When I get patriotic

I just had a chat with my mom about her friend’s daughter who just got her MBA, then got married and decided to follow her husband further study doing MBA as well overseas. They both not working (maybe her husband is doing part time) and she’s been trying to find a job and but didn’t manage to land to any real job till today.
I’ve been hearing the same story over and over again about how some people try to chase their dream overseas hoping to get a better life but again some just doesn’t make it. Here what I think.

You see if we are targeting a professional career in foreign land we must be really good at it to be hired. I mean if you are fresh with no work experience. I do see some friends who make it by working in overseas right after they complete their studies. But it happens that this people are really good in what they are doing. You need to impress your employer if you want to get hired. Especially when you are not local. Face it, even in our own country skin colour will play some role to determine whether or not you will get hire. Its human nature and it happens everywhere. The only thing that makes one different from another is really your strength. Something unique that is not common. To make you eligible for the job you apply. Like if you are a doctor which is really on demand right now.

If you are professional with experience, things might be easier. Since you already have a proven track record on your deliverable, or again if you have a unique skill, it’s easier to get a PR or to get sponsor from the company to bring you overseas. Not to mention that the package might be good enough to make money and save it for your retirement.

If you are skilled labor then they are good and bad news. Depending on the country you are going to, you need to know if your skill is required. Chances are if that country require your skill, then it’s greater chance for you to get a work there. But don’t jump too soon, because true that you may have a better quality life and if you have children, you have better education for them. But do not expect that you become somewhat rich or millionaire or something. I used to travel last time and when I had a chat with people who has skill labor, they have the same old issue that we have here back in our own country.

Yeah I know that many really think that life would be great if we stay overseas. I do think the same. With how much I earn now or how much my husband earn now, we might have a better lifestyle there. Provide better environment for the kids and have better quality food, car, house etc. We’ve been there once so we know how much we enjoy our life there. But for us a different case, though the opportunities is always there as we do have a niche skill (that I refuse to continue) we still think that we missed Malaysia. Our family is here and that is one of the most important things for us in life. And with that also, we think that we can provide a better environment for the kids.

Now back for those who want to chase their American dream or Australian dream or UK dream or whatever lah kan. My advice, try to get a job first here in Malaysia. Try to get as many experiences as you can. As much as you want to bitch about our system here, the people, transportation and 1001 other issue here, try to face it first. My question would always be how you are going to survive in foreign land when you can’t survive in your own land. So once you can handle the situation here, where ever you go you can be 100 times better. People would definitely hire you.

What trigger me to write this post? Looking at many young people and not so young people who think Malaysia is such a bad place. Thinking that people in Malaysia is so bad….Which this part make me and hubby almost fell down laughing. Well human being in general are the same. Those who have not work with foreigner, or not have work with people from other races please do not make the statement like how good they are until you met them or work with them!. One thing we (hubby and I) learn humans are all the same. What makes one people different from another is their upbringing and the values they carry. Other than that! Nay….nothing differentiates us from one to another.

Not that I deny a lot of things need to be changed here in Malaysia for all of us to have a better living. But at least try to see from a different angle and comment things in a right context. Thing goes wrong doesn’t means that everybody is wrong. Rather than complaining, you might want to do a difference. Help to make our country be a better place. If you can’t and still stuck with the same old bureaucracy, you are welcome to migrate or do whatever you want. At least you have tried. But please have some faith to your country. Because whoever betray you is the people, some people. Not the country.