Would like to share my experience.....

I went to one interview for a fabless semiconductor company in Penang, for the position of IC Mask Design engineer.

The interview started with a little bit of standard questions like my current job functions and nothing much. Then, they conducted some sorts of written tests.
They gave me one paper with some engineering problems, and asked me to answer all of them and at the same time they kept staring at me while I was struggling to solve the problems. This indeed exerted certain pressure on me that time.

I did manage to solve most of the problems, but I admit to them certain details that I really did not know.

After the tests, the interview ended. And I did not get any offer.

In retrospect, I think the most likely reason is my current job function and skills is too far from the post I was applying. One of the interviewers did mention this on the phone interview prior to the face to face interview.

I answered the questions in the test all by my memory of final year syllabus, although with a bit of struggle after one and half year working (at the time this interview took place).

Then an interesting event occurred, after the interview, their HR sent an email to me saying that my application failed but my resume is being rettained for future reference. I thought, bah.....same bullsh** to all failed applicants. After one month, another manager called me, but from different department, asked me whether I am interested in other specific post or not. The post is like software support kind of nature. I responded with NO INTEREST.

Huh...I apply job A they gave me job B.

Arggg... May be they thinnk that your qualification is nore suitable for the position B?     

Hmm.....I doubt it.

You see post A is Mask Design, which requires engineering knowledge in VLSI, semiconductor and wafer cross-section knowledge, which I believe I displayed my knowledge during the test, though may be a fresh graduate level, since my current position is of different nature.

Post B is more to software, I recall the post is something CAD support and something like that, the caller did not tell in much details. I presume it requires a lot of programming skills and thus far more strayed from my skills sets.

I felt not right about it and did not want to regret second time, thus REJECTED.

Arggg... May be they thinnk that your qualification is nore suitable for the position B?     

There's another question from the interviewer regarding this. I didnt get a place in the company previously bcause i answered it wrongly

Question : There's a lot of empty vacancies in the department A. How about trying position B?

Although in my application form I applied for position A

My answer : Yes, I'll try my best in position B and will work hard to accomplish the tasks that I'll receive.

BANG! you're a goner

This is where they are testing your ability in making decisions. If u applied for A, please state firmly in your answer that u are only interested in it. Your interviewers definitely will get the first impression of you not being able to make desicions wisely.
A type that will keep on changing things in the future and definitely will waste a lot of time in projects.

Most probably other companies will ask this question if they think u are more suitable in other positions. That is good. But in interviews u have to take a chance  in your answers.

The question has no general right or wrong answer.  It depends on the company.  It is entirely possible the company thinks you might be more suited to another position.

hello all.
i've not been working since august last year (almost a year now) due to some family problem which i prefer not to mention to the interviewer. but they will ask what family problem do i have that make me quit for a year. can someone teach me how to answer this in a more effective way?

usually when they ask me why i quit, i'll tell them due to some family problem. although not all, but some will ask what family problem, and my answer is to take care of my aunt who leaves alone and recently have difficulty in moving. it's not a very good answer right?

There's another question from the interviewer regarding this. I didnt get a place in the company previously bcause i answered it wrongly

Question : There's a lot of empty vacancies in the department A. How about trying position B?

Although in my application form I applied for position A

My answer : Yes, I'll try my best in position B and will work hard to accomplish the tasks that I'll receive.

BANG! you're a goner

This is where they are testing your ability in making decisions. If u applied for A, please state firmly in your answer that u are only interested in it. Your interviewers definitely will get the first impression of you not being able to make desicions wisely.
A type that will keep on changing things in the future and definitely will waste a lot of time in projects.

Most probably other companies will ask this question if they think u are more suitable in other positions. That is good. But in interviews u have to take a chance  in your answers.

it's true and i know it's not a good answer. that's why i was hoping to have an opinion on what else can i say. i did include that i took the time to think about what i want to do in life.

Hi,

If it is true, why do you think it is not a good answer??  All you have to said is you arer very close to you aunt and she is like a mother to you.  As an employer, what we would want to know is going forward do you still have this kind of commitment??

Truth is always better than lies.. It is less trouble some too and it put you in a moral high ground.

You are not the only one in the world that has older familiy member to take care of...

Dreamer

usually when they ask me why i quit, i'll tell them due to some family problem. although not all, but some will ask what family problem, and my answer is to take care of my aunt who lives alone and recently have difficulty in moving. it's not a very good answer right?

But, if u run into companies that are hardsellling and dont accept no as an answer,
you better not answer them like that bcause they basically dont care about your personal problems. Its either u give full commitment to your work or your family.

Maybe its better to tell them that u prefer not to mention more about your problems, Just tell them its personal matters and its already been solved.

Some companies will have sympathy on u and try to help u as much as they can. One they know thats it regarding family problems, they will stop asking and proceed to other questions.

But, if u run into companies that are hardsellling and dont accept no as an answer,
you better not answer them like that bcause they basically dont care about your personal problems. Its either u give full commitment to your work or your family.

Hi,

Why?? For those company,

1) You do not want to work for them

2)  Even if you work for them, eventually you will have problem witth the company because you need time to deal with your family.

So, honesty saves time and trouble.  It stops you for wasting time on a company that you do not want to work for..

Dreamer

Yup, lying will never help you much, thats why u need to check out about the company that u are going to work for - about their background.

BTW, since u have been working for 20 years +, I think u should be experienced enough to balance time between your work and personal/family matters.

Good Luck