What I really want to do

I know that I should be preparing for my final interview with Big4. But I don't feel like it. I felt that I don't want to be an accountant... Though I wouldn't mind if I could eventually transit to a more financial role in a pharmaceutical company, but I'm not sure how easily this could be done. It's a low risk, average reward path.

So instead I spend hours and hours stalking all these people in biopharma to "research" my career path.
But then, the only option for me to go back to bio is to do lab. And it'll take a few years before I could eventually do what I really wanna do - business development in biotechnology. I wanna do something that involves the science and the business. But there's so many thing that could go wrong. I might really hate lab and blame myself again. I might not get a FAS job afterwards. I might not get into business development afterwards. It's a high risk, high reward path.

I applied to IMS Health and Kantar Health in Shanghai. They haven't replied... yet. But this is also risky. I have to be in mainland China...

So now, my priority now is to do well in the interview on Thursday.

• It's just two days later. I'm going anyways, so I might as well do well. 
• Plus, if I do get an offer I would still have half a year to try other things out, eg lab.

Yes, so focus, Ms Bun! And stop playing with Danbo! FOCUS!!!

More Interviews - Audit

The past week seemed like a breeze. I did my assessment center with a Big4 on Monday. It consists of:

• a group exercise in a team of 6
• an exercise where the rest of the team guide a blinded teammate to draw something
• a group presentation based on the different information you were distributed
• a manager interview where he asked (15min)
• Why did you switch my major?
• Tell me about your internship experiences.
• What do you feel about working in a team?
• What do you think is important about working as an auditor?
• What do you think of client service?

To be honest, I didn't feel that I did that well in the group exercise. The others were so aggressive to the point that I didn't even have the chance to say anything sometimes. (Esp this girl from HKU...) But I think I've contributed smartly, and my presentation was quite good in the end. I constantly showed that I was listening to others in both the discussion and presentation part.

The manager interivew was really short! I didn't think my answers were good. In fact, I felt they were rather filmsy. But I really pretended to be very confident. Actually I felt I was overly confident and smiled too much at the manager. Meh! But anyways, I got the call today that I'm getting the partner interview next thursday! Surprise, surprise.

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In the afternoon, I did a group intervew with a 2nd tier auditing firm. It was so informal...

• a short self-intro in Mandarin
• a free group discussion
• and a written test

They say we should hear back by next Friday. I don't think I could get in with my biology background. But I've made some friends with the interviewees, and we're going karaoke together tomorrow. lol!

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Other than that, I also just did the written test with the other two Big4s. I still can't believe that KPMG kicked me out after the written test. (I'm just out of practice, ok? :p)

Otherwise, I've been rather lazy for the past few days. :P
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To be honest, I don't think audit would be my first choice of work in life. I'm not sure if I'd be able to handle all the overtiming. But it's a job that provides good job security... Maybe it'll be interesting when I become higher-up?

But I'm not sure that I want to go back to lab either. Ella so nicely put in my CV to this research position at her lab next door, but it got by the admin people probably due to my tardiness. Ah well. I'm a bit relieved to be honest.

I'll think about that after the interview. Yep!

Anyway, I should continue applying. Because if I do get PwC, I'd start only in July.

3 days as a flight attendant

So I went in for the flight attendant training program for the last 4 days, and just resigned yesterday. It was actually really interesting! I actually already got fitted for the uniform, and I got to really see what it's like inside! They have all these protocols -



- On how to act:

• Flight attendants are not supposed to eat! Except in an airport restaurant (where they get 30% off).
• No chewing gum. 
• They have to say "May I offer you a drink?" instead of "May I get you a drink?"
• They're also trained on how to act in different scenario, eg how to react when you spill things (give out a blanket / change seat), to whom to promote the Marco Polo Card (only in first class), etc. 

- On how to look:

• They have to wear red/pink nail polish over long nails!
• Their heels are from Dr Kong and they are super comfy! 
• The uniform makes anyone look sooo cute. Even I look uber feminine! And the Russian overcoat is just coooool. And the handbag! Aaaaah! Must stop going on or I might regret. 
• Know why their bun is so neat? It's uber gel-ed!
• The leggings (from 破无素足) were chosen so you get that distinct "see-thru-ish" look. 
• They have to wear red lipstick, colored eye shadow and HEAVY blush!

Sadly I have to return the shoes and the uniform. I feel awful for leaving like that (and for making up a super stupid excuse to leave. I will not tell here.) A part of me really wish I would stay... I am sure that at some point in life, it's the dream of any girl who grew up in Hong Kong to be a flight attendant. But if I do stay, I think I'll regret how I give up the 4 interview chances in the future.


Oh well, at least, I could always say, I was a flight attendant for a while. ;) 

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Some interesting tips for passengers:

• You can request stuff from business class. Whether you get it or not depends on how nice the chief purser / senior purser is. :p
• Want to write them? Yes, they have company mail boxes that work. ;) But obviously you need their name...
• Want to get upgraded to business class? Dress in business attire and look smart, and they will upgrade you if the plane is overbooked.

My seatmate in class was so sad that she cried when she learned I resigned. :( I feel she doesn't really know me enough yet, because if she does, she'd find that I'm not really a great fit for the job. Anyways, she's very sweet, so I think I should really keep in touch with her.

My best friend in the class is moving to the sister airline soon, so yes! I'll have a friend in each of the major airlines and hopefully they could get me cheap stuff from all over the world. HAHA! Plus, I could hang out with them and be "pretty by association". ;)

Only in McDonalds HK - flavored fries

You're meant to shake the fries (A) with the flavorings (B) using the bag (C).

Love love love the flavored "Shake Shake Fries" from McDonalds' in Hong Kong. Had it almost every day the whole week. Oh my, it's making me so fat.

Guess I'm not really a sales.

Today I went to an optics company for a part-time sales job. WTF, the country manager and the product manager interviewed me.

It was rather odd in the beginning. The country manager just interrupted me in my intro and asked, "Are you born in Hong Kong?" (Is this question even legal?) Anyway I confirmed it, but said that I grew up abroad. All these time, I could see the product manager frowning. Then, we talked about other things on my resume, mostly irrelevant to sales.

In the end, he told me, "I don't think you're suitable for the job."

I asked, "Why not?"

"There are a million reasons. You're just not." And I'd never know what they were.

He didn't ask how I'd react to sales rejections at all and all the similar stuff. Maybe I just don't give off the "aggressive vibe", but give off too much of a "nice person vibe".

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I've had 3 sales interviews so far. First was with Bloomberg and then two with medical companies. (Yes, I lied when they asked me what companies I applied to.) I got into 4th interview with Bloomberg, but failed the 4th one when all they asked were sales questions. Should I take it as a sign that I'm not cut for sales?

To be honest, I don't believe in the position that much. What if I'd be selling some rubbish drugs that's not really that effective? I wouldn't want to push doctors into buying that.

And frankly, I don't enjoy sales. I remember in my 3rd year in university, I joined this Donation Campaign to cold call alumni. I absolutely hated it and quit within 3 days.

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I know this. So why am I applying for medical sales?

I met this other girl at an interview working for PCCW as a salesperson, and she told me it's not hard, as long as the product you are selling is a market leader. (But why is she interviewing for flight attendant then?!?) Anyway I took it seriously and looked into med sales.

It didn't seem hard - visit doctors, present, and drop samples. But maybe it's not as simple as I imagine. You would eventually have to "pressure" the doctors into using your drugs over the 29 other drug that alleviate blood pressure. Not everyone sells Viagra!

Your grades are too good.

Just came back from the medical device company for the sales position. It was ok, but there was a concern that he raised 3 times, in the beginning of the interview, in the middle and at the end  - "Your grades are too good." Feeling rather helpless, I repeated say that I will try as hard to put everything behind and learn from others. He didn't seem convinced.

Arse! Why bother interviewing me if you're so convinced by the stereotype in your head? So I should apologize for my good grades ma? 

Ok, ok, I suppose, I could have been more aggressive. It was sales afterall. I could have said something along the lines of,

• "Yes, I've got good grades, and this proves that I am a motivated person. (Twist their negative points into good points.)
• But I think I'm different from all the nerds out there. I am outgoing with positive attitude. (Say you are different from their stereotype.)
• If I have the chance to get this job, I'll value the opportunity, learn from my past mistake and try til I die." (Suck up to their arses.)

Oh well, I could use this for the next sales interview, I suppose.

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When I was in elementary school, I was always jealous of my cousins who grew up in Hong Kong - I always felt that I couldn't find a place in Hong Kong for me. And then I grew up and thought "I am really lucky to see so much of the world". But now this awful feeling of jealousy is back.

I don't want it to stay though. I WANT TO BE PART OF THIS CITY. So I will stay positive, work hard, and find a good job in the city. Cheers!

To be or not to be a flight attendant?

I'm still deciding on whether to be a flight attendant or not. My parents asked the temple. Apparently I wouldn't really get a better job offer until May to July next year, at which time I'd have a mysterious men who would help me.

My reaction: Who the heck is this guy?!? I'm aware that flight attendants in Hong Kong have a notorious reputation for hooking up with rich men, as they put it in Cantonese, 钓金龟 or "fishing for gold turtles" (marrying someone rich). But how leh, when you are working with all-girl team?!?

Anyways, I've got an interview for a medical aesthetic device company tomorrow. I'm a bit complacent with an offer already. Plus, I'm not sure that sales is for me, but I think I'll have a better idea of the job if I go to the interview. (Like how I'm sure I don't want to be a headhunter after that horrid interview.) The night is still young. I should prepare and try fish for an offer!