Intercultural conflict

In 2002, I went for a mini pilgrimage with my family to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It was an eye opening experience for me as it was the first time that I ventured out of South East Asia, but it was never a culture shock as the things that I observed are something that I have expected from a Muslim country. However, there are still some differences that I observed to be peculiar and unrelated to religion.

A particular incident which I wish to share is when I was at the hotel lobby on one fine day. I was about to get to the exit door when a middle-eastern man probably in his 50s, was heading to the door as well. Being raised in a community where giving way to the elders is mandatory, I opened the door for him to leave. Instead of gratitude, he looked rather displeased and actually beckoned me to leave first. As I was in no hurry, I gestured to him again to leave first which then prompted him to relay some Arabic words in a harsh tone. Not wanting to further aggravate the situation, I went out, having no idea what happened earlier on.

I only got my answer 8 years later while I was watching a documentary called ‘Secrets of body language’, where 2 middle-eastern politicians were shown jostling to each other at the door. The reason was that their culture dictates that the most important person should leave last. Only then it struck me that the person who was at the hotel entrance almost a decade ago, might be a prominent VIP. Up to this day, I am still surprised on how different their culture is from us despite sharing the same faith, and not to mention their way on reflecting someone’s status. Nevertheless, I will still stick to what I was I taught- giving way to the elders.  

Application Letter

SGH offers you a challenging career with unlimited opportunities. Come join our team and make a difference in the lives of people.

Medical / Laboratory Technologists SGH/ACSS/0211/009 Posted Date: 1 Feb 11
The Job  You will perform laboratory tests, assist in preparing various types of media as well as receive and process specimens, including carrying out specialised testing of patient samples. In addition, you will perform on-going quality control checks to ensure test results are precise and accurate. Requirements: Degree or Diploma in Biomedical Science, Life Sciences or its equivalent Candidates with relevant work experience may be considered for senior positions Fresh graduates are welcome to apply
Education Level	Diploma
Job Category	Allied Health, Laboratory, Life Sciences
Job Location	Singapore-Any
Job Type	Full Time , Part Time , Permanent, Contract
Consider Fresh Graduate Application	Yes
We regret only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Bam

BLK XXX Central Perk

#XX-XXXX

Singapore XXXXXX

+65 9XXX XXXX

XXX@gmail.com

7 February 2011

Human Resource Manager

Singapore General Hospital (SGH)

Outram Road
Singapore 169608

Dear Sir/Mdm,

APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF MEDICAL/LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST

I read with great interest regarding the brochure for the medical/laboratory technologist position that was handed out during the NUS Career Fair at SGH allocated booth on 28 January 2010. After spending some quality time with the attending personnel, I was very impressed with the job description and I would very much like to be part of the Allied Health Professionals in serving the needs of the general health population.

I will be graduating from National University of Singapore with a Bachelor degree (Hons) in Life Sciences specializing in Biomedical Sciences. The highly intensive modular structure has equipped me with in depth understanding of the human anatomy as well as microorganisms’ role in pathological disorders. This is especially highlighted in the microbiology module I took which also equipped me with useful laboratory techniques that are relevant in the position that I am applying for. In addition to that, the Honours project that I am undertaking required me to experiment with pathogenic bacteria which are highly needed in a microbiology lab that deals with a host of dangerous microorganisms. The exposure to real laboratory working conditions and more sophisticated techniques would definitely be of great value to the health establishment.     

I am confident that my ability to work with others as well as being independent would qualify me to handle the responsibilities as a lab technologist. During my course of study in NUS, I interact well with my Japanese Professor and post-doc who are mentoring me in the Honours project, despite the language barrier. Juggling experiments with regular classes also highlights my ability to prioritise my work in a tight schedule. Work experience wise, I am used to the clinical setup as I was a combat medic during National Service, dispensing drugs and conducting medical triage. I am also currently working as a part time sales assistant in a pharmacy, recommending the right drugs to customers. Thus, with relevant research background, job experience and the drive to aid in the health industry, you would find the right person in me to fulfil the demands of the applied position.

I would very much like to speak with you further about how I can make valuable contribution to SGH. Please feel free to contact me at +65 9XXX XXXX or by email at XXX@gmail.com. I am looking forward to a favourable response from you.

Thank you for your kind consideration.

Yours faithfully,

Bam

Enclosed: Resume

Resolving Interpersonal Conflicts

I have been working at a pharmacy as part time sales assistant for a few years and I have seen a fair share of interpersonal conflicts that arise between some of my colleagues and the pharmacist. Since Sunday is an off day for the pharmacist, I never really get to work with her but almost every colleague that I worked with, often complained of the ill treatment they experienced. 

The most brought up issue was the blatant favouritism shown towards some of the staff, who complained of having their every action closely monitored by the pharmacist as though they were incompetent and distrustful. Other staffs who are clearly in good terms with pharmacist however, do not share the same problem which consequently prompted gossips that they have been trying to win favours through unscrupulous methods. Personally, I cannot solely judge her based on my colleagues’ grievances as I did not see the incidents myself. The pharmacist probably did so to ensure that mistakes are avoided although her method is left to be desired.

The only thing I can do is to console my colleagues and advised them to do their job honestly in the hope of  gaining the pharmacist’s trust. Eventually, some could no longer put up with the micro managing and aired their discontent which often ended in a heated argument resulting in either having their complaints dismissed or being transferred to another outlet. Therefore, without having to resort to these outcomes, what can be done by both parties so as to maintain a harmonious working environment?

Effective communication- Why it is important to me

As I went through the various topics and skills that we are going to cover in the coming lessons, I began to realize that this module is not merely about learning to create resume/cv, proposal letter or the highly anticipated mock interviews. Like many 4th year students, these skills are much sought after to get ourselves that 'dream' job. However, I believe there is more to that and effective communication will play a major role in that respect. Some of the topics that caught my eye are the recently covered communication and listening skills, the 7Cs of writing as well as the preparation for oral presentation.  

Getting the job and maintaining it are two different matters altogether which explains why effective communication is important to me specifically with regards to the latter. For instance, one of my weaknesses is that I require a considerable amount of time to adapt nicely and warming up to new colleagues. Thus, through effective communication, I can not only pass the message clearly but also engage in a meaningful conversation to create a positive lasting impression.  With the confidence in doing so, I would also hope to be more vocal in voicing out my opinions. Besides verbal communication, I can also aim to improve on expressing my ideas in writing which I believe is still not up to scratch. Finally and most importantly, however is the need for me to conquer my fear of public speaking which is plain for all to see during past oral presentations.