“Recent Graduate Program at our Bank: Apply online” I read the post out loud while sitting at my coffee table. I immediately clicked on the job post, grabbed a pen and paper, ready to write down all the skills and qualifications they needed, hoping for it to coincide with my resume. “A B.A degree that is Business related” *check*, “Someone who is curious, passionate, and eager to learn new things” *check*, “Someone who is passionate about languages” *check*. I went through the post without an X mark, well, ain’t that a surprise, it was like if the job was crafted perfectly for me.
My smile was getting wider and wider as I clicked the apply button. Huh? They don’t need a resume? I was staring at a screen that required me to submit a video answering 5 questions, on the side there was a link that brought me to a website called PLUM. It was the first time I saw a company that does not require resumes for a job.
I clicked on PLUM, and it took me to a website where I had to finish a survey. It asked me questions about my personality, the type of working environment I like, what would I do in a specific situation, etc. Ah yes! It reminded me of when I was in high school and took the “16 personalities test”.
After I finished, I grabbed the only formal coat from my closet at the time, put it on, and recorded the video of me answering the 5 short pre-interview questions.
“Submit”… It was done, there was no going back. Right after I submitted my application, there was only one thought on my mind: “That was the worst video I have ever recorded… The recruiters are definitely going to laugh at it… I should have prepared more”.
I closed my laptop, took a deep breath, and the hope of me getting an email back from them lingered in my head.
A few days went by, but it felt like months, and then a notification popped up on my phone: “Michelle, you just got invited for a coffee chat”. Yes! I yelled in my head, I felt like I just opened a present, and inside were the shoes I always wanted. I didn’t waste any time, and booked a chat for the next day
I grabbed the same coat, put on some light makeup, and tied my hair. During the meeting, I volunteered to answer most of the questions, I was confident in my answers and was happy to be there around other recent graduates. It went well, and I wasn’t worried this time… from the outside. As the chat ended, I was nervous inside, I immediately started thinking about the response they will give me on their next email. Waiting, Waiting, and Waiting…
Three days go by, and I got a notification with a “Congratulations! You are having an interview with our recruiters” headline, “No way!” I opened the email, and it said that I needed to prepare a presentation highlighting my skills and experience. I had three days to prepare and practice for it, this is going to be great.
Dramatic flash forward…
The day has come, making sure I don’t make the same mistakes I made for the first video, I was prepared and eager to answer all the questions!
I had two professional recruiters interviewing me, I started my presentation just like how I rehearsed it: With a brief personal introduction, later highlighting my proudest achievement, and the presentation ended with my experiences. The recruiters were so kind and the questions were straightforward. I walked off happily after the interview ended and sent a “Thank You” letter, expressing my gratitude that they took their time to interview me. This time, I felt the least nervous out of all the previous steps, I think I aced that presentation, I hold my cup of coffee and despite I didn’t put sugar in it, it tasted really sweet.
The very next day, as I was listening to the song “De Música Ligera” from Soda Stereo, a notification caught my attention, it was from the company. I put down everything I was doing, my heart was beating faster, … I opened it and read it, it said:
Thank you Michelle, for applying for the “Recent Graduate Program”, we are grateful you took your time for the interview. However, we decided not to continue with your application….
I stared at the screen for a couple of minutes, re-reading the email again and again, hoping to find an “error” message. It was a weird feeling, I sighed, there was a big part of me that expected to go through to the next stage, and wished for the word “Congratulations” to appear again. I felt sad and pity, I was staring blankly at the email, knowing perfectly what the content was about…
Then, I opened my presentation and my notebook, and started to make a list on what went wrong:
- As an Economics student, I didn’t highlight my University major in the presentation.
- I need to remember that simplicity is the key to brilliance, be straight forward and don’t overcomplicate things.
- I should show the recruiters I am results oriented.
- I should be better at marketing myself.
I read these four points over and over again. I laid down on my bed, and reflected on this weird journey of my first interview, a program that did not require a physical resume, but cared more about how you would market yourself as one. Truly, it was a program that fitted me, a basketball so close to the hoop, that I somehow missed. There is no word that could describe what I am feeling…
“Failure is the mother of success” that Chinese phrase came through my mind out of a sudden, I did gain a lot, I gained more knowledge on how to do better in future interviews by failing this one. Then, I was asking myself what was that one good thing that benefited me apart from my failure.
I laid on my side, and my thoughts went to a few days back: “Well, at least that first video wasn’t that bad”.