One in a Million

Ryan Chan, Personnel Consultant at Adecco (Tampines Branch).

Okay, perhaps I may be exaggerating that he’s one in a million… but he sure is the first & the only interviewer who gave me such an excellent and beyond satisfactory impression of Adecco, as my first choice job placement agency.

Honestly, I didn’t really prepare for this interview with him on Monday, November 14, 2005. Over these few weeks, I had gone for a few interviews since I left StarHub & I have to say that most didn’t go very well so far. You would probably want to say to me, “Well then… Isn’t it even more important that I came as prepared as I could for this interview at this job agency?” I guessed as much that most would probably throw such a remark at me.

But whosoever would fling such a statement at me would be clearly perceived as someone who does not understand me. I’m currently stuck in a dilemma. I have a business degree & need to gain more working experience before I can consider a ‘safer’ career switch. So needless to say, I have to try all means to get a job for now. Plus, not to forget that I’m almost broke by now.

The main problem with me is that where my current direction in my job search does really go hand-in-hand with what’s truly what I want in my heart. Many people tell me that, “Hey Matthew… You must learn to be realistic. Often, it’s about doing it as a job… simply a way to earn a living.” With so many people thinking this way, it is no wonder that survey results show that 70% of employees are not happy with their jobs. In fact, quite a proportion of them didn’t list salary as their top priority in doing a job. Even my parents USED to tell me that. Till I have managed to convince them into giving me a chance to carve out a career for myself… whatever it may be.

You see, nowadays recruitment personnel are very selective in who they decide to fill in the vacancy for a job. All sorts of methods come into play – (1) Subtle questions asked over the initial phone conversation, which carries much underlying motives and implications, (2) Asking the first question in the interview as, “Do you wish to further your studies?” A obvious question that can carry a diverse amount of motives for asking such a question, (3) Straightforwardly asking, “What kind of jobs am I interested in doing?” Obviously trying to sift out candidates if they are just applying for this job as just a job, (4) All kinds of personality and temperament tests, (5) and most recently even turning to analyzing a candidate’s hand-writing to tell the interviewer something about this person.

I mean, come on! Candidates like me are like being thrown into the meat grinder to produce minced meat! These fellas really go all out to ask questions that hunt you down, corner you & leave you no where to run. Afterall, these HR people are trained for this kind of questioning. It’s their job.

I have been through this kind of questioning many times before. I’m not afraid of this verbal interrogation… trust me, some interviewers really go all out to squeeze and track down whatever that you can find out about you, that’s to your disadvantage… but how often is it possible to find an ideal candidate with all the right skills, experience and passion for the job? What if some really just look at it as a job & a means to earn a living? Must they be so cruel & shrewd?

If you really ask me (& I have no qualms about being truthful to anyone), my heart really lies in working in the sports industry. Be it as a personal trainer, sports science lecturer, strength and conditioning coach, sporting events organizer, sports course coordinator, etc. This is where my interests lie.

But to give myself a chance to apply for these jobs, I need to get a job to save up money to take courses that will enable me to get a job in this sports industry. So at the meantime, I need to work & save up first. This is my current career plan right now. All I’m hoping is that someone gives me a chance now. Afterall, not many stay in a single career for life till retirement. Things change, people change, interests change, direction change... its just part & parcel of life.

After all that shitty nonsense, aggressively ‘sounding-me-out’ questioning & discriminatory crap that I had gone through since the weeks before I was asked to resign from my job till all these past interviews, all these have really taken its toil on my mental and emotional state. Sometimes I toss & turn in my bed & find it difficult to sleep. I find it difficult to come to terms with myself & what I hope & strive to be… in the midst of all the complexities that this horrendous economic world throws at me… & everyone else who have lived through this phase of life & can identify with me.

This is why before I went for this interview at Adecco, I found that I could only rehearse the possible interview questions in my head… coz I knew deep in my heart, that if I just needed to be truthful in all that I had to say… I wouldn’t need to even prepare or rehearse. Everything would just come out, just the way that I share with Rebecca & my parents.

But that’s the irony, see? Having to think up conscience defying statements and answers & rehearsing what’s not really from my heart. Coz the truth is that if someone really knows what he or she wants to do & has the burning passion to work towards it… you can see it in his eyes & body language… the fire, the passion, the enthusiasm, the focus from within.

But God is good. He brought me to meet up with very different personnel consultant by the name of Ryan Chan. When I was conversed with him over the phone, he sounded strong & objective. Personally, his name kind-of speaks that to me too. But I told myself that I will just go forth to meet him & be true to myself.

Ryan turned out to be a gentle, kind, considerate and sincere man, probably in his early to mid 30s. At first I was stunned. Our first handshake was neither strong nor firm… but rather warm & friendly. He greeted me like a friend… a friend meeting up with coffee or something… just to chit-chat.

I found it odd that a personnel consultant could be so calm & soft-spoken. He didn’t seem in a rush to quickly assess my career and personality profile & shoo me off, so that he can handle his remaining work. It surprised me even more when I realized that I had arrived earlier than expected & he decided to meet up with me & push back his lunch time.

At first, I still eyed his body language cautiously & spoke in a formal manner. But as time passed, I began to feel comfortable talking with him. He wasn’t forceful or demanding in any way… even when I shared about myself & the nature of job that I would like to do. Although initially, he could really fit me specifically into a specific type of job, what impressed me is that he was warm & accepting towards how I really am. He never said, “Aiyah, why you are so complex? Very difficult to fit you into a specific type of job leh!” He treated me like a friend & accepted me.

In fact, towards the end of the interview with him, he also shared quite a number of his personal experiences with me & even offered to recommend me to his manager, since I wouldn’t mind working as a personnel consultant like him at Adecco. On top of that, he even said that he will find out more from the other two employers which he selected for me, so that I can decide again whether which job is more suitable for me.

What really made an impression was that he is a very genuine person that speaks from his heart. He doesn’t put on airs & try to dig out stuff that might prove disadvantages to me. He didn’t even ask why I left my previous job at StarHub! He just told me that he’s willing to give anyone a chance to try out a new job. I shared a bit about how nasty & picky some interviewers can be & he was very sympathetic & understood what I was saying.

Oh yes, I forgot… he shared rather early into this interview that he’s also a Christian. And that shocked me… I had never been interviewed by a Christian before! Or at least they never mentioned that they are Christians. Most are just interested in drilling me on whatever that they want to ask & find out. That was how I realized why this particular person was so different from the others. He had a very genuine heart & his warmth put me at ease.

He even shared that he’s the only Christian in this Adecco Tampines branch & he make use of this opportunity to share the gospel in this mission field that God put him in. In fact, he has seen several salvations so far! I was stunned, but happy! The cutest part is that he kept on referring to God as “Father”. Father this, Father that… So cute! I wanted so much to laugh! But I laughed inside my heart… Thank God for allowing me to meet this kind soul. And like Rebecca said, not everyone are bad in this world… there will be some good people around.

I was pleased with this meet-up that when I reached home, I decided to write in a compliment note for him, via the website feedback link. He replied with much thanks & appreciation… & at the same time, ‘cc’ his e-mail reply to his manager. I hope that made his day. Coz he made mine. May God continue to bless this man richly in all that he do.