Interviews

It's been long. But I'll spill how all my interviews went.

17/01/07 - 2nd Experience
Company - Regal ******
Time - 10.30am-12.00pm (stated time)
Tension! Tension! I checked Jobstreet again, and it says about 800++ candidates are up to the interview in this company. Tension!

I arrived at 10.20am at MWE Plaza where their office is situated. The Malay receptionist girls were nice as they handed me the interview forms. It is more simplified than Jobsdb's. Only 2 pages long compared to the previous 5 pages! I took it to the sitting area and before plomping myself to the chair, I saw there's already 2 Malay candidates present. I looked over to my right, there are 2 person in the middle of the office, one Malay woman, and another Malay teenager. I think the woman is trying to teach the youngster some basic business English, but that youngster kept replying in Malay that it ticked her temper off. Poor woman. As I was thinking of what to fill in the form, suddenly I notice the loud-thumping music in my ear-drums. No wonder that youngster couldn't pay any attention. The whole office was flooded with Black Eyed Pea's Pump It, and later continued with some other bass-thumping pop songs. It would be a nuisance to be working with these kind of music. Not that I don't like the music, but this rhythm is only suitable when you're having fun or clubbing. I love the DJs putting on these musics when I'm out clubbing. It gives the grooves. But in the office? It's so much of a no-no.

I waited for half an hour. Still no sign of asking any 3 of us to go into the interview room. 11.05am, another Malay guy walked in. Another candidate. He seems like quite a challenge to me. But anyway, we'll see. 11.15am, another candidate walked in, another Malay guy. He seems weak, as in weak in speaking.

11.25am, one of the receptionist girls called out the first four names to go into the interview room. A group interview, I guess. The interviewer introduced to us as "Hello, I am Hisham. You can call me Sham. Baru glamour sikit." Yucks! Then we were interrupted by the last guy to be inserted among us. So, 5 against 1. So we did our little interviewing sessions. After 20minutes, he said, "Ok people, I will call some of you guys again if you're through into the second interview. It will be held today at 2pm, same place."

So, I should hang out at the island until 2pm. I have 2 more hours to kill. What am I suppose to do? There's no coffee shops nearby. No shopping complexes to hang out. Needing a company, I called up NeohKor, crossing my fingers that he would be free for lunch. Lucky me, he suggested to eat somewhere near Sunshine Square. At least, it's somewhere I know how to drive to. I still need more practice on the roads of Penang Island. It'll be a drive from the north to the south. Dad called during me munching on my beehoon. I told him about my progress and I'm still waiting on the call. He told me don't waste time on the company anymore, it's a typical Malay company where people other than their race will have a hard time to get promoted. Now, no wonder I don't see any other candidates of other races. Not even an Indian in the office, and I am the only Chinese this morning.

Right after my lunch, the company did call me to go to the second interview. But I blew them off by saying I need to go back to mainland for some urgent business. But they say that they will arrange another time for me. Well, I accept their kindness when my heart actually says "Don't bother!"

24/01/07 - 3rd Experience
Company - Tek Seng
Time - 3pm
I was chatting happily in the morning when at about 11.45pm, I received a phone call from TekSeng to go for an interview at 3pm on the very day! Excitedly, I agreed. I started planning 2 hours to do company research, 1 hour get myself prepared and drive myself. I reached there 15 minutes earlier. The real building looks different from the photos I saw online. The website photos looks more welcoming, whereas the real building looks so uninviting. The whole factory was painted with dark green. Ughh... They kept me waiting for another 15 minutes while preparing to get the interviewing ready.

One lady and another man went into the room first. The woman looked like a secretary to the man whom I suspect is a Manager of some departments. When they invited me inside the room, they started shooting at me some introductory questions without even introducing themselves. Ok, this minor managerial mistakes, I can dismiss. "Oh, you're a fresh grad failing this this & this." "Oh, it might be she lacks of practice. Look at her SPM results, it's ok" speaks the Lady in Hokkien. Well, thanks Lady. "Ms. Tan, please answer this questions. It consists of Math & English test." English test?? Both of them are not even speaking in a proper English and the English questions are full of grammar mistakes, and the still want to test my English. Oh Gawd, Bless this company. I tried my best to answer the Math questions which includes a little bit of shipping and container problems. Suddenly, another middle-aged men just burst into the room and just sat down beside me! How rude!
"Hami? Interview ar? Ho boh?" (pause) "Kua ee application." (pause) "Oh.. tak ang moh chek!"
Translation: "What is this? Interviewing? It she ok?" (pause) "Let me look at her application." (pause) Oh.. she's English educated."
Then he continued some gossips with the both of them in Hokkien, as if I don't understand them, while I struggled with my calculations. Stupid man!
After I handed my answers, they continue to ask more questions on what subjects have I learned from my major. I told them about International Business, International Law, etc. They were interested in International Law and asked me a few simple ones.. I managed to answer it but when they go deeper, I could not remember anything. I did not study from my textbook before going for the interview. Even though if given the time, I would not have enough time to memorize what they wanted. Actually, I did not expect them to ask any questions regarding anything from my textbooks. I thought I can pass well in this interview too. But I failed myself. Before they ended the interview, they asked me to write my expected salary. I wrote 1.5k. The lady said, "I admire your braveness to write such a high salary with so little "experience" of yours." What she meant was my inability to answer those previous questions that was pointed to me. "But I would like to remind you with the "experience of yours", don't you think 1.5k is a little bit too high?" I was like, huh?? But I just smiled politely to her, comforting my anger towards the company and add another word "negotiable" at the side. Don't they know the market price? It's ranged from 1.6-1.8k for management fresh grads! I think I have already sacrificed RM100 when I wrote 1.5k! I got myself out of the company as fast as I could because I couldn't stand their attitude anymore!

When I reached my car, I drove myself out of their ugly greenish compound, and I exploded! I couldn't call Sweet. Their company do not allow them to speak on the phone. I dialed Oliver's number and bombarded to him. Oliver is being kind, listening to my frustrations patiently for nearly half an hour! Thanx Ollie!

I drive and drive not having any planned destination, and I ended up in AutoCity. I went to Secret Recipe at first, but the air-cond was spoilt, so I went to Sega-Fredo, just across the street. I told the waitress that I wanted a place with full-blast of air-cond. The waitress was friendly and she did looked familiar. I told her that, and she said that I looked familiar too. After taking my orders I talked to Clariss for a while and found out that she was actually my highschool junior.. of 5 years! I graduated from CBM in 2001 while hers is 2006. But I found out that her elder sister is one of my younger sisters' classmate. What a coincidence.

We chatted for a while when her boss is not looking, talking about my interview frustrations and her after-form5-where-to-go frustrations. I was a bit off-time when I realized I was late for my badminton game! I paid my bills and rushed back home to change. While driving, I called Oliver again, just needing some company while I was driving back. After a 10 minutes change, I rushed to Permatang Tinggi to throw off my anger at the game. It helped a lot! Hahaha...

27/01/07 - 4th Experience
Company - Metrojaya
Time - 3pm
This time, I was out in the dry market shopping happily with my Mom. At about 11.15am, I receive a call from Metrojaya asking to schedule an interview at 3pm on the day itself. Seeing I have nothing to do, I agreed. Dad offered to drive me over to Island Plaza at 1.45pm for the interview. For this company, I've learned my lesson from my previous interview. I tried learning most retail phrases in a short time.

At 1.40pm, they called again to change the venue to Gurney Plaza, but I still need to go to Island to pick up my documents. We were out of my house 1 hour & 15 minutes earlier, and yet we were still stuck in the traffic jam for 1 hour & 30 minutes! I was late for the interview for 15 minutes!!! I really don't expect the traffic to be so time-taking, and I actually don't expect any traffic congestions at all! Anyway, when the girl handed to me my documents in Island, she did say, "Good luck, the GM from HQ is going to interview. Look for Mr.J***** when you're in East India Company (EIC) at Gurney." I just managed a weak meak OK and TQ to the girl.

Dad drops me at the entrance of Gurney first before seeking for parking lots so that I wouldn't be too late. I went into EIC first, but apperently he was not there. Then I went to Somerset Bay. He was not there as well. One of the workers offered to call him for me. They then told me to wait in a small office at the back of the EIC. After 15 minutes, he came.

Mr. J: Hello, good afternoon. And how are you?
Me: You know how people rush into things and put 3 main points into one sentence. The afternoon has been very pleasant. I smiled.
Mr. J: I didn't know they have a new applicant. I just got to know it when I was at Island Plaza. So, you are the girl.
Me: I guess so. Here are the forms that they told me to pass it to you. I smiled again.
Mr. J: Oh yeah. Thanks. So, tell me more about yourself. Your employment histories, your passion, and your hobbies.
Me: Another 3 questions in one sentence. Smiled sweetly. I blah-ed about my employment histories, which is Na-Dah. Skipped the passion thingy, hoping he won't notice. And my hobbies are reading and playing badminton.
Mr. J: I see... Then do you like shopping?
Me: Sure! I mean, which girl wouldn't?
Mr. J: Right. So, (here comes the hard part) do you know anything about retail?
Me: Retail? Which aspect do you want me to explain?
Mr. J: Anything. Just anything you know about retailing.
Me: In between pauses, I spilled. Erm... retail in Bahasa Malaysia is called "runcit", which comes in last in the production line from the manufacturer to the end-user. It starts off with wholesaler, retailer, then, an end-user.
Mr. J: How do you know there is a vacancy in Metrojaya? Through an insider?
Me: What kind of a question is that? Did he meant something else fishy? No. My good friend accompanied her friend to the interview here when she saw the posts offered. She suggested for me to try it out too.
Mr. J: Ok. Well, do you have a passion for shopping? Another weird question.
Me: Huh?? Well yeah. I do. But I can't really allow it to flow in just yet.
Mr. J: Why not?
Me: Because if I were to really let my passion flow in, my purse would be flat in a minute. I mean, I love shopping. But I couldn't really shop now with my flat purse. I haven't even start working yet. So to answer your question, I prefer to put it this way: I have a passion for WINDOW SHOPPING.
Mr. J: Hahaha... That's good enough. So, tell me what else do you know about our company?
Me: I did do a research on your company beforehand. I just told him everything I know.
Mr. J: Good. But there is some points you missed out. Actually.... blah blah blah... he's correcting me and filling up the blanks that I've missed. So do you understand about our company now?
Me: Crystal clear!
Mr. J: So, do you have anything to ask me?
Me: Yes. So am I hired?
Mr. J: *Laughs* What makes you think you're good enough? Do you know, that working in the retail line will be very stressful. It's a time-eater. You won't be able to have holidays the way normal people do. You have to work in public holidays, and even weekends. Like me, it's a Saturday today, and I'm still working in my casual wear. You have to learn the computer system that we're using. You have to check the stocks whether they are sufficient enough. You have to have a sense of fashion. You have to meet customer demands. And your pay would be low. Do you think this job is easy?
Me: Smile sweetly again. Well, Mr. J, I come here is to get an experience. And also, before I come to this interview, I have already predicted all the opportunity costs that I am going to make. Sweet smile.
Mr. J: Do you know that previously I've hired 8 UTAR students, and 4 of them resigned just because they can't stand the long hours. 2 of them even threatened me to give them a raise.
Me: So did you give them?
Mr. J: Do you think I care? They received an offer which is only an increment of RM100-200. Do you think that reasonable people would switch jobs with that small amount?
Me: Uhh.. No. Only a hundred ringgit won't be able to cover much.
Mr. J: Exactly! I just let them leave. Obviously they're just finding a stupid reason to leave. I let them go as they wished. Now the 5th person is coming up to leave. She didn't ask any increment from me. So tell me now, do you think you can stand the working hours and be better than them?
Me: Sure. I am a fighter. I can work independently. I am a people person. And I am a responsible person too!
Mr. J: Ms. Tan, a lot of people who needed a job can say that. I've heard tons of it before. Look, I've conducted plenty of interviews before. So what makes me to believe you?
Me: Looking serious rather than smiling now. I know whatever that I say myself am won't work on you anymore. But if only you give me some time, say about 2 years, I will prove myself to you that what I said about myself is true and much more good traits. Honestly, I really did do your company research and also since it is a retail company in a shopping mall, it is ALREADY EXPECTED for me to work during the weekends, and more during public holidays. The pay may not matter much as well as the stress, because what I am looking for now is EXPERIENCE. This precious thing couldn't be bought by any financial terms. After the given 2 years then, you can re-evaluate.
Mr. J: Before you join our company, we need you to do a medical check up at our panel clinic. You can choose to go either to Pulau Tikus or Tanjung Bungah. Anymore questions to ask me?
Me: Quite happy with the response. Well... err.. just out of curiosity... how much is the pay?
Mr. J: Oh, not much. The fix range is about 1.4-1.7k. Usually the 1.7k is offered to applicants with a first-class honours degree. So you can expect at least a 1.4k then.
Me: I see...
Mr. J: Anymore questions?
Me: Not at the moment. My mind went blank actually. I know I still have a lot to ask, but I just couldn't remember what it was...
Mr. J: Well, that's it then. *Scribbling something on my resume and applicant form* Do you know that you're so lucky that I am here to interview you? Not that I am anything, but at least I know who you are since I am the GM. If you're interviewed by the Branch Manager, then I may not know what type of person you are. I AM the second-one in line of the company. If anything falls upon the "big head" of this company, I am the one taking over to lead.
Me: Glad to know you then, Mr. J.
Mr. J: Well, another lucky thing for you. I'm going back to KL tomorrow, so your applicant form and resume will be at the HR desk tomorrow. I will personally see your process. The whole procedure will take about 2-3 weeks.
Me: Meaning when can I start work? I can start at anytime. My time still flexible.
Mr. J: *Still scribbling* Well, let's see. 2-3 weeks, CNY hols in the middle... Why don't you start on the 1st of March? That way, you can relax and enjoy your CNY hols before starting to work. You won't have time, once you start working, you know. And oh, you're living in Bukit Mertajam right? Aren't you worried about the bridge?
Me: I've already included it in my opportunity cost.
Mr. J: I see. Good. Well then, I will placed you in Queensbay Mall's Reject Shop. You do know how to go to Queensbay, right?
Me: Yeah..
Mr. J: Then when we're opening in Sunway Carnival in Seberang Jaya, maybe if you want, I can transfer you over there. Or maybe when the new Jusco behind MPSP is built, you might be able to go there too... if you want.
Me: Thank you.
Mr. J: *Stops scribbling and looked at me now* Do you have other questions to ask me?
Me: I: can't think of any now.
Mr. J: OK, then it's finished. You may go now. Have a pleasant day!
*We shook our hands. I gave him a firm handshake.*
Me: Thanks. You too. Hope to work under you soon. See yah!

And then, on the way home, I remember what I forgot to ask:
1) Job scope
2) Working hours
3) Leave
4) Any increment after confirmation?
5) Etc. etc. etc.

I am completely such a blur-head!