What's Wrong With Me?

Why is it that I'm good at screwing up? I mean... I could've been better than me. It's so embarrassing. It's outright humiliating.

Learn, John, learn...

I don't care much about an interview from some VP later... I just want to make things better... darn... clutter, clutter, clutter...

Learn, John, learn...

I even claimed to be a fast learner! How can I prove to be a fast learner if a mistake continues to recur?

Learn, John, learn...

Mabuhay! Mabuhay! Mabuhay!

I Wish I Got That Job (3rd Installment)

After a one-and-a-half hour 3rd Situational Interview last Friday (they said it can go to as much as five), Accenture said they'll call me by this week. It really is a call for patience.

On the other hand, Ramcar called me up for an interview on Monday. I hope it ain't like the interviews at Accenture.

In any case, I'm not signing any contracts yet. I want to see the best offer... and I guess Accenture will have that.

I need a job... soon...

Trans Sport Show

Yesterday, Katrina and I were able to go to the Trans Sport Show at the Megatrade Hall at SM Megamall. There were tons of people inside, but it didn't matter... the cars were there.

The cars that caught my attention were two Mitsubishi Evo 7's, a dozen Civics in radical body kits (some even with the Lamborghini-style gull-wing doors), some DSMs (Eclipses), Mini Coopers (I just love those mini cars), a RAV4 and a CR-V with body kits and carbon-fiber hoods, and a Ferrari 360 Modena (I remember Kat asking what the holes on the side of the car were for).

There were also tons of accessories, from alarms, alloy and chromed wheels, to tires. If I had cash, I'd buy one of the mufflers there! Oh well... work first...

There's also a Gran Turismo 3 challenge, complete with wheel, seat, and pedals (I didn't bite 'coz three laps costed P150... Initial-D na lang... 22 pesos ko tumatagal ng 5-7 games... hehe...).

I had fun while at the Trans Sport Show (Kat said I looked like a kid at a candy store). Her fave car from the show is the Ferrari 360.

I want the Mini Cooper.

Words of Wisdom

"There is an appointed time for everything
and a time for every affair under the heavens.
"A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
"A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to tear down, and a time to build.
"A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
"A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them;
a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
"A time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away.
"A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to be silent, and a time to speak.
"A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

I Wish I Got That Job... (Part Deux)

I learned a few hours ago that I passed the first interview at Accenture. Yep... honesty still has its rewards. In a few hours time (4:30 p.m. today), I'll be having my second interview.

The interview was... well... tiring. For one thing, just to impress, you have to sit straight for around 90 minutes. Fluent english is a bonus, but speaking in local vernacular at times won't hurt.

How did the interview go? In my case, it's this:

Part 1: What are your extracurricular activities? Describe.
Part 2: Why did you choose Accenture? What do you know about the company? About the job?
Part 3: Recall a situation not more than two years ago. How did you go about it? How do you feel? (for 30-40 minutes each)
Sub 1 - A situation where you find yourself in a new study or work environment.
Sub 2 - A situation where problems arose.

For the situations, be ready to FULLY DEPICT what happened. Notes will be taken by the interviewer, thus false information can be traced. The interviewer will also ask you to repeat statements and ask for deeper details.

I believe that this interview is designed to reveal your work attitude, so try to find the BEST situations, revealing your BEST qualities.

If you think you have to reveal a flaw, let it be. Honesty is still the best policy.

So good luck to me and my virtual readers on the job hunt!

Whatever happened to the CHONGGOS, by the way? Haven't heard (or learned) much of them. I kinda miss them all...

I Wish I Got That Job...

I had an interview at Accenture Tuesday afternoon (13 April). At first, I got rescheduled from my morning interview because my first interviewer got sick. Eventually, they got someone else and put me at 2:00 p.m. (from 7:30 a.m.).

Prior to the interview, I gave some of the test applicants there tips on what the exam will cover. I'll also share it with my virtual readers.

Testing runs for about 2 1/2 hours. All items are multiple choice. Here are the parts:

Test 1: Math and Logic test. 50 items. 20 minutes.
Test 2: Englist test. 100 items. 30-45 minutes.
Test 3: Computer skills test (?).
Sub 1 - Vocabulary. 20 items. 5 minutes. (note: DEEP vocabulary)
Sub 2 - ...forgot...
Sub 3 - Pattern recognition test. 20 items. 5 minutes.
SUb 4 - Math Problem Solving (with scratch) test. 20 items. 10 minutes.
Sub 5 - Mental Math (no scratch) test. 15 items. 2 minutes. (note: decimal * & /)
Sub 6 - Flowcharting test. 30 items. 45 minutes.

So what did I tell them above all else? Be fast. Really fast.

I guess I did well in the interview. All I had to do was to be honest.

I just wish I got that job... I wish...

Reflections

In our household, during Holy Thursdays and Good Fridays, we practice abstinence in commemoration of the passion and death of Jesus Christ. That means no computer games, no entertainment TV, and none of the other luxuries we commonly enjoy in every other day.

The only TV programs we could watch, aside from news, are the ones from EWTN, or the Eternal Word Television Network. Essentially, it's a Christian TV Network showing sermons and features on Christ and other saints 24 hours a day.

Although it may get boring at times (I don't know why... I guess we've been conditioned to enjoy other things...), the sermons can be very attention-grabbing. It's unlike the homilies from our local parishes. The priests there give speech-like sermons, the ones you'd really pay attention and listen to.

The sermons were able to cast thoughts on my mind, and it made me reflect on several things:

- "Pride is the source of all evil." It comes from the thought "I deserve better than this". Once such a thought comes into play, we may decide to stray from God's plan. Remember Adam and Eve? They disobeyed God because they thought that they deserved to be godlike. The opposite of this is humility, which leads to acceptance, and eventually peace.

- Evil thrives by distorting the term "freedom". We are made to believe by most people that freedom is "to do whatever we want". Where is freedom in abortion? In theft? In deception and war? It is called license, legalization, permission... but not freedom. Freedom is "to do what is good".

- Do not ask from God, but do what God asks. It is so easy to complain about life, so easy that we forget what we should be doing: to be stewards of God's creation. To protect and continue creation - two things that cannot be done if all we do is whine and beg and ask.

- Love even those who are difficult to love. Even for me, this is difficult. How do you love a corrupt politician? A robber? A killer? Your enemy? Perhaps we have to swallow our pride on this one.

That's about it. It's difficult to be good, but being good leads to inner peace.

Hope we pick up stuff from these...

All Show, No Go

My trip to Glorietta 4 earlier was mainly due to my employment issues. Apparently, Accenture does not process application forms until you have taken the exam and have submitted your transcript of records. The way they rate you for employment is a score derived from the test and your average grades.

Afterwards, after buying some spare water pump parts, the whole afternoon was Initial-D.

It was a great afternoon drive. Firstly, I got my car to full tune (one million points). Then, I got lots of challenges (and freebies!!!).

Two of the folks I've challenged were spectacular folks. I can tell that they play for perfection, partnered with camaraderie and fun.

Added to that spectacle is great skill. They're really, really good. What's better is that per match, there's plenty of friendly chit-chat and the "nice game" or "galing" complement. They're great players - great drivers and great sports.

But there are the not-so-great drivers. No, I'm not pertaining to the newbies. I have a lot more respect for newbies that this guy. So allow me to tell my story...

I challenged this guy in an RX-7. As a gentlemanly gesture, I asked if he wanted a challenge first before I do so. Guess what he said... and in arrogance...

"Hindi na tinatanong 'yan. Kaya nga may sign e."

Okay... I decided to ignore that remark. I then challenged him to Usui Wet, a track even for Evos and RX-7s. Next thing ticked me a bit...

"Lugi ako! Four wheel drive ka e. Ako, rear-wheel drive..."

I didn't bother to listen. Remember the two sports I met earlier? They drove faster than me on the same track, on RX-7s. Although I won a bit more from the battles, they drove 2 seconds faster than me.

Upon winning the race, the guy kept whining. I told him that it was an even match, but the whining continued.

Later on, he came back, and told me something that would piss me off...

"O sige, challenge kita uli. Pag panalo ka, sige, nice game."

Leche. To think the guy was in his mid-20's.

He chose Irohazaka Reverse Wet, a track I haven't gone through before. New experience for me, I thought.

So we drove, he continued to whine, and he lost a good 300 meters.

Afterwards, the dummy, still refusing to concede defeat, threw the dumbest words he'd ever say...

"O sige, sige, nice game. Pero nothing beats experience. Kita mo 'yan? 22 stars..."

Blah-blah-blah. Leche. It's as if he said my 14-star Lancer was no match for his 22-star RX-7.

If he were so desperate to convince me he were better, why didn't he pick a track he knew very well and humiliate me there? It made me think that he might have just picked up the card and claimed it was his.

Bottom line: shut up, drive, and have fun. The spirit of this game is to bring out the best in every driver, newbie or veteran. That's what makes this game fun!

And addictive...

Undergrounding

After managing to turn all license tests in Gran Turismo 2 silver, which took quite a while, I've decided to revive my NFS Underground career.

Yep... it's been quite a while since I drove my trusty-but-understeer-prone Lancer into the heart of internet battle. Or maybe my RX-7... or Integra... whatever.

Still, I haven't found the perfect tune for my Lancer. The Integra could post record times with the Engine-ECU-Weight Reduction Setup, while the RX-7 is competent on the 1320 with the Engine-Transmission-Turbo Setup.

But the Lancer? Nope... still looking. Right now, its setup is Engine-ECU-Weight Reduction. It can get quick, but it can hardly keep up with the turns. Swap the ECU with Tires, and I lose that rocket boost at the stretches.

Come to think of it, I like the game. Nice graphics. Kinda okay concept of customizing and painting. Good number of cars. Good challenge (especially Hard mode).

But I felt there were some things missing. It doesn't have damage like NFS Porsche 2000 or NFS High Stakes. It also lacks tunability (adjustable gear ratios, camber, travel, stiffness) and downloadable cars from the internet (I guess it's because of the PS2 players).

Anyway, I'll be driving my RX-7 is a while, after I upload my blog and do some research on Initial-D.

The pain of the unemployed: keeping one's self busy...

Bye-Bye Baby...

Man... it's been quite a while since I posted a blog. Well... had a lot of stories going on, so I'll put everything in a nutcase.

I got applications waiting in Accenture and Ramcar. I feel that I did well in my tests there.

I'm still an Initial-D addict. I recently found out also that Rockwell has Version 3 already.

Katrina and I also celebrated our 16th month together, too! Yes... at Rockwell. Had a lot of fun, too.

Today, she left for Lucena, Quezon. She will stay there for 2 weeks. At first, I thought she'll only be gone for a week. Oh well... as long as my darling is enjoying herself and taking care of herself.

Mami-miss ko siya...

I hope I'd get a job by the time she gets back, para may surprise ako!