Application Letter

Application Letter

60 Dakota Crescent, #12-243

Singapore 390060

7 September 2011

Health Sciences Authority

11 Outram Road

Singapore 169078

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing in in response to the job advertisement, found on your official website www.hsa.gov.sg, for the position of Scientist, Illicit Drugs Laboratory. The division’s excellent, internationally recognized forensic science services and its vital contribution to our country's security have motivated me to pursue a career in this area.

I will be graduating with a Chemistry degree from the National University of Singapore. During my undergraduate years, I developed strong interests in analytical chemistry and forensic science. I may not have possessed any working experiences but I am consistently exposed to relevant analytical techniques during laboratory sessions, such as GC/MS and HPLC. I have also performed well for related modules, such as analytical chemistry. I believe my specialized analytical skills would be useful to the team in research and drug analysis.

I have cultivated a meticulous character from working as a customer service associate as I handled cash payments and organized service details. Being proficient in English and possessing strong interpersonal skills have allowed me to communicate well with customers. Furthermore, I have attended a module on effective communication which has equipped me with good oral presentation skills.

In addition to academic credentials, I am self-motivated, disciplined and I am able to work independently. Team sports such as touch rugby and tennis (doubles) have imbued me with invaluable teamwork experiences. As a member in the publicity team of Project Orion 2011, an outreach community involvement program, I was able to hone my innovativeness during events planning with the aim of increasing the awareness of Project Orion in NUS.

My peers see me as approachable and enthusiastic as I actively participate in Freshmen Orientation Camps in university and in junior college. I was efficient, organized and self-motivated when executing my job as a customer service associate. Therefore, I am well liked by both peers and colleagues.

After reading about the R&D projects conducted by HSA, I am deeply inspired to work in a brilliant research team like yours. I believe that with my technical knowledge, good interpersonal skills and passion in science I will make a suitable candidate for the position.

I will appreciate an interview at your convenience if you require any additional information. I will be contactable anytime at 91700776 or samanthaleejiamin@hotmail.com. Thank you for your consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Lee Jia Min Samantha

Interpersonal Conflicts - What could I have done?

Sometimes, I think that my horoscope played a part in defining my personality. As a Libra, I am peace-loving and would avoid conflicts at all costs. Therefore when a conflict arises, these traits lead me to make peace with someone but sometimes, I get upset as a result.

Recently, my friends and I organised a surprise party for friend X’s 21^st birthday. We did so because X cancelled her own party a week before her birthday due to the unavailability of her desired party venue. Not wanting to see her disappointed, we secretly planned a party and tried our best to make things as similar as possible to her initial planned party. However, financial and time constraints prevented us from perfecting every detail to meet her expectations.

On the day of the party, my friends and I arrived early to set up the place. Feeling exhausted after that, we sat by ourselves and had little interaction with her other friends. At the end of the party, X called us to a corner and cried. She confronted us, saying that she did not request for this surprise party and we were poor hosts. X explained that since we were the organisers, we should play host throughout the party and not be anti-social. This unexpected confrontation came as a tremendous blow for everyone. I was shocked beyond words. To prevent any conflicts, I initiated an apology awkwardly and left together with my friends. I did not want any rash actions to ruin the friendship. However, the more I think about it, the more upset I was. I do agree that perhaps we could have done better but why did she not appreciate our efforts? This episode did not affect our friendship eventually but I thought I could have clarified the misunderstanding at that point.

Dear classmates, what could I have done during the confrontation and save myself from resenting later on?