Unbelievable.. I passed all my subjects...WOO HOOO..  Open champagnes.. POK POK!! I have been worried for weeks.. I tot I would have fail a couple subjects.. but amazingly this has come to an end.. POK POK again!! Gonna have a lot of funs before the trimester break ends.. POK POK POK POK POK POK....!!!

5th Jun 09, attended an early interview with a recruitment agency in KL town. The recruitment lady keep emphasizing that my current earning is high.. the market is tough.. but still will help me for a lookout.. sienzz.. spent 30minutes in the interview and decided to go back to the office.. switched on the mobile, immediately received a local call which not from my phone memory. I picked up the call, a gentleman voiced “Hi, I’m Melvin from EL****, may I speak to Bobby?” Obviously, It’s an interview call. Since I was on half day leave, I requested for same day interview. I all-the-way drove down to PJ Uptown for the appointment. Without knowing much about the company, I used my “powderful” phone GPRS-ed the company website. WOW!! Local oil & gas company.. it has been a dream for me to move into Oil & Gas industry. With high expectation of the firm, I walked in...

I could see the GUY receptionist from the outside, well... no discrimination! I told my purpose. He replied “You wait arrrr.. you sit there first!” I waited awhile, the Melvin guy came and met me, he looks 26 or 27 from his appearance, he passed me an application form to fill up. With my personal experience, I get discomforted when the application form asks for Age, Gender, Race, Religion or any discrimination criteria. I told myself get over it.. this is boleh-land(Malaysia). While filling up the form, I saw the GUY receptionist busy entertained a white-haired AH-PEK on the administration paper works.  The Ah-Pek looks like a senior manager, he did not even take a glance at me even I was sitting at the waiting area for 20minutes but just “lecturing” the receptionist. I finished the form and the ah-pek is still bla bla bla… me also beh-tahan him, I guess I saved the receptionist’s day by interrupt the lecturing conversation.

The Melvin guy came out again, he has bery strong Manglish speaking “Bobby, you wait awhile arrr.. I try to get a room.” I smiled to him. He was embarrassing running in-front of me just to get a meeting room, I could see he gave up of searching, he said “Sorry for the inconvenient caused le.. I bring you to my place la..” I smiled. He brought me to his work cubicle, he has this “McDonald” big smile from his expression and I could see he is very proud of his territory. “Welcome to HR, this is our HR area.” I looked at the place, I was sooooooooooo stunned.. the place is messy, the HR folders are everywhere.. I quickly eye-scanned the folders, some tagged “Salary revision letter, New Staff Joining, License Renewal, Resigned Staffs and etc”.. I almost fainted because the cubicle is assessable by anybody and the place is holycow mess. He asked “What do you think this place arrrr?” I smiled and said “Impressive.”

He provided me a dusty half-broke chair “Sorry arrr.. this chair is a bit.. err.. mm… SHAKY”, I said “It’s OK.”

He started with “Bobby, we received your application of Human Resource position arr…this is actually not an expanding position..not additional, not expanding, no extra headcount.” I was thinking.. I understand the word “expanding” need not explain further la bro.. "This is a replacement position, replacement of who? This is replacement of..." he pointed himself.. I was entirely shocked AGAIN! stun # 2, I did not expect to be interviewed by a RESIGNEE and what on earth a company will let this happened. He continued his story, “I obtained MASTER already ma.. because I want to further study maaa.. I wanna do post graduate program.. so I quit lo..”  with his English speaking proficiency, it was TRULY difficult for me believe that he actually obtained a Master degree. Dr. Cockroach? Majoring in Dance Art? I politely smiled to his statement. He continued “I very admire those people can actually study and working at the same time one lo.. those people very impressive lo.. I don’t think I can do that, that is why I resigned lo..” I replied “I am actually doing that right now, distance study.” He shocked “really arr?” he flipped my resume, “ohh.. YA LE… you very good lo.. you not bad haa.. very good lo you..” “Our company is like that one.. working 5 ½ days, 8am – 5:30pm Monday to Friday and 8am – 1pm on Saturday, you got any problem?” “Shouldn’t be any issue.” I smiled. He took out his company profile brochure and explained to me “Our company is manufacturing Oil & Gas equipments one.. we got branches in Penang and Johor.. but those places ho.. got people already one.. they no need take care one..” I asked “In this case, how many workforce you have in this office? And what is the main operation here?” “Oohh… this is a sales office lo.., we have about 30 staffs here but you cannot see most of them today because all of them clear leaves ma. You think you can handle more than 30 persons?” I responded humbly “I am currently managing full spectrums of HR works for 450 local resources and 200 expatriates in my current firm”. I think he get offended. “You do only 1 part of HR or you do..you do..do all HR works ar?” “As I mentioned, I am a HR generalist role, I am taking care of all the HR related works.” “You very good ho.. not bad le you..” he impressed.

He asked “May I know how good is your English?” I answered “I would consider my English is good and I’m confident with that” He not happi with my answer “How bout your writing skills? You sure your English very good ar?” I really think this is the most STUPIG question I have ever asked in an interview!! I replied “I have been in the industry for years and I am quite confident with my business English and my writing skills too.” He threw me another dumb question “HOW SURE ARE YOU?” I thought for 2 seconds and answered him “I have good result for my English subject during my academy, also I obtained LCCI - Business English level 2, and I have band 5 for my MUET. Also, you may observe from our conversation, if you still having doubt about my English speaking or writing, you may give me an assessment, I don’t mind about that.” “WAHHH… you very good ho.. not bad le you.. last time my school only have 10 people get band 5 and 1 person get band 6. You very good le, then I no need worry liao.. give you an example la, let’s say if staffs they throw rubbish into the sink, you must write a formal email to tell them but you cannot write like a warning but to tell them. You know? You understand me or not?” “Ya, understand” I smiled. “YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND?” DUHHHHHH??!! I responded politely “I understand this is a psychology tactic, to be considerate and not being too aggressive & offensive, am I right?”. "You very good le.. you got study Psychology?” I smiled again. “ This position also managing the receptionist.. managing people is tough one you know? You know how to do that?” “I am actually overseeing 2 HR juniors and a dispatch clerk, I don’t see there is any issue.” He surprised “WAHHHHHHHHHHHH… that is why I shortlist you la.. you can be Assistant Manager level laaaa.. you no problem la..i think you got no problem la.. you very good le.. Our company is like that one..we got procedure one, got 1st interview, got 2nd interview, all these are procedure lo..all 1st level interview must go thru me one.. but I think I will straight arrange you the 2nd interview today as well la..” He pointed a direction. "You see that room, my director actually sitting there..she is free today.. I go see her first arrr.. you wait arrr..” I nearly fainted, I actually wanted to leave coz I have no interest with this company. But I really feel like challenge this director and it’s very LANSI just leave like that. While waiting at the cubicle, I can see the female director actually discussing with Melvin. And I heard from far, a lady voice “ah-sheng ar, ah sheng.. you must see carefully la.. this one cannot la.. You must tell him!!” I smelled the fish, I knew they must be talking bout me or my salary. Melvin came back “Hey Bobby, sorry le.. my director is a bit busy today le..” “I thought you said she is free today?” I asked. “No la, she got customers suddenly..” I smiled & said “no problem, I understand.”

I wanted to take my case and leave the place. Out of sudden, he asked “Bobby, I think ho.. I think ho.. your salary is very high lo with your age lo..” I said: “Was that the reason your director did not shortlist me?” I asked bravely since I pretty much confirm that I won’t work here. He started jumble up various languages “Errrr.. Uuu.. Eeeee.. Arrr… No la, she is not free today.. sorry hoo.. sorry for inconvenient caused le.. thank you for your time.” I sat down again “Just out of curiosity, what did you mean by my salary is very high for my age?”  He did not see that coming, he stammered “Errr.. I was saying.. errr.. I was saying.. with your age ho…actually consider very high pay wo..” I being defensive  “I see.. but with my years of experience and capability, I believe I deserved for that.” He wasn’t happi “Ya, understand but.. with your age.. if other elders know that you are earning higher than them, it’s not good lo..” I further attacked “I don’t see there is any issue from there, if I having a better caliber than a senior age person, why shouldn’t I entitled for better rewards?” He tried to twist “Bcoz ho.. our company ho.. like that one.. we use your role la.. your job title la.. and then lastly your age for the measurement lo..” I smile and replied “Melvin, please do not get offended “I don’t think company should take AGE as a criteria to evaluate someone. As I understanding, if you take age to judge someone in western countries like US or Europe countries, it’s actually a discrimination or an illegal act..” He stopped me without letting me finish “Because those are western counties ma...”

I stood strong on my point-of-view and questioned him, “I understand this is not widely-use in Malaysia, but I actually agree on the thought, because I strongly believe that someone should deserves of their efforts and capability, and NOT BECAUSE of the age. Let me give you an example, if we hired a fresh graduate to do you and my jobs, and he/she could actually do better than both of us, why shouldn’t the person entitled for the price?” He silent.. I continued “Let’s say, if a senior HR manager who aged 50 and don’t know anything about HR, but in fact you doing all his works and you can actually do better than him, isn’t it unfair? WHY shouldn't you be entitled for his compensation instead?” i think he finally convinced “I actually think you got the point.. I will think about it..Ya.. ya.. I think ho.. I like your idea” I smiled and told him “This is actually not my idea, this is called EEO, Equal Employment  Opportunity. It’s written in HR or Management book.” Master degree holder? Unbelievable! I think he was embarrassed and wanted me to leave as quick as possible. “Bobby, thanks for sharing, I will do all the first level interviews first arrr.. will let you know your result one.. no worry harr..” I laughed “Hahaa.. No problem, Melvin. We are learning everyday, just let me know even I’m not shortlisted for next round, I wouldn’t mind about that. You take care.” I grabbed my case and left the place...

Note: God, give me a job! No more funny interview pls...