Congrats for making it to the second stage! (If not yet just say amen to it ;) )
So if u pass the online assessment, SC Scholarship will send u an update email in a week time if i'm not mistaken. Next, we will have to through a phone interview with SC which prior to it we will have to email/call them to inform our free times that we're able to spend for the interview. Make sure u give them few alternative times and reply as soon as possible so they can reserve the time for u. :)
Tips & What to expect?
Basically phone interview is more like a screening process where they will filter out the applicants before having them come for real interviews, usually conducted by the company's HR themselves. So we'll really have to observe our tones of speaking as they cannot see us on the other side, so make sure u sound real and confident. ;)
So naturally after the email, i googled what to prepare for the phone interview and this is the summary of my findings:
1. Make your research.
Company background research is very essential if we're having any interview with them. Basically just know what are their policy, functions, they basic infos and even who's the current Chairman/ CEO. Make also the research on the departments they have and which one that u hope to serve, targeting for one departments is better as it gives the impression that we're flexible to go with any departments without only confining ourselves to one thing (SC likes flexibility). Make some notes on the research so we can read them and familiarize ourselves with it because we dont wanna sound like reading while answering the phone interview hehe.
2.Write down the most common asked questions and answer them in your notes.
What i did for myself was i wrote down the questions i found online, and also questions from my friend who had experienced phone iv before (thank u imtiyaz & kak chap). I answer those questions with answer points in my notes. I guessed that was what really helped me when i was panicking for my phone interview when i felt so clumsy and serabut, i just flipped the page, scanned the points and answer the questions. You can use notes u know, u'll not get the chance in real-life interview haha so let's make the most out of it. ;'')
3.Elaborate the answers.
Well, of course we dont wanna give a one sentenced answer for all the questions even when they asked they simplest questions. The interviewer will actually let us talk and wont interrupt us until we finished answering. So just go all out for it, but make sure u dont go to far or too long because that wont be nice also hoho.
4.Relate everything with SC hahaha.
Idk why i think this is funny but i read about this tips and actually think it helped. For example:
-...... which i believe these qualities i possessed are what/in-line with what SC want in their scholars which are students who have good leadership skills and strong academic performance.
-(how u see urself in 5 years) ........ and if i got the chance to serve SC in the future insyaAllah, i would be honored if i can serve in the .... Deptartment or even .... as that's where and what i believe i can contribute best to SC.
(i know it sounds like 'bajet' but why not? because that's how i see myself in 5 years :) )
5.Treat the interview like a conversation.
Engage with the interviewer, they can hear u know if we are reading or scared etc. So treat it like they are in front of us, like talking to someone, but in a formal manner. Emphasize on the points that we want them to know about us. Dont be overconfident but also just layout the points for and-this-is-why-u-should-choose-me hahah.
6. Practice!
Make a mock phone interview with urself or get a friend to help even once or twice (the more the better). I sure guaranteed it can help u with the flow of answering the interview. Trust me hehe.
My Experience:
I was kinda free that week because a lot of my classes got cancelled were already informed a week earlier.. so everyday during the time i expected them to call me i'll sit at my study table in my room, with no one inside my room but it was already Thursday but they didn't call me yettt hahahaha i was so scared they missed my name or i gave the wrong phone number. I couldn't even go anywhere because i'm scared they'll call me when i don't have my notes. :'') Even on the Friday (last day),, until the lunch time,, i still haven't gotten the call T^T, i made up my mind if it's already 3.30pm, i'm going to call them straightaway haha.
On that particular Friday, i happened to have two submissions to pass up and they were some probs during the compilations of my group mates works so i was editing and finishing them during the lunch break at the campus's surau.. so, it was at 2.30pm when i got the chance to perform the Zuhr prayer... and guess what... yes guys... yes... they called in when i was praying T^T! luckily i was already in my final rakaat, so i speed the things up, baca wajib je :3, and run to my bag, panicked-ly search for my notes, i was so scared i missed the call, (they already inform earlier that they'll only call twice, so if we don't pick it up= bye2 scholarship).
There were some people in the surau,, they were all quiet, i'm still in my telekung,, almost cried searching for a comf. spot so i can "brag & promote" my achievements, and everything.. in english.. it was so embarassing, when i picked up the phone i couldn't catch my breath,, i choked a few times as i was answering the call... i felt like it went so bad but i tried to answer with my best..
The conversation lasted about 15 minutes... felt like forever for me.. ;_;
U know what, i cried after that, hahahaha, i went to my bestfriend, Syazalia's room,, wake her up just to tell her about it.. after that the tears just couldn't stop flowing.. it was because i thought i could have done it better if i was not at the surau.. i felt like i wasted my one in a million chance so i couldn't stop crying afterwards haha probably because i want one so bad and this is the one and only chance i got.. even writing this made me all-teary haha..
However, Alhamdullah i got an email about a week later informing i was eligible for the next round.. i was very thankful at that time that God gave me another chance to continue my journey and i was all out again for it after that. :'')
Hehe, so i guess that is all i have to share for the phone interview stage. Remember to take a deep breath and stay calm hehehe. :"")
Wishing u the best for this stage! <3
