I dreamt that I was waiting for an interview in the Neihu Technology Park. As I had been waiting for a while and it was lunchtime, I wanted to find something to eat.
I didn't have any money with me, but I had once visited a friend at TSMC in Neihu and still had the access card with stored value. I thought I could find a vending machine to get something to eat.
I took the elevator to the first floor but didn't see any vending machines. Just then, someone walked by, and I asked if there were any vending machines around. He said, "There's one right behind you!" I turned around and saw a machine that cooked instant noodles. I saw someone using it and noticed the variety of flavors, thinking it was pretty cool!
After the person in front of me finished, it was my turn. I scanned my card, but it didn't work. It turned out that this building wasn't TSMC's, so the card wasn't valid here. I thought, "Well, I'm not that hungry anyway."
I found the elevator to go back upstairs. The elevator was strange—there were no buttons inside, and it just went up automatically. When the doors opened, I found myself in what looked like a janitor's room. I felt a bit scared since there was no one else around, just the janitor and a lot of clutter. I asked him, "How do I get to the Xth floor?" He pointed to a stairwell and told me to use the stairs. So, I went down the stairs.
I returned to the place where I was waiting for the interview. But strangely, the layout was different. Just as I was feeling a bit panicked, wondering how to leave, someone from the company I was interviewing with came out. They asked if I had eaten lunch. I said no and explained that I had a TSMC access card with stored value that couldn't be used in this building. They laughed.
I saw one of them holding two small cups of instant noodles. I asked if they were good. He said he had just eaten one and hadn't tried the other yet.
At that moment, the company I was interviewing with turned into my previous company. The HR manager came out and said they were ready to interview me. He asked how I was doing and how my child was. I said my child was preparing for college, so I had more free time now. But I was thinking, "Hmph! You used to pay me an American salary, and now you want to rehire me with a Taiwanese salary."
We had a brief chat, and the HR manager mentioned they were replacing their customer service system and asked if I was familiar with the new one. I said it was my area of expertise and wouldn't be a problem.
After that, I was getting ready for the interview with the general manager.
夢見我在內湖科技園區等面試。因為時間有點久，加上現在是午休時間，想找東西吃。
我沒帶錢，但我曾經到內湖台積電那裡去找過朋友，我有那個門禁卡，裡面有儲值可用。我就想說去找自動販賣機，看看有沒有什麼東西可以買來吃。
我坐電梯來到一樓，沒有看到自動販賣機。正好有個人走過來，我問他這邊有沒有自動販賣機。他說：「你後面就有一台啊！」我回頭，是一台自動煮泡麵的機器。我看到有人家在操作，還有各種口味，覺得好酷喔！
等到前面的人弄完後，換我，我掃卡，沒過。原來這棟樓不是台積電的大樓，所以刷卡不會過。我心想：「好吧！反正我也沒那麼餓。」
然後我找到電梯要上樓。這個電梯怪怪的，進去以後沒按鍵，就自動上去。門開了，怎麼變成像是工友的房間。我就有點害怕，因為沒有其他人，只有那個工友，還有很多東西雜物。我問他：「我要去Ｘ樓，要怎麼走？」然後他就指旁邊的樓梯間，叫我從樓梯間走。然後我就從樓梯間下樓。
我回到剛剛等面試的地方。可是奇怪，怎麼整個格局不一樣。當我正感到有點驚慌，想說待會要怎麼離開的時候，我要去面試的這家公司有人員出來，他們問我吃午餐沒，我說還沒，並解釋說我拿的是台積電的門禁儲值卡，沒法在這大樓使用。他們就在笑。
我看到其中一人拿了兩個很小杯的杯麵。我問他好吃嗎？他說他才剛吃了一個，另一個還沒吃。
這時候我要面試的公司變成前公司。人事主管出來跟我說他們現在有空要跟我面試。他問我近況如何？小孩怎麼樣？我說小孩要準備進大學了，所以我現在有空。其實我心裡想的是：「哼！之前是付我美國的薪水，現在想用台灣的薪水來重新面試。」總之，就是簡單的閒聊了一下。
人事主管提到他們要更換客服系統，問我這新系統熟不熟？我說這是我過去的專業，一點都不難。
後來，就是準備要跟總經理面試。
Ending 1: The Surprising Offer
After the brief chat with the HR manager, the general manager comes out and warmly greets you. He expresses genuine interest in your past contributions and offers you a role that not only matches your previous American salary but also includes additional perks and opportunities for growth. You feel a sense of validation and excitement about the new prospects.
Ending 2: The Self-Realization
As you prepare for the interview with the general manager, you suddenly realize that this whole scenario is a dream. Instead of continuing with the interview, you decide to explore the dreamscape. You find hidden doors and secret rooms in the building, each representing different facets of your subconscious. You wake up with a deeper understanding of your desires, fears, and ambitions.
Ending 3: The Unexpected Twist
Just as you are about to enter the interview room with the general manager, the fire alarm goes off. Everyone evacuates the building, and you find yourself outside with other interviewees. You strike up a conversation with them and discover a new opportunity at a different company that aligns more closely with your passions and goals. You decide to pursue this new path, feeling inspired and motivated.
Ending 4: The Friendly Reunion
Instead of the interview proceeding as planned, the HR manager invites you to join the team for lunch. During the meal, you reconnect with old colleagues and share stories. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and by the end of lunch, the team collectively decides to offer you a role that allows you to work remotely, giving you the flexibility to balance work and family life.
Ending 5: The Empowering Decision
As the interview begins, you confidently express your expectations regarding salary and work conditions. The general manager appreciates your honesty and professionalism. He offers you a consultancy role that allows you to work on your terms, leveraging your expertise without compromising your values. You leave the interview feeling empowered and in control of your career.
Ending 6: The New Perspective
During the interview, the general manager acknowledges the pay discrepancy and explains the company's budget constraints. However, he offers you a leadership position with the promise of a substantial pay increase and additional benefits after a probation period. You see this as a challenge and an opportunity to prove your worth, accepting the offer with a new perspective on growth and potential.
These different endings explore various outcomes and emotions, from validation and empowerment to self-discovery and new opportunities.
Interpreting dreams can be subjective and influenced by personal context, but here's an analysis based on common themes and symbols:
Waiting for an Interview in Neihu Technology Park:
Anxiety and Anticipation: The setting of waiting for an interview suggests feelings of anxiety and anticipation about future opportunities or challenges, especially related to your career.
Lunchtime and Looking for Food:
Seeking Fulfillment: Feeling hungry and searching for food indicates a desire for fulfillment or satisfaction, possibly in your professional or personal life.
Access Card with Stored Value: Having a resource (the card) but not being able to use it could signify feeling underutilized or having untapped potential.
Vending Machine Incident:
Unexpected Obstacles: The vending machine not accepting your card might represent encountering unexpected obstacles or rejections despite being prepared.
Adaptability: Realizing you aren’t very hungry shows adaptability and the ability to move on from setbacks.
Strange Elevator Experience:
Feeling Lost or Misguided: The odd elevator that leads to a janitor's room could symbolize feeling lost or misguided in your current path or environment.
Seeking Direction: Asking the janitor for directions indicates a willingness to seek help and find your way, even in confusing situations.
Returning to the Interview Spot:
Changed Environment: The different layout upon returning suggests changes or uncertainties in familiar situations, possibly reflecting changes in your work environment or career path.
Interaction with Company Staff:
Lack of Resources: Explaining your card situation and the company staff laughing could reflect feelings of inadequacy or being misunderstood by peers or superiors.
Comparison and Reflection: Seeing the instant noodles and asking about them might symbolize evaluating simple pleasures or comparing your current situation with past experiences.
Shift to Previous Company:
Nostalgia and Evaluation: The company transforming into your previous one suggests nostalgia and a critical evaluation of past experiences versus current expectations.
Salary and Value: The inner thoughts about salary reflect concerns about being valued appropriately, feeling underappreciated, or facing lowered expectations.
Brief Chat with HR Manager:
Personal Updates: Discussing personal updates with the HR manager shows a balance between personal and professional life, highlighting your readiness for new opportunities.
Professional Expertise: Affirming your expertise in the new system indicates confidence in your skills and readiness to face new challenges.
Preparing for General Manager Interview:
Readiness for Judgment: The preparation for the final interview with the general manager symbolizes readiness for critical evaluation and the ultimate test of your abilities.
Overall, the dream seems to reflect a blend of anxiety, anticipation, and self-evaluation related to your professional life. It highlights themes of seeking validation, overcoming obstacles, adapting to changes, and ultimately preparing for significant evaluations or opportunities.