Reflection on Oral Presentation (Blog Post #5)

I have started preparing for the presentation about a week and a half before the actual presentation, reviewing the slides, looking for appropriate figures and pictures, etc. The slides were continuously changing during this time. There was always an addition of something, or having to give more precision of other things. But the final  slides were ready about 2 days before the presentation.

I did not prepare a speech text for my part of the presentation because I find that it distracts me if I write down the exact words I want to say. Then during the presentation I would have had a tendency to stop and think what were the exact words that I had planned to say. So I just prepared my speech in my head, from the flow of the slides. I did rehearse the speech in my head a few times while playing the slides though.

Just before the presentation, I told myself not to move around and fidget. I know that is one of my main weaknesses in presentation. However, as soon as the presentation started, I could see my feet moving. I was conscious of it and I could not stop myself, not without losing focus on what I was saying. I do it out of nervousness and habit. Even when talking on the phone I cannot stay in one place. Being nervous also made my throat quite dry. Halfway through my part, I could feel my mouth drying up.

I also didnt want to go over the time limit, so I had to skip a few parts that I had wanted to say.

Overall, I think the presentation went quite ok, even if I babbled a few times and even had some uneasy pauses which seemed to last forever. I think I did a bit better than at the peer teaching presentation. So that is an improvement.

Blog post #4 - Evaluating Inter-cultural Behavior

I once had a strange encounter with a Singaporean (Chinese ethnicity) taxi driver. After I had taken the taxi and told him where I wanted to go, he started talking to me (which a lot of taxi drivers usually do. Nothing particular there) Then we saw a truck loaded with Indian workers. He then asked me if I was from India. I told him I wasn’t. And he started telling me about how worried he was about the Indian workers in Singapore.

He said that they roam around in the streets and under HDBs at night and it was dangerous to let his children out. He also told me that they were dirty and smelly. And that they should learn to speak English because Singaporeans do not understand when they speak. I did not want to contradict him (since he was the one driving me home…) but I was horrified by the disgust he had of the workers.

Then when I got home and thought about it, I realized that it was not so much that he had disgust for them than a great incomprehension of their difference from him.

For the Indian workers, hanging out in the streets at night is something acceptable to do, and even a habit back in their country. They do not pose much threat. It is just fear of the unknown that drove the taxi driver to think that it is unsafe because of the Indian workers.

As for being dirty and smelly, it is a mere prejudice. The workers usually work very hard all day and in terrible conditions. I am sure that if anyone, of any race, worked as they do, they would look and smell the same.

And personally I think that Indian workers make as much effort to speak English as some of the Chinese Singaporeans.

Disclaimer: I do not mean that all Singaporeans think this way. I know some very good Singaporeans and I know it is only a small portion of the population. I also know that the prejudices that people have towards Indian workers are not all unjustified. But the troublemakers are also only a small portion of the Indian worker population.

I also found a video on youtube recently (click here to watch) which is quite relevant to intercultural behavior. It’s a situation in the MRT where a woman yells at some Indian workers. But I could not decipher what she was saying, so I did not comment on it.

New Application Letter

Due to insufficient information in the job advertisement I have used in my earlier application, I have posted below a new application for a different company.


Job Advertisement 

Design Engineer (Marine Oil & Gas Industry / HVAC / MNC) Ref: CO Our client is a leading global company (MNC) providing solutions for ventilation, air treatment & fan solutions for many industrie, with a local presence in 95 countries. (Technology & Innovation: Air Conditioning, Cooling, Filtration, Heat Recovery, Diffusion, Fire Safety and Ventilation). They are looking for a Design Engineer to join their growing business. Main Purpose of Role To support the processing of project orders by designing the HVAC system for Marine as well as Oil & Gas sector. This role is primarily focused on projects within the Air Climate & Air Movement sector, but with an expectation that it will also provide support to the global Oil & Gas business, which has its Asian hub located in the Singapore office.  Requirements Degree / Diploma holder in M&E Engineering / or related discipline. At least 3 years of relevant experience in HVAC system design. Strong competency in AUTOCAD drafting Familiar with International Codes and Standards. Good interpersonal and communication skills Design Responsibilities Responsible for the design of HVAC system, including heatload calculation, & estimation of deliverables in project Carry out detailed drafting on P&ID, D&ID, duct layout, pipe layout, equipment layout, sectional drawings etc Preparation of HVAC specifications, material requisitions, bid evaluation and recommendation Present knowledge of HVAC system design, detail design, estimation & product selection etc Prepare technical submittals for client's approval Project Management Responsibilities Undertake project management activities relating to specific product supply or system-related projects project planning and monitoring order progress Ensure timely deliveries of product from external suppliers Techno-commerical negotiation with suppliers/factories Coordinate activities with purchasing & logistics Additional Information 5 Days Work Week Central location *Willing to pay Attractive Salary Package for the right candidate  :  *Please include Current/Last Drawn Salary and Expected Salary in your Resume (Salary will commensurate according to Candidates’ Work Experience & Qualifications) The Company strives to achieve employee satisfaction and provides conducive working environment, attractive incentives and remuneration to all staff. HOW TO APPLY Simply submit your application by emailing a detailed copy of your updated Resume in MS Word Format to aspire7@achievecareer.com  or call your friendly Consultant, Charlene, at 6590 9927 for a discussion. YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR ACHIEVEMENT!

Qualification Diploma Yr(s) Exp 3 years Zonal Segregation Central Career Level Middle Salary Not Specified / Negotiable Job Type Full Time, Permanent Application Letter Blk 355, #04-373, Choa Chu Kang Central Singapore 680355 15 September 2010 Career Consultant Achieve Career Consultant Pte Ltd 141 Market Street #13-00 International Factors Building Singapore 048944 Dear Sir/Madam I am responding to your job vacancy advertisement on JobsDB.com.sg dated 10th September 2010 with reference number CO/04/09/2010/007. I am a fresh graduate from the National University of Singapore majoring in Mechanical Engineering. I would like to apply for the position of Design Engineer as stated in the advertisement. As you will find in my attached Resume, I have experience working as an intern in the field of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. I am sure the knowledge I have acquired in this domain would be relevant to the required job. I have worked on large-scale M&E Projects related to the Construction Industry, which would help me adapt to the job scope for the position. As per your requirements, I have experience with AutoCAD Software as well as other related software such as Solidworks or Autodesk REVIT MEP. I have particularly used the latter in designing HVAC systems for large-scale projects such as the Barwa Financial District Project, in which I have participated in the duct layout design. The technical knowledge acquired through these tasks will be put to use as a design engineer in your company. My HVAC design skills include calculations of Air Pressure Drop for sizing of equipments and air ducts, for submission to the client and to consultants. I have also worked in close collaboration with the Engineers to prepare heat load calculations using manual methods as well as using specialized software such as REVIT MEP. These would fall in line with the duties needed from the advertised job in your company. In addition to the above, I have developed my interpersonal leadership skills by working in close collaboration with different student bodies in the National University of Singapore, as Chairman of the Mauritian Students’ Group. I am available at any time for an eventual interview. I look forward to hearing from you soon to set up a meeting. My mobile number is +6590374269. You can also contact me via email at yashfeer@nus.edu.sg Sincerely MUTTUR Mohammad Yashfeer

Application Letter for Critique

Job Advertisement from News Paper:

Required experience:

1) M&E Engineer (A&A Works)

2) Acmv Servicing Maintenance Supervisor

3) Admin Clerk

Call 67422165

Email: stgpl@singnet.com.sg 

Application Letter:

Blk 355, #04-373,

Choa Chu Kang Central

Singapore 680355

2 September 2010

HR Manager

3014 Ubi Road 1

#02-308 Kampong Ubi Industrial Estate

Singapore 408702

Dear Sir/Madam

I am responding to your job vacancy advertisement in the Straits Times dated Monday 30^th August 2010. I am a fresh graduate from the National University of Singapore majoring in Mechanical Engineering. I would like to apply for the position of M&E Engineer as stated in the advertisement.

As you will find in my attached Resume, I have experience working as an intern in the field of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. I am sure the knowledge I have acquired in this domain would be relevant to the required job. I have worked on large-scale M&E Projects related to the Construction Industry, which would help me adapt to the job scope for the position.  As Chairman of the Mauritian Students’ Group, I have also acquired significant interpersonal and leadership skills.

I am available at any time for an eventual interview. I look forward to hearing from you soon to set up a meeting. My mobile number is +6590374269. You can also contact me via email at yashfeer@nus.edu.sg

Sincerely

MUTTUR Mohammad Yashfeer

Resolving Interpersonal Conflict

In a small island, there lived John and his sister Mary. On the island, family and societal bonds were very important. They were both raised by their parents to be very respectful of family members and cultures. At the age of 15, John went to settle England for studies and for better prospects in the future. He came back regularly once a year for vacations. Meanwhile, Mary, who was married by then, took care of their parents on the island, helping them as they grew older. After 20 years, John was very successful and made a lot of money.

However, being exposed to a different culture for so long, he had also lost the values and respect that his parents had taught him. He became arrogant and thought that his perspective on the world was more modern than those who had stayed back on the island. He even imposed his views and ideas on his own parents.

His behaviour infuriated Mary, who still had a sense of values and respect. Being older than him, she talked to him and tried to reason with him not to treat their parents in that way. John got even angrier at Mary. Who was she to tell him what to do? They soon started arguing about who was better and who had made the right choices.

It is now 5years since they do not address each other. Very small details can sometimes add up to form a big irresolvable dispute, don’t you think?

The Importance of EFFECTIVE Communication skills..for me

In my years of school, be it at secondary level or at university, I have had to assume positions of responsibility, as I still do. Two years ago, I was Welfare Director of an NUS Student Society. As soon as I got into this position, I knew I was in trouble. My first attempts to communicate with members of the Society failed miserably. At first I thought it was because there was a general disinterest among the members. But, through feedback I later received, I learned that it was in great part because I did not know how to approach the people.

In my way of communicating, people often perceived me as either being arrogant, condescending or plain rude, even though it was far from my intention. I have tried to change that many times, but with little success. If in university I cannot communicate properly with the people I work with, then how would I fare in the working world?

During my internship those last three months, I have faced similar problems. Some of the workers even thought I was a manager at the company, so much I gave off an air of arrogance. Good you might say? Surely not! I haven’t been able to make good friends at work because of this. I have experienced it first hand: if you are not friends with your colleagues, doing a simple job gets complicated.

Being at the doors of the working world, I find it most important to sharpen those communication skills before plunging into this storm of relationships.

Having your way with words is one thing. Using them to communicate effectively is a whole other matter.