Application Letter Critique

Here is draft 2 of my application letter. I have excluded my personal details for obvious reasons.

9 FEBRUARY 2011

SGS TESTING AND CONTROL SERVICES SINGAPORE PTE LTD

26 AYER RAJAH CRESCENT, #03-07

SINGAPORE 139944

To whom it may concern:

QA Chemist – Oil, Gas & Chemical Lab, Job Reference APAC00187

I am enclosing my CV in response to the job opening for a QA Chemist in the oil, gas & chemical laboratory. As a QA chemist I am seeking to support and maintain the quality systems and instruments in the laboratory with diligence, to conduct detailed inter-department quality audits with and to offer non-comprising quality assurance to clients.

I have recently graduated from the National University of Singapore with an Honours degree in Chemistry. I have in-depth knowledge in chemistry and have experience using chemical machines. I have proper knowledge of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as well as of laboratory safety regulations. These are specific skills and specialized expertise that meet the requirements you are looking for.

As the demands of the chemical market are ever-changing, I understand the need to formulate new quality assurance strategies for clients. I believe that my research studies in my Honours year have thoroughly equipped me with the skills required to innovate new ideas and implement new strategies. Being able to complete my degree with Honours has trained me to be determined and resilient through the course of my academic studies and I am sure these attributes will help me to overcome the new challenges of working with SGS.

Having supported myself through my tertiary studies with part-time jobs while handling the high workload of NUS, I have learnt to manage my priorities as well as to excel under stress. I have also learnt to be able to work favourably with my peers and professors to achieve and complete the tasks on hand. I believe that these qualities that follow me to the workplace will help me adapt quickly and to be able to tie up amiable working relations with both clients and colleagues alike.

SGS is an established international organization with offices in several different countries. I would find working with SGS to be very rewarding and challenging. I do hope that you will look favourably at my application and I look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully Yours,

Liew Yong Qiang

Resolving Interpersonal Conflict

This particular incident occurred between me and a close friend of mine, K. Both of us are leaders in a percussion group. Part of our duty is to teach the members how to play certain sequences or songs. The previous weekend, I taught at the practice session while K was in Kuala Lumpur.

A few days later, we were together in the studio when one of the members, J, reflected to K, saying “Hey, did you know that Yong Qiang asked us to write down a sequence using that technical counting method? I think none of the other members understood what he said *lor”, attempting to make a joke out of it.

Reacting, K shouted across to me, asking “Why did you teach them that?! It will only be a waste of time! I think the only person in our group who documents a sequence in such a manner is only you!!!”

I was irked. “I’m not going to talk to you about this”, I said in a dejected manner. K further shouted, “Why are you reacting like this? J is providing constructive feedback. As a leader, you should take it positively!” I wanted to rebut, but changed my mind as I knew that doing so would turn the conversation into an argument. As such, I brought myself a distance further away from them and sat down to think through the things that he said.

After about five minutes, with well-constructed thoughts, I approached both K and J. I explained that my focus was not to teach the technical information but primarily for the members to write down the sequence in order, lest they forget. This helped to clear up the misunderstanding. I also elaborated on the teaching structure for that weekend and how I felt I had taught to the best of my ability and helped overcome the problems faced by the members. When K tried to interrupt, I urged him to let me finish speaking before he responded.

I felt that K did not understand the full picture before giving his opinions. Explaining my point of view to him helped to clear up the preconceived ideas he had of me. Although K was right that I should receive feedback positively, the strong and assertive tone he used in putting across his words had instead upset me. This reinforces the statement that it is not what you say, but how you say it that matters.

J should also have channeled his feedback to me directly, rather than to another person. This would definitely have had a more positive effect on me.

Reflecting on this incident, I realized that my immediate responses to such adverse situations are uncontrolled and it portrays a side of me that is reacting negatively to the speaker. There is usually a delay before I can control my emotions and manage my thoughts. This is a weakness which I have to constantly improve on because my emotional capacity will definitely be tested in the future.

Now for the question: How well do you think that you will handle your emotions and not let them fly when your close friend is providing constructive feedback to you though in a harsh and assertive tone?

*lor is a slang term used widely in Singapore to assert a statement and usually carries with it a sense of resignation or dismissiveness