Chapter 13 Interview
Early the next morning, while his roommates were still taking advantage of the weekend to sleep in, Liu Shang had already packed up and was ready to head out.
"Second brother, you're looking sharp!" Fu Liang poked his head out from under his blanket and asked. "Got a date?"
Zheng Shiwei also sighed. "Ah, I'm so envious. At least you have something to do on the weekends."
Liu Shang just smiled, said goodbye to them, and left.
He had changed into a casual blazer, smart-looking jeans, and a pair of casual leather shoes. The look was handsome and fashionable, yet also respectable and mature.
After a simple breakfast in the cafeteria, Liu Shang took a 50-minute bus ride to his first destination of the day: Huahai Petroleum Technical Service Company.
After a detailed screening of potential employers, Liu Shang had placed this company at the top of his list.
From his analysis of the company's information and development trajectory, it was clear that Huahai had grown extremely fast; it was a vibrant and thriving enterprise.
As for the company's owner, Song Guangyuan, he was rumored to be extremely well-connected, forthright, courageous, and decisive.
Perhaps it was because Liu Shang had a good image and an approachable demeanor, but the security guard let him directly through the company gate.
After inquiring at the front desk, he made his way to the human resources department on the second floor.
As luck would have it, the HR manager happened to be in.
After hearing Liu Shang's purpose, Manager Sun, a man in his early fifties who was semi-retired from the oil fields, laughed.
"A first-year student from Fengcheng Oil University?"
"I must say, young man, you have a respectable bearing and a look of energy about you."
"But Liu Shang, you've only been in school for a few months. My personal suggestion is that you should be focusing on your studies at this stage."
"It would be better to wait until your junior or senior year to come out and get some practical experience."
"Of course, if you're having financial difficulties and need the income, how about this? I'll make an executive decision. You can come help out in our department and do some work that's within your capabilities."
"What can I say? There's just something about you I like."
"As for compensation, we can offer a monthly salary of about 500 yuan, and you'll also enjoy the company's employee care and benefits during the holidays. What do you think?"
For their very first meeting, Manager Sun had made Liu Shang a generous offer without a second thought, which was already quite rare.
For a part-time student with irregular hours doing a simple job that anyone could do, this kind of compensation was a special consideration.
While feeling grateful, Liu Shang smiled at Manager Sun. "Manager Sun, thank you very much for your kindness and consideration."
"From the bottom of my heart, I truly appreciate it."
"However, Manager Sun, I came here today to apply for a position in petroleum technology, and my expected salary is around 4000 yuan."
"I was wondering if you could give me a chance to prove myself?"
An expected salary of 4000 yuan?
After Liu Shang said these words, people around the office couldn't help but lift their heads from their workstations, their expressions a mixture of surprise and amusement.
Most of them wore dismissive smiles.
A freshman who just started university daring to ask for that number? Wasn't this student a bit too arrogant?
Even full-time technical staff often couldn't get that kind of salary, let alone a part-time student with an irregular schedule.
After hearing Liu Shang's words, even Manager Sun, who had been in human resources for many years, couldn't help but frown. His impression and evaluation of Liu Shang dropped rapidly.
After hesitating for a moment, Manager Sun sighed softly. "Liu Shang, the position and conditions you just mentioned are not something I, as the Director of Human Resources, can decide."
"I think you should know that here at Huahai, the salaries of our technical engineers and even some deputy directors are only around 4000 yuan."
"And a technical position like that requires a solid theoretical foundation and rich work experience from the oil fields."
"I hope you'll think about this clearly. If you insist on trying, I can give you the chance. However, if you fail, you will most likely lose any opportunity to work at this company in the future."
Without any hesitation, Liu Shang smiled and nodded. "Manager Sun, thank you for the reminder."
"I still want to give it a try."
Seeing Liu Shang's immediate response, everyone, including Manager Sun, mentally labeled him as all talk and no substance—a student who was far too full of himself.
"Alright. As it happens, the owner of the company, several executives, and the lead technicians are having a meeting in the conference room today."
"You came at the right time. There's still a little while before the meeting begins."
Afterward, Liu Shang followed Manager Sun to the conference room at the end of the corridor on the third floor.
As soon as he entered, he saw a dozen people sitting around a very large oval conference table. The youngest among them looked to be at least forty years old.
When the company's HR manager walked in with a handsome young man, everyone in the meeting room naturally turned their focus to Manager Sun and Liu Shang.
"Hehe, Mr. Song, esteemed leaders, there's still some time before the meeting. I've brought a young man to see you."
As he spoke, Manager Sun patted Liu Shang on the back with a smile.
"This young man is a first-year student at Fengcheng Oil University named Liu Shang. He found his way here on his own today, saying he wants to use his spare time to find a part-time job at our company."
"Since President Song and the other leaders happened to be here, and I thought this kid was pretty decent, I brought him over for you all to have a look."
After Manager Sun finished speaking, everyone in the conference room smiled kindly, then directed their attention to the man seated at the center of the table, the owner, Song Guangyuan.
Song Guangyuan was forty-seven or forty-eight, at the prime of his life. His temperament and presence had been honed over many years and sublimated to a new level.
After listening to Manager Sun's introduction, he also laughed.
"Well, the young man looks quite good, full of energy."
"Old Sun, you can just arrange some work for him in your department. As the HR manager, surely you can decide on a small matter like this?"
"A student from Fengcheng Oil University wants to use his spare time to get some practical experience. That kind of initiative is very rare. I think we should give him such an opportunity."
Just as Manager Sun was standing there in a dilemma, wondering how to explain the situation, Liu Shang smiled and took a small step forward.
"President Song, esteemed leaders, hello."
"My name is Liu Shang, a freshman at Fengcheng Oil University."
"Just now in his office, Manager Sun took very good care of me and offered me a chance to work in the company."
"However, I was the one who begged Manager Sun to bring me here. The main purpose of my visit to Huahai today is to seek a position in petroleum technology with a salary of around 4000 yuan."
"And I am confident that I can be qualified for this position. So, my only request now is that President Song and the leaders give me a chance to prove it."