Assalamualaykum Bhaai! ~ Journey To My International Mission 2019

Bismillahirrohmannirrohim..

In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful.

I would like to share this exciting moment to everyone who reach my Blog. It took me for several years in voluntarism activities before I get here. Alhamdulillah, I was being selected to do my first International Mission this year. Subhanallah. This is actually a dream comes true! Yeay!! Well actually, my ultimate goal for voluntarism is to serve in Palestine and Syria which I don’t think my family are ready for it. So, let’s start with the less risk country first. Huhu. I hope so!

It was not easy to get selected of course. There are hundreds of dedicated volunteers across Malaysia. And also, there are so many talented people, artist, and famous people, influencers who are normally being selected to become the face or ambassador of many NGO’s projects. This is because they will bring more audience and people will be more excited to join the event if they can meet with this famous people, isn’t it? I remember, when I was with Aman Palestine’s event, people is often asking if Heliza Helmi is joining? When I join the Syria Care’s event, people are looking forward to meet Hafiz Hamidun, Faizal Tahir or the new one is Khai Bahar. Well, that could be a good thing, but that doesn’t mean that ordinary people can’t do the job better.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I hate famous people, but I think NGO should appreciates your volunteers or this unsung hero (those who are working without being recognized) more. We are here for the same reason no matter how famous you are or not. And of course, being a volunteer/ activist it’s not about getting recognition or reward. Let just leave the reward part to Allah. But, at least appreciates these people, without them it would be difficult for the NGOs to achieve their target or complete their projects.

OK, hold it! Enough! The main thing that I wanted to share is me and my team here will be leading this mission. To be honest, I was really nervous. I think, among all of us I’m like the tiny one. There is a Lecturer, a PHD holder, a Wildlife Researcher, an Associates Vice President of a company, a Government High Officer plus Post Graduates and me, just the tiny officer in a local private sector. Feel really small compared to others. But, since Allah have gave me the chance to be a part of the team I feel really honoured to be here. And we are coming from different part of Malaysia. There is one from Sabah, one from Sarawak, one from Pahang, one from Perak and the rest are coming from Selangor and Klang valley. Subhanallah! May Allah bless our team and efforts. We communicate and update each other through WhatsApp and Skype. Thanks to the technology, there are no boundaries anymore.

InsyaAllah, since the hectic Ramadhan activities has ended, our activity will soon take place. We will be leading the various initiatives of fund raising in order to collect enough fund to build water wells for Bangladesh! Yes! Bangladesh! You heard it right! Before you ever ask why Bangladesh? Let me give you a heads up about this project.

The objective of this project is to increase safe water among the targeted communities by building 100 shallow tube wells and 32 deep tube wells and to increased sanitation and hygiene practices. For your information, access to safe water and hygiene promotion is very hard in some areas in the central part of Bangladesh due to its geographical characteristics. Possibility of hard soil, stone, rock, arsenic and iron contamination in the area is very high. Most of the people are poor in terms of their socioeconomic condition. Installation of a safe water facility is very hard for the community. As a result, water borne diseases, malnutrition are high.

On the other hand, poor hygiene and sanitation conditions in Bangladesh are, among others reflected in some facts like Poor hygiene practices are still prevalent in the rural areas. This is why we need to do something to help. We need estimated amount of RM 500,000.00 for the fund to build the well. Just imagine, 1,584 families (7,920 individuals) will be benefited from the projects and you will be a part of it. It's a welfare (wakaf) water wells for public use. Subhanallah.

We will start our fund raising campaign soon. Therefore, make sure you will take part in our journey. And I’m pretty sure challenges are waiting for us but, let just pray that Allah will help us and accept our good deed and ease everything for us.

If you are asking why Bangladesh?
Well, here is goes, the Muslim population in Bangladesh was over 146 million in 2011, which makes up 90% percent of the population in the country. The Constitution of Bangladesh declares Islam as the state religion. Bangladesh is the fourth-largest Muslim-populated country. Muslims are the predominant community of the country and they form the majority of the population in all eight divisions of Bangladesh. Is there any other reason why it’s not Bangladesh? We are closed to 2020, but our brothers and sisters didn't have the basic need which is clean water for their daily life. How sad.

Remember, Muslims are brothers and sisters, no matter what skin colour of yours, which country you belong to, even which part of the world you’re leave in, we will never leave you alone. We will help each other for the sake of Allah. InsyaAllah. Let’s do this together will you? Let's be a part of the solution.

#wakaftelagaairBangladesh #tabungairBangladesh

My Secret Inner Peace

Po: Master Shifu what are you doing?

Shifu: One of Oogways’s final teachings

Po: Wow, awesome – what was that?

Shifu: Inner peace

Po: Awesome, inner peace, that’s cool – inner peace of what?

Shifu: It is the next phase of your training. Every master must find his path to inner peace. Some choose to meditate for 50 years…

Quoted from my favourite movie of all time. Kung Fu Panda! I haven’t failed to watch every series in cinema. This movie got so many good things to learn from it. Kudos to Kung Fu Panda’s team. 

In Kung Fu Panda 2. Remember how hard Po is struggling to claim his inner peace. At first he thought it was just another Kung Fu technique and not something that he can find on the inside. He pushes and pushes but still struggles to conquer his enemies. Only when he finds that inner peace (a place of forgiveness and acceptance) is he able to dance the same dance as Master Shifu. 

So, have you got yours? 

This is just a remark on what is happening to me lately. I thought I was OK with the fact that someone is not happy with me. Someone always talk behind my back. I thought I was OK knowing that there are some people who don’t like me. I took a deep thought. 

I can’t ensure that everyone that I see and everyone that I met would like me. I was really nervous when I got into this situation. It’s not the first time. I had experience this kind of situation for many time. I just don’t understand. Even if we work together as a team, but not everyone is happily like to be working with you (myself). They see you as a rival, when you have done a good job. They see you as a sucker while you trying very hard to complete your job in time. They see you trying to get your boss attention and get a good grade in your performance. This type of people don’t want to improve themselves but simply blame other people who have done better than them. I came here to work, I came in peace but still, people are taking it differently. Can’t you see that I’m also struggling to be at my level right now? These people are easily blame me when they are not performing just because I did performed my task. How unfair! 

Do I have to lower down my pace just to be in line with you? I bet, you would not like it also. I just don’t know what to do to satisfy you. 

So how can I have Inner Peace while I’m not at peace? 

When I saw Po’s picture, I came to realise what Po had teach me. When Po is struggling so hard to learn Kung Fu while Shifu and the Furious Five are trying to kick him out. They were actually really mean and cold to him while he was adjusting himself into the team. But he didn’t gave up. He came to realise his purpose to use his energy, his gifted skilled and his destiny to help others in need. He finally found the Secret Ingredient. I’m so happy that Po does have to change himself just to be fit with others. 

Tai Lung: You can't defeat me! You're just a big fat panda! 

Po: I'm not a big fat panda. I'm THE big fat panda. 

So, I‘m just going to move on with this. Take it easy and do my part. I’m going to use my energy for a useful thing. It’s not easy to satisfy people. Hence, I’m not going to satisfy you. I’ll do my best because the job is the ‘Amanah’ (responsibility) to me, I do it because of Allah. Only Allah can justify my act. 

Well, it’s actually easy to make friends, but to get a genuine friend it’s not that easy. So, I’ll just forgive everything that you have done to me. I won’t let this negativity impact me. I think I have found my inner peace. 

"Your real strength comes from being the best you you can be. "

"Who are you?"

"What are you good at?"

"What makes you, YOU?"

Like the Po says, There is no charge for awesomeness and attractiveness! 

P/S : I’m awesome, and you’re not! Sorry, but that’s not my problem. Get a life dude! 

Skadoosh!! 

Vlog Pertamaku ~ Tips for Speaker (Beginners)

Bismillahirrohmannirrohim~
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

I got a chance to record something while suck in the traffic jammed. Hope this will be useful for someone out there.

Tips that I can give to you are :

First - Acknowledge your nervous and keep practice. At least 3 times before your presentation.(Even the Late Steve Job have done so many practices before he came up on stage).

Second - Look into the eyes of your audience. Glance through the eyes of your audience to show that you are confident and you are genuinely wants to talk to them.

OK, keep in touch! Will come back with different topic of my 30 second V-log. 

2019 : LinkedIn..LinkedOn..LinkedOut

#akaknaktegur #careeradvice #HRsisthur

It has been months that I didn't open my LinkedIn. (since I started my new job I guess). But today when I open it, I got sooo many email request to add friends. Most of them are all fresh grads. 

Surprisingly, most of them asking for a connection to submit their CV. Weirdly, I didn't do recruitment, I never was! Although I'm in HR line, I never mentioned recruitment in my page. Can't you all read?? Or these young engineer or young grads doesn't know what is there in HR functions? Not all HR doing recruitment job. Recruitment is only one part of Human Resources function. Can you be more mindful?

This will lead to a wrong job request, and delay your chances to get a job. If I got time, I will forward your CV to the right person. If not, it will sit there in my inbox as I got nothing to do with it. I have to reply them saying that I'm not the right person for you to submit your CV. And CV is a P&C (private & confidential) thingy, don't simply send your CV to anyone my dear. Only send your CV when the recruiter is asking for it. 

My ‘adik-adik’ (brothers and sisters) who just graduated please take note on this. If you need a career advice I might be able to assist, but job application is not my thing. Please use LinkedIn for the right purpose. It is not only for a job application, but to learn from the massive sources of expertise. There are so many expert in LinkedIn locally and internationally would be very pleased to assist you if you are asking the right questions. Try and discover a new connection, build your own network professionally. Engage with the right people, right group and you will find there are so many good things and experience you can get through LinkedIn.

Back then, when I first using LinkedIn I got so many friend request asking to ‘berkenal-kenalan’ (get to know each other) in an informal way. Hahaha. They are using it the wrong way. This is not a dating site, hello! But overtime, people start understand the meaning of this site. This site is established for a professional connection. This is the top online site for professional, social and career networking.

LinkedIn allows you to connect with your work friends, old colleagues and you can see where they work and where they have been. When you are using it the right way, LinkedIn is actually your online Resume or C.V which showcases your abilities and recommendations. You can connect with your old uni friends and find out where they have worked and where they are now.

But now, I’m getting job application pulak. Fuhh! Why la. Just my 2 cents, to ‘adik-adik’ (brothers and sisters) please educate yourself on this basic job application process. If you didn’t have the chance to learn it during uni, just google it. There are so many career website for your reference. Get ready before any job application, do some research about the company before you go for an interview. Don’t be so clueless about it and ruin your chance to get the job. OK?

So, may this New Year 2019 will get you the job that you are desired. Good Luck and Happy job hunting! Your job hunting is start NOW!!

The Most Challenging Interview Ever - Pegawai Tadbir dan Diplomatik (PTD) / Administration and Diplomatic Officer

#throwback #cleaningmydesk

Assalamualaykum wbt everybody! 

I hope you have enjoy your Raya celebration as much as I do!

Before I end my Raya holiday, I better do some cleaning of my files and all my stuff. Tomorrow, I will be back to office (wish me luck!). 

While do the cleaning, I found these in my old file. It is all the letters and question papers during the most challenging interview ever! PTD Exam. Who sat for the PTD exam? Say I!! Haha..

To be honest, I wasn't interested working in Government sector except for PTD (Pegawai Tadbir dan Diplomatik)/Administration and Diplomatic Officer.

Well, for your info PTD is the among the most sought after post in the market. There are as high as 50,000 applicants applied for PTD every year. Those applicants come from almost all academic qualifications and multi disciplines working experiences except for Medical (due to bound by contract to serve as doctors). Some are even go extra sacrifices quitting jobs that earning much better than a PTD. Why? Because of perceptions that PTD is an elite and glamour post. However, it might not be true as some are seeking a more stable long term career and wanted to serve the nation! 

Me? I was more keen on the career development. There are chances of PTD working in overseas and serve the country as a Diplomat. Which I think is very cool! hahaha

OK. There's no easy way to pass the Exam, you need to get ready for it. Let me gave some ideas and expectation of the exam. As the general guides, the questions will be divided into several areas namely (but not limited to):-

About Malaysia

* History of Malaysia

* Malaysian government administrations

* ASEAN

* United Nations (PBB)

* Malaysia's international relations

* Parliament - Legislation, Executives and Judiciary

* Economic, Education, Social, Politics, Cultural, Defence & Security, Local Government etc.

Current Issues

* Domestic, regional and international issues

Attitude Test

* It's all about your attitude!

Thinking & IQ Test

* Mathematic, calculation test

* Logics test

* Critical thinking

* Decision making

Writing Test

* anything as above! But mostly about contemporary issues. How do you see the issues and suggesting the solutions to the problems. (This part, there is a catch! It will smell where your political inclination is! and it measures how radical is your perspectives i.e. on racial, language, religion, unity issues). Word of advices are ANSWER WITH MODERATION!

Public Speaking Test, this part may be conducted at this stage. But often it is done during the Second stage - PAC session. Just be aware!

Tips to overcome the exam challenges! Read, read, read everything and anything especially newspapers (BM & ENG) - Editorial articles, local & international news, business section, sport and a little bit about entertainment. Watch news on TV i.e. News, Budget tabling session, Parliament news and Forum. As a summary, be up-to-date and do a lot of reading about Malaysia. That's the key! 

OK, back to my story.

After I pass for the public exam (which I don't know how I did it as I haven't done enough preparation as I already started my job during that time). But what I do, I read a lot of tabloid and The Star newspaper. During that time, we don't rely on the social media. You will get information if you read. To be able to come up with ideas, you need to read a lot. Nowadays, you can only scroll on you smart phone and plenty of information are available online. How I missed old my reading hobby. hmm.

Then I went to the next stage which is the PAC (Program Assessment Centre). It was in 2010.

I still remembered, the day when I took the PAC PTD Exam far away at INTAN Wilayah Utara or known as INTURA, I thought that the Government purposely send me there. Luckily, I had a brother in Penang and he is the one who send me to the exam centre.

It was so intense that everyone trying their best to be in the spotlight and to make sure the examiner/ secretariat acknowledge your talent. It's no more about writing essay skills, maths, IQ test. It's more on your ability to speak, to come up with out of the box ideas and spontaneous fact to debate.

I admit that this is the most challenging interview I ever attended. 

There's an individual, teamwork and leadership evaluation. 

You will be group together between 5 - 10). The group will be given tasks or games which will require each member to do a role play like acting or to solve a problem or brainstorming the ideas or just a discussion. My piece of advice is you have to grab this opportunity to demonstrate your communication skills, problem solving capabilities and leadership personalities. A PTD is expected to speak with facts, rational and analytical. Thus, participation is inevitable. 

My golden tips to attract a positive attention from the panel is try to speak with a soft voice, calm but audibly clear. Find the right time when to go in. For example, when the group 'pause' because of everybody has lost their points or ideas. Then you stand up presenting your constructive points and arguments or suggesting on how to fix the problems. You will look 'stand out' among the crowd!

Be the first to speak can be a great advantage. But do it with extra careful. If you do it right, that's a greatest point for you. But, if do it terribly, you may jeopardise your reputation during that session. While you are talking on something, if someone is trying to cut your words, give him or her a way to do so, then continue with your thoughts. Whatever you say, try to back it up with facts, reasonings and logics as well as examples. You may choose either to be a serious talker or casual talker. But not a joker!

When I get my chance to talk, I will give my best! The very important is, do not get overboard. Seriously!

Then we came to the main part of the exam. This is the part when I had to run for 2.4km within a specific time, then pick a topic and do a spontaneous 20 minutes public speaking in English. Once I arrived after running, the PTD secretariat gave me my time result and ask me to pick something in a box. That was actually the thing we need to talk in our public speaking. I didn't have time to catch my breath and had to begin talking when I pick a plastic spoon. Yes, a plastic spoon! I had to talk within 20 minutes in front of the secretariat and other candidates. Can you imagine! There are candidates who can't say anything till the end. huhu..

Surprisingly, I pass the PAC and went for the final interview in Putrajaya. I was among the 50 candidates who managed to pass the exam out of 50 000 candidates around Malaysia..cool hah! Haha..(meriak plak)..

The point is, I don't understand how they conducted the most difficult, elite interview and yet appointment is based on favour. I still remembered, the 2 interview panel did asked me, if I had anyone I know in the Government, I will have a better chance. This has to be added into the form. They continue asked unnecessary questions which I didn't expected to be the final interview question look like. After all it takes, guess what? I didn't passed the final interview. I didn't regret it, in fact I was so thankful not to be working under the previous Government, sorry to say..hahaha..

From my experience, it was a challenging yet interesting interview session for me. But I don't know whether they still have the same exam format or not. If yes, I wonder what happened to those who has been selected? 

I do hope if the Government are recruiting the best candidate for PTD, it should be reflected in their administration. To be added, PTD is the backbone of the Government administration and they have a very heavy responsibility in carrying out noble duties to serve the people and the nation. If these people are corrupted and among those who didn't have the credibility to carry out their duties, the whole institution will be collapse. And that is what happened to the previous government.

Well, I do hope the new Government will look into it seriously. No more favouring certain individual and biased interview. Who knows, I might want to try into SPA again. 

#letshopeforbetterMalaysia

May The Force Be With You ~ Good Job Introvert!

This is when I had to speak in front of others talking about personality traits. Fuh! based on the personality test (DISC Profiling, Myers-Briggs Personality and FACET 5 Profiling) I'm an introvert person and I believed so.

I have no issue traveling alone, eat in restaurant alone, being quiet, not to speak and do my job, artwork, or just reading and writing alone all day long. I can jog, shopping, sight seeing alone, I can go to any unfamiliar environment alone, so basically, doing things on my own is my favorite!

But, my job required me to speak louder and be in front of others. Actually, it's very hard to managed because it's not my natural personality..but it's not impossible!

So what I am saying is, even though it's hard for you to do things that you don't like, but you're required to do it because it's your responsibility. Take a pause, be aware and acknowledge that. Put a thought about it. Do some research and practice, act like a professional and nailed it! If a person like me can do it, so can you!

When I was kid, people often told me not to be so quiet, talk and being more friendly like my other siblings. They keep comparing me with my other siblings. 

I noted on that. I was never felt offended. For me, they just don't have the knowledge about personality traits. That's why they don't understand that people even siblings or twins have different personality. 

Often people say, change your personality to be a better one! Actually, personality doesn't change but how we reacted to certain thing determine our personality. That's what I understand.

Talking about personality, is personality permanent?

The desire to alter personality is not uncommon. Shy people might wish they were more outgoing and talkative. Hot-tempered individuals might wish they could keep their cool in emotionally charged situations. At many points in your life, you may find that there are certain aspects of your personality that you wish you could change. You might even set goals and work toward tackling those potentially problematic traits. For example, it is common to set New Year's Resolutions focused on changing parts of your personality such as becoming more generous, kind, patient, or outgoing.

In general, many experts agree that making real and lasting changes to broad traits can be exceedingly difficult. So if you are dissatisfied with certain aspects of your personality, is there really anything you can do to change?

But the question is, why do you want to change your personality? What makes you think that it is a flaws or weakness to you? Introvert people can be just as successful professionally as extroverts. There is no perfect personality in this world because humans are not perfect, the only way we can control our behaviour and put a taught about how to react in certain way. That's is how you can control whether you want to show your personality or not? 

Being introvert is not that bad. There's so many successful people or celebrities admit that they are personally an introvert person. Some of them, we can't believed that there are introvert as they have been so confident in front of camera and stage. So, the important part is, have a taught about it and how would you handle it? 

Some of the famous international celebrities list. I didn't quotes Malaysian celebrities but I think we have list of Malaysian famous and successful introverts.

15 Famous Personalities are Introvert. Read here. 

16 Super Successful Introverts. Read here. 

These illustration really explain it clearly about introvert person like me. I'm asking all introvert, can you see a little bit of yourself in the illustrations below? Haha.. Really true!

Hope you can learn something and try to understand your introvert friends and family around you. We are highly appreciates it!

Credit to Finnish artist Karoliina Korhonen’s series of comics titled Finnish Nightmares and the other artist Aaron T.Cayedo-Kimura for the spectacular illustration. 

#motivation #wheniwrite #fighting

#headhunterpleasefindme #personality #personalitytraits #actlikeextrovert

My Latest CV ~ CV Orang Geram

#mylatestCV #experience

I have been working in HR for the past 7 years already.

This job is really challenging because we dealing with human being.

I’m not saying other job is not as challenging as this, but dealing with human are the challenges thing ever!

Human are the cleverest creatures of the entire universe. Human are the one who invented numbers, account, machine, computer, Facebook, You Tube, IG, and many more..hahaha..

If dealing with machine, or system or software is hard to do, but dealing with human who invented the machine or system or software is the hardest one!

Seriously, I never thought that working in a fine office would be very cruel and dirty.

Dirty in term of dirty job, makes other look bad in order to rise, back-stab each other in order to sustain

Basically, you jump, I stay.. you’re gone, I find your replacement who follow my order.

This bad working world need a yes-sir-man, never argue. So you will survive. Funny hah?

I was involved when we retrench people, I was involved when we had to let go most of our precious people..

The dirty work, ‘they’ let us do. When people questioning it, ‘they’ let us to answer..

When it comes to recognition, ‘they’ will claim they are the one who’s doing it.

‘They’ think that ‘they’ are so great hah? They were wrong.

There’s a lady in one office who has served the company for the past 15 years.

When ‘they’ took over the department 2 years ago, ‘they’ put her in the PIP (Performance Improvement Plan)

She is no longer entitle for bonus, she got only 3 months to put effort on the appraisal rate.

If she fail, they will terminate her, just like that.. and obviously, ‘they’ are purposely make her fail. 

So unfair.. if she is so bad, how can she stay and served during the days.

If she fails mean they are the one who failed because she is reported to them..

Those who keep arguing will be in a dangerous position.

You will surprised to see someone who is really helpful and responsive will get under performance/ below expectation rating.

Those who we didn’t know what they do in the office, what they have contribute will get excellent/ outstanding rating! And get promoted in the end.

Those who remain silent, will be silent from any career improvement. Stuck and stay. 

And those who have different point of view, different idea, different style, different treatment, will always being the targeted one.

And sadly that is me..

How many time I argue, I got nothing but a reminder.

How many time I go beyond my task, but I only got good rate with nothing at all.

How many time I got to raise my voice towards others, just to state my opinion.

How many time I got into war with my own boss.. And how many time people try to mess up with my job, my life.. but I’m here still survive..

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about my job.. I’m just sharing my experience with you.

And hoping that you would not face the same.

When I saw people being bullied, I really hate it!

I really hate to hear it after so many time. I will help whatever I can but that people need to take care of themselves. They need to think about themselves.

I’m not a #heroseorangcinderella, but I fight for my right and I hope other people will do the same.

When you fight for it, but you don’t get it. It’s OK because you had tried.

Compare to those who never tried, they have failed already.

I never lost hope.. I never regretted with the path that I chose, from Pure Science Stream to Accounting to Human Resources.

Like the old says, “every cloud has a silver lining”. I believed that they will be a better environment, better treatment, better people, great aspiration when I got a new job.

If I can’t get one, I can create one!

Just calm down, put your hand on your chest and say.. “InsyaAllah, all izz well..”

So this is it. This is my latest CV. 

I look forward to hearing from you about the possibility.

Thanks in advanced for your time and trouble. 

Your assistant and cooperation is highly appreciated! 

Best Regards

~Moonlight Lady in Work~