I've been in full time employment for almost a month now. Although I must say march was a very good time to start considering the amount of public holidays we have had recently in april :).

 

Neway as I begin to get a regular income, might i say not very much ..... my 1st year sister who works part time almost gets as much as me. I have decided to begin to dream/realise my goals. My goal is to buy a place of my own in the area I currently live in Surry Hills. So on a very bored sunday before I got off my ass and called some friends I was browsing on mydomain.com.au. It wasn't much of a surprise to me that a decent 2bed apartment in my area can easy cost $500 000. Keep dreaming hey!!!

 

But the reason I have decided to blog today is that I've been thinking it for a while but haven't had the chance. What does it mean to be truly local? I love it and hate it where a grew up, a small populated coastal town where everywhere u go, no matter what you did on the weekend someone would know bout it. But the upside to that is when you walk down the street you will always bump into someone u know, with a smile on there face and they will ask "how are you?" and seriously mean it.

 

After spending the past 4years in Surry Hills I think I have finally gain the same status in the area. I have worked in the local cafe, that means regulars that have come to know my face and I have come to know their Saturday breakfast menu. We will meet and greet each other on the street. It was terribly heart breaking to tell them last week that we will be closing shop and new owners will be taking over. There will be many customers that will be miss and its sad, but i will forever remeber their faces by the type of coffee they drank.

 

I go to the local gym, the same regulars that go to the cafe go to the gym as well. So unlike the corporate Fitness First you find in the city where everyone is too busy looking at themeselves in the mirror. The gym is a place to see you friends, catch up and see how everyone is going. Love the friendly local atmosphere it has. The equipment might not be as fancy, nor that is has the view of the harbour bridge or watson bay like the FF at Bondi Junction, but its has the warmth of the locals that fill it.

 

My local beauty therapist where I get my monthly waxing. Boy does she knows me in certain ways that my mother has even known since I was 6 :). But why I go there, largely by convinence its just a block from my door step but as I remember my customers by the type of coffee they drink, I wonder how she remembers me????

 

The bums that sit outside the park. Okay where do you draw the line from a friendly hello to you are freaking me out. There are a group of bums who regularly sit at the park just in front of my apartment complex. As I am one not to judge everytime i walk by i offer a hello and a smile. But one day they wanted to know more my name, thats cool we exchange hand shakes but then when they expected me to chat i just couldn't. I mean true I just said two sentences ago that I'm not one to judge, but i may have slightly. All they do everyday is have a beer at chill at the park i'm sure they are harmless but I just don't want them to know too much about. I mean they know where I live for gods sake.

 

But the great thing about a truly local surry hillburdian is the great variety of restaurants right at my doorstep. You just name it and we have it, indian, thai, chinese, pub, classy, pizza, kebab(the best). Recently the Book Kitchen got a mention in the SMH, I have watch that cafe rise from a nobody to a very very popular restuarant. And not to mention the bakery which has the yummiest crossiants in the world. hehehe i'm sorry but i have to drop this line "and i've been to Paris".

 

Neway, I believe in community and knowing your neighbours. So what makes my day, each day is when I walk to the shop/gym/out to dinner. I can bump into people I know and small a casual chit chat with them.

 

 

Cheers to the truly local,

June

 

 

Read the link below, to all my fellow engineering gfs out there ...... ( I know there isn't many but ....)

 

Given the choice would I work for google. Possibly I mean how satisfying is it when someone ask you where you work and you can easily say Google. Meh have to stop thinking that the grass is greener on the other side.

 

Its now been 5 days since I've watched the movie "Descent". Was with a bunch of friends on Friday, which is usual for a Friday night movie.

 

Little that I know that the movie "Descent" wasn't the movie I had in mind. The movie I had in mind being "First Descent" was a history of snowboarding which I thought would be a fun movie to watch. Neway I'm gonna admit but my favourite genre of movies is definitely romantic comedy (i.e. chick flick). And this movie "Descent" turned out to be a major horror/thriller with an ending that neither me or my friend that had just watched it for the third time could understand. So if anyone thats reading my blog is gonna watch the movie, please let me know what actually happened.

 

Neway why I'm still talking about this 5 days later, is because its still freaking the hell out of me. I mean there were stuff that happened in there that was worst then SAW or HOSTEL, why i continue to put myself through these movies I don't understand, but for those of you who enjoy I good scare, I say go for it. There was one really really really good scene that I've got to admit...... I screamed really loudly, which sort of created a mexican wave affect of screams with my friends. I was the first to scream on the top of my lungs, which didn't help when my friend grab my arm, then he screamed, he in turn grab another friend's arm and then she scream, whilst the guy that had watched it for the 3rd was prepared and just sat back and laughed at us. :P good one.

 

I'm working full time now. First week went down well, although I haven't recieved any success from cold calling. I've definitely don't have the natural flair with it, but I know I can only get better with time. Luckily there's a large part of my job that doesn't involve cold calling and there's plenty of other stuff for me to learn  and experience.

 

Everything is wonderful,

June

In a follow up blog to "Its a competitive world". I have been offered a position at Trilogy (www.tcsa.com.au). They are a well established IT solutions company (Australian) with 30yrs of industry experience. What more could I ask for, they are willing to pay me a competitve graduate salary, opportunity of gaining more on top of that through commissions and freedom to decide where I want to develop my skills for the future. Why do I have hesistations, because I just keep wondering what else is out there for me.

 

Remember that whole assessment thing I went through, well as soon as I told them that I might have a position offered by another agency, they throw my mind onto Hyperion (http://www.hyperion.com/). Why I like this company, well simply enough ....its corporate, global and fortune 100 company. I want to work there for the benefits of the name, the corporate lifestyle and the training I will recieve in California and Las Vegas (leaving 3rd of April). The pay isn't as competitve, but that aside I have to think exactly what am I looking for.

 

Which company will I benefit more as my first job out of uni. Both possess such unique opportunities, Hyperion is global, it really goes inline with my dreams of working overseas for a while and exploring the world and seeing whats out there beside the sweet things I find in Australia. They have a relatively small Sales team 60, put I'm sure its a highly competitive environment in which people are constantly trying to meet targets.

 

Whereas Trilogy are already extremely supportive of me, and have confirmed that they want me, yes me to work for them, I haven't even arranged a interview with Hyperion yet. It was such a delimma for me at 6pm today, my agency called and asked me to confirm an appointment of offer with Trilogy tomorrow, where my mentor will discuss the opportunities that I WANT, and how Trilogy will endeavour to provide it.

 

Was speaking to a friend a few weeks back, in the most unforseen circumstances (couches of Gas), he probably doesn't realise it. But the few words he spoke really got me thinking. Where do I want to be in my first role, a large global company..with a reputation, but I could easily get loss in the system or start off small and learn as much as I can and gain as much experience possible...achieve things that working in a corporate company would restrict me from achieving.  

 

Called up an old mate of mind, that I hadn't spoken to for ages (definitely do miss his friendship and company) and his suggestion. Quite funny in fact, he reminded me that we both had completed a Project Management Exam that asked the exact same question. Given the opportunity would you work for Global Corporate Company or Small Company which offer training and support. Funny how I remember walking out of the exam and thinking what the hell was that question and laughing will fellow students how easy it was. But now given the situation in real life, I'm lost.

 

I currently have another 16hrs before I sign my heart and soul away to Trilogy. If I do commit to them, I am truly commited and will strive to achieve my goals in life.

 

Wish me the very best of luck

Juny

 

Its now time in our life to join the workforce. We must leave our trusted and once loved uni life and move on into the "real world". But what does one have to go through to actually get a job? (Beware will potentially gloat in some sections of this blog)

 

Yesterday for me was the first experience I had with an Assessment Center. The job agency, specializes in recruiting graduates with a interest in a career in sales/marketing. If you go to seek.com.au virtually all sales job within any kind of decent industry requires you to go through them. But the problem is they only accept a very limited amount of graduates, apparently only the top 5%, so all the more competitive.

 

The first activity, was to stand up in front of the other 60 competitors, say your name, starsign and "the biggest achievement in your life to date". Ummm but your biggest achievements can't be your degree, travelling around the world or a sky dive ..... what is left to say then?

 

One guy (nerdy) said "My greatest achievement was finding the girl he wanted to marry" ...very sweet but doesn't really have the sales/marketing sing to it. Neway it made us laugh when the host said ("does the girl know bout it?). Another guy (probably not the best looking kind) said "My greatest achievement is my ability to pick up beautiful women" ...obviously funny but does it really pay to make people laugh at your own expense. My greatest achievement doesn't sound that great when i write it down on the blog, but nonetheless for a bit of advice, I went down the humour road as well.....it just pays to be yourself, friendly and confident, this section was one of the section where I got a higher score.

 

Next round group activity. When you have a 2x2m table and 15 people trying to stand around it and voice they opinions, it can be very intimidating. Its everyone for themeselves and they want to make the best impression possible. We are surrounded by assessors who passively observe each individual and rate them according to communication, ability to influence, confident and structual logic.......I didn't score as well in these sections, partly because i took a outside perspective on things and I felt like a pack of seagulls trying to scavenge for food.  I stood back, but i guess next time its important to put all shame and morals aside and get right in there with the action.

 

Then there's the inevitable, verbal reasoning and numeracy test. To be honest being a sales positions i don't think they really cared about you numeracy skills. Compared to the other one i did (and failed) this one was a lot easier. So much easier considering the questions they used were hacked off a website off google. If anyone wants to practice verbal and numeracy apitude test i recommend http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/psychotests.htm great site.

 

Finally you had to do a 3min prepared presentation on "Why I should be consider a career in business to business sales". Well I've spent the last month going to Graduate Sales interivews, so if I didn't do well in this section i deserve to be label a failure. First you have to sit by yourself on a chair outside a small office filled with 8 accessors (the whole sitting outside and waiting is the crueliest thing i reckon, it just makes people even more nervous). You walk into a room fill with people that have stone cold faces, and honestly couldn't really care less what you are gonna say because they have to go through 60 other presentations. Anyway, I breezed through my speech saying "the qualities i have that would make me a great sales professional".

 

At the end of the day, they tell you if you have made it or not. They call out your name and you are directed to one of three rooms. Kinda of reminded me of Australian Idol where they separate the candiadates into separate rooms to tell them either your out or you have proceeded to the next round. You spend are gruelling 5mins standing they with your fellow candidates (looking around and accessing am I in the room full of winners or losers). Then what happens, one of the accessors walks into the room, announce "congratulations you guys have made it through to the top 5% of graduates they are looking for" and the whole room claps  loudly in joy of the trimuph, kinda of lame ... but the feeling is good.

 

So what now, statistically the agency guarantees in finding you a job within 1.5 interview and the position is tailor to your needs, personality and career goals .... so hopefully the best of the best companies to work for.

 

Where does the road lead me now, I pretty much have to make choices in my life that really do have a influence on my future, will i continue my masters, get a job through the agency or take up one of the offers i have at the moment. I'm not sure....still thinking.  Arrrhhhhh delimmas in life.

 

Juny

Recently when I went for an interview I got struck with a very open ended question and was sought of stunned. I was asked "so tell me about yourself". How do you begin when someone ask you such a question.

 

Never been asked that question in an interview before, so really didn't have anything prepared. I'm sure its some sort of pyschological question but i had no choice to answer it honestly, cause i had nothing else.

 

So who am I. When pose with the question I always start to think, the things in the past that has made me the way i am. I think people are born with certain qualities, but the environment and their surroundings they grew up in definitely has a influence on the overall outcome. Guess thats why some parents believe in sending their kids to the "best" private schools.

 

I think i'm the way i am because of where and how i grew up, who would have thought that growing up in a town with a population of 5000, starting to drink at 13, and being the only asian in your year or virtually the whole school allowed me to evolve into who i am today (conquering high school was fun as well). I'm surprised that i didn't become a bum or an alcoholic, considering one of my best friends is one (don't tell her i said that).

 

This is a blog and not an interview so I'll give a non-professional debrief of my strength and weaknesses

 

- I'm strong and independent. Put me in most situations and I'll deal with it. Cockroaches, spiders don't scare me, oh and i can change a light bulb myself.(but occassionaly i might need masculine help but who doesn't)

 

- I will talk to anyone, because i believe in being friendly, kinda of a legacy past down by living in a country town. There're always people that are gonna feel left out at a party and i believe its my responsibility to make sure everyone is welcome and accepted. (But if someone disrespects me, then my hospitality will be withdrawn)

 

- Most days i'm a very positive person, I'll smile whenever I'm around people and even when i'm really sad, I'll just bury it deep inside me and put on a brave face. So if you ever have me as your company, I'll just generally tell you heaps of random stories about my life (generally very pointless ones) and smile and laugh a lot.

 

- Ummm i think my biggest weakness is my ability to cut people off. I don't generally mean to or want to. But sometimes for whatever reason i just do, its potentially that i'm very bad at keeping contact with people i don't see very often. (So if i ever do, if you make the effort i will definitely return)

 

- I cry when i watch Grey's Anatomy, actually i cry very easily when i watch tv or movies, i just get too involved in it all. Beware if you ever sit next to me in a plane, when i watch thrillers i tend to scream and kick.... so watch out.

 

- I'm a submissive person, i avoid conflict where ever possible, i priorities other peoples wishes before mind. It could be a weakness but it could be also a sign of my flexibility, but when it really comes down to it and i really need to make a decision, i can do it easily.

 

My objective in life, its very corny and boring, utter happiness and self satisfaction. Of course i have the materialistic things in mind, a decent house (close to the beach, or with waterview), a good career, travel the world (done some parts of it), someone to grow old with (preferably someone with a harvard degree ... ) and to enjoy as many laughs and cries with my friends as possible. Cause the good times in life are PRICELESS. (Man i love that mastercard ad).

 

So think about it, describe yourself to me.

 

love,

Juny (a girl with dreams that she will achieve)

 

Well lately my weekends hasn't really been that exciting. I usually spend one night with close friends doin such encounters as a crabbin night, as can be seen in my photo album. Other nights I get dragged out to the whole clubbin world.

 

I mean really, i guess i do have fun at clubs sometimes, guess talking to random people is kinda of a built in nature for me. But you never really ever get to connect or know anyone at a club so thats why i'm always, "can't be bothered" when someone suggests to me lets go clubbing this weekend.  And whats the point when the hottest guy there turns out to be a dick. Plus not having any gfs kinda of makes it a slight problem when i go clubbing with a bunch of guys, and when these guys leave me to pursuit their own interest i'm left to fend for myself :P.

 

So given a choice to bum at home and talk random topics of politics, toilet, human behaviour problems and how much one of our friends look like his gf (yep i know its weird, this couple seriously look like identical twin brother and sister) I think I'll still choose the chill out night.

 

Neway enough for now.

 

June

So I went travelling for 7 weeks, what did I carry with me on my trip? What were the essentials and what were the down right useless things that I brought and never used and what were the things that some people brought that I thought were down right weird.

 

Well this blog entry give you guys a sneak peak into my very private world of my Backpack. When I was in Europe all that I owned with me, all that I had was in my backpack. One of the first advice that I'm gonna give anyone is to make sure you buy a backpack that fits them. I unfortunately didn't do that, I borrowed one from my gf Emily, and for those who know both of us, well she's quite a bit taller than me, and her backpack totally wasn't appropriate for me, I mean i looked like midget trying to carry too much. But really my backpack only held my clothes and was really 10kg for all the trip.

 

Plastic spoons, forks and knife are very handy. For me a cheap feed meant going to the local supermarket and finding whatever that was easy to eat and decent. My favourite was yoghart with a bit of museli, so its always handy to have some sort of utensils in my daypack.

 

Ummm also proper shoes are always a great idea. Well for me, I never wear shoes .... i own many pairs of haviananas and they play and essential part of my wardrobe, do i have covered shoes, I do but i choose never to wear then unless its a must. So what shoes did I take to Europe. My ballerina sneakers, yep my feet did get cold and when it snowed in Paris, well my feet and shoes didn't exactly survive very well that day :). Its surprising how many people checked out my feet and questioned "Are those the only shoes I have?", my answer "no I have a pair of gold stiletto in my backpack". That comes to my point, U DON'T NEED THAT PAIR OF FANCY HIGH HEELS WHEN YOU ARE BACKPACKING, of course unless u get super lucky but even if you become pretty woman .... Richard Gere can afford to buy you new ones. Below you will see my ballerina sneakers which will be going to its inevitable fate tomorrow, the dumpster ... its gonna be very sad that I will be departing then but they have done me very well and the photos will serve to be my memories forever.

 

Anyways I know I didn't go into as much detail as I said I would be I'm getting tired so thats it for now.

 

See you guys all very soon

 

Juny

Well I have almost been home for 2 weeks now. I have told many people bits and pieces of my trip to Europe, but there is no way i can tell everything that happened to me to anyone, because for me there are some things that only i will ever know.

 

So what is it like there, many of you have already been there before me, and this trip for me was to follow the foot prints you left behind and explore the world at my own pace and time. At first I was rather nervous at conquering europe by myself, but when the time came i was ready and extremely excited to see the world,and to see it from a totally different perspective.

 

What's it like to travel alone, well thanks to a very close friend of mind he gave me the assurance that i would be fine over there and that MANY people travelled alone and it was no big deal and i would meet friends. Well i guess he did get some minor detail wrong, firstly not MANY people travel alone, its more like some and most people will have at least one or two people for company. Although I will always laugh at the fact that i went over there alone because of the advice of my friend, I will never have any regrets because the experiences and independence i have gain have changed me as a whole. You might not notice the difference of how Europe has change me, I am still very much the June you guys all know, but i now have sooo many dreams i would like to follow that i will never let anything stop me. I might also have grown to be even more stronger and independent, which comes to the fact that a friend once said to me that my independence might frighten guys away, hopefully that won't be true :P.

 

Anyway enough of that, this is my very first blog entry about my Europe trip, I might have a few more to do and also i need to mention some more recent events in my life.

 

Love being home to see all my mates.

 

Juny