Random Eww

Premature Promotion

Taking a brief respite from my innervating irritating interview blog entries, I've decided to spill the beans on something I've been busy with.

Yes, in the past couple of months, friends and foes have speculated that I was slacking around during my job hunting season. But in actuality, the truth couldn't be further from that.

I have been deep in research, furthering my studies in secret.

In fact, I have become the first NUS student to complete his postgraduate studies within 2 months!

As one of the youngest researchers in NUS, I am currently in the midst of setting up my own research group.

All interested candidates, please email me your CVs/resumes and "statement of purpose", like this young man from India has.

Subject Header: Research Guidance

To

Dr. Kelvin *. *. Lim
Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research
Department of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Science
National University of Singapore
14 Science Drive 4
Singapore - 117543


Sir,

I am R. S****** from Hyd******, India. I am writing this mail regarding the opportunity to gain research experience in your lab.

My main interests lie in population dynamics and sexual selections. I have just completed my field research project titled "Selection of the egg attachment sites by the Indian Golden Gecko Calodactylodes aureus" and currently working on its manuscript. In the past, I have worked on several short projects on reptiles and birds.

I would like to improve my skills under your guidance as a research student/volunteer. I am aware of the dedication and hard work that is expected on my part while working under you and I assure that given a chance I would strive to reach your expectations.

Please find the attached documents (resume and statement of purpose).

Thanking You

Sincerely
--
R. S******
Flat No. ***
S****** S***** Apartments
E********* Colony
Hyd****** *** ***
Andhra Pradesh, India.
***********@gmail.com
Mobile no.- +91 ***** *****

"Experience should be counted not in years but in frequency of action"

Gyrating Genie Genes

What am I doing?!

Irritating Interviews III

Interview #12
July 29th, 2009 (11.00AM)
Company: Alert Life Sciences Computing
Category: Electronic Medical Records Software Company
Position: Regional Clinical Facilitator/Trainer

It was an immense moment of relief and joy as I received a phone call from ALERT Life Science, informing me of the details of the second interview. Because this job finally broke the mould of "sales or research laboratory", to describe me as desperate for it was certainly no exaggeration.

Yet, truth be told, it was an interview proved to be memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Rose, the interviewer was one that I could not "click", no matter how hard I tried

He (YES, it's a guy!) ranted on and on about his vast experience and peppering in random questions in between. I knew the death knell was definitely sounded when he began dishing out advice on how to perform in an interview.

Short of physically punishing him for his verbose predilections, I still managed to muster an obligatory smile... before turning my back on ALERT Life Sciences, for the last time.

Heavy-hearted, I left Suntec City for World Scientific. Fate, cruel as it can be, I had almost resigned to it.

What's Hot:
• Will there be another job that is non-research and non-sales for me out there?
What's Not:
• Or will I shelve all plans for completing my fundamental piano exams?

Final Bing Factor:



The battle between conflicts of interest between personal pursuits and career goals continues...



Interview #13
July 29th, 2009 (3.00PM)
Company: World Scientific Publishing Company
Category: Publishing Firm
Position: Marketing Executive

So that was it.
Presented with the documents and contract, all I had to do was put down my signature to seal my fate with World Scientific.

Over the phone, Ronald had informed me that the pay was S$2200. Disappointed but not surprised, I had mentally prepare myself doing all the necessary calculations by factoring in possible financial incentives and transport allowances.

BUT, I completely flipped when I realized that S$2200 was all I would be receiving. Sales targets existed without any incentives or allowances!

Considering that it was a job that wasn't highly ranked on the B-Factor, the pay was unequivocally unacceptable, but yet difficult to reject, in the face of a horrendous interview in the morning at ALERT Life Sciences.

So I played my father's favourite delaying tactic, that is "I am really keen on this job (yeah right...), but could you give me a day to reconsider the terms and conditions?"

Empty-handed I entered World Scientific, empty-handed I left...

Bing Factor:

?



Interview #14
July 30th, 2009
Company: 1st BASE Pte Ltd
Category: Customised life science services provider such as DNA synthesis or sequencing
Position: Customer Care Specialist

What's Hot:
• In the fields of life science
• Potential switch from front-line customer service to backroom laboratory
• Non-sales
What's Not:
• Science Park II. The environment and location was anything but a walk in the park.
• Non-sales but... still within customers' firing range.
• Towards the end of the interview, my pretence and professionalism were thrown out of the window as my face contorted with bewilderment and horror... ... when I was informed that the salary range was from $1700-$1800!

Bing Factor:



As I was still reeling from the psychological damage inflicted from hearing such shockingly low pay on the bus back home, Ronald from World Scientific called. This time, to confirm whether I was still interested in accepting the offer. Oh yes, today was decision day...

For a split second, in the face of $1700-$1800, the $2200 that World Scientific was offering suddenly didn't sound too little.

Through gritted teeth, I replied...
"Thanks but no thanks."

It was done. I was still jobless.



Interview #15
August 3rd, 2009
Company: Medtronic Navigation
Category: Navigation systems (e.g. for assisting surgical procedures in operating theatres)
Position: Technical and Application Specialist

The interview was conducted by an amiable chatty sales manager, Darren and an ultra bitchy HR personnel, Chloe.

Through the interview, Darren was brutally honest of the nature of the work involved. Conduct hands on troubleshooting on-site, "tearing the whole navigation systems apart and putting it back screw by screw".

And then came Chloe. Focusing only on internship and FYP experience in wet-lab conditions and my couple of years as a reporter in the Ridge Magazine, she concluded that those experience made me "untechnical".

I wonder whether she spotted me rolling my eyes uncontrollably.

What's Hot:
• "World's largest medical technology" MNC, listed on Fortune 500!
• In the field of Biomedical Engineering
• Minuscule possibilities of going overseas for short training stints
What's Not:
• Science Park Drive, a park you can reach conveniently by driving
• Glorified mobile technician job
• Future promotions to... Sales Manager! Sales... Yea!

Bing Factor:




Interview #16
August 4th, 2009
Company: National University Hospital
Category: Hospital
Position: Clinical Research Coordinator

"Clinical Research Coordinator... what the heck does that fancy sounding name mean?"
A quick search on Wikipedia threw this definition:

The Clinical Research Coordinator is responsible for conducting clinical trials using good clinical practice under the auspices of the Principal Investigator. Good Clinical Practices Principles have been defined by Madelene Ottosen of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston as:

• All trials are conducted ethically, as defined by the Declaration of Helsinki, rigorously, as defined by the International Conference on Harmonization Guidelines.
• Benefits outweigh risks for each patient.
• Rights, safety and well-being of patients prevail over science.
• All available non-clinical and clinical information on any investigational • agent can support the trial as designed.
• All trials are scientifically sound and clearly described.
• All clinical trials have current Institutional Review Board approval.
• Medical decisions and care are the responsibility of qualified health care professionals, specifically physicians and, if applicable, dentists.
• Everyone involved in the clinical trial is qualified by training, education and experience.
• Informed consent is given freely by every participant.
• All study documentation is recorded, handled and stored to allow accurate reporting, interpretation and verification.
• Confidentiality of subjects is respected and protected.
• Investigational products maintain Good Manufacturing Practice in storage, manufacturing and handling.
• Systems to ensure quality are implemented in all aspects of the trial.

Despite being conducted by four interviewers, the 15-minutes interview proved to be the shortest one I've attended ever. And then came the twist.

Even though the job title was "Clinical Research Coordinator", the positions available was anything but. Then looking at my résumé, I was suggested to take on one of them involving publications and brochures.

"Oooo. Very interesting...", I thought.

Then it was braggadocio with no bounds... before being halted prematurely and suddenly by one of the professors.

What's Hot:
• Non-research, non-sales
• Coordinating scientific publications with Corporate Communications
• Writing of annual corporate brochure
• Potential inter-departmental switch in NUH
• Location: It's in NUS... Free concerts at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music!
• Food: It's Cheap!
What's Not:
• Location: It's in NUS... AGAIN.
• Food: It's Cheap... and near Science canteen.
• Does the job scope sound like that of a clinical research coordinator?
• I think one of the professors didn't really like me... Hmmmm.

Bing Factor:

TO