How to Survive the PAC

* Notes: This post is dedicated for all PTD hopefuls and PTD wannabes…

Congratulations! So you have passed your PTD entry exam and have been asked to attend the 3-days-2-nights all-expenses-paid-for stay in one of the many campuses of INTAN for the PTD Assessment Centre (PAC), huh?

In a nutshell, PAC is where PTD candidates will be screened almost thoroughly from different aspects of leadership - problem solving, decision-making, time management, team-spirit, creative thinking and such stuff. (I said almost, because it seems to me there’s almost always one or two bad apples surfaced in every batch, which at times made me wonder – why bother going through such thorough scrutiny?)

Screening is done through various activities. There will be lots of team building games, exercises and activities. Much-dreaded (by many participants) public speaking sessions in both English and BM would also be held. Last time there used to be a simple written test in English and BM – but we have been told that this test would not form part of a candidate’s performance score sheet, so I'm not sure whether this test thingy is still on or not. And there will be a talk on the Overview of PTD service or something to that effect. Do pay close attention to this talk - it could provide pointers for the coming interview.

Most observations and marking would be done by some senior officers, while some junior officers would be there as facilitators. Yes, not unlike those leadership courses you have attended during your high school or varsity days, you would be randomly grouped with some strangers. You will make new friends and you might also bump into some old friends. (For a while after we left PAC, my group-mates had bonded well via e-mail, but the correspondence somehow fizzled down after some of us were called for training and some did not make it. Still, it was fun while it lasted.)

The dynamics of the group change all the time with different activities and different leaders – keep your cool, contribute whenever and however possible, never take a free ride. Free riders are often the first to be dismissed as possible candidates for the interview held subsequently.

Be pleasant to everybody – your fellow PTD candidates, the senior officers, the facilitators, the cleaners, pakcik-makcik of Dewan Selera… Take turn becoming the group leader. While it’s important to let your thoughts be heard, it’s just as, if not more, important to listen to what others have to say. Try to remember – good leaders are also good followers.

Be witty. Be serious. Be quirky. Be smart. Just be yourself.

Be original. While many often jump in the bandwagon of choosing hot topics for public speaking – you don’t necessarily have to impress the senior officers with your knowledge of e-culture, murders, overhead bridge structures, or good governance. You can always choose a topic that suits you best – it could be as mundane as the teh tarik culture or napping at work. (Yes, I am speaking from experience – I chose those two topics for my BM and English public speaking respectively…) How you present it would make the bigger difference – so, do try to improve on your public speaking skills. It’s just a five-minute deal – but do practise, practise, practise. Time yourself well and don’t feel shy to ask for pointers from those who seem more confident and poised about it. And don’t forget to check your facts!

Enjoy the food and the environment – INTURA is most well known for its good food, INTIM is famous for its beautiful beaches, IKWAS is not that far from Kluang’ pasar malam and hilly INTAN Bukit Kiara is a good place to start losing weight with all the stairs ascending and descending that one has to do ;-)

So ladies and gentlemen – I hope you will enjoy your stay in INTAN during the PAC. Have fun and all the best!