Thursday 8 January 2015

2015.... Is Just A Number. Interview Story and Podcast Update

Hey, everyone! Welcome to another episode of the Rambling Monkeys Podcast...

Wait, wrong intro. Let's start back.

Hey readers, how are you? How's 2015 treating you already? It's been, what, 8 days? I had an OK New Year. Guess what? I slept so early on New Year's Eve I woke up at 3am and I couldn't sleep after that. I missed all the pretty explosions and pretty fires and stuff. My 8 days in 2015 were fine, thanks for asking (Please pretend that you did ask me, or that sentence would be awkward as fuck).

So, some things happened during the last month of 2014, which was December 2014, because December is the last month, if you didn't get it. I told you freaks I took the Administrative and Diplomatic Officer entrance exam, right? Guess what? I PASSED THE FREAKING EXAM. I was ecstatic, I couldn't contain my excitement I bought a PS4 to congratulate myself as a present to myself for passing the exam I've failed for 3 times. Well, I'd buy the PS4 anyway even if I failed the exam (Psstt... my PSN id is zrizal89. Add me *wink, wink*)

The interview slot was on the 20th December 2014, a Saturday. Lucky me. I typed back my resume, photocopied all the essential papers, certs and ICs. I read almost everything about Government programs, current issues and all that was happening in Malaysia in the newspaper. My brain was begging to me to stop memorizing all this stuff that I would eventually forget the moment I step out of the interview room.

Longer story cut to long (I took away the "er". Clever, innit?), I was looking at my best, and the first thing all the interviewers had to do were write essays in Bahasa Malaysia and English.  4 questions, answer 2. Two essays that were pretty easy but they only gave us like, 30 minutes to write and that was too short to elaborate on the topic.

Next, we had a BMI test. Shut up and don't ask me. Moving along, we registered ourselves for the interview, I got the M room (Not "M for Mature", but the letter "M", because that's how they name the rooms. Don't ask me why.), and I had to fill in some forms, arrange the documents in order so it'll be easy for the interviewer to check if I'd miss anything. My number was 7, my group had like 13 people so it wasn't that long to wait.

I was talking to the other interviewers, they were chill, except for the ladies cuz they were hot! Well, I wish they were hot but they were nervous, Afraid what kind of questions that will be asked in the room.

Long story to kinda-not-that short (medium), it was my turn.

You know the stuff I read, where I've been busting my balls and brain to memorize all the information like a sponge (Like I jammed a whole book of Malaysian Encyclopedia in my head is what it really feels like)? Well, mostly they asked this simple question, "WHY DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT TO PTD?"

I was anticipating this question, but not so early. I can't tell you my answers because I really forgot the specifics of my answer, and that went on for almost 15 minutes, half of 30 minutes (simple math here, readers) trying to provoke me into not being a PTD and staying in DOE. There were many provocations, twist and turns and curve balls and such, I dodged like a fat man trying to dodge balls while playing dodge ball. I got hit, but I didn't fall, I answered coolly, and the whole interview, I spoke in English. I was so nervous in there, I was supposed to answer in Malay because the interviewer asked questions in Malay but I answered in English. That's how nervous I was.

But I felt comfortable because I can convey the answer, reasons and message better than fumbling in Malay and make myself look more like a nervous wreck. So, she changed the subject to personal questions: My hobby, my hopes and dreams in the future, asked if I liked singing (Cuz I showed them my Piano Examination Certs. Dunno how they connect playing piano and singing). I told them about my podcast and they were impressed by it, supporting my project (Woohoo!). The last question she asked me was, "Do you see yourself in the future, as the Director General of DOE or as a Secretary General in a ministry?". I answered, "If God wills it, I wanna be a Secretary General".

Then, that marks the end of the interview. She told me that it was a pleasure talking to me. I thanked here, took my certs, said goodbye and left the room. Yes, dear readers, they didn't ask me one bit about current issues or government programs and such. Yeah, she touched about my current work but it didn't go that deep. I answered calmly what I did and they seemed satisfied.

So, until now, I dunno if my chances to pass the interview is high or not. They could say all the nice words they want and reject me. I can only pray that they could see the potential in me.

That's a long ass story, eh? Maybe I should do a podcast. Oh wait... I do have a podcast!

So, if you don't know me from Adam, or somehow reading this and not know who the hell I am (offended-ness intensifies),,, I'm not that special. So, I created this podcast to have a conversation with my friends and talk about almost anything that can be recorded and published on the Net. My podcast's name is Rambling Monkeys Podcast. There's like, 6 episodes that has been published on PodOMatic, please listen to it ,(Click Here You Sexy Beast. Auuuummm!!) but I'm thinking of porting to SoundCloud cuz there, I can publish Unlimited amounts of Ramblings there!

If you're in Malaysia, or you magically transported to Malaysia and somehow are near to my place (Hint: Near Bangi Komuter Station), I'll pick you there and kidnap you to do an episode with me and you will leave with a grin on your face (Not that we're doing naughty stuff. We'll just talk. What were you thinking, pervs?). OR, you can contact me through Twitter (@LordRizal) and I'l reply faster than Speedy Gonzalez trying to buy a 50% off burrito. We can talk about anything you like, promote anything, maybe you're lonely and need someone to talk to, like games, music, movies, personal experiences... Just come to me. I need to talk too. I'm a boring person.

Yeah, it's been a while since I've updated this blog. So, that's it, hope you readers could bear this once in a blue movie moment that I have the time to type this. So long, farewell my lovely readers. Till next time, I bid you adieu. Yeah, goodbye and have a great day. Now, live your life. I have to take control of mine before it spins out of control like Marty McFly traveling to 2015.

Thanks for reading, and KEEP RAMBLING!