PROUDLY PRESENTS

Patrick Lau
Resident of Singapore and 3-DNET® VIP member
Email contact : patrick@exec.org

      

VIDEO INTRODUCTION®

  

 

INTERVIEW WITH 3-DNET®

Listen to sample sound "bites" from the interview:  

Question 1 : Tell me about yourself

I am fortunate to receive an overseas tertiary education with a premium university after having been away for studies for quite a while upon completion of my high school. My life has been filled with good friends and most of which are from the Singapore Human Resources Institute.

Question:  "Tell me about yourself....?"  

Question 2 : What can you offer to your next employer ?

My career goal has been constantly keeping abreast with the latest knowledge base economy, whether be it HRIS or in Business/HR operation benchmarking as part of the HR Business world.

Question:  "What can you offer....?"  

Question 3 : What are your strengths ?

Is the ability to get people to accept me as their manager/leader, where a good leader earns the respect of his/her fellow colleagues as being a good listener, a good facilitator and or a good counselor, in which they could turn to if they have any problems.

It is also the ability to exercise self-reflection on own mistakes and to examine what can be done to improve upon it or is there a need for self-improvement/development.

Question:  "What are your strengths?"  

Question 4 : What are your accomplishments ?

My major accomplishments are earning a letter of appreciation from the Ministry of Manpower for participating in Best Practice discussion, and also received letter of praise from the University. Others include gearing the company towards HRIS technology and on benchmarking for better service efficiency.

Question:  "What are your accomplishments?"  

Question 5 : What are your limitations ?

Recognizing one’s limitation holds the key to better HR management by turning any ability lacking into strength again either through self-development or knowledge seeking through benchmarking.

Question:  "What are your limitations ?"  

Question 6 : How much are you worth ?

I shall let my experience and skills level speak for itself and let that determine my worth to a company. I also understand the shifting employment market situation.

Question:  "How much are you worth ?"  

Question 7 : What are your ambitions for the future ?

My ambition is to find work in the HR area in any industries or consulting firm, where I can contribute to the firm and for self-development within the organization cultural context.

Question:  "What are your ambitions for the future ?"  

Question 8 : How long would it take you start contributing to the firm? 

Almost immediately as I would have done some research about the particular company that I am joining, and get a feel of what my duties & responsibilities are though there could be a slight career transition in the new company.

Question:  "How long would it take ... ?"  

Question 9: What is your management style?

In my more than 10 years with both local & corporate levels, I have worked with firms who has a culture that foster a participative creative working relationship management style and those who rule with fear. In my view, the former works better in getting the point across and promote a better work relationship environment.

Question:  "What is your management style .... ?"  

Question 10: Why do you think you have a good potential to be a manager?

Though, my managerial experience level may be short compared to those who may have longer than 6 years, however, sometimes it is not quantity that matters but rather the quality of the acquired work skills count most. As I have the gift of conceptualizing and visualizing, I am able to acquire skills sets at shorter time frame.

Question:  "Why do you think you..... ?"  

Question 11: What would you look for in hiring people?

My goal is to work closely in aligning the HR processes to the business needs. In an interview, I will try to uncover a potential employer’s experience & work attitude/ethics.

Question:  "What would you look for hiring .... ?"  

Question 12: As a manager, have you ever had to fire someone?

Yes. And it must be handled carefully especially when in an IR situation of dealing with trade union. Dismissal claim procedures & documents support need to be filed for reference support to future case dispute with the dismissed employee should he/she decide to bring a claim against wrongful dismissal through arbitration.

Question:  "As a manager, have you ever..... ?"  

Question 13: What do you see as the most difficult task of being a manager?

Depends on the organization culture and especially in a family run business where the difficulty lies in persuading top directors that certain management philosophies may have been flawed. It is the question of Best Business Practice, and should HR department be doing the work for other departments if staff or executives does not know how the work process as required in their job role for which they are engage in. Shouldn’t HR adopt a role-play of a HRD of developing the staff with the necessary skills set to do the job as required in the job descriptions/job specifications for which they are employed in that particular job position and to contribute to the efficiency of that department.

Question:  "What do you see as...... ?"  

Question 14: Describe what you feel is the best work environment?

A strong belief that the best work environment is a positive attitude work behavior and cultivate good learning values for self-improvement & development. Team- work & co-operation is also important to have a good working relationship.

Question:  "Describe what you feel..... ?"  

Question 15: Looking back how do you describe your past employer?

Touche Ross International was a good company with a good work culture. When I was there I felt great about the people working there, and there is much professionalism. It has got a friendly working environment culture. The work there is also demanding and challenging.

Question:  "Looking back how do you ..... ?"  

Question 16: What have you done to increase productivity, performance, efficiency, etc..?

As mentioned earlier with reference to “work accomplishments”, I will make referral to my experience in the Hotel. This is where I worked on the HRIS system to provide information aids to management decision -making process. Also work on management reports on research, staff deployment for the various outlets to gauge their efficiency.

Question:  "What have you done to .... ?"  

Question 17: Whether you are a "computer wizard", how do you respond to the financial side of your responsibilities?

Computers & software support is no stranger to me where my everyday work role is dependent on it. Expense budgeting for software upgrades will have to be taken care of and negotiating with vendors for the best deals offer as a IT business solution for the company.

Question:  "Whether you are a "computer wizard".... ?"  

Question 18: How many people have you supervised in your recent job?

I am responsible for managing a work size of about 180 people. Directly, under me is two HR Officers.

Question:  "How many people have you .... ?"  

Question 19: What do you like more, working with figures or words?

While figures are important with an eye for budget, however, I have kept wide collections of books, articles relating to best practices. Job design and other HR related.

Question:  "What do you like more ..... ?"  

Question 20: How do you think that your subordinates receive you?

I am a good team player and this was demonstrated in my close relationship with the 2 HR Officers. Even when I left the hotel, we still kept our contacts with each other.

Question:  "How do you think .... ?"  

Question 21: What do you think of your previous boss?

I have great respect for at least 2 persons that I worked in Touche Ross International. Their sheer force of personality make you want to give in your best shot. From there on, I continued on self-development & progresses within the organization with a promotion, and till I when to overseas and received my degree award.

Question:  "What do you think .... ?"  

Question 22: Describe a situation in which your work was criticized?

At a meeting in a hotel where I worked and where I pointed out on certain work skills needed improvement on some departments, and they ganged up against me putting me in a tight spot. This lesson draws on ‘know your enemy well, know yourself well’ before planning an attack. This verse is taken from Sun Tzu’s, famous author of ‘The Art of War & The Art of Career Building’.

Question:  "Describe a situation .... ?"  

Question 23: If I spoke with your boss what he would say about your greatest strength and weaknesses?

My greatest strength & weaknesses would have been already reflected in both letters of appreciation & praise from the Ministry of Manpower & the University itself. In addition, in my employment with Touche Ross International & Pannell Kerr Forster, I also received letters giving accreditation to my work.

Question:  "If I spoke with your boss.... ?"  

Question 24: How can you handle life under pressure and with tough deadlines?

My career began with joining the ‘Top 4’ International Public Accounting Firms and where meeting deadlines is no stranger to me. Most importantly, when you prioritize your work carefully, you will be able to manage time well and deadlines should not pose a threat to future work engagement.

Question:  "How can you handle .... ?"  

Question 25: What do you think you do better: staff work or line work?

Staff work. When I am surrounded with good, hard working people, I felt happier.

Question:  "What do you think.... ?"  

Question 26: In your current position, what problem have you identified that was previously overlooked?

When I first arrived at a local hotel, I was dissuaded from making a career here by 2 HR Officers. Similarly, the retail tenants also share the same sentiments. Since, I have accepted the job offer, my goal is to do everything that a manager would do given the above circumstances before I left and hand over my duties to the HR Department. What is going on in the firm is not at my liberty to divulge it for professional reasons.

Question:  "In your current position .... ?"  

Question 27: If you had a choice of job and a company what would you choose?

The job role itself that is fulfilling, however, the company may be important as where the organization work culture will determine career choice.

Question:  "If you had a choice of job.... ?"  

Question 28:Do you have any objection to take a psychological test?

No.

Question:  "Do you have any objection.... ?"

Question 29: Do you consider yourself as a creative person?

In the workplace, yes. Many times, I have to look at different issues to determine new and innovative ways of dealing with people, and especially in counseling session with staff.

Question:  "Do you consider yourself.... ?"

Question 30: How do you describe your personality?

Very outgoing, service oriented & results driven.

Question:  "How do you describe.... ?"  

Question 31: What is your outside reading you do?

I read the Straits Times newspaper, professional/biz magazines, IT magazines, and management books.

Question:  "What is your outside.... ?"  

Question 32: What are some of your outside activities?

I entered myself for the HR Professional Forum Discussion and had contributed one article on change management. I am active in sports and have been playing for a while. It is a great place for socializing with most important people.

Question:  "What are some of.... ?"  

Question 33: Are you continuing your education?

Yes. On several occasions, I have attended seminars talks on work skills/counseling, organized by the Singapore Human Resources Institute, employment law, conducted by international law firms – Drew & Napier, Shook Lin & Bok, and, as well as, work stress at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Question:  "Are you continuing your.... ?"

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