Internship Experience: FMM (Week 1)

I have undergoing my practical training at Federation of Malaysia Manufacturers (FMM) Perak branch. Commonly people will think that name of “federation” always belong to a society or similar else, but actually it is not, this organization may run their operation like a society, but it is an organization which registered their existence under commission of company (COC), not commission of society (COS), and of course, a profit oriented organization.

The main role of FMM is to be the advisor (mostly the representative of member manufacturers) of both local member manufacturers and government (both central and state), hence, there are lots of meetings carried out between the above parties to solve or discuss problems, which FMM become the middle man between them. Besides, FMM will organize lots of talks, seminars, forums and else for their member manufacturers and public as well, and the participants fees would be one of the main income sources aside from member fees and annual membership fees. Another important income source for FMM is generated from their subsidiary company, FMM Institute (FMMI), where FMMI main business activity is offering courses and trainings to both FMM members and non members, and my job scope is mostly assisting FMMI function and operation.

FMM income also contributed by form selling, e.g. certificate of origin (CO) form (FMM given the authority by MITI to issue certificate which proven that a manufacturer’s exported products was at least 70% locally value created).

This is what I heard from the assistant manager during the orientation in my first day of practical training. My job scopes during the internship period, mentioned by the assistant manager, are:
1) Assist in promotion of Branch events/seminars by way of telemarketing
2) Assist in administrative duties of the branch i.e. updating of records, filing, and preparation of letters
3) Assist in sourcing out new ideas for seminars/program via government agencies webpage and newspaper
4) Assist in updating/improving the branch’s website

During this first week, I had been doing proofreading, arranging and sort documents, data key in kind of boring routine stuff… but luckily this is not the only tasks I am doing. I had been asked by my senior to help out in seeking information regarding to Perak Amanjaya Development Plan through internet (I had only know this grand plan since then, never noticed it before though a Perakian), I had also attending two meetings, which one of them was the meeting between TNB Perak and member manufacturers, another was the 1st meeting of FMM ICT resources committee, which in both meetings I required to listen and record the whole minutes, thought it is easy? Nope, absolutely not, for there are lots of technical terms and jargons throughout the meetings, which make me difficult to understand what they are discussing…sigh…I told my seniors about this and they comfort me that this is what they experienced earlier too, and convince me that this is a very good experience to learn, and I self-identify with what they said.

Well, this is what I had experienced during my 1st week practical training, sharing more in coming post.

Interview Experience: OSK

Just watch Malaysia end their title dream in Thomas Cup, which defeated by China team, no sad feeling though bad news it is, as this is an expected result when you look at the facts and status.

Back to the point, this post is my last post on my interview experience for internship job seeking. Same as OE Design as for last post had mentioned, OSK internship application also applied on JobStreet as well. Actually this job is OSK investment bank graduate associate program, which the program aim on training new blood at their investment banking front office operation.

OSK HR call me up for an interview after 1 week from my application (which they mentioned it as "interview" in both phone conversation and email, and well actually it is not for the first time), well, on that time, I am so delighted after hearing their response though it is an interview only, which I willing to spend almost RM200 (preparing documents, transport and else...) just for this interview...

The first "interview" actually is an aptitude assessment, test or whatever, the test take place at OSK main branch located at KL Ampang road, and approximately 50-60 applicants present for the test. The 1st test is comprised by 5 parts, which are English language proficiency, quantitative ability, numbering order, organizing ability and also case handling (question somewhat like given you a scenario, and your decision making on it), and all of it conducted in multiple choice question form (and honestly speaking, it is quite easy answered...compared to another aptitude test from IBM which I did try earlier). Besides, there also few personality tests and have to application form following the aptitude test, and well, that's all for how the first "interview" going.

the HR people told us to wait for another call up for interview (this one is really an interview) if being shortlisted. And the following week I had been called up for that, wow, it is such a exciting moment when I received that phone call. Again, I spent a sum of money again for this interview without hesitation. The HR told me to attend the interview punctual at 9am, but on that day, as there are few more applicants attending the interview as well, unfortunately I had been kept for waiting 2 hours and have my interview only at 11am (what the...). The interview session is 2 stages process, one following another, and each time will have 3 interviewers facing me alone. well, after waiting 2 hours impatiently, I am tired and blur, and thus I had performed quite bad at the 1st stage, which I believed that I had the interviewers have an impression of lack confident in myself. After the 1st stage, I had awake and being warm up, and the following 2nd stage go smoothly and I am satisfy with my performance though not extraordinary.

Questions being asked throughout those interviews included request me to introduce myself, test my willingness to perform something so that see whether I am suit for their organization, and questions like "do you think you are a leader?", "what you like to see yourself in two years time?"...

After the interview, I did not received any notification from OSK, and I had expected that since the interviewers in 1st stage interview had told me to wait for their call (which implied I had little chance being shortlisted as this is the common HR people tactic). Till now, my OSK graduate associate program application status on JobStreet there had been stated as "kept for reference"...not unsuccessful, nor kept for future consideration...what is it mean huh...???

Well, I am temporary not feel like bother their action, as I am ongoing my practical training at my hometown there, which my application for that organization did not even require me to attend any interview plus RM300 allowance per month only...T.T, though this is the case, but it is a nice experience there after I have been working there, coming post I will share my experience on my practical training~

Interview Experience: OE Design

OE Design is a jewelery manufacturer which origin in Germany and set up their manufactory at Bayan Lepas of Penang island. I had applied their management trainee position via jobstreet since their job ad had encouraged finance student to apply for it.

2 weeks after the application, I had been called up for an interview. This is a pleasant interview process as the interviewer, name Ms. Khaw (sound like that...) is a very friendly lady. And throughout the hours, it is more like a conversation than an interview, she keep on asking and giving her view on my education, family, experience and else, the feeling just like a new friend eager to know more about you.

After half hour of interview (conversation), finally come to the main point, she pointed out that after refer to my resume and other information, she decided to let me handle online customer order, which the main responsibility is to inform and assure related department on the jewelery manufactured process run as customer desired (e.g how much gems, diamonds or golds to purchase, what is the design and else) and she explained and answered a lots on the job function to me as details as what I inquired.

Well, following conversation regarding on my job position learned me a lesson, which same mistake had occur in my next interview as well, which make me regret a lots. I had questioned the points which result to her consideration to let me handle the post, which I think that my stupid question had make her feel that I am not interest in the jobs bestowed to me and well actually I am not (at least is acceptable).

And the above question had end up the interview, which Ms. Khaw ask me to consider well and give her my confirmation in following week in friendly tone, where I did not even have any chance to ask further for the remuneration package and other potential benefits. And how can I consider the job post when the most important things, basic salary range~:P, undisclosed to me?

Additionally, this is a one year contract program, and I had considered other possible better job opportunities in near future, therefore, I reject OE Design in manners, and so, this is how my second interview tells.

Coming post will be on my 2 interviews in the same company~:)

Interview Experience: KWSP

It's been a month since my last post in this blog. which I am busy with internship stuff, assignments, and final exam.

I had spend almost 50% of my time on resume, cover letter, seeking company, browsing jobstreet (daily), preparing interviews...though it is trouble me a lot, but honestly speaking, those experience really benefit my career profile.

Since last post which I had stated regarding to the CIMB internship application, I had also sent my application to Public Mutual as well, but Public Mutual is dealing and respond on my application in very simple way, they just reject directly without passing here passing there, which I more prefer this kind of working style.

Since then, I lower down and loose my prefer job scope and start to sent my application elsewhere, private, government, public listed, and else. And result from this, I had sit for 4 interviews so far in one month's time, and now I had consider myself damn good in handling interview already~haha ~

Well, actually this post is my sharing on my interview experience. And my first interview is regard to KWSP permanent job application after my graduation, but not internship~:P, which KWSP had visit my campus on recruitment purpose. As time is limited and applicants are quite a number, thus the interview go along with 4 applicants each session with 2 interviewers.

The interview started by HR interviewer ask us to introduce our self (which the same thing goes to my another 3 interviews as well, therefore for my junior, remember to practice how to introduce yourself~haha). After that, interviewer look at our resume and ask us questions randomly regarding on information stated on our resume. Next, interviewers ask our understanding on "1 Malaysia" concept, lol~. and following question is our prefer KWSP division if we being hired. And finally, the interview ended with one decision making question, the case provided to us was generally like this, a train almost to arrive a railway fork, which right railway with 9 peoples ahead, and left side with 3 peoples ahead, and we have to decide which railway to pick though choose either one will sacrifice human life, and we have to clarify the reasons which contribute to our final decision.

And of course, interviewer will give us chance to ask questions before we leave. Well, this is my first interview experience, and so far for this post, coming up post will continue on my other interview experience.