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Hey there! I just changed my blogskin :) It's a little user-unfriendly because you can't navigate my past posts by headings or hashtags. So i'm gonna update the codings, stay tuned! (The font's kinda hard to read too..other than these 3 peeves, i'm quite satisfied) Follow me on the links below! :) 29/4/2015.

Started this blog during the last few weeks of SEM1(AY2014/15) cos' i regained interest in blogging. I blog about anything - news, social issues, music - but mostly about my university life :) Hope my posts will help you to make better life (and module) choices! Currently a Sociology Major. Still fresh. xD

: Amelia Lim, 20 October.
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I was really nervous for my NOC (NUS Overseas Colleges) interview, I wasn't even sure why i signed up in the first place. I signed up for it in Sem 1, cos overseas trips seemed really interesting and fun XD

I was pretty interested in trying anything new in University haha. You've got to try to find out if you like it or not.

So basically, they sent me an email last week, and i selected my interview slot and went for it today. I actually kinda forgot that i signed up for it last sem LOL, let alone remembering my choice ranking.

(So if you do sign up, remember to note down your choices! Sounds like common sense but believe me you'll forget)

This is actually pretty bad, so don't follow my example. But i hope the following experience that i'm gonna say here will be useful in helping one to decide if they should go for NOC. But don't take what i say wholesale, its from my own subjective experience.

AN OVERVIEW- HOW MANY INTERVIEWS?
From what i perceive, you've got to go through at least 3 rounds of interviews.
2 rounds of NUS-based interviews,  the first round in April/May, the second round in August. (provided if you're a freshman who signed up in semester 1)
The last round of interview is (or perhaps many more rounds) with the company you're matched to, be it local or overseas.

HOW ARE THE INTERVIEWS LIKE?
For me, it was a group interview (11 people) and also a pitch interview.
After introducing ourselves, and why we want to join NOC, they broke us up into 3 groups. (3,4,4)
They told us to come up with a business idea in 10mins, (i was like WUT!? OMGGG hahaha)
The majority of the students in my round were from business. I think around 6 out of the 11 are from biz. 1 econs major. 2 from engineering and 1 from computing. 1 from sociology ~ (yours truly hahaha)

(I feel kinda out of place lulz)
(Do start ups even feel a need for a sociologist)
(No right)
(I mean CTO, COO, CMO, CEO would be more needed when you start a start-up right)

SIGH.

Through browsing the NOC websites, I think they're looking out more on business, entrepreneurship and IT peeps. (But in their promotional vids, there were arts students too. But i don't know which exact arts major lol.) I think it sounded pretty good so i wanted to try this out. But as the interview progressed, i just felt that this isn't my kind of thing. I'll explain in the next few sections.

ROUGH INTERVIEW BREAKDOWN.
10 mins. Biz idea. Based on the 4Ps (biz and CNM peeps should know this - Product, Price, Place, Promotion) Take up a role in the start-up company, pitch your idea!

Fortunately we had a biz student in our group, and she had already thought out her idea pretty well and we just had to built on it. (In such time constraints, this is def a plus)

Btw, there will be 3 coordinators present *subtly* observe your discussions.

All 3 groups presented great ideas IMO.
I will summarise their ideas briefly, for those who're interested:

1) Essentially an online platform bridging the best suppliers to the best cafes out there --> to help cafes lower costs, and to maximise profits of the suppliers.

2) My group's :
First. RFID tagging clothes to keep track of the most popular clothes. Not really a privacy issue cos it only scans when you step into the shop itself. Based on the clothes you bought, a range of clothes will be selected tailored to your taste and preference. Building a fashion community based on your likes. Second. - A hanger which displays the no.of likes which consumers can indicate - helps one to know the most popular trends currently in store so they can purchase those. Essentially a middle-ground between those who fear online scams and those who love physical shopping, or online shopping.

3) A one-stop station to bridge university students with their employer, from tutorials, interview practices, resume building and allows the interviewer to select the interview mode they want in the hiring process.

(Copyrighted, please don't steal our ideas haha the coordinators may know.. and we really spend alot of effort on this! And perhaps some of these are already in place.)

Well its just 10 mins, so of course there are many limitations, but i thought that these are great ideas!

They expect you to question one another's proposal as well. And they would also want to know how much work did each person put in for the brainstorming..can say my contribution is around 10% or less lols. the biz girl had everything in mind when she came here so we just helped to modify her idea.

Everything was fine, but it was just a phrase she used when she was presenting her part that made me think really hard about what i actually want to do in life.

"We're promoting consumerism."

We're creating a need for our services, and we are helping to improve your lives. That's our concept. Aside from building a fashion community.
At that instant I just lost the 'feel' for our idea. (an you're probably like huh? what is this dude saying?)

I'm saying that i feel that there is already so much consumerism buzz going on, why are we creating these needless needs when there are so many inherent problems facing the world today. I went to NOC with the mindset of wanting to do a social enterprise, but it was really hard to come up with a good idea that has a social cause in 10 mins. So i just gave up and followed her idea. I kinda suck at idea-generating. I'm more of the person who points out all your loopholes and attempt to close these holes with you.

We're having a global empathy deficit, though 98% of humans have the capability to be empathetic. Why are we not reaching out to people to help them? We have many social problems that entrench people in endless cycles of poverty. Even in Singapore, many lower-class residents face financial issues, health issues, issues such as aging population etc that are much more urgent that need to be addressed.

I just feel that what i'm gonna do has to have a social cause. To help the community in some way or another. I am more interested towards policy-making/analysis actually haha. Just wanted to try this out and see if "its my kinda thing".

// On a (cautionary?) note, this may be the side effect of taking philosophy, sociology and social work modules in the same semester. You become so aware of the social problems around the world and it really makes you wanna get up on your feet and do something. But like Singer, i'm for effective altruism. Don't donate blindly. Just like how you don't shop blindly. //

// The above paragraph was meant to be a joke but..every joke has a gram of truth HAHA i'll leave it up to you to interpret..what's your meanings and leanings? Okay back to NOC //

I think i'm over-critical but don't mind me. I know experience in start-ups would definitely benefit me in my journey in setting up a social enterprise, but working at start-ups that are focused on consumerism, creating 'artificial needs' just isn't my thing. It's not necessarily a bad thing. After all it brings about greater convenience to most of us.

But it just isn't my kind of thing. If i don't 'feel' for it, i can't do it. Its a good and a bad trait to have actually..if you think about it. But this are just my thoughts.

I'm not saying all companies here are "promoting consumerism" and "consumerism is so bad" etc, it has its good points, but i feel like its the dominant culture here, and i think there are enough people doing this. Start-ups are def cool, with the innovative technology and ideas that could potentially improve our quality of life. But i think social engagement and helping the needy would often be secondary to their aims. And these are central to me. It just didn't align to my values i would say.

Disclaimer!!! I don't know of there are social enterprises under NOC though, but i think if there are, probably a smallllll percentage haha. Idk. Maybe i'll enquire it. But i know social enterprise is not the focus in NOC, perhaps they can consider that? hahaha.


WRAP-UP!
Some final comments to our proposals and you can add on any extra stuff you wanna say here. I learnt more about Biz Law today -  like you should not spilt the shares equally among the 2/3 main founders, there are many potential problems in decision making and how would you break the tie? You can't say the majority's idea will do, for the 3rd shareholder has a same amount of shares as both of you, how will you persuade the 3rd guy? It's better for one to hold the most amount for shares so the company's direction can be more focused and clear.

Although i felt like i screwed it up, and that i feel that sociology may not be soooo relevant here (Sigh), it was a good experience and i learnt alot. And also had a taste of the biz culture and how their modules are like. Coool stuff ;)


A FEW TIPS (TL; DR)
1. Be very clear about why you want to be here. It's not just fun-fun travelling wheee~ It's focused on internships and learning. Why do you wanna be part of a start-up?

2. Would probably be extremely helpful if you brainstorm a few ideas beforehand, with the 4Ps structure in mind.

3. Coordinate and delegate your parts well (proportionately..there was a girl who spoke alot and covered the core parts of the project - the 4Ps, and she was really fluent..but i can see that her fellow teammate at the back isn't really pleased..they covered the features part. Body Language says alot. Don't forget that you're a team player too.)

4. Answer questions enthusiastically AND ALWAYS RMB TO SMILE! Sometimes we tend to forget to smile when we're too nervous.



Like me. lol.

You'll only know what suits you after trying it. I don't think you'll lose out. There's so much experience you can gain even from just a round of interview, which will be helpful in the future interviews you're gonna go for. :) I think i'm more interested in pursuing a career related to policy making now. It has become a clearer goal.

Just offering another perspective and my thoughts, i hope this helps in your decision-making process. But i believe if you found this post when you're googling about NOC, you're pretty much set and ready for this. GOGOGO!

Here's something that may help you: http://docs.vncnus.net/NOC_Sharing.pdf
(Credits to Zi.)

Whew it feels good to release my thoughts here. Would love to come up with innovative ideas that address social causes. XD This experience really broadened my perspectives, and made me wanna take biz and cnm mods even moreee. Haha.

This is a really long post! I am damn naggy right. Need to get on with my work argh so till then ~~

JIAYOU FOR FINALS EVERYONE!

I was really nervous for my NOC (NUS Overseas Colleges) interview, I wasn't even sure why i signed up in the first place. I signed up for it in Sem 1, cos overseas trips seemed really interesting and fun XD

I was pretty interested in trying anything new in University haha. You've got to try to find out if you like it or not.

So basically, they sent me an email last week, and i selected my interview slot and went for it today. I actually kinda forgot that i signed up for it last sem LOL, let alone remembering my choice ranking.

(So if you do sign up, remember to note down your choices! Sounds like common sense but believe me you'll forget)

This is actually pretty bad, so don't follow my example. But i hope the following experience that i'm gonna say here will be useful in helping one to decide if they should go for NOC. But don't take what i say wholesale, its from my own subjective experience.

AN OVERVIEW- HOW MANY INTERVIEWS?
From what i perceive, you've got to go through at least 3 rounds of interviews.
2 rounds of NUS-based interviews,  the first round in April/May, the second round in August. (provided if you're a freshman who signed up in semester 1)
The last round of interview is (or perhaps many more rounds) with the company you're matched to, be it local or overseas.

HOW ARE THE INTERVIEWS LIKE?
For me, it was a group interview (11 people) and also a pitch interview.
After introducing ourselves, and why we want to join NOC, they broke us up into 3 groups. (3,4,4)
They told us to come up with a business idea in 10mins, (i was like WUT!? OMGGG hahaha)
The majority of the students in my round were from business. I think around 6 out of the 11 are from biz. 1 econs major. 2 from engineering and 1 from computing. 1 from sociology ~ (yours truly hahaha)

(I feel kinda out of place lulz)
(Do start ups even feel a need for a sociologist)
(No right)
(I mean CTO, COO, CMO, CEO would be more needed when you start a start-up right)

SIGH.

Through browsing the NOC websites, I think they're looking out more on business, entrepreneurship and IT peeps. (But in their promotional vids, there were arts students too. But i don't know which exact arts major lol.) I think it sounded pretty good so i wanted to try this out. But as the interview progressed, i just felt that this isn't my kind of thing. I'll explain in the next few sections.

ROUGH INTERVIEW BREAKDOWN.
10 mins. Biz idea. Based on the 4Ps (biz and CNM peeps should know this - Product, Price, Place, Promotion) Take up a role in the start-up company, pitch your idea!

Fortunately we had a biz student in our group, and she had already thought out her idea pretty well and we just had to built on it. (In such time constraints, this is def a plus)

Btw, there will be 3 coordinators present *subtly* observe your discussions.

All 3 groups presented great ideas IMO.
I will summarise their ideas briefly, for those who're interested:

1) Essentially an online platform bridging the best suppliers to the best cafes out there --> to help cafes lower costs, and to maximise profits of the suppliers.

2) My group's :
First. RFID tagging clothes to keep track of the most popular clothes. Not really a privacy issue cos it only scans when you step into the shop itself. Based on the clothes you bought, a range of clothes will be selected tailored to your taste and preference. Building a fashion community based on your likes. Second. - A hanger which displays the no.of likes which consumers can indicate - helps one to know the most popular trends currently in store so they can purchase those. Essentially a middle-ground between those who fear online scams and those who love physical shopping, or online shopping.

3) A one-stop station to bridge university students with their employer, from tutorials, interview practices, resume building and allows the interviewer to select the interview mode they want in the hiring process.

(Copyrighted, please don't steal our ideas haha the coordinators may know.. and we really spend alot of effort on this! And perhaps some of these are already in place.)

Well its just 10 mins, so of course there are many limitations, but i thought that these are great ideas!

They expect you to question one another's proposal as well. And they would also want to know how much work did each person put in for the brainstorming..can say my contribution is around 10% or less lols. the biz girl had everything in mind when she came here so we just helped to modify her idea.

Everything was fine, but it was just a phrase she used when she was presenting her part that made me think really hard about what i actually want to do in life.

"We're promoting consumerism."

We're creating a need for our services, and we are helping to improve your lives. That's our concept. Aside from building a fashion community.
At that instant I just lost the 'feel' for our idea. (an you're probably like huh? what is this dude saying?)

I'm saying that i feel that there is already so much consumerism buzz going on, why are we creating these needless needs when there are so many inherent problems facing the world today. I went to NOC with the mindset of wanting to do a social enterprise, but it was really hard to come up with a good idea that has a social cause in 10 mins. So i just gave up and followed her idea. I kinda suck at idea-generating. I'm more of the person who points out all your loopholes and attempt to close these holes with you.

We're having a global empathy deficit, though 98% of humans have the capability to be empathetic. Why are we not reaching out to people to help them? We have many social problems that entrench people in endless cycles of poverty. Even in Singapore, many lower-class residents face financial issues, health issues, issues such as aging population etc that are much more urgent that need to be addressed.

I just feel that what i'm gonna do has to have a social cause. To help the community in some way or another. I am more interested towards policy-making/analysis actually haha. Just wanted to try this out and see if "its my kinda thing".

// On a (cautionary?) note, this may be the side effect of taking philosophy, sociology and social work modules in the same semester. You become so aware of the social problems around the world and it really makes you wanna get up on your feet and do something. But like Singer, i'm for effective altruism. Don't donate blindly. Just like how you don't shop blindly. //

// The above paragraph was meant to be a joke but..every joke has a gram of truth HAHA i'll leave it up to you to interpret..what's your meanings and leanings? Okay back to NOC //

I think i'm over-critical but don't mind me. I know experience in start-ups would definitely benefit me in my journey in setting up a social enterprise, but working at start-ups that are focused on consumerism, creating 'artificial needs' just isn't my thing. It's not necessarily a bad thing. After all it brings about greater convenience to most of us.

But it just isn't my kind of thing. If i don't 'feel' for it, i can't do it. Its a good and a bad trait to have actually..if you think about it. But this are just my thoughts.

I'm not saying all companies here are "promoting consumerism" and "consumerism is so bad" etc, it has its good points, but i feel like its the dominant culture here, and i think there are enough people doing this. Start-ups are def cool, with the innovative technology and ideas that could potentially improve our quality of life. But i think social engagement and helping the needy would often be secondary to their aims. And these are central to me. It just didn't align to my values i would say.

Disclaimer!!! I don't know of there are social enterprises under NOC though, but i think if there are, probably a smallllll percentage haha. Idk. Maybe i'll enquire it. But i know social enterprise is not the focus in NOC, perhaps they can consider that? hahaha.


WRAP-UP!
Some final comments to our proposals and you can add on any extra stuff you wanna say here. I learnt more about Biz Law today -  like you should not spilt the shares equally among the 2/3 main founders, there are many potential problems in decision making and how would you break the tie? You can't say the majority's idea will do, for the 3rd shareholder has a same amount of shares as both of you, how will you persuade the 3rd guy? It's better for one to hold the most amount for shares so the company's direction can be more focused and clear.

Although i felt like i screwed it up, and that i feel that sociology may not be soooo relevant here (Sigh), it was a good experience and i learnt alot. And also had a taste of the biz culture and how their modules are like. Coool stuff ;)


A FEW TIPS (TL; DR)
1. Be very clear about why you want to be here. It's not just fun-fun travelling wheee~ It's focused on internships and learning. Why do you wanna be part of a start-up?

2. Would probably be extremely helpful if you brainstorm a few ideas beforehand, with the 4Ps structure in mind.

3. Coordinate and delegate your parts well (proportionately..there was a girl who spoke alot and covered the core parts of the project - the 4Ps, and she was really fluent..but i can see that her fellow teammate at the back isn't really pleased..they covered the features part. Body Language says alot. Don't forget that you're a team player too.)

4. Answer questions enthusiastically AND ALWAYS RMB TO SMILE! Sometimes we tend to forget to smile when we're too nervous.



Like me. lol.

You'll only know what suits you after trying it. I don't think you'll lose out. There's so much experience you can gain even from just a round of interview, which will be helpful in the future interviews you're gonna go for. :) I think i'm more interested in pursuing a career related to policy making now. It has become a clearer goal.

Just offering another perspective and my thoughts, i hope this helps in your decision-making process. But i believe if you found this post when you're googling about NOC, you're pretty much set and ready for this. GOGOGO!

Here's something that may help you: http://docs.vncnus.net/NOC_Sharing.pdf
(Credits to Zi.)

Whew it feels good to release my thoughts here. Would love to come up with innovative ideas that address social causes. XD This experience really broadened my perspectives, and made me wanna take biz and cnm mods even moreee. Haha.

This is a really long post! I am damn naggy right. Need to get on with my work argh so till then ~~

JIAYOU FOR FINALS EVERYONE!

Sometimes I wonder how people see me and what they think of me. It scares me a bit, honestly. I am sure though, that what they think of me, what they think my life is, is a complete misperception. I have always tried to show myself as a carefree person, as someone who wont get bothered because of public judgements. I am sure my friend and family think there is nothing going wrong in my life, that I do not worry enough, that I am always happy. And I am sure they probably somewhat hate me for it because, lets admit it, there is nothing worse than seeing someone who is life seems so perfect while yours is a complete mess. Truth is, I have become an expert at pretending. I think we are all experts or at least we are getting there.

links exchanged opened! just tag me but link me first

coming soon....