Intercultural Communication

Meet Rover, my handsome golden retriever who loves to swim. Once, when I brought him to the beach, there was a Malay family swimming in the sea. As Rover walked towards the sea, the children screamed “Anjing!” (I’ve heard it often enough to know that it means dog in Malay) and the parents quickly ushered everyone out of the water and retreated to their picnic mat.

After Rover was done swimming, we went to the nearest toilet to rinse him off. While I was doing that, a Malay cleaner scolded me for polluting the waters. Since I was done with Rover, I decided not to argue with him and left. As we were walking back, I noticed that the Malay family had gone back to swimming in the sea.

Before letting Rover into the sea, I made sure that we were as far away as possible from the Malay family. By getting out of the sea while Rover was in it and getting back in once he was out, the Malay family communicated non-verbally that they were still uncomfortable being in the same waters as Rover, even though we were very far apart. The cleaner was more direct, verging on ethnocentrism, when he accused me of polluting the waters.

I understand from my neighbour, who is Malay, that Muslims view dogs as ritually impure. Thus, they are not allowed to come into contact with bodily fluids, such as saliva, of dogs. That was why the Malay family quickly exited when they saw Rover stepping into the sea and why the cleaner was displeased with me.

That was a one-off incident though. I’ve met Malays who smile politely and let Rover and I pass before going on their way, which I’m thankful for because there are others who bounce away from me, as though there’s a monster on the other end of the leash.

Personal Statement (Edited)

When I was 11, I was given a corn starch and water mixture to determine if it was in the solid or liquid state during a science experiment. I remember how amazed I was, by the white substance on the plate which was solid to the touch but could flow like a liquid. That was my first brush with chemistry. Little did I know that I would be pursuing a career in this field ten years down the road.

As an undergraduate majoring in Chemistry, I’ve come a long way from the young child fascinated by a corn starch mixture. I’ve acquired valuable experimental skills that one can only get from conducting experiments in a chemistry laboratory. Working in the laboratory has also taught me to prioritize as there is a tight schedule to follow when conducting experiments. Apart from that, I’ve also learnt to be resourceful while sourcing for information to complete my laboratory reports.

My temporary job stint as a customer service assistant has given me valuable insights on how to interact with people and resolve their problems amicably. I learnt that there are no hard and fast rules and every situation requires a different solution.

In my free time, I enjoy recreational sports such as kayaking, rollerblading and cycling. I find the notion of putting in effort to propel oneself forward very applicable to life. In life, however, the results of our hard work are not immediate. I recognize that and it serves as a reminder whenever I am going through rough times.

It might not be an easy, but I believe that the qualities I’ve gained so far would aid me in pursuing a career as a chemist.

Application Letter

Job Title: Chemist

Responsiblities:

• Testing of new and alternative materials


• Assist in formulation and testing products to meet specific customer performance criteria


• Determine specific process conditions to achieve optimum results


• Assist in technical advices for product application & problems encountered in the use of products


• Assist in the preparation of training materials for the marketers

Requirements:

• Possesses at least a Bachelor's Degree, Post Graduate Diploma or Professional Degree in any field.


• Singapore Citizen of hold relevant residence status.


• Fresh graduates/Entry level applications are encouraged to apply.

***

123 Pasir Ris Street 10
#11-23
Singapore 510123

September 1, 2009

Human Resources Manager
EPChem International Pte Ltd
33 Ubi Avenue 3
#06-18 Vertex
Singapore 408868

Dear Sir/Madam,

Application for Post of Chemist

I am writing in response to the job advertisement posted on National University of Singapore (NUS) eJob Centre for the post of chemist dated May 15, 2009.

I understand that your company is looking for someone who possesses at least a Bachelor’s Degree in any field. As a Chemistry degree holder, I have 3 years of experience of working in a Chemistry laboratory that has equipped me with the capability to use the various spectrophotometers required for analysis of compounds. I am sure that you will find this to your advantage in testing new and alternative materials.

In addition, I read Principles of Chemical Processes during the course of my study. This would aid in the determination of specific process conditions to achieve optimum results for production of materials, making me a suitable candidate for the post of Chemist in your company.

It is stated in the advertisement that you require the Chemist to assist in providing technical advice to clients who encounter problems when using your products. As a customer service assistant for one of CapitaLand Retail Limited’s shopping malls, I picked up communicative skills required to help customers resolve their problems. I am sure that this will be useful when dealing with clients who have problems.

I am confident that you will find my qualification and skills suitable for the job. Attached is my CV. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to call me at 9145 2376 or email me at teogeokting@nus.edu.sg. Thank you for taking time to read my application and I await your favourable reply.

Yours sincerely,


Teo Geok Ting

Enclosure