Throwback Thursday: The Day I Started Over
- Faiz Faisal
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Korang pernah tak dapat offer kerja yang rasa macam, "Wah, murahnya rezeki aku kali ni!" pastu sebulan kemudian korang terduduk kat bus stop pegang box penuh barang office sebab kena terminate? Yeah, that was literally me a year ago.
We’ve all heard people talk about "career resets," but nobody tells you how romanticized that phrase is until you’re sitting at a humid bus stop with a box of your desk stationery, furious, and drafting a report to Jabatan Tenaga Kerja (JTK) in your head.
Looking back, that absolute disaster of a job was a massive turning point. So, grab your coffee, duduk santai, and let me tell you the story of how a Singaporean marketing agency in KL taught me the ultimate lesson about job red flags, workplace scams, and starting over.
Red Flag #1: The Classic "Switch & Bait" Job Scope
It all started when I got an offer from a Singapore-based marketing agency setting up office in Kuala Lumpur. The pay was significantly higher than my previous job and let’s be real, in this economy, siapa je tak nak gaji tinggi? My commitments were piling up, so when I saw that salary package, my brain immediately switched off all alarm systems.
Then came the first plot twist.
Two or three weeks before my official start date, they called me:
"Hey, we’re changing your role from Social Media Manager to Digital Marketer. You’ll be assisting product development as well."
Notice the keyword: ASSIST.
Masa tu sejujurnya I dah rasa fishy sikit. But again, I was blinded by the salary package. Mata dah gelap dengan gaji tinggi. I told myself, "Alah, tak lari jauh mana pun scope tu, okaylah." Lesson Learned: If a company starts shifting your job description before you even step foot in the office, your gut is screaming for a reason. Trust it!
Day 1 to Day 30: From "Assisting" to Getting Sacked
Fast forward to my first week. I was assigned to assist the main Product Developer who was drafting content for an e-book workout product. My job was editing and organizing the drafts which was totally fair and within the "assisting" description.
Then, out of nowhere: POOF! The main Product Developer got sacked.
No warning, no handover, tiber jer hilang. Suddenly, the entire product development responsibility fell square onto my shoulders. I was thrust into a full-blown product developer role overnight with ZERO training.
Exactly one week after taking over, they handed me a termination letter.
Reason: "Not performing."
Paling kelakar, the termination letter stated that they had provided "guidance and training." Masa baca tu rasa macam nak gelak. What guidance? What training? I had been there for a month, doing a job I wasn’t even hired for! To make it worst, this all happened on my birthday!
The Bus Stop Era: Furious, Not Sad 🚌💨
If you’re imagining me crying in a corner after getting fired, think again. I was MAD.
I carried my little box of desk belongings, took the LRT, and hopped on the bus. While sitting at the bus stop waiting for my ride, I wasn't weeping over my lost job, I was furiously structuring my JTK complaint in my head like a lawyer preparing for court.
Fast forward to today: it’s been over a year, and this case with JTK is still ongoing. Why? Because this shady company has moved offices so many times that JTK summonses couldn't even be delivered to their physical address!
Tapi sorry la, I'm not dropping this case. It’s the principle of the matter. Companies cannot treat Malaysian employees like disposable wipes and get away with it.
3 Things I Learned About Bouncing Back and Starting Over
Getting fired from a scammy workplace felt like a slap in the face at the time, but it forced me to pause, reset, and re-evaluate what I actually wanted from my career. If you ever find yourself in a similar spot, keep these three rules in mind:
1. High Pay Isn't Worth Your Mental Sanity
It’s easy to get clouded by a big paycheck, especially when bills are pressing. But a high salary in a toxic, disorganized company is just hazard pay for trauma. Always research the company culture before jumping ship.
2. Document EVERYTHING 📁
The only reason I have a rock-solid JTK case right now is because I kept records. Save your offer letters, original job scopes, emails, WhatsApp texts, and termination letters. When things go south, black-and-white evidence is your best friend.
3. A Reset is Not a Failure
Starting over doesn't mean you failed; it means you survived a bad situation and got a second chance to build something better. Don't let a 30-day setback define your 30-year career trajectory.
Final Thoughts: Stand Your Ground
To anyone currently dealing with scope creep, toxic management, or an unfair dismissal, know your rights as an employee in Malaysia. Don't be afraid to take JTK action when necessary.
Pernah tak korang kena scam dengan job scope tiber kena tukar? Or ada experience kena reset career secara mendadak? Share story korang kat ruangan komen di bawah, mana tahu boleh bagi semangat kat orang lain!
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