Posts Tagged Job
And this is what I’ve been doing
Posted by Steven Chia in Personal on December 5, 2009
I’m still here (if you were wondering where I was this whole time)! I just have been crazy busy doing nothing and getting ready for work on Monday! Yep! WORK! Finally… after five years of schooling and five months of job-hunting I’ve been able to land a job. Therefore, over the past few weeks I’ve been reading up on design patterns such as abstract factory pattern, frameworks such as Spring and Hibernate, and going through Java concepts. I’m super excited to learn and master all these skills that I will be using on the job.
I have also been busy with closing my jointly-owned condo in New Westminster. It’s called Plaza 88 at Marinus and it’s a two-bedroom and two-bathroom 817 sq ft apartment. I’ve learned so much on how to choose a mortgage, the buying and closing processes of getting a property, and all other relevant things that I needed to do. Just a warning to all of you who are planning or will be purchasing/renting a property later on–be careful with your attorney fees! That’s all I’m going to say… you can speak with me if you want more details. 
I have also tried to stay healthy and fit over these past couple of months. A month ago I purchased the Nike+ sensor that tracks my run time, distance, and how much calories I lose (I don’t really look at this because I’m trying to gain weight!!!). I love this piece of technology! It also allows you to set goals so that you are always motivated. Other than running I haven’t been doing much weight training, which I’m hoping to start doing soon…
Well that’s it for now! I’m currently at Delani’s, a coffee shop in North Vancouver, and am going to go eat Indian food with my love. Happy six months babe!
Microsoft Interview
Posted by Steven Chia in Job Hunting on October 19, 2009
I had my first Microsoft interview on Friday. I’m really hoping it went well and that I’m given a chance to prove myself again during the second round in Redmond. Overall the first interview was about the interviewer getting to know who I was, my past experiences, and how I think in around 30 minutes. Before going into this interview I really had no idea what kind of questions they were going to ask. Microsoft is famous for their puzzle and thought-provoking questions. So, I did my research beforehand. I practiced solving puzzles, reviewed my Java and C++ and went over some design questions. Since I applied for a Program Manager position which was more of a designing software role than a programmer role, I had a design question. My challenge was to create a GPS for a 16 year old novice driver. I think the trick was to ask a lot of questions and talk out loud when trying to solve these types of problems. The interviewer wants to hear and understand your thought process.
I don’t know how it went, but whether or not I get through to the second interview I’m grateful for the experience and the chance to practice my interviewing skills.
After 5 years I am graduated!
Posted by Steven Chia in Personal on October 15, 2009
My family and I at my convo
October 09, 2009. This was the day I crossed the platform during the Convocation Ceremonies at Simon Fraser University. I received a Bachelors degree in Business Administration, concentrating in Management Information Systems and Management and Technology. I also received a certification in Computing Studies. It was the day I started a whole new chapter in my life…
It has definitely been a great five years since I sat in my first class and met my first friends at SFU. I had a lot of great moments. But I also had some not-so-great moments. That is what’s so interesting about life. You can never predict what’s going to happen. But if you just persevere then everything will turn out OK. Like the infamous sayings, life is “…like a box of chocolates” or “…like a rollercoaster”. Just enjoy it!
My graduation ceremony was like any other graduation ceremonies–mind you, I’ve been to four others. I dressed up, went to school with my family, received my gown and degree, walked across the AQ gardens, sat down and listened to various people speak about our successes and the future, and finally walked across the stage. The best part about the whole process was actually, believe it or not, walking across the stage. When you get to that stage, you realize that you’re actually finished. That you’re no longer a university student. That you need to get a job. Quick. Overall, I had a fantastic time and it was definitely a highlight of my life. Thank you to everyone who came out and a special thank you to those who have supported me in getting this far!
So what now? What does my degree mean for me and my future? Theoretically it means I will get a better chance than the average person who doesn’t have a degree or any sort of post-secondary education to land that dream job. I guess we will have to wait and see…
Let’s do this!
Edit: I forgot to give a special thanks to the amazing coat rack that smiles.
My coat rack that smiles!