During the interview, they repeatedly asked whether I wanted tea or water, and the interviewer carefully reviewed the applicant’s résumé and portfolio.
However, there were only four hours between receiving the interview notification and being asked to attend the interview, and they said they could accommodate any time the following day. I have to say... this was the first time I had encountered a company that replied and wanted to interview me on the same day.
The other party immediately called me. Right at the beginning, they called me by the wrong name...
Then they said to me, “Is today really not possible?”
I said yes, I had something to do that afternoon.
Their attitude then seemed to be: “Is what you have to do really that important?”
They finally said, “Fine... then the interview will be tomorrow morning.” I already felt that this was a bad sign, but I still went to the interview. As it turned out, the interview process was terrible.
The job bank listing stated a salary of NT$28,000–35,000. The person in charge said that the starting salary would initially be only NT$28,000, with an adjustment after observing my performance for two weeks or after three months. Since the companies I had interviewed with previously were willing to offer somewhat more to applicants with a master’s degree, I asked whether the starting salary would be adjusted based on educational background.
The person in charge then said: “Is having a master’s degree really such a big deal? Haven’t you seen news reports about people carrying sandbags and working as cleaners, with tons of them having master’s or doctoral degrees? Do you think a master’s degree is that impressive? I only graduated from a junior college, and I’m still a boss.”
I said: “You’ve misunderstood what I meant.”
They said: “Do you think you’re capable of becoming a boss yourself?” Earlier, they had said they liked my work and that it had a simple, MUJI-like feel. Later, they mocked it, saying, “It’s just student work~” They also said, “I’m telling you this as an older brother: you’ve committed a major taboo.”
They later added: “A master’s degree only means you have skills; it doesn’t make you better.”
I’m already too tired to argue with that logic. A company had previously offered me a salary of NT$40,000, but I declined because the job responsibilities were not quite what I wanted. Other multinational brands and large event companies offered corresponding starting salaries during the early stages of the interview process because I had a master’s degree.
Those of us who attend graduate school do not think we are superior, but choosing to pursue graduate studies requires an investment of time and money, all to give ourselves better competitive advantages.
Unfortunately, the person in charge of this company has a worldview, demeanor, and character that are impossible to accept. If things are already like this before joining the company, there is no need to expect them to become much better after becoming a full-time employee.
The colleagues on site are easy to get along with.
The annual leave for full-time employees does not comply with the Labor Standards Act, the salary is not competitive, and the company’s systems are not well established.
They keep making grand promises to get you to work yourself to the bone for the company, but in the end, there is nothing to show for it.
Oh, and if they think you are unsuitable, they may ask you to leave at any time—or force you out.