Another failure

I'm sick of failing my interviews. Therefore, every time I fail one, I'm going to post why I think I did poorly and remember for next time what I should do differently.

For the GS Interview, I did not display enough enthusiasm, did not smile enough, did not engage enough. My answers were plain and not interesting enough. I did not ask the right questions--too self centered and did not display enough interest.

For today's interview, I was ill-prepared. I did not expect/prepare for these questions and could not think on my feet.

- Who is the CFO/CEO of our company? (Should've done my research)
- Who is an example of a good leader? (Really shot myself in the foot there) (Next time say MLKJ)
- Scenario problem with think-on-your-feet question. (failed)
- Multitasking problem- Give an example of how you multitask in the past. (Failed)
- Why you want this as opposed to IB/Sales&Trading? (Gave an "ok" answer)
- Tell me about a time when you were in a team leader experience? (Good answer)
- Tell me about a time when you were in a team and a person did not perform? (Good answer)
- Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond what was required of you? (Good answer)
- Tell me about a time when you failed and how did you overcome this? (BS answer)
- Why should we hire you, why are you unique?


I should do mock interviews.

Discover Your Stengths Now

I bought this book on Amazon for $4 (essentially for shipping, since the book costs a penny) a few days ago. It comes with a code for an online assessment test which is a series of questions designed to reveal your top 5 talents (foundations for strengths). Luckily the book I bought came with an unused code, so I was able to use it. According to the test, my top 5 talents are:

1. Deliberative
2. Intellect
3. Responsibility
4. Consistency
5. Adaptability

I'm not going to write out what they mean since copyright issues might bite me.


My first and strongest theme is: Deliberative.

You are careful. You are vigilant. You are a private person. You know that the world is an unpredictable place. Everything may seem in order, but beneath the surface you sense the many risks. Rather than denying these risks, you draw each one out into the open. Then each risk can be identified, assessed, and ultimately reduced. Thus, you are a fairly serious person who approaches life with a certain reserve. For example, you like to plan ahead so as to anticipate what might go wrong. You select your friends cautiously and keep your own counsel when the conversation turns to personal matters. You are careful not to give too much praise and recognition, lest it be misconstrued. If some people don’t like you because you are not as effusive as others, then so be it. For you, life is not a popularity contest. Life is something of a minefield. Others can run through it recklessly if they so choose, but you take a different approach. You identify the dangers, weigh their relative impact, and then place your feet deliberately. You walk with care.

Sounds like me, probably 95% accurate.

The Walking Dead S1E4: Vatos

S1E4: Vatos

Summary:

The rescue team finds Dixon's dismembered hand on top of the rooftop. In order to escape from the handcuffs and avoid death by starvation, Dixon ended up sawing through his own hand (desperate times call for desperate measures, kind of like SAW 1). They make their way back onto the streets to retrieve the guns Rick dropped on the streets earlier in the first episode only to find themselves ambushed by other people. The assailants capture Glenn (Asian guy) and takes him hostage. Rick and crew also take a hostage of their own and tries to make an exchange. The gang leader threatens to kill Glenn if Rick does not hand over the guns and the hostage. Both sides refuse to give in and a bloodbath almost takes place. Fortunately, an elderly lady comes out of the gang and prevents an all out shooting disaster. We learn that these "gangsters" are simply former hospital workers trying to defend the old and sick. Rick leaves half of their guns with these folks due to their just cause and heads back for camp. All is well back at the camp when suddenly, Amy is bitten by a walker. The camp plunges into chaos as walkers overrun the place and the survivors desperately try to fend them off. Rick and crew arrives back in time to save the day.

Thoughts:

This episode was very intense. The rescue team almost killed a bunch of innocent people trying to defend the elderly. I thought the "gang" leader's performance was utmost convincing. The two hostile groups were ready to fire at each other and Rick's outnumbered group definitely would not have survived the onslaught. It was a series of misunderstandings and thankfully the Abuelo came out to disarm the men. Rick's decision to distribute half their gun supply was both noble and risky. In a zombie apocalypse, guns are probably the most important asset one can obtain. As for the camp assault, it was very unfortunate that Amy died. She's young and she's blonde, why did they have to kill her off?! I was expecting her to die and reanimate and get shot again, but no such thing happened. Another discrepancy I noticed for this series in particular is that the way you can get infected is different. It seems the only way you can get infected in TWD is to actually get bitten and die from it. Andrea, Amy's sister, held Amy's dying body, smothered in blood and nothing happens to her. Another thing is that the only way to kill a walker, is to destroy the brain. Even decapitating the head doesn't entirely do the job, because the head will continue to snap at you.

Your life or your hand?

The standoff.

Officer Shoot-em-up.

Probably NSFW.

The Walking Dead S1E3: Tell It to the Frogs

S1E3: Tell It to the Frogs

Summary
The city survivors reunite with the rest of the survivors hiding in the woods. From the previous episode we learned that Lori, Rick's unfaithful wife, is actively involved with Rick's best friend, Shane. They both naturally assumed Rick was dead when the outbreak began and when he shows up in camp, they were all flabbergasted. Of course, Rick knows none of this and is just glad to see his best friend and wife/son alive. Meanwhile, the camp survivors discuss on the issue of how to relay the news of tying the violent hooligan (Dixon) up on the roof to the hooligan's brother (another violent guy, SURPRISE). Rick decides to lead the crew back into Atlanta to rescue Dixon because he was the one who tied him up there in the first place. While they travel to the city, we are shown the breakup of Lori and Shane. Lori wants nothing to do with Shane anymore because Rick is back and claims everything before was a mistake. Shane is an emotional mess because Rick's presence not only took away his lover, but also his purpose in life is now rendered meaningless. When a man beats his wife, Shane takes this opportunity to unleash his anger and beats the living pulp out of the guy. He almost kills the guy and everyone is horrified by his actions. Back in the city, the rescue crew make their way to the rooftop and finds Dixon missing, his whereabouts unknown.

Thoughts
I wasn't too thrilled about episode 3. First half of the episode was very predictable and there was way too much talking. As for the Lori x Shane relationship, it is really debatable on who is right. It's the end of the world, and it's natural to assume your husband's dead, after all he was lying unconscious in the hospital when the outbreak began. Now that Rick's back, the only logical/ethical thing to do is end the relationship. Shane is utterly destroyed by this reality and almost kills another man in a fit of rage. It started out righteous when he stepped in to stop the beating of the wife, but as he punched the guy in the face, it slowly got more frightening. If the others didn't pull him away, he most definitely would have killed. The other issue of the matter is Rick's decision making. Arguably, the decision to go rescue Dixon is a bad one. Why would you go rescue a guy who will most likely try to kill you once he is free? The guy is a threat to all the survivors because of his dictator/violent attributes and yet they want to rescue him. Now that he escaped, he will most likely seek revenge on those who left him there, namely Rick. Good one Rick, not only the dead are after you, watch out for Dixon.

HOW DARE YOU BEAT YOUR WIFE, ILL STOP YOU BY DOING THE SAME THING TO YOU

WHERE IS DIXON ARGHHHH

AMC Series: The Walking Dead

When I first learned of this new upcoming series back in October, I was hyped. Finally, a zombie TV series, something that is ongoing and doesn't simply end after 2 hours (stupid movies). Unfortunately, a show of this magnitude requires a lot of producing effort so the producers decided to make the first season only 6 episodes. Since there will only be 6 episodes, I decided I will give a plot summary each week. The show airs every Sunday at 10 PM ET on AMC.


*******SPOILERS AHEAD*******


Episode 1: Days Gone Bye

Summary:
Rick (main character) is a sheriff who was shot and put into the hospital for a month. After he wakes up, he discovers he is alone in the hospital. Rick decides to go home and encounters very "strange" people as he rides a bike back to his house. He later meets a father and a son and they tell him what's been going on. Apparently, the zombie apocalypse is happening (no duh). The father informs the sheriff that the city might be a safe zone based on a broadcast a while ago. Rick decides to go look for his wife and kid and sets off on his journey, parting ways with the father and son. Having no vehicle of transportation, Rick innovates and finds a horse in a barn. He rides the horse into the city and is overwhelmed by a large number of walkers. The walkers eat his horse and he barely escapes and is trapped inside a tank.

Thoughts:
The pilot was 90 minutes long and it sets up a situation that's similar to 28 Days Later. A guy wakes up from a hospital and discovers the world is in chaos. One thing I never understand from this concept is; why didn't the zombies eat him while he was unconscious? Nevertheless, the plot is linear and somewhat predictable. Even though they try to portray Rick as cool as possible, one has to question his intelligence. What kind of idiot rides a horse into the city and expects to be able to escape a horde? The horde easily zerg'd him and tore the poor horse apart. The poor bastard was stuck inside a tank. I really did not know how he was going to get out of that one, which made me want to watch EP 2 ASAP.

28 Days Later anyone?

Hey sup gaice, yall like mah horse?

Episode 2: Guts

Summary:
We see glimpses of survivors and more importantly, Rick's wife and son. For whatever reason, the wife Lori is banging Rick's co-worker. Back in the city, Rick receives a radio transmission from someone outside. Glenn, an Asian guy, helps Rick escape from inside the tank and the horde. After they get back into their hideout, everyone scolds on Rick for being an idiot. By firing his gun whenever a walker came close, he drew more noise and attention from the rest of the horde. Now, the shopping mall entrance is crawling with hungry zombies trying to break in. On top of the rooftop, a violent hooligan in the group almost kills one of the survivors and Rick steps in to disarm him. The rest of the survivors plan to escape from the mall because the doors won't hold out forever. Unfortunately, going out would be suicide with so many zombies waiting outside. Rick finally uses his brain for the first time in the series and decides to blend in with the zombies. They dismember a walker and spill the walker's guts onto their clothing. By smelling like the dead, they manage to get far enough to hitch a truck. In the end, they manage to get everyone out of the building--all of them except the violent hooligan, who was handcuffed to the rooftop to be left for dead.

Thoughts:
The pilot wasn't all that original. However, episode 2 really stepped it up. Rick's stupidity never ceases to amaze me, which is why I was surprised that he was the one who came up with the idea of cloaking themselves with the stench of the dead. The scene in which they chopped up the dead was gory and bloody disgusting. The scene when they had to walk slowly to the car was probably the best scene so far. I thought the entire episode was very well thought out. The only thing that didn't surprise me was the thing affair with the wife.

Choppin' it up.

Blending in with the crowd.

Screens from AMC.