The Dreaded Interview

Hello

It has been quite a while since my interview and I haven't told you a thing about it until today, now as I'm typing this.

But first, let me tell you a little bit about why this interview was held. You see CAT-ACCA is a globally recognised UK qualification. All syllabus and exams are printed, answers and taught in english. Surely to learn it, you must be used to the language. This interview was to seek out first and foremost, the students who could understand and communicate in English. 

Shall we begin?

It was the 21st of April 2014, a Monday. A day dubbed by many as the worse day of the week. On that fine day at 8.30 am sharp, my interview will begin. I woke up at 5 and did what I normally do in the morning, shower, breakfast, the works. I had to go with my  father because my mother had to take care of the kids.

Slowly but surely we drove to UiTM Shah Alam and reached there in the nick of time. We were told the interviews will be held in "The Menara" as my father calls it on the very top floor, the 14th. I strut into the building with my head held high and armed by my high school transcripts I had in my hands in a green file. 

As I walked in, I could see people queuing for something. My father told me to queue while he went to check what was going on in front. We were queuing for the written essay test. They gave us 15 minutes, a topic and a rule, not more than 200 words. The topic that was given to me was "The Role of Accountants in Businesses and how this inspires you to continue your studies at UiTM". I wrote what I know in the best calligraphy that I could manage.

Afterwards, they told us to stay in this room, probably a classroom from the looks of it. It's funny how I imagined myself learning in a humongous lecture hall and it turned out to be just a regular classroom. I saw my schoolmate and felt relieved that I have found someone to share my anxiety.

We talked and talked until one of us were called upon. It was a group interview. Mine was 2 interviewers, 3 interviewees. The interviewers I got were both female, one a Malay and one a Chinese, both with extremely good fluid english. I was joined with two other boys, one from Kelantan and one from Gombak.

I was interviewed first, the questions were:
1. Tell me about yourself.
2. Why did you choose to take this course here?
3. Tell me two strengths of yours.
4. What trait should an accountant have?

All three of us got the same questions but the boy from Kelantan got a few more. You see, he didn't have his mother's birth certificate on the reason that his mother is somewhat "missing". The Malay lady told him that there were  procedures he could have taken to obtain the birth cert. Poor boy, he was struggling with his english as it is.

The other boy though, the one from Gombak was confident even if he knew he couldn't speak as well as the others. He had ambition, you could see in the way he presented himself. Sadly, he did not showcase his transcripts in a clear folder like the rest of us did. Sure they didn't ask for it but they thought we would've known what to bring.

Afterwards I went to my father's office and sat there until it was time to go home.

I'm not confident that I'd get a spot into the program. If I do, then that would be great but if I don't there's always The Diploma in Accountancy. Whichever I get, it would ultimately be God's decision. He knows what's best.

My acceptance/rejection letter comes on the 5th of May. But until then, this is all I have to tell you. Feel free to ask me any questions. My email is ainna.dean@icloud.com


With grace and kindness,
Ainna Dean.

Categories: ACCA, admissions interview, CAT, experience, interview, interview questions, UiTM interview, UiTM Shah Alam