hi ableze, i understand your concern. it's normal to ask about the salary but find it hard to mention it. it's important to wait for the right timing... normally the interviewer will talk about it first. but if he/ she doesn't, and you find the interview is about to end, it's the time to ask. Take the opportunity when he/ she says: Do you have any other questions? ... say yes, and that you would like to know about the basic (pay) of the position. I figure that's the polite way to ask

And as for thank you letter and what not... i think it's not necessary too. but if you would like the interviewer to remember you, send a thank-you email. normally when they come in, they'll pass/ present you with their business card and in there states their email. So just send them a formal thank you email for seeing you and that you'd be waiting for their call on the next round of interview

oh right hehe sorry, misunderstood your question...

hm good one... k, i guess in your situation, you will find the urge to ask. and I'd say, might as well go ahead. otherwise later on you wasted your time and energy to go for d interview to find that it's not your cup of tea.

i suggest you just casually say eg: "Oh your company did not mention the basic on JobStreet... do you by any chance have an idea what is the basic?"

i can give you assurance tho, i've tried this once (and i wasn't asking about pay, but merely benefits) over the phone, and the lady said, "Oh I'm sorry, I'm not really clear on this... the boss will talk to you about it on your interview."

Conclusion = don't apply for the job if you think it's too much of a hassle for you. I understand this coz i've gone through it.

The chances of the company telling you the salary over the phone is as slim as getting Klang river cleaned up. Maybe over 50 companies that called you up, 5 will let you know. Just be prepared for this situation. Depending on your situation/ experience, pay may vary - but i don't think it will vary much - unless we're talking bout getting into MNCs, yes.

One more tip, if you got called for interview to Multinational Companies or even public listed companies, try to hold back asking bout the salary and juz attend d interviews

those are merely based on my experience and presumptions, they may or may not apply to you

This post has been edited by sweet_pez: Nov 18 2008, 09:47 AM

nicvoo>> i guess in the end we've always gotta do some revision of theory from school days. even when i go for interview, every interviewer asked me the same question: What do you understand about Marketing/ What is Marketing? (ps: coz i'm in the Marketing line).

bt yalor, our brain capacity is not that wide and tend to forget stuffs. it happens all the time. sumtimes we don't even remember doing what we did last week, what about lessons 2 years ago?!

so when being hit with THE question you mentioned, reply something like, "Oh... yes, it's been two years ago and i am not really an expert in that area... but i am good in this (specify which area you're best with experience) area because bla bla bla bla bla." then again, if the interviewer wants to find fault and try to bring up the topic again, say that you are not polished in that area - the previous/ current job doesn't require knowledge on it etc.

if he asked about 'how to employ you' etc, say that you are a person who is willing to learn, work hard and bla bla bla. say some of your good stuffs. mention that although you may happen to forget that theoretical part of his question, you are actually a fast learner and will be able to remember when you encounter familiar situations/ items etc.

dunno whether it helps in regard to engineering/ electrical related interviews ^^;

anyway, Best Of Luck!

Yes, one of the standard question during interview is why you leave your previous/ current position. u can say that the expectation was different. tell the interviewer what is your expectation and what you were asked to do.

if you didn't wish to elaborate or highlight the issue, just say that you are looking for new challenges and wish to gain more experience in a different working environment etc. bt be prepared for them to ask you 'what sort of new challenges' etc...

Waaaaah glad to hear someone made it!!! But in one way or another, your have the 'charm' and built good rapport with your interviewer. note that not everyone will be able to achieve that and you're prolly well lucky on one side yes, getting a great and friendly interviewer on that side too!

anyway, CONGRATULATIONS to you!!!

There is a possibility. For one, if they are not interested in you, they wouldn't even call you for an interview... and for two, they will need to know what you think about the job - about the rotation of the shifts, responsibilities etc... whether u have any disagreement or dislike abt them.

But looking it on a diff perspective, those could be standard questions they ask every interviewee. And the choice of whether you will be chosen lies in the answers you reply to those questions. For example, it is part of the company requirement to work on shifts but your reply showed some sort reluctance - that signifies you might have a problem with it.

Interviewers are sharp. They can often notice changes or hidden msgs in your tone/ body language. Therefore it's not the questions that they asked that shows whether you have a chance, but more so in the answer you reply them.


YES, CALL THEM. E-mails are often unreliable for many reason. Unsent mails, internet connection etc poses a problem. And usually the sender expects the receiver to open, read and reply their mail almost instantly.

See, there is a confusion because of mis-communication. In times like these, it's best to speak to the HR directly and confirm the date you are able to attend. It doesn't matter anymore whether who makes the mistake (and please try to refrain from saying THEY make the mistake... just say there's been a miscommunication and that the day you'd like to attend is on a Thursday).

Since it's already late, they may be off work liao. So call them up tomorrow first thing in the morning and inform them about it. If you only sent them email and hope the HR will take notice, that's too much risk to bear. Imagine they are waiting and expecting for you to turn up but noticed there's miscomm later on, it'll be bad. Yes, it is not your fault, but the whole thing had been messed up and nobody's in the mood already.

Yes, part of the questions will normally be a repetition because in the face2face interview, you'll most probably be interviewed by your dept head/ direct superior/ Manager/ GM etc. The HR's job during the phone interview was to filter applicants. Among the pool the called, perhaps only a few whom she considered 'able' to handle the task - and one of them could be you.

Since your 'opponent' next round is a different group of interviewer then do expect the same questions. Review what you answered today and check where you could fine tune some of your replies. And expect more challenging questions (the phone interview was basically some standard/ basic ques to check whether you're aware of certain things etc) in actual interview. Also be careful of your body language and SMILE all the time. That's the best charm anyone can pull


Hmm You will be lacking some working experience (maybe you've worked part time?), so start with some simple intro of your family, education, your interests etc. I know it's boring and they are stated in the resume. There are ppl who advise better not repeat what you've written in the resume. But I beg to differ. I have been to numerous interviews and it's a standard question.

Bear in mind that usually it's the HR who did filtering process and reading of resume. They will select several (or a pool) of candidates whom they think fits the qualification. HR will then pass the details to the interviewers, and set up interview date/ time and all. Do remember that your interviewer are usually managers. They are far too busy to read and remember the details in your resume... and also keep in mind that you're just one of the many. The ONLY time when the interviewers actually know about you is when you talk to them bout yourself. I have seen a lot of them actually reading my resume for the 1st time DURING the interview.

Conclusion, it's fine to repeat what you have in your resume.

Now back to the question on what to talk about... you can highlight on your College/ University. If you have been to overseas, talk about your experience and observations there. Or, talk about your college/ university projects that you've done. Maybe in your final project you have some difficulty but managed to get through it due to ability, you can tell him/ her about it. And if you've done some part time/ internship, talk about it too - your experience and observation as well.

and oh, SMILE

Ah... now that's interesting. So since it's the same interviewer, then preferably you provide a different answer. He may asks you the same questions but it's a good oppor to answer things you have not told him on the phone.

Then... how did it went? Went well?

There are many situations. Normally in my case, I'm put into a the waiting room and usually abt 20min then the interviewer will arrive. It depends. Sometimes the manager would arrange one whole day where he will interview all the candidates (as you mentioned - the scenario you thought would happen). There are also situations where the manager only have eg. 1030 and 430pm time slot available for that particular day (throughout his whole day perhaps full with appointments, meetings etc).

Or, maybe the previous interviewee left earlier (eg session ended 30min earlier) and the manager went up to finish his work while waiting for the next candidate.

It's not surprising to find yourself in these situations. But anyhow, alone or not, you've gotta perform well

Yes, preferably you don't stop suddenly when you're talking. Don't rush though. You can take your time to think what u want to reply. Take a minute or two to think about how you're going to answer and then start speaking. Try not to use distracting words like Dr. M's famous 'apa nama' or 'eeeeerrr....' or even 'hmmmmmm'.... etc.

When you were planning your answer, make sure your brain twists fast enough to think abt the next thing you're going to say (to which we go back to sufficient sleep the day before). You can pause for a time of 1-2 seconds to continue with your point because any pause longer than that prompts the interviewer to think you're done with your answer.


As for that mistake, it's not really a mistake. I encountered a similar situation where the interviewers asked me whether I have any other offers and interviews... I replied honestly: yes, I have been offered a similar position in another company. That being my last interview (i had 3 interviews in d same week), I told them that this is the last one. They asked me whether I was going to accept the offer and I replied that I am still considering and will need to reply them latest next week Friday.

They further interrogate me with questions like the location of the other company, the benefits, salary and job description. It was tough for me but I kept the salary part and name of company confidential. I told them it's in the same industry tho.

The location seems to be a problem. D comp that offered me was in Shah Alam, and this comp that I interviewed for is in PJ, and I stay in Klang. They asked whether I will accept the other job coz it was nearer to my house.

And my replied was, "No." reason being - as I told them - i'm putting my work ahead of my 'house'. Location doesn't matter as long as I am able to learn in the particular company and I will be given appropriate exposure bla bla bla.

I got called for the 2nd round interview but rejected it in the end ^^; I still prefer the 1st job offer due to its nature of work.

and for the 2nd part of your question>> if it's a technical question, tell them honestly you have no idea. Reason maybe because you have little exposure in that xxx area, BUT you are familiar/ good in this xxx area.

as for general questions... i need to know what's your definition of general. If say, the interviewer asked, "What dialect do you speak?" and you have no idea what 'dialect' means, just be honest (rather than answering the wrong thing). Go with, "I'm sorry, do you mean the language I can speak...?" and the interviewer will correct you. Btw, Dialect is not language. Dialect is (for Chinese) eg. Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Teow Chew etc

It is indeed bad... plus the fact that CNY is near. Let's see how it goes after CNY... hopefully things will pick up.

This post has been edited by sweet_pez: Jan 19 2009, 10:32 AM

Hi Chin, from numerous perspectives and discussions - this matter could not be concluded (on whether result is important or not). I'd say it's an arguable topic.

Here's my view:

Result is an entry ticket to interviews with prestigious MNCs - regardless of any industry. Employers could not judge us because they don't know us. So the only basis they have is your CV and result slips (SPM, Diploma, Degree etc). For one, they will only hire excellent people who can drive their company towards a more profounding future - and judging through result is one method to determine whether you are worthy of the company.

Therefore you'll see most company stating this: CGPA of 3.0 and above.

And that's the benchmark they set.

Say, you got called for an interview. How you perform in your interview is also a selection process. Assuming you did well after 3 rounds of interview and managed to enter the company, it is then up to your ability to perform. After you joined the firm, it doesn't matter whether you have straight A(s) in SPM or failed your law paper in college. You have to show your true ability which a mere paper cannot measure (yah well, appraisal is another issue).

As for your question on which type of ppl will fare better, I'd say it depends. If both candidates got called for an interview, I believe the one who can communicate better (with average result) will get chosen. I did mention earlier - that result is a ticket to getting an interview. Once you gained the entry, everything else depends on your performance.

Surely, those with communication prob will face difficulty interacting with everyone in the organization. It's less desirable to hire them - considering the fact that everything we do, we interact with people (outside and inside the company).

Yes, many situations can be applied, it also depends on the interviewer. What I imply is that it's not a safe move for most. If you're young - in your mid or late 20s, then it's fine to use the excuse of seeking better prospect and more challenge in work. In my previous comp - it's not what I wish to do, nor do I like the work I'm doing. Plus it has limited prospect on my side. I merely voice out the truth on my side.

But looking on another side... for example you're working in Nestle with much future and growth. Suddenly you interview for a local company. Surely the interviewer is interested to understand WHY the dramatic change. Then this time, explain your reasons - maybe because it's politics, the working environment is too intense (you can handle pressure but the pressure there is tremendous - something like dat), or simply other reasons that compell you to leave.

Surely it's alright to say factors that made you leave. Then again, be very careful with your words and how you talk about it. If you said them as though you're complaining, then that's bad. So if you're gonna talk abt your previous company, my advise is: choose your words very carefully... use mild words that don't show strong emotions. For example, the word "regret" is very strong. It shows big remorse in something... therefore just be smart when you answer

Hi, some suggestions to your questions:

1. Okay, when you go for an interview, you'll perform to your best ability. The minute you walk out of the door, you'll have a feeling whether you did well or not, and whether the job's for you or not. Not only you, everybody does. You'll have an idea whether you flunked it or aced it. There are also uncertainties, but there's always a feeling sorta predicting the results.

Now that 'feeling' is to prepare yourself for the worst or for the best. Then again, your gut feeling could be wrong so don't put too much hope into it. Normally interviewers won't call you up to say you didn't make it through. They would normally write an e-mail to say that apparently you do not fit their criteria, or you're not the one they're looking for. There was once when I actually received the letter (of saying I didn't made through the interview) - to which I laughed hard. Reason was I'm already working for my current company and that interview was like, 2 months back?! I already had this "Not my type of a job" in my head during the interview - coz the job description doesn't seem to fit what i want, despite their advertisement.

Don't worry, normally no company will tell you straight (on the spot) you didn't make it. Unless it's a job that doesn't require the formality of an interview.

2. Sure, you can always apply again and again. Thing is, be mentally prepared that they won't call you. Unless you've worked for few years, then u apply again for the same company (maybe diff position) then there's a possibility.

As fresh grad, do a reality check. Check on what you're looking for against your abilities and knowledge. Some say, be picky and don't take up the job unless you really want it. Others will tell you to grab whatever offer you can get. I'd say, up to you to choose. Times is hard, but still hiring. So choose an option that's best for you. Remember, every action you take will influence the road you'll walk in future.

If i had taken other job offers in the past, I wouldn't land myself in this job in my desired industry. And this job changes the whole turn of my career...


Hahahahahahaaha but isn't it all worthy? I mean you went through the tough interview but you got the job challenging interviews are good because they test your perserverance and knowledge! Bt yah, when you got out you'll feel as though you've been interrogated for 1-hour. Brain cells all damaged. I won't call it tiring, it's exhausting!

No problem Bboy (the nick Dora reminds me of the children's cartoon - Dora the Explorer ).

Yes, economic depression is getting worse by day. More people out of jobs, esp those in heavy industry. Speculated recovery is only in 2011 to 2012. If you seriously have problem getting a job, try internship first (liaise with your college/ uni). Perhaps after 3 months internship the company will want you to join full time.

All the best!

Hi, another option to vivi79's format is just a simple thank you. Different ppl prefers diff version. vivi79's version is a little 'upfront' in my opinion. Then again, everyone's free to choose and maybe her version works well/ better.

But for me, I start by thanking the interviewer for taking the time to see me, and then mention that I'm interested to work with them. Lastly, I'll say that I'm looking forward to hear from them again. A modest and short thank-you note is sufficient.

You can start with education background, down to your university, talk abt your family - how many siblings etc and maybe your ambition. The question of "Introduce youself" is the time when interviewer wish to get to know you better. I have mentioned this b4, bt I'll say it again - there r ppl who advise you not to repeat what's stated in your resume. But I would say, why not? The person who interviews you might not be the person who calls you up. Your interviewer might be a dept head who's too busy with his work to read your resume beforehand. A number of them only read the applicant's resume for the 1st time during the interview, while some who'd read it before might not remember due to the fact that you're not the only applicant.

Can't you get a lecturer to write a letter and get the Head of Dept/ Uni to sign on it saying you have participated in xxx and xxx during xxx year in Uni? I'm sure among the lecturers ard, there are a few that you're close to who would be willing to help since such an incident happened.

Try asking your lecturer to help with it. And yes, without certs to proof certain things, there's no credentials in what we say.

I would say that's the least you have to go in order to get a written record. Don't be careless and guard your certs like gold next time. School/ uni certs, birth certs etc should be handled with care. Remember to keep it safely in your drawer and never misplace them.

Yes, police report won't help much but if you do have one, it might help when you go to your lecturer for a written record of extra curricular activities.

Don't worry so much, settle it ASAP so you can feel at ease. I understand the anxiety of having lost something important. So chill and plan your trips. Ask the lecturer if you'll need to type a request letter beforehand or whether any proper channel to go through. All the best.

Yeah, life isn't always rosy. Even those who has a job need to find a way to KEEP their job.

I think you can adjust the setting in [My Controls].

Depending on the person interviewing you. If it's a different person from the first interview, expect some repeat questions from session 1 and also more technical questions (for Tech position) while more management questions for managerial positions. Sorry that I didn't bother to flip through the previous page to read abt it.

All in all, good luck!

Well usually a long sleeve looks more professional on men, regardless of any job interview. And a candidate would want to look professional despite the clothing is suitable or not.

So I'd suggest you stick to long sleeve. Maybe the one you possess doesn't suit you. You can try other long sleeves with simple lines or light coloured ones instead of dark coloured top.

What's the truth? Try telling us first XD
And what's your textbook answer?

Everyone's textbook answer is presumably different.

First thing first, do you go for the interview because you simply needed a job? If that's the case, might as well give them an asnwer they want to hear.

If you really wanted the job (bcoz you desire for it) then your answer must be related with the job/ industry somehow or rather, then u have no issue.

What's the problem? Maybe u can elaborate and let us know... otherwise no one can help you coz we dunno what's the issue here.

Normally they will only tell you 'which' company once you agreed to go for the interview and the other company agreed to meet up with you.

Don't worry, if they don't tell you what company it is, how can you get there?

If you want some hints before saying yes or no, ask the headhunter company for:

1) location (ask them to be more specific)
2) nature of biz
3) responsibility of your position
4) SME or MNC or public listed comp
5) Numb of staffs etc

You can actually obtain some first hand info and altho they could not reveal the comp name, you can tell from their answer that whether it's roughly something you want or otherwise.

If in doubt, just go for the interview. You'll never know...

This post has been edited by sweet_pez: Jul 28 2009, 02:36 PM