Yesterday i skipped my class [again] because i had to go to Microsoft Indonesia office for having a group assessment regarding selection for internship program in Singapore. Well this is a program for undergraduate students to have an internship during summer vacation in Singapore. It has three tracks marketing, sales, services, technicals. None of them are my passion but whatsoever they provide monthly salary, money, trips, are my passion anyway. So i registered myself to Binus Career and i had in interview with them then i proceeded to the big 50 candidates.
This morning those 50 candidates were divided into 4 groups. For the first session we were given a microsoft product and a client [simulation] we had to make a marketing strategy for that product and make sales presentation for the client. The discussion was very messy. we had 13 people on a round table. We didn't know each other but we had to prepare the presentation. I had no idea about marketing, but whatsoever, i had to be active in this discussion so i took my turn to talk and contribute my ideas. I offered myself to do the presentation, because we had 13 people but we only had 3 minutes to do presentation. If i didn't offer myself to do that, i didn't think i could pass this phase because there's no more chance to show up. And finally, i got into the big 16.
In the second phase, the top 16 people were divided into two groups again. We were given a case about sinking lifeboat survival. We had to choose 6 out of 12 people to be saved from a sinking lifeboat. We had to defend our reasons why we choose them and another team should attack us, and the other way around. What i learn from this session is, in this kind of selection phase is .... don't be naive! we've got no friends there. All we've got is frenemies. The atmosphere has to be friendly but they're our enemy as well. So we gotta find a way how to kick them as an enemy but still treat them as friends so no one will back stab us. Grab as many chance as you get to talk. Because everyone wants to talk. And it is very easy to be ignored so not only talk but we also have to grab the attention. Control the condition. Thanks God i did it well. I grabbed a lot of chances to talk, to attack the opponent team. And i could grab their attention,make them stop talking and listening when i was talking. I made several jokes that worked.
Still in the second phase, the next exercise was one minute speech. We had to promote ourselves in 1 minute. It should not be a hard part for me. I've dealt with it a lot of times. but still, in terms of selection, nerves are still all around. But i did it good too. Everyone is smiling positively, and they laugh at my jokes too [my jokes worked so well there]. Thanks God , again i got into big 9.
So, today the big 9 were invited again to Microsoft's office for individual interview. I thought it was just individual interviews. Apparently it was individual INTERVIEWS. Each of us had 4 interviews with different people in a key position back to back. That was so tiring. Well, in the first interview i was still excited until the third interview i was so sick of answering the question like "tell me about yourself" , "why microsoft should choose you", "why are u different from the other candidates ?" i preferred to repeat the same answer for the same question. Beside that i was given a case to make advertising strategy for Windows 7 advertisement on buses around Jakarta. Then i had to do a simulation of technical sales presentation to sell an Internet Explorer. In fact, i hate Internet Explorer. But i did it good until the forth interview. The interviewer is the director, he's indian, a lil bit annoying and not friendly. And i was kinda tired and boring of interview. So when i entered the room it was like, okay, it would be another why-should-microsoft-choose-you question. But suddenly i feel like i had no mood for interview, and the chemistry that he built is bad, and suddenly i feel like losing my english skill. I didn't speak fluently. I didn't do it well. Whatsoever i was so tired.
After we'd been through all the intervews, the organizer told me that they will choose the top 6. And these top 6 people would have an interview with President Director.
We waited for the decision.
I was called to one room. How's the result ?
Well i will just quote his statements.
"You are outstanding. But you don't close over the other. Ada kan biasanya yang bagus tapi nutupin yang lain gitu. Nah lo nggak. Lo bisa ada di sudut ruangan, di tengah, dimana - mana and you still get the spotlight tp juga tetep ngasih kesempatan buat yang lain. it would be a very pleasant to have you in team. That's why it's hard for us to let you go. And we have to admit, everyone admits that you are unique, you are different in terms of personality, the way you think, you're different from the other. But that what makes us think that you will be good as a specialist, not generalist. Sayang banget kalo lo kerja di kayak beginian. So that's why we decide not to pass you to the next level. We won't let the top 6 go. We will keep contact. You will still have oppoturnity to work with us, no promise, but you still have oppoturnity.We'll keep u warm. But, MACH won't be your first step to Microsoft."
Okay ... Take it all as a compliment.
But ... just don't mix compliment and rejection.
Compliment can be very good to hear, rejection can be so bad to hear.
But combination of both will just make it even more heartbreaking news.
But whatever,
for whatever good or bad. I've done great. I've made it through the top 50. Doing marketing presentation that i've never done before. Got into top 16, top 9 , being interviewed by people in the key position. Got into top 6.
And it's Microsoft btw, and also tough selection.
i'm awesome
1 comment:
yes you are.
So proud of you :)
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