By Derek 2010/10/21
因為看了Vicky分享關於找工作的心得, 覺得自己也許可以寫一些關於求職相關的文章, 也許會給大家一點幫助。基於文筆，關於理論的部分就不多說了，在此分享一些實際的準備材料。
若是你有全英文面試的需求, 可以參考以下這篇。我當初從一些國外網站上收集了不少關於英文面試的題目，然後每天花很長地時間精心思考並回答三到四個問題，最後要面試之前，再把這些問題與答案拿出來練習，覺得效果很好。
大家可以在回答問題的時候, 參考題目的提示，盡量以敘述故事的方式回答(STAR: Situation, Task/Problem, Action, Result)，我也順便附上自己當初的答案，雖然不完全，但大家可以參考看看。 🙂
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僅獻給AIESEC的學弟妹
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Questions start the minute the interview does, and to show that you are an exceptional candidate, you need to be prepared to answer not only the typical questions, but also the unexpected. You can expect questions regarding your qualifications, your academic preparation, career interests, experience, and ones that assess your personality.
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1. Tell me about yourself
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The most often asked question in interviews. You need to have a short statement prepared in your mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start with the item farthest back and work up to the present.
Answer:
My Three roles:
a. I’m a knowledge persuer
I graduate from NTU with Becholar Degree in CS and BA. Besides, I’m interested in finance, economic, politic. Learning wide knowledge is what I’m enjoyed in.
b. I’m a leader
I was the president of AIESEC NTU. During that time I led 60 members achieve tens of projects, implement innovating policy, and create first-ever international conference. I also served as a facilitator in intl. conference. I presents sessions and led discussion of delegates from 18 countries.
c. I’m a cross-culture teamworker
Before join military service, I spent 3 months to have a internship in Silicon valley. I contribute myself in a team to help cost down the inventory. After the military service, I went to Germany for 6 months internship. I help the company redefined process after the reorganization events.
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2. What do co-workers say about you?
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Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Answer:
Co-worker from AIESEC: One of my VP said: “A good leader who can build up a team and shape an excellent working culture. Leading by action. Always giving energy to others by shiny smiling”
Co-worker from Applied Materials: One of my collegue said: “A supportive teammate who is always willing to learn and enjoy the challenging process from solving diffcult tasks.
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3. What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?
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Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job. A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as positive self-improvement. Have some good ones handy to mention.
Answer:
(If consulting job) -> Case study -> Reading Economist -> In NSN Read the materials created by consultants.
(If IT job)-> Understand the operation and process within IT dep. -> Work relate to IT deployment in a huge company.
(If Project Management Job) -> develop PM skill, teamwork during Internship
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4. Are you applying for other jobs?
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Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this area. Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for this organization. Anything else is a distraction.
Answer:
Yes -> (A sentence to describle what jobs you are applying) -> But most interested in this job -> What I can contribute -> What I can learn after all.
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5. What kind of salary do you need?
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A loaded question. A nasty little game that you will probably lose if you answer first. So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like, That’s a tough question. Can you tell me the range for this position? In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a wide range.
Answer:
Can you tell me the range for this position?
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6. Are you a team player?
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You are, of course, a team player. Be sure to have examples ready. Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your team attitude. Do not brag, just say it in a matter-of-fact tone. This is a key point.
Answer: (STAR)
I believe a good team player is who know why a team is builded. Focus on team’s goal more than personal goal. When I in a team, I always consult teammate with strength and support teammate with weakness.
Story: Evolve Conference-faci pairing
Situation: When I serve as a faci in Sigapore Conference. I’ve notice some faci are excellent in activity design. Others are excellent in delivery activiy.
Task or problem: Every faci was in charge of one session. Which may not a good apporach cuz some enjoy design may not good at delivery session.
Action: After I notice these I suggest to group two faci in which include one is confident in design and another is confident in delivery.
Result: We have received great feedback from delegates and faci. I know I’m doing something right.
Story: US internship-building demand forecast model
Situation: When I was doing internship in US. One of my task is support teammate developing demand forecast model to improve inventory management
Task or problem: Our team have specialists in Database, User Interface Design, and Algorithm research. My job is implement several algorithm and compare results.
Action: My job is involving a lot of interaction with other collegue. Consult from collegue who expert in database and support collegue who need computer simulating results.
Result: A more accurate model turns out and slash 4% of cost for company.
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7. How long would you expect to work for us if hired?
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Specifics here are not good. Something like this should work: I’d like it to be a long time. Or As long as we both feel I’m doing a good job.
Answer:
I’d like to be a long time, as long as we both feel I’m doing a good job.
When I evaluate myself and find out I’m creating more and more value for the company. That’s a great motivation to keep staying in this company.
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8. What is your philosophy towards work?
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The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery dissertation here. Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes. That’s the type of answer that works best here. Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.
Answer:
For me. The goal to work in a company is to create a greater value than the value that one can create alone. So be efficient, continuous improving, and serious in work but having fun besides work.
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9. Why should we hire you?
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Point out how your assets meet what the organization needs. Do not mention any other candidates to make a comparison.
Answer:
- Both IT and business background -> have high potential to be trained to learn wider spectrum of industrial knowledge.
- Two internship experience -> Easy to integrate into a team and able to work in international environment.
- Creative and Leadership -> Bring energy and active elements
- (depends on organization’s needs)
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10. Tell me about a suggestion you have made
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Have a good one ready. Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted and was then considered successful. One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.
Answer: (Star)
Story:Singapore Conference-Faci Pairing (Reference Q6)
Story: NSN-New Marco reduced overhead (Creative) (Programming)
Situation: When I was in NSN doing internship,
Task or problem: My boss give me a task to create a new documents for communicating with our supplier. We have original documents for internal use. That cause the data transfering overhead. Additional time need to spend on keyin.
Action: I have suggest my manager adopting marco solution. Using my programming skills in VBA, writing marcos that automating the document transformation process.
Result: Increase efficiency of supplier management process.
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11. What irritates you about co-workers?
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This is a trap question. Think real hard but fail to come up with anything that irritates you. A short statement that you seem to get along with folks is great.
Answer:
It’s very hard to irritate a person like me. I can not remember it has. But if I am irritated, I will try some effective way to express my thought and remain the relationship.
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12. What is your greatest strength?
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Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good examples: Your ability to prioritize, Your problem-solving skills, Your ability to work under pressure, Your ability to focus on projects, Your professional expertise, Your leadership skills, Your positive attitude .
Answer:
My ability to think in origin. My ability to categorize and prioritize each task, my ability to work under pressure, my leadership skills. Resourceful.
Be well-prepared to be asked for example.
(Follow-up Questions) How do you categorize and prioritze tasks?
I usually categorize tasks based on each of their importance and urgency. The first priority is XXX OOO…
(Follow-up Questions) Can you give an example to demostrate your ability of work under pressure?
Story: AIESEC – LCP Election (Work under pressure)
Situation: When I decide to run for the LCP of AIESEC
Task or problem:
- Create manifesto
- pass the subcommittee selection
- prepare for speech
- member questioning your ability.
- More important -> Two more candidates.
Action:
- Predict the pressure and start prepare early.
- Talk to experienced people and get direction.
- Think of success not fail
Result: I was elected by 60 members.
(Follow-up Questions) Can you give an example to demostrate your leadership?
Story: AIESEC – Member Selection Debate (leadership)
I believe to be a leader you need to listen and think more than to speak and persuade.
Situation: When I serve as a LCP, there is a new policy need to implement – The member selection.
Task or problem: Entail severe debate between members and EB. A night I and 6 members spend 4 hours to discuss this policy.
Action:
- My action is to understand the reason of our members’ objection.
- Try to catch the points and ask them if this is what they think.
- Speak to them about why this policy is need.
- Lead a discussion to figure out the best solution that avoid the worst situation they mentioned.
Result: The policy is successfully implemented. And our member trust EB team more.
(Follow-up Questions) Show me an example to demostrate how you are resourceful.
During the US internship, once my manager said:
I’m resourceful toward the task which I am not familiar with. Try to search solution online, read books and see similar examples to get the task done.
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13. Tell me about your dream job.
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Stay away from a specific job. You cannot win. If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain credibility. If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired. The best is to stay genetic and say something like: A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and can’t wait to get to work.
Answer:
It can be describe in 3 different levels.
A job where: I can learn and contribute at the same time.
A team where: I can care and be cared.
A organization where: I admire what it did and am proud to be one of them.
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14. What kind of person would you refuse to work with?
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Do not be trivial. It would take disloyalty to the organization, violence or lawbreaking to get you to object. Minor objections will label you as a whiner.
Answer:
None. Anyone can be worthy to work with.
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15. What is more important to you: the money or the work?
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Money is always important, but the work is the most important. There is no better answer.
Answer:
Work is more important. To me, money is just the resource to support my life. Work is the evidence that I recognize my life.
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16. What would your previous supervisor say your strongest point is?
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There are numerous good possibilities: Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard work, Creativity, Problem solver
Answer:
Resourceful
During the US internship, once my manager said:
I’m resourceful toward the task which I am not familiar with. Try to search solution online, read books and see similar examples to get the task done.
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17. What has disappointed you about a job?
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Don’t get trivial or negative. Safe areas are few but can include: Not enough of a challenge. You were laid off in a reduction Company did not win a contract, which would have given you more responsibility.
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18. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure.
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You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an example that relates to the type of position applied for.
Answer (STAR):
Story: AIESEC – LCP Election (Reference Q12 Follow-up)
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19. What motivates you to do your best on the job?
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This is a personal trait that only you can say, but good examples are: Challenge, Achievement, Recognition
Answer:
Challenge: Is it challenging during the work?
Impact: How much value be created when I get the job done?
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20. Are you willing to work overtime? Nights? Weekends?
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This is up to you. Be totally honest.
Answer:
Work overtime is acceptable to me if the current task required.
I won’t like to work at Night, or on weekends.
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21. Would you be willing to relocate if required?
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You should be clear on this with your family prior to the interview if you think there is a chance it may come up. Do not say yes just to get the job if the real answer is no. This can create a lot of problems later on in your career. Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.
Answer:
Should be no problem.
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22. Are you willing to put the interests of the organization ahead of your own?
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This is a straight loyalty and dedication question. Do not worry about the deep ethical and philosophical implications. Just say yes.
Answer:
I firmly believe that personal goal should align with organization interest. When conflict, I think the interest of the oranization should put ahead of personal interest as I can also benefit from the organization.
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23. What have you learned from mistakes on the job?
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Here you have to come up with something or you strain credibility. Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive lesson learned. An example would be working too far ahead of colleagues on a project and thus throwing coordination off.
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24. Do you think you are overqualified for this position?
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Regardless of your qualifications, state that you are very well qualified for the position.
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25. How do you propose to compensate for your lack of experience?
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First, if you have experience that the interviewer does not know about, bring that up: Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard working quick learner.
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26. What qualities do you look for in a boss?
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Be generic and positive. Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of high standards. All bosses think they have these traits.
Answer:
- Treat his/her teammate as good partner.
- Holder of high standards.
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27. Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a dispute between others.
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Pick a specific incident. Concentrate on your problem solving technique and not the dispute you settled.
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28. What position do you prefer on a team working on a project?
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Be honest. If you are comfortable in different roles, point that out.
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29. Describe your work attitude.
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Emphasize benefits to the organization. Things like, determination to get the job done and work hard but enjoy your work are good.
Answer:
- Work hard then enjoy the challenge and achievement.
- Have a sense of purpose and being a part of great vision.
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30. What has been your biggest professional disappointment?
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Be sure that you refer to something that was beyond your control. Show acceptance and no negative feelings.
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31. Tell me about the most fun you have had on the job.
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Talk about having fun by accomplishing something for the organization.
Answer(STAR):
Story: US Internship – Google Map Application
Situation: During my US internship, I was in charge of developing an application for location revealing based on google map technique.
Task or problem: The task is I need to quickly familiar with the API technique and create visualize application.
Action: The fun thing is I can know what I’ve achieved by writing programs that can easily show to everyone. I’m really enjoying in creating some thing.
Result: Not only the application has been delivered, I also include guide for user, administrator, and programmer.
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32. Tell me about a significant achievement in your life.
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Answer(STAR):
Story: My life experience – from failure toward success
Situation:To talk about the achievement in my life, I would like to talk the failure first. I was used to drop out of National Taiwan University because I didn’t know what is really important to my life.
Task or problem: After I realized I really like to study, I join the entrance exam again and finally back to NTU.
Action: To me, I didn’t have as much as time with other classmate, so I was eager to learn everything in this four year.
Result: So, the biggest achievement in mylife is the expeirence from failure toward success.
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33. Describe a time where you had to work with a group of people to achieve a common goal?
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Answer(STAR):
Story: AIESEC- EB team for 1 year. (Teamwork)
Situation: When I was a LCP, lead an EB team of 8 for 1 year.
Task or problem:
Team role:
- Functional team management
Action:
My role:
- As a leader – Leading the planning and performance tracking process.
- As a consultant – Support each EB to deal with their functional activities and team management.
- As a mentor – Set goals for each EB and give them motivation by encouraging innovation.
Result:
- Successfully accomplished 1 intl. conference.
- Recruit 40 new members, end up 28 like to stay for second year.
- Tens of activities.
- 8 best friend forever.
Job and Company Specific Questions (這部分是by Job & by Company的, 所以只列出題目):
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1. What parts of your education do you see as relevant to this position?
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2. Why do you want to work for us?
1) The job
2) The company
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3. What do you know about our company/ practice/ business?
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4. What are your short term/long term goals?
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5. Where do you see yourself in five years time?
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6. Why do you think you are the best person for the job?
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7. What skills and qualities can you bring to this position?
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8. What experience do you have in this field?
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Speak about specifics that relate to the position you are applying for. If you do not have specific experience, get as close as you can.
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9. What do you know about this organization?
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This question is one reason to do some research on the organization before the interview. Find out where they have been and where they are going. What are the current issues and who are the major players?
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10. Why do you want to work for this organization?
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This may take some thought and certainly, should be based on the research you have done on the organization. Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.
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11. Do you know anyone who works for us?
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Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the organization. This can affect your answer even though they asked about friends not relatives. Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well thought of.
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12. Explain how you would be an asset to this organization
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You should be anxious for this question. It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the position being discussed. Give a little advance thought to this relationship.
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13. Why do you think you would do well at this job?
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Give several reasons and include skills, experience and interest.
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14. Do your skills match this job or another job more closely?
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Probably this one. Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may want another job more than this one.
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15. How would you know you were successful on this job?
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Several ways are good measures: You set high standards for yourself and meet them. Your outcomes are a success.Your boss tell you that you are successful.
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16. If you were hiring a person for this job, what would you look for?
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Be careful to mention traits that are needed and that you have.
其 實到最後會發現，我的Story多半都是從AIESEC Experience當中擷取出來的，真的就是看如何包裝它，使說出這個故事的你閃閃發光而已! AIESEC can’t give you anything, but you can get everything from it. 我真的相信好好在AIESEC努力, 一定會留下許多讓你與眾不同的經歷!
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