Blog 6.Reflection on learning

I think ES2007S is one of the most useful and interesting modules I have taken during my university life. I have deeply developed my communication skills through different kinds of practice.

Through peer teaching and project presentation, I have improved my presentation skills in many areas, such as use appropriate tone, have effective eye contact, show appropriate facial expressions, display confidence and enthusiasm and so on. Thank Mrs Fazilah for those really helpful suggestions had given to me.

Clear, concise, concrete, correct, consistent, complete, courteous：These 7Cs are really important in communication. This module has taught me how to use them properly in writing. And I also learned how to communicate publicly and professionally through letters, memos, emails, research reports, minutes of meetings and Internet posts.

I think the small class form is quite good. We are only 11 people in class and different people have different kinds of characteristics. I have learned many things from each of them. Special thanks to Zurong, Alvin and Renny, you have given me a lot of useful suggestions on presentation and interview. 

I have quite enjoyed this module. It’s my honor that could be part of this lovely class.

“ES2007S Group 9 Forever”—I will miss all of you…

Blog 5.Reflection on presentation

Firstly, I have to say that it’s really my honor can work with Zurong, Gregory and Ashely on our project: Improve the Quality of life of the elderly of the future. We have strong teamwork and we co-operate with each other very well.

In our presentation, I cover the content part: “Elderly friendly policy” and “Elderly friendly house structure”. These parts have few materials as nobody have really done that before. Especially for the “Elderly friendly house structure”, this is just an idea come from my life experience at the start. Thank you very much for Zurong to encourage and help me to finalize it. J

Since my content is really hard to explain just in words, I have spent a lot of time to search for graphs that could explain what I mean for the “elderly friendly house structure. I try to slow down my speed when I say something quite new to the audience through my part of presentation. I try to look at their face expression and find out whether they understand or not. If I see most of them showing the “don’t understand” look, I will explain more using the graphs I find.

I think I have done much better than the peer teaching presentation. This time I have read our proposal many times and quite familiar with the whole content. Therefore, I could link what I want to present to our survey result and other group member’s content. And since I am quite familiar with what I want to say, I could give the audience better eye contact and show more confidence. J

However, nothing is perfect. I still have some areas need to improve such as the correct pronunciation and although the better control of the speed of talking. Anyone reading my blog please inform me if you notice anything. I have really learned a lot through this module, and I think these presentation experiences will help me a lot in the future.

Blog 4.Evaluating Intercultural Behavior

Well, today I want tell a true story about an bad interaction that I had with my roommate during my SEP time in America.

I spend a semester in University of Washington last year. I lived there with 9 american girls. We share the rest room and living room together and each 2 girls share one bedroom. 

My roommate got a new boyfriend and he actually lives on the same floor with us. He always come to our house and we are very familiar with each other after one week. 

I remember that was a tuesday night. I finished my homeworks and was going to take a shower. It was actually nearly 3am already so I thought nobody will in the living room as I really didn't hear any voice. I thought my roommates was still outside with her boyfriends. Therefore I changed my sleeping suit and going to take a shower. 

I need to pass our living room if I want go to the restroom. When I was passing the living room, I suddenly notice that my roommate is actually lying on the floor with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend was holding her in his arms and they were kisses... 

Since they didn't open the light, I am actully been scared so I screamed out... They noticed me and said hi to me.

I was actually hope they can move to another place or maybe the boy can back to his room because it was really late. But I tried to use a mild tone.  So finally I said: "Wow, why u guys stay here, the floor must be really uncomfortable." They looked at each other and then smile to me. However, when I finished my shower and back to my bedroom, they changed from floor to her bed.... They said good night to me happyly and I really don't know how to response... Finally I had a bad night with a guy in our bedroom :(

Well. there got big difference between Western & Asian's cultures. Western people are more open and love to express their opinion directly. However, most of asian people just like me like to couch criticisms in tactful language... This difference always cause a lot of misunderstanding through communication....

Thank you very much for reading my Blog 4. 

Welcome to make any comments. :)

Blog 3.Application Letter Critique

Job Description:

Emp Ref No: SGP01687 SGP01687 JobsDB Ref: JSG400003000336222 Bank of America Corporation and Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. have officially joined forces, creating a leading banking and wealth management franchise and premier corporate and investment banking and capital markets businesses. Our corporate cultures share a strong emphasis on making clients our first priority. Our global company, with a deep and diverse array of businesses, is uniquely positioned to offer a much broader choice of leading solutions, products and services to companies, individuals, institutions and governments around the world. Derivatives Client Services Officer Post Date: 10 Feb 11 Job Description In close communication with the GWM Marketers and Products team, GMI Trade Support desks, technology, corporate actions & documentations teams, the primary responsibility of the DCS team is to act as an intermediary between the GWM private clients and the GMI Trading and support desks for all OTC FX Equity and structured products. Responsibilities Reporting to Manager of APR Collateral Monitoring Team & Derivatives Client Services Team, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following: To perform Trade Monitoring, Exceptions management & Affirmations and all related queries for all trades on a daily basis such that any trade discrepancies and/or system related issues are rectified urgently and all issues resolved before EOD. Life Cycle events management for all OTC and structured trades and analysis of root causes of trade failures for monthly reporting and escalation. Manage the process of third party structured products from product creation, data enhancement to distribution and settlement. This involve liaison with the external counterparty (issuers), front office traders, clearing banks as well as internal corporate action teams. Administers the execution of ISDA confirmations for OTC FX and Equity trades post reconciliation with trade capture system and termsheet, while ensuring 30Day Fed targets are met along with producing weekly aging reports on outstanding confirmations. End of Day MIS reporting on volumes and issues. Requirements The candidate needs to be process-minded, as they will be expected to participate in designing, analyzing and improving processes during the day-to-day activities in order to mitigate risk and improve efficiency. The ideal candidate should be self-driven and proactive, suitably aggressive in order to chase up on open ended issues with both management and front office traders.  The following attributes are necessary: Strong verbal communication skills as there is a frequent need to engage with the business on various issues as well as use influencing skills to manage expectations of various parties. The following attributes are preferred: Knowledge of ISDA documentation. Knowledge of some OTC FX and Equity products. Qualification: University degree with a minimum of 2 years’ relevant experience. Proficiency in Excel.

Cover Letter:

Zhang Yanjing,

4-G, Blk 22,

35 Prince George’s Park,

Hp:97583365

jingjing88510@hotmail.com

Date: 11th Feb 2011.

Bank of America, Merrill Lynch
Millenia Tower #28-00,

1 Temasek Avenue (S)039192
.

Dear Sir/Madam,
Application for Derivatives Client Services Officer
I am currently a final year student of National University of Singapore(NUS), pursuing a Bachelor’s honor degree of statistics (specialized in Finance). I am responding to your advertisement on the JobsDB (Ref: JSG400003000336222) and applying for the position of a Derivatives Client Services Officer for Bank of American, Merrill Lynch. 

I am currently a Statistics major specializing in finance with a strong interest in the banking industry. I took modules related to finance that will help me in banking industry such like economics, accounting and financial mathematics etc. I am good in statistic programs like SAS,SPSS and R which are very useful for risk analysis. I have also learned Java and C++ programming skills during my undergraduate study.

Through much leadership during my university life, I have gain strong leadership skills while possessing a great team spirit. As president of BINGO China-Affair Sub-Committee, I successful organize international conference with Shenzhen University. Our conference raise fund for selected 50 students in NUS, sending them to Shenzhen in China had a 4-days trip. You could look into my resume if you are interest in my other activities.

I also have four years of internship experience. My most recent internship at Bank of China, Hunan Branch has allowed me to further develop and strengthen my technical skills. I have also worked part time in NUS Science Faculty Dean’s office which has honed my skills on using Microsoft Office, especially Microsoft Excel and Word. My internship in CareerAlbum. Inc as a quality assurance engineer which entails me to support and market website platform has also strengthen my ability to work well both independently and in a team. I believe that I can make a significant and valuable contribution to Bank of American, Merrill Lynch through the position as a Derivatives Client Services Officer. 

I am looking forward to speaking with you. Thank you for your time and consideration. 

Yours faithfully

ZHANG YANJING

Enclosures:
1. Resume
2. Certificate of internship


--Thank you for reading my application letter, please help me to improve it. 
(^.^)// Have a nice day!