Application Letter

Application Letter

Cheo Yi Fen Bernice

Beshan Street 7A

Singapore 123456

Phone number: 99999999

Email: xxxxx@gmail.com

14^th September 2012

Hiring Manager

Ministry of Education, Singapore

1 North Buona Vista Drive

Singapore 138675

Dear Hiring Manager,

RE: Application for Allied Educator (Counselling) Position under the Ministry of Education

I am writing to express my keen interest in the Allied Educator (Counselling) position that is listed under the Ministry of Education teaching career positions listing.

The Ministry of Education aims to facilitate our students to discover their own talents, to realize their full potential and to develop a passion for life-long learning. Aside from the academic curriculum, MOE also ensures that support will be provided for students with social, emotional and behavior concerns.  I would like to be part of this strong education system as an Allied Educator (Counselling) to nurture and develop our young generations so as to produce more outstanding students to lead Singapore to an even brighter future.

I will graduate in June 2014 from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Science (with specialization in Biomedical Science) degree. Modules in the university had provided me with the academic knowledge and support in the field of biomedical science and it has also equipped me with good communication and interpersonal skills in both verbal and written forms.

As shown in my resume, I have had several job experiences. Working at CBS Interactive and Universal Studios Singapore served to improve my communication and critical thinking skills as the working environments were dynamic, active and people-oriented. In addition, I was involved in two community-based programs, the Junior Reading Ambassador hosted by NLB and an overseas CIP when I went on exchange to Hong Kong in 2008. Both programs required me to work with children and teenagers as I facilitated in various English activities that involved them. Both community projects gave me the opportunity to develop my interpersonal skills and I grew to be more empathetic as I had to interact with students of different ages and family backgrounds. As a private tutor I gained greater insights to the current education curriculum and most importantly I realized that healthy social and emotional developments play direct roles in supporting the student’s academic endeavors.   

I enjoy working alongside with students and with the combination of my academic training, job experiences and community project involvements, I believe that I will make a valuable contribution to the board. I have attached my resume for your perusal. I can be contacted at +65 9999-9999 (mobile) or xxxxx@gmail.com (email) Thank you for your consideration. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you for an interview.    

Sincerely,

Cheo Yi Fen Bernice

Resume

RESUME  CHEO YI FEN BERNICE (MS)                                               Beshan Street 7A Singapore 123456                                                   Mobile: +65 9999 9999    E-mail: xxxxx@gmail.com

PROFILE

Forward-looking and meticulous in given tasks. Able to gain personal credibility from teachers and peers for being responsible and reliable. Fluent in both English and Chinese.

EDUCATION

National University of Singapore                                                                       Aug 2010-Present

§  Undergraduate

§  Pursuing Bachelor of Science (Life Science)

Serangoon Junior College                                                                                 Jan 2008-Dec 2009

§  GCE ‘A’ Level

Balestier Hill Secondary School                                                                        Jan 2004-Dec 2007                    

§  GCE ‘O’ Level

WORKING EXPERIENCE

Private Tuition Teacher                                                                                     Jun 2011-Present

§  Upper Primary Science

§  Lower Secondary Mathematics and Science

§  Pre-school Chinese language

CBS Interactive

Telemarketer                                                                                                        May 2010-Jul 2011      

§  Conducted phone interviews with IT or Corporate Decision makers

§  Generated qualified leads and sales opportunities

Universal Studios Singapore

Attraction Crew                                                                                                    Dec 2009-Jun 2010      

§  Operation of ride and technical control

§  Customer Service (Guest Interactions)

§  Trained in ride evacuation procedures

Fugro Singapore

Data processing assistant                                                                                       Apr 2010-Jul 2010

§  Managed data processing duties

§  Managed administrative tasks

Ang Mo Kio Family Clinic     

Clinic Assistant                                                                                                     Nov 2007-Dec 2007

§  Managed administrative tasks

§  Assisted in prescribed drug dispensing

§  Provided efficient services to patients

ACHIEVEMENTS / CONTRIBUTIONS

Serangoon Junior College                                                                                 Jan 2008-Dec 2009

§  Appointed as a student leader (Asst. Class Representative)

§  Edusave Award for Achievement, Good Leadership and Service 2009

Balestier Hill Secondary School                                                                        Jan 2004-Dec 2007

§  Appointed as a student leader

§  Prefectorial Board Executive Committee Member (Parade Head)

§  Organized School Events (School Orientations and Entrepreneurship Week)

§  Friend of Singa (Merit Award)

§  Edusave Award for Achievement, Good Leadership and Service Award 2007

NON-ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

National University of Singapore                                                                       Jun 2012-Aug 2012

§  Summer Programme at Suzhou, China

SRJC Podium Member                                                                                      Jan 2008-Dec 2009

§  Debater

§  Events Organization Committee member

§  Participated in NTU Model UN Event

§  Facilitator in the Junior Reading Ambassador Programme hosted by NLB

§  Participated in the school exchange program to Hong Kong.

Balestier Hill Secondary Chinese Orchestra                                                    Jan 2004 – Dec 2007

§  Active member

§  Participated in Overseas Cultural Exchange Programmes

§  Represented School at National Level (SYF)

Resolving Interpersonal Conflict

Interpersonal conflict is a prevalent and inevitable experience in everyone’s lives. Given the prevalence of the ‘phenomenon’, it should be natural for us to develop different skills to overcome the difficult situations. Yet, there seem to be times where many of us, with our different priorities, unconsciously overlook the escalating interpersonal conflict as we strived to get our own things done.

During my holidays, I interned in a geotechnical lab. I was assigned to the lab data processing team. While I did not have any issues with my direct supervisors, the lab director seemed to have kept a bad impression of me. She did not express her impression verbally and directly but I can feel the ‘tension’. I am not ignorant but I really have to say, I don’t know why. I got really stressed up and so I tried many ways to change that impression. I worked over-time, I tried to work faster and proof-read vigorously, and whenever possible, I submitted my reports early.

Well, I thought that might have salvaged something or at least improved her impression of me. Apparently, it did not work well because when I ended my internship, she said, in a diplomatic way, that I was not serious in my work. I felt so maligned and misjudged because during the internship, I saw her only thrice; on the first day I reported to work; once when I was printing documents in the photocopy room and once when I was refilling my cup at the water cooler. She may have been too busy to notice but I felt frustrated because those three unproductive moments seemed to have overshadowed my hard work.

I describe my experience as a form of interpersonal conflict because the outcome was a result of our miscommunication or rather no communication. Although I wished that she'd told me earlier but it is also my fault when I did not take the initiative to ask her what I did wrong. Things might have been different if I actually plucked up my courage to clear the air.

I am sure some of us will face a similar situation in the near future, so to my friends who are reading this, how will you handle the situation differently? Share some tips with me please!