Hello Seniors! Greetings! This is my first post since joining. A few days back, I appeared for a telephonic interview. Although the questions were similar, at one point, I got stuck. The posting was in a hyper-sensitive/politically disrupted country (the job was for a foreign country), and they asked why I want to join such a posting or if my family members agreed to such a job. Kindly advise as there is one more interview for the 2nd phase. Regards
From India, New Delhi
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1From India, New Delhi
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Hello magsus10,
Welcome to the forum - hope you get a lot of opportunities to learn and to share. Coming to your query in the interview, could you please give your reasons? Obviously, there must have been some compelling reason(s) for your interest in this opening - despite the disturbed situation in that country - which I think you too must have known before the interview.
While it may be correct/appropriate to calibrate your interview responses to the situation/question, it's more important that you need to be clear in your mind yourself before you respond to such queries - else the chances are high that you could mess up the interview.
All the best.
Regards, TS
From India, Hyderabad
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Welcome to the forum - hope you get a lot of opportunities to learn and to share. Coming to your query in the interview, could you please give your reasons? Obviously, there must have been some compelling reason(s) for your interest in this opening - despite the disturbed situation in that country - which I think you too must have known before the interview.
While it may be correct/appropriate to calibrate your interview responses to the situation/question, it's more important that you need to be clear in your mind yourself before you respond to such queries - else the chances are high that you could mess up the interview.
All the best.
Regards, TS
From India, Hyderabad
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Dear magsus10,
Great to see your post and welcome to CiteHR! Whatever may be the reason to choose this job, the challenges and limitations differ from country to country. As you were unacquainted with the swift questioning of the interviewer, it's quite obvious to be bewildered. However, your opportunity to proceed to the second round shows that you passed the first and they wanted to know your ideas clearly as to why you chose such a place. Now you should understand the reason for their questioning, the logic behind it, and what facts you can provide.
Good luck!!
From India, Visakhapatnam
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Great to see your post and welcome to CiteHR! Whatever may be the reason to choose this job, the challenges and limitations differ from country to country. As you were unacquainted with the swift questioning of the interviewer, it's quite obvious to be bewildered. However, your opportunity to proceed to the second round shows that you passed the first and they wanted to know your ideas clearly as to why you chose such a place. Now you should understand the reason for their questioning, the logic behind it, and what facts you can provide.
Good luck!!
From India, Visakhapatnam
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Dear magsus,
Imagine you meet someone new in your life, and you hit it off in the first conversation. After about 20-30 minutes, you're both scratching your heads, wondering what to talk about next.
Why? Because, notwithstanding that a wonderful conversation has been happening, it is our basal instinct to wonder why the other person wants to know us or be friends with us - regardless of how pretty, handsome, or sexy they may be.
In a personal context, we usually accomplish this by tap-dancing around this instinct and asking a ton of seemingly silly but incredibly powerful questions. We size each other up in the context of our family backgrounds, life experiences, education, professional accomplishments, interests, hobbies, travel, etc.
We do this to establish whether the other person is only good for a point-in-time conversation or conforms to the mental image of our friends that we've been creating ever since we learned to say 'mummy!'
It's no different with organizations.
Once they're convinced of a person's qualifications, skills, and experience, they now want to go deeper into the person. They want to know the person's thinking, what drives them in their life, what their motivations are, what their life goals & ambitions are, etc.
This is vital because no company hires a robot. They hire people! And people are complex beings with tons more stuff happening in their 16oz grey organ than just their qualifications, skills, experience, etc.
And just like people have sensitivities and special feelings, so do organizations. Reading your post, I can't help but wonder whether the company in question also has a couple of these - particularly if it's situated in a politically sensitive and restless part of the world. They would've seen so much happening with their people that when they speak with you, they truly want to know what your drivers and motivators are to work in such tough circumstances.
In conclusion, remember - you cannot 'learn' the answers to such questions. They MUST come genuinely from your heart or your brain, or else the next 2 or 3 questions will catch you out - guaranteed!
Good luck and All the Best!
From India, Gurgaon
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Imagine you meet someone new in your life, and you hit it off in the first conversation. After about 20-30 minutes, you're both scratching your heads, wondering what to talk about next.
Why? Because, notwithstanding that a wonderful conversation has been happening, it is our basal instinct to wonder why the other person wants to know us or be friends with us - regardless of how pretty, handsome, or sexy they may be.
In a personal context, we usually accomplish this by tap-dancing around this instinct and asking a ton of seemingly silly but incredibly powerful questions. We size each other up in the context of our family backgrounds, life experiences, education, professional accomplishments, interests, hobbies, travel, etc.
We do this to establish whether the other person is only good for a point-in-time conversation or conforms to the mental image of our friends that we've been creating ever since we learned to say 'mummy!'
It's no different with organizations.
Once they're convinced of a person's qualifications, skills, and experience, they now want to go deeper into the person. They want to know the person's thinking, what drives them in their life, what their motivations are, what their life goals & ambitions are, etc.
This is vital because no company hires a robot. They hire people! And people are complex beings with tons more stuff happening in their 16oz grey organ than just their qualifications, skills, experience, etc.
And just like people have sensitivities and special feelings, so do organizations. Reading your post, I can't help but wonder whether the company in question also has a couple of these - particularly if it's situated in a politically sensitive and restless part of the world. They would've seen so much happening with their people that when they speak with you, they truly want to know what your drivers and motivators are to work in such tough circumstances.
In conclusion, remember - you cannot 'learn' the answers to such questions. They MUST come genuinely from your heart or your brain, or else the next 2 or 3 questions will catch you out - guaranteed!
Good luck and All the Best!
From India, Gurgaon
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Thanks a lot Seniors!! For such lovely replies!!
Going further as Sateesh Sir had said, first it is to be clear in my mind ,well I knew the situation out there, of course money is obviously one of the reason, it may sound foolish but as said by someone "money is not everything but everything needs money" !!
Last 13 yrs of my life (since working) I had struggled a lot financially, had tried no. of times to save but failed. Although I had progressed but with a speed of tortoise, once I read a story (post) of tortoise and rabbit on this site that how time has changed. Slow and steady wins the race concept is now changed and the time has come when fast and steady wins the race.
I think in India, as we have different culture, we grow, have family, responsibilities,children's,saving etc etc..and specially I would like to talk here of one class that is middle class,how the struggle goes whole life to maintain basic necessities,struggling present and fear of future!
I might be wrong here as everybody struggles through his/her life but I think it is in our hands how we mold our life.
I go with Gaurav Sir Views the answer will come genuinely from my heart or mind .Although the reason for opting such place was not compelling because I think there are very less percentage of lucky people who gets what they want in life. Same goes with me also, I wanted to serve army right from my childhood but I didn't get through and now I am doing a very static job which requires little movement irrespective of the field Security, because the position is of management. So it is possible that somewhere in my mind or heart a desire is still there to be a part of some adventure. I know there are responsibilities on my shoulder of dependent parents and family but questions arise again what about my life?
I thanks again all of you for spending your precious time and please pardon me if I had hurt anyone’s feelings!!
Regards
From India, New Delhi
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Going further as Sateesh Sir had said, first it is to be clear in my mind ,well I knew the situation out there, of course money is obviously one of the reason, it may sound foolish but as said by someone "money is not everything but everything needs money" !!
Last 13 yrs of my life (since working) I had struggled a lot financially, had tried no. of times to save but failed. Although I had progressed but with a speed of tortoise, once I read a story (post) of tortoise and rabbit on this site that how time has changed. Slow and steady wins the race concept is now changed and the time has come when fast and steady wins the race.
I think in India, as we have different culture, we grow, have family, responsibilities,children's,saving etc etc..and specially I would like to talk here of one class that is middle class,how the struggle goes whole life to maintain basic necessities,struggling present and fear of future!
I might be wrong here as everybody struggles through his/her life but I think it is in our hands how we mold our life.
I go with Gaurav Sir Views the answer will come genuinely from my heart or mind .Although the reason for opting such place was not compelling because I think there are very less percentage of lucky people who gets what they want in life. Same goes with me also, I wanted to serve army right from my childhood but I didn't get through and now I am doing a very static job which requires little movement irrespective of the field Security, because the position is of management. So it is possible that somewhere in my mind or heart a desire is still there to be a part of some adventure. I know there are responsibilities on my shoulder of dependent parents and family but questions arise again what about my life?
I thanks again all of you for spending your precious time and please pardon me if I had hurt anyone’s feelings!!
Regards
From India, New Delhi
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Hello magsus10,
Your line 'Although I had progressed but with a speed of a tortoise...' reminds me of a quote - very true for many, except that not many notice, let alone realize it: "If I can run, I will run; if I can walk, I will walk; if I have to crawl, I will crawl. But I will always be moving forward."
As long as one ensures the direction is the right one, just keep going at whatever speed circumstances allow. All the best.
Regards,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
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Your line 'Although I had progressed but with a speed of a tortoise...' reminds me of a quote - very true for many, except that not many notice, let alone realize it: "If I can run, I will run; if I can walk, I will walk; if I have to crawl, I will crawl. But I will always be moving forward."
As long as one ensures the direction is the right one, just keep going at whatever speed circumstances allow. All the best.
Regards,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
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Dear TS,
I am ABSOLUTELY FLOORED by your quote! Brilliant is an understatement! You have, in a few words, totally encapsulated the mindset that winners perpetuate as opposed to the rest of us! I just love this bit - "But I will always be moving forward."
I have a great vocabulary, but even that is not helping me to truly articulate the enormity of the quote you've so wonderfully inserted in your usual quiet and unassuming manner!!! Thank you, TS - truly, thank you!!!
PS: I'm on my way to print, laminate, and display this quote in my home and office and hand it to all clients as a freebie!!
As long as one ensures the direction is the right one, just keep going at whatever speed circumstances allow.
All the best.
Regards,
[Your Name]
From India, Gurgaon
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I am ABSOLUTELY FLOORED by your quote! Brilliant is an understatement! You have, in a few words, totally encapsulated the mindset that winners perpetuate as opposed to the rest of us! I just love this bit - "But I will always be moving forward."
I have a great vocabulary, but even that is not helping me to truly articulate the enormity of the quote you've so wonderfully inserted in your usual quiet and unassuming manner!!! Thank you, TS - truly, thank you!!!
PS: I'm on my way to print, laminate, and display this quote in my home and office and hand it to all clients as a freebie!!
As long as one ensures the direction is the right one, just keep going at whatever speed circumstances allow.
All the best.
Regards,
[Your Name]
From India, Gurgaon
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Dear magsus,
Your second post sounds like one written by a person who has borne an enormous responsibility for a long time without much to fall back on.
I hope to God that I am wrong. But, in the minuscule eventuality that I am right, I sincerely invite you to read on:
1. I am convinced that you are not a complainer or a whiner. But, your post is showing me that traces of both these traits have started to enter your mindset. I am not judging you or stereotyping you. I mention this because regardless of what other decisions you take in your life, please please DO NOT permit these horrible and totally negatively counter-productive traits to enter your mind, body, and spirit. They serve ABSOLUTELY no purpose other than to devastate and ravage an otherwise perfectly healthy person - intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and physically!
2. You are a man of deep insight - whether you realize and agree with me or not. You possess the gift of believing in yourself and having the courage to take your independent decisions - regardless of what is the latest societal fad at that time. This is an enormously advantageous gift which MUST be cherished and built upon each day. This singular ability will in and of itself ALWAYS set you apart from the pack. Now, the question is whether you will allow this intrinsic separation to further consolidate your inner conversation, or whether the separation will get the better of you by making you feel 'different' and as if you don't belong to the pack.
3. I too had a dream like yours. It never happened. But, I quickly re-calibrated my inner talk and achieved my next best dream. No doubt that the whole process took nearly 10 years, but believe me it was worth it. I've just stopped living that dream (I lived it for 14 years) and am on the journey of pursuing my next dream. This is the perfect opportunity to recall TS's quote - 'But I Will Always be Moving Forward.'
4. I want you to remember that life tests us before it rewards us. I don't intend the last sentence to serve as the justification to aspire for and to live a life of mediocrity bemoaning one's destiny. That's an attitude for losers and oxygen thieves. What I'm saying is that life tests our resolve to ourselves. It tests our resolve to our dreams. And, usually, these tests manifest as significant distractions and/or detours from the path we visualize in our minds - in those rare but totally priceless moments of solitude. Again, recall TS's quote - 'But I Will Always be Moving Forward' - is perhaps the best prescription to overcome those unwelcome but significantly beneficial 'life tests.'
5. As long as the mind is crystal clear about its intent, and the chosen 'end', the path has absolutely NO choice but to just carve itself - even though it may appear that the next step will lead to a brick wall. So what? Even if it does, it's a wall we only intellectually know about. It's not as if we've seen it. Who's to say that the brick wall isn't littered with doors to other wonderful destinations. But, the catch is that those doors are not visible to all. Instead, they're only visible to those WHO TRULY BELIEVE AND HAVE FAITH IN THEMSELVES!
6. Which brings me to my last point. You said, "I think there are very few lucky people who get what they want in life." You are Absolutely Right!!! The reason is simple - they are the ONLY ones who BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES!!! Thus, even when they are staring at the brick wall with the rest of the masses, where the masses see only bricks, they see Opportunities, Paths, Aspirations, Dreams, Challenges, etc.. But, most importantly - they See Themselves ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL!!! And, that alone is why they ACTUALLY MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!
Remember - "What the eye of the mind cannot see, the eyes of the body will NEVER see!!!
Take care magsus - Believe in Yourself, Have Faith in Your Belief about Yourself - and Take those Continuous Steps Towards Your Dreams without Analyzing them Intellectually!!! Just Take those Steps as if You're Sleepwalking. When you do Awaken, you'll be Amazed how Far you Traveled in so Little!!!
Go Grab Your Life by the Scruff of its Neck!!! You Deserve Nothing Less!!!
From India, Gurgaon
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Your second post sounds like one written by a person who has borne an enormous responsibility for a long time without much to fall back on.
I hope to God that I am wrong. But, in the minuscule eventuality that I am right, I sincerely invite you to read on:
1. I am convinced that you are not a complainer or a whiner. But, your post is showing me that traces of both these traits have started to enter your mindset. I am not judging you or stereotyping you. I mention this because regardless of what other decisions you take in your life, please please DO NOT permit these horrible and totally negatively counter-productive traits to enter your mind, body, and spirit. They serve ABSOLUTELY no purpose other than to devastate and ravage an otherwise perfectly healthy person - intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and physically!
2. You are a man of deep insight - whether you realize and agree with me or not. You possess the gift of believing in yourself and having the courage to take your independent decisions - regardless of what is the latest societal fad at that time. This is an enormously advantageous gift which MUST be cherished and built upon each day. This singular ability will in and of itself ALWAYS set you apart from the pack. Now, the question is whether you will allow this intrinsic separation to further consolidate your inner conversation, or whether the separation will get the better of you by making you feel 'different' and as if you don't belong to the pack.
3. I too had a dream like yours. It never happened. But, I quickly re-calibrated my inner talk and achieved my next best dream. No doubt that the whole process took nearly 10 years, but believe me it was worth it. I've just stopped living that dream (I lived it for 14 years) and am on the journey of pursuing my next dream. This is the perfect opportunity to recall TS's quote - 'But I Will Always be Moving Forward.'
4. I want you to remember that life tests us before it rewards us. I don't intend the last sentence to serve as the justification to aspire for and to live a life of mediocrity bemoaning one's destiny. That's an attitude for losers and oxygen thieves. What I'm saying is that life tests our resolve to ourselves. It tests our resolve to our dreams. And, usually, these tests manifest as significant distractions and/or detours from the path we visualize in our minds - in those rare but totally priceless moments of solitude. Again, recall TS's quote - 'But I Will Always be Moving Forward' - is perhaps the best prescription to overcome those unwelcome but significantly beneficial 'life tests.'
5. As long as the mind is crystal clear about its intent, and the chosen 'end', the path has absolutely NO choice but to just carve itself - even though it may appear that the next step will lead to a brick wall. So what? Even if it does, it's a wall we only intellectually know about. It's not as if we've seen it. Who's to say that the brick wall isn't littered with doors to other wonderful destinations. But, the catch is that those doors are not visible to all. Instead, they're only visible to those WHO TRULY BELIEVE AND HAVE FAITH IN THEMSELVES!
6. Which brings me to my last point. You said, "I think there are very few lucky people who get what they want in life." You are Absolutely Right!!! The reason is simple - they are the ONLY ones who BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES!!! Thus, even when they are staring at the brick wall with the rest of the masses, where the masses see only bricks, they see Opportunities, Paths, Aspirations, Dreams, Challenges, etc.. But, most importantly - they See Themselves ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL!!! And, that alone is why they ACTUALLY MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!
Remember - "What the eye of the mind cannot see, the eyes of the body will NEVER see!!!
Take care magsus - Believe in Yourself, Have Faith in Your Belief about Yourself - and Take those Continuous Steps Towards Your Dreams without Analyzing them Intellectually!!! Just Take those Steps as if You're Sleepwalking. When you do Awaken, you'll be Amazed how Far you Traveled in so Little!!!
Go Grab Your Life by the Scruff of its Neck!!! You Deserve Nothing Less!!!
From India, Gurgaon
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Thank you, Gaurav Sareen :-)
But, STILL, no thank you—since that was a quote by Cavett Robert. The exact quotation is: "While I can run, I'll run. While I can walk, I'll walk. When I can only crawl, I'll crawl. But I'll always be moving forward."
All I did, maybe, was to gel it in the right context—such as this thread.
And since you mentioned the context of a winner, here are a couple of related ones:
"A winner is NOT one who never FAILS, but one who NEVER QUITS"—Zig Ziglar
"It's not that I'm so smart; it's just that I stay with the problems longer"—Albert Einstein.
Rgds,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
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But, STILL, no thank you—since that was a quote by Cavett Robert. The exact quotation is: "While I can run, I'll run. While I can walk, I'll walk. When I can only crawl, I'll crawl. But I'll always be moving forward."
All I did, maybe, was to gel it in the right context—such as this thread.
And since you mentioned the context of a winner, here are a couple of related ones:
"A winner is NOT one who never FAILS, but one who NEVER QUITS"—Zig Ziglar
"It's not that I'm so smart; it's just that I stay with the problems longer"—Albert Einstein.
Rgds,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
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Hello masgus,
You deserve full credit for initiating this lovely, lively thread.
If the final interview has not yet taken place, you have the following options.
1.0 If the same question surfaces, you can give an answer that will be true to your conscience.
2.0 If the question does not appear and if you feel you can improve your chances by raising it your self please give it a try.
Many Thanks to Mr Tajsateesh and Mr Gaurav Sareen for the wonderful exchange of thoughts, truly a connoisseur’s delight.
Although I have been a member since March 2011 I am active in this forum only in the last couple of months.
This thread is unique.
V.Raghunathan..................................... ...........................Navi Mumbai
From India
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You deserve full credit for initiating this lovely, lively thread.
If the final interview has not yet taken place, you have the following options.
1.0 If the same question surfaces, you can give an answer that will be true to your conscience.
2.0 If the question does not appear and if you feel you can improve your chances by raising it your self please give it a try.
Many Thanks to Mr Tajsateesh and Mr Gaurav Sareen for the wonderful exchange of thoughts, truly a connoisseur’s delight.
Although I have been a member since March 2011 I am active in this forum only in the last couple of months.
This thread is unique.
V.Raghunathan..................................... ...........................Navi Mumbai
From India
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Hello Sir,
Thank you for the post. Although I am not selected this time as the company requires candidates with international exposure, I am lucky to have received wonderful thoughts from senior members.
Regards
From India, New Delhi
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Thank you for the post. Although I am not selected this time as the company requires candidates with international exposure, I am lucky to have received wonderful thoughts from senior members.
Regards
From India, New Delhi
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Hello magsus10,
Please don't worry about this interview. I am sure life still has a long way to go—it may just be that this isn't the opening for you. Also, regarding your comments '.....get wonderful thoughts of senior members.....', NOTHING—REPEAT 'NOTHING' ever goes to waste when it comes to 'learning'. Would you believe that many of my comments/suggestions that I am mentioning in CiteHR now were mere 'inputs' to me 10-15 years ago, when I wasn't even involved in any sort of HR activities?
And, I am sure that's the scenario with most other senior members too—except that the experiences and lessons learned vary from person to person. All the Best.
Regards,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
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Please don't worry about this interview. I am sure life still has a long way to go—it may just be that this isn't the opening for you. Also, regarding your comments '.....get wonderful thoughts of senior members.....', NOTHING—REPEAT 'NOTHING' ever goes to waste when it comes to 'learning'. Would you believe that many of my comments/suggestions that I am mentioning in CiteHR now were mere 'inputs' to me 10-15 years ago, when I wasn't even involved in any sort of HR activities?
And, I am sure that's the scenario with most other senior members too—except that the experiences and lessons learned vary from person to person. All the Best.
Regards,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
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