Young Underpaid Professionals

The interview

Posted by Rica

I have always been vexed by job interviews. I love going to interviews so much that I’d rather the cosmos make up some weird event where I’ll end up with a really bad back strain so I won’t have to go. But the cosmos, she’s not that generous. So I go. Go with the flow, drown, and then die. I so love job interviews.

This one particular interview with one of the biggest wireless telecom companies (just guess, you have a 50-50 chance of getting it wrong) I went to had me wishing Friday wouldn’t come. My interview was on a Friday, at 10 in the morning. If Ms. Cosmos couldn’t give me a back strain that day (or a concussion), at least she allowed me to become someone else on Friday. The interview with the guy lasted for almost an hour. Imagine me yapping for an hour about what I did in my previous jobs, what challenges I faced as a *insert previous job title*, what I can do for the giant telecom company just in case I get hired, etcetera etcetera — all very abstract things, really. I just wish I could remember all the things I said during that bluff (a.k.a. interview); I tell you, momma would’ve been so proud. I was very proud of that fake feat myself.

There were fun moments in that interview, too, and to balance out this narrative, I should post them.

On career plans…

HR guy: What career path were you on – what jobs were you exploring – the moment we contacted you for an interview?
Me: I actually have an on-going application with GSIS.
HR guy (with matching furrowed brows): GSIS?
Me (beaming): Yup, GSIS.

HR guy (looking at my CV on his desk): Hmm…
Me: It’s weird, isn’t it?
HR guy (with no hesitation whatsoever): Yeah, it is.

Apparently taken aback by his frankness…

HR guy: Um, not weird, just unusual. (Short pause) Why?
Me: I don’t know.
HR guy: Hmm…

On getting the name and the gender right…

I had to reschedule my Wednesday interview to Friday, because of the bad back (which I should add, was not Ms. Cosmos’ gift. And no, she wasn’t doing me any favors by being so spontaneous either). I had to text the HR person about it, and after several texts, I realized the HR person’s name was androgynous, and I didn’t know if I was talking to a guy or a girl. The name’s like “Sam”, whose original form could either be Samantha or Samuel. And his last name’s playing with diphthongs and is a non-Filipino one, so, yeah. Parents should be very careful when naming their children. Tsk. Anyway, when I finally got to meet the HR person, “Sam” turned out to be a guy. And since I’m a curious cat who gets fixated with the most trivial things, I just had to ask him how he pronounced his last name.

Me: I just have to ask, how do say your last name? Is it *insert diphthong-y surname here*?
HR guy: Yeah, it’s *insert diphthong-y surname now pronounced correctly*. It’s U-…. (He continues to spell out his name.)

Oh-kay… I just wanted to know how he pronounced his last name.

It was a really cool interview. The place wasn’t in Makati, really near. Thinking back, I enjoyed being asked random and seemingly important questions, and answering them. And although my backstrain got worse and my feet hurt from wearing leather shoes and walking in them, I liked going to that job interview. I finally figured out Sam’s gender and confirmed that his surname really was spelled that way. Thanks, Sam!

(Credit goes to Googlegoop for the image.)

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