World's Dumbest

Some songs don't die easy. Here's an example:

The other day, I was sitting in the front passenger seat of a taxi when "Macarena" by Los del Rio started playing. It was like being hit in the head with a giant club of nostalgia. It is associated with strong memories of the time we got our first CD player and I made sure it was played several times a day, much to the annoyance of everyone else at home. This song came out nearly TWENTY years ago and "the macarena" has gained status as a popular dance move to this day. Not only that, it sits at #5 on Billboard's All Time Top 100.

Recently, my mother - using my father's account - had done a critical check on my Facebook profile and had a suggestion for me (well, there were other comments too);

"Change that display picture to something nicer and age appropriate, will you, something where you look like you actually combed your hair? You look like a school child."  [OH-Kay mom, that picture will be staying longer than intended now.]

Parents are now 'friends' with their children on Facebook. This new reality is a major advantage for parents, mostly overly-attached mothers whose children live far away from their grasps. They can now stalk whereabouts, analyse thought processes, scrutinize actions, review friendships, judge photos, and form opinions and comment on nearly everything related to their children whose lives are pretty much open books on Facebook. For me, I prefer they keep up that way than me having to actually update them personally.

Another interview today. Damn, I feel like I am getting better at this. With each passing one, I feel a little less nervous and more confident of playing the cards of the "Interview Game". That is not to say I wasn't nervous at all, but it wasn't anything my latest power anthem (below) could not cure.

After taking a very scenic ride in the bus, I arrived just a little earlier than 9am for my interview [Sheesh, that was pretty early for one]. In my opinion, it went well. I didn't stumble on or utter anything stupid like I tend to do a lot when I am nervous. Even though my heels were killing my feet, I left quite satisfied at having performed averagely well. In this game, it does not suffice to put your best effort to look professionally acceptable, or be confident and pleasant, or communicate clearly, or appear interested through body language that is in sync with what is said, or ask a ton of questions, or market your strengths and abilities while cleverly masking any weaknesses or even observe the interviewer's body language to see what ticks them and adjust the tone of the responses accordingly. The last move of the game is to send a "Thank You" note to your interviewer to show appreciation for the interview opportunity, sell your strengths a little more [Shuri was selling strengths such as ability to learn quickly, adapt and being detail-oriented during the interview] and express interest to work for them. This is compulsory.

When this was sent, I realised to my horror, that my email contained an attachment that I didn't attach. This was a map of the building that one of my previous interviewers had sent with a lovely red arrow pointing to interview area. As the situation become clearer, I realised this happened because I used the same email thread I used for my previous interviewer to modify my "Thank You" response to this interviewer. Of course, irrelevant correspondence was safely removed, but I missed removing that map. [Good job, Shu. This manager will be completely at ease knowing that you'll be sending wrong attachments to customers and forgetting to check your emails properly before you send them out]. 

So my final move (extended) read as follows:

Dear Ms Doe,

My apologies for the unintended attachment, kindly ignore it.
Have a good evening.

Regards,
Shuri

In light of today's turn of events, the award for the "World's Dumbest Interviewee" for shooting herself in the foot AND possibly losing the job opportunity goes to.... none other than.... *drum roll*.... SHURI.

[Afternote: No surprises, I didn't get the job!]

The Animal Whisperer

Today, I attended the most enjoyable interview of my short-lived life.

It's not that I feel confident of getting the job (I really don't, given the statistics), but I just tasted what an interview for a "dream job" meant to be like. For the first time in my life, I was myself and fought for myself in an interview and was left feeling even more energized to fight again, if I had to. So that in itself is a small victory. Actually getting the job, would be a definite plus!

I didn't go with much hopes this morning. I woke up late, did a little bit of rushed internet research on the organisation, the new project and the job, didn't make the best effort at dressing up (I let my natural messy hair be instead of getting a temporary 'straight look' at a saloon like I usually do for interviews**), got late and had to catch a cab. It's not that the job prospect didn't excite me. The top position I was eyeing on (administration + conservation efforts related) required Mandarin as a pre-requisite so I knew I had nearly zero chances with negotiating on that one. Also, it was a job fair where hundreds of hopefuls walked in and mass interviews were conducted on site. And today was only day one of this two-day fair.

After registration and joining the long queues of applicants, we were told that we can only pick one position of choice to be interviewed for. Seeing my chances for the (safe) first choice being non-existent, I went with the second one. My second position of choice was the actual "dream job" (working closely with animals) - why second? because we all know those types come with big sacrifices and compromises. During my long wait to be called in, I had plenty of time to think back on why I wanted this job. Really, it wasn't that hard for someone who's very first ambition was to be a vet and still loves animals and the great outdoors. One of the interviewers was an easy going guy who appeared to be very passionate about the field so I suppose the conversations were easier and enjoyable.

**Most ordinary job interviews are so restrictive, aren't they? The internet is full of advice on how to dress at the interview, what to say, what not to say, what to expect, what the interviewers want to hear, see, etc. The picture it paints is "Apart from your credentials, the job prefers certain stereotypes over others, so if you are a little different, buck up and get in line with the rest or risk losing the job". So nearly everyone dresses alike (even if they don't like excessive make-up or heels or chemically re-bonded/ permed hair), learns the same model answers (for what their weaknesses or career ambitions are) and tell everything an interviewer likes to hear (like being an extrovert or love working in teams or is fine with working extra long hours). Goodness, if I were an interviewer, I might be sick of interviewing what appears to be programmed clones. All that said, interviews are too short to get to know and judge a candidate fairly so appearances and words uttered account for a lot. And not everyone has the luxury to apply to and interview for ideal jobs.

Urgh. Some jack-ass spoilt it for all us bubble tea lovers 

While digging up on Pink Dot SG spotted on a friend's Facebook profile, I came across this incredibly moving speech given by the recipient of this year's "Humanist of the Year 2012" award (presented by the Humanist Society of Singapore). This speech not only gives a different light to the major topic at hand, it also emphasizes how much more tolerance and acceptance we need to develop for the many, many types of differences that exist in our society today. On a positive note, I can see that society is (slowly) moving in a forward direction towards equality in human rights, thanks to the internet and those who dare to take action.

The Cultural Divide

They say people learn from mistakes. Sometimes it takes more than one mistake of the same type to learn.

This morning didn't start so wonderfully. For one thing, I lost my frameless spectacles while touring. So I wore my geeky black framed spare pair from University to work. I'm a self-diagnosed sociophobe but even that didn't have anything to do with the way people kept looking at my eyes when talking to me. It would have been a lot more unnerving to me if I attached a "SPARE SPECS" tag to the frame for those who wondered about it. So yeah, back to the point. I was called to a pre-audit meeting on very short notice. I was the last to enter the room, where the external auditor was introducing himself. I walked in with a jolly mood and extended my hand after introducing myself. Again, I caught several people staring at me ("Must be the specs, I thought"). He then passed on his business card to everyone present. Halfway through the meeting it hit me! This man was a Muslim, and I am in a Muslim country, 'Men species' and 'Women species' associate with much caution, and women NEVER initiate a handshake. I felt faint everytime I remembered it. Oh well. It isn't even the first time this happened! I'm pretty sure I got rejected from an interview when I went and extended my hand to a Muslim interviewer at the beginning of it. I distinctly saw that he was shaken after it. What to do? Even if one finds such small things ridiculous because of a different upbringing, one must respect the traditions in a country where one is merely a guest.

Facebook is an endless source of entertainment. Today I saw someone leave a comment on a friend's picture of her (adorable) pet guinea pig: "What breed of dog is this???"

Last weekend, I had a fantastic (unplanned) cruise along the beautiful of fjords of Oman. Details of this trip will have to be recorded later, when I have photographic evidence.

Also received a touching message from a junior today, which completed my day:

Happy birthday! Hope you have a really good one :)
by the way, it's my graduation ceremony today! so happy that I'm successfully done with it! thanks so much for all the support you gave me at the start of university! really appreciate it all :D

Never thought I'd post a clip from a game like this on my blog, but here it is, beautiful and worthy of admiration.

Presenting....Alice (from a wicked Wonderland)!