For now, I will share some photos which I will see everyday, where I will work and start my career.

And I will walk through this door on the day I start my career with PETRONAS.

I dream big. Stuff like having my face in front of the Times magazine. Almost impossible. Almost. But not impossible. I dream big.

I once told a story about a person who wrote down things he wanted to do in life. And by the age of 40 or 50, he found out that most of what he wanted to do has been crossed out. I guess mine is the same as most of things I wanted to do and dream of came to reality.

Post-on Note (The Yellow Sticky Note)

If you have a big dream, perhaps this practice should be a good start. Get a pad of sticky notes and write down things you have to do today or this week. Work towards it.

What’s good about it is that you have all the stuff you wanted to do in front of you. Now you just got to work your ass off (Pardon me). If it is inside your head, you’ll get confused, unmanageable and worse of all – forget.

5 years ahead

So, within another five years, I wish to:

• Create a new work culture inside Petronas (where I am hoping to work soon).
• Become a manager of a department in Petronas.
• Publish at least two books. One is my target, two is better.
• Successful self-branding.
• Obtain MBA (Part time study while working).
• Be financially stable but at the same time not be driven my money.
• Get ready for engagement and marriage.
• Travel to Middle East and Mediterranean countries like – Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Cyprus, Malta. And maybe to Mauritius and Maldives :) Honeymoon!

Maldives by Amit Bhawani

List will be added from time to time, but for now, this should get me started after graduation yesterday. All the best!

Later today, I received a phone call from British American Tobacco (BAT). It was a bad timing that they call me while I was on the phone to my parents. I am a family guy, so I told them to call me back in five minutes. They did call me again but I am still on the phone. So they leave me a voice message. That is absolutely fine.

They promised to call me on Monday. How funny that it is going my Graduation day! Even if Richard Branson were to call me and offered me a job, I wouldn’t answer the phone. (I’ll explain why some other time).

I listen to the voicemail but they (she) did not mention:

1. Her name
2. Which HQ they she is calling from

So, I have got to do some guess work. I called both London HQ and Kuala Lumpur HQ. I left voice messages and sent emails to both and hopefully the person in charge will be notified.

Few years ago, my dad who used to be a white collared worker in a nationally renowned company, listened to my phone conversation with a representative from Petronas. Right after I finished, he came to me and told me about phone manners. Since then, I never forget it!

• First, when you call someone. Introduce yourself, very basic – name. If you are receiving, ask who are you talking to? Write it down if possible. You can ask later before you ended the phone call if you need to follow up.
• Tell a bit about yourself. See the context. In this case, she should mentioned which BAT as it is all over the world – over 35 countries.

The above two manners are essential. I just finished my degree and they do not teach you that in class. But it is customary in business world. Learn it, pass it along.

Due to some organizational change, the position isn’t available anymore. None of the candidates applied got the job. However, they were kind to call me and let me know about the interview feedback.

They said it was a great opportunity to me in person and I did well during the interview. “Impressive” and they wish me best of luck with the future undertakings.

During the interview, they asked me about my future plan. And I told them, I am looking forward to join PETRONAS Corporate Affairs and External Communications (Branding).

Hope is high. Very high.

Hope is what keep us going. One fades, another comes. It is a big dream and a high hope to join PETRONAS. More than a childhood dream, I take is an honour to serve the nation.

And part of it is a life plan. Family, love ones, friends and people around you that put such a high expectation. I believe everyone is just as nervous as I am, it is a human reaction towards uncertainty.

Sometimes we think too much about failure that we forget that we did well. Sometimes the opposite. But we still hoping for the best to come out of it.

Once I talked to my mom, she told me that whatever it is. I just have to accept it. I did my best and know just have faith. Sometimes, it is just a matter of waiting for the right moment. Later, my girlfriend told me to be positive cause worrying too much would never get me anywhere.

Maybe it’s the tiredness of moving and packing that made me feel this way. Maybe the empty stomach? Maybe a lot of things undone? Each of these may add up to the pressure. Oh, this is life!

Take a step back

So, I will take a step back now. Over a cup of coffee, I will put down the pieces on board and be in control of everything. “Play to win”, that what I was told by my friend Zulhilmi years back (when we used to play chess together). While I sleep tonight, I know that it is totally a different cuppa tea when you enter the new chapter of life.

It makes me feel privilege for getting the chance to be interviewed. Whether I get it or not, I hope this blog post would help myself and anyone who wish to join innocent drinks.

Useful articles:

• Innocent drinks interview 101 – What to expect (Must read)
• Know they products, what they sell
• What else do they run along side? Innocent Foundation, Innocent Kids
• Innocent drinks in the news (Read about three articles)

Innocent drinks – related videos:

If you never drink, get yourself a bottle of their product. If you never watch their television ads, below is my favourite!

Don’t forget to arrange a tour to the Fruit Towers prior to the interview process (if possible). Oh, don’t forget your free smoothie!

Problem #1

Sometimes, it is not always going to be sunshine. I have an issue with my eligibility to work in the UK as I currently have the student visa. I did my research and found out that I could possibly apply for Tier 1 (Post Study Work) visa. Despite the requirements, I am confident I can get through it.

Problem #2

But the bottom lime is whether I get the job or not. Ideally, the job would start as soon as possible since it is a 3 months position. Back to Problem #1, in order for me to apply for Tier 1, than I will have to graduate from Cardiff University and have minimum £800 in my bank accounts for the period of three months. Which means, I am looking around August 2010 to start applying for the visa. I am at disadvantage.

So, what now?

If this is like the Survivor or American Idol, than I am trying to win the wild card – it’s low in probability but it is a high-impact matters. And here is the master plan:

Step 1: Ace the inteview

About 6 years ago, the Guardian website published an article, Hiring staff can be a tough job. And innocent drinks takes a non-traditional approach to the hiring staff:

“We’ve put adverts on the sides of our bottles saying we’re looking for people, and we put emails out to our friends and family. The majority of people who have joined have come in through that route.”

The main reason why the did this is because of “… the importance of the personality and the attitude of the person to them”, says Reed, one of the founders of innocent drinks.

I wish to quote what Sir Richard Branson said during his interview with the Star newspaper:

“In everything you do, it’s important to put your whole heart into it“

I strongly believe that despite the procedure needed to take me on board, if I could prove that I could be a valuable asset to the team besides my character and personality I will succeed.

Step 2: Job secured? Yes and No.

If I secured the job, then I will proceed with the Tier 1 application process. But if not, then I am still glad to be given the opportunity to be interviewed. I will be going back to Malaysia and use what I have learned here in the UK to start on something new — like what have written in their book – A Book About Innocent: Our Story and Some Things We’ve Learned:

“This is a book for anyone who wants to start their own business, bring fresh thinking to their current one or has been told their idea won’t work. We’d like to help you prove the doubters wrong.”

With the above inspiration, I will step in the Fruit Towers on Wednesday, 26th May for the job interview. Wish me luck!

He got a strategy which is the combination of brilliant marketing and tailored portfolio.

And as you might have listened from the interview, the expectation of him is high. If Alec were to read this, I personally wish congratulate him. Nice move!

I am looking forward to the interview and hoping to score it with flying colours!

Wish me luck!

Photo credit: Bain McLeod

Tell us your reasons for wanting to work at innocent and the role in question. Why is this the right job for you?

I practice high level of work ethics when dealing with my clients (as I currently do freelance web design/development). I will always try to deliver solution that meet or even exceed the requirement whenever necessary.

I always believe that these qualities are essential to work with established company such as innocent – in order to deliver the best towards the customer.

We love meeting people who leave things a bit better than they find them. So, please tell us about a recent situation where you took the initiative and made something happen.

I believe that even small things can make a big difference. I used to help my parents at the school canteen where I learn to clean the tables and floor. Having this experience, it teaches me to think twice before leaving my plates on the table for people to clean it for me.

Although I am not expected to do so, I understood the tiring work behind the cleaning process. Especially when the food tables and floor are dirty. Thus, having this in mind, I will always try to make sure I take my plate to the required place (if available) and pick up any leftover on the table.

At the end of the day, “What Goes Around Comes Around”.

We’re looking for people who face challenges head on and deliver against the odds. What achievement are you most proud of?

In 2009, I entered the Business Idea competition, in which the competition was similar to BBC Dragons’ Den. I have sent my business proposal for the competition, however, there was no reply that I received regarding my entry. Despite that, I made myself available in London – I took the bus from Cardiff to London.

On the day itself, around 10am, I made an assumption that my entry was rejected. Thus, I have no other thing to do other than enjoying myself in London – sight seeing. Around 11am, I received a phone call from a friend of mine asking why I was not there yet? I have just been informed that I was one of the finalist, but they could not sent the feedback due to some technical issues.

Although I am not wearing suit and tie for the presentation, but I start my presentation with these lines, “I beg your pardon for my attire. If you watch The Pursuit of Happyness, then my case is quite similar to Will Smith in the story…”

I was awarded the Special Judge Prize for my business idea and presentation. I am proud of it because I found myself holding the same principle through out my life – never quit!

Photo credit – humpalumpa

• Sorting out graduation – cloak, accommodation and tickets.
• Planning my trip to Milan, Rome and Frankfurt.
• Telling Petronas when will I report back to them.
• Write CV (engineering) and send to companies in Denver or Colorado, US.
• Write CV (business and development) and send to companies in the UK.
• Waiting reply from Petronas, Innocent and TalentEDge
• Birthday and farewell party!
• Shipping out stuff back to Malaysia
• Planning short trip to Alton Towers
• Writing up another research paper
• Planning a story board about my first book
• Saving money for several few months of potential unemployment.
• Redesign mohdrafie.co.uk

Photo credit – clevercupcake

1. I learn to earn from doing what I love to do – web design and development.
2. I came to earn a degree in engineering, but other interest might develop slowly and it may get prominent (design and business development). In which, now I am hoping to start my career by joining Petronas.
3. I am more concern about my food. Thanks to Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver!
4. I appreciate how the British people ‘worship’ the sun and ‘racist’ about the rain.
5. I learn that customer service is No.1 – “customer is always often right”
6. I learn to love tea with milk, but with less sugar. It is good with rich tea biscuits.
7. I learn to eat cold sandwich and cold food.
8. I learn to network with people from informal meetings (Twitter meet ups etc)
9. It took me 2 years to understand their jokes and laugh together with them.
10. English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish – you know they will talk behind about others.
11. British people are quite open about sex-related when you’re among the same gender.
12. I drink water a lot, but these people drink beer a lot more than me.
13. What ever you eat here – salt and pepper is like a must have!
14. Life here transformed me to be more a ketchup of person rather than hot chili sauce.
15. English breakfast is for two (for God’s sake)! Two eggs, two hash browns, two (vege) sausages, toasted bread, tomatoes, bakes beans and bacon (I get extra hash browns)!
16. Everyday is a shopping day. Why? Because you will find people will carry shopping bags every single day you walk across the city centre, even there is no sale. (which brings me to next point)
17. Maybe, they like to shop using Credit Card, which I have. Lol!
18. Anyway, with regards to music. They support local artist. Example? Heard of Coldplay.
19. Milk – I heard a lot of stories about it. Mixed with water, excess milked poured into the river to maintain the milk price, etc. And UHT milk is on the shelf and people do not fancy it at all.
20. Regardless of that, still lamb is the favourite of the nation besides pork.

(Updated: 23rd April 2010)

Photo: Law_Keven