Interview

What do you see yourself in another 5 years?
Well, in another 5 years, I see myself in your position, asking the same question to another candidate. That concludes. I guess that went well. The third job interview that I went after graduation.

The first was with LHDN where they asked lots of question about Malaysian politics, LHDN hierarchy, like who's being who which I know nuts. (Ala-ala katak bawah tempurung, paper tak baca, TV tak tengok, pegi interview lenggang kangkung aje...). Hancus le...

The second was with a big factoring company, which I thought ended disastrously. It was a very long interview, lasted about 90 heated minutes. I was arguing with the interviewer, 2 gentlemen, who look down onto young Malay woman. I'm neither a racist nor a feminist but all of their questions & comments make me boiled. I can't stand being put down & of course I fight. I remember making some rude (not lewd) remarks about their questions. Something to the effect "you all ingat you all ni bagus sangat ke, kutuk orang lebih-lebih ni?" - really. But I cannot remember my exact sentences. I was angry.

It was like a week gap between the second and the third interview. December 1996, 2 months after I came home. To land an interview is an achievement. That period was the start of economic downturn and people are getting retrenched. Many graduates are looking for a job and some have been looking for months. Hubby was lucky; he started with PWC only a month after we came back. In a way, there is no pressure for me to start work ASAP; furthermore I just found out that I’m pregnant after celebrating our third anniversaries.

One day, the last week of December, I received a registered letter. I sort of anticipated the letter, I told you the third interview was excellent. Without any hesitation, I tear open the letter. I was shock, it was a job offer alright, but it came from the factoring company. What? They offer me the position? I gave a quick check to the addressee, mana tahu salah orang ke. Yes, it was my name written clearly – bold print. I thought they hate me. They hate my guts. Or is it the guts that they are looking for? I was happy, shock, syukur… Suddenly I felt butterflies in my stomach. The interviewer that I hated so much is going to be my boss… Yucks!

I hesitated. I’ve got about 10 days to accept the offer. I feel like declining it, but what if I didn’t do as well as I thought in my third interview? What if I’m not what they are looking for? 3 days before dateline, I called Citi (the third job interview). Over the phone I was told that I got the job but for some reasons they are not sending the offer letter for another few days.

On the ninth day, I make a trip to Citi to get the offer letter. I’ve decided that if they can’t give me an offer letter then I’ll accept the job from the factoring company. Upon reaching Citi, I was warmly welcome and they immediately printed the offer letter and get it signed within an hour. They told me that I can go for a medical check up at the clinic next door and welcome me if I decided to take up the offer the same day.

The offer was good. The salary offered is RM500 more from the other offer that I got. Other fringes are attractive as well… all too good to be true. Without any hesitation I went for the medical check up – waited, and was given the report the same day. Everything went well… no hick ups, nothing.

I went back to Citi to submit my acceptance. In the HR manager’s room.

Congratulations Shidah. We are glad that you have decided to joint Citi… (while he open the medical report). We hope that you are going to have a good & prosperous future with Citi. He paused. Reading the medical report.

You’re pregnant?

Yes. Is that a problem?

No, being pregnant is not a problem. But you did not complete the medical check up.

Since I’m pregnant, it is obvious that I can’t do the x-ray, but I’ve completed the rest of the check.

Yes…(a very long yes…) but x-ray is a requirement. The offer indicated that you must complete the medical check up, and without the x-ray, it means that you failed to complete the checks.

I argued. You can’t discriminate pregnant women.

We are not discriminating pregnant woman. We simply can’t take you for not doing the x-ray.

I didn’t do it because being pregnant. In a way you are telling me you can’t take me because I’m pregnant.

I didn’t say that.

Being me, I continue to argue. Until he felt very uneasy and ask me to leave. I refused. Silent. It was the longest time that I have felt in my life. In the morning I was happy, full of hope. Now I’m heartbroken. Sad. Very sad.