Application Letter to Health Sciences Authority (HSA)

Applied Sciences Group

Division:     Forensic Science Division

Position:     Scientist, Forensic Chemistry & Physics Laboratory

Responsibilities:

You will work with a team of Scientists and Laboratory officers to provide reliable, error-free and timely forensic examinations and consultancies covering a comprehensive range of multidiscipline crime scene physical evidence.

You will be required to evaluate, interpret and consolidate the scientific data generated from a wide range of instruments and produce an accurate and objective report that can withstand court scrutiny. In addition, you will also assist the Laboratory Director in the management of the laboratory and participate in quality assurance activities and research and development projects.

Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science (Hons), 2^nd Class Upper Division in Chemistry/Material Science or above
• Experience with GC/MS, HPLC, FT-IR, Raman and/or SEM/EDX is desirable.
• Excellent written and spoken English with good oral presentation skills
• Ability to multi-task and handle stress, pressure and tight deadlines.
• Good team-player
• Strong nerves to withstand gory scenes.
• Good character reference

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Koek Jun Hui, Terence

Block XX7

Pasir Ris Street X1, #08-XX5

Singapore 510XX7

+65 9XXXX385

u09XXXX6@nus.edu.sg

12 February 2011

Ang Hock Kheng

Director, Human Capital Management

Health Sciences Authority

11, Outram Road

Singapore 169078

Dear Mr Ang,

APPLICATION FOR AN INTERNSHIP AS A SCIENTIST IN FORENSIC CHEMISTRY & PHYSICS LABORATORY

I am a 2nd year undergraduate from NUS majoring in Applied Chemistry with a specialization in materials chemistry. I have read from the HSA website that the organization is continually striving for excellence to provide high standard services and I am excited about the direction HSA is headed. As such, I am interested in opportunities as a scientist in Forensic Chemistry and Physics Laboratory at the Health Sciences Authority and would like to apply for an internship with the company to be part of the dynamic team.

Being at NUS has enabled me to broaden my view in the field of science and the Applied Chemistry programme has equipped me with various technical and analytical skills required in a laboratory. I have gained extensive knowledge in operating several high precision instruments which includes UV-vis spectrometer, viscometer, X-ray diffractometer and gas chromatograph. In addition, I am adept at using Microsoft Excel to facilitate data logging and analysis. I have also attended a course on professional communication that has increased my writing and communicating proficiency. More importantly, I cultivated strong interpersonal skills from working closely with people of different backgrounds and learnt a great deal about effective communication, which I believe is extremely important in an accomplished organization.

Beyond my academic endeavours, I have enthusiastically participated in many activities that have honed my leadership qualities during my two years stay in a Hall of Residence. Last year, I was appointed as a Programmes Director in my hall’s freshmen orientation committee and had successfully led a team of 12 in planning and executing a 4-day camp. I have also developed organizational and administrative skills through event management workshops conducted by the Hall Master who is an Associate Professor and Vice-Dean (Finance and Administration) in NUS. In 2011, I held the position of a vice-head in my residential block’s welfare committee and applied the skills I had learnt in several events I had planned for the residents. I am therefore confident that I can contribute and value-add to the organization with my capabilities and vigor.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss with you about the internship. Please feel free to contact me by phone at +659XXXX385 or by e-mail at u09XXXX6@nus.edu.sg.  Thank you for your consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Koek Jun Hui, Terence

Enclosed: Resume

Resolving Interpersonal Conflict - Personality Clashes

~Change means movement. Movement means friction. Only in the frictionless vacuum of a nonexistent abstract world can movement or change occur without that abrasive friction of conflict~

                                                                           - Saul Alinsky

Two fund-raising committee heads, Edward and Phil, had been given instructions from higher management to reduce a list of 15 potential members shortlisted by them previously to 10. The higher management explains that due to certain constraints, the maximum capacity of the team had to be kept strictly at 12. The 15 people had been specially selected from a pool of 50 and cutting down to 10 was a sizable reduction. To compound the situation, neither Edward nor Phil was willingly to let go of their picks. 

Edward's personality tended to favor people. He was generally more sensitive to people, and was a caring, thoughtful committee head. Phil was just the opposite. He was more concerned with productivity, efficiency and considered people's feelings secondary to the work.

They met to discuss the member reduction with their top 10 choices in mind and unfortunately, their choices differ greatly. Edward told Phil that he felt the people whom he had picked had an easy-going nature, were friendly and will be able to work well with the other members. A happy and enjoyable working experience was what Edward had in mind for everyone. Phil however, had a different justification for his choices. Phil selected the members based on their capabilities and work efficiency. Whether the members get along wasn't his main concern. Recognition and appraisal from the higher ups achieved through the funds raised were much more important to Phil. Both of them had a difficult time working things out as they each believed their choice was the right one.

Shockingly, Edward claimed that he had already informed some of the members about their unsuccessful application prior to their meeting as he assumed Phil would agree with his choices. 

Phil was outraged and furious. 

He couldn't believe Edward had done something so selfish and  irresponsible, jeopardizing the whole operation. Those people whom Edward had rejected were considered by Phil to be the few outstanding ones in terms of productivity. Phil has a bad feeling that the team is going to fail but he faces a dilemma now. Should he give in to Edward and hope that everything turns out to be fine? Argue with Edward and hope that he would give in instead? Or withdraw from the team and forfeit the opportunity to earn a good portfolio for himself.

When there is a change, there is bound to be friction. Imagine you are in Phil's position. What would you do to resolve this conflict? Is there any better alternative Phil should consider?