So I flew all the way from Brisbane to Sydney to attend this infrastructure developer company.
To think back of the interview, I did terrible.
Firstly they asked me to do an essay consisted of 5 questions.
I answered the first one which was, why did you choose to study in your field and
have you ever think of choosing a career that is out of your study field.
The other questions was something like,
is it right to lie or say the truth in what circumstances and then I forgot the other questions.
So I filled up the form and filled up with what I was thinking in my head.
So after that, I was invited into the room for interview and overall they were looking for people who has critical honking and creative mindset for marketing people who can sell property in long term and more of a corporate strategic marketing mindset.
After so many questions like what do you know about the company and how would I do to sell the property. I would say I did my best to answer those questions but seemed like everything I have learned just doesn't met his requirements.
I didn't seem to apply my theories on this kind of corporate marketing.
I tried my best to answer his questions but seemed like I didn't impress him,
while the more I answer, the more he doesn't agree.
In details, he asked questions like,
what were you doing and learned from summer school? What did you do in sales trainee?
What do you know about the company? Do u think CSR is branding or marketing?
How do you apply 4Ps in property marketing? What do you know about about strategic marketing? He also said, you are focusing in fmcg and I am surprised why didn't you
have internship with amip companies (advertising)? Marketing has so many faces, Service, fmcg and corporate companies like them. What area are you focusing on?
He told me, you are all over the place, what marketing are you focusing on?
And he gave me 3 areas, I told him the two I am familiar with and my reason for not saying corporate because we didn't learn in class. And I said I was willing to learn while he said I was not answering his question.
And I came to realise that feeling of disappointment for myself, is after I answered him I am suitable more on service and fmcg, and it instantly made me feel I am not suitable for the job.
And that instant silence and his stare like - yes you are not suitable for the job.
After the whole interview, he asked me some other areas of my experiences from my resume,
and I seemed like answering him all over the place.
Me too, I don't know what the fuck I was answering.
I was all over the place repeating the same answer as I realised.
When the time to ask him back questions, I asked him what is it like for a corporate marketing?
He answered, more on strategic and long term marketing unlike fmcg new products everyday.
He explained it all including something like meeting buyer's needs and resale value and their company is more on creating value on their property.
He then asked me back, am I looking to work on the same thing?
I instantly answered what was in my head, yes like meeting customers need and purchasing power. But he looks like he wasn't satisfied with my answer.
I also asked him, what is their company looking for in a student since in our studies, because mostly corporate business doesn't involve in our studies.
Seems like he was doubting on his answers since he was covering his mouth while answering my question. He said they were looking for people with critical thinking and creativity and train them in the programme and bringing up the potential ones.
Last question was thick face question I asked,
when can I know the result. He answered 2 - 3 weeks time.
Hand shaking his hand and walk away saying thank you walking towards the door.
The other lady asked me to stay to discuss whether to give me an assessment.
And when they were discussing at the table while I was sitting there,
I heard them saying something about sales sales and sales and I can't hear others.
After that, the lady told me they will contact me via email and maybe do the assessment online.
So after that I walked out the door.
..
I called my mom the first thing. I pour into tears after hearing her voice over the phone.
She asked me what happened and I was sobbing and want to fall into her arms instantly.
Then I got into control and told her about my interview that I did terrible.
I just felt like it was an instant failure.
I did my best but it was terrible.
I felt like after 3 years of studying marketing and I weren't able to answer the interview questions.
I felt useless instantly.
My mom laughed over the phone and comfort me over the phone.
She told me it is alright, take it as an experience.
This is the first time and you will have more opportunities coming in.
As for me, I want to be good in everything that I am good at, but after the interview I felt useless.
The questions and his dissatisfaction for my answers crushed me like I am not good enough for being a marketer.
After going thru the interview it made me felt loss whether I am really suitable on marketing or not.
I told my mom, what do they expect me as a student to answer
property questions like I haven't experience.
I am mad of myself for performing so stupid I front of that interviewer.
My mom told me that, it's alright.
It's just an experience and, maybe that field isn't what I am good at.
And I told my mom, the interviewer kept asking me fmcg and
she agreed that choosing fmcg field is a good base for me to extend.
But I felt like fmcg is not a really big company like corporates, but she told me that, properties are dropping now and look at dad's business, f&b industry is a good choice too.
But in my mind after this interview, I strive for higher position, higher reputation.
My mom comfort me that, every field has it's benefits and
everyone needs to learn from the beginning.
My dad and mom said, from this interview experience,
I get to learn how an interviewee interviews and gained experience that money couldn't buy. In future, I am able expect from an interviewee and could perform better next time
and I as an employer in the future, I am able to asked professional questions like that.
They comforted me, look at the bright side, you've learned something from this experience.
They told me to just treat it as a normal mood and don't expect too high.
But eventually, I gave myself high expectations and I felt so much disappointment for myself.
Life lesson learnt indeed from my first professional interview.
Lesson 1, do research on the company and expect what questions they
will ask in your study field and prepare answers for that.
Lesson 2, don't have high expectations for yourself. If this doesn't work out, prepare well next time and know what are you suitable in.
Lesson 3, try better next time. Learn from interview mistakes and what I am weak in.
For this time, I realised, corporate field was not my strength but in terms of short term marketing,
I am have major strength in it. So I have to see a wider world.
Well, my first professional interview. I totally felt disappointment on myself.
However, I seek my weakness thru this and gave me a life lesson and rethink
what should I do with my life.
Keep on learning and improving and learn from mistakes and major in your strengths.
Good opportunities will come that suits you, thus do your best in your strength.
Be optimistic of the future.
