MY FIRST TRY

This post has been a long time coming, since it would trace back to year 2016 when I first built my team from scratch. Initially, it was about what I learnt as a first-time leader at a tech startup and I hoped it would benefit those struggling as a first-time leader. As I reflected further, I realised that a leader’s journey is nothing without those whom they are leading, i.e. my team members*. Really, the lessons learnt throughout my leadership journey are what they have taught me as I led the team with their feedback, support and collaboration.

Don’t let impostor syndrome hinder your leadership

I will be the first to admit that during this period of helplessness for millions of people, I too feel incredibly anxious at times.

As I scroll through news and social media, considering the perspectives of family members, friends, the media, politicians, designers and design leaders on Twitter and LinkedIn — I realise that none of us are exempt from the very personal implications of Covid-19 to our lives.

Parents worry for their children, whether young or married, because they are dear but not near. My mom would panic when she hears my 37 year-old sister catching a fever, 322 miles away in Singapore. She worries when I go out to get groceries and stand a chance to get infected outside. …

My first try

In my previous article on preparing for job interviews as a hiring manager, I mentioned that the battle is half won in preparation. Here is the other half of the battle, and the lessons I have learnt in the actual interviews.

We have all been there — the cold sweat, the waking up early to dress up smartly, arriving 30 to 60 minutes before the interview schedule, the 1001 ways we imagined failing the interview and more. Because we know how unsettling and uncomfortable it can be, as an interviewer now, aim to empathise with those whom you are interviewing. They are human just as you are, and they would really appreciate that all their worst nightmare did not come true. …

MY FIRST TRY

Preparing for my first interview as a hiring manager

Many speak of job interview jitters from the interviewee’s perspective, but rarely from the hiring manager’s perspective. Here’s one, and perhaps an embarrassing one.

During my stint as Content Editor at Traveloka (Malaysia) more than four years ago, I was just expecting an editing job after five years working in journalism and editorial. It was also my first time working in a start-up, so I was oblivious to the culture of ‘the limit is how much you want to learn’.

I was the first person hired on the Design team (not called ‘Design’ yet at the time), and it was one of the first few roles to be filled when the company expands to other countries. …

Many people walk into their job interviews only to fail them. Of course, no one consciously chooses to fail their job interviews — but why is it that there are so many job opportunities (even during this retrenchment-crazy time) and so few positions filled? (just do a quick search on job portals & LinkedIn!)

The reasons are aplenty, but let’s take a stab at it from the other side with my experience of interviewing over 100 candidates in the past year ranging from design, writing, IT and research roles.

1. Appearing uninterested and indifferent