Getting a job in KL/Malaysia

[JLammy]

Hi all,

I'm just wondering, would it be impossible to get a job out in KL, Malaysia?

The problem I have is that I am fairly young (24), with only 2 years of working experience. I completed a degree in Aerospace Engineering, worked in an Aerospace company as a graduate engineer for a while before they sold off that arm of the business, and then I joined a multinational cyber consultancy firm. My main experience is in project management and I'm currently the project manager for a team of 9 data scientists. However, I by no means have a tech/IT background...

The main reason for me to even consider going out to KL is because my girlfriend is a Malaysian. She recently had to return to Malaysia having just finished her masters. I really and genuinely do think I would marry her at some point. We've lived together for over two years now, with talks of marriage, children etc. I visited her family on a one month trip earlier this year whilst sending her back, and I think KL isn't a bad place to live.

Essentially, my question is, how can I get a job out there in Malaysia? I've applied for a few jobs, but of course, I hear nothing back as I need to earn a minimum of RM5k to obtain a visa - I've been told they could hire locals for much lower than that...

The only other prospect is if I moved to the KL branch of my current employer, but there are currently no roles out there that would suit me.

I'm really lost on what to do, so any advice would be appreciated!

Oh and my girlfriend has tried to find employment in the UK, but all to no avail...

[wisbech]

It isn't easy.

Best bets - retrain as a teacher, get a job at an international school in KL
- set up a "location independent" online or consulting business
- Turn up in KL and hope. But there is much more aerospace business in Singapore.
- Join a multinational (e.g Airbus have a maintenance JV in Malaysia) and apply for internal transfer after a while

Do you earn enough money that if you married your spouse could move to UK? That's the other option.

[JLammy]

wisbech said:

It isn't easy.

Best bets - retrain as a teacher, get a job at an international school in KL
- set up a "location independent" online or consulting business
- Turn up in KL and hope. But there is much more aerospace business in Singapore.
- Join a multinational (e.g Airbus have a maintenance JV in Malaysia) and apply for internal transfer after a while

Do you earn enough money that if you married your spouse could move to UK? That's the other option.

Thanks for the quick reply Wisbech. That's expected, I knew it wouldn't be an easy task.

Never thought of being a teacher... I also looked into setting up a business, but the paid up capital thing they have in Malaysia is a big problem. I was told I would need to have a paid up capital of around RM1million by one of those company secretaries in order to even get a chance of obtaining a visa.

I do earn enough that if I married my her, she could come to the UK. The only problem with this method is we never really wanted to marry just for the visa... although it's becoming the seemingly easy option!

I'm guessing I should give up looking for a job out in KL then...

[anonymous-user]

Loads of issues at the moment, Oil in recession, government clamp down on foreign workers.
You will need a work permit and assuming your future wife is not Malay, you will have difficulty even if you are married.
There are a few people in aero space, helicopters on the east cost, I believe westland have a facility there. Schools are recruiting as said ISKL and Alice Smith pay best.
Turning up is not a good idea as you will not have a permit.
A lot will depend on what you want money wise expat package difficult but there are local packages around, but the people employing local will not be much help on the work permit.

[JLammy]

Berw said:

Loads of issues at the moment, Oil in recession, government clamp down on foreign workers.
You will need a work permit and assuming your future wife is not Malay, you will have difficulty even if you are married.
There are a few people in aero space, helicopters on the east cost, I believe westland have a facility there. Schools are recruiting as said ISKL and Alice Smith pay best.
Turning up is not a good idea as you will not have a permit.
A lot will depend on what you want money wise expat package difficult but there are local packages around, but the people employing local will not be much help on the work permit.

Thanks for this Berw!

I wasn't aware that there will be difficulty even after marriage if my future wife isn't Malay!

I don't necessarily have to be in aerospace - I'm actually in the IT/Cyber-Security sector at the moment. But from what I can tell, from various forums etc. it's going to be very difficult to get a job in Malaysia.

Never thought of being a teacher... I'll re-look at my options, although there doesn't seem to be many available for me right now!

Thanks for the info on this so far! Really appreciate it.

[anonymous-user]

Yes as a general rule in S E A, the government assume the wife will reside with the husband, in his home country and will not grant a spouse visa to a male. Also you will know how racist it is here? They do not want no Muslim immigration so the exceptions are for Muslims, convert and you will get a visa tomorrow. The only people I know with unlimited visas are Muslims, if your wife is Chinese you can get a restricted visa say 5 years, but even this can be difficult.
Look a the schools as away in the ones I mentioned pay well, also Garden International, there are also loads of private universities and local campus for some of the better read brick UK universities, Cardiff etc, and Nottingham is very big here they have a very large residential campus south of KL, and a good reputation.
Tourist jobs is another way, I've known a few guys who are diving instructors, but I think they have doggy visas
I've been here 20 years so you can PM me if I can help, no promises.