This is the worst interview I've ever gone to in my life. Not only have I failed,
I embarrassed myself in front of my two idols...
Hey guys! We are on the lookout for new talents and interns to join TSL!
Now, in this video, we will be sharing some tips on how to apply for these positions,
as well as some of our favorite memories here at TSL.
- (PD) Hi guys. - Hello!
Hello! The mic is up here. You can't see it. Hello!
- (PD) How long have you been in TSL? - Dating? Oh... I thought... dating...
Almost two years.
Internship was 6 months. When I came back as a full-timer... 1 year and 5 months.
3 years and 3 months.
Fun fact: When I joined as an intern, so did he.
I left to go back to school, but Jereld stayed on and persevered.
And he waited for me to come back.
Thank you.
For me, about 1 year?
- You? - 3 years.
I remember the date I came into TSL. 3 July 2017.
Mine is Aug 7. 20...
17? Ah, yes. 2017.
Ah, the first week was very bleak. I was alone...
And suddenly I heard these footsteps coming up behind me.
I turned around and saw Jereld. I was like...
"Huh. What a nerd."
Oi!
Since then, I'm the guy and he's the girl in this relationship...
(PD) Why did you decide to come to TSL?
To be very frank, at that point in time, I just needed money.
I saw that video about TSL having a talent search competition.
And (the prize money) was $10,000! $10,000!
I was like, "Wow. Ok, let me just try."
I was supposed to send in my audition clip by 12 midnight.
At 11:55 PM I started filming. For 2 minutes. And then I just sent it across.
I sent it and just tried my luck.
I won, and I was very shocked. The money also included a contract (with TSL).
I didn't even have to find a job after I graduated.
At that point of time I still had another year to go in university. I was like, ok, if I win, I still can secure a job before I graduate. Which was great.
I did an internship before joining TSL. That internship was a corporate role.
I was doing something that was a bit consultancy-related.
I hated it. I hated the culture there. The people there were so upset all the time
They just had a really toxic feeling and I just wanted to get out of that environment.
I was really afraid. I was nearing my graduation and I kind of freaked out.
If this was my pathway, the trajectory of my life was going to be so sad.
So I decided to shake things up and try an industry that I never really ventured into properly.
I was kind of sick of the non-creative life and I wanted to have an outlet...
in terms of expressing myself.
At my previous job, when I went to work everyday, I dreamt about editing my own vlogs and pictures at work.
And one day, I just thought, "Hey, why don't I just do it for work?"
I was introduced to the TSL channel by my boyfriend, who would send me certain videos he thought were funny.
I understood the content and could relate to the videos, so I decided to give it a try.
I liked the content they did. Just everyday, friendly, regular people having fun on camera.
So I thought, "Who doesn't want to have fun at their job? I want to have fun."
- So I applied. - That was your exact words? Your exact thoughts?
It set a very high benchmark for what I'd look for in a job, in terms of the balance of -
"In a job"? But you already have a job.
Correct. I'm referring to the future. In future, if I were to -
- No, Hafeez, you're going to move on?! - Ok, I'll stay.
I stay!!!
(PD) How was your interview like?
I signed on as a talent first. I was part time in school and part time talenting.
When I graduated and came in (full-time), I had a talk with the big boss, Bryan.
He asked me this.
"What do you want to do?"
"What can you do?"
"How do you think you can value add to this company?"
I said, "I am very ORGANIZED!"
"I can PLAN!"
"I got COMMUNICATION background!" "I know how to do PR!"
Then he said, "Ok, you can be a project manager."
Then until now. Project manager. Always stressed.
At that point in time, I remember that he wanted me to try editing.
I was supposed to edit an Instagram Story video.
I took 2 days.
I edited until I cried.
I worked OT until 10 PM.
"I don't know how to edit in Premiere Pro... Add sound... text..."
At one point, the computer just died.
The intern came and said, "Zhin, I'll help you lah."
5 minutes!
I told Jon Paul, "I don't think I can edit."
And I told Bryan, "Bryan, I don't think I can edit."
That interview was during a very hectic period of my life. It was exam period. Submission period.
I still decided to go to Bangkok to watch a BTS concert.
No. Sorry.
Cut.
I arrived back in Singapore after midnight, and I had an interview that day.
- 9 AM. - Whoa.
I knew that it was going to be a bad day because I can't survive without sleep.
Ok.
I went to the office at 9 AM for the interview. I was like... "I'm dead." I was in the same lift as Xenia!
I met her downstairs.
We were in the lift together and I thought to myself, "I must say something."
I smiled at her.
"Actually I'm here for the interview." She said, "Yeah, I recognized you from the picture."
When I was sitting in the room and praying for my life, Xenia and Fauzi walked in.
- When I saw Fauzi's face, I knew I was going to fail the interview. - Why?
- He looked very angry. - Fauzi... He is always like this in the morning.
You know... His nostrils will flare.
It's like...
Right? You know what I mean?
They turned on the camera and said, "Pretend you're on an episode of Singaporeans Try." And threw me a set of earplugs.
"Describe to me what you think it is, whether you'd buy it and how else you can use it."
There were so many things to handle in my mind! Firstly,
Two of my idols interviewing me.
I couldn't compose myself leh! I was shaking.
I blanked out on the spot. When I looked at the earplugs, I didn't even know they were earplugs.
I started shaking.
They said, "Calm down." and gave me lots of chances. I gave up on myself already, but they haven't.
I gave up on myself but they haven't. They kept telling me to breathe.
After the interview, I left and took the train to school.
On the MRT, I teared. :'(
Aiyo!
This is the worst interview I have ever gone to. Not only have I failed,
I embarrassed myself in front of my 2 idols.
I'm never going to get hired by TSL.
- A few weeks later, I went for a holiday. - Again?!
Exams were over. I went to Langkawi with my friends.
It had been a while since I heard from TSL, so I thought that I didn't get the job.
I also heard about Xenia going to New York to study. I thought that I would never see her in real life again,
so I sent her an Instagram DM.
"I don't know if you remember me, but I was at the interview that day. I just want to wish you all the best."
After that, she just sent a one-liner. "Did you check your email?"
I went to check the email, and turns out, I got the job.
Another time. Embarrassed again.
I was talking as though I didn't get the job and I'd never see her again.
After that, I kept seeing her in the office.
Ever since then, every time I see her and the message I sent her, I want to crawl in a hole and just die.
So embarrassing.
- (PD) What was your favorite project so far? - Wow.
In terms of opportunities travel-wise, 2019 was the year for me.
I traveled to 7 countries.
For someone from chemical engineering, when I compare my experiences with my ex-classmates who are working in that industry,
They say, "Whoa, you can travel so early on in your career?!" And I'm like...
"Yeah boi."
My most memorable project so far was The $100 Nomad. The scale of the project was so big. It's not like anything we've done before.
The amount of work and attention to detail needed helped to build my skill set a lot. Even during the shoot,
Ooh, it was so tiring. If you're filming the whole experience, you're also basically working the entire time.
It was very tiring but enjoyable.
The scale also prepared me for what I'm working on now.
Which is a drama series. A 6-part drama series.
With MeWatch.
All the best, buddy.
Ow.
I think that my absolute favorite project that I can't forget is...
My travel trips. In particular, Paris. London and Paris.
- The one where you cried? - Yeah, the one where I cried.
It was so unexpected. One day, I came in to the office thinking about all the client work I had to do.
Then Bryan called me. "Zhin, we are sending you to London and Paris."
Huh?!
London and Paris? The miniature versions in Singapore?
"No, you're going to London and Paris. You're going to pack and fly off in 2 weeks."
The things you do everyday is different. Every day is a new adventure.
Suddenly, when you come into office, you get hit with, "Brenda, you're going pole dancing today."
I'm like, "What?"
"Brenda, you're going to stay in office to sing for 24 hours."
- If you're at a corporate desk job, you can't do these things! - Cannot.
(PD) Who would you recommend to join TSL's culture?
We would like people who are problem solvers that can think on their feet, on their own.
He is interviewing you already.
In a fast-moving industry like ours, that's what we value.
- People who can think on their feet. - For sure.
One piece of advice that I have for potential interns that want to come onboard TSL,
is to do a bit of research and background checks.
About what you are applying for, the job scope,
and not look at this as a bunch of fun and games.
It's something that is easy to perceive, that it's all about fun,
But that's not true. At the end of the day, this is still a job a nd you need to understand this before you come on board.
Your attitude must be in line that this is somewhere you want to apply yourself to.
You need to put in effort, or it's not going to be good for you or the company.
I've had people who come for interviews...
and they don't even know what TSL does, what content we have,
or even names that always come out in TSL videos.
If you don't know these simple things, it's very clear that you didn't bother to check.
And it doesn't reflect very well on you.
We are scouting for talents and interns here at TSL.
If you want to join our family and even appear on videos just like we do,
you can send in your applications with the following details.
NOTE ERROR: the email address is 'talents@thesmartlocal.com'
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