My army interviews

In the early years the armed forces were short of hands and they wanted a wide selection of candidates. They used to send out invitations for interviews and provided candidates with travel warrants and a small allowance for meals. I was one of those who availed of this opportunity. 

So every time vacancies were advertised in the newspapers, I would apply for these jobs and enjoy a free train ride, to see my brother and other friends who had found  employment in Kuala Lumpur. At these  interviews I would fare badly. It was not difficult as the interviews involved physical tests like running a mile in sweltering heat. In the afternoon all the failed candidates would be called to the Warrant Officers room, offered condolences on our failure to secure employment and provided with  a railway warrant each and some meal allowance, and got sent to the Railway Station by an army truck. From the conversations of the failed candidates in the truck I was able to discern that they were happy to be sent back and the primary purpose of them attending that interview was not to secure employment with the armed forces, but to get a free ride to Kuala Lumpur to attend to their private tasks. I was glad that I was not the only one who was misusing the facilities provided by the armed forces. 

Of these interviews the shortest one I had was for the post of a Tamil Writer. I don’t know what the job entailed. However from the job description, I realized it had something to do with writing in Tamil. It required a Form Two education and since I was in Form Three I felt I was amply qualified to apply.

My elder brother was also attending the interview. We were hopeful that one of us would be selected. I was one of the first to be called in. When i entered the interview room I was surprised to see a white Man doing  the interview for the Tamil writer’s position. I dismissed it as normal since it was the early days of independence and we had a sprinkling of the white bosses  in our midst. As soon as i had taken my seat the interviewer shot out two questions in quick succession “What’s your name? What’s your age?” And ended the interview with a “We will let you know.” 

It was only after the interview, that we realized the son of the Interviewer’s maid had been selected for the job and the interview was just a farce. 

Some time later, when I  attended an interview for the post of a Labor Officer, I was certain this would turn out to be a farce too, as there were about 20 of us in the Interview room. As soon as I was seated, I was asked why I was not wearing a coat. I told them I was a clerk and my job did not require me to wear a coat. A few questions followed, none of them relating to  the job I had applied for. One of the Panel members told me. “One last question for you. Please sing the Negaraku.” I got up told the Panel members to get up as I was going to sing the National Anthem. The Chairman had the wisdom to tell me it was not necessary and ended the interview. 

Outside at the waiting room I informed the remaining members that they will not be asked to sing the National Anthem, much to their relief. Much to my surprise I received an offer letter for the post of an examiner of Accounts in the Audit Department. As I had other offer letters, I rejected the offer.