September 1, 2009
Human Resource Manager,
Shell
Singapore
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to introduce myself and express my interest to participate in the internship program offered by Shell Singapore. I learnt about this opportunity through the Shell Singapore website and the program overview has impressed me.
Being the third year Environmental Engineering undergraduate in National University of Singapore (NUS), I have completed several fundamental modules from both Civil and Environmental Engineering disciplines such as Environmental Processes, Construction Project Management and Water Science and Technology. Throughout the studies, I had gained a deep insight into numerous pollution and environmental issues related to petroleum industry and their possible solutions.
As the Events Director of NUS Students Union Students Against Violation of the Earth (SAVE), my responsibility is to oversee and coordinate SAVE’s events. SAVE’s past event included Green Carnival, Earth Hour Celebration, and more than 3 environmental seminars and conferences. This position has provided me numerous opportunities to improve my leadership and communication skills. Moreover, I take pleasure in working in SAVE with people from various cultures such as Vietnam and India. Besides taking part in organizational co-curriculum activities, I also enjoyed taking part in voluntary work under NUS Voluntary Action Club. Experiences gained through voluntary work in hospital and moral welfare home was indeed precious and it always reminded me on how fortunate I am. On top of that, I was the project director for 1 Degree Up in SAVE in my first year of study. 1 Degree Up is a project that aims to promote awareness on energy conservation in NUS, as well as work with the school authorities for the implementation of environmental policy. One of the policies that we had successfully implemented is setting lecture theaters’ air conditioning at 25 degrees Celsius.
A career at Shell Singapore will provide me with opportunity to prove myself in the dynamic and challenging working environment. The company’s focus on reducing carbon and pollutants level emission further motivates me to join the organization. Hence I believe that given a chance I could contribute and succeed at Shell internship program.
I would welcome an opportunity to discuss my qualifications with you. I can be reached at the number and email address indicated below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Sincerely,
XXXXXXX
#C-226, Ridge View Residence
25, Lower Kent Ridge Road,
Singapore 119081
Ph: +65 82635128
Email: tchon88@gmail.com
Dear See Hon, your blog post is well done overall. It's also quite free of grammatical errors compared to your past blog posts. A few mistakes still exist of course, such as this phrase in your second last paragraph "...provide me with opportunity" should either be changed to "provide me with opportunities" or "provide me with an opportunity" but I think the former would be better.
ReplyDeleteThe structure is also clear and sweet, but you could have put all the points regarding SAVE together and the point on the voluntary work last in the 3rd paragraph.
You could also make your work in SAVE stand out by pointing out what ideas you have directly contributed to SAVE's initiatives, even if it is not implemented out in the end (but you may choose to omit saying it's not implemented). This gives you a more active role not just as a coordinator but also as part of the think-tank.
I must also warn you and Meng Wee who is also applying for Shell that it is really not easy to be accepted in this company. From all accounts by many various people, it would seem that Shell tends to favour NTU interns more than NUS ones. In order to really have a chance to be accepted in Shell, you may have to put in much more work than this if you really desire to be interned there. For example, you have identified that Shell is focussing on reducing carbon and other pollutants' emission levels, hence you may want to ask the staff in NUS related in such research to tell you about what are the cutting-age technology that they have on this field. And this is not entirely impossible; in fact, one NUS student has done it in the past as I've heard. He queried his lecturer about a certain high-tech machine that Shell is using and how to operate it and other details at the last minute before he was going for the interview. And he got in; so this may be a learning point for you and Meng Wee.
Dear See Hon,
ReplyDeleteI finally get a chance to comment on your post which I have been looking forward to.
I do agree with Masamune that your post is straight to the point, clear and sweet. As Masamune had mentioned "put all the points regarding SAVE together and the point on the voluntary work last in the 3rd paragraph. " I feel that Meng Wee will also agree about the charity work done being put in the last paragraph because he mentioned in class yesterday that those big companies have to do charity work is because of the CSR= Corporate Social Responsibilty.
Although Masamune mentioned numerous times to Meng Wee, you and Zibin that it is very hard to get into shell, I still think that one should always aim high. It is good to have aspirations. It does not mean that it is difficult to do something that we should give up as Mrs Richardson had mentioned in class that she witnessed people who really fought for what they wanted. Even though it is possible some may have failed, at least they tried and they will not regret later for not knowing of the outcome for not trying.
Also, I would like to point out that it would be better to spell out Dear Sir or Madam rather than Sir/Madam if I did not hear in class wrongly.
Finally, do rest and take care as you are nursing a flu now.
Hi See Hon. I feel the opening of your letter was courteous. You mentioned which degree are you taking in which university, before expressing your interest in the company.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I feel that you might not have mentioned about pollution and environmental issues throughout the letter. I agree that this is one of the key issues for Shell, but you should also touch on other aspects of Shell's business. You might support your claims with evidence such as laboratory experience and projects.
I guess your voluntary experience might not add much value to your letter, unless you can link them to the company's requirements.
You may wish to elaborate more on the modules which you had taken in school, and indicate how the knowledge gained can be applied in your internship. A simple example would suffice.
Hi See Hon,
ReplyDeleteWow, you have indeed contributed a lot to NUS. In addition to what Nicholas, Pearlin and Meng Wee have commented, I would like to add that in your 1st paragraph, you should talk more about the organization.
Moreover, I personally think that safety should be one of the highest priorities in petrochemical companies, although I didn’t manage to see it when I browsed through Shell’s website. Maybe you would like to do some research and mention a bit in your Application Letter if it is true. As I was an Intern in ExxonMobil Chemical before, their top priority is ‘Saftey First’. They even have a digital signboard stating it has been for how many days since the company had someone who suffered from an injury. What’s more, there are even labels on the steps of the staircase in the headquarters reminding people to hold the handrails. Incredible right? Needless to say the importance of safety out in the plant.
Overall, you have done a great job. I sincerely hope that you, Zibin and Meng Wee will get yourself a position in Shell.
See Hon
ReplyDeleteI have commented on your hard copy.
Let me know if you have further queries.
Mrs Richardson
This was a good application letter. You gave good information regarding your previous experience in a clear manner. There was only one thing in your letter that tripped me up. Your personal information should be at the top of the page, not the bottom. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteAnh Tang