My First Ever Interview!

If I would classify myself in a category, I would categorize myself as a “nerd“.

didi and me! the nerd type....ahahah! this is me 90% of the time!

Outch! Big wan, but yes. Why? I have no working experience beside my 3-4 months experience as a pub waitress, and I spend most of my life buried in books! Most of my friends of similar age are working already, if not, at least they have a proper job experiences compare to little me. I am still IN uni, not because I can’t graduate, but because I chose to further my studies till I obtain my Masters in Science.

On the good side:

I am currently pursuing my Masters and will graduate coming August.

Respond : wow! Masters? *with eyes wide open* You must be very good…

Gingy fr Shrek

On the Bad side:

I only see myself progressing academically but not with very good results and I wanted something more than just head knowledge, -skills.

my moo moo!

So As I was so bored with thinking and coping with my indecisiveness (due to graduating soon) lately, I decided to wake up and push myself a little further. I first send my resume to an airline company for flight attendant position. Then I later found out that MAS has a walk in interview in two days time (saturday 20th March). So, I thought it would be a great opportunity to get a little experience of what interview is like but my heart say “I don’t think you’ll fit in, you might want to do phD... or maybe get other job with science unrelated (advertising perhaps?), you are not up for the challange!”. But my hubby say ” hey go ahead and try your luck. Get the experience at the same time.”

So, I then decided that hey, why not I do something out of my mind? So I went to shop for office clothing (for interview which is sponsored by my lovely hubbie), get my photograph done, update my resume and check my certificate! So here I am ready to go, but I have a problem… my confident level and self-esteem drops when I am surrounded by pretty and confident ladies… God Help me! Knowing that I will definitely not get it due to my bad complexion and pimple-ish face (in the process of healing), I still push myself to step out. (Like what Esther say – life is full of uncertainties, if we always wait for the perfect time, it will not happen.)

never see me fo formal b4 eh!

With courage and love from my sweet hubbie, a pinch of confidence from my little heart, a little basic make up education from Elaine (THANK YOU!), a little push from my mother, some knowledge of self conduct taught by pastor in church, the little GPS for direction and not to forget God in my heart, I pull myself together and go ahead with the interview!

No so the nerd.

I reached there about 9.50am, and my queue number was 0692! WOW! The registration starts at 8.30am… Can you imagine how many people would love to fly and get paid?

So, I waste most of my time waiting and waiting. Well, I should have bring along some reading material but did not. However thank to my sweet hubbie who bought me a little shuffle as valentine’s day gift does help a lot during my waiting.

How does it goes? Well, we have to sit and wait for our number to be called. When we are called, we are directed to a place where they will take our height measurement. From there they will filter out people who are 157 and below! Those who passes will move on the to registration counter where they will check our eligibility for the cabin crew position. From there, we then wait in the auditorium hall for interview.

The interview consist of 6 candidates in a room with 2 interviewee. We started of with self introduction and then we were asked why do we want to join the cabin crew? The later on they will test us on your communication skills where they will ask us questions where visitors will ask and our responds was evaluated. Last but not least, we were then asked to state what is our suitable quality that will enable them to select us.

Well, truthfully, I was not prepared for any of those questions at all. I was a little nervous but then it did not stop me from speaking. However, I was kindly bombarded during the registration and interview.

Why? During my registration, the lady saw my paper qualifications and she almost fainted. She lift her head and look at me and She asked “why do you even want to join the cabin crew? Look at your results! They are very good! You almost make me faint! Wasted la you! What you get for your degree?” Then she look at my cert, “APA? (in a loud voice which kind of make me feel very very small and shy at the same time) You graduate university Malaya lagi? and you result? VERY GOOD MA! WHY? MASTERS LAGI? AYO!!!!” The she shake her head and her college next to her begin laughing and shook her head too and said “dia ni macam you la”. Then the lady took out a piece of paper and scribble something on it. Little did I know, she pass the paper to me and tell me, “if you fail this interview, please feel free to send your resume to me at this address“. WHOA! All of the sudden I felt so enlightened again! Well, at that point of time, I really felt I was stupid and my result did not match my own expectation, however, she reassured me that my qualification is more than enough to be on the top. She does put some sense into my head and makes me feel a little smarter.

My second bombardment: During the interview.

Ms Teh, I understand that you are soon to be a Masters graduate student and you can be on top in the working class. You are qualified in much better level like managements or at executive level. Do you know that by doing this you are actually “down grading” yourself to be a cabin crew and to serve people?

Looking plain with a smile…”It is the skill that I wanted to learn and it is my interest to be a cabin crew”. Dot dot dot…

Ah look! Highly educated people are less likely their choice for cabin crew. Neither those who have average to good SPM results which will secure them an education in future. To my surprise, they don’t hire for the sake of hiring. They actually advice those young one’s to study further if they are capable in their studies! WOW!

So, at the end of the day, I met many people with diploma, hardly enter university and some hardly even touch STPM. Well, I am really lost in that circle. It was once a dream job but then the “nerdy” me have took me so far in my education. I did not make through that interview. It was not a lost, but it helps me to realise once again that my results is really not that bad. And it is definitely not a lost because I manage to get a job referral which I did not plan for. It was truly an experience that I would remember, and a blessing from God.

One thing I learn: God cannot move to guide you if you do not chose to step out and get moving. Keep the fuel running, the accelerator working and let God takes the wheel!

Elephant cannot drive! In cantonese elephant = big stupid elephant (tai pan cheong)

~ by yeeelin on March 21, 2010.