Taking A Job Offer From A Competitor: A Career Move In Paradox

Abstract

It was a bit hot day in December 2005; Syed Zainal was driving his car back to his home in Kuala Lumpur. It is already afternoon, and the sun is slowly setting down while he is driving his car on the congested roads of Kuala Lumpur. ‘I am a corporate guy looking for career opportunities, and I learn about making the best out of any given opportunity,’ Syed Zainal narrated his career progression mindset. Syed Zainal went for a job interview at the Proton head office in Kuala Lumpur. He met with the board of directors at the Proton head office. The board offered Syed Zainal the opportunity to join the Proton group and lead the production operation at the group level. Syed Zainal finished his interview for the position of managing director of Proton Group (The largest Malaysian car production group) and slowly driving back toward his home and thinking about the offer, the competition Syed Zainal gave to the Proton Group, and the lifetime opportunity coming in the shape of the current job offer. Syed Zainal has to decide and provide the answer next week. Syed Zainal was building steady capacities at the Perodua car manufacturing (A competitor of the Proton group); Syed Zainal spent a good ten years at Perodua company and became deputy managing director in the same year. A good job offer is at hand, and Syed Zainal needs to make a critical decision of his life to accept the new job offer to start a career at Proton Group (the biggest car production group in the country) or keep working with the Perodua (the second large production group in the country. Proton Borad wants the answer from Syed Zainal by next week.