Temporary tai-tai

I need to clear 3.5 days of leave before next Fri so I took this morning and next Mon-Wed off. I need to figure out things to fill up my days with, so I think now is the best time to practise my dream of becoming a tai-tai.

This morning, I went roller-blading at East Coast Park, sharing the walkway with oldies doing their morning tai-chi and expat housewives exercising with their kids in prams. After that, I had a kaya toast and soft-boiled egg breakfast at my favourite kopi-tiam along East Coast Rd. I came into work around lunchtime and will be leaving again at 3.30pm for a la-di-dah tea at the Bar & Billiard Room at the Raffles Hotel. The reason for this decadence? Late last year, I did some web and ad work for another research centre at the business school, and since they can't pay me extra moolah, the tea is a thank you for all the 'fabulous' work I've done.

So, these are my plans (for now) for Mon-Wed:

• Get a facial
• Buy proper running shoes from Queensway Shopping Centre (my old Nikes dieded on me, and so far I've been running around in my Gola sneakers. Those Golas are for fa-shun, not real sport)
• Visit the dentist
• Visit the Orchard library and discover if I can borrow manga
• Catching up on movie-viewing: Finding Neverland, Alfie, A Very Long Engagement, The Aviator, Hotel Rwanda, Bad Education etc. So many!
• Indulge even more movie viewing by renting dvds from Video Ezy
• See if I can make better nutella cupcakes than Marmalade Pantry
• Attempt to resist the Haagen-Dazs buffet
  
  

So, if anyone wants to meet up for lunch in town (this is so exciting! I can have lunch outside uni!! Think of the possibilities!), I'm freeeeeeee. I so could get used to this life.

Shopping without leaving the office

I love Peter Alexander

My favourite sleepwear designer is having a sale! And at 60% off, how to resist? Aside from the two pictured up there, I also bought these layered tanks and these brazilian thongs (or flip-flops, what were you thinking?). Now all I have to do is wait gleefully for my pretty merchandise to arrive. Hurrah!

Aah, since I'm in the shopping mood, here's something else...

Good enough to eat

So kawaii!!!! I want one! But I wonder if they actually work...

The ball's in my court...I think

The second round went well, I was interviewed by the other Assoc Director and at the end of it, I was pretty much offered a position with the agency. There is a caveat to it though. Seeing as I don't have industry experience, the AD wanted me to join in a position lower. This way, I could see how everything works, and really learn the ropes. If I learn quick and all goes well, she promised to promote me in 3 months and give a pay increment of about $300. This of course means I'd be taking a pay cut. The only question is, how large is the pay cut going to be? I don't mind taking something lower than what I'm being paid now, after all I would be learning something completely new, but if I were to have to take 20% cut...I dunno. Is this experience really worth the cut?

I asked for a figure but she was unable to get me one, saying she'd discuss it with the other AD and they'd get back to me soon. Meanwhile, I have to mull over a figure I'm comfortable with, and consider how much I really want this job.

P.S. Thanks to everyone for the well wishes. I felt very bolstered by all your support!

Round 2

I just got asked to go in for the second interview today. That's really short notice. Now I have to mentally prepare myself to face a panel, anticipate some questions and come up with some brilliant answers. And I have to try and slip off earlier to go home to change. I'm so not dressed. I'm wearing sparkly shoes.

What normally happens at round 2 interviews?

Not too shabby

So...the interview went pretty well. It went for much longer than I expected, a little over an hour, and at the end of it, I was asked to come back again some time next week for another round, this time to meet the other Assoc Director and some other colleagues. That's a good sign, yah?

I can't remember everything to give a blow-by-blow account, but generally, it didn't feel like a proper interview. I was interviewed by on of the ADs, and he did a lot of the talking, explaining the company structure, management style, the kind of person they were looking for etc. And he didn't specifically ask me questions, so I found that every so often, I would try to interject and say stuff like, "Yes I can do that. I am talented multitasker..." My biggest boo-boo was the question I hate the most, the "what do you see yourself doing in 3 years?". I anticipated this question would probably be asked, but was still not able to formulate a satisfactory answer, and as good as gave a "umm..I dunno" kind of answer, the details of which I'm too embarrassed to disclose here. He point blank told me that wasn't a very good answer and that I should have anticipated a question like that and it was a very standard question asked at interviews. At that point during the interview, my brain just went, "Sheeeeeeeeet! He's scratched me off the list!", but I managed to remain calm and smile and talk normally throughout the rest of the interview. I was fairly surprised at the end when he told me to email him again on Mon to arrange another meeting.

Overall, I've got good vibes about this company, and it looks like I could have a good time working there. From what I can gather, their biggest concern is finding the right person who's not going to up and leave in the next 6 months and can handle the pressures of working in an agency. On a related note, my renewal contract has come through. Crunch time is here! I have to make a decision! And it all hangs on next week.

Butterflies in my tummy

My E-mail inbox at 10.43am today:
"Thanks for your interest. Would you be able to come meet me this week tues 10.30am? if after office hours, I can do thurs at 7pm."

My first interview in a gazillion years! Eeeee I'm all jumpy and nervous now. I tend to get ditzy and stoopid during interviews and giggle like an idiotic schoolgirl. But I keep telling myself that this is just practise. My friend tells me I will be interviewed by the second-in-charge and that he is sharp but nice. Now I have to go do research on the company memorise everything on their website by Thurs.

What will I say? And more importantly, what will I wear??

Update: Interview has been pushed forward to Wed 7pm. One less day to prepare! Argh!