On the Lighter Note

Welcome back to this long neglected blog due to some turmoil currently experienced by the moderator/author. This post is an eye candy for those recurring readers who have not (yet) given up interest in this blog.

How to 'Save Face', the Chinese Way

An American, a Japanese and a Chinese went for a hike one day. It was very hot. They were sweating and exhausted. When they came upon a small lake, they took off all their clothes and jumped into the water, since it was fairly secluded.

Feeling refreshed, the trio decided to pick a few berries while enjoying their freedom. As they were crossing an open area, suddenly a group of ladies from town appeared.

Unable to get to their clothes in time, the American and the Japanese quickly used their hands to cover their privates. But the Chinese covered his face while they ran for cover. After the ladies had left and the men got their clothes back on.

The American and the Japanese asked the Chinese why he covered his face rather than his male regions.

The Chinese replied, I don't know about you, but in my country, it's the face that people recognize!

Brood Yes, Then Learn

Last week was helluva week, from the pinnacle of KL Twin Towers to the deepest trench in UTP. My emotion graph for the week mimics our KLCI: erratic. I was high, way high in the beginning, dipped a little, picked up, dipped again, then went plunging into the black hole, and picking up again.

I learnt that your dearest person can either lift you up the most or bring you down the most too, but only little to that person's notice. Nevertheless, it came in this pang of realization on the importance of saying the right thing at the right time, even when I might think it is innocuous, it may mean entirely differently to someone else.

Two interviews I've experienced, priceless. Both were of different approaches, but they ultimately lead to the same conclusions:

• Be confident. Speak with conviction, fast or slow in whichever demeanour of yours, yet beware, not too slow till it's inaudible or too fast like a Volvo on the Autoban.

• Be yourself. When you try to be someone, you end up giving contrived answer and when you're being quizzed further, you'll start to contradict yourself.

• Be resolute on what you seek. Employers are not there to recruit irresolute people who would just jump ship when they feel like it.

• Learn to develop good communication and listening skills. Be clear, concise in your choice of words. Never ramble like and old granny. Learn to listen and obey instructions too, cause a bad listener won't be a good follower, neither a leader too.

• Talk to your interviewer with humility and respect, but nonetheless, not with fear and inferiority cause that will only portray diffidence.

• There is no one right approach for all scenarios. Try to be attentive and identify the ambience and adapt to it.

As for me, I rekindled my interest for technical jobs. The excitement stirred up in me from the interview by one of the most technical companies in the oil and gas servicing line just flourished imperceptibly. While a comment given by the interviewer in a separate interview made me realize despite my interest in non technical line, I might just perform better in the technical line.