PTD Interview Tips & Interview Questions

Initially I considered a post on tips for PTD interview would be a redundant effort. On internet, there are so many tips, guides, advices, dos & don'ts on how to achieve a success in interview.

I am fully aware of that. That's why I did not write the post. The information on internet would be suffice to arm the interviewees with information, tips and guides. Generally speaking, those information are applicable for PTD interviews and other face-to-face meeting between the potential employees and employers. If, there are differences, it may require a slight adjustment to suit the nature of the job post and employers.

I have been receiving a lot of messages and emails asking me for PTD interview tips from my blog readers. Okay, I am not going to disappoint you guys. You are my valued readers. Let's the story begins....

A Story How I Get PTD Interview

On one fine day in the evening, after returning home from the office, I looked at the mailbox. There was a letter in it. I took it and opened the envelope while walking up to the second floor of the 5 stories low cost flat. On the envelope, there was a print "URUSAN SERI PADUKA BAGINDA". I was clueless why the Agong sent me a letter. I even forgot about my application for PTD. A few months before that, I had attended the PTD Assessment Centre (PAC). I didn't know if I succeeded the PAC. "Congratulations, you have been called for an interview...PTD!!!", that's what the letter said. Emmm..okay....that was how to describe my feeling when I received the SPA's invitation letter for the interview. I was not so excited. Maybe because I already had a permanent job. Salary was not an issue.

Information Gathering

Nevertheless, I took the opportunity of been given a chance for an interview to do a little bit research. I read newspapers everyday. The first three pages of the papers often report the news and development that are considered as contemporary news and mainstream issues. Be it domestic or international. International and business sections, I gave no miss to read. Sport and entertainment, I read casually. The most serious thing that I paid serious attention to read was the editorial articles. The newspapers that I read were Bahasa Malaysia (Berita Harian daily, Mingguan Malaysia on weekend) and English (mostly The Star). Watching news especially the prime time news Buletin Utama was like a compulsory TV movie for me.

Reading newspapers and watching news have helped me to be acquainted with current news & issues domestically and internationally, refresh my memory about names and ministries' roles of the Malaysian cabinet ministers, international leaders, not forgetting the economic and financial situation of our country, the region and international.

Living in the internet edge has made my research process at the finger tips. The distance was just a mouse click and push of the button. I searched and printed the list of Cabinet Ministers. Memorised their full names and titles. Undertook the fact finding about who the Secretary to the Government (KSN) is, Director General of Public Service (KPPA or Ketua Pengarah Perkhidmatan Awam) and the Secretary Generals of major ministries such as the Ministry of Finance, Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (if you are interested to become a diplomat lah) and information about roles and functions of government ministries and departments.

I was going to attend an interview for the post of PTD. It would be an unforgiven mistake if I didn't know what the PTD was all about, what do they do, what are their roles and functions, their history and anything about PTD. So, I read everything concerning PTD so that if I were asked about PTD, I would be ever ready to answer them.

Interview Day

A day before the d' Day I took a haircut and shaved my face. I want to be presentable during the interview. At night, I put all my academic certificates, curriculum activities and all kind of awards and recognitions that I had (including the certificate Employee of the Year that I received during my years of service at the company I was working at that time) in a clear folder. Prior to that I made a photocopy all of them and compiled them in a set of documents compilation which I intended to give them to the panel of interviewers.

I wore a blue long sleeve shirt, dark pants, black leather shoe with dark socks. I didn't wear longsuit because I had never have a longsuit jacket in my life. I knew if had it, I would be better dressed for this kind of interview. I had a breakfast before I went to Putrajaya to ensure that I have enough energy while waiting for my turn to be called into the interview room. It's going to be a long wait which turned out very true. I waited for more than two hours before been called in.

While waiting for my turn at the interview waiting area, I look around. I saw a number of PTD interviewee candidates. Majority of them looked very smartly dressed with a nice looking longsuit for gentlemen and the ladies with baju kurung and corporate dresses. Some of them even took extra effort by putting a name tag on their shirt. "Wowww!" I said in my heart..."Are they really serious to become a PTD?". 

How about my feeling before the interview? Of course, I was really nervous. I had butterflies in my stomach. But I was confident. I thought I had nothing to worry or disappointed even if I fail to secure the post. I had set in my mind that I would be able to take any question from the interviewes. I observed that the interview time for each candidate was around between 20 and 40 minutes. That was too long!!!

My turn had arrived. I knocked the door, smiled and greeted the gentlemen in the room with 'salam'. They welcomed me and invited me to sit. One of the gentlemen started the conversation by asking me to introduce my name, family, education and working experience. The atmosphere was so casual. Just like the interviewers and me were having a chitchat conversation. There were two or three interviewers in the room (my apology for weak memory of mine). One of them represented the HR function department of either the SPA or JPA. I knew it because they mostly asked questions related to human resource matters. The others, I think they were from ministries or government departments and had specialisations in their respective fields. They were responsible to challenge my ability with tougher questions and to some extents provoked me.

I could not remember what were other questions the interview panel asked me and what I had answered. Except the question "If you are accepted in PTD service, which ministry do you want to work?...and Why?". "Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and the Foreign Affairs Ministry" I said. However, I could not remember what were the reasons that I put forward to them.

The interview session ended without I realised I had been in the room for quite sometime. I thanked the interviewers for giving me the chance for an interview. I walked out the room but I felt dissatisfied. I didn't know whether I did well or otherwise. I was thinking that the panels were not serious. Most of the questions asked, I did not have issues in answering them. I was not stressful at all! That's why I could not remember majority of the questions that were asked to me. I guess I had spent around 30 minutes in the room without realising it. I felt it was like only 10 minutes!

I left the place with empty head. All the burdens had been cleared. I had done my best. I left my hope to the God and prayed that the God would answer my prayer...to be accepted as a PTD.

That's all the story about how I underwent the PTD interview. I was fortunate because that was the one and the only PTD interview I had gone through. Actually there are some lessons learned could be mined from the story above. I leave it to you guys to interpret it.

Later, I will be writing about tips and guides and what will be the most probably asked question by the PTD Interview Panel.

........14 December 2013.."I'm back!!!"

Tips and Guides

1. You have to be prepared. Everything! From the physical looks, emotion and of course the knowledge. A PTD is expected to know many things especially on areas that fall under the PTD's eight core job scope.

2. Be calm and sincere when answer the questions and during the interaction session with the interviewers.

3. Try to act and behave like a PTD. You can observe how a Government officer talk, speak, think, socialising with peers and community. Demonstrate explicitly that you are smart, sharp thinker, respect people and able to lead.

4. Avoid arrogant attitude, talk like you are only the best and right, indecisive, shy feeling, disrespectful toward the interviewers and peers. Don't show anything that looks stupid. Avoid them at all costs!!!

5. Ask yourself whether you are really serious want to be a PTD...and the most importantly why you want to be a PTD. If possible, try to take the opportunity to share this during your interview session. Usually, you will be asked "Do you have anything to ask/say?" at the end of the interview. There you go...you must grab this opportunity. I can confidently tell you that there will be a follow up question "How would you......" if you follow this particular tip. 

6. Do your level best in everything you do. People will notice that though it is unspoken behaviour. After that, leave it to Allah. Ameen.

The Most Likely Asked Questions for PTD Interview

*These are not the actual questions from any sources either the JPA or SPA or the interviewers itself. But, they are what I feel that will be asked and if I were the interviewer of the PTD interview"

About yourself:

1. "Tell us briefly about yourself" and "Why is it interesting for us?".

2. "Where/How long have you worked before and how can you relate your experience with PTD".

3. "What are the good/bad things you have done in your life?".

About PTD

1. "Why do you choose PTD/Government job....not other scheme/private company's job?". "Do you know that PTD/Government job salary is lower than private?". "Why do you still want to be a PTD?'.

2. "What are the PTD core job functions/main roles/areas/responsibilities".

3. "How can you contribute if you are given the PTD job?".

4. "Name one of the PTD officers that you know". (This refers to high achievers, leaders, successful example of PTDs...not your friend ya!).

5. "What ministry do you prefer to work and why?". (There is a catch in this question. If you are specific then be prepared to explain about the ministry you have chosen. May be the interviewer wants to see your flexibility level about how you accept your posting (either the ministry/location of not your choice). For your information, a PTD will never settled where he/she lives until the retirement day. So, be prepared to sacrifice your entire life once you become a PTD!

Current Issues

1. "What is GTP, ETP, NKRA, NKEA, 1Malaysia, high income nations etc?".

2. "What do you think about the effectiveness of the Government's effort in addressing public transportation problems?".

3. "National unity/political differences/national security/high cost of living/brain drain etc...what is your opinion?".

Politics? My personal advice, try to be neutral. If you want to say something, just talk about positive contribution. If possible and I strongly recommend this, don't say anyting negative about the political parties that you do not support. You maybe provoked along the line but try to maintain on the track!

I think that's all about the PTD Interview Tips. And I would like to say Do your level best. A good luck will not come unless you have prepared to grab that good luck. 

Cheers! If you have anything extra you would like to ask me, just drop your comment here. And please help your friends or relatives who may want to join PTD as you do by sharing this tips. PTD ALWAYS HELPS OTHERS!