Internship.

It's my first job interview... very detailed story.

I went to Cabuyao, Laguna last Tuesday for my interview. I was scheduled at 8:30am so I met up with Katrina C. (I shall call her KC in this blog from now on) at the Ayala MRT Station at 6:30am. Since I was panicking the day before, I'm so thankful that despite sleeping at 2am I was able to wake up at 4am and get to the MRT station on time. (Yay! Big improvement!) We boarded a bus going to Alabang there, told the bus conductor to drop us at Festival Mall and talked all the way. While we were discussing the requirements we were going to pass for Wednesday she asked me to confirm with our teacher if the paper was supposed to contain two experiments instead of one paper each. So I texted him (the teacher of course) using my Dad's phone while looking at my phone for his number. Then after a few minutes (like around 2 minutes or so...) the bus conductor asked us,

"Miss, di ba sa Festival Mall kayo?" [Miss, isn't Festival Mall your stop?]
KC and me in unison: "Opo!" [Yes!]
"Lumagpas na kayo." [You just missed it.]
Us: *in shock* Po?!? [What?!?]
"Hindi bale baba na lang kayo sa toll gate ng Susana Heights. May jeep naman dun pabalik ng Alabang." [Don't worry we can drop you off at the Susana Heights toll gate. You can board the jeep going back to Alabang.]
Me: "Makakasakay po ba kami agad doon?" [Will we be able to board a jeep when we get there?]
"Oo, doon dumadaan ang jeep" [Yes, that's the jeep's route.]

So we ended up stranded at the toll gate. Around 10 jeepneys have passed us for about thirty minutes and none were able to take us because they're always full. (A thousand thoughts were running in my head, including trying to hitch a private car/van just to go back to Alabang. We were dressed formally so I thought they wouldn't think that were bad people.) I asked an old guy, who was also waiting there, why are the jeepneys are always full and what other options can we take. He told us that there was a jeepney terminal a few kilometers from there where it was always filled with passengers. (Wah! The bus conductor lied! Arrggh!) Then he said he was also headed to Alabang and we can only take a bus from where we were standing. Then he got on a bus going to Sucat - Bicutan and told us we can ride that to go back to Alabang. We told the bus conductor we were going to Festival Mall and then he gave us our tickets. So... after 15 minutes, we were getting restless because we still can't see Festival Mall and it should be just a few minutes from Susana Heights, right? So I asked again if we were near our destination. It turns out that the bus was going in a DIFFERENT ROUTE and isn't going to pass Alabang! (At this point, I was already ranting in my head how stoopid guys are at giving directions!) I was wondering why the conductor agreed to let us off at Festival Mall, surely he must have known that it wasn't going there... right? And then I realized that he must have heard us say Megamall. Argh! What is up with guys? their hearing capabilities and their sense of direction? *fuming mad*

We got off at Ayala. Back where we started. I am close to tears at this point because it's almost 8am and I don't know if we'll be able to get there on time. T_T And again we boarded a bus going to Alabang. We sat on the second row behind the driver and told the conductor to PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE tell us when were at Festival Mall because it's our second ride going there. When we were near our stop, the lady beside KC suddenly said,

"Malapit na kayong bumaba." [You're about to get off.]
Me: *surprised that she was talking to us* "Saan po ba? Di po ba may palengke kami bababaan tapos may overpass po dun?" [Where is it? Aren't we supposed to get off at a market and then take the overpass?]
"Ah maglalakad pa kayo bago makapunta sa overpass."
The guy who was seated in front of us suddenly stood up and said, "Miss bumaba na kayo dyan o, tapos sumakay kayo ng tricycle papuntang Festival Mall. Dyan na yun." [Miss you can get off there and take a tricycle to Festival Mall.]
The lady whispered to us, "Di nyo kelangan magtricycle kasi pwede nyo na lakarin. Wag kayo maniwala sa kanya. Dito na kayo bababa." [You don't need to board a tricycle because you can walk all the way. Don't believe him. You have to get off here.] *and she got up and got off the bus*

We followed her directions and got off then asked a few vendors how to get to the overpass. They were kind enough to tell us how to get there and FINALLY we saw Festival Mall and we were able to get on a van going to Cabuyao. I asked the driver and the dispatcher if it was going to the Light Industrial and Science Park I. They confirmed it and I asked them where will we get off (and to PLEASE tell us when we're there). In the van, KC and I recounted our horrible experience in getting to Festival Mall, how will we explain to the interviewer how we got late, what we were expecting their reaction would be and also talked about other internships at other companies. I also changed my footwear from sandals to closed shoes. My shoes were kinda old so I didn't want to risk going there barefoot if it broke down in the middle of the road, so I used sandals first. Then when we got to the toll gate (where they said we should get off), I asked the guy beside me if this was our stop.

Me: "Kuya dito na po ba bababa kapag papuntang Light Industrial and Science Park I?" [Kuya is this where we're supposed to get off to get to Light Industrial and Science Park I?]
"Oo, dito na." [Yes, this is it.]
Me: "Dito po ba yung papuntang Fastech?" [Is this the way going to Fastech.]
"Oo." [Yes.] (At this point I was thinking, since he knew the way there and the company. Maybe he's from the company?)
Me: "Kuya, taga-Fastech po ba kayo?" [Kuya are you from Fastech?]
"Oo." [Yes.]

I was partly shocked and partly happy. Partly shocked because we were talking about the company in van and he was sitting right beside me! Wah! How embarrassing! ^^; And a part of me was happy because someone can give us clear directions on how to go there. We boarded a tricycle to get to the LISP I gate and he asked us on the way what was the position we were applying for and told us that it was more convenient (not to mention cheaper) to use the shuttle that was going to Fastech. I quickly told him it was for an internship and that we were not able to catch the shuttle. When we finally got to the gate, the guard stopped us and said that if we were not employees of the company then there should be a letter there to state our visit. I told him that we were sent there for an interview and we only got the notice through a text the previous day. He insisted that the company would have sent them a letter about us and started flipping through his fastened file of letters. The guy who was beside me in the van told the guard that he will vouch for us because we were going in the company WITH him. (I was quite surprised at this point because we barely know each other.) And then he showed his Fastech ID and insisted that we were going there with him. I also showed the text message I got from my teacher about the interview and then the guard reprimanded us saying that they have strict rules so next time we should get a letter. How in the world would we know something like that?! Anyway, good thing the guy was there and showed us the shuttle we were going to board. In the shuttle, we were seated at the back while the good Samaritan (yup, the guy who vouched for us and stuff) was seated in front. One by one the passengers got off until only the guy, KC and I were left. We kept looking to see if he got off at every stop because we didn't want to lose our guide. When he noticed that we were looking at him, he smiled at us and said that it was still a bit far. KC and I laughed at ourselves for being so paranoid. :P Anyway, we finally got to our destination! Yay! The guy told us to wait for him at the gate because he has to ask the guard to allow us to get in for our interview. At this point, I felt it was necessary to give our names so I introduced myself and KC. The guy told us that we looked familiar. I thought, wow, I look like someone else? When he talked to the guard, he told us to just go at the building in front and he won't be able to escort us because he was already late for work. (He was supposed to be there at 8am but he got late because of us.) On our way to the building, we named him "Kuya Angel" because he was like an angel for showing us the way and vouching for us. We were greatly indebted to him. :)

When we got inside, we were given booties (aka foot rags) to cover our shoes. Wah! And I looked so hard for these formal shoes just for the interview, only to get them covered? T_T The HR was at the third floor and we took the super fast elevator there. (Super fast because we just glanced at the mirror behind us at the elevator and then ding! We're at the 3rd floor!) I talked to the receptionist and told her we were there for the interview. She said that the interviewer has been waiting for us. Oh no! Now I'm going to have a bad impression on my first interview! ;_; I explained that we kinda missed our stop and had to go back. ^^;

The interviewer finally arrived and we explained that we kinda missed our stop and told her about our misfortunes. She smiled and laughed, then said,

"At least kayo umikot lang, sila Cha at Marj kahapon nakarating ng Calamba!" [At least you only got back to the start, Cha and Marj went all the way to Calamba!] *Calamba is really, really far from Fastech ^^;*

She led us to the testing room and we were given two exams under time pressure. One was non-verbal and the other was verbal reasoning. After the two exams, we went to another room because the testing room was going to be used by others. We went into the last room of the hallway and since KC and I were the only ones late (there were four of us there, one was from another school and the other was a classmate from UP) we took the exam that the others have already taken, the personality test. (It looked like any other online personality quiz. XD)

After the exams, we took a lunch break from 11:30 up to 1pm. We got lunch from the company cafeteria and waited at the lobby afterward. Cellphones should be turned off when inside the cafeteria or the lobby (because it interferes with the RF signals) so we had no other form of entertainment except talking to each other. We were also able to meet Kuya Angel at the cafeteria and were able to thank him. I also got his name, Raymund, but we like calling him Kuya Angel so we're sticking with that. :P

We had a group interview (all UP students) around 2pm. She asked us basic questions and I was always the last one to answer (because I was at the other end?). That gave me a lot of time to think about the question and how to answer it honestly and convincingly. (Hey, I was marketing myself. So I had to convince them to "buy" me. XD) I told her about my history in EEE and why I shifted among other things. I also told her that I was an apprentice in the SLab and will be working on the ISE for my thesis. I also added that I was an apprentice in I2008. She asked us a lot of personal questions, like which line would we want to work? I told her that I'm really interested in the production and in research, while the others wanted to go to Failure Testing and Quality Control. Turns out they were looking for people in the R&D department as well as the Front-of-Line and the End-of-Line. At first I was assigned to the R&D department. The shift there is 8am-5pm. I was so happy I got what I wanted! Then she added that I would be the only girl there and if it was okay with me to work with guys. I eagerly said it was perfectly okay because I really wanted to be in that department!

After the interview, she told us we will have our second interview shortly. So while we were waiting at the lobby, I kinda joked how lonely I'll be because I'll be the only girl at the R&D department. Then Louie (our classmate) told me it was okay for him if I wanted to switch places with him. I was like, "Oh, okay..." and then our interviewer suddenly appeared in the lobby and told us that there has been a change of plans! I was going to be at the End-of-Line with KC while Louie will be in the R&D. My spirits sank. Me and my big mouth. *cries*

The shifts at the End-of-Line were 6am-2pm, 2pm-10pm and 10pm-6am. A 24-hour production line. We won't be assigned to the graveyard shift but still, the time given were pretty extreme. But the good news is that we can wear sandals, jeans and t-shirt at that department because at the R&D department, you'll have to wear formal attire all week. Plus we don't have to fret over our foot wear because we will be given clean shoes. Yay! :D

The second interview was kinda funny because I just kept nodding my head. We will be given a case study and will be shown how everything works there. I felt that I was the interviewer because I kept asking questions to the department manager. Ehehehe... ^^;

Last part was for our medical exam, we were given referral slips and a map on how to get to CMC. We scheduled our med exam on Monday, April 2. If everything goes well, then we'll be hired! Hooray! Getting lost and everything was worth it! (I hope...)

With this, I'd like to announce that I won't be able to play RO and be online as much as I used to. I will be staying in Laguna for the duration of the internship. That means 2 months in a boarding house in Laguna. I will probably be home during weekends but since we will be working 6 days a week, I don't know if I will still have the energy to be online when I get home. Plus, this puts a damper on my plans for Puerto Galera. T_T I'm thinking I could go to PG on Saturday evening (I shall do my best to get there!) and then go back to Laguna on Sunday evening. Not exactly a cheap trip but I think it's worth it if I could be with friends. You guys can go ahead, like Friday evening or something. :)

So I won't be installing arRO any time soon. See, I won't be able to play as much so... what the point? I'd rather play at TalonRO for the meantime. And then there's the issue for I2007 Grad Party, if we're required to attend then how will I be able to go there and go back to Laguna. Wah! I really hope we're not required to go, I wouldn't know how to board buses and stuff (in formal attire mind you) at midnight. T_T

Yes, a lot of dilemma. I will miss my PC very much! And I will miss Anza and Aori too! As well as the Sims that are installed here. Boo hoo... I have never lived by myself in another area. So please, pray for me~! I'm half-scared to be outside my comfort zone but I'm also half-excited to venture into the unknown. :D

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13 (KJV)