The Real Life Has Just Begun.

Thursday, December 12, 2013: It was a turning point in my life.
After passing a tiring-three-months selection process of MT, they (MAP interviewers) finally hired me as one of the selected management trainees at this #1 lifestyle retail company.

I will never forget the first time I was interviewed at this company. It was on September 30, 2013, or a month after graduating from university. Before, I passed through the phsycological test. A week after that interview, its HR called me by phone and told me that I passed to the second interview, on October 10. I was so happy at that time. After the 2nd interview, I was confident that I would pass this interview. The interviewer told me that within two weeks the result would be announced. But, after the two weeks, or even a month of waiting, they never called me.
I sent an email to the HR, asked them about the progress of my application. But, the answer didn’t satisfy me.
I was about to forget it until I got an email, in the late afternoon on November 21, from MAP which informed me that I passed to the final stage, Panel Interview with the expats directors on December 12. It also informed that the process would be held a whole day from 8:00 AM.

Soon the day was coming. At 7:30 I’ve already been at Wisma BNI 46 Sudirman, South Jakarta. It was the fourth time I came to that place for an interview. That day, I extremely hoped for the best result. There were 40 other candidates. While waiting for my turn, to be interviewed by 5 panel judges (both Indonesian and expats), was the most thrilling moment ever. My heart beat thousand times harder. At 12 was my turn.

By entering the panel room, I felt my heart stopped beating **exaggerated** when I saw the panelists. Thank God, the 30-minutes-feels-like-thousand-years interview was successfully done. They told me that I passed (again) and had to do the very last stage of selection process, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), on the same day. It was the hardest moment I’ve ever felt. After the FGD, we had to present what we had discussed, based on the case study that’s given, in front of the panelists (again T.T). At that time, after presenting what I got from the case, the panelists asked me some questions. I tried very hard to hide the nerves and answered the questions. Done. Again we, the rest 25 candidates, had to wait the panelists to announce the selected candidates. I felt terrible at that moment because I thought I didn’t do my very best. But, once again thank to God, mom and dad, sisters, girlfriend, bestfriends, who always support me, finally the panelists said my name to be one of the selected ones. Praise to Allah SWT.

Yet, this is not the end, this is just the beginning. The thing I know is, preparation and hard work are the best ways to success.

-Urfi Setiawan