Ever wondered what SAB students really do on their professional attachments? This is what some of them say of their experience………

"On the whole, this attachment with P C Thong was very enjoyable and challenging. The people there were very friendly, approachable and helpful. They treated me like part of the organisation. The tasks given definitely helped in giving me a more complete understanding of what I am studying. Mistakes were tolerated and corrected while good performance was commended.  In the process, I had learned many invaluable lessons and skills from my supervisor and the staff. The experience gained during this attachment had enabled me to make plans and anticipate the life after graduation. The attachment had strengthened my confidence to meet the challenges ahead and identify the areas I am lacking for further improvement.  I had also gained personal growth through developing my self-confidence, understanding of my own abilities, communication skills and last but not least, a sense of what professionalism is all about. Professionalism is about doing my best and being proud of the completed work no matter how interesting or boring it might have been.

Insights of working life

Learning to adjust to working life mentally

Adjusting to the working world was never easy, especially the mental aspect. When the day comes to 9 a.m., everyone has to put away their personal burden regardless of whether she feels like it or not. It is a discipline to learn to do one thing at a time and put all other things aside.

Learning to relate in the work environment

Through meeting and working with people in the industry, I have learned different techniques of relating to different people and to follow work rules and regulations with hardly any formal instruction. Knowledge and skills have to be learned on the job through observing others, asking (sometimes, very fundamental) questions of experienced staff, and reading documents and printed materials.

Learning computer skills

From this attachment, I have learned to utilise the computer software such as Lotus 123 to complete my job effectively and efficiently. Other than the spreadsheet software, the use of the computer to prepare financial statements was something that I gained and improved from constant exposure and practice.

Learning how to plan

Another principle that I had put to practice is to take time to plan for every key task, anticipate problems and their solutions. At the start of the day, I began to list all the things that I had to do and scheduled them for action. This had helped me to avoid doing unnecessary things and complete my job more efficiently.

Learning to relate and listen

Learning to relate to my supervisor and the staff proves to be a constant challenge to me. Engaging in a conversation is not as easy as it seems. I have learned to be more sensitive to the feelings of the receiver and choose the words I should say carefully. I also find that it is worth the time to listen attentively to the other person, to observe his/her non-verbal expression, and ask questions at the appropriate time.

Learning to express myself fluently and clearly

There were times when I found it difficult to express myself adequately. The ability to articulate my thoughts was something that I lack. During the period of attachment, I made use of every opportunity to speak up and make it an objective to express myself fluently, clearly and concisely.

Learning to be sincere and courteous

Personally, I think if you want people to treat you the way you want, you have to treat them the same way too. Courtesy always begets courtesy and like sincerity, It begins when you treat every person with respect."

Chua Yang Li, ACC 3

"Beyond Books"

It does not take a lot to know that there are many things in life that books cannot teach. Also, the experience of being there yourself is very different from reading about another’s experience. Some things can only be learnt from keen observation.

One interesting fact that I observed was how the knowledge for various disciplines and fields could be adapted and used in doing business. While on attachment, I came to realise how important it is to be knowledgeable not only in one’s field of work. Being well read helps in building self confidence and gains the respect of those who converse with you. However, possessing such knowledge is not enough. With the base of knowledge gained, one must be able to adapt it to various applications to his advantage. The power of knowledge lies in its appropriate application.

Another fact of life is that sometimes, one’s career could be totally differently from the discipline pursued. One’s personality, skills, abilities and determination to excel is far more valuable than one’s head knowledge. Employers don’t really care for what you know. Their greatest concern is what you can do for them.

My eight weeks’ attachment with Kim Sanitary & Plumbing has come quickly to a close. The warmth exuded by everyone here makes me feel much like a part of the big family. The experience of lunching together around a huge round table constantly reminds everyone that we are indeed a part of this family. Needless to say, I feel very privileged to be counted a member.

I started out my attachment with much uncertainties and fear. As the days went by, a new found confidence took their place. The attachment has enabled me to meet my objective of assessing my ability to adapt in a new environment. As for evaluating the applicability of the knowledge gained in school, it has been gratifying to know that not all is wasted. I must say that knowledge is dead, but man and his environment is alive. Man needs to use his knowledge gained to his benefit. Sometimes, we take theories too seriously for their face values. Our main focus should be on the principles behind these theories so as to derive appropriate solutions to the unique problems we face in the daily battlefield.

Like they say, "Give the man a fish, he will survive the day. Teach the man to fish, he will know how to survive for life."

Tan Koon Yong, Bus (Marketing) 3

"I have learned practical skills that could not be acquired from books. My social and interpersonal skills have strengthened and my confidence level has risen. I learned a lot about myself. Through my jobs, I realised my strengths and weaknesses.

Participation in the attachment programme has given me further insight into the expectations of the real working world. Having the right aptitude is a necessary but not sufficient ingredient in the recipe for a successful career. Possessing good inter -personal skills as well as communication skills are very vital too. Brilliant academic results and professional competence alone will not ensure success in real world. Academic achievement is not a comprehensive proof of an individual’s potential-merely an indication that he has succeeded in the education system. Most successes are won by men who possessed, in addition to their knowledge and intellect, the ability to work well with people and to communicate well. The partner told me that he could always hire mere technical ability for a certain price; the market  has no of lack of such technical expertise. But the man who has professional competence plus the ability to work with people, to assume leadership, to arouse enthusiasm and to express his ideas- that man is for higher earning power.

The attachment also helped me to make informed decisions in my career directions. Besides gaining an exposure to how various industries operate and what makes them tick, I now have a clearer and more reasonable expectation on entering the audit profession upon graduation. I have a clearer picture of what constitutes a meaningful job to me.

 The attachment is not merely a one-way process whereby students can gain experience with the organisation he is attached to. Rather, they should actively attempt to provide a value-added service to their attachment organisations in the jobs they are assigned to. Adopting such an attitude will make the attachment programme a fulfilling and fruitful experience for both the students as well as their attachment company.

Some of the assignments may offer little challenge. In fact, jobs assigned may be dreary and mundane. In spite of all these, students must still maintain a positive attitude throughout the whole attachment. This will reflect well on the university as well. Students should not be overly optimistic of what they would be doing during their attachment.

Joshua Ang Chee Leng, ACC 3

"I set myself two objectives to follow during the stint: Be willing to learn and be humble. Only then can we get the most out of the short stay. Most people in the office are usually very tied up with their duties and obligations, thus we should not expect them to be constantly teaching us new things. On the contrary, we should offer to help whenever possible, with things we know of course! When there is a chance to learn, grab it and be appreciative.

It is not rare that a student can feel depressed in the office. This may be because of the tough assignment or the new and harsh environment. Give yourself two weeks to adapt to the new working environment during which  always keep a positive outlook in life. Things do not always go smoothly in life, it is totally up to us to decide whether to blow things out of proportion or to simply forget them.

Take pride in the very small things learnt; do not always expect heavy-weight or challenging projects. We can also prove our worth by helping with small tasks like photocopying, faxing and running errands.

Make new friends; they play a vital role in helping us to adapt to the new environment and rebuild our confidence.

Working and studying lives are simply different matters altogether. In school, we can select our timetable slots, and sometimes we can even skip lectures! But working requires a sense of commitment and responsibility. True there are no exams and tests, but I feel that working itself as a whole is already a test: one of tolerance, determination and diligence.

By the end of the attachment, I can proudly say that I managed to overcome the eight weeks, unscathed. Not only did I manage to obtain my first working experience, make new friends, I also developed a more wholesome outlook in life. Talk about the benefits of the notorious PA!

Woo Jenny, Bus (Banking) 3