Recent Interview Experiences
Felt the need to scream but I'm not able to do it verbally :(
In a short span of one week, I'd been to 2 interviews.
The reason why I'm seeking 'better opportunities' can be summarized into:
I would have love to continue my jobs in my previous company if:
The job scopes with regards to what web was about was really what I am looking for, just that because they are start ups, so there weren't a lot of projects to work with/on. Some more they are unstable. One thing was sian was that I'm the ONLY designer doing what I was doing and nobody else have better opinions to comment, that's why I felt stuck.
I don't particularly hate my current job except I don't have enough digital/online stuff to work with and have to do print stuff - something although I don't mind doing but also something I don't really enjoy doing. It totally kills the mind when you are not able to do the things you want to do THAN doing something you don't like to do.
Having said that, despite ALREADY bringing the above problems to my current bosses - things are currently still on hold as both of them are extremely busy. One is in overseas and one is always in & out of office. I was told to continue the conversation when both of them are back in office TOGETHER.
I was disappointed with the then/current outcome since mid/end July and had since then been looking out for possible new positions. I made sure these positions are what I'm looking at and of cos at the same time meet their requirements.
After sending out like 10ish resumes, I was shortlisted to go for 2 interviews of 2 very different companies.
First one, it was situated at quite an ulu place and took me a while to find it. I was a bit worried at first if this will be my future work place. Later when I opened the door and went through the office, I was actually a bit stun. It was only a small office with a small space with a huge table + 2 rooms. I see 3 ppl inside. One lady & one guy in each of the room & another guy was doing his work on the huge table. The guy from the room came out & greeted me with a smiley face. I assume he's the boss.
We sat in his room and I begin to ask about what was required for this job scope. He seems like friendly & chatty guy in his mid/late 30s? He beginning to explain how the company was start up and what the company had been doing. He showed me some works which they have done since 2008 and my main priority is to update the portfolio. They have in-house stuff and client servicing stuff which is the main priority.
I showed him my portfolio and ran through what my roles were in the previous 2 start up companies. What this company is doing is exactly like what my previous company is doing so I am quite confident of taking up this role. The guy outside is actually the programmer. So the boss mentioned this position will be working closely with that programmer.
It was such a comfortable chat/discussion that it was hardly even an interview. We were comfortable with each other's terms/roles, he was willing to give my expected salary. I know what this role is expected cos I'd been in it before. Just whether I was willing to going through being with a start-up for the 3rd time and that happens to be my concern.
If the next few mths, the company also CMI then I'd be thrown into the same situation ALL OVER AGAIN. Am I going to risk that? Although I kinda mind that I'm the only designer but somehow I feel a sense of confidence that I am able to do this, I am able to pull this off.
Just yesterday, the boss replied that they'll take the other candidate who's a web designer/developer as he may be able to assist the programmer to get the structure/system going first. When they're more or less settled in the next 2-4mths, he'll want to hire a creative personnel like myself if I'm still available.
:( This one gone liao lor.... the boss really did seem like a nice person to work for/with though I'm not sure about the others since I only interacted with him during the interview.
AND NOW! I was actually just back from my second interview! I am so mad that I want to scream!!!!!
This was an established company since 1980s in print. But they have been doing interactive since 2003. I had some difficulty finding the place and called up my interviewer for directions. I met her at the doorstep. She seemed unfriendly. But ok, maybe she was busy and I happen to interrupt whatever important things she was doing so her face looked pissed. But nevertheless, I said, "Hi, nice to see you" with a smiley face. But she just replied "Hi" with a bin chao chao face, without even looking at me.
She brought me to an area, within an open office concept with few other staffs just few feet away doing their work. When I was about to sit down, she saw that a folder (obviously containing my resume + qualification certs) was all I had and then she said, without looking at me AGAIN, "You didn't bring your print outs?"
I replied, "Oh, I have an online portfolio." She give the 'tsk' sound and said, "Give me a while to get my laptop." And then she disappeared. I was left figuring if whether I applied for the correct position? How come I need to have print outs? Am I not going to be doing web/online stuff?
So she came back with a laptop and sat down while starting up. I just continued to sit there since there was no mutual cue for me to begin saying anything? Then that lady actually said, while NOT LOOKING AT ME AGAIN, "Why don't you start telling me about yourself instead of just sitting there and starring at me?"
That was the first off-moment. In the first place, I wasn't even starring AT HER! I was just looking IN FRONT of me. SMLJ? And there was no cue to talk, I was being polite and waited her to speak first or to sort of like give a sign of permission for me to start instead of being like a boh ga si person and start rattling on without even sure if she's even listening since she doesn't look at me AT ALL?
But as soon as she asked that question and I was about to get ready to talk, she butt in with questions & statements like,
I told her I definitely am confident to do a web userinterface design and I also admit that I am not well-versed in Java at all, I have never done/touched Java before. There was a website that was created with Java and I told her, "If it's in Flash, I can do it."
But she's like, "I know a lot of you designers like to do the dynamic in Flash but mobile phone doesn't support Flash website so we need the designers to know Java. We can't have the programmers to spoon feed designers with even simple coding like that." Then she added, "In an ideal world, it will be good to have programmers as designers vice versa, but in a real world you can't have everything. You just need to know as much & as many skills as you possibly can."
From there I know I can't do it. She's expecting somebody who ALREADY knows how to do it. I have never done those kind of website she has showed me before. If I'm given the brief to work on something like that, I'd have to research the tutorials myself and work on it. I barely have the chance to say anything, she was the one who keeps talking.
She said, "The reason why you're here is because you said all the while you'd been in small companies so it might be worth giving you this chance. But if these simple websites you also can't do, then what have you been doing all these years?"
Lao niang may not be some award-winning web designer but who are u to say it's EASY & SIMPLE to build websites? She sounds like the B back when I was in SpecHut. She said I don't look confident and keep asking what have I been doing.
HELLO! U THINK MULTIMEDIA IS ONLY WEB WEB WEB ONLY IS IT? I do print, I do video, I basically do everything, just did not have the opportunity to be specialised ONLY IN TMD WEB!
It was a quick/rushed interview cos I believe she thinks everything is a waste of time cos I have mentioned I'd never done those things she'd showed me. But very politely & professionally, I still thank her for her time with my usual smiley face although I was already boiling inside. She even ended with, "I will only give opportunities to ppl who want it. Let me know if you're confident enough to take up the challenge by Monday."
I told her flatly with my smiley face, "I will be able to give you an answer by the end of today. Pleasure to meet you. Thanks for your time."
You think only YOU waste your time. It's waste of MY TIME also ok. You can't even LOOK AT PPL when you talk and sound so mother fucking rude THE WHOLE fucking time.
I was being polite in trying to engage a normal, professional conversation but you show your cb attitude. Even if I may or may not be a potential candidate/employee, you need to be so cb anot? Real world.... LJ LA! Ppl you meet first time, you will possibly be so rude to? Real world, my ass.
In a short span of one week, I'd been to 2 interviews.
The reason why I'm seeking 'better opportunities' can be summarized into:
- Higher salary cos what I'm currently drawing now is totally unacceptable. But being employed STILL beats being jobless ANYTIME.
- I want to be in digital/online environment, print is ok but not as primary biz nature
- I have been in small ponds and really want to see more in big oceans to learn more from experienced seniors
I would have love to continue my jobs in my previous company if:
- the first one had not ended its biz. Who would hate a traveling job even if it's not relevant?
- the boss of 2nd one had not owe my salary
- If I'm NOT JUST the only designer
The job scopes with regards to what web was about was really what I am looking for, just that because they are start ups, so there weren't a lot of projects to work with/on. Some more they are unstable. One thing was sian was that I'm the ONLY designer doing what I was doing and nobody else have better opinions to comment, that's why I felt stuck.
I don't particularly hate my current job except I don't have enough digital/online stuff to work with and have to do print stuff - something although I don't mind doing but also something I don't really enjoy doing. It totally kills the mind when you are not able to do the things you want to do THAN doing something you don't like to do.
Having said that, despite ALREADY bringing the above problems to my current bosses - things are currently still on hold as both of them are extremely busy. One is in overseas and one is always in & out of office. I was told to continue the conversation when both of them are back in office TOGETHER.
I was disappointed with the then/current outcome since mid/end July and had since then been looking out for possible new positions. I made sure these positions are what I'm looking at and of cos at the same time meet their requirements.
After sending out like 10ish resumes, I was shortlisted to go for 2 interviews of 2 very different companies.
First one, it was situated at quite an ulu place and took me a while to find it. I was a bit worried at first if this will be my future work place. Later when I opened the door and went through the office, I was actually a bit stun. It was only a small office with a small space with a huge table + 2 rooms. I see 3 ppl inside. One lady & one guy in each of the room & another guy was doing his work on the huge table. The guy from the room came out & greeted me with a smiley face. I assume he's the boss.
We sat in his room and I begin to ask about what was required for this job scope. He seems like friendly & chatty guy in his mid/late 30s? He beginning to explain how the company was start up and what the company had been doing. He showed me some works which they have done since 2008 and my main priority is to update the portfolio. They have in-house stuff and client servicing stuff which is the main priority.
I showed him my portfolio and ran through what my roles were in the previous 2 start up companies. What this company is doing is exactly like what my previous company is doing so I am quite confident of taking up this role. The guy outside is actually the programmer. So the boss mentioned this position will be working closely with that programmer.
It was such a comfortable chat/discussion that it was hardly even an interview. We were comfortable with each other's terms/roles, he was willing to give my expected salary. I know what this role is expected cos I'd been in it before. Just whether I was willing to going through being with a start-up for the 3rd time and that happens to be my concern.
If the next few mths, the company also CMI then I'd be thrown into the same situation ALL OVER AGAIN. Am I going to risk that? Although I kinda mind that I'm the only designer but somehow I feel a sense of confidence that I am able to do this, I am able to pull this off.
Just yesterday, the boss replied that they'll take the other candidate who's a web designer/developer as he may be able to assist the programmer to get the structure/system going first. When they're more or less settled in the next 2-4mths, he'll want to hire a creative personnel like myself if I'm still available.
:( This one gone liao lor.... the boss really did seem like a nice person to work for/with though I'm not sure about the others since I only interacted with him during the interview.
AND NOW! I was actually just back from my second interview! I am so mad that I want to scream!!!!!
This was an established company since 1980s in print. But they have been doing interactive since 2003. I had some difficulty finding the place and called up my interviewer for directions. I met her at the doorstep. She seemed unfriendly. But ok, maybe she was busy and I happen to interrupt whatever important things she was doing so her face looked pissed. But nevertheless, I said, "Hi, nice to see you" with a smiley face. But she just replied "Hi" with a bin chao chao face, without even looking at me.
She brought me to an area, within an open office concept with few other staffs just few feet away doing their work. When I was about to sit down, she saw that a folder (obviously containing my resume + qualification certs) was all I had and then she said, without looking at me AGAIN, "You didn't bring your print outs?"
I replied, "Oh, I have an online portfolio." She give the 'tsk' sound and said, "Give me a while to get my laptop." And then she disappeared. I was left figuring if whether I applied for the correct position? How come I need to have print outs? Am I not going to be doing web/online stuff?
So she came back with a laptop and sat down while starting up. I just continued to sit there since there was no mutual cue for me to begin saying anything? Then that lady actually said, while NOT LOOKING AT ME AGAIN, "Why don't you start telling me about yourself instead of just sitting there and starring at me?"
That was the first off-moment. In the first place, I wasn't even starring AT HER! I was just looking IN FRONT of me. SMLJ? And there was no cue to talk, I was being polite and waited her to speak first or to sort of like give a sign of permission for me to start instead of being like a boh ga si person and start rattling on without even sure if she's even listening since she doesn't look at me AT ALL?
But as soon as she asked that question and I was about to get ready to talk, she butt in with questions & statements like,
- "When did you grad?"
- "I will show you some websites, can you do it?"
- "If you look at this website, how will you go about to start working on it?"
- "Have you ever build a website yourself before?"
- "I wont expect you to do the backend things but I expect you to understand and able to produce basic HTML, CSS, Java websites."
- "My designers may not know programming but they self-learn themselves and came up with these simple website, if you can't even do it then let's not waste time."
I told her I definitely am confident to do a web userinterface design and I also admit that I am not well-versed in Java at all, I have never done/touched Java before. There was a website that was created with Java and I told her, "If it's in Flash, I can do it."
But she's like, "I know a lot of you designers like to do the dynamic in Flash but mobile phone doesn't support Flash website so we need the designers to know Java. We can't have the programmers to spoon feed designers with even simple coding like that." Then she added, "In an ideal world, it will be good to have programmers as designers vice versa, but in a real world you can't have everything. You just need to know as much & as many skills as you possibly can."
From there I know I can't do it. She's expecting somebody who ALREADY knows how to do it. I have never done those kind of website she has showed me before. If I'm given the brief to work on something like that, I'd have to research the tutorials myself and work on it. I barely have the chance to say anything, she was the one who keeps talking.
She said, "The reason why you're here is because you said all the while you'd been in small companies so it might be worth giving you this chance. But if these simple websites you also can't do, then what have you been doing all these years?"
Lao niang may not be some award-winning web designer but who are u to say it's EASY & SIMPLE to build websites? She sounds like the B back when I was in SpecHut. She said I don't look confident and keep asking what have I been doing.
HELLO! U THINK MULTIMEDIA IS ONLY WEB WEB WEB ONLY IS IT? I do print, I do video, I basically do everything, just did not have the opportunity to be specialised ONLY IN TMD WEB!
It was a quick/rushed interview cos I believe she thinks everything is a waste of time cos I have mentioned I'd never done those things she'd showed me. But very politely & professionally, I still thank her for her time with my usual smiley face although I was already boiling inside. She even ended with, "I will only give opportunities to ppl who want it. Let me know if you're confident enough to take up the challenge by Monday."
I told her flatly with my smiley face, "I will be able to give you an answer by the end of today. Pleasure to meet you. Thanks for your time."
You think only YOU waste your time. It's waste of MY TIME also ok. You can't even LOOK AT PPL when you talk and sound so mother fucking rude THE WHOLE fucking time.
I was being polite in trying to engage a normal, professional conversation but you show your cb attitude. Even if I may or may not be a potential candidate/employee, you need to be so cb anot? Real world.... LJ LA! Ppl you meet first time, you will possibly be so rude to? Real world, my ass.
3 Comments
btw, i think u seriously ought to prepare printouts even tho u may think u are doing online stuff. this is to prepare for unforeseen circumtances like having no laptop, power failure, etc. by saying that u have no printed portfolio only gives the bad impression that u are not well-prepared. besides, u can always use the printouts as introduction, then add on to say that there are more available on the internet.
okie, just my 2 cents worth. jia you!!!
oh well... i will need to change the format abit then. but now i still abit angry when i recall wat this interviewer said "what have u been doing the past few yrs?" I have been a bao ga liao designer and do not have a specific specialisation but say until like i have been wasting time lydat... kns~ precisely i dun have specialisation so now i wanna work in big companies n specialise in userinterface ma but yet i'm not gd enuff... :(