Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Peristalsis
Nicely medicated now so I think it's a good time to re-visit this blog of mine, what with everything that's happened this week thus far!
It all started with last friday with call from the temp agency that I had an interview request for a role that I was put up for about a month ago. Even then when I agreed for my resume to be put forward, I think I was far more enthused then when I re-visited the job specs yet again... Agreed in the end with much encourgement from collegues saying any interview is good experience. Interview set for Tuesday arvo with mock interview/prep on Monday with agency.
Prospect of a permanent job and much needed stability did put me in a good mood for the weekend starting with dinner that very night with visiting ex-housemates - German/Canadian couple. Sat was with secondary sch/uni classmate visting from home and Sunday dinner with the X.
Post dinner, checked e-mails to read that long lost aunt (ex-communicated by her sisters/my maternal family) asking to reunite with me via invite on facebook (of all places...). It's surprising but then again she IS the youngest of my mum's side (thus the most tech-savvy of the sisters slash influence from young-uns as a teacher) Not so surprisingly though and which is what got her into trouble with the whole family in the first place; She's the most impetous and spoilt in the family.
Onto Monday for interview prep. Mock interview went well with an encouraging "You interview well" verdict. Monday evening was spent at the office post-work whipping the printer into churning out as much stuff I could find to brush up on current-tech, basic sysdmin knowledge and learning about "release-management" which is just another fancy catch-phase for testing-redux.
Rocked up to work bright and early but kinda coasted through the morning being peppered by collegues with behavioural and situational questions. Silly high-strung girl somewhat marred the smooth ride so far by asking me what time my interview was within ear-shot our manager though...
Got tasked an hour before interview to help out with testing of new system but which meant I could sneak away easily since I wouldn't be under purview (and sigh) of team leader!
Even with frequent glances at watch (and the building where interview is to be held since it's just one street away), time still got away and I had to rush across the road and up to level 9. Brought specs instead of e-mail containing extension number to call but thankfully was let-in and shown the way by nice man who works where I'm interviewing.
Initial impressions were as expected, working environment (and meeting room I was shown to) wasn't as swanky as current workplace even though job is at the far more prestigios, richer and thus harder to get into division of company group.
Clever homework using company directory allowed me to gain inside information as to job of the people interviweng me. One a Business Analyst, the other Assistant Manager. Apologies were however given when Assistant manager was otherwise occupied in another meeting and was replaced by another guy instead making it a very testotorone filled interview.
Do think it went rather well with only reservation that no technical or behavoural questions were asked. It was more of a meet-n-greet where I was briefed on the division, job scopre and requirements. Tried very hard to work in as much of prepared sales pitch as I could but kept getting interrupted by replacement interviewee who went on and on about HIS views and opinions... So post-interview, I did get a very good overview of the company, systems being used and deployed, the role being filled, who the hiree would be supporting. What they took away was probably my programming experience, my spiel about the benefits of user-centric design and testing and nothing about my passion for computers and long history of supporting users and troubleshooting which is the core requirements of role.
Rushed back to work with 10 mins of lunch time to spare which wasn't enough time to get anything to eat so decided to resume testing which ran into overtime but was repetitive enough that I could do post-interview analysis and decide on ambivilance towards whether I'd be proceeding to the next round process which is dreaded 4-hour psychometric test.
This morning was asked by manager into meeting room and dreading that manager did overhear about interview and was about to be given boot! Turned out to be an offer for 9-mth contract which I turned down as best as I could citing that I have yet to get PR but is really because I can't see myself doing 9-mths of paper pushing no matter how stress-free and cushy the environment is. More predominant in tipping the scales was the shock to learn all the short stints in between semesters of related IT work at best counts of only 1/2 a year of commercial experience and delaying any foothold I can get into climbing the IT ladder should not be delayed.
Did tell manager in private my reasons in the end and she was extremely supporting and understanding to the extent that she encouraged me to look at the internal job vacancy listings and added she'd be willing to do a referal anytime! She's the best!
Right, it's already been ages since the meds have kicked in and so I'm not sure this elation can be attributed to blogging or a chemical reaction.
I bid thee fair-thee-well and aduei!
PS. Peristalsis was the word in my head when I started this post... quite befitting too!
It all started with last friday with call from the temp agency that I had an interview request for a role that I was put up for about a month ago. Even then when I agreed for my resume to be put forward, I think I was far more enthused then when I re-visited the job specs yet again... Agreed in the end with much encourgement from collegues saying any interview is good experience. Interview set for Tuesday arvo with mock interview/prep on Monday with agency.
Prospect of a permanent job and much needed stability did put me in a good mood for the weekend starting with dinner that very night with visiting ex-housemates - German/Canadian couple. Sat was with secondary sch/uni classmate visting from home and Sunday dinner with the X.
Post dinner, checked e-mails to read that long lost aunt (ex-communicated by her sisters/my maternal family) asking to reunite with me via invite on facebook (of all places...). It's surprising but then again she IS the youngest of my mum's side (thus the most tech-savvy of the sisters slash influence from young-uns as a teacher) Not so surprisingly though and which is what got her into trouble with the whole family in the first place; She's the most impetous and spoilt in the family.
Onto Monday for interview prep. Mock interview went well with an encouraging "You interview well" verdict. Monday evening was spent at the office post-work whipping the printer into churning out as much stuff I could find to brush up on current-tech, basic sysdmin knowledge and learning about "release-management" which is just another fancy catch-phase for testing-redux.
Rocked up to work bright and early but kinda coasted through the morning being peppered by collegues with behavioural and situational questions. Silly high-strung girl somewhat marred the smooth ride so far by asking me what time my interview was within ear-shot our manager though...
Got tasked an hour before interview to help out with testing of new system but which meant I could sneak away easily since I wouldn't be under purview (and sigh) of team leader!
Even with frequent glances at watch (and the building where interview is to be held since it's just one street away), time still got away and I had to rush across the road and up to level 9. Brought specs instead of e-mail containing extension number to call but thankfully was let-in and shown the way by nice man who works where I'm interviewing.
Initial impressions were as expected, working environment (and meeting room I was shown to) wasn't as swanky as current workplace even though job is at the far more prestigios, richer and thus harder to get into division of company group.
Clever homework using company directory allowed me to gain inside information as to job of the people interviweng me. One a Business Analyst, the other Assistant Manager. Apologies were however given when Assistant manager was otherwise occupied in another meeting and was replaced by another guy instead making it a very testotorone filled interview.
Do think it went rather well with only reservation that no technical or behavoural questions were asked. It was more of a meet-n-greet where I was briefed on the division, job scopre and requirements. Tried very hard to work in as much of prepared sales pitch as I could but kept getting interrupted by replacement interviewee who went on and on about HIS views and opinions... So post-interview, I did get a very good overview of the company, systems being used and deployed, the role being filled, who the hiree would be supporting. What they took away was probably my programming experience, my spiel about the benefits of user-centric design and testing and nothing about my passion for computers and long history of supporting users and troubleshooting which is the core requirements of role.
Rushed back to work with 10 mins of lunch time to spare which wasn't enough time to get anything to eat so decided to resume testing which ran into overtime but was repetitive enough that I could do post-interview analysis and decide on ambivilance towards whether I'd be proceeding to the next round process which is dreaded 4-hour psychometric test.
This morning was asked by manager into meeting room and dreading that manager did overhear about interview and was about to be given boot! Turned out to be an offer for 9-mth contract which I turned down as best as I could citing that I have yet to get PR but is really because I can't see myself doing 9-mths of paper pushing no matter how stress-free and cushy the environment is. More predominant in tipping the scales was the shock to learn all the short stints in between semesters of related IT work at best counts of only 1/2 a year of commercial experience and delaying any foothold I can get into climbing the IT ladder should not be delayed.
Did tell manager in private my reasons in the end and she was extremely supporting and understanding to the extent that she encouraged me to look at the internal job vacancy listings and added she'd be willing to do a referal anytime! She's the best!
Right, it's already been ages since the meds have kicked in and so I'm not sure this elation can be attributed to blogging or a chemical reaction.
I bid thee fair-thee-well and aduei!
PS. Peristalsis was the word in my head when I started this post... quite befitting too!
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]