Review BCF (Boston Career Forum) 2010

Two weeks have passed since I went to BCF (Boston Career Forum) 2010.

It was good event to see companies looking for Japanese-English bilingual graduates.

I have already done many job interviews through my internship and co-ops but the job interviews in Boston was fresh too.

I actually only stayed two out of three days event and did not see whole part of the BCF.

Even my partial experience at Boston, I do say "Be there and find your way".

There are many interesting companies that you will find.


Before Boston, there is one story....

To save money for Boston, I decided to stay in Halifax airport and I scheduled my flight to next morning.

How did I spend my time in airport?
See the pictures below.

After arrived Boston, I directly went to the meeting place...Boston conventional and exhibition center.

I went to several different companies and found many interesting exhibitions.

Do you know what this character stands for the company?

It is very interesting but people are serious to watch them and talk to them.

They are looking for the future and their way to live.

I heard that some people will be offered a job from a company within three days.

I was very excited to hear that because I could get a job in Japan and take advantage of my English skills.

Some people actually were offered a job right after some interviews and being delighted.

So was my result?

No....didn't get prompt answer from the company I had an interview.

Accurately, I haven't heard the answer yet. (Passed or Failed)

I have been waiting for the result two weeks and still feeling very anxious about the result.

A friend of mine said, "Just forget it. It's over".

I know....but I spent C$1000 to go for the interviews and could not get the result.....

How can I deal with this feeling?

It is like a situation where you confessed your love to the loving person and you are told that he or she may wonder and want time to make a decision.

I experienced this more than one in my life but still not get used to it.

There is one way to clear out.

Email the person who I met in the interview or HR.

But I would like to wait for their answer as long as they told me that they will respond to me.

I have not been responded yet because I may not be humble enough to understand my skill sets and intelligence.

This means other candidate take the opportunity.

All other candidates are very smart......super smart


I did survive the interview until the last round, which I can't believe that...
When each of the candidate introduce themselves, I found that I'm the only undergraduate.

All other candidates hold Master or PhD candidates.

........so what's the whole process of the interview?

The whole interview process started from two round phone interviews.
(One is Japanese and the other is English.)

Once I was selected to do in-person interview in Boston, I had another two round interviews.
One is with Junior and the other one is Senior. (All done in English.)

After I successfully passed the in-person interviews, I was invited to the dinner at that night.

I was very excited and wondered what I can eat in a gorgeous restaurant.


BUT........


The dinner was also one of the recruiting processes.

I have never eaten such a dinner under pressure in my life.

How much pressure did I get from the dinner?

I could not figure out what I was eating. I remember it was tasty....that's it.

During the dinner, we talked ordinary topics and how we feel being in Boston.

We also had some quizzes in the dinner. (I don't know if it was the quiz to get a point.)

After we finished eating dessert, we spent couple of hours for talking any topic related to the company.

I asked several questions about the working environment and information sessions to learn business knowledge to appeal my interest to the company.

......after the nice? talking time.....The time comes.....Judgement to select short-list for the last round interview.

The interviewer sat next to the person who's selected to the last round.

I was not the first person.

I was third..........I felt so much pressure at that moment in case if I were not selected.

After I got a message about the last round meeting, I felt so much tired and went back to the hotel.

I thought I might get a job offer next day because some people were already offered.


But.....


After the one hour length interview, I did not get an offer....just told that they will contact in two weeks.


since then, I have been waiting until now......


I may actually not make it but I learned many things in the interviews.

The company explained me a lot of details of their businesses.

They gave me many technical and theoretical questions that measures my intelligence and inspiration.

All these processes are very tough but it reveals my weakness at the same time, for which I appreciate to improve myself for next steps.

I have been feeling anxious even being little depressed but I'm already preparing next phase.

BCF may be over but my life is not over yet. (I think I'm too serious. :P)

I'm not only the person who did not make it. There must be other people too.

I'm so selfish and have to review myself again.

And Then?

I'll just finish school next month and will find another opportunity.

Tomorrow is the last day for two weeks......but I'm fine now :)