The Job Selection Process – Unique experience

I should say I went through unique selection process for a job of technical writer and this was the first (and probably last) full day test in Belgium for me! The test was purely skills based! There were four people going through the process for four different posts.

I should list all the skills first in order to understand the depth – Writing, Reading Comprehension, Listening, Logical reasoning, Technical aptitude, Presentation skills, Speaking, Programming.....

That is a long list to judge a person for fitting into one job! Well, we wrote one Calendar Manual as technical writing test. Time given was 2 hours. In order to write we had to carefully listen to the instructor how that particular supply chain management Calendar operates.

Yes...you are right! The company operates in Supply Chain Management software domain. And without any background I was selected for the full day test! Before appearing for first round of selection, I just saw few videos related to supply chain management on Internet. That's it! I admit that I do not have in-depth knowledge for this topic. And I was told that I should not prepare for the test before coming for the selection process. And I followed it (quite foolishly)!

Somehow, I have started believing that this is an era of instant information. What we gather is pure information and not the knowledge. Information dissemination is quite instant these days. And our skills are dependent on how we process that information. Knowledge comes when we start working on particular thing with focus and know the subject throughout. Correct me if I am wrong on this front...

So, that Calendar manual writing I thoroughly enjoyed, though I missed some part of it because of lack of sufficient time. Then post lunch keeping the eyes wide open we had to listen to a video (e-learning) which was purely technical and we had to answer the questions. Here, we were tested for listening skills, technical aptitude, logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude. I must admit that e-learning was bit boring and included just bunch of information without sufficient explanations for newbie like me. I managed to scribble the answers! Anyway, there are surely great ways to make e-learning enjoyable to the listeners...

Then we had to do data model exercise as well with the mention of Bill of Material (BOM) which I vaguely remembered to come across during graduation. I admit I couldn't fill the data well! This was based on the e-learning we just listened. We were supposed to grasp all the concepts within 40 minutes and come up with data model of Soup Making Process. I felt, making soup at home is much easier and healthier rather than buying ready made soup coming through a supply chain!

After fighting with e-learning for two hours, we were given some tests papers with programming test, logical reasoning and technical aptitude related to supply chain of course! And this was one-hour test. My mind started to ache a bit now... But I became euphoric when I could solve two questions related to logical reasoning pretty well. And ultimately I was happy even though I left 3-4 questions related to supply chain management blank.

Between this test, we were called one by one to give presentations on Calender manual we had written. I explained as per my own capacity and managed to answer most of the questions successfully. Never in my entire life, I gave presentation during a job selection process...quite unique experience! After this, I was told that there will be an interview as well. I was thirsty after the presentation. I looked for water in the room and there were water bottles. I opened it and... first time in life I tasted sparkling water...! In no way, sparkling water can quench the thirst like normal water though...

My husband later told me that his office provides sparkling water bottles too...

At last I gave personal interview for 15 minutes telling my own story of successful/ unsuccessful ventures into different domains.!

After mentally, physically and emotionally tiring day, when I came home I had greatest feeling... I experienced something unique irrespective of the outcome! I realized that the world of bottle of sparkling water is not meant for me... 😊

Travel Alone – Anxiety, Excitement and Reality 😎

Last week, I traveled alone for the first time in Belgium by public transport. I was anxious, excited, terrified, curious, exhilarated, thrilled ...All emotional adjectives at one go!!!

Anyway, it was my first interview call here and the location was not public transport friendly. If you miss the bus, wait for half an hour totaling the travelling time to two hours. And I had to reach there by 9 am. Previous day, we were checking all routes on google map. My husband downloaded offline map on my mobile. There was a bus from Mortsel Oude God to the office at 8 am. The fast train to Mortsel Oude God was at 7:32 am from Mechelen Nekkerspoel. In the morning, I rushed towards train station and reached at 7:25 am!

I experienced the first panic. The ticket machine was not taking Euro note and I did not have bank ATM card, but just a Forex card. And as usual the PIN was not in my memory. I called up my husband to get the pin number.

'You have insufficient credit to call this number!' 

That was second panic moment! I hated Lycamobile as I was unable to call, enough if we recharged it two days back. 
I asked co-passenger to buy ticket for me by giving her the cash. She did not have the change to give back, so casually I told her to keep two euro change. Boarded the train on time, I checked if I can make Whatsapp call through internet. I was able to call my husband who was busy getting my daughter ready for school. He didn't pick up and I left the message to recharge my number.

The google map was working fine as I traveled from Mortsel Oude God train station to the bus stop where I was going to take the bus. I checked the bus number 140 on the platform. Just before two minutes of the arrival of the bus, I realized that there is opposite platform with same bus number. I rechecked with Indian lady by my side. She asked me 'Kahan jana hai..? Where do you want to go?' I was just knowing the bus stop name and not the end station of the bus. After short discussion, we realized I was at wrong platform and there came the bus no. 140. The third panic moment!!!

I waved hands at the bus driver and ran towards the opposite platform breaking one traffic signal...

Travelling in the bus, I was constantly looking at the google map, to check the arrival of bus station where I have to get down. And I got down successfully with no more panic attack.

From bus station to the office, there was 15 minutes' walk and I was totally dependent on Google maps to reach there. I realized I was the only one walking on the road...!!! And few cars moving here and there...

Reached safe and sound to the office and 15 minutes before time...!

After tiring selection process from 9 am to 5:30 pm, I was like I do not want to come to this place again by public transport. (Yes.! my wish came true as I am again searching for better opportunities)

On the way back home, I did not have offline google map. And now the internet was also not working. I hated Lycamobile even more !! Trusting my previous experiences of getting lost with puzzling road directions, I walked towards the bus stop where I had got down in the morning. And this time I stood at the opposite bus stop. The bus 141 came and I boarded the bus. I handed over 10 euro note to the bus driver. He said he needs euro 3 change. Checking each corner of the purse, I handed over 2.50 euro and kept on searching for 50 cents. He said 'Ok..some other time'. I took a sit.

Constantly I was thinking... What if this bus doesn't go to Mortsel Oude God? What if I do not recognize the morning bus stop and go ahead with this bus to some other station?

Nothing of that sort really happened and I got down at the bus stop recognizing it at one go. The train station was in front of bus stop, and I reached the train station. I rechecked, that the train was coming on platform 2. Just before two minutes of arrival of train, I heard the announcement for the train to Mechelen Nekkerspoel and the train came on opposite platform!

Another small panic and I was getting used to the panic attacks 

I thought, may be that is some other train. I rechecked with two fellow passengers if this is the platform for Brussels. They gave me weird look and said 'Yes'. 

After leaving home at 7: 15 am in the morning, I reached home at 7 pm in the evening. That was quite a thrilling journey especially way back home trusting my own intuition rather than anything else! 

I realized how much I have missed my husband during this travel. He accompanies us at every place we go. Since we got married, we never really go alone without each other except to the work place. Right from travelling to different locations to simple stuff like bringing grocery, we do it all together.

I am indebted to my parents-in-laws and grandparents-in-laws for raising up a caring person like him. 

It is true, we grow with interdependence in marriage...finding the middle way between dependence and independence. So, my advice to young couples, give each other enough time.

You will soon realize that no match is perfect but we can make it almost perfect by giving 'Time' to each other. 

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