The Reasons why Tuanku Zara Salim is every career woman’s role model
Upon graduation, most of us think about getting a job
because a job basically means freedom and independence. Who has money is the
king...Well that’s what we all thought until we were introduced to KWSP, EPF,
Income Tax, Summons and etc.
But seriously, think about it. Between graduation,
getting your first job and switching jobs for various reasons from career
development, better pay, you hate your boss,internal problem and etc, what we should really be
doing is evaluate how our job can work for us.
This time around I decide to take a leaf out of
Perak’s new queen, Tuanku Zara Salim, as she has demonstrated how you can
indeed have it all,
at a young age, Tuanku Zara Salim became a Managing Director at 33.
A strong foundation helps loads
What you studied in university may not always play a
role in your career path. But what Tuanku Zara showed us is, a strong
foundation always helps. Tuanku Zara was a first class chemical engineering
graduate. In other words, she had a strong grasp of the subject. You might not
be a first class Harvard law graduate, but as long as you have a strong grasp
of the subject matter of your chosen career and are open to constantly evolve
and learn to make yourself better, you definitely have a bright career ahead of
you.
Three years of experience tops
Tuanku Zara is one of those fortunate ones, her career
grew and developed in hand with the years she put in at Petronas (Tuanku Zara
joined the Business Evaluation Department in the Corporate Planning Unit of
Petronas in 1995 and moved up to Project Analyst in 1999). It takes roughly
three years to see if you’re an asset to a company or you’re not. If you can’t
move up within that time frame, then perhaps it’s time to reevaluate how you’re
contributing to the company. On the plus side, three years of working
experience in one company is quite legit to prove to other employers that
you’re worthy of a shot at a higher position. Don’t worry too much about the
issue of loyalty to a company. A job is still a job, it’s a not a marriage, so
there is no issue of till death do us part.
It’s OK to switch companies
Not everyone starts as an executive at their first job
and moves up to CEO at the same company. Well, unless you've been barking up
the right tree.
Most cases you really do have to jump companies after
a solid two-three years for better horizons.
After leaving Petronas, Tuanku Zara was an Account
Manager at Formis Network Services Sdn.Bhd in 2001, and then assumed the post
of Vice-President of Partnerships and Alliances at Formis (Malaysia) Berhad
between 2003 and 2005. Tuanku Zara became a Managing Director (our main goal,
eventually) of Forthwave Consulting Sdn.Bhd between 2005 and 2007.
So don’t worry if you didn't make it at your first two
jobs. If Tuanku Zara can do it, anyone can. Being a Managing Director is one
step away, with the right mindset and game plan.
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