Evaluating Intercultural Behavior

The first time I gave home tuition, I pissed my tutee's father off because I rejected his kind gesture to get me a drink. He was a indian businessman, I was a 18 years old young chap. I know nothing about how a businessman build relationship.

2 years later, I completed my training and started work in the army. My direct superior was a army regular and also a friendly guy. One evening after a tiring week, he invited me and 3 other colleagues for a dinner treat. "This time," I thought to myself, " I will be more street-smart and just order freely what I want. He will feel good treating us and see us enjoying the dinner!" Looking at his expression when the bills came, I knew my hypothesis was wrong again. Later in the evening, another colleague told me that when the boss decided to treat us, we should return the kind gesture by ordering the cheaper items. I kept that lesson in mind.

After my National Service, I started work at a trading firm. My boss was a chinese from People's Republic of China(PRC) and surprisingly, I had a good rapport with him. Sometimes, I even helped his son with school work. In return, he often insisted on treating me to dinner in restaurants. I tried to apply the lesson I learnt from the past by ordering cheaper items but that pissed him off. Most of the time, he would take over the menu and make many extra and expensive orders. The result was a lot of food wasted. But he liked it that way and that confused me.

Later on, I had a better understanding of how people from different origins and culture behaves. To the chinese, "Mian Zi" (Face) and "Guan Xi" were the things they value the most. Not how much they need to spend on a dinner. To the indian businessman, its basic courtesy to accept the host's offer.

Now that I know these cultural difference, I have learn to be more flexible and conduct myself appropriately with people from different culture.

Application Letter

10 Feb 2013

Quek Yuen Xian

204B Compassvale Drive #05-415 S(542204)

Email: yuenxian@nus.edu.sg

Hiring Manager

Human Resource Department

Unilever Singapore Pte Ltd

20 Pasir Panjang Road, #06-22

Singapore 117439

Dear Hiring Manager,

Application for Unilever Graduate Program

I am writing to express my interest for Unilever Graduate Program after attending your recruitment talk at National University of Singapore (NUS) in January. I am expected to graduate from NUS with Honours in Mechanical Engineering in December 2013.  I am keen to start my career with Unilever because it is the world most recognized brand in innovation and sustainability. I am intrigued by diverse products in the area of nutrition, hygiene and personal care as well as the company’s commitment to corporate social responsible business operation. I would love to be part of this global organisation.

During my internship in 2359 Media, Singapore’s largest mobile consultancy firm, I was a mobile analyst and work closely with the business director on mobile application consultancy project for several MNCs, which include Singtel, Far East Organization, Capitaland and ESPN.  Through these projects, I have gained experience in using the latest technology and social platform to help companies engage with their customers more effectively and improve sale. I also initiated and took charge of an S$200,000 project for National Heritage Board where we researched on a new augmented reality technology that can be implemented in Asian Civilisation Museum.

In addition to my academic commitment, I have a strong passion for social entrepreneurship and was the committee member of YMCA NUS Social Enterprise department. With the team, I founded a social enterprise café that provides on-job training to beneficiaries with social needs. We were also one of the finalists for Start-up Singapore Social Enterprise Category. I am confident that the entrepreneurial skills and consulting experience acquired in NUS will put me in a good position to excel in Unilever.

Thank you for your time to review my application. I have enclosed my resume for your consideration and I look forward to a face-to-face interview with you to discuss my suitability for this program. I can be contacted at 96863704 or yuenxiann@nus.edu.sg at your convenience.

Yours Sincerely,

Yuen Xian