Communications Specialist - A Continuum

Other than the break on National Day, it was work as usual on Thursday and Friday. I went late to work on Thursday though, making it just in time for a meeting with AGL (my superior) and TS from another department. That generated more work for me, not that I'm complaining but at least it allows me to stay in the office longer without guilt (I'm paid on an hourly basis). Towards the end of the day, AGL came up to me and threw me the bomb - I'll be meeting her, SF (her boss) and MDG, the PA to the CEO for a meeting on Friday.

Friday came. I arrived 30 minutes earlier than the scheduled time of 10.30am, spending some time aimlessly surfing the internet and debating whether I should start work since I guess I won't ask to be paid for waiting for my interview(!). Finally at 10.30am I walked to the other end of the office (I'm sitting with the IT staff for now) and before I knew it I was whisked to an interview room with AGL, SF and PL (the head of HR). Nervous jitters.

The interview went pretty smoothly I think. SF started the ball rolling by talking about my academic and personal accomplishments, filling in a typical interview sheet. AGL remained totally quiet throughout the interview, something which I wondered why she did that as she interviewed me the first round and would probably be able to open me up better. Finally it was PL's turn and that's where the tricky part came. He's such an awfully experienced HR manager and he asked the right questions, probing into my innards and making me spill my guts out. I almost melted in there when he finally stopped. Great.

The whole process took an hour and I was slightly perspiring when I left. They stayed in the room to deliberate and I cast everything aside, becoming cheery and went with AT for lunch at Golden Mile. It was great! :) After that was back to office and it was work as usual when LL, a colleague from HR whom I spoke to on my first day came over and asked me to expect great news. With a quizzical shrug I gave a nervous laugh, and she spotted my awfully-folded sleeves and folded them for me! Gosh! That was so embarrassing haha. After that PL came over and asked me to another meeting room and guess what - salary negotiation!

I was frankly, dog-tired after being on high alert during the interview in the morning and then work and now another mind-intensive discussion. He taught me to look beyond the direct dollars and cents at what the company can offer in other areas, which of course struck me as logical but yet not totally wholesome 'cos I feel that the dollars and cents are the most important parts of the equation unless there is something very appealing elsewhere. My first salary negotiation! I tried not to give a figure but lost in the end, quoting a range. I sincerely hoped he won't pick the bottom and I really trusted that he would not... however...

I had to leave early though, running back to NUS to grab a cheque for the IT-laboratory teaching sessions I did last month and collect my transcript. Just as I'm done with the administrative matters and sitting down at Subway at YIH for dinner, PL called my phone and confirmed the offer. I was miffed though, 'cos they took literally the lowest of the salary range I mentioned. I tried to ask for a higher amount but it was met with resistance. That said, I was neither overjoyed nor depressed. It was like something expected came out, a reality that was totally unsurprising. With that, PL asked if he could proceed to process it with the CEO by Monday, to which I was caught even more off guard and asked for a few days to consider. Hello, I have other job offers awaiting ok! :D I tried to ask for Thursday (working on a week's time) and got a curt reply that he can only wait till Wednesday.

I don't know whether its me who doesn't know how to negotiate and use 'no', but I feel shortchanged, if you ask me. Or am I picky?

So I'm still considering as of now, debating what to do. Prospects are limited on one hand, as the company is small. However, I've got to start somewhere, so I guess a few years inside might be alright as a foundation for greater things. Pay is another delicate issue which I cannot discuss, but I feel shortchanged on that account too. Benefits are typical as that for a permanent staff. There's also a 6-months probation period as well, though I doubt I'll fare that badly to risk a boot.

Actually I think the job and I have a good fit, though I am worried about not being able to realise what I should be getting. I've worked so long and I know now how good a worker I am. No way should I shortchange myself now that I'm stepping into the working world.

Sigh. Kitto umakuyatte ikeru.