Like all blog entries are spun into tiny urls and 140 character tweets (unless you arguably use tweetlonger), I'm gonna be the pyscho to do otherwise. "It came from a tweet" is how my entry goes:
Many times I was asked to think of how to answer question like "Why should I hire you over other candidates?", "How can you be an asset to our company?" and that put me on the endless loop of "I'm here to contribute all that I've mastered in my 22 years lifespan".
I stopped thinking about learning. I went to work each day eager to show off all that shallow knowledge that I possess. And often, I came back knowing that I'm defeated by my experienced colleagues/superiors. Feel sad, read up abit, sleep and move on.
But Life is kind to me. It gave me a wake-up slap to this self-defeating routine. It came in the form of insurance. No kidding. It didn't take one day. It slapped me hard for about 2 months (yes some kids are just naturally slower).
The story was simple.
First things first, I need to be insured.
Based on personal experiences (as a salesperson) and judgement, I'm extremely cautious to a salesperson's recommendations. I'm not saying they're liars. It's a job, someone has to do it.
My primary concern is self-interest.
Or in fancy jargon, the principal-agent problem.
Or in layman terms, I would like to get the cheapest deal (coz I'm a cheapo), but he would like to up-sell pricey stuffs (coz commissions are just so attractive).
I'm NOT saying all salesperson ignore customer's needs for personal gains btw.
Thus, my concerns lead me to reading up blogs and forums from independent viewpoints, using the Word-of-Mouth source of information, because they are more neutral/independent parties.
And I stopped and asked myself, haven't I took that wealth planning module where my professor had to show off how her property in Australia?
I did. I studied hard, memorised my life-cycle curve and definitions of co-insurance.
But did it helped me in deciding whether to get that limited pay whole-life insurance with an annual premium of 110% of my monthly GROSS salary??!
No, it didn't.
(btw I hoped it wasn't in Queensland, coz a major flood just happened months ago)
What stopped me from making ridiculous moves to commit a financial suicide? My friend did. He not only stopped me from the reckless cliff dive, he gave me baits so I could fish for myself. And I woke up and fished. And I learnt. And I understood there's always something new to learn.
Graduation is not the end, but a new beginning.
Yes, my graduating friends, you will still have to come up with reasons to "Why should I hire you over other candidates?" to get that job.
But you shouldn't be so caught up with living up to your interview answer that you forget you're also out there to learn, because it is only when you've learnt and understood, that you will be able to make informed decisions, for yourself or for your company.
Disclaimer (sorry I can't resist writing this): Blogger is not a certified financial planner. Please seek professional advice and use the above information at your own risk.
Blogger has no position in private insurance plan and is also in the midst of her quarterlife crisis. :P
Many times I was asked to think of how to answer question like "Why should I hire you over other candidates?", "How can you be an asset to our company?" and that put me on the endless loop of "I'm here to contribute all that I've mastered in my 22 years lifespan".
I stopped thinking about learning. I went to work each day eager to show off all that shallow knowledge that I possess. And often, I came back knowing that I'm defeated by my experienced colleagues/superiors. Feel sad, read up abit, sleep and move on.
But Life is kind to me. It gave me a wake-up slap to this self-defeating routine. It came in the form of insurance. No kidding. It didn't take one day. It slapped me hard for about 2 months (yes some kids are just naturally slower).
The story was simple.
First things first, I need to be insured.
Based on personal experiences (as a salesperson) and judgement, I'm extremely cautious to a salesperson's recommendations. I'm not saying they're liars. It's a job, someone has to do it.
My primary concern is self-interest.
Or in fancy jargon, the principal-agent problem.
Or in layman terms, I would like to get the cheapest deal (coz I'm a cheapo), but he would like to up-sell pricey stuffs (coz commissions are just so attractive).
I'm NOT saying all salesperson ignore customer's needs for personal gains btw.
Thus, my concerns lead me to reading up blogs and forums from independent viewpoints, using the Word-of-Mouth source of information, because they are more neutral/independent parties.
And I stopped and asked myself, haven't I took that wealth planning module where my professor had to show off how her property in Australia?
I did. I studied hard, memorised my life-cycle curve and definitions of co-insurance.
But did it helped me in deciding whether to get that limited pay whole-life insurance with an annual premium of 110% of my monthly GROSS salary??!
No, it didn't.
(btw I hoped it wasn't in Queensland, coz a major flood just happened months ago)
What stopped me from making ridiculous moves to commit a financial suicide? My friend did. He not only stopped me from the reckless cliff dive, he gave me baits so I could fish for myself. And I woke up and fished. And I learnt. And I understood there's always something new to learn.
Graduation is not the end, but a new beginning.
Yes, my graduating friends, you will still have to come up with reasons to "Why should I hire you over other candidates?" to get that job.
But you shouldn't be so caught up with living up to your interview answer that you forget you're also out there to learn, because it is only when you've learnt and understood, that you will be able to make informed decisions, for yourself or for your company.
Disclaimer (sorry I can't resist writing this): Blogger is not a certified financial planner. Please seek professional advice and use the above information at your own risk.
Blogger has no position in private insurance plan and is also in the midst of her quarterlife crisis. :P
