Ji Qing gave me some typical interview questions today to help me prepare me for my interview on Thursday. In a way, the questions felt kinda reflective, and somehow i haven't really given them much thought all my life.
So i shall try to tackle some of them now:
Qn: What makes me a good leader?
I feel that i'm blessed with good decision making and quick thinking skills that allow me to handle most situations in an appropriate manner. Also, i do feel that i have a way with people, probably due to my charm or persuasive-ness. People tend to listen to what i have to say, and value my opinions to a certain extent. I have a relatively high degree of proficiency or knowledge in most things that i do, which helps when i need to convince people on something.
A good leader is able to direct and orchestrate people to achieve goals. I think i can do that pretty well.
Qn: What makes me a good team player?
The more i grow older, the more i realise that there are alot more people out there who are better than me. Some people are really specialised, they can do something really well. I'm more like a jack of all trades, i can do most things pretty decently.
This team player concept cruelly hit me when i played for the NUS IVP basketball team. It's where all the seniors are way way better than me. Taller, higher, faster, stronger, more accurate etc. It's probably not possible for me to surpass their level within the season. So i learnt that i cannot be the "superstar" of the team anymore (used to be for NJC). So i gave up the ball, i set picks for our "superstar", i draw my defender away so that the superstar has more space to drive and work his magic.
I became the glue guy and slowly i relished this role of silent contribution. I realised that the process usually doesn't matter. What really matters is the final outcome/goal.
Qn: How can you be a team leader and a team player at once?
Nowadays, i prefer a more hands off approach to things. Let things run its course naturally and hope that everybody play their part and things move well. I will probably try to nudge the team along the way to prevent anybody from going off course, and if necessary take over control.
Qn: What is your greatest strength?
I would say it's my passion and dedication in the things i do. I like to give it all or none at all. To me the purpose in doing anything is to put in maximum effort, or else what for even start.
Qn: What is your greatest weakness?
(interview answer) I tend to get burn outs due to overworking. Burn outs do not feel very good.
(real answer) I formulate my own opinions based on my own observations on the things around me, and sometimes i admit that i can get very narrow-minded. But actually i'm very open minded at heart, really. I dun mind you smoking, i just feel it's very very stupid.
Qn: What qualities you have that can allow you to do well?
Shirui got it right this time. I'm very logical, efficiency-oriented and goal-oriented. I will always try to find the fastest and easiest solution to solve a problem. I've recently learnt Occam's razor and i find it very applicable in what i do. If there are 2 solutions, the fastest and easiest solution should be the better one.
Qn: What do i hope to achieve in my job?
Basically a stable income, so that i can get married, and a career is intellectually stimulating enough to keep me interested.
----
I hope these are good answers. The icky thing about interviews is that you do have to "lie" somehow. Sometimes it's not good to be too honest. Honest = show hand/All in. That's a very risky situation to be in.
So i shall try to tackle some of them now:
Qn: What makes me a good leader?
I feel that i'm blessed with good decision making and quick thinking skills that allow me to handle most situations in an appropriate manner. Also, i do feel that i have a way with people, probably due to my charm or persuasive-ness. People tend to listen to what i have to say, and value my opinions to a certain extent. I have a relatively high degree of proficiency or knowledge in most things that i do, which helps when i need to convince people on something.
A good leader is able to direct and orchestrate people to achieve goals. I think i can do that pretty well.
Qn: What makes me a good team player?
The more i grow older, the more i realise that there are alot more people out there who are better than me. Some people are really specialised, they can do something really well. I'm more like a jack of all trades, i can do most things pretty decently.
This team player concept cruelly hit me when i played for the NUS IVP basketball team. It's where all the seniors are way way better than me. Taller, higher, faster, stronger, more accurate etc. It's probably not possible for me to surpass their level within the season. So i learnt that i cannot be the "superstar" of the team anymore (used to be for NJC). So i gave up the ball, i set picks for our "superstar", i draw my defender away so that the superstar has more space to drive and work his magic.
I became the glue guy and slowly i relished this role of silent contribution. I realised that the process usually doesn't matter. What really matters is the final outcome/goal.
Qn: How can you be a team leader and a team player at once?
Nowadays, i prefer a more hands off approach to things. Let things run its course naturally and hope that everybody play their part and things move well. I will probably try to nudge the team along the way to prevent anybody from going off course, and if necessary take over control.
Qn: What is your greatest strength?
I would say it's my passion and dedication in the things i do. I like to give it all or none at all. To me the purpose in doing anything is to put in maximum effort, or else what for even start.
Qn: What is your greatest weakness?
(interview answer) I tend to get burn outs due to overworking. Burn outs do not feel very good.
(real answer) I formulate my own opinions based on my own observations on the things around me, and sometimes i admit that i can get very narrow-minded. But actually i'm very open minded at heart, really. I dun mind you smoking, i just feel it's very very stupid.
Qn: What qualities you have that can allow you to do well?
Shirui got it right this time. I'm very logical, efficiency-oriented and goal-oriented. I will always try to find the fastest and easiest solution to solve a problem. I've recently learnt Occam's razor and i find it very applicable in what i do. If there are 2 solutions, the fastest and easiest solution should be the better one.
Qn: What do i hope to achieve in my job?
Basically a stable income, so that i can get married, and a career is intellectually stimulating enough to keep me interested.
----
I hope these are good answers. The icky thing about interviews is that you do have to "lie" somehow. Sometimes it's not good to be too honest. Honest = show hand/All in. That's a very risky situation to be in.
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