... about the data for Buyer being blank. (See Sotong's Assignments)
The party that sends the data over, indeed did not check if a valid Buyer is entered.
See? See? SEE?
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Hazy Monday
The average PSI for Monday was 77 for the west. The yellow-yellow must have been my lousy handphone.
Monday, October 23, 2006
The Chronic Leg-crosser
While I was on the road, I spotted a man riding his scooter with his legs crossed like a lady. I wonder how he's gonna keep his balance when he stopped.
I had the opportunity to see for myself in the next few seconds when we came to a stop at a traffic light. When his scooter has stopped completely, he uncrossed his leg gracefully (I wonder how it's possible).
When the lights turned green, he crossed his leg gracefully and scooted off.
I had the opportunity to see for myself in the next few seconds when we came to a stop at a traffic light. When his scooter has stopped completely, he uncrossed his leg gracefully (I wonder how it's possible).
When the lights turned green, he crossed his leg gracefully and scooted off.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Sotong's Assignments
It's week 2, and time to give sotong a share of the action. Yesterday, I was given 2 PRs to solve.
PR #1 - The Mystery
I was presented with the following error - ORA-01722: invalid number. In layman's terms, this probably meant that a word is being passed off as a number, causing the program to fail.
I tested it out in the testing environment, but it was working fine. Thus I suspected that the codes in testing and those that are in use by the customer are different, but my colleague said it couldn't be.
Then how? I dunno liao. Lapses do happen. I wonder if I should show that I doubt my colleague by insisting on verifying the code versions.
Interestingly, while working on this problem, I found something that could either be a bug or redundant requirement.
Let's say we have the following table:
Usual query: Select all fruits and buyers.
Result: The above table would be returned.
If you specify that you want the fruits bought by a particular person only, there is an option to sort the result by buyers.
E.g.: Select all fruits bought by Dad, order by buyer.
Result:
See what's wrong?
There's no need to sort by buyer, since there will only be 1 buyer in the result.
However, it would make more sense to allow sorting regardless of whether buyer is chosen. In this case, it would be a bug.
I shall pretend I didn't see this.
PR #2 - New Place, New Way of Doing Things
A query is not returning the expected results. Let's say we have this table:
Query: Select all fruits bought by Dad after year 2001.
Expected result: Apple, Pear
Actual result: No result
I tested the query in the testing environment, and got Apple and Pear. This means that the query is correct and the problem probably lies with the data. I thought it was possible that the Buyers for Apple and Pear are not Dad.
Me: I cannot replicate the problem. think there might be a problem with the data. The Buyer might be blank. Can I ask for the actual data to verify?
Colleague: No we can't. It's confidential data. They can't give us. And the data must be correct because it has been checked before sending over to us. Can you modify the query such that you can get the same problem?
Me: (Confused. She's so dead sure that the data is correct?) The query is correct, isn't it? Is there some unhandled special case? Or can you tell me the rules, so that I can double-check the correctness of the query.
Colleague: The query is correct. Now we don't know where the problem is.
Me: But you said the query is correct, why should I modify it to create the problem?
Colleague: You can remove conditions one by one, like remove the Year first, put back, remove the Buyer, and so forth.
Me: (Still unconvinced) Ok...
Make something that's correct, wrong, so that I can replicate the error?? That's something new. If it's correct, it means something else is wrong what! This is like telling me that a bulb is not lighting up. I tested with a replica of the circuit and found that mine is working even with several types of bulbs, so I suspect that perhaps the customer's bulb has blown. Now I have to cut my wires, change my bulb, change my switch to plastic, etc to make my bulb not light up. There's so many zillion things I can do to make my bulb not light up, how would I know which the actual reason is? Wouldn't it be so much easier to just SHOW ME THEIR F**KING BULB?
This is like working in the dark, anyhow feeling around for the exit.
Dunno how lah...
PR #1 - The Mystery
I was presented with the following error - ORA-01722: invalid number. In layman's terms, this probably meant that a word is being passed off as a number, causing the program to fail.
I tested it out in the testing environment, but it was working fine. Thus I suspected that the codes in testing and those that are in use by the customer are different, but my colleague said it couldn't be.
Then how? I dunno liao. Lapses do happen. I wonder if I should show that I doubt my colleague by insisting on verifying the code versions.
Interestingly, while working on this problem, I found something that could either be a bug or redundant requirement.
Let's say we have the following table:
| Fruit | Buyer |
| Orange | Mum |
| Apple | Dad |
| Pear | Dad |
| Strawberry | Sis |
Usual query: Select all fruits and buyers.
Result: The above table would be returned.
If you specify that you want the fruits bought by a particular person only, there is an option to sort the result by buyers.
E.g.: Select all fruits bought by Dad, order by buyer.
Result:
| Fruit | Buyer |
| Apple | Dad |
| Pear | Dad |
See what's wrong?
There's no need to sort by buyer, since there will only be 1 buyer in the result.
However, it would make more sense to allow sorting regardless of whether buyer is chosen. In this case, it would be a bug.
I shall pretend I didn't see this.
PR #2 - New Place, New Way of Doing Things
A query is not returning the expected results. Let's say we have this table:
| Fruit | Buyer | Year |
| Orange | Mum | 2005 |
| Apple | Dad | 2006 |
| Pear | Dad | 2006 |
| Strawberry | Sis | 2006 |
Query: Select all fruits bought by Dad after year 2001.
Expected result: Apple, Pear
Actual result: No result
I tested the query in the testing environment, and got Apple and Pear. This means that the query is correct and the problem probably lies with the data. I thought it was possible that the Buyers for Apple and Pear are not Dad.
Me: I cannot replicate the problem. think there might be a problem with the data. The Buyer might be blank. Can I ask for the actual data to verify?
Colleague: No we can't. It's confidential data. They can't give us. And the data must be correct because it has been checked before sending over to us. Can you modify the query such that you can get the same problem?
Me: (Confused. She's so dead sure that the data is correct?) The query is correct, isn't it? Is there some unhandled special case? Or can you tell me the rules, so that I can double-check the correctness of the query.
Colleague: The query is correct. Now we don't know where the problem is.
Me: But you said the query is correct, why should I modify it to create the problem?
Colleague: You can remove conditions one by one, like remove the Year first, put back, remove the Buyer, and so forth.
Me: (Still unconvinced) Ok...
Make something that's correct, wrong, so that I can replicate the error?? That's something new. If it's correct, it means something else is wrong what! This is like telling me that a bulb is not lighting up. I tested with a replica of the circuit and found that mine is working even with several types of bulbs, so I suspect that perhaps the customer's bulb has blown. Now I have to cut my wires, change my bulb, change my switch to plastic, etc to make my bulb not light up. There's so many zillion things I can do to make my bulb not light up, how would I know which the actual reason is? Wouldn't it be so much easier to just SHOW ME THEIR F**KING BULB?
This is like working in the dark, anyhow feeling around for the exit.
Dunno how lah...
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
PSI: Is It Accurate?
Between 10-11am, the Clementi flats in the distant slowly turned Silent Hill.
The PSI readings for the corresponding period fell from 88 to 84.
I was pretty sure they meant 184.
The PSI readings for the corresponding period fell from 88 to 84.
I was pretty sure they meant 184.
Monday, October 09, 2006
First Day of Work
A table next to the window and far from the aircon vent :)
Surrounded by 2 China guys :(
No personal telephone and dustbin.
A pc that looks older than the ages of my 3 pcs combined, that runs Windows 2000 (I wonder why...), big fat 17" CRT monitor, no D:, only C:, has only 7GB left when I laid my hands on it, no USB and earphone ports in front. Don't know if there's any USB port behind in the first place.
I was given a walkthrough of the application. Looks chim man. Congrats to myself for not falling asleep while listening. I merely yawned for the last 30min.
Next was a meeting to discuss the PRs. It doesn't look good when there's a whole list of outstanding PRs on my first day, but it seemed most of them were just solved but unclosed, or people already know what to do with them.
There were 10 people at the meeting. 2 China guys, 1 India Indian lady, 2 young-looking girls and the rest middle-age-looking men. At least the PM (I think he's the PM) still can look.
During the meeting, there was a power trip which spared only the lights and the aircon, so I guessed it's someone in our office. Since the projector was dead, we couldn't go on, so the PM let us off for an early lunch.
It's 12 anyway, early meh...
Anyway, the people dispersed for their own lunches. Looks like the team is not very gum one. Sianz.
My choy fun cost a freaking $3.50! It's a 75% increase from the past!!!
After I received a reminder email not to install pirated software, a senior came to help me install MyEclipse, requiring the use of a generator to generate you-know-what.
The power tripped again for a split second while I was installing weblogic. Balek install... It killed the PSU of a server.
I suspect it can't play music when I heard the pc speaker tooting away and the volume control function invalid.
After I was done installing for the day, I think there was like 2GB left. 2GB of music is definitely not enough. How depressing.
The pc froze twice today for no reason. I had to restart it each time. While using Eclipse, it ran out of memory.
CMI!!
Surrounded by 2 China guys :(
No personal telephone and dustbin.
A pc that looks older than the ages of my 3 pcs combined, that runs Windows 2000 (I wonder why...), big fat 17" CRT monitor, no D:, only C:, has only 7GB left when I laid my hands on it, no USB and earphone ports in front. Don't know if there's any USB port behind in the first place.
I was given a walkthrough of the application. Looks chim man. Congrats to myself for not falling asleep while listening. I merely yawned for the last 30min.
Next was a meeting to discuss the PRs. It doesn't look good when there's a whole list of outstanding PRs on my first day, but it seemed most of them were just solved but unclosed, or people already know what to do with them.
There were 10 people at the meeting. 2 China guys, 1 India Indian lady, 2 young-looking girls and the rest middle-age-looking men. At least the PM (I think he's the PM) still can look.
During the meeting, there was a power trip which spared only the lights and the aircon, so I guessed it's someone in our office. Since the projector was dead, we couldn't go on, so the PM let us off for an early lunch.
It's 12 anyway, early meh...
Anyway, the people dispersed for their own lunches. Looks like the team is not very gum one. Sianz.
My choy fun cost a freaking $3.50! It's a 75% increase from the past!!!
After I received a reminder email not to install pirated software, a senior came to help me install MyEclipse, requiring the use of a generator to generate you-know-what.
The power tripped again for a split second while I was installing weblogic. Balek install... It killed the PSU of a server.
I suspect it can't play music when I heard the pc speaker tooting away and the volume control function invalid.
After I was done installing for the day, I think there was like 2GB left. 2GB of music is definitely not enough. How depressing.
The pc froze twice today for no reason. I had to restart it each time. While using Eclipse, it ran out of memory.
CMI!!
Sunday, October 08, 2006
End of Break
My 9 days of stoning are ending in a few minutes. Quite happy to just relax at home, although the weather is very hot.
Maybe I shall do it again in 6 month's time, at the end of my contract.
Maybe I shall do it again in 6 month's time, at the end of my contract.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Early in the Morning at... 2.43am
CallerAlert: 65566683 tried to call you while you were not reachable. This service is brought to you free by Singtel Mobile.
My my, this fella tried calling me at this unearthly hour. Fortunately I have a habit of switching off my hp before sleeping. What's so important that he/she/it must speak to a sotong so late? If anybody would like to know, please call this number and let me know. I did not call back.
My my, this fella tried calling me at this unearthly hour. Fortunately I have a habit of switching off my hp before sleeping. What's so important that he/she/it must speak to a sotong so late? If anybody would like to know, please call this number and let me know. I did not call back.
Souvenirs
At the start of June, before an ex-colleague went on long leave, he cleared his table and moved some of his stuff to my table. None of them were useful to me.
All these in addition to an ornament of a Chinese couple getting married left behind by the previous occupant of my table. I was happy to let it rot in my cabinet, but he insisted on displaying it in the open to complement the items he gave me.
My barren table suddenly became livlier.
Well I had no problem with his stuff taking up my space because I'm not like the important people who always have things to file, the stuff were not getting in the way, they did not look annoying and he is still considered a nice guy. I agreed to rent the space to him. He would have to take the stuff back when/if he returns.
What I didn't like was that I felt like a dumping ground for things he didn't want to throw away himself. Some of the stuff are left behind by another person somemore! Those thing don't qualify as 传家之宝 lor! I told him I would throw them away if they got in the way and he replied that it's up to me, because they were mine. WTF! Now I had to waste my strength when he could have just put them into the waste basket instead of moving them to my table?
Of course I didn't want to strain myself. Neither did I want to ask for help to remove them to avoid being seen as heartless. For the days those things were there, I neither touched nor played with them. Only passers-by did so, intentionally or unintentionally (knocked them over).
On my last week of work, I started clearing my table. At first, I planned to ask around if anybody wanted those things, but perhaps I shouldn't do the same thing to the others... I threw out the things within reach and that nobody would want for sure - the face wash and meat floss.
On my last day of work, when I announced that I was done packing, people asked why I wasn't bringing those things back as souvenirs. I told them I had no space for them at home. Sounds incredible to most people, but my table is only big enough for my keyboard and I have absolutely ZERO ornaments belonging to me on display. If there is any, I wasn't the one who wanted to display them.
Display them at my new table? Eh that means still need to bring home right? That stone so f***ing heavy you know? I wanna go out for dinner ley, cannot bring so many bulky items along lah!
I've never considered them mine.
I know he gave them to me. I made it clear that I'm not bringing them with me. My home cannot hold anymore things. I could give everything to them if they wanted. They could take whatever they fancy. Maybe the HK10 if they wanna go HK.
Nobody took anything of course. See, I'm not being heartless at all.
I have no obligation to keep everything people give me. OMG I didn't even take the money.
I asked my neighbour to ask the cleaner auntie to help clear my table on the next working day.
- 1 Garfield movie poster, riddled with fold lines (I'm not a poster person)
- 2 plastic Singapore flag from NDP2005 (1 his, 1 left behind by another ex-colleague. I've already thrown away mine *oops*)
- 1 high-density stone that was supposed to ward off bad things (But I don't believe in such things...)
- 2 toy tortoises (Cutesy stuff don't appeal to me)
- 1 doggie stuffed toy still in plastic wrapper (Cutesy stuff don't appeal to me)
- 1 HK10 note (He said whenever we travel to a place, we should bring back a note from that place to keep. So why is he giving it to me when I've never been to HK? He just said he wanted to give it to me.)
- 1 picture of a bulldog-like dog, printed using B&W laser printer (For what?)
- 1 picture of some dharma message, printed using B&W laser printer (I'm no Buddhist)
- 1 Ginvera face wash (Steered clear of Ginvera after it peeled my nose bad and left scars)
- 1 1/4 eaten container of vegetarian meat floss (I DETEST mock meat. He made me sample some to prove that it's nice. It's TOO SALTY)
All these in addition to an ornament of a Chinese couple getting married left behind by the previous occupant of my table. I was happy to let it rot in my cabinet, but he insisted on displaying it in the open to complement the items he gave me.
My barren table suddenly became livlier.
Well I had no problem with his stuff taking up my space because I'm not like the important people who always have things to file, the stuff were not getting in the way, they did not look annoying and he is still considered a nice guy. I agreed to rent the space to him. He would have to take the stuff back when/if he returns.
What I didn't like was that I felt like a dumping ground for things he didn't want to throw away himself. Some of the stuff are left behind by another person somemore! Those thing don't qualify as 传家之宝 lor! I told him I would throw them away if they got in the way and he replied that it's up to me, because they were mine. WTF! Now I had to waste my strength when he could have just put them into the waste basket instead of moving them to my table?
Of course I didn't want to strain myself. Neither did I want to ask for help to remove them to avoid being seen as heartless. For the days those things were there, I neither touched nor played with them. Only passers-by did so, intentionally or unintentionally (knocked them over).
On my last week of work, I started clearing my table. At first, I planned to ask around if anybody wanted those things, but perhaps I shouldn't do the same thing to the others... I threw out the things within reach and that nobody would want for sure - the face wash and meat floss.
On my last day of work, when I announced that I was done packing, people asked why I wasn't bringing those things back as souvenirs. I told them I had no space for them at home. Sounds incredible to most people, but my table is only big enough for my keyboard and I have absolutely ZERO ornaments belonging to me on display. If there is any, I wasn't the one who wanted to display them.
Display them at my new table? Eh that means still need to bring home right? That stone so f***ing heavy you know? I wanna go out for dinner ley, cannot bring so many bulky items along lah!
I've never considered them mine.
I know he gave them to me. I made it clear that I'm not bringing them with me. My home cannot hold anymore things. I could give everything to them if they wanted. They could take whatever they fancy. Maybe the HK10 if they wanna go HK.
Nobody took anything of course. See, I'm not being heartless at all.
I have no obligation to keep everything people give me. OMG I didn't even take the money.
I asked my neighbour to ask the cleaner auntie to help clear my table on the next working day.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
No More Transcab
After a positive experience with Transcab last Friday, I wanted to give them some business again last night. But it seems like they weren't interested in me anymore.
In an effort to keep to good programming practices, I shall not reinvent the wheel and instead, reuse code wherever possible.
Tale of the Liar Cabby and Liar Operator
One bad experience is enough to negate it all. I don't have to give them another chance, not when there are so many other choices around.
But I will consider Transcab again if all other companies failed me. They just have to wait for their turn.
In an effort to keep to good programming practices, I shall not reinvent the wheel and instead, reuse code wherever possible.
Tale of the Liar Cabby and Liar Operator
One bad experience is enough to negate it all. I don't have to give them another chance, not when there are so many other choices around.
But I will consider Transcab again if all other companies failed me. They just have to wait for their turn.
Scamming a Sotong
On Monday, 8.34am, while I was trying to sleep through the banging outside my house, I got a call which only rang for 1s.
No prizes for guessing who called.
I confirmed my suspicion byforcing open my eyelids to look at the missed call.
+8613713487219
What an idiot! Went back to sleep.
No prizes for guessing who called.
I confirmed my suspicion by
+8613713487219
What an idiot! Went back to sleep.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Operation Job Hunt Completed
So, I still have not joined the public sector.
While people are at school or stuck in office, I'm slacking at home! :D I have given myself 1 week to rest and relax. Afterall, my longest continuous break to date is 4 days since I started working. It was 2 days of weekend + 1 public holiday + 1 MC. See, I don't even want to burn my leave.
Now I wished I had asked for 2 weeks.
Guess I won't be going anywhere. I can't do anything in neighbouring countries. Don't wanna fight with horrible people from country C in Taiwan/Hongkong since it's their golden week. But most importantly, no time to plan and no money. Sianz. I think my first proper tour in my life will be at least another 5 years away. But maybe by then, I will not be interested in tours anymore. So... I should continue accumulating money till I have so much that I can go to a place alhough I'm not remotely interested in visiting it. This scenario might happen a few decades later.
Some statistics
17 companies (at least)
7 interview invitations
5 interviews attended
2 offers
1 week's compensation and 1 week of holiday. Net gain: $0.00
Some awards
Most Stupid Application Form: Am Want
It has a cool feature that calculates your age as you enter your year of birth. Unfortunately, it doesn't work on firefox properly, insisting that I'm -76 years old and doesn't allow manual change.
So I decided to use IE instead, but unfortunately (again), the page forwarding for that position was malfunctioning. Instead of showing me the application form when I clicked on Apply Online, it told me, "Please use Main Am Want Career Site". Cannot apply using IE, not working properly on firefox, how? I chose the lesser of 2 evils and sent in an application stating my age as -76.
Needless to say, there is no reply from Am Want. They wouldn't want to employ someone living in the past.
Company With the Tightest Purse string: Aquaria
2.6k as their best offer, 1 year contract with no guarantees for what happens after that. I understand their reasons, considering their size. Luckily I did not give in to desperation.
Most Insulting Company: Ass See Ass
For subjecting me to a technical test when a fresh graduate didn't have to do one.
The Bone Devourer: Ass See Ass
For offering me $100 more than what they offered a fresh graduate and having the cheek to tell me it's competitive.
Slowest Company: Am Oh Ee
This is not a private company, but perhaps this is why it has the qualities to win this award. Assuming they did not backdate the letter they sent me, they took 3 working days to send out that letter, and 6 working days to reach me.
For goodness' sake, if you are going to be so slow, might as well be like the rest, don't reply!
Most 不可貌相 Company: Aitee Too One
The look and feel of its website is unmistakenly from 10 years ago. There was no evidence that the information I required was up-to-date. I even spotted some out-of-date information. I had mentally prepared myself for my email application to end up as a wake-up call to them that they their website is in neglect. What a surprise that the position is still open!
Most Irritating Application Form: Hedge Pee
I gave up after writing a crappy cover letter. Must fill in so many things about myself and to por the company when I have only heard horror stories about there. Forget it.
Ok should stop awarding now, or else will be like 分猪肉 like the Star Awards.
While people are at school or stuck in office, I'm slacking at home! :D I have given myself 1 week to rest and relax. Afterall, my longest continuous break to date is 4 days since I started working. It was 2 days of weekend + 1 public holiday + 1 MC. See, I don't even want to burn my leave.
Now I wished I had asked for 2 weeks.
Guess I won't be going anywhere. I can't do anything in neighbouring countries. Don't wanna fight with horrible people from country C in Taiwan/Hongkong since it's their golden week. But most importantly, no time to plan and no money. Sianz. I think my first proper tour in my life will be at least another 5 years away. But maybe by then, I will not be interested in tours anymore. So... I should continue accumulating money till I have so much that I can go to a place alhough I'm not remotely interested in visiting it. This scenario might happen a few decades later.
Some statistics
17 companies (at least)
7 interview invitations
5 interviews attended
2 offers
1 week's compensation and 1 week of holiday. Net gain: $0.00
Some awards
Most Stupid Application Form: Am Want
It has a cool feature that calculates your age as you enter your year of birth. Unfortunately, it doesn't work on firefox properly, insisting that I'm -76 years old and doesn't allow manual change.
So I decided to use IE instead, but unfortunately (again), the page forwarding for that position was malfunctioning. Instead of showing me the application form when I clicked on Apply Online, it told me, "Please use Main Am Want Career Site". Cannot apply using IE, not working properly on firefox, how? I chose the lesser of 2 evils and sent in an application stating my age as -76.
Needless to say, there is no reply from Am Want. They wouldn't want to employ someone living in the past.
Company With the Tightest Purse string: Aquaria
2.6k as their best offer, 1 year contract with no guarantees for what happens after that. I understand their reasons, considering their size. Luckily I did not give in to desperation.
Most Insulting Company: Ass See Ass
For subjecting me to a technical test when a fresh graduate didn't have to do one.
The Bone Devourer: Ass See Ass
For offering me $100 more than what they offered a fresh graduate and having the cheek to tell me it's competitive.
Slowest Company: Am Oh Ee
This is not a private company, but perhaps this is why it has the qualities to win this award. Assuming they did not backdate the letter they sent me, they took 3 working days to send out that letter, and 6 working days to reach me.
For goodness' sake, if you are going to be so slow, might as well be like the rest, don't reply!
Most 不可貌相 Company: Aitee Too One
The look and feel of its website is unmistakenly from 10 years ago. There was no evidence that the information I required was up-to-date. I even spotted some out-of-date information. I had mentally prepared myself for my email application to end up as a wake-up call to them that they their website is in neglect. What a surprise that the position is still open!
Most Irritating Application Form: Hedge Pee
I gave up after writing a crappy cover letter. Must fill in so many things about myself and to por the company when I have only heard horror stories about there. Forget it.
Ok should stop awarding now, or else will be like 分猪肉 like the Star Awards.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
I'm Taken!
28 September, The Lie
The HR was damn difficult to get. Phone forever busy.
I finally got through in the afternoon. She told me that the management was ok with 2.7, but I still had to tell her about my imaginary offer of 2.9 and asking how much they can match, since I understand that it might be a bit high. She helped me analyze my offers, like location (yours sucks!), people (similar), job scope (similar)... anyway I tried to make it sound like the difference was $200 more for a better job location, so they should offer me more to make it sensible to take up.
At about 4pm, I got good news. But I still tried to play hard to get, saying it's a difference of $100 and job location.
At 5pm, I finally decided that I should still go for the SutarHarp interview since it would be easier to stick to plans than to change them. Anyway 5pm already, dunno if it'll be too late to fly plane. Wait I get blacklisted, how?
At 6pm, it suddenly struck me that I did not want to go out of the house specially to sign the contract next Monday when I'll could do it tomorrow. Immediately, I called the HR to accept the offer verbally.
29 September, The End Came, And a New Beginning Inked
In the morning, I went to SutarHarp.
When I was talking about my past experience, I was surprised when I got asked how many people were retrenched. I thought they wanted to know if it's because I was inapt, so I said it was inconvenient for me to reveal because all I knew was hearsay.
Next they asked if it's true that my company is going to be acquired.
IS IT??? First time I heard about it ley! It dawned upon me that they were fishing for information from me. I said I did not have official news.
I was totally uninterested in that position. I admit I was half-hearted, but the job scope was not my cup of tea either. First of all, the job scope sounds like that of a system analyst's and it's a contract position. The kind that has no guarantee of extension or conversion at the end. Sounds sucky. I told the interviewers straight that it was not suitable for me.
I went to my farewell lunch. Sakura oysters are quite edible, surprisingly. I was happy that I had something to say when my colleagues asked where I was going. I guess I would sound too pathetic if I hadn't managed to secure a new job. Ass See Ass is really timely, I must say. I confirmed with my colleagues about the acquisation. Indeed, the GM has revealed during the meeting that I wasn't allowed to go, that some companies are looking at it, but nothing is confirmed yet. The future is really bleak with no major tenders coming up.
The rest of the afternoon was spent packing files (electronic, not physical), writing farewell email and going over to sign my life to my new company.
After I had signed, I received 2 invitations to interview from Estee Ee and Geh Geh Hospital. Too late!
Followed by a yummy dinner!
The conclusion is that I'm happy to be retrenched. I think I'm lucky to be chosen. Although I don't know the criteria and nobody else seems to know.
The HR was damn difficult to get. Phone forever busy.
I finally got through in the afternoon. She told me that the management was ok with 2.7, but I still had to tell her about my imaginary offer of 2.9 and asking how much they can match, since I understand that it might be a bit high. She helped me analyze my offers, like location (yours sucks!), people (similar), job scope (similar)... anyway I tried to make it sound like the difference was $200 more for a better job location, so they should offer me more to make it sensible to take up.
At about 4pm, I got good news. But I still tried to play hard to get, saying it's a difference of $100 and job location.
At 5pm, I finally decided that I should still go for the SutarHarp interview since it would be easier to stick to plans than to change them. Anyway 5pm already, dunno if it'll be too late to fly plane. Wait I get blacklisted, how?
At 6pm, it suddenly struck me that I did not want to go out of the house specially to sign the contract next Monday when I'll could do it tomorrow. Immediately, I called the HR to accept the offer verbally.
29 September, The End Came, And a New Beginning Inked
In the morning, I went to SutarHarp.
When I was talking about my past experience, I was surprised when I got asked how many people were retrenched. I thought they wanted to know if it's because I was inapt, so I said it was inconvenient for me to reveal because all I knew was hearsay.
Next they asked if it's true that my company is going to be acquired.
IS IT??? First time I heard about it ley! It dawned upon me that they were fishing for information from me. I said I did not have official news.
I was totally uninterested in that position. I admit I was half-hearted, but the job scope was not my cup of tea either. First of all, the job scope sounds like that of a system analyst's and it's a contract position. The kind that has no guarantee of extension or conversion at the end. Sounds sucky. I told the interviewers straight that it was not suitable for me.
I went to my farewell lunch. Sakura oysters are quite edible, surprisingly. I was happy that I had something to say when my colleagues asked where I was going. I guess I would sound too pathetic if I hadn't managed to secure a new job. Ass See Ass is really timely, I must say. I confirmed with my colleagues about the acquisation. Indeed, the GM has revealed during the meeting that I wasn't allowed to go, that some companies are looking at it, but nothing is confirmed yet. The future is really bleak with no major tenders coming up.
The rest of the afternoon was spent packing files (electronic, not physical), writing farewell email and going over to sign my life to my new company.
After I had signed, I received 2 invitations to interview from Estee Ee and Geh Geh Hospital. Too late!
Followed by a yummy dinner!
The conclusion is that I'm happy to be retrenched. I think I'm lucky to be chosen. Although I don't know the criteria and nobody else seems to know.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Disappointment and Light
25 September, No Lousy Books
Went to a branch near the sea. The evil security guard would not let my father park in their carpark, saying it's for staff, despite a sign saying "Visitor's carpark" (or parking, can't remember). It's raining lor! Still want to make him use the public carpark *grr*
I was fated to be late because I had to wait for a lady to switch on the lift at 9am sharp.
The job sounded very happening. Have to manage vendor and project, with minimal programming (I like!). The vendor is in Chicago, so I would have to do phone conferencing at midnight sometimes (I wonder why not the other way round). I was told they have a big budget (ok! Pay me more, everything also can!) But the killer was having to move and setup machines, and travel frequently between offices. I told them I couldn't do it.
They said they might have other positions suitable for me, but they involved programming. O well, I thought they wouldn't call me for them liao, not after I tailored my answers to suit this job, saying I would like to do less programming. And I don't think they would be fast enough for me to consider them.
Fucked up.
No more appointments for the rest of the week. Ass See Ass did not call as promised. Please be slower...
27 September, A New Date and a Ray of Light
SutarHarp invited me to an interview on Friday! It's for some configuration and testing position. Actually I hear the word "configuration", I wanna faint liao. I think the only configuration I can do is changing the theme for Windows. Nevermind, go there and find out more.
Ass See Ass offered me. 2.6k only, and still dare to tell me very competitive already. Wei you offer fresh grad 2.5, don't think I don't know ok. But I tend to talk rubbish at this time and bargain only 2.7 *bish* Sigh tomorrow need to bluff them I got higher offer and see how liao. Sux man, why I always talk rubbish?
I received a letter from Am Oh Ee to inform me that they had received my application. Erm, I sent it like, 2 weeks ago ley. The letter was dated 19/9. Bet they backdated it, those bummers. That's why I wanna join them.
Went to a branch near the sea. The evil security guard would not let my father park in their carpark, saying it's for staff, despite a sign saying "Visitor's carpark" (or parking, can't remember). It's raining lor! Still want to make him use the public carpark *grr*
I was fated to be late because I had to wait for a lady to switch on the lift at 9am sharp.
The job sounded very happening. Have to manage vendor and project, with minimal programming (I like!). The vendor is in Chicago, so I would have to do phone conferencing at midnight sometimes (I wonder why not the other way round). I was told they have a big budget (ok! Pay me more, everything also can!) But the killer was having to move and setup machines, and travel frequently between offices. I told them I couldn't do it.
They said they might have other positions suitable for me, but they involved programming. O well, I thought they wouldn't call me for them liao, not after I tailored my answers to suit this job, saying I would like to do less programming. And I don't think they would be fast enough for me to consider them.
Fucked up.
No more appointments for the rest of the week. Ass See Ass did not call as promised. Please be slower...
27 September, A New Date and a Ray of Light
SutarHarp invited me to an interview on Friday! It's for some configuration and testing position. Actually I hear the word "configuration", I wanna faint liao. I think the only configuration I can do is changing the theme for Windows. Nevermind, go there and find out more.
Ass See Ass offered me. 2.6k only, and still dare to tell me very competitive already. Wei you offer fresh grad 2.5, don't think I don't know ok. But I tend to talk rubbish at this time and bargain only 2.7 *bish* Sigh tomorrow need to bluff them I got higher offer and see how liao. Sux man, why I always talk rubbish?
I received a letter from Am Oh Ee to inform me that they had received my application. Erm, I sent it like, 2 weeks ago ley. The letter was dated 19/9. Bet they backdated it, those bummers. That's why I wanna join them.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Job Hunt
18 September, Interview @ Ass See Ass
Aquaria called me in the morning but I missed it. I hesitated to call back because I had no answer for them. I did eventually out of courtesy, but no one answered. Good. I had nothing to say anyway. But I wondered why nobody answered everytime I called. Did I do it wrongly?
Security at Scenery building is so slack. I dropped off at the basement carpark, walked through Ass See Ass' glass door and I could have walked right into the office area or helped myself to some free coffee at the pantry, but interviewee cannot be so rude, right? So I called my interviewer and went back to where I should be - the Ass See Ass' reception.
I was shown to a meeting room and a rather informal interview with 2 interviewers began. We started with the face-to-face talk! Did that mean no test? *Yay*
We talked about my work and studies. They asked for my transcript and started scrutinizing it, asking me how I found CS1101, CS1102 and CS2103. OMG it's the first time I ever came across an interviewer who studied transcript like that! Luckily I can still remember the module codes :P Turned out that one of the interviewers was an ex-course coordinator -_-;;
It was a maintenance position again. It sounded like they needed a runner to do debugging at Therestar.
When we had no more questions for each other, they produced a test paper -____- Insult me again... fresh grad dun need to do test, why I need?
The questions looked the same as one year ago. But I think still flunk lah, how can I remember the answers? And I'm not the kind to find out the answer because I would have forgotten the questions by the end of the test.
I asked if I could have a reply the next day as I already have an offer. Of course that's asking for the impossible.
After that, I was quite certain that I would reject Aquaria. I don't think I wanted to slave for a bit more money, which would go to the gahmen in the form of ERP. But the thought of lengthening the period of uncertainty made me want to accept. I flip flopped several times in the span of one night.
To take or not to take?
19 September, Extension
Aitee Too One invited me for an interview. If I accept Aquaria, I would not need to go for interviews anymore.
After talking to Mr K and Ms R, I decided to buy myself some time by asking for an extension and higher pay. I was offered $100 more (sigh) and one more day to consider.
20 September, The 负心人
No Lousy Books invited me to an interview! Suddenly, I felt that the pasture seems greener the more I walk. I accepted both Aitee Too One and No Lousy Books' interviews and rejected Aquaria.
Why sell my soul for a bit more money in exchange for experience in a field that I don't want to be in forever? I should make full use of what I got from this retrenchment to get a better job. My bosses are behind me. I don't know if I would ever get such a chance again.
I tried contacting Mr R, who has been retrenched too, to see if he would like to join Aquaria. Ya I'm telling only now. I'm another selfish person.
I applied for See Ass AiTee. Looks like a nice place.
22 September, Catching Up
Ass See Ass asked me if I had accepted Aquaria. I told them that I had rejected. Hmm... does the sudden concern mean there's hope? But with No Lousy Books, Ass See Ass doesn't seem so attractive anymore.
Aitee Too One is housed in an area with unfriendly terrain. When I walked in, the whole place was very quiet, with 2 or 3 people chatting in a room. Like nothing to do one?
My interviewers were 2 ladies, 1 of them being my former Maths teacher in sec2. When she saw which school I came from, I told her she taught me before. Hehe quite an effective ice-breaker. We talked more about my life than my work. And I admitted that I knew it was her who corresponded with me. But I didn't say that I knew she's here all along.
But too bad the work don't seem to suit me ley. Got to do actionscript, research on hp games and other mobile stuff, and work with ah nehs! They have plenty there, she said -___-;; Not that I'm xenophobic, but I think I might not be too gum with them lor, like that very lonely what. And it also means the salary cannot be high here...
The killer question was how much my expected pay is. With the point above clouding my mind, I said:
2.6-2.7
!!! Walau I siao liao! What was I thinking! Boohooohoo! I think this one no hope liao. They offer I also cannot accept liao.
I was told they would take about one week to get back to me. They are looking at a few candidates. If I were selected, I would have to go through a round 2 with my ex-sec sch vp whom I have no impression of, and some other members of the co.
Huh still have a few people apply here ah? I thought the recruitment page looks like a neglected one from a few years ago.
Sigh, No Lousy Books, please save me.
Aquaria called me in the morning but I missed it. I hesitated to call back because I had no answer for them. I did eventually out of courtesy, but no one answered. Good. I had nothing to say anyway. But I wondered why nobody answered everytime I called. Did I do it wrongly?
Security at Scenery building is so slack. I dropped off at the basement carpark, walked through Ass See Ass' glass door and I could have walked right into the office area or helped myself to some free coffee at the pantry, but interviewee cannot be so rude, right? So I called my interviewer and went back to where I should be - the Ass See Ass' reception.
I was shown to a meeting room and a rather informal interview with 2 interviewers began. We started with the face-to-face talk! Did that mean no test? *Yay*
We talked about my work and studies. They asked for my transcript and started scrutinizing it, asking me how I found CS1101, CS1102 and CS2103. OMG it's the first time I ever came across an interviewer who studied transcript like that! Luckily I can still remember the module codes :P Turned out that one of the interviewers was an ex-course coordinator -_-;;
It was a maintenance position again. It sounded like they needed a runner to do debugging at Therestar.
When we had no more questions for each other, they produced a test paper -____- Insult me again... fresh grad dun need to do test, why I need?
The questions looked the same as one year ago. But I think still flunk lah, how can I remember the answers? And I'm not the kind to find out the answer because I would have forgotten the questions by the end of the test.
I asked if I could have a reply the next day as I already have an offer. Of course that's asking for the impossible.
After that, I was quite certain that I would reject Aquaria. I don't think I wanted to slave for a bit more money, which would go to the gahmen in the form of ERP. But the thought of lengthening the period of uncertainty made me want to accept. I flip flopped several times in the span of one night.
To take or not to take?
19 September, Extension
Aitee Too One invited me for an interview. If I accept Aquaria, I would not need to go for interviews anymore.
After talking to Mr K and Ms R, I decided to buy myself some time by asking for an extension and higher pay. I was offered $100 more (sigh) and one more day to consider.
20 September, The 负心人
No Lousy Books invited me to an interview! Suddenly, I felt that the pasture seems greener the more I walk. I accepted both Aitee Too One and No Lousy Books' interviews and rejected Aquaria.
Why sell my soul for a bit more money in exchange for experience in a field that I don't want to be in forever? I should make full use of what I got from this retrenchment to get a better job. My bosses are behind me. I don't know if I would ever get such a chance again.
I tried contacting Mr R, who has been retrenched too, to see if he would like to join Aquaria. Ya I'm telling only now. I'm another selfish person.
I applied for See Ass AiTee. Looks like a nice place.
22 September, Catching Up
Ass See Ass asked me if I had accepted Aquaria. I told them that I had rejected. Hmm... does the sudden concern mean there's hope? But with No Lousy Books, Ass See Ass doesn't seem so attractive anymore.
Aitee Too One is housed in an area with unfriendly terrain. When I walked in, the whole place was very quiet, with 2 or 3 people chatting in a room. Like nothing to do one?
My interviewers were 2 ladies, 1 of them being my former Maths teacher in sec2. When she saw which school I came from, I told her she taught me before. Hehe quite an effective ice-breaker. We talked more about my life than my work. And I admitted that I knew it was her who corresponded with me. But I didn't say that I knew she's here all along.
But too bad the work don't seem to suit me ley. Got to do actionscript, research on hp games and other mobile stuff, and work with ah nehs! They have plenty there, she said -___-;; Not that I'm xenophobic, but I think I might not be too gum with them lor, like that very lonely what. And it also means the salary cannot be high here...
The killer question was how much my expected pay is. With the point above clouding my mind, I said:
2.6-2.7
!!! Walau I siao liao! What was I thinking! Boohooohoo! I think this one no hope liao. They offer I also cannot accept liao.
I was told they would take about one week to get back to me. They are looking at a few candidates. If I were selected, I would have to go through a round 2 with my ex-sec sch vp whom I have no impression of, and some other members of the co.
Huh still have a few people apply here ah? I thought the recruitment page looks like a neglected one from a few years ago.
Sigh, No Lousy Books, please save me.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
I Want More Money! MORE MONEY!
I went to an interview at Aquaria (name has been changed to protect my identity). There's a technical test that I think I probably failed, because I rely on the compiler and doing things the standard way without asking why not the other way, and the difference between the 2 ways. I mean, why ask when experts already say Way 1 is better than Way 2? So extra right?
O I program by copy and paste, that's another reason.
The interview was more like a casual chat about my work. They didn't ask the standard questions like "Tell me about yourself" (I'm boring?), "Why do you want to work here" (I need money lah!). I prepared for them, but don't think I still can answer lah.
"It's common to see quite a few people around at 8 or 9pm. But we start late. At 9 something am, the office is still quite empty. We do go back on time too, when there's no deadline to rush."
The working hours sounds horrendous. I still need to go tuition ley, how can I stay so late everyday? I think they only want to avoid the ERP, which I will pay to get home early. I need to wash my hair and wait for it to dry. Stone at my pc. Those people got no life! Want me to sell my soul to them? Pay me more.
So anyway, they made me an offer yesterday. A paltry 2.5k, 1-yr contract, 1mth bonus upon completion (sounds like an alternate AWS), the usual leave and medical benefits. I was told my expected pay was too high.
Walau! This is fresh grad pay lor! Sian half man! Because I did horribly in the test is it? Probably :P
I asked by when I had to give a reply.
Tuesday.
Yes! I have an interview at Ass See Ass(name has been changed to protect my identity) on Monday! O SCS, please offer me more! Even if you are at Jurong, as long as there's like $200 or $300 more, I will still join you! Horrible working hours also can (for this one, must pay at least 3k)! Anything for money!
Should I take Aquaria if ASA don't want me? :\
O I program by copy and paste, that's another reason.
The interview was more like a casual chat about my work. They didn't ask the standard questions like "Tell me about yourself" (I'm boring?), "Why do you want to work here" (I need money lah!). I prepared for them, but don't think I still can answer lah.
"It's common to see quite a few people around at 8 or 9pm. But we start late. At 9 something am, the office is still quite empty. We do go back on time too, when there's no deadline to rush."
The working hours sounds horrendous. I still need to go tuition ley, how can I stay so late everyday? I think they only want to avoid the ERP, which I will pay to get home early. I need to wash my hair and wait for it to dry. Stone at my pc. Those people got no life! Want me to sell my soul to them? Pay me more.
So anyway, they made me an offer yesterday. A paltry 2.5k, 1-yr contract, 1mth bonus upon completion (sounds like an alternate AWS), the usual leave and medical benefits. I was told my expected pay was too high.
Walau! This is fresh grad pay lor! Sian half man! Because I did horribly in the test is it? Probably :P
I asked by when I had to give a reply.
Tuesday.
Yes! I have an interview at Ass See Ass(name has been changed to protect my identity) on Monday! O SCS, please offer me more! Even if you are at Jurong, as long as there's like $200 or $300 more, I will still join you! Horrible working hours also can (for this one, must pay at least 3k)! Anything for money!
Should I take Aquaria if ASA don't want me? :\
Friday, September 15, 2006
Present!
Yesterday, my father told me I had been mailed a package. I could guess who it's from. It's finally here!
But my father told me it's too big to fit into the mailbox, so he would pick it up for me from the post office.
The Big Big Mail
I turned to its back to look for an opening. Seeing this note,
I started prying open the flap of the envelope.
Result
The glue is damn sticky man! Got it all over my fingers -_-
And then I realised...
I should be tearing that edge off.
ARGH!!! I think my prospective employers will give me a miss if they ever find out about here.
What's Inside
A "cheerful" t-shirt to complement my bunny! The cloth is not thin and cheapo, and the picture is does not threaten to flake off after X washes.
There's also a pretty card (seldom receive cards) and a handout that will help me trick prospective employers into thinking that I'm capable.
Thank you! (you know who you are)
But my father told me it's too big to fit into the mailbox, so he would pick it up for me from the post office.
The Big Big Mail
I turned to its back to look for an opening. Seeing this note,
I started prying open the flap of the envelope.
Result
The glue is damn sticky man! Got it all over my fingers -_-
And then I realised...
I should be tearing that edge off.
ARGH!!! I think my prospective employers will give me a miss if they ever find out about here.
What's Inside
A "cheerful" t-shirt to complement my bunny! The cloth is not thin and cheapo, and the picture is does not threaten to flake off after X washes.
There's also a pretty card (seldom receive cards) and a handout that will help me trick prospective employers into thinking that I'm capable.
Thank you! (you know who you are)
Monday, September 11, 2006
How Am I?
If you found out about what happened from here, it's normal, as I told very few people about it personally. I don't want to repeat the same story too many times.
My decision to leave was sealed after I got my increment because it made me realise the company was seriously in a very bad shape. But I did not reveal my intention to anyone else at work, except Mr K, because we feel the same. I wasn't sure about the others, so better :x And I still didn't tell them this is why I am fine with the culling.
Before I got that letter, I had been thinking if I should let anyone know my intention, for people might be offended if they got to know about it after I had tendered. Hey, they are contacts I have acquired with 2yrs of my life ok. How I was going to be thick-skinned to ask for a testimonial after leaving the guys in the lurch? And who could I ask to be my referees?
Now, I would be through 2 jobs without writing a single resignation letter. I can march up to my supervisors and ask them to write me a testimonial and be my referees. Suddenly I have people coming to me with lobangs :D
I found out that at the department meeting, the people were told that the company had retrenched a few people, but would keep their identities a secret.
So much for secrecy, when people from other departments can walk by and see for themselves. The management must have thought people only eat during lunch, or that there's no inter-departmental interaction. People up there must have been up there for too long and forgot how's life like down below. News diffuse efficiently!
The DH also told everybody to believe in the company.
OMG. I smell hypocrisy.
I have heard that the person taking over my work is thinking of leaving too. Good luck, everybody.
I'm considering including this picture in my farewell email:
My decision to leave was sealed after I got my increment because it made me realise the company was seriously in a very bad shape. But I did not reveal my intention to anyone else at work, except Mr K, because we feel the same. I wasn't sure about the others, so better :x And I still didn't tell them this is why I am fine with the culling.
Before I got that letter, I had been thinking if I should let anyone know my intention, for people might be offended if they got to know about it after I had tendered. Hey, they are contacts I have acquired with 2yrs of my life ok. How I was going to be thick-skinned to ask for a testimonial after leaving the guys in the lurch? And who could I ask to be my referees?
Now, I would be through 2 jobs without writing a single resignation letter. I can march up to my supervisors and ask them to write me a testimonial and be my referees. Suddenly I have people coming to me with lobangs :D
I found out that at the department meeting, the people were told that the company had retrenched a few people, but would keep their identities a secret.
So much for secrecy, when people from other departments can walk by and see for themselves. The management must have thought people only eat during lunch, or that there's no inter-departmental interaction. People up there must have been up there for too long and forgot how's life like down below. News diffuse efficiently!
The DH also told everybody to believe in the company.
OMG. I smell hypocrisy.
I have heard that the person taking over my work is thinking of leaving too. Good luck, everybody.
I'm considering including this picture in my farewell email:
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