Career Insights in the Big Cities

When you first graduated you have big dreams, enormous ambitions and perhaps you think you can conquer the world one day. Majority of the fresh graduates will want to work in the big cities, big corporate, big title, dressed smartly and feel glamour about their job. I admire your determination but when you started to step into the corporate world in the big cities, the reality of life hits you. It’s the survival of the fittest. Do you want to be part of it?

Career Insights in the Big Cities 

As mentioned earlier, most graduates would like to work in the top five or top ten corporations in country and most of them are actually located in Klang Valley. Although there are more glamour jobs opportunities in the big cities but there are also more people competing for the same jobs. Sometimes this can make your job search frustrating.

Have you ever consider to move to second tier cities or go back to your hometown to work? Where life is not so stressful and you can have a better work life balance. For example, Melaka is a great town to work and raise a family. Nice environment, friendly people, good food and just about 2 hours drive to Klang Valley. Plus find jobs in Melaka are easier because there are more developments coming up. Here are the cons of working in the big cities:

1. Survival of the Fittest

There are more people in the big cities and it’s a competitive world. You have to fight for what you want and be persevered to go through all challenges. For example, you might be qualified for a job but 10 other people who are applying for the same position are slightly more qualified. Maybe they have more job experience or a master's degree and you just have a bachelor's. 

Or perhaps you might think you are great at your job but every day there are hundreds or thousands of employees eyeing at your position. These people can be younger, smarter, willing to work harder and put in extra hours. Therefore you have to fight constantly and might burn out if you can’t cope with the pressure.

2. Cost of Living

The cost of living in the big cities is definitely higher. Especially with the inflation and rising cost of living in the cities most of the fresh graduates or urban dwellers can barely survived. 

At the end of the month what we earned is just enough to cover our basic expenses there we might not be any saving or worst w. The rental or property prices are rocket high so most have to be contented with a small apartment or rent a small room in the cities. However, the cost of living in the smaller town is still bearable and at the end of the month perhaps you.

3. Traffic Jam

In the big cities traffic can be a nightmare and stressful. We wasted lots of time in the traffic jam for no reason. Travelling back and forth to work may take at least an hour or more. Sometimes traffic can get so bad that it can turn you in to a monster. If you hate driving in traffic, than the big city life is not for you.

4. No Work Life Balance

It’s a demanding lifestyle in the big cities even to get there requires perseverance and persistence. With demands come risks and fatigue. The bonus of a casual life is that the differentiation with un-likeminded people can fuel you as much as your idols.

If you work in the big cities, for some working late till 9pm or more is a norm. The moment you reach home you feel so tired and then dozed off. The next day, you woke up early and continue the same routine again and again. Some have work during the weekends also.  

5. Pollution & Free Radicals 

We can’t avoid pollution and free radicals in big city life. It’s a sad reality that makes us feel and look older than our actual age. Unfortunately, pollution may always be a problem in the big city despite the efforts made to reduce pollution.

6. High Crime Rate

There is always more crime in a big city, causing you second case your decision for living in a big city. You are much more likely to be a victim of a crime living in a big city than in a smaller town. So you have to constantly be very careful and alert of what’s going on your surroundings. 

These are some of my thoughts of Career Insights in The Big Cities, if you have different perspectives about this subject kindly leave a comment below. Anyway in this digital era, you can work anywhere and anytime as you like. However life in the big cities are fast, fun and exciting. There are job opportunities and activities to occupy your time. You need to analyze the pros and cons of working in the big cities, how it effect you and prioritize your goals.