Improved Version - Application Letter

Hello to fellow Bloggers,  
Thank you for all the suggestions and improvements advised earlier on. I have amended and improved on my Application Letter.  Do provide me with feedbacks, be it content-wise or grammer-wise for this one as well! I would greatly appreciate it! XD Looking forward to the mock interviews!

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Dear Miss Lam,

I chanced upon this career opportunity from the Careers@Gov Website and would like to express my interest for the position, Research Analyst Assistant in Singapore Tourism Board. I will be graduating from National University of Singapore in June 2013 and I would like to be part of this organisation which is known for its innovation, excellence and partnership with other industries so that my passion towards the tourism sector can be put into good use.

I recently embarked on a project for my University course with Singapore Tourism Board where I analysed the slogans and strategies carried out by your company in marketing Singapore as a must-see destination. Accommodating the various ideas of a country is a difficult task, and crafting an entirely new one is even more so. Through that project, I have come to understand the problems faced by the tourism authorities, and that statistical results are crucial figures that can determine the effectiveness of the marketing plan and mitigated any losses to be incurred. I believe my forte in this area puts me in a favourable position in understanding the underlying concerns of Singapore Tourism Board and thus provide accurate statistical and analytical reports to aid in your analysis.

During my June holidays, I secured an internship with STAT.R Pte. Ltd. I had first-hand experience in dealing with real performance figures for various companies that outsourced to our statistical firm. With the knowledge of SPSS that I have learnt from my course of study, I am competent in accurately computing statistical data for customers, which are important reports that will affect their KPIs (Key Performance Index) and P&L (Profits and Loss) statements. I believe my knowledge with SPSS and experience in analysing such reports would complement the work your company does to generate accurate analytical statistics and results.

Not only am I comfortable with working independently, my enhanced communication skills through undertaking several communication modules set me out to excel even when working in teams. Furthermore, I indulge in handicrafts and design works as a form of hobby and such constant exposure to creative and practical ideas have honed my creative nature. I believe such strength of mine compliments with the image and requirements of Singapore Tourism Board, where one needs to constantly provide fresh and new ideas to attract visitors to our country. 

I firmly believe I will be able to excel under Singapore Tourism Board’s guidance and provide useful contributions if I were to have the honour to join your company. Thank you for taking time to view my application. I have enclosed my resume for your consideration. I look forward to a face-to-face interview with you to discuss my suitability for this position. I can be contacted at 83831983 or tyanne_lim@hotmail.com at your convenience.

My reddest face in my whole life.

Even though I’m a Chinese, and my ancestors were from China, cultural differences exist despite our roots. Place plays a very big role in our practices and beliefs and it is inevitable that we might perform actions that contradicts with the others.

After my A’ Levels, I went for a holiday with a group of friends to China. As one of them is from China himself, his father had kindly volunteered to be our tour guide for the trip and drive us around.

I remember the very first time we were having a meal together with my friend’s father and his friends at a restaurant. The waiter came and they called for wine to be served. When the waiter was about to pour the wine into my cup, I turned to him, shook my head and rejected politely. Disturbed by my actions, my friend’s father instructed the waiter to continue pouring and said, “It’s alright, just drink a little.” Being in a foreign country, I decided to comply and felt a little apologetic as it seems I had disrespected his father.

I understand from my friend that drinking during every meal is the culture in China, especially in cold weathers, and it will be a form of disrespect if you were to reject. 

Trying to be more cautious this time round, I followed their lead and drank the whole cup of wine down at one go. Upon seeing that my cup is empty, he held up the wine bottle and poured the wine into my cup. As I was afraid that I might be disrespectful once again, I gulped down the next cup as well. Whenever my wine cup is emptied, he would start refilling my cup again, and I would finish it off yet again. 

It was until the 6th or 7^th cup that I realized that in their tradition, it is impolite to have your guest’s cup left emptied. From that meal on, I sipped my wine and made sure that I do not empty my wine cup again! 

Boy, you should have seen how red my face was that day! Partly embarrassed, partly drunk.