Second interview - lessons from the past

I am going for an interview this coming wednesday. Thanks to one of my friends Edwin Lee, who has so kindly helped to set up a meeting with the development manager for the a position in his company. This is only my second interview after I graduate. My first with Philips medical was a disaster, 'you have to build a rapport with your interviewer', I did that alright, so much so I ended up trying to interview the person instead. Wrong move Ben.

Hopefully this time around, I will give the person a good impression me. I feel more pressure this time around. I do not want to embarrass Edwin who has kindly recommended me. 'Why did you introduce such a fruit cake to our company!' yells the development manager. Fingers crossed.

Things I will try not to do this time around:

1. Try to take control of the situation by interviewing my interviewer
2. Be too aggressive by asking questions like 'why do you think I should work here'
3. Be overly pro-active, empty vessels makes the most noise

One consolation, despite committing these sins, I was still short-listed for the next around of interview, unfortunately, I was never called up again. Sigh. Hopefully, with many prayers, I can finally put 'employed' in my credit card application.

An introduction to a depressing job hunt!!!

The original ideal for this blog is to create an online profile, or rather to act as an online personal name card so that my prospective employer can type ‘Benjamin Cheong’ in google and voilà, you can see my profile online. Being a poor student, I thought it would be a good idea to utilize all the free service available to help me achieve this. Of course there is a progressive plan, this blog will also include some of the my personal views, involvement and highlight some of my achievements I have done so far.

I have been trying to look for a job for the past two months and it has slowly taken a toll on me. Nevertheless, I choose to remain positive and hope for the best. The last time I took my IQ (intelligence quotient), it was 140; I believe I am within the top 1% of everyone that has taken the same test at least that is what the test results showed. Is there a correlation between IQ and career achievements? Some researchers claim that "in economic terms it appears that the IQ score measures something with decreasing marginal value. It is important to have enough of it, but having lots and lots does not buy you that much." Wherever that means, but it definitely takes more then IQ to get a high paying job. That means there are a lot of skills needed to be successful. I have been actively trying to be as all-rounded as possible, and hopefully, my talents will be discovered one day.

Bobbin Head Point

Long overdue photo, 'Bobbin Head Point'. I gave so many copies away that this is the only one I got left. Things have changed so much during this period. The 'good old days', but bear in mind the best is yet to come.

Little Thots

Sorry about the MIA, my money making scheme from my blog came to a sudden halt when my account was suspend. Well, after lamenting for about 2 months, I think it is time to move on. Life is not only about money, it is also doing the things that you enjoy in life. What is money when it cannot buy your happiness? I know what you are going to say next. Shhiiiii….

Believe it a not, I actually hope people do not read this entry of my blog. I have been thinking about love after a long while. Been out of love four times, some relationships did not work out well, for some, I must admit I am total at fault. If ‘you’ are reading this, I need to apologise to you. Here goes… my luck at poetry.

I have been a fool
A fool I never thought I was
That is why I was fool
I made choices when I was not ready
A fool that thought fast is good
A fool that was never man enough to admit
The flaws that was so clearly visible
To everyone except for me
What can I say but
I have been a fool

Sometimes, I wish I could move on, but I have so much baggage to carry I do not think I have enough hands for it. I have to learn to let go of certain things, lighten myself and carry on in the journey of life. I wish I could run, not with baggage of the past, but running with the partner of my future. I pray that I will not be a fool again.

What color is the Sun?

Did a little renovation on my blog, I think green still suits me the most. During the monthly review, one of the viewers expressed that pink might be a little too feminine for a guy. There you go, green. For those that did not watch ‘Meet the parents’, green is the preferred color of geniuses. Read the signs the blog is radiating gently, it is green, so the creator is a... Of course, humility is an attribute of a great man, too shy to type the word genius on the blank. I know, I can be a little shameless at times.

"In morning, I feel the breeze, the sun watches over me. Sound of water, the crashing sea, is it only me? That feels alive; it is all ahead of me. ‘Cause it feels so right. Just open your eyes and see, that the life is beautiful to me. So beautiful to me.

Life can take you anywhere, you don’t know where it will lead you. You will know you are not alone, just open your eyes and see, that the life is beautiful to me. So beautiful to me.

Life is beautiful, remember, the sun is smiling down on you. Take a deep breathe everyday, and say to yourself, what a great day it would be today. Your troubles will not disappear, but at least, you will have the courage to meet it."

I am still at my university way after 12am. This is what keeps me going. So if you are in the situation that you are discouraged. You have to know you are not alone. Just open your eyes and see. That life is beautiful. So beautiful.

Financial Terrorism in Australia

Just submitted my Permanent Residency application, no surprise, it cost me a bomb. Most of my contemporaries has submitted theirs weeks ago. However, better late then never. Tick off my agenda list. AUD$1,990 for the application. Australia is really prospering in the most unusual ways, through university education (grossly expensive international student college fees) and migration fees.

For those do not know, Australia has been strong supporter of the Humanitarian Program (for refugees and others in humanitarian need) with more than 660,000 humanitary aid currently. However, even refugees nowadays have to think twice before coming over to Australia for refuge. Need to pay AUD$1,990 for immigration admin fees. Need to take English exams. Need to have internet to apply – everything is online now. In addition, a full body check-up, the fee cost another bomb. You will also need a credit card too for internet transactions. I call this the financial terrorism, fighting requires alot of financial ammunition. Talk about fighting fire with fire. These will definitely deter most warring refugees. Sorry people, if you been rowing your boat to oceanic, row some more, Australia is too expensive for you, maybe you can try New Zealand.

Anyway, to set the record straight, I am going to use the next two months to slay the pillow belly, terminate the oil spill and do some moobs exclusion. (Read the entry ‘Oil Spill’)

A) 100 push ups a day
B) 50 sit ups a day
C) 2 km run a day
D) No more ice cream (Sob…), (Negotiable)

Before you exit,

A gentle reminder: Let the finger do the clicking….

What is your Symbolism?

Today, my lecturer came into class with a nice business suit, neatly combed hair, and started the class by tell us the importance of symbolisms. Symbolism? Davinci Code? What does it got to do with what I have to study? Apparently, he is talking about how people sees us everyday - Symbolisms. Using himself as an example, with a business suit with nice cufflinks, people usually listens to you five minutes more than other speakers before deciding to ignore you. That is true. I will not give the person a second look if he came in with T-shirt and shorts.

This got me thinking. What sort of symbolism do I give people? I recently ask a friend of mine, how does smoking and taking weed feels like. The initial respond the person gave, ‘Oh, haven’t you tried?’. Well, smoking not really, the closes I came to it was sitting among Reuben, Clara and Davina while they were smoking together. It almost killed me. I have enough smoke in my lungs to exhale for the whole of next week. It is a fair question asked by the person, I suppose. Who has not tried smoking in this day and age? I should refer to other events to better assess what sort of impression I give people.

I helped my friend to shift place yesterday. Of course, I must have given him good impression of me. Well done! Taking a stretch after many trips up and down from his house to the van to desperately trying fill it up, I noticed a lady looking towards my direction. I must have looked suave to conjure such attention. Good symbolism. I return the glare, just incase I know the person. Our eyes met, trying to recognize the face, I might know her. It was less the five seconds. She ran… Running across me for about ten meters and looked back to make sure I had not ran after her. I looked at the opened van door. Do I look like a rapist, waiting to drag her into the van? Well done!!! Well done!!! I reckon it must be the pillow belly. Time to change my symbolism.