Perfect Company

It has been quite some time since i have written a proper entry. My recent entries were mainly made up of pictures, with the additions of some superficial comments and blabberings.

I have joined my present company (i m not naming it yet) for exactly 1 month today. Despite the fact that both my present coy and previous one are US MNCs, I am still unable to avoid experiencing a cultural shock. The management styles are totally different.

I remember my colleagues at HP always complained that the bosses do not care about them. Personally, I didnt get much attention from my manager in HP. It is a double edged sword - he gave me complete freedom to manage my own stuffs and gave me minimal disturbances at work. On the flop side, he was often not around when i needed the support and guidance. My first few mths in HP were terrible as i was pretty much like a lost sheep, aimlessly banging my head around, and i learnt my stuffs through the hard way.

At my present company, the colleagues are complaining that the managers 'care too much'. In my opinion, the managers here really micro-manages - which is quite a waste of resources. But on the positive side, at least they are around to guide you and show you the light. I believe this type of environment is best for fresh grads are young workers like me. What i need now is a solid manager who is willing to guide and lead me. I am glad my manager now is willing to do so.

HP is always well known for its good working environment. Indeed, the people in HP are nice (i mean my fellow team mates, not those cross functional team members who have work conflicts with me). My seniors were always very willing to guide and teach me. They are very patient ppl, compassionate and enthusiastic in sharing their knowledge with you. Somehow, it really applies to everyone in the department. I could hardly think of any exceptions. I guess its the culture there.

Unfortunately, colleagues in my present coy are often not very willing to teach and guide the new comers. Although they can be very friendly and chatty, the culture of helping the newbies is simply not there. They give very vague and incomplete answers when you seek their guidance. Its a very individualistic environment - "last time when i was new, my snrs treated me like this. So now, why shld i give special nice treatment to the newbies?" Nevertheless, we still hang out together during lunches, tea breaks, tok cok and gossip abt the managers (whole-day-long). After our paint-ball challenge, we r thinking of wake-boarding at batam later this month.

HP gives her workers superb working environment, superior office furnishings with teak wood, high chairs, LCD monitors, laptops, PCs, IP phones, orange lamps, thick carpets, coffee-bean-like pantries at every levels and corners of the building, solid gyms and a swimming pool + lots of outings, big foods, great gifts BUT VERY LOW PAY. My present company uses CRT monitors, lousy telephones, old and run down furnishings, NO PANTRY, NO Swimming pool, pathetic gym ... but most importantly Good Pay + Good Bonuses.

I have heard complaints in all the 3 companies i have worked in. People are always dissatisfied somehow (including myself). I believe there is no perfect company. In fact, we should be looking at 'whats most important to me now". From Delgro to HP, i was looking for greater exposures and learning opportunities - hence i took a huge annual pay cut to jump to HP. HP really gave me the exposure i want. Playing a regional role, i get to travel and work with people from all over the world. Moreover, i get to work with people from diff functional grps - marketing, sales, planning, production, r&d, service etc. After HP, i was looking more for money and also building a diversified job experience, and here i am......

to be continued (if i have the mood) ......