IMBA PROGRAM
INTERVIEW WORKSHOP
November 20xx
Stanford Lin
Project Manager
MIT-China Management Education Project
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Outline
Introduction
Interview Preparation
The Reception Room
The Interview
Answers, Please
Questions, Please
Common Mistakes
Q&A
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Introduction
Welcome to the job interview! You have one 30-minute opportunity to convince a complete stranger that you are their next great employee. Your interviewer has probably already seen many people today. Each of the other applicants is smart and ambitious -- just like you. What should you say? What should you do?
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Introduction
Your goal in the interview is to show:
1. You are qualified to do the job
2. You are motivated to do the job
3. You are a good fit with the company
structure and culture
How do you do this?
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Interview Preparation
Decide what you want to say in advance
Think of the interview like a 30-minute commercial
Prepare 2-3 selling points and examples/evidence
Prepare to answer common questions
Research the company
Visit the company website
Read an industry journal
Speak to people at the firm or classmates
Prepare questions to ask
Do practice interviews (IMPORTANT!)
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People who get the job prepare thoroughly before they show up for the interview.
1. Decide ahead of time what you want to say about yourself.
Think of the interview as a 30-minute advertisement. What are the messages you want to get across? That you're a leader? An effective problem-solver? Someone with a passion for financial analysis? Choose two or three selling points, then think of things you have done that demonstrate those selling points.
2. Research the firm.
An interview isn't just about selling yourself. It's also about convincing the interviewer that you want to work at the firm. Know the firm's products and services, its culture, and its noteworthy business transactions. Study its recruiting brochure and website. Read the relevant material in your career-placement office. If possible, talk to people at the firm. There is a lot of public information out there, so there's no excuse for failing to know the basics.
3. Prepare questions to ask about the company.
Your questions let the interviewer know your interest and enthusiasm for the firm and the job position.
4. Do a practice interview.
Do a mock interviews with classmates or the CDC. Feedback from others is very helpful. Or, if you can get access to a video camera, tape yourself. You'll be amazed at how many strange gestures and other odd behaviors a person can display. Then, you will have a chance to polish your interview skills before the real interview.
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The Reception Room
Don’t be late
Bring something to read
Be polite to everyone
Move first to greet the interviewer
Smile and make eye contact
Use a firm, one-handed handshake
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These are some tips for your interview at the company.
Don’t be late.
Bring something to read. When the interviewer comes out to greet you, you should not be slumped on the reception room sofa. Bring a book or a magazine to read.
Be polite to everyone. Receptionists and other staff talk, and interviewers listen. Ask the receptionist how she's doing. Then listen to her answer.
Move first. Walk toward the interviewer, don't wait for her to come to you. It shows you're enthusiastic.
Smile and make eye contact. Practice in the mirror. Your look should say "I'm relaxed and comfortable." Eye contact shows you are direct, socially smooth and respectful of the other person.
Use a firm, one-handed handshake. A handshake is the first physical contact you have with a person. Be sure to make it pleasant.
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The Interview
Use appropriate body language
Sit up straight and do not cross your arms
Maintain eye contact
Maintain a pleasant facial expression
Read your interviewer - listen actively and adjust your actions accordingly
If you get a difficult question, say: “That’s an interesting question, let me think about it for a while”. Then take 5-10 seconds to prepare a response.
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1. Use appropriate body language. Studies suggest that what you do, rather than what you say, accounts for more than half of the impression an interviewer will form of you.
-Sit up nice and straight, do not cross arms. It says you're confident. At the same time, don't be rigid. That says you're nervous.
-Maintain eye contact.
-Maintain a relaxed, pleasant facial expression. In tense situations, people tend to scowl, furrow their brow, hold their eyes wide open, or make other awkward faces. Relax. Feel your facial muscles unclench.
2. Read your interviewer. To a certain extent, you want to size up your interviewer and adjust your rap accordingly. If the interviewer seems to want to talk a lot, let her. She won't like it if you interrupt. If she asks a lot of questions about your interpersonal skills, focus on your strengths in that area. On the other hand, don't work too hard to play to an interviewer's style.
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Answers, Please (1 of 10)
Tell me about yourself?
Be prepared to give a short introduction of yourself – mention your key selling points here. But do not simply repeat what is on your resume.
Why do you want this job? Why do you want to work for this company?
Stress the positive aspects which have attracted you to apply for the job. Do not mention the negative aspects of your previous job. Emphasize the positive reasons why you want to join their company; talk about what you know about the company and why you are a good fit for the company.
What qualities do you think will be required for this job?
The job posting may answer this, but you should also think of the other qualities that may be required. These may include leadership ability, supervisory skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, problem solving, analytical skills, etc.
What can you contribute?
This is your chance to sell yourself. Tell them about your achievements in your previous position(s) which are relevant to the new position you are applying for.
What do you know about this company? What interests you about our products and services?
Impress the interviewer with your knowledge of their company. Briefly describe their products/services, customers, news, financials, etc.
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Answers, Please (2 of 10)
What can our company offer that your previous company cannot offer?
Be careful here -- do not mention money. Stress opportunities for personal growth, new challenges, etc.
You have not done this sort of job before. How will you succeed?
Say that you are the sort of person who tries to succeed at everything you do and that you are very determined and will do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Why should we employ you?
The answer to this question should based on your previous experience and achievements which relate to the company. At the end you could add that you think there is a good fit between you and the job.
How long do you think it would be before you were making a significant contribution to the company?
If you think that you could contribute from day one then say so. Then turn the question round on the interviewer and ask how soon would they expect it.
What do you like and dislike about the job we are discussing?
Likes: Stress things such as a new challenge or the opportunity to bring fresh experience to the company.
Dislikes: Imply there is nothing to dislike about the job, which is why you are so interested.
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Answers, Please (3 of 10)
Why are you changing careers?
This question will be asked if you are making a career change. Be positive about your reasons for choosing your previous career. Then stress the positive aspects of a career change (., looking for a new challenge) rather than the negative aspects of your previous career - you do not want to come across as someone who is moving just because you hate your old job. Discuss why you think you will be good in the new career – you should probably discuss your experience, achievements and skills (., leadership skills).
How much does your last job resemble the one you are applying for? What are the differences?
The interviewer is trying to see how well you would fit in to the position. You should stress the similarities rather than the differences. When it comes to discussing the differences it will help if you can show that either you have done something similar in the past or that you can quickly pick up the new skills.
What do you think of the last company you worked for? Why did you join them? Did they live up to your expectations? Why are you leaving now?
Always be positive about your reasons for joining and leaving a company. Do not say anything negative about your former employer. You should stress the positive aspects of your former company saying that they were a good company to work for. Tell them about the training you received or the experience you gained. Then, say that you are looking for a new challenge and that you feel that the new company will offer this type of challenge.
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Answers, Please (4 of 10)
Explain the organizational structure in your last company and how you fit into it?
This question may be used to find out whether your old job is at a comparable level to your new job. If the new job being discussed would be a step up you will need to show that you are ready for a more demanding position. You may be able to show that you have already had many of the responsibilities and the necessary skills which would be required for the next step.
What are you looking for in a new job?
Make sure your answer matches the company who is interviewing you. A suitable reply would be that you are looking for a new job where you can apply your existing skills and learn new ones.
What would your ideal job be?
Describe your ideal job in terms of the criteria the company has used to describe the job you are applying for. An ideal job might include things like challenging work, pay for performance, nice colleagues, good career prospects, good team atmosphere, opportunity to learn new skills, apply old skills, etc.
Do you prefer to work in a small, medium or large company?
If the company interviewing you is a small to medium sized company say that you enjoy a close atmosphere with a good team spirit. At a large company say that you enjoy the stability of working for a large and established company.
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Answers, Please (5 of 10)
What did you do on a day to day basis?
Stress the positive things you did including your achievements. Even if some or much of it was paperwork, you can still show your interest in the way it was performed.
What did you think of your previous manager?
Say that he/she was the sort of person you could learn from and you communicated well, which meant that the task in hand was completed on time.
How would you describe yourself? How would others describe you?
Pick your best attributes and achievements from your career.
Are you a leader?
State how you have successfully acted as a leader, giving examples of your successes.
Do you consider yourself successful?
You should say you do. Pick some work related achievements that are in line with the position that you are discussing.
What was your greatest success? How did you achieve it?
You should pick an achievement which is related to their needs.
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Answers, Please (6 of 10)
What are your weaknesses?
How could you improve yourself?
What problems did you encounter in your last job?
These questions test a key business skill -- marketing. So there should be no negatives when you are marketing yourself.
Turn a weakness into a strength. Think of something that might have been a minor difficulty in the past, and how you corrected the situation. For example, you might mention that you previously had a fear of public speaking, that you recognized this problem, took steps to fix the situation (such as taking communications courses, or joining a student club or did things at your previous job which involved public speaking), and now consider yourself much improved in this area. Another example: "I'm an effective leader. I was the head of my finance study group. But I occasionally try to do too much myself. I recognized this, and toward the end of the semester, I began to delegate more."
For problems at your last job -- mention only the problems that you were able to solve, . "I had problem X, which I later managed to resolve by doing Y". This shows that you are a person who can solve problems rather than someone who lets things get on top of them.
Do not use common answers like “My weakness is that I work too hard”, etc. These have been used too much in the past and everyone knows them.
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Answers, Please (7 of 10)
How do you handle criticism?
Your answer could be: "I always think that it is important to get feedback on how I am performing so that I can improve any areas which my manager/supervisor highlights. Do you have regular staff appraisals and a staff development plan?“
What sort of manager are you? What makes a good manager?
A good manager is one who listens to other people and can delegate while maintaining overall control of the task at hand, bringing in the project on time and to budget. Good planning skills are essential.
Do you need other people around to stimulate you or are you self-motivated? Can you act on your own initiative?
You need to say that you are self-motivated.
Are you accepted into a team quickly?
You should answer "Yes" and describe previous team experiences.
How do you run a meeting?
You could say that you must start with an agenda and stick to it. You could add that you would try to get the views and ideas from everyone present. If people moved off at a tangent you would bring them back to the item being discussed.
What management style gets the best results out of you?
Try and think about how you have reacted to different managers and which factors have motivated you. Be sure your answer matches the management style of the company you are applying to!
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Answers, Please (8 of 10)
What motivates you?
Discuss career growth, opportunity to learn new skills, good co-workers, etc.
Do you know how to motivate other people?
You should answer "Yes", and say that you have to find out what motivates a person and give them recognition for a job well done. You should always give them encouragement and help them when required.
Are you competitive?
Your answer depend on the sort of job you are doing. If you will be working as part of a team you will need to show that you can work in the best interests of the team and not just for your own benefit.
Are you aggressive?
You could answer – “If you mean by this someone who gets things done, then the answer is yes.”
What do you dislike doing?
Say that you are prepared to do whatever it takes to get the job done well and on time and try to do disagreeable things first to get them out of the way rather than putting them off.
What would you like to avoid in your next job?
You should be positive here and say that there is nothing in particular that you would like to avoid.
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Answers, Please (9 of 10)
Do you feel you are ready to take on greater responsibilities?
Show how you have progressed throughout your life and how you have accepted and taken on responsibility for the actions of yourself and others. If you have not really had many work related responsibilities you can mention other responsibilities you have had outside work.
Can you work under pressure?
You need to say that you can work under pressure – and perhaps give an example where you did so.
How many hours are you prepared to work?
You would be prepared to work the necessary hours to get the job done on time.
Do you mind working for someone older / younger than yourself?
Here you should say that you are prepared to work with anyone.
What are your career goals?
Discuss goals that are aligned with the company who is interviewing you.
How did you get on with your previous manager, co-workers and subordinates?
Hopefully you can say that you got on well with everyone.
How long will you stay in this job?
State that you are looking for a long-term opportunity where you can learn and develop.
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Answers, Please (10 of 10)
Are you too old for this job? Are you too young for this job?
Older applicant -- State that you feel that your extra experience would enable you to make a bigger contribution to their company sooner than someone younger and less experienced.
Younger applicant – State "No, I do not think so!" then state the reason why you are not too young (., you have gained a lot of experience in a short time).
What interests do you have outside work?
Your hobbies and interests can tell an employer a lot about you, including whether you are sociable or solitary, and whether you can take on 'leadership' roles. So you should think about which interests will paint the right picture of you given the position you are discussing.
What level of salary are you looking for now?
Be careful here - you do not want to appear greedy. If you are applying for a specific job you could ask them what the salary range is. Once they have answered you could say "I think my experience would place me at the top end of your range, don't you?" If they ask you this question early on in the interview you could delay answering by saying "It is hard to discuss salary without first knowing a little bit more about the job and the responsibilities."
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Questions, Please
What do you like and dislike about your job/company?
What surprised you about your job and the company?
How would you describe the firm's culture? Have there been any major changes in the company’s culture in the last few years?
What are common mistakes MBAs make?
I am really interested in learning more about your function/industry: how should I go about it?
If a new hire was a spectacular success in this position after six months, what would he or she have accomplished?
What's a typical day for a new employee in this position?
How are deals/projects staffed?
What type of training should I expect?
How will my work be evaluated?
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Here are some suggested questions. Of course, you should tailor the questions to the specific company. For example, don’t just ask “I know there the banking environment is tough. How is Deutsche Bank’s business doing?” Instead you can ask “I know the financial press says that the financial markets are down, and the banking environment is tough. I also know that Deutsche Bank was #1 in the league tables this year for IPOs in Asia. Can you tell me a little bit about why your bank is so successful in this tough environment?”.
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Interview End
Reiterate your interest in the company
Reiterate 1-2 of your selling points
Say goodbye as you said hello
Do not ask how you did in the interview
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1. Reiterate interest in the company. If a firm is your top choice, or one of your top choices, point it out now. A little enthusiasm goes a long way. People want to hire people who want to work for them.
2. Reiterate one or more of your sales points. You know why.
3. Don't ask how you did. And don't ask how soon you'll hear back either. It's not a good idea to say or do anything that exposes your insecurities.
4. Say goodbye just as you said hello. Make direct eye contact, deliver a firm, friendly handshake and maintain a warm expression. When you leave the room, the interviewer should have a smile on my face, and should be thinking, 'That was fun. I enjoyed that person.'
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After the Interview
Keep notes about the interview
Send thank-you letters
Thank interviewer for time and interest
Mention 1-2 interview highlights
Reiterate interest in the job and the company
Keep letter short and avoid excessive flattery
Even if you don’t get the job, you might consider asking for feedback to help you in future interviews
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Common Mistakes
Being unprepared
Not using time efficiently
Poor handshake/bad body language
Saying negative things about past jobs
Being too passive….or too arrogant
Discussing salary, work hours or vacation time
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Questions & Answers
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Consulting Questions
FOCUS: problem solving skills, leadership, teamwork, ability to persuade others
Give an example of an analytical challenge you have faced, how you addressed it, and how it was resolved.
What do you think it takes to be a successful consultant?
Are you comfortable with the travel requirements and lifestyle aspects of work as a consultant?
Discuss your style both as a team member and as a team leader.
Tell me how you would answer a client who asks “You’ve never worked in my industry, how can you possible help me?”
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Entertainment Questions
FOCUS: passion for industry, creativity, willingness to start in non-glamour role, past experience with media content
Why are you interested in the entertainment industry?
What sector are you interested in (film, music, etc.)?
What trade magazines or journals do you read? What did you think about the recent article about ____?
How many CDs/videos/DVDs do you own?
What kind of music/films/TV do you listen to or watch?
What was your favorite movie/TV show? Was it successful? Why or why not? How would you have improved it?
Give me an example of a time when you have been most creative?
Why did you get an MBA? How will it help you in this industry?
What is your goal in this industry?
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High Tech Questions
FOCUS: flexibility, understanding of and passion for technology, creativity, marketing point of view, strategic thinking and entrepreneurship
Who could you see out company being in a strategic alliance with? Why?
Why high tech? Where do you want to be in this industry?
Who are our competitors, what are their competitive advantages and what are ours?
What excites you about this industry?
What role do you want in this company?
Have you seen our website? What do you think of it?
How would you grow our business?
Give me an example of where you used technology to solve a problem.
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Investment Banking Questions
FOCUS: passion for finance, commitment to industry, deep understanding of competitors, financial skills, willingness to work long hours, client skills, initiative
Why investment banking instead of other finance jobs?
Describe your quantitative skills.
Why join us instead of our competitors?
Tell me about the time you worked the hardest in your life.
Tell me about a time you have had to develop or manage client relationships.
What stocks do you follow and why?
What was our stock price yesterday?
If you were scheduled to attend a cousin’s birthday party and you were closing a deal, how would you handle this scheduling conflict?
Where do you want to be after five years in this company?
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Asset Management Questions
FOCUS: passion for investing, financial analysis skills, ability to take risks, skills in influencing others, ability to recover and learn from mistakes
Why asset management instead of other finance jobs?
What is your approach in investing?
Tell me about your most recent buy/sell decision and why you made it.
Tell me about a bad decision you made in your life and what you did about it.
Do you like to gamble/take risks? Give me an example.
What stock do you like and why?
Describe a situation in which it was difficult to obtain information you needed, and how you did it.
Describe a situation in which you took a position other people did not support.
Describe a situation in which you had to sell your ideas.
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Manufacturing Questions
FOCUS: passion for manufacturing, ability to relate to different kinds of people, desire to be a general manager
Why manufacturing instead of other jobs?
Where do you want to be in five years?
Give me an example of a tough management challenge you have faced.
Talk to me about how you relate to people who are different from you.
How did you like your operations management course? What did you like about it?
Give me an example of a time when you demonstrated leadership.
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Marketing Questions
FOCUS: creativity, initiative, interested in general management, leadership, interpersonal skills, interest in consumer behavior
Give me an example of a problem you solved using creativity.
Give me an example of a time you innovated and improved a product or process.
How do you motivate others?
Give me an example of a difficult management situation you have faced and how you dealt with it.
Give me an example of a leadership role you have had.
Give me an example of an advertising campaign you did not like and tell me how you would improve it.
What was your favorite product launch in the last few years? Why did you like it?
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People who get the job prepare thoroughly before they show up for the interview.
1. Decide ahead of time what you want to say about yourself.
Think of the interview as a 30-minute advertisement. What are the messages you want to get across? That you're a leader? An effective problem-solver? Someone with a passion for financial analysis? Choose two or three selling points, then think of things you have done that demonstrate those selling points.
2. Research the firm.
An interview isn't just about selling yourself. It's also about convincing the interviewer that you want to work at the firm. Know the firm's products and services, its culture, and its noteworthy business transactions. Study its recruiting brochure and website. Read the relevant material in your career-placement office. If possible, talk to people at the firm. There is a lot of public information out there, so there's no excuse for failing to know the basics.
3. Prepare questions to ask about the company.
Your questions let the interviewer know your interest and enthusiasm for the firm and the job position.
4. Do a practice interview.
Do a mock interviews with classmates or the CDC. Feedback from others is very helpful. Or, if you can get access to a video camera, tape yourself. You'll be amazed at how many strange gestures and other odd behaviors a person can display. Then, you will have a chance to polish your interview skills before the real interview.
*
These are some tips for your interview at the company.
Don’t be late.
Bring something to read. When the interviewer comes out to greet you, you should not be slumped on the reception room sofa. Bring a book or a magazine to read.
Be polite to everyone. Receptionists and other staff talk, and interviewers listen. Ask the receptionist how she's doing. Then listen to her answer.
Move first. Walk toward the interviewer, don't wait for her to come to you. It shows you're enthusiastic.
Smile and make eye contact. Practice in the mirror. Your look should say "I'm relaxed and comfortable." Eye contact shows you are direct, socially smooth and respectful of the other person.
Use a firm, one-handed handshake. A handshake is the first physical contact you have with a person. Be sure to make it pleasant.
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1. Use appropriate body language. Studies suggest that what you do, rather than what you say, accounts for more than half of the impression an interviewer will form of you.
-Sit up nice and straight, do not cross arms. It says you're confident. At the same time, don't be rigid. That says you're nervous.
-Maintain eye contact.
-Maintain a relaxed, pleasant facial expression. In tense situations, people tend to scowl, furrow their brow, hold their eyes wide open, or make other awkward faces. Relax. Feel your facial muscles unclench.
2. Read your interviewer. To a certain extent, you want to size up your interviewer and adjust your rap accordingly. If the interviewer seems to want to talk a lot, let her. She won't like it if you interrupt. If she asks a lot of questions about your interpersonal skills, focus on your strengths in that area. On the other hand, don't work too hard to play to an interviewer's style.
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Here are some suggested questions. Of course, you should tailor the questions to the specific company. For example, don’t just ask “I know there the banking environment is tough. How is Deutsche Bank’s business doing?” Instead you can ask “I know the financial press says that the financial markets are down, and the banking environment is tough. I also know that Deutsche Bank was #1 in the league tables this year for IPOs in Asia. Can you tell me a little bit about why your bank is so successful in this tough environment?”.
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1. Reiterate interest in the company. If a firm is your top choice, or one of your top choices, point it out now. A little enthusiasm goes a long way. People want to hire people who want to work for them.
2. Reiterate one or more of your sales points. You know why.
3. Don't ask how you did. And don't ask how soon you'll hear back either. It's not a good idea to say or do anything that exposes your insecurities.
4. Say goodbye just as you said hello. Make direct eye contact, deliver a firm, friendly handshake and maintain a warm expression. When you leave the room, the interviewer should have a smile on my face, and should be thinking, 'That was fun. I enjoyed that person.'
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