這類有關面試的文章我在今年二月時有寫過, 不過, 每次面試完, 我都會蠻 bitter 的 (算是心理不平衡吧). 之前面試是要找暑假的 internship, 而現在是要找畢業後的工作. 話說我從九月底開始去 Career Fair 丟 resume (履歷表), 然後很幸運的, 就陸陸續續有許多公司找我去第一輪的面試.
通常第一輪會問的問題都是所謂 Leadership 或是 Behavioral 的問題. 這種題目通常包括說, 講出一個你碰到爭執的經歷, 你怎麼樣去面對, 結果是什麼之類的. 或是給你一個情境, 要你描述你會如何應對. 對我最困難的通常都是有關爭執或是 criticism, 因為, 我平常也不是什麼喜歡跟人爭吵的人, 我的上司跟同事也都對我很好, 所以我都會想不起來有什麼這種經歷. 不過大致上我都覺得我說得還不賴, 應該很有機會進第二輪. 沒有. 完全沒有. 除了 Expedia.com 第一輪直接叫我 design 東西, 我一出來就知道沒機會, 其他公司我都認為機會很高. 就連跟 Informatica 面試寫程式的工作, 我都很神奇的寫出他最想要看到的答案. 但是, 還是沒有. 面試完就完全沒有下文 (通常這就是沒機會的意思吧), 連寫 e-mail 去都沒人理.
之後我開始對 IT Consulting (就是講話亂扯然後收錢的行業) 很有興趣. 因為雖然很忙, 但是可以去很多地方. 很幸運的, 也有幾家大公司願意找我去面試. 同樣的, 他們問得也都是一些有關我經歷以及應對上的問題. 只有一家 ZS Associates 有問所謂的 Case Question (就是 Consulting Firms 的最愛). 而我真的覺得我講的都很好. 從問題, 如何面對解決, 到最後的結果, 我都有詳細的描述, 但是, 還是沒有. 我在兩天內接到 Deloitte, ZS Associates, 和 Cerner 的通知說我沒有進第二輪. 我真的很沮喪. 除了說我還蠻想進 Deloitte 和我真的很認真準備之外, 最另我難過的是, 我根本不知道如何進步. 我不知道問題出在哪裡, 對自己越來越沒有信心. 就連在電話上問 interview 我的人說我該如何進步, 他都說 "我覺得你的回答都很好阿, 唯ㄧ的建議就是說在講之前可以在整理一下整個思緒. 不過這應該不是決定結果的因素, 所以說你可以去問另一個幫你做 case interview 的人." 而幫我做 case interview 的人在面試時也說我做的不錯 (註: 他有可能跟所有人都說 "Dang! You did WELL!!" 之類的屁話, 這些虛假的人). 另一個也沒有回答說我該如何進步, 只跟我說請繼續有對 healthcare consulting 的 passion. 我當時真的覺得說, 你說我太醜叫我去整容換張臉都比這些敷衍的答案令人信服 (sorry, it's getting bitter here…)
唯一一個進第二輪的是跟 Ford. 說實在的, 我並不覺得跟 Ford 的面試是我表現最好的一個. 而且, 很多答案也都跟我給其他公司的答案一樣 (阿不然你想怎樣, 我就是我阿, 經歷就是這些). 所以我超級無法以我邏輯思考的方式來理解說, 為甚麼只有福特, 載兩天內, 就邀請我去他們所謂 "Ford Leadership Conference" (也就是他們第二輪面試. 下一篇有詳細介紹), 而其他所有的公司卻都說"Thank you for…請再聯絡"
總而言之, 我完全無法知道說這些人道底怎樣從30 分鐘內瞭解一個人, 然後替大家排名, 選前幾個. 我想, 底下這個漫畫應該描述了少許的事實.
Haha…such a funny cartoon!
honestly, a lot of times the decision of the interviewer is not based on your answers. everyone studies the same questions and goes in super prepared. it could possibly be due to nonverbal communication, how they think your personality fit in with the firm, or they just forgot to take their cup of coffee that morning. luck has a lot to do with it…
don’t give up! if you know this is what you want to do and you know a certain company is the one you want to work for, then keep trying!
嗯…雖然你還沒寫到Ford面試的下集,但我就在這先恭喜你啦 :D
來美國已經5年多,從學校畢業也2年多了,看過身邊許多朋友的面試經驗.你寫的那些大哉問我大概從自己和朋友那兒聽了不下數十回…真不知道為什麼那些面試的人總是會先讓人感覺希望滿滿,然後過幾天就來潑你一大桶冷水…(你說得是.有很多人就是,虛假.)不過也有可能是我還摸不清楚美國人的思考邏輯和寒喧方式吧… 套句教會bernie阿伯跟我說過的話”公司徵才通常都已經大致知道要找什麼樣的人,面試時就是在看哪些人和主管(通常都是面試人員)比較有默契而已” 所以,要怎麼進步呢??我看也沒人有正解. 就好好當自己,忠於原味吧! 拿到工作,就表示你不但能力足夠,也是面試人員篩選過具有潛力的”好同事”唷.(當然還有上帝的幫助與恩典啦,呵呵)
加油!!!
Haha. I know. I know too well that interview results often are not determined by the ability to answer those questions and all that. This entry is just to pour out some frustration that I had recently.
I wish everyone that’s still looking for a job or is going through some interviewing processes that best of luck, since LUCK, is sometimes pretty crucial in this whole process. How you look on the big day, who you interview with, and who your competitors are all have to contribute to the final decision.
And of course, companies wants to hire someone that they think will fit, not necessarily the top of its class. But I hope everyone finds this comic funny, and true, to some point.
你真是完全說到我心坎裡去咧 >”
Hey man, this is pretty much what it is. Having been through it myself, I can confirm your feelings.
It is RIDICULOUS….
Good job on Ford. Many start getting offers after landing a first one. It’s kind of like relationships…hahaha… You are now “proven” in the eyes of many :)
I’m not sure if consulting is so great. I had a chance to go to Seattle to visit my friend Joyce, whose consulting firm (Citress) sent her there for some Costco project. Man, do I tell you, IT IS TOUGH! These folks travel here and there every 3, 5 weeks. Very hard project deadlines. Lots of work. Lots of hours (sometimes she even works at hotels). They might enjoy perks like walking around in nice suits or living in fancy hotels, but that’s about it.
Worst of all, you don’t make friends. You fly around without ever really getting to know people. And you don’t have time left for yourself to learn stuff or persue other interets.
I say whatever you have, land a stationary job. Those traveling consultants are trading away their precious youth (in flights) just to look good. That’s how I see it.
Best of luck!
Ya, from my interactions with Deloitte people and other consultants, they pretty much think 50~60 hours/week (or more) is NORMAL. But what Ford people told us is that they pretty much work 40~50 hours/ week, which is what I would consider, normal. If you work more this week, you can get a day off the next. So Consulting Industry is definitely hard. I just thought living flying around sounds pretty kool, haha. But what you (Tim) mentioned is definitely true for Consultants.
Thanks for the advice!
Best of luck on all of you too!
look at it this way
maybe God wants you to stay here
maybe God doesn’t want you to work yourself to death by the 60 hours per week
maybe God closed those doors because he knows he knows those places aren’t for you
know that God loves you and has great plans for you
and that sometimes what you want may not be best for you
that what seems great may actually not be great
trust that he will lead you toward your destiny
yes, i totally agree. i am sure that God knows what’s best for me more than i do. and i am sure He loves me and has great plans for me!