adhunika blog

[Note: This article has nothing against arranged marriage nor did I suggested a “love marriage” as a solution. I merely pointed out the fact that when finding a life partner, qualities of a human being should be given its due importance over the popular attributes (family status, look, job, degree). That is what I meant when I said “know the person” first.] 

Almost 70 years ago when my grandmother’s family received a matrimonial proposal from my grandfather’s family, her father invited the would be groom to stay in his (extended) house for a week or so to get acquainted with this young man before giving any consent. Though the bride’s father knew the groom’s family pretty well, he still wanted to have a closer look when he was going to decide on something so important, i.e. his daughter’s marriage.

Ten years ago when we just finished undergrad, one day I got a call from my friend; she called me to invite me to her wedding. Curious me asked her, what factors helped her decide on this (neither her nor her family knew this guy before). She replied, “He works in a good company in the US, I spoke with him for an hour or so, I found him very honest …”. I was kind of puzzled, how could she decide on marrying someone knowing so little about the person! Two years after this, she came back to her parent’s house as she couldn’t live with her husband anymore.

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Even though basic interview questions are resume-based and revolve around education, previous work experiences, interests, etc., savvy interviewers like to test the candidates by asking behavioral questions.  These questions are usually based on specific situations that will require the candidate give examples from his/her prior work experiences.  Because these questions are specified, the answers also need to be tailored and to the point.  You will need to describe a particular event, project or situation; how did you deal with it and the outcome.  If the outcome was not what you had expected, it is better to mention that as well.  In another words you are actually telling the interviewer about what did you learn from it.
We will talk about a few sample questions here.  Depending on the type of position and industry, the answers could be slightly different for each interview.  However, the answering pattern should be the same.  If you are fresh out of college and interviewing for your first job, you may give examples from your class projects, voluntary work or internship experiences. 
 

1. Tell me about a situation when you had to satisfy an unhappy customer.

By asking this question, the interviewer actually is trying to find out a few different skills from your answer - customer service, problem solving, attention to detail, honesty and integrity, etc.  (more…)

As I was browsing through a book store in DC, one title caught my eye, “Unsuitable for Ladies: An Anthology of Women Travellers.” It was a collection of women’s travel adventures from the past and the present who ventured off to see the world and dispelled the myth that “real ladies do not travel.” As I thought about it, I realised that we as Bangladeshi women have also come far metaphorically as well as geographically. We have moved beyond the safe confines of our homes and gone out into the world- for work, studying or for the sheer joy of travelling. Here are some of my stories about my travels over the years, hope you enjoy them!

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Dust seems to be a normal part of life here in Khartoum. A fine red haze is definitely going to be among the souvenirs that I bring back from Sudan.  I arrived here a few days ago and already being in Sudan feels frighteningly normal. I along with a group of 6 other Columbia University students have set up temporary base at the UNFPA offices in Khartoum. We are conducting a reproductive health assessment of Sudan. So for the next two weeks we will be talking to UN agencies, NGOs, government ministries to try and assess what the reproductive health needs are in Sudan, what is being done and what should be done.  (more…)