, it also enriches their lives.
By EVA [email protected]
job market. This was based on an online
DeCiDinG where tO builD yOur Careerhere Or abrOaD?
Sanjeev nanavati, CeO,Citibank MalaySia
I was offered a role in Malaysia by mycompany. My boss at that time describedKuala Lumpur as the “hidden jewel ofAsia” to live and work. Having lived herefor a number of years, I would endorsewhat I was told at the time I was askedto come to Malaysia.
What made you decide to come toMalaysia?
Primarily it was the role that my bankhad offered. The fact that KL was andcontinues to be an exceptionally attrac-tive place to live and work was an addedbonus.
How would you compare workinghere and abroad? What are the chal-lenges and advantages?
It depends which place abroad one iscomparing Malaysia with. Since I workfor a multinational company, our inter-nal working environment is relativelythe same across the world in terms ofculture and work practice.
Malaysia, however, is relatively aneasy place to adjust to, both personallyand professionally. No place is perfectbut Malaysia has a lot going for it, atleast from an expatriate’s perspective.
Do you feel that Malaysia can offersimilar career opportunities in yourfield as other countries?
Generally, Malaysia offers attractivecareer opportunities for Malaysians.However, I am not sure how receptivethe government-linked companies andother major local companies are to expa-triate talent at the CEO or similar level.
Would you recommend building acareer here or abroad?
This is a very personal choice. Itdepends on the person and the field ofwork. My view is that diversity of experi-ence will always hold you in good stead.
Datuk DevinDer kuMar,SeniOr viCe-preSiDentanD Chief finanCialOffiCer, aMD inC
I started my career as a financialanalyst at AMD, Sunnyvale, California in1984. I returned to Malaysia in 1989 andworked in Malaysia for 10 years takingon regional finance roles covering China,Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.
In 1997 I took on some corporate rolesand, as part of career progression at thecorporate headquarters, I moved to theUS and assumed several corporate rolesthere before being appointed chief finan-cial officer in January 2013.
What made you decide to move ou ofMalaysia?
I was given the opportunity for careerprogression at a Fortune 500 companyand to work in a corporate environmentfor a global multinational.
The jobs I have had since that timehave allowed me to further develop myskills and thought-processes from a pro-fessional and personal perspective.
How would you compare workinghere and abroad? What are the chal-lenges and advantages?
Working in Malaysia established agood foundation for dealing with andovercoming the challenges of variouslanguages, cultures and outlook.
There is no right or wrong way to dealwith a diverse workforce except that youmust encourage and embrace diversity ofthought and viewpoints.
There isn’t a single global templatewhich can be adopted but working indifferent parts of the world provides anincredible perspective to succeed in aglobal company and the global businessenvironment that we live in.
As a result of the diverse work environ-ment in Malaysia, executives in Malaysiawho are open and tolerant to diversityhave a unique advantage over others inmanaging a global workforce.
Do you feel that Malaysia can offersimilar career opportunities in yourfield as other countries?
Yes and no. Malaysia has the type ofcompanies that are themselves globaland have invested or have operations inother regions of the world.
However, at the highest executivelevels of large global enterprises, thenumber of opportunities is limited.
Also for a Malaysian to succeed atthe highest levels, it takes a certaindetermination, career progression andskills that have to be developed overtime. For Malaysians to succeed out-side Malaysia, whether or not they arebased in Malaysia, requires excellentcommand of the language of business– English.
Thus I would encourage anyone seek-ing that type of role or career to focusdiligently on all aspects of communica-tion – written, spoken and presenta-tion. Malaysian educational institutionsand graduates must have the ability tocommunicate fluently in global busi-ness languages, in particular English.
Having the right infrastructure – bothphysical and human capital – and theright cost makes it attractive for value-added jobs to be based in Malaysia.
What is needed is a multi-skilled work-force; one that is capable of tackling glo-bal requirements and delivering globalsolutions.
To other Malaysians, would you rec-ommend building a career here orabroad?
I would tell every Malaysian, beyond acollege education, to ensure continuoustraining and learning throughout theircareer. It is equally important to get expo-sure to global values, processes and solu-tions.
Every employee, even those working forMalaysian companies, should become partof a system that adds value on a globalscale.
Never be afraid to try and learn newskills and continue to improve yourself –especially by focussing on your weaknessesto develop yourself. Invest in yourself!
jaMal a ainul, ChairMan,SChluMberGer GrOup OfCOMpanieS, aSia paCifiC
I initially went abroad due to workcommitments and personal developmentopportunities offered by my employer,but also to broaden my experience andoutlook. I am interested in working over-seas for my personal career goals.
What made you decide to comehome?
My parents were getting older andweaker, but also I felt I was in a positionto make an impact both for the countryand my employer. Hence, I am activelysetting up regional centres in Malaysiafor Schlumberger.
How would you compare workinghere and abroad? What are chal-lenges and advantages?
In my opinion, they are different envi-ronments, but most important of all isthe existence of good succession plan-ning in the organisation you work for.
Clearly, exposure to different marketsoverseas will put you at an advantagewhen promotions are considered, butyou will also be better prepared forthe challenges that come with addedresponsibilities when your experience isvery broad.
Do you feel that Malaysia can offersimilar career opportunities in yourfield as other countries?
There is progress here in Malaysiabut it is definitely not similar to those indeveloped countries.
One can have a long debate as to whyand why not, but perhaps that wouldneed another, more extended forum.
Would you recommend building acareer here or abroad?
I think having both is a necessity; notan option.
