MIA-ing...

Been long since I updated about my work life.

I finished off all the way and now I'm left with like 16 days of SIP.

Whew.

I owe 3 weeks of reflection which my boss seemed to have forgotten about.

And I got a pay rise from $440 to $500.

I got a half day off on 7th because it's Deepavali and there might be a second half-day off tomorrow 9th. haha!

I'm doing quite okay, Boss had asked me if I would wanna carry on working with the firm, but I told him I cannot confirm as there's National Service coming up.

I realised that there's a cultural shift when the bosses are not in. It'll be more chatty and lively, and everyone will seem so much friendlier, I even had a conference meal with everyone when it was the bosses' off day last week. A feast of mutton briyani, very nice big packet.

Can't wait to get back to school because there's like so many things to do in school. Work gets monotonous. School Never.

6th Over...

Officially, the sixth day of SIP is over.

I've learnt quite a lot from the work I do.

And sure learnt how to slack on the job too. haha!

Overall, I think I am quite lucky as compared to other interns who are all swamped with work. At least I can learn slowly on the job.

Doing MLOCT is fun, calling all the agents for office lease. I hope I get to like, design the office or something. hahaha! Just don't let me be the contractor. Eh wait, my dad's friend's a contractor! I remember asking him for quotes for stuffs. Cool huh?

Alright.

SIP starts in another 9hours and 16minutes time. I guess I need to go sleep first.

SIP launch just got over...

So we're launched.

Everyone, to the exclusion to those who have already started work and the very special one who can take another few more weeks of break, are awaiting the big day. Wednesday, 12th September 2007.

A quick listing of all frequent names I'll have on my phone for the period of time from 12th September to 30th November. I've kinda counted, excluding the weekends, it'll be exact 58 days of working as an intern.
That also means my allowance of $440x3 will be simplified into around $22.75 per day. hahaha!

Shep - In the same building as I am, different level.
Laura - Same Co as Shep
Anyone else in Peninsula? I wonder.
Eunice - A few minutes walk down the street at High Street Centre
Carmen and Caleb are excluded, even though they're in the same building as Eunice, not because I'm a sore interviewee, but due to the fact that I believe I won't be having them on my phone much.
Sheena - Right across the street in the Parliament. Damn cool. Even though it is just a stone's throw away, Sheena said I can't get any secret messages through as the Parliament is protected by an invisible shield or something. I'm gonna try someday.
Alvin - Quite cool. He's in at The Adelphi. Maybe can head back to Tampines with him when I have tuition after work.

Kelly's probably got the coolest job ever. Her boss came down to the launch, all proud and high and mighty and in front of the whole LT, said to her, in a booming voice;
"Kelly, I don't want to see you in office after six, I don't want emails from you after six. I don't want to see you in office during weekends."
American companies' style of working - Get the job done well and good and that's it. Very cool.

Okay, so my Liaison Officer is Mr Looi. I am harping on the thoughts of whether or not to tell him about this very low-profile blog of mine. For him to take note of my so-called learning and experience of SIP. I believe it will help him a lot in assessing my growth.

The only problem is that, I might get a little real in here and start rattling on and on about what's not. This might be a problem to his assessment of my internship.

Hmmmmm...

So for now. I shall go do up my Civil Procedure Chart and keep it safe with me. I'm so gonna die, like what Ms Yu had reminded me.


Karuppan Chettiar & Partners. Looking forward, yet nervous.

This blog will kick off into action from here on. =)

18 days after...

I'm still on with this blog.

It's just that there's nothing much to talk about work nowadays.

Awaiting September 12th where my internship will officially start.

Till then.

And just to make a note here, I've actually inspired some of my friends to start up their own work-intern-blog to keep track of their experiences at internship. Most of them are in an inactive state now at the moment. All awaiting for the commencement of Internship.

Red

Wine

Vickie

Inspired one after another. haha!

I ACCEPT!

The Internship position at Karuppan Chettiar.

The Lawyer said that she'll take me simply because she has no time to go for interviews for the other students. What a tone of dismay.

I must work hard I guess.

2 more...

ACRA
Kinetica Pte Ltd

Sent.

Hope I get a response soon from them.

I'm left with Karuppan Chettiar, Patrick Miranda and Philips Electronics.

Shall send them soon.

**** ****

Anyway, it was my first time working in a Law firm today, at Teo Keng Siang & Partners, as a data-entry part timer. It was interesting to learn how the law office works, the dynamics and the clockwork between the secretaries and paralegals.

A great experience. I got to learn this new program called QuickBook which does accounting for you with much ease, just that data entry is a boring chore. haha!

I or no I?

I've sent out 2 more resumes to
1. Compact Administrative Pte Ltd
2. eBay Inc

I've finished with the resume to Karuppan Chettiar but I just need to determine whether is it Mr. Renuka or Ms. Renuka, and whether is it Karuppan or Karuppian.

Quite cheem, all these name thingy.

After these 3, it will be;
Kinetica Pte Ltd
Patrick Miranda Co (s) Pte Ltd
Philips Electronics Singapore Pte Ltd
ACRA

Good luck to me.

More Resumes

I believe I have to send more resumes.

why?

1. Teo Keng Siang choosed their 3 interns.
2. UBS has no response
3. SGX doesn't seem to want me
4. Citibank is yet to come + fierce competition
5. Freemantle got their intern.

All 5 resumes are either gone or seemed bleak.

Therefore, I've chosen several other companies to send my resumes to;
1. ACRA
2. eBay Inc
3. Compact Administrative Services Pte Ltd
4. Karuppian Chettiar & Partners
5. Kinetica Pte Ltd
6. Philips Electronics Singapore Pte Ltd
7. Patrick Miranda Co (S) Pte Ltd

A mixture of Law firms and non-law firms.

Initially I didn't want to enter a law firm as I wanted to gain more exposure to other industries instead of restricting myself to the legal industry.

But with such conditions and so little non-law companies to choose from, I decided that it is much better to apply for a position with law firms.

Shall be off for now. I can't wait for Citibank's interview to come.

Go to the Interview like a Pro...

I just picked up a book "Answering Tough Interview Questions for DUMMIES" from the school library, and another is sitting somewhere at home awaiting my read.

And yes, there are a few good links online for reference too;

http://www.neildawn.com/interview_skills.htm

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/ofcd/files/interviewing.pdf

http://www.interviewedge.com/eibrochure.pdf

http://www.job-interview.net/


Some are quite helpful in the overall presentation and communications in an interview.

I'm all geared up to ace the interview for Citibank man!

Communication as an Exchange...

Today's interview at SGX was alright.

Ms Syma was very straightforward, barely seconds after she sat down, she said "okay, I'm going to just look at your communication skills... ... not much of the legalistics and stuffs..."

And so I realised then that I need to talk, and talk properly at that.

As usual, usual for all interviewing companies. "Alright, I'll contact you when I've news."

haha!

SGX responds.

Alrighto! Singapore Exchange responded to my SIP Application.

Interview tomorrow at 10am. Followed by my Company Law Test at 1pm.

Wan's got his interview at 10.45am. Guess I can wait for him till he finishes.


At the current moment, out of 5 resumes sent out, I've 4 replies, and one off the list as Mr Teo couldn't take in anymore interns. Leaving FreemantleMedia Asia which has yet to reply.

Awaiting the interviews of SGX and Citibank, I sincerely believe that I should go research on good interviewing skills so that I can fare well at the interview. I doubt I can make it in time for my interview tomorrow at SGX but I I can be more prepared for the Citibank's interview.

A search online found me this PDF file talking about effective interviewing skills. I believe I've committed various grave mistakes at the UBS interview.
There's also another website which has almost the same thing but I believe I can do alot better for future interviews with such materials.

I'll be updating soon about tomorrow's interview. In the meantime, I shall go source for information on SGX.

Exchange

SGX responded to my resume!

And the interview's tomorrow, on my Company Law Test day.

More information coming soon.

Awaiting Results...

I guess I'll have to record all my internship days somehow to do my logbook when the time comes. So I thought why not set up a blog to talk about all the job and experiences I've gone through over the years.

If not, getting me to think of it all at the interviewer's desk will be a major headache.

It all started back in 2004 after my "O" Levels where I was just slacking away and not doing anything to look for a job.
Somehow in one way or another, I landed up working for the brand of Lucieno Shoes at Metro Paragon. Everyone will be wondering why would I be hanging around at the Ladies' Shoes Department. haha!

I feel odd too initially, but there are like more males as compared to ladies in that department actually.

Then it goes on and on, the job-hopping. I will engage in a whole topic on its own, one by one in the future.

Right now, I've sent out quite a lot of applications for internship positions;
1. Teo Keng Siang & Partners Law Firm
2. Citibank Singapore
3. UBS AG
4. FreemantleMedia Asia
5. Singapore Exchange

Teo Keng Siang didn't really work out as Mr Teo only had three spaces down at his office, not constrained by positions but by space (his office is really cramped up). So there was 4 applicants all from my course, a guy who was promised the position due to his influential dad, and 2 other girls, my girlfriend and her friend who was taken as I lived the farthest away as compared to the both.

Went for the interview at UBS next after Teo Keng Siang, and I doubt it went well. So I think I should start shooting out resumes soon. Citibank's interview is on the 21st June, and I believe I'll not fare well as compared to the rest of the interviewees who've applied due to Citibank being the second highest paying company on the SIP list.

Freemantle didn't even reply me. haha! I doubt I'll have much chance with freemantle due to the amount of people again. A thousand dollar monthly pay as compared to the rest of 400 to 600, who wouldn't want to head down there? But of course, quite a handful just didn't want to carry on strictly in the legal industry like I am. Afterall, what I really wanted to enter back then was Mass Communications, Law is the second language course I can fall on. It has been fun till now. As my interest in the financial industry grew, I thought it will be a great experience to work in a bank or financial company to pick up skills and knowledge of investments and finances. Therefore UBS, SGX and Citibank.

So right now, I'm awaiting response from Freemantle and SGX. Hope they reply soon.