Interview

Hello. As you might see from my previous posts I was fortunate enough to get called for TESL interview in UM and UiTM. So I’m just going to write about what happened and also give some tips? Please don’t take everything too seriously because this is just my experience and what I feel about it, and different people have different opinions.

Okay so I had the UM interview first. I will admit, I was not into the interview at all. I seriously played around and didn’t prepare well at all. So you can imagine how it went. I arrived just in time for the registration too and that was already pretty nerve-wrecking. We had to wait in the auditorium and when we registered the people in charge told us where to sit according to our panels. So I sat down in this row and then saw Hannan two rows away from me so I went and sat behind her to chat a little bit. Wrong move! The interview sessions starts and then apparently they were calling us according to our seats so I was actually supposed to go later as I arrived later but because I changed seats I got called earlier. I’m so sorry to all the other people who came earlier than me…

So okay anyway we went to the interview place. Waited nervously. I couldn’t think of anything at this time anymore so yeah. And then it was my turn. Went in, bagi salam, gave all the documents and certificates needed, sat down. And so it begins.

Of course, first they asked me to introduce myself. Even here, I was already stuck! I gave my name, age, told them I finished the Asasi TESL programme in UiTM, and I didn’t know what else to say. This was actually really bad because they just want to hear you talk and stuff so they find things to talk about from your introduction. Because that was all I said, they asked me about the Asasi TESL programme. It wasn’t too hard to answer, but they asked to talk a bit about my favourite subject, which I told them was literature, and of course I was blank. How was I supposed to remember the Literary Elements and stuff?! I was really unprepared.

Then they asked whether I’ve heard about the human capital or something (basically the current issues) and I just told them I’m not familiar with that. Then they asked about something else which I couldn’t hear but it sounded weird so I said I didn’t know about that either. Then one of them was really surprised and said “You don’t know about GST??”

Oh. OH! They actually asked about GST and I said I didn’t know about it. So I quickly went “Oh! I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that.” But of course, I still didn’t do any research and so was stuck. Shame on you Fatin. Everything else after that was quite a blur and then we are finished. Thanked the interviewers, took back my file, and wished them “Happy fasting.” I was just trying to act cute lol. But the lady interviewer looked quite amused when I exited so teehee.

So that was how it went. It was pretty bad as I was really unprepared and seem half-assed. Onwards to the UiTM interview!

Knowing better now, I made some preparations for it. We got to the place early, and this time the candidates have to sit for a written test first. So I met up with Hannan (we were on the same panel, how lucky!) and we went for the test. It was fine.

And so the interview starts. We had a bit of a panic because they pasted a list of documents they wanted in order and it was different from how we arranged it. Luckily I was the 4^th or 5^th candidate so I managed to arrange my docs calmly and had time to spare to relax myself.

My turn came. So I went in, bagi salam, and handed the docs. Before going to the chair the interviewer asked me to tell her the numbers on some paper on their table. It was a colour blind test. So I read the numbers, and went to sit down. This time it went a little different as the interviewer was the first to start the conversation. She said I finished the Asasi programme, which campus was I from before Dengkil? So I told her I was from the Shah Alam campus in the first sem and moved to Dengkil in the second sem. So then she asked me about the difference of the two campuses. I was like, in what aspect? She said it can be from any aspect. So I went on to talk about the college.

I was pretty nervous and I don’t know how I answered. Maybe it was just me but I felt like my answer was quite boring and the interviewer had this judging look lol. Only after that did she asked me to give a brief introduction about myself. This time I was more prepared, so I did a bit better I guess.

I told her my name, age, where I’m from, that I’m the youngest sibling and my hobbies. Surprisingly, she asked me about being the youngest child. See, they just want to talk about what you said. She asked me about how the youngest is always viewed as the spoilt one, so how do feel about that? I told her I think it’s more about how the family treats the child, in my case I don’t feel like I get any special treatment so I don’t think I’m spoilt. Then she asked how do I make my older siblings listen to me or something and I’m like, I don’t know what you’re talking about cause we all respect each other and while I may be inexperienced in some areas, they still listen to what I have to say. Ceyy if only my answer was that beautiful. But yeah it went something like that.

So then she asked whether I’ve heard of any news on the education system in Malaysia right now. I did prepare for this, but just briefly on PPSMI and it was actually really old news, but that was the only thing I got. She also laughed a bit and said that’s really old. So I said yeah but I just knew that it was stopped because my school didn’t stop it and we learned Science and Maths in English. It was the only thing I could do in the situation because I really didn’t prepare on the education system (because I’m not really interested, I know, I’m a bad person).

And then the other interviewer spoke up. She asked me, in BM, about hak guru untuk merotan pelajar. Just a reminder that this is a TESL interviewer okay everyone. I heard it from the other candidates before that we have to answer a question in BM. But just for fun, I asked like I was being clueless, whether I should answer in BM. And then the interviewer said “You HAVE to answer in BM” and I’m like mmkay.

So yeah, even the question was difficult and to top it off I had to answer in BM. I felt like this question went on for a really long time because I had quite long pauses because I don’t really know how to say it in BM. I know I know I’m a really bad person but seriously, I feel like I can speak more freely in English rather than BM. Because in BM I have to be like formal and baku but I’m only good in Kedah accents hahaha.

After the question they asked me whether I had any questions, and I did prepare one. But I kinda asked a bit too much and the interviewer looked a bit annoyed? Exasperated? Well because she said she can’t really answer my question because it was up to the higher people or something and I was like oh oh okay sorry about this. And then it was over. Took my docs, bagi salam, wished them have a nice day. Because whatever happened you should be nice even towards the end lol.

So that was my experience. I think I did better in the UiTM interview compared to UM, but it still wasn’t that good anyway. So here are some of my helpful or not-so-helpful tips! 

1.      Do your research!

You will know you have been called for an interview at least a few days before. So you should use those days wisely and prepare yourself. Do some research. Know the basic questions they would probably ask in interviews, like how would you see yourself in 10 years time, your strengths and weakness, the current issues. Get to know about the course you’re about to take and the university you’re applying to. I would suggest looking it up on the internet. Basically, prepare yourself, mentally, physically and spiritually.

2.      Prepare your documents!

This depends on the university you’re applying to, some of them list down the documents they need, while some don’t. Even if they don’t, you would need to at least bring all the basic documents like copies of your IC and results and also certificates. When you’re given a list make sure you have extras just in case anything happens. Also, if they need it certified then get it certified and I would suggest doing it early so that you don’t bother people. Don’t do this at the last minute (like what I did…)

3.      Be early!

Especially if you don’t know the place of the interview. Being early is never a bad thing and you wouldn’t be kalut. If you’re late you would probably panic and that would not help anything. You can also meet the other candidates and if you’re a social person you can chat with them. A lot of the tips I got from the internet recommended talking to the other candidates to calm down and also make new friends but I’m not really a social person so yeah, that’s up to you. If you feel like you need someone to talk to then start a conversation with someone. If you feel like talking to other candidates would make you even more nervous then don’t. But whatever it is say calm.

4.      Follow orders!

If they (the people in charge) tell you to go somewhere then you go. If they tell you to sit there then you sit there. If they tell you to sit according to your panels then you do so. This would avoid any confusion as they have a reason for their orders. Also, you would probably get a guide on what to wear for the interview so follow that too. I would suggest not wearing anything you’re not comfortable with, like suddenly wearing shawl when you’re only used to tudung bawal. This would only disturb you.

5.      Try to be as calm as possible.

It’s totally normal to be nervous for interviews. But don’t be too nervous that you can’t even talk properly. Like I mentioned before, if you need to talk to people to calm down then find a friend to talk to.

During the interview,

Try not to look too nervous. Be confident, but don’t be cocky. This means don’t be arrogant and act like you’re such a great person. Be humble. It’s always nice to smile too.

And try not to lie too much. It’s normal to stray from the truths a little bit to make you seem like a good person, but don’t just outright lie like saying you love reading when you don’t. The interviewer might ask you about any books you’ve read and then you’d be screwed.

From my experience I would say the introduction is one of the most important part so try and get it right. Look up on what to say in your introduction and what not to say. Really, just do lots and LOTS of preparations and you would be fine. Preparation is the key.

But don’t memorise your answers! You have to be flexible because we never know what the interviewer is going to ask. Like me, most of the posts I read about the TESL interview said that we have to do mock-teaching but this year we didn’t have to. Of course I did prepare for it, but just a little bit. That’s luck on my part I guess.

Also, you might get stressed when doing too much research for the interview, so please control yourself. You would have a few days to prepare so when you feel like it’s too much then just stop whatever you’re doing and go relax yourself. Have some snacks, listen (and yell) to some songs, sleep if you want to. Oh and please don’t lose sleep over the interview. I don’t think that’s worth it. You would be tired for the interview anyway and that’s a big no no.

So I guess that’s all. If you happen to stumble into this post as you’re about to have an interview then all the best to you! Don’t worry too much! Also please don’t follow all my tips too much as I’m not really a qualified person to be giving tips anyway hahaha~