My First Job Interview

Today I faced my first job interview. And so did most of my batch mates in college. Fidelity Investments! That was the first company which came to our campus for recruitment. Until then I never knew that such a company even existed. Just yesterday, I prepared my resume and I also surfed the net to know more about Fidelity Investments. It seemed to be worth attending their interview.

The interview consisted of three rounds.

First round: Aptitude test

We were given an imaginary situation in which a consumer had a problem with a service provider and that consumer found some faults in the services. We had to assume ourselves as the service providers and solve the problem by writing an email to the consumer.

This is something which I’m very good at. I showed off my convincing skills in the email and I thought the first round was over.

But we were not yet done. We had to answer around 50 multiple choice questions. It was hundred times easier than my MBA entrance exams. So it went on well and the first round was over!

First round result: Selected!

I was happy when my name was called out in the first list itself. All the entrance exam coaching classes I had attended finally paid off.

Second round: Technical and HR Interview

The word technical made me got nuts. I’m not good at it but luckily the HR manager who interviewed me didn’t ask any technical questions. Here is the set of questions he asked me:-

1. Tell me about yourself.

2. What is your educational background?

3. What is your family background?

4. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

5. What are your hobbies?

6. What do you want to be in the future?

7. What are your achievements?

8. What are the challenges that you have come across in your life?

9. When you have to do four things at a time, how will you do it?

10. Why have you taken up international business as your specialisation in BBM?

11. How much salary do you expect?

I answered all these questions so easily. I had all the answers at the tip of my tongue. But then the final question came:-

12. Are you ready to work in night shifts?

I wanted to say “no” but I didn’t want to lose the job opportunity. I rolled my eyes and I unwillingly said “yes”. I guess the interviewer sensed my unwillingness. But I was very much satisfied with my performance and I stepped out of the interview room with a wide grin on my face.

Second round result: Not selected!

Yup, I couldn’t make it to the final round because I didn’t get selected in the second round. I feel I should have frankly told the interviewer about my lack of interest to work in the night shifts. But even if had given him an honest answer, I wouldn’t have got the job as it was a night shift job only.

Anyways, there are so many opportunities out there and this is not the end!