My Part Time Jobs - Part I
Finally, I am done with my final examination today at 3:25PM. The last paper was BEN2014 - Introduction To Cyberpreneurship. It was easy as it was 80 objective questions. My “Counter Strike” training has finally paid off. -smirks- Tomorrow is the first day of my 2 months holidays. Honestly, I am not looking forward to it at all because I hate holidays, especially holidays that are longer than 1.5 weeks or 11 days.
I hate holidays because I have nothing to do throughout the holidays. I am not as lucky as my friends, whom their parents sponsor their holidays trips to Pulau Redang, Cameron Highlands, Singapore or any holiday destination. Even if they are using their own money, their allowance is like 2 or 3 times higher than mine. My allowance is not even enough for my 1 month expenditure, it is nearly impossible for me to save money for any holiday trip. Neither I have side income through football betting or being sponsored by their boy friends / girl friends. Every thing I want, I have to earn it by myself by taking up part time job. When I choose to work, I have to sacrifice my holidays by staying back and not going any where and the other way round. Basically, there is no win-win situation here.
I remember when I first took up a part time job when I was Form 1. I worked as a delivery boy in a stationary shop, which delivers exercise books, stationeries and stuffs to school. All I have to do is carry them to the school store room. “Kuli” is the best word to desribe my job. I was required to work if and only the shop wanted to deliver stuffs to the school. My first pay of the week was only RM45 (RM15 per day) and I gave my family a treat. My RM45 was gone in 1 meal but I was satisfied. I felt proud of myself because when my other classmates were enjoying their holidays at home, I was earning money with my sweat and blood. I worked at the same shop when I was in Form 2 and they increased my allowance to RM20 per day. I earned about RM200 throughout the holidays. I did not use the money and save it in the bank.
My second part time job was a promoter in A Famosa Water World. (If you happened to visit Water World during the school holidays in 1999, most probably we have met before.) I was the leader of the group that was assigned to promote the Water World Membership Card. My 3 friends - Jose, Wei Yeoh and Lao Chew were under me. The pay was RM3.50 per hour and I earned RM30 daily (average), excluding our commission which was 5% of the total sales of that particular month. My job status was higher than other part timers (Life guards, F & B waiters/waitress, cashier and store keeper) because I was not required to report to any supervisor except the manager, Robert Na (Asshole!) and the finance department head, Miss Leong. We were allowed to roam around Water World without being scolded or be in the office doing some office work. I earned about RM600 and I spent all my money on a 4 days 3 nights holiday trip to Langkawi, Penang, Ipoh, Genting and Kuala Lumpur with my tuition teacher. I could have earn RM200 more from the commission, but the manager cheated my money and I could not do anything. Curse you, Robert Na!
My third part time job was a salesman in a footwear shop. Basic pay was RM2 per hour plus 1% of commission of my total sales. I earned about RM800 throughout the 2 months. It was quite an easy job, all I needed to do was to persuade the customer to buy some slippers, shoes or some flower pots and plastic flowers. (I have no idea why my boss wanted to sell flower pots and plastic flowers though.) I was (again) the top seller for 2 weeks continuously as I was 1 of the 6 people who can speak Chinese, Cantonese (Quite “cacat”), English and Malay. Therefore, I was able to serve more customers which boosted my sales. I spent RM120 to get a decent but no brand sport shoe and I felt proud of it because my mum would only buy me RM59.90 Power sport shoe that time. The RM120 sport shoe was a big thing for me at that time, but it worn out so badly after I joined a walking expedition organized by my scout master. The walking expedition was from my hometown, Tampin to Gemencheh, which is about 40-45km in 1 night. So, the shoe did not really last long enough. I spent the remaining RM680 on my holiday trip to the same place with the same group of friends with the same tuition teacher. My parents did not say a word about how I spent my money. Since I earned the money by myself, I was allowed to use it the way I wanted to.
My forth part time job was a shopkeeper for a book store. This is the most fucking boring part time job I have ever taken up. There were only 2 Malay girls and me in the shop doing nothing for one whole day. The routine was to clean the racks, vacuum the carpets and sit down there until lunch hour or go home at 6PM. That was it, nothing else! How do you expect a guy to sit down there for nearly 8 hours with nothing to do?! When I brought my novel to the shop to read, the boss’s wife said I was not allowed to do so. Damn, I was not allowed to read in a book shop. -sweat-
I was also the “kuli” for the boss whenever the boss wanted to deliver exercise books, stationeries, brooms, pails, mops, and other utilities to the school. When I was carrying the stuffs like a cow, he would be drinking coffee with the principle in the office while waiting for me to finish my job. Throughout the journey, to and fro, I would not talk a single word to my boss. Besides, it was early in the morning or late in the afternoon and I usually would fall asleep in the van. I also got complained because of that too! My boss did not want to talk to me, I was not allowed to read the novel in the van, the radio/cassette player was not working and the journey would take up 75-90 minutes, of course I would fall asleep! I know its not nice to sleep while working, but its just fucking bored.
This was the part time job that I did not enjoy at all and I was not happy. The pay was RM2 per hour and I only earned about RM350 in 30 days. I vowed to myself that I shall never work in a book store (Popular and MPH are not included) anymore, even if the pay is 5 times higher than this! I quitted after a month as I got another offer from my father’s friend. (My supervisor in Water World did give me a call to ask me to work under him in the same department, but I rejected.)
My fifth part time job, after my SPM, was a promoter for Tiger Beer, not those sexy ladies that pour beers into your mug! It was 1.5 months before Chinese New Year and my job was to promote the customers to buy the beers (Of course!) in terms of cartons. I was required to check on the stock of the shopping complex and monitor the sales of the beers. It was an easy job as most people would buy the beers even without promoting. What Chinese New Year would it be if its without beers and shandy’s?! All I did were to check the sales of each day and report back to my supervisor. Other than that, I would be talking to my friends who were working in the same shopping complex. Most of my classmates were cashiers for The Store shopping center. There were a lot of stories that I think I should blog it out, like sneaking out shandy for own self, sneaking out the free gifts that was meant for the beers, buying 12 bottles of soft drinks with the price of 2 bottles (With the help of the cashiers.) and many more. -evil laughs-
If I were to compare my pay with the market price of my hometown, it was totally awesome. RM50 for half day and RM75 for full day! Even if its full day, we did sneak back home early without our boss noticing. I earned RM1400 in just 40-45 days! No other part time job in my hometown was able to reach 50% of my salary, no joke! Not only that, because its near Chinese New Year, we were invited to a 10 course dinner sponsored by Tiger beer company! With the RM350 from the book shop, I earned RM1750 in that holiday itself. I bought myself a mobile phone, which my mother strongly disagreed. I bought Nokia 3310 that cost me RM400 and a 012 Hotlink starter pack worth RM198. So, that was how I earned my very first mobile phone, without any help from my parents. Most of my friends have gotten their mobile phones sponsored by their parents before SPM. I was proud of myself and I never feel so good before. The balance RM1000, again, I spent it on a 7 days 7 nights holiday trip around Penisular Malaysia with the same bunch of friends and the same tuition teacher. 7 days 7 nights around Penisular, that was the best holiday trip I have ever been. We went to Cameron Highlands, Ipoh, Bidor, Langkawi, Penang, Perlis, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Bahru, Kuala Terengganu, Kemaman, Kuantan, Mersing, Johor, Segamat and back to Tampin. If you plot them on the Malaysia map, we basically went one round of Penisular Malaysia. I had so much fun and I was so excited with all the new foods that I encountered. RM1000 was spent with no regrets!
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April 13th, 2005 18:03
This’s the first time I’ve actually read ’bout others with my same experience. I work part time almost each hols, only to spend all (er..most) of my pay on trips, around Peninsula.
Although I too have to self finance the trips, there’s great satisfaction in spending your own hard-earned money. Been to about the same places as you too. Damnned FUN! As you said, no regrets..
Btw you’re from MMU Melaka?
April 13th, 2005 19:36
agree with u, i also hate holidays that is more than 1.5 weeks…thats y i save hard for my holidays during sem break, if not i will “fat mou” in my house.
great to hear that u r so independent…i really need to learn from u…salute salute..
April 13th, 2005 20:50
I had only worked once in my whole life. It’s a part time job with Rm5 per hour. I just sat there the whole day, with air-cond and do nothing ….muahahahhaaa….
So syok, ur exam finish liao. Sigh* Gotta go study lo………
April 13th, 2005 21:09
Your relief is my suffer dude! What a long entry from you…
You know I yawned when I saw it?? I will digest it later kay…
April 13th, 2005 21:18
Jason why so long one, it took me so long to read and still i am only half way through. Erm, i receive your email liao, its ok lah, just don’t do it again loh. A bit sad that i am cheated again.
April 13th, 2005 21:18
Blady hell.. you lucky bastard! RM1400 in 40 days!!! Jadi itik pun susah wanna compete with you!! Ei, give some tips how u got these jobs larr… :;p
Book shops… Dude, FIVE times more also you will decline!?!? But then again, considering you’ve earned rm1400 in 40 days before, I think you memang qualify to say that… But if me, wah lau eh.. lima kali ganda tau.. Sure ambik lar.
Adoi, u keep pijak-ing me in ur post la. My first hp was partially sponsored by my parents… with the remaining cost paid by myself, also nokia 3310. Hehe.. But it got stolen after about 1 1/2 years. Damn it.
My most recent part-time job was a weekend one, Saturdays and Sundays. What about Mondays to Fridays? I attended lectures. Fuiyo! 7 days a week non-stop!! It was not much, rm5 bucks per hour in a tuition centre. I had to help develop some crappy primary level educational worksheets - On a computer. Also, had to do sound-editing, and a host of other computer-related tasks.
My colleagues were earning same amount of salary but only needed to MARK HOMEWORKS! I quitted eventually because it was too taxing (yeah lar, stupid lar - 7 days a week without break…).
Your working experience is really worth boasting.. err, i mean blogging about lar. I salute you, man! Hardworking people always get the perks.
April 13th, 2005 21:26
:(
u make me feel so useless…
i am in my 4th-month holidays now. but haven’t fat-mou yet
*grins*
no students for me to teach tuition aso over here.
April 13th, 2005 21:31
Hey! Keep up the good job!
April 13th, 2005 21:38
Wah you ended up in so many jobs before a. Keng man!
I also don’t like a long holiday. I don’t like spending my days doing nothing. Usually, my trimester break was occupied with learning new stuff, anything relevant to my IT field that caught my attention and interest. So, I’ll buy books from MPH, or illegally download some e-books (hehe..) and study the topics of interest.
Instead or working as part-timer, I prefer freelance project. So, usually I’ll schedule the projects I got (if there was any), to be started off and completed within break. Cos can earn satisfying amoung within a short duration haha
April 13th, 2005 23:24
I can see that you are very independent. Just remember that hard work pays off…:)
April 13th, 2005 23:32
walao, jason 弟弟! 没想到你是这么得厉害的哦! 好 geng! 甘拜下风 =D
April 14th, 2005 00:57
Diana :
I suppose this is your first visit to my blog. Thanks for dropping by. :) Hehe, good for you too if you know the value of money when you earn everything with your own heart, blood and sweat. You feel satisfied when you spend the money. No regrets. :) Yeah, I am from MMU Malacca campus. :)
Gah Yoong :
Ha! Birthday girl, you also hate holidays one ah! That’s rare case, babes! Haha, but I am a guy and you are a girl, not easy for a girl to become “kuli” leh~! Don’t want lah! U just sit home become “dai siu jeh” lah!
Carol :
What is your job then? Jaga turtle shop is it? Thats explain where u get John from. :P Hehe, nevermind lah. After exam, I go find you, ok? Promise.
Tiu Nia Sing :
Actually, I wanted to write out my holiday plans. But it ended up with my part time jobs instead. :P I also didn’t know it was that long so I split into 2 parts. I am yet to finish part 2 though. Its ok if you don’t want to read them. I also admit that its kinda long post, very mumbling, very lo so and very ngam ngam charm charm.
Mr. Kiasu :
I’m sorry, k? Hehe, next time I will inform you earlier if there’s a prank going on in my blog, ok? :P
Narrowband :
Haha! RM1400 in 40 days, got RM100 angpau money from my boss lagi! LOL! :P How ah? My father’s friend was looking for part timer so he mah give me a call loh~! :) Eh, 5 times higher is RM10 per hour leh. Give me I also don’t want cause you don’t know how suffering it is to work in that book shop leh~! No leng lui also! Unless I work in Popular or MPH, at least can see girls around, with air con lagi!
Haha! No pijak you lah, just that I feel proud of myself for getting myself a hand phone while my peers are getting them from their parents only mah. :P Don’t so perasaan. LOL. Haha! I see, engineering doing typist work heh, ok wat! RM5 in Tampin is quite high, but maybe low in KL though. :P Yaloh, don’t overworked lah~! 7 days a week, mana boleh! :P Thanks for your compliment. :) Actually I have no intention of boasting my part time job / working experience, just that, somehow this was what I wanted to blog when I start writing at 3.30PM.
Juliana :
Haha~! But you keep your house clean and tidy, right? That is something to be proud of, you know? :) Cheers!
Ice Queen :
Hehe! I will, but I kinda lazy in my studies though. Haha! Actually I worked so much is all because of my holiday trips one ler. That is why I wrote out where and how I spent all my salary. I got a target, a goal, thats why I worked so hard for it.
Tien Soon :
Hehe. Keng meh? My friend lagi hebat, 2 jobs, 1 day 1 night. :D Not bad wut, got the intention to improve yourself. That is what we should have, too bad, i don’t. LOL. With your programming skill, yeah, you can earn alot more by doing freelance project. How much you earn like that woh? :) Do u follow up after that? Got more than my RM1400 anot? Hahaha! You use your brain to earn money, while I use my strength and stamina to earn money. Yours is the smarter way. :P I am stupid ler.
Mei Gie :
Yeah, I am. My mum used to throw me alone at home when I was 5 years old already. So, I have to be independent. Hmm, yeah, it pays off by going for holiday trips! Shiok~!
Grace SYT :
当我假的啊?! 哈哈! 当然厉害啦!
April 14th, 2005 01:56
shame on me.. i’m 21 but haven’t worked b4. Well.. had 2 internships b4 though but no money. it didn’t matter. I’m actually looking forward to my real part time job after my exams in May. Hopefully I’ll be able to secure one! :)
April 14th, 2005 11:42
Jason: Hm.. how much I charge a.. this is a varying figure lo, depends on the nature of the project. But most of my projects are got through partners. I’ve formed some sort of strategic partnership with ppl having business in computing field, like distributing servers and notebooks, but without knowledge in building software or web systems. So, whichever project got through partners, I’ll offer the project at lower price and leave a markup margin for them to earn. Else how could a student like me get external projects haha. My task is to complete the project as analyzed from requirements, and perform whichever maintenance work needed, while following-up on clients is usually done by the partners (they also wish to have continuous projects ma hehe)
April 15th, 2005 08:41
hmm really nice to hear people are actually working like “dogs” to get what they want …
like me i never get any sponsorship from my parents for my handphone frenzy and gadgets lust … except for the laptop, which cost a bomb(to me la - its an Acer Aspire 2001 series which cost a hefty 6k excluding accesories) and i got those accessories myself.
i got all my handphones by myselfi think the last time i counted the times i changed handphone was 18 or 19 since 1998 - that was in form 5. but for the pass year i have settled myself on a 6610 and a 3310, after CNy this year i have got myself a 6260 and a 8250, as i have 2 number - hehe :) .. kind of a simple upgrade la …
Its always not nice to spend lavishly on parents hard earned money … wanna have fun? try getting some job or free lance work … the money from this are more happily spent …
haha but i have never gotten myself a RM2.5 per hour job … haha but my best paying job was my own business la, having your own business will definitely beat any part time job or full time job …
trust me - you are seeing one here :)
April 16th, 2005 00:25
Eileen : Good luck and all the best. Hope you will enjoy your first part time job with payment.
Tien Soon : Icic. You really very hardworking heh~!
Earl-ku : Haha! Yeah, like “dogs”. :P Oh, you also worked for your own handphone heh. Nice feeling hor, the satisfaction. :P Hmm, free lance work, that I am not so sure how to start and where to get the work. Besides, I dun have much knowledge on IT as I am an engineering student. Haha! So you are earning alot now lah! :P How much revenue per month? :P Kekez, but to start my own business while I am studying, hmm, that is something that I have to really planned and think about first. My family doesn’t have the genes to do business. :)
April 16th, 2005 03:49
to me - having ur own business will beat any normal job … your own time, and u get how much u earn 100% … when u work for some boss, you are helping him to earn … and he gives you 1% …FAK!