Joke of the day 6

I can't believe that I'm so popular in school. I met a friend from year 2 today who's in Accountancy, who knows our HSBC president. He said he received our president's email to the prof to borrow CD and another one from her other class (which is below). Then his friend came and he introduced me to her, "This is Htin". Then she said "Oh, the future CEO of Temasek Holding and Regional Brand Manager of Cocacola" (Click here to find out why she calls me like that). Actually one girl in my big class whom I've never talked and we didn't even realize the existence of each other in class also knew me cos of those titles. haha... I was really surprised that even before we started HSBC Newsletters, her 2 emails have spread over in OM major as well as in Accountacy.

Anyway, since everyone is stressed out now preparing for exams starting from tomorrow, I hope this joke will really destress you! (Irene, here you go!)

Hi all,

First of all, I would like to request that I wanted to share the room
with ZZZ instead of JJJJ. Cuz I think I need some space and quietness
to do my own work.

And thanks JJJJfor agreeing to bring the guitar. I don't think we
need that. If u still want to bring, by all means go ahead. I think
our group sincerely appreciate your gifted musicial talents. Thanks
for bringing us joy & entertainment.

Next, I would like thank everyone for putting in their hard work for
this BSM Taiwan Presentation. Especially to JJJJ who has make a lot of
effort in doing up the slides. Sorry we have to change that cuz your
slides are too comprehensive. But anyway good job & well done for your
hard work.

I greatly appreciated him for doing up such a comprehensive with
intensive information ppt slides. I took Macro Econs B and IE so I
know econs slides are either wordy or contains a lot of graphs. But
anyway well done. At least it gives us a clear idea on where we should
present or start or make sure to focus on.

I thought the rest also did a great job while I was away. Great job
guys & girls.

However, I'm still not very happy that you have asked me to go Beijing
and do a study on the food there. Which I think it's too much info. Of
course I also have myself to blame for that cuz I agreed to you all.
Anyway, I just got scolded again by Ser Keng today. I don't wish to
talk or pursue this matter further.

But this is an advice to you juniors from the Seniors. Especially I
work for OCS. I got to let you all juniors know this message clearly &
get it right before you make any more mistakes in your future
especially towards your final year:

1. Grades is not one the top most important that your future boss is
looking for. When you go out to work, you must show your boss that you
are not only academic competent, but also a well rounded person like
in your CCA and most importantly is your soft skills. After all,
academic is just 1 component that the boss look at.

The 5 most important character attributes are as follow:
1. Integrity
2. Communications Skills
3. Networking skills aka team work (which includes maintaining
relationship well with your BOSS, all these comes under social skills)

4. Respect for seniors
5. Academic.

As u can see academic is ranked the lowest out of all these. Why is
that so? Because when you go out to work, you still have to relearnt
everything again and adapt to the company's information & technical
skills. Most importantly is whether you can work with your collegues
and bosses. And I can tell u these is because I worked as Tax intern
at Vatit as well as Operations Intern @ Exxon Mobil. Frankly speaking,
these 2 companies the style is very different. And I can tell you as
an Accountant or if u intend to work as an Accountant, the above 4
attributes are very important. If u want to work in KPMG, respect for
seniors is the most important attribute. Also I just attended a talk
on Friday called "Transisting from classroom to Boardroom".

They teach us how to handle the real co-operate world and manage
stress. If you want, I can share the notes with you all.

As a OCS buddy, my advice to you juniors don't be so focus on
academics. Go and join a CCA if you have not done so. Try all
different stuff to show that you are not academic competent but most
importantly is your soft skills. Why I can secure a job before I
graduate in May 2008 (which is at least 6 months):

Simple reason: I have the soft skills that the Boss is looking for. I
can communicate well. I joined a lot of activities like NDP as
advisor, Bondue elections comm as advisor and member. Basically these
are my passion as I like to contribute back to society. Sometimes I
might overload myself or it's just some ppl think I'm very competent
thus asked me to go back & help them. I have rejected a few but most
of them I tried to accommodate them if I have the time & can handle
well.

Therefore, I want to advise you these juniors don't stress ur seniors
until they almost go mad. If you think u r not capable to do it,
either you leave the rest who more capable than you or leave those who
have more time.

Frankly speaking, I don't understand why you all wanted to leave Alan
or some of the group mates out of the email loop or communication
process while I was away. U must understand this is a group work. This
is not an individual presentation.

If you can't take it, then just leave it to the rest who are more
capable or suitable to do. Nobody is forcing you or put a gun on your
head to ask you to do that stuff.

And when you go out to work, you must at least have some respect or
listen to your seniors advice. This is what I have told Rotaract Club
President Low Joo Ee. And she has understood completely and now taking
the senior's advice. Of course as a senior treasurer cum Creative
Director for SICS CBD, I also leave some space for them to do your own
stuff and show your potential provided you don't commit major mistakes
which cannot be tolerated.

Lastly, I just want to let everyone know that don't treat your seniors
so shabbily or think that it's their final year, they can slack. We
ourselves also have other projects to consider. Don't just because you
r a junior group, I have to put more effort and take care of one
group.

Even my ethics group mates (who are mostly year 2s and 1 of them is
year 3) they clearly understand how we business seniors are very
stressful. And one last message to let you all know clearly is as SMU
final year Business students, we have to be more stressful and make
sure we do our best before we graduate. I know NUS and NTU are
different from us. They are more relax. So my advice is don't stress
your seniors until they fall sick or just because they have secured a
job and think that they don't have to bother about grades.

This is clearly a misconception from all SMU students especially to
the Business students. Cuz ultimately you still need a decent grade to
look good on our transcript which will help you in your future when
you want to study Masters Program in NUS or other unis.

So my final words to you all before I leave SMU: If you can't handle
it, take a step back and reflect. Breathe and count towards 10. If it
doesn't help, then go for a swim or run to destress yourself. Never
ever drown your sorrows with ALCOHOL. It's very bad for your health.
Then for girls, if you want can go for shopping spree. But don't buy
so much like until I want to buy over the whole shop or shopping mall.

Don't ever ever throw your temper to your groupmates/ seniors. When
the senior asked u to stop it, don't be so arrogant, just because you
r Economics or SIS student and show to us how different you are from
Business / accountancy students.

Ultimately we share a comman ground that we are all from SMU.

OK that's all folks.

Chill & relax. I understand the stress everyone is facing. But if you
would to chill then everything will be in peace & try not to pass your
stress to the rest of group mates. I have tried on Service Process and
ultimately you still need to work with them in peace & harmony.

Just remember you don't work alone. If you face any problems, your
seniors and peers will always be there to assist & lend a helping hand
for you.

Good Luck for your presentations & exams. Folks.

I will visit you all back in SMU after I graduate cuz I have devoted
my life to OSL (SICS CBD) till Dec 2008. And whole of my life to OCS
Community Service as well as Career Service Department. (haha but it's
ok. At least this is my passion to serve the community) Prob, one day
you will see me working in SMU probably OCS. Hopefully , you won't be
"tortured" or "blacklisted" by me. HAHA!!!!!

Oh one last point, pls don't stress your career counsellors as well.
They are VERY VERY stressful handling us these mischevious students.
So as part of my OCS buddy work, if possible try to accommodate their
request whenever you can. If u can't at least inform them & they will
understand. After all OCS staff are not as scary to be perceived. WE
are a group of very nice & friendly ppl if you are willing to
cooperate with us. Otherwise, we also don't wish to blacklist those
students who are not co-operative & in the end affect or delay your
graduation period.

Chill, chill chill. See ya on 2nd Dec.

Regards,

H.S.