34 posts from 2007

...who used to work in a different department and has now changed jobs. Not only did he invite me to his leaving drinks but now he has gotten back in touch and is constantly pestering me to apply at his company.

At first, I was quite excited to see what roles were on offer and stuff but when I learnt that it's a web development company (of which I know nothing about) AND the interview questions, I kind of realized that it was going to be stretching myself a bit too far.
So, I am not very keen on applying for this job. Despite the repeated, almost scary, reassurances from this guy that he would prepare me for the interview and that it would be a "piece of cake", I know from looking at the sample interview questions that there is no way I could get it. And even though I could prepare for the questions they asked him, I probably won't be able to answer any other questions that the interviewers might ask me.

I think the company is expecting Computer Science graduates which I am not. I only did a bit of C during my degree and rest I have learnt on the job. And I don't really spend reading about these outside of work, in fact, I don't willingly read about this at work either!

I don't want to lose the last remaining bit of self confidence by getting yet another rejection. Even worse would be losing ALL the self respect in being utterly incompetent to get ONE job out of the four interviews I have been to this year.

So I stopped the guy short by not replying but he texted me last night asking how I was getting on and when he could call me in for an interview.

Although I can guess that the guy actually is getting some sort of commission from the job, I am grateful for his offer to get me the job by preparing for the interview. But really, I don't think I can do it and I have informed him so. I have repeatedly said that I don't think I can do it and reiterated that I am not as clever as he thinks I am. Hopefully he has got the message now and won't badger me anymore but hopefully I won't regret this later...

I have been reading scientific news articles recently and have figured that the scientific news editors have a specialism in elongating an article which is only meant to 20 words to an article of 200 words.

For example, this article on the Independent headlines why Earth's twin became a Wasteland. So first I read about how Venus is a barrenland, then I read how 32 satellites have been sent to Venus, which is indeed a barrenland. Of course, venus doesn't have life! HAHAH! I jumped at every paragraph hoping that it would include what exactly turned Venus into a barrenland. But instead of some groundbreaking theory about how venus into a barrenland, I can sum this article premise to "Venus turned into a Barrenland because of lack of gravity".

If this was how all journalists wrote their articles, we'd be saving so much paper on newsprint!

Don't even remind of the article I read in the Science journal - Gah!

I am quite proud of my dad - he has always been writting computer software and stuff but in fact he is also computer savvy - down with the kids you know - He is on facebook, orkut and possibly has a blog somewhere that I don't know of.

But recently, I have been perplexed by the test messages/offline messages on my google that he leaves for me. A sample presented here:

Comprehensible:

Olivia Joules: Hello, How are you?
Dad: fine, ty. h r u?
....

Incomprehensible:

Olivia Joules: Thank you so much for this.
Dad: y r w
Olivia Joules: what does y r w mean?
Dad: you are welcome
Olivia Joules: oh right, ok.

Then again, this time my dad completely and utterly exasperated:

Olivia Joules: Thank you for doing that. Really appreciate it.
Dad: mn
Olivia Joules: mn?
Dad:mn = mention not

Last night I felt uninspired to cook, all the food seemed to fall into two groups - some fatty greasy type of cheese or wine containing thing or some spicy indian food.
Well one could argue that there is salads and soups but er...they don't really fill me up.

I went shopping and bought some ingredients which would eventually be of some help whence my inspiration returned. On returning home, I started chopping some onions and came up with this - I don't quite know what the recipe is called or anything but it tasted very good - even if you are not a prawn fan, definitely give it a try coz I know it turned a prawn-hating soul.

So here goes:
1 medium sized onion
6 Jester Tomatoes (I sound very picky here but these were the only ones on offer yesterday, cough)
140gms of Tiger Prawns
a Bunch of Fresh Coriander
1 rocket chilli
Salt to Taste

Heat some oil in a pan, add the medium sized onion and let it cook until it's slightly brown. Then add the prawns and cook until they turn white but are still not quite cooked. Then add the rocket chillies and Tomatoes. Once the tomatoes start to cook (which I tell by the dish turning slightly juicy), add coriander leaves and let them cook for another 3-4 minutes.

And voila! It's ready. I had it with some pasta parcels which actually were quite disappointing so may be some rice might go? Which makes me think that this dish is more Chinese-y than Italian.

Anyhoo, even though I say it myself - this is a really nice one!

http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/food/recipe/0,,2217092,00.html

In office environments where most toilets are of double occupancy, the rule is that if you hear sounds from a cubicle then it is best not to come out while the person is washing their hands/ drying etc.

Or have I got it completely wrong?

PS. This rule was in no way applicable to me, today or ever.

My jaw clicks
When I eat an apple
my mouth distends
amd then It clicks as if there is no end.

It clicks when I pull a face
then, I can't even pretend

I think I remember when it happened
I was going around a bend
I fell on my face
and to the hospital I was send

It's never been the same
though I wish I could make an amend

In the mornings I can't yawn
may be it transcends

My ears hurt and a bone sticks out
is there no mend?

I was reading in the Independent today

"It is well established that worker ants tend to take greater risks as they get older. Scientists have shown that this behavioural trait benefits the colony because certain risky activities, such as foraging far from the nest, are best done by ants coming to the end of their useful lives – it doesn't pay to put young workers in high-risk jobs.

As a result, younger ants tend to do housekeeping chores around the nest, which is inherently safer than travelling further afield."

...so if ant colonies are anything to go by then we should certainly be not be sending young 18 year olds to fight in the two wars. What about the ageing politicians going there for once, they haven't got anything to lose, well as such.

I have just realised that mostly when I can't get the jobs I apply for, it's more to do with the person who is interviewing than with me myself.

Clearly, the only thing they look at is my current role and the further in time I go from graduation date, the more difficult it becomes for them to see that my University Degree/Experience does count for something after all!

If anything, I am surprised at how my four years at University is completely shadowed by this one year at work where I have done nothing but moan and slack. If only I could say so on my CV.

But it's their fault and indeed, their loss. I just need to be more convincing in my interviews, may be. Sound confident and make them believe that I know what I am talking about.

On the other hand, may be I should go back to university next year...hmm...

At work, when we have meetings of any sort - team or work meetings, people burst into laughter at the first audible chuckle...Some of them even break into tears. Whilst I just sit there and watch how many of them are just pretending to find the joke really funny in order to get a promotion/get their work done/not run into trouble/don't look stupid.

Whereas, as the all-knowing employee know that the chucke is really to get the work done that you shouldn't have to and so I just smile and think about a blog entry like this one.