Application Letter Writing. Draft 1

Here is Draft 1! I thought the lesson on Friday was really helpful in drafting out this letter.

The company I am writing to is Cellworks Research and here is the link to their website. By the way, I could not find the Contact Name, so I addressed to the Chairman and Managing Director of the Cellworks Research directly. 

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Qu Kui

Blk 146 Gangsa Road

#11-293

Singapore 670146

10 February 2012

Anand Anandkumar

Chairman and Managing Director

Cellworks Research India Limited
R&D Center
3rd floor, West Wing, "Neil - Rao Tower"118,
Road # 3, EPIP, Whitefield,
Bangalore - 560 066

Dear Dr. Anandkumar

Cellworks Research Internship

I am writing to apply for the internship under the NUS Overseas College Short Programme. I am eager to embark on the projects offered by CellWorks Research, especially the therapies for oncology. Currently a Year 3 Bioengineering student in the National University of Singapore (NUS), I hope to apply my knowledge to contribute to the medical science industry.

With the biochemistry knowledge from life science modules; experience from design modules and analytical skills developed from my engineering curriculum, I believe that I will play a useful role in the Cellworks team. In addition, my short experience in the Tissue Modulation Laboratory (TML) improved my technical dexterity in research work.

During my National Service in the Singapore Armed Forces, I was awarded the Best Specialist of the Month twice in recognition of my diligence and competence. I was then nominated to attend the Platoon Sergeant Course for my meticulous planning and responsible attitude.

To experience something different, I joined the Great Eastern Internship Program (Insurance). Competing against other groups, my team was disciplined and worked closely together, eventually receiving the Best Group Award. I also enjoy team sports at my leisure time. With a group of friends, we participated in the beach soccer tournament organized by the faculty and we emerged as second runner-up.

As a project manager in InnoClub, I proposed to collaborate with the professors of the design module to enhance the quality of the module via a sharing session with the juniors. I formulated and conducted a lesson to a class of 50 juniors and received positive feedback from the audience and professors. At short notice, I took up the role of camp director to plan and directed the first Bioengineering Freshmen Camp. Eventually, my team and I managed to overcome the constraints of limited resources and conducted the camp successfully with 70% of the freshmen attending.

I volunteered to serve as the class representative to convey my course mates’ intentions, provide suggestions to the professors and I managed to resolve the time-table clashes issues of my course mates. For my active involvement in student activities, I am appointed the FOE Class Ambassador to connect undergraduates and the alumni.

In review of Cellworks Research’s mission and vision, I believe my relevant skillsets will make me a competent individual and a supportive team player for the research internship. Moreover, a proactive communicator enhances team projects and is more adaptable to problems or even cultural differences.

I have enclosed my resume and should you have any other enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact me at the number provided in the resume. Thank you and I look forward to your positive reply.

Sincerely yours

Qu Kui

Enclosure

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By the way, can anyone teach me how to upload the pdf file of the resume? I tried Insert Image but it does not seem to work. Thanks :)

Resolving Interpersonal Conflicts

Interpersonal conflicts are inevitable since people have to interact with one another when they communicate. However, they may not necessarily be a bad thing. When managed appropriately, these conflicts could strengthen relationships, leading to deeper understanding and mutual respect between the parties involved. In the workplace context, productivity could even increase when the working relationships are positive and healthy.

The interpersonal conflict I am going to share, like many others, is caused by lack of communication. Eddie, a graduate student and Stella, a laboratory assistant worked in a tissue engineering laboratory. Stella was in charge of the administrative matters in the laboratory and had to help Eddie in conducting of the experiments for his project.

One morning, Eddie informed Stella that she had to help him to perform some experiment procedures at 10am and 1pm as he had a meeting during that time. He emphasized that those were the best timings to get the optimal readings from the experiment. However, at 10am, Stella was away on some administrative matters. Not knowing where Stella was, Eddie performed the experiment and missed his meeting. When Stella returned, he approached her.

   Eddie: I've done the experiment, where were you just now? I can't find you.

   Stella: Collecting the kits John had ordered. (It was part of Stella's administrative work)

   Eddie (in a stern tone): You could have informed me. The experiment was really important, you know?

   Stella (seems annoyed): Ok.
 

Eddie noticed Stella's change in her non-verbal expression decided to leave her alone and left.

This was a conflict I witnessed in the laboratory and it jeopardized their work since the project required them to work closely together.

The conflict was caused by the untimely arrival of John’s kit which Stella was obliged to handle as it was part of her job scope. She could have forgotten to inform Eddie about it or she might have felt that she would have sufficient time to get back to perform the experiment at 10. I feel that this conflict could have been resolved or even avoided if both Eddie and Stella could show more empathy to each other. Although Eddie’s work was important, he could have said with a smile, “Could you please inform me next time if you have last minute urgent matters to attend to? It’s so tough on you to have so much work to handle.” This may give Stella the feeling that Eddie was not blaming her but trying to work out a better way to avoid such situations in future. Similarly, Stella could have told Eddie in an apologetic tone that she was sorry but the delivery of the kit came unexpectedly.

When Eddie noticed Stella’s annoyance, he was right to avoid an escalated conflict by walking away. However, this might not be the best solution to resolve this conflict since they always have to work hand-in-hand. What would you propose to resolve such a situation at work?