As 2016 approaches, we would say our goodbyes to our NCSH23 seniors. They have been the greatest help in helping us settle in, being our pillar of strength in the company and out of work. #cheesy #butwhatever. What a better way to celebrate our new year's eve by posting on SHEN blog right?!?! Kiddin, we all have a life. So.. part of saying goodbyes to our seniors, we invited some of our batch mates to say what they have to say to our seniors. And as you can see above, our friendship is t h a t strong. ...... Just kiddin..... We all have our own ways of self-expression. “Dreaded goodbyes are temporary, but our memories and friendship are eternal. Thanks so much for showing us the Shanghai way of life over the past few months! I wish each of you the best as you enter post-NOC withdrawal phase (next chapter of your life)! XP PS: good news is that y'all get to eat Scissors Cut Curry Rice!” - Zoelle from B24 Hmm, i wonder if you miss the food more or the senior more huh, Zoelle. But regardless, thank you for your well wishes! Nonetheless, putting all these bullsh*t aside, goodbyes should be done in a more sentimental fashion: to reminisce the Shanghai flavours of life which has nourished our seniors’ souls for the last 10 months. And there we have it, the more sentimental goodbye messages by NCSH23. - - “To me, Shanghai tastes of the beauty of the seasons, the curious flavour of nuanced conversations, the flashing yellow of car horns and city lights. Living in a foreign land for ten months has been an exploration of the world and myself; I am certain my experiences shall trace the footsteps I take, for they have become integral to how I now see the world. I thank NOC for this opportunity, and wish everyone in this program all the best.” “一米一香。离家来到中国生活,经历的点点滴滴各有独味。发觉一个陌生环境是个宝贵的机会探索世界,探索自己。这十个月在上海创写的故事已无时无刻浮现在我的步伐。祝好参这项目的学员,也借此机会对学校表示感激”– A testament of how Shanghai has improved our mother tongue. Think you need no Chinese in your life after your O’s or A’s? Think again when this Asian giant is one Chinese speaking money generating machine. “Indeed, we all came on this NOC journey with different objectives and some of us were filled with reluctance when we were first approached to help with these activities 10 months ago. But now, all I can see amongst us is a spirit of teamwork.” “My 10months journey in Shanghai was enriching! The difference one will experience doing an internship overseas is the culture of the place. Shanghai has surprised me with all the pushing, shouting and spitting. Nonetheless, I grew to love this city bit by bit. Shanghai has taught me to be forgiving and understanding of others! “ Goodbye our dearest seniors. I believe we have made some amazing friendships through our short stint together in Shanghai. Whatever happens, we know that we have all grown and have our mindsets changed. And you guys are the ones who will understand it best.
You guys will be dearly missed. As we look forward to the new batch 25 interns to come in, till we see each other again - in Singapore. With lots of luv, Mei En & Hilz
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That’s probably the most common response I get when telling people where I work. Admittedly, yes, it is far (just look at the map, it's circled in red on the light blue line), but thankfully the people and the scenery makes the 40 minutes train ride worth it (and also because I take a direct line to work and usually get seats, but to those who want to come to Sheshan, no worries because we have shuttles buses from Gubei as well ^^). Because shuttle buses don’t run on Saturdays, we take Roger’s car to work. We are picked up at the Starbucks near his house where we will order 拿铁 for Roger, 伯爵茶 for Ruby (our manager) and whatever you’d like for yourself that day. Car rides with Roger are always interesting. We talk about almost anything and everything, from serious things like work to trivial stuff like dramas (which he will insist you watch because they are “really very nice, you won’t regret it! Wah I tell you ah, I start already I cannot stop.”). By the way, before I go on, Roger is the General Manager of Shanghai Sheshan International Golf Club and also my boss and mentor. He is a fellow Singaporean who many of you will be very familiar with because you’ll be changing money through him (SGD to RMB). While he is an extremely fun boss who jokes around with you, work is work and he expects nothing but the best that you can offer. I think it’s pretty obvious that Sheshan is not a startup (we have over 300 staff, with 10 years of history), so if you’re looking for experience in starting up a business then I’m afraid Sheshan isn’t for you (and that’s completely fine!). However, I feel that being in such an established company also has different kinds of perks and things to learn that are still ultimately related to the year-long program that we are journeying on.
Apart from these projects that we are embarking on, our day-to-day job scope includes maintaining our communications platforms such as our WeChat account and the enewsletters, constantly working hand-in-hand with other departments (Events, Ops, Sales, F&B, Coaches, etc) and helping out in Club events. We source for potential partners, draft marketing proposals and contracts and attend meetings with clients. All the normal hu-ha, the normal things you would expect to learn and do in a company. So what makes us interesting? 1. Buggy around the Golf Course
changes with the season. Not only that, it’s filled with animals that it almost qualifies as a zoo: We have a whole family of deer (sika deer!) that you can feed, noisy geese that you can chase, ducks quacking in the pond and squirrels scurrying around! 2. HSBC World Golf Championship (WGC) The biggest event and probably the highlight of my internship here so far! And I’m pretty sure it’s the same for all the other interns before me too! Sheshen Golf Club has been hosting the HSBC World Golf Championship for the past 10 years and is the only golf club out of America and Europe to have the privilege to host a World Golfing event. It was an incredible experience getting up close with the top professional golfers in the world (!!!), hosting and tee-ing them off on Day 0, the Pro-Am Day, and following our favourite golfer around all 18-holes just to watch him play. Of course, it isn’t all just about fun (although it really was). We were super busy leading up towards the huge event – generating publicity for the event, confirming which golfers were coming, filling out media pass forms, etc – and after each day of the event as we had quickly write the day’s review and post the next day’s fixtures (both in English and Chinese). But it was all worth it – more than 35,000 visitors came over the span of four days, breaking our record since its inception! I’ll be doing up a post about it soon to share about the entire event! 3. Networking with Our Members
4. Meet Amazing People
5. Join the Family of NOC Interns
This list is definitely not exhaustive. I haven’t even had the chance to touch on golf lessons (I suck at golf. The other time I swung my club in what I thought was the proper technique – shoulders, waist, legs… and it probably was, but I completely missed the tiny golf ball and my “coach”, also our Director of Golf, had to see the entire spectacle and to which he commented, “Wow, great swing! Your ball must have gone really far, maybe 400m, I can’t even see where it went!”, sigh.), free lunches (although don’t get your hopes too high up, it’s just meh after months but free is free!), free uniform (which changes with the season) and many many more. It has been a great four months in Sheshan and I really hope to be able to add on even more to this list when I leave in seven months! Life’s an experience, that includes my life of an intern. The motto of my internship company. This has also become the motto of my NOC internship journey thus far. Just like how Pivot aims to craft impactful, creative and memorable experiences that their target audience will remember, as an intern, I want to make my experiences as extraordinary as possible. I feel super fortunate because I have two very bubbly and helpful seniors, Chesna and Yun Wei who are also working in the same company. They really helped a lot with my transition into the intern-life and my experience would really be very different without them. What would a day at work be like? Pivot is an Events Management and Public Relations company and given that said, we work closely with clients all over China, especially in Shanghai. This means that our work routine will depend largely on our clients’ demand. When I just started out during September, it was the ‘non-peak’ or ‘down’ period, so I was pretty free at work. I had time to pace the tasks given to me and work was very manageable. For that period, to be honest, I was taking at least a 2 hours lunch break. However, as the festive seasons are arriving, more work needs to be done. We have more clients contacting us up, more brainstorming sessions, more proposals to craft, more pitches to attend and more events to organise. But I’m enjoying it all. We interns and the full-timers exchanging ideas freely in an open-concept office. Boss’ office. The photo portraits she puts up on her wall definitely reminds me of home :’) First experience for me, to be out of office to meet our dear clients on the 92th storey. #WhatShanghaireallyshouldbelike What's an event company without TONS OF EVENTS? HSBC Sponsored Golf Championship Event One week away from the main city to be on-site @ SheShan Golf Club. First on-site event for me and it was an unforgettable experience. Experienced a little cultural shock, because free gifts are given during the event. But I’m glad I learnt how to handle them and I feel like my patience level gone up..... WELLBEING FESTIVAL Saturday event held at this special hide-out called ‘The Living Room’. Spent half of my Saturday here as a media guest to know more potential clients/sponsors as well as to be a learner of course! Got many insights about health and food. Ask me about them! I'm very happy I don't have to sit in the office for 8 hours straight but have a chance to wander out of my office, to various events. I'M DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT MAKING MORE PROPOSALS COME ALIVE!^^ “We recognize this important connection and exercise our expertise in integrating public relations, event management and progressive marketing strategies – in one seamless solution – to bring your brand to greater heights.” (Pivot-marketing) I hope I will grow along with my intern company to a whole new height. This one year internship will certainly shape me into someone more experienced, skilful in my field of study (marketing) and most importantly, someone who will never stop learning. Name: Ong Yu Ann Company: Gravity Group Asia / Entertainment Direct Asia Duration: 8 months
At Gravity we hardly ever do what’s stated in the company datasheet that NOC Shanghai applicants receive - assuming that it’s been unchanged since December 2014. Unfortunately that is not because we do so much more - it’s just that we no longer do any of the things that would have given you broad exposure into the digital marketing landscape in China. That time is past. Instead, the boss, Rick, has redirected the company’s efforts at building a multi-channel network (MCN) for China. That’s Entertainment Direct Asia (EDA www.edirect.asia). Rick, a Caucasian dude who speaks impeccable Japanese, Mandarin and (of course) English, comes from a rich background in the IT and digital entertainment industry in Asia, and he is immensely knowledgeable about the digital entertainment industry in China and Japan, particularly with regards to online music and video. Conversations with Rick are to be treasured, if not because they are always insightful, then for the reason that they are hard to come by. At the helm of a company deep in transition, Rick, I have to say, is a very busy man. At this year's Company Appreciation Dinner with my colleagues. Thus, at Gravity I never did what I expected I would be doing. Instead, I was roped in to write (and eventually helm) a monthly industrial report on the live and digital entertainment landscape in China. This report is a remnant of Gravity’s past activities as a “boutique digital advisory”, and is probably so because it’s a major revenue bringer for the company. Writing the report used to be a team affair across 3-4 writers specializing in the report’s various sections, but by the time I was the only NOC intern left, well, I was the only writer left. To write the report, I became a data collector, a fake pundit of the Chinese digital entertainment industry and a fake journalist. I became an expert at crawling for news (Google still beats Baidu), maintaining datasheets (I’m now probably between amateur and expert on the MS Excel Proficiency Scale), generating content (the Singaporean education system has trained me well in the Fluff Arts) and maintaining positivity (^_^). Eating home cooked lunch in the meeting room with my senior. Why an expert at maintaining positivity, you ask? Why, on my first day at Gravity, I found out two senior employees, both of whom interviewed me and grilled me on the skills needed for the job described on the Gravity datasheet that NOC Shanghai applicants all receive before choosing companies, had left the company. One of them was supposed to be my supervisor. No matter, I had a new one. He is hardly around, not particularly conversationally inclined and pretty much left me to my own devices after briefing me on my role. 7 months on, he left the company with nary a whisper. Loyalty and responsibility seem secondary to personal ambition here at Gravity (I witnessed no less than 4 other senior employees that simply upped and left). Perhaps it is the non-existent camaraderie, you know (I sure don’t), but life is no bed of roses, and that nobody said the same about death doesn’t mean that there’s a bed of roses on the other side but now you witness my Gravity-trained Fluffing Ability (trademark).
Join Gravity/EDA for a chance at independent learning in a totally relaxed environment. You will be the master of your own time, you will have ample working space, you will have an angmoh boss, and you will have pretty good WiFi (wink wink). Dinner with some of my colleagues. Shen: Special thanks to Yuann for sharing your experience and inspiring us to do our job and do it well and to make the most of what has been given! A thumbs-up from us too! Writer: Eunice Chong Company: hoF Duration at job at time of writing: 8 months (First 3 months) Every Sunday, Eunice checks her shift timings in the shift roster so she can plan her week out. (3 months later…) Every day at about 8pm Eunice: “Brian, what time should I meet you tomorrow?” Anytime from 8.01pm – Brian: “<insert timing of first meeting. Or screenshot of iPhone calendar>” hoF is a dessert lounge that has 2 outlets in Shanghai, specializing in chocolate and cocktails. It is consistently awarded Best Dessert or Best Bar by magazines geared towards Lao Wais like City Weekend and That’s Shanghai. However, other than the regular Ang mohs, hoF has a significant headcount of local fans as well. Being an intern at hoF, you will:
You will also:
Sinan Road Staff Dinner on a Monday night when the shop is closed On a more serious note though, I really enjoy working in the Food & Beverage/Service industry and I have learnt so much from my 8 months here. Every intern starts out at hoF as a service staff though, at least for the first 3-4 months, to learn to be in touch with the ground and understand customers’ preferences and honestly it might be tough working different hours from your NOC peers. However, I was encouraged by my boss, Brian, to see it as an opportunity to be a sales person: Can you sell one more slice of that cake that has a greater profit margin, or push sales for the bottle of wine that we want to sell off? Having fun and supportive colleagues also definitely helped; teamwork is crucial in a service team. You all dart around the shop almost following a rhythm as it gets busy, push each other to take meals first while you cover each other’s backs and rejoice in satisfaction (or sigh resignedly) together as you check the sales report at the end of the day. hoF @ Sinan Road (Near Middle Huai Hai Road) I also was put in charge of external events and roadshows that hoF took part in, which gave me the chance to do everything from design of marketing materials to operations, sales and the eventual finance report. Because hoF is a small company, I got to learn and be involved in all the nitty gritty. The emergency delivery of cakes from one shop to another, liaising with for a 20k (RMB) order, updating and designing a new menu is just the tip of the iceberg. A hoF booth at one of the roadshows we did In the later part of my internship, I shadowed Brian, my boss, mentor and quite possibly the fastest speaker I know. Not only is he quick with his words, he is quick on his feet and always challenges you to be quicker than he is. His passion for this industry shines through in every project that he takes on, his ideas come fast and furious and really, I learn just by talking to him. I was lucky enough to be directly involved in the opening of a new concept store he was consulting for. I helped in the sourcing and purchasing of everything remotely related to a restaurant, measured precisely heights of tables and chairs, ran from this meeting to the next with him looking for sponsors and partners, did up presentations to present the idea to anyone we might meet. I also had the pleasure of having the first aid kit I bought put to good use on the very day it was purchased when a trainee chef sliced off half of her nail. Ouch. I cannot even begin to summarise the things that happen behind the scenes of opening a store, but seeing that place go from a black cave with gravel for floors to, I’m definitely biased but, what I feel is something great left me with an sense of satisfaction words are inadequate to describe. From a black cave to Vancas TV Studio inside Vancasa Intermezze – the restaurant inside Vancasa
As I’m left with my final 2 months in Shanghai, I am immensely thankful I happened to chance upon the email blast NOC sent out. Interning with hoF and Brian taught me a lot about doing business in China and what it takes, taught me a lot about the food & beverage industry and most importantly, taught me a lot about myself. I have no regrets. Shen: Special thanks to Eunice for writing this beautiful post about her experience, in the F&B industry in China. We'll see you back in Singapore! After spending few hours trying to pick the ideal company of your choice, you now have to think of how to ace your interview with your potential boss. Given that your in terview would be when your first impression would be made, it’s rather important to prepare for your interview(s). When we say prepare, we don’t mean hard-core research on the company’s history, industry and background information and of course we’re not saying they are not important. But, what exactly more do you need to seal the deal? To find the answer, a few of us who got our offers (which caused us to successfully land ourselves in our respective companies) thought hard and brain-stormed a few tips that might effectively set you different from the other applicants. We hope to share these deep-insights beyond the typical tips like, “dress well and impress” that we often hear too much. BEFORE INTERVIEW
1. Resume This is your first-impression made, so make sure it’s a pleasant one. It should leave an impression. Be honest in your resume because your bosses or interviewees can tell a sincere one from one that is trying too hard. Very often, bosses will skim through your Cover Letter, so make sure you put in more effort in the introduction and concluding paragraph. Convey clearly what kind of job scope you will be interested in because you don’t want to be stuck in a job you really detest when you’re here. So spend some time, craft a unique resume that tells your bosses why you are or should be the one. 2. Dressing Just because your interview is being conducted in a less conventional way and from the comfort of home, this doesn’t mean you’re allowed to stay in your pajamas. Because your interviewer can physically see you, wear what you normally would to an interview. While this varies depending on your field, a nice blouse with a blazer is always a solid option. Don’t go halfway with your outfit, either! It can be super tempting to dress for success on the top (what can be seen on camera) and wear casual shorts or sweats on the bottom. But this could end up biting you in the butt – you never know if you’ll have to get up at some point (true story!). Your best bet is to dress like you would for a Monday morning at the office (although we understand it can be very tempting to wear your FBT shorts or boxers anyway). 3. Technical difficulties Internet connection can be spotty in the best of times, so always come up with a backup plan. Skype is often full of technical difficulties and can cause audio lag and pixelated video, especially when the connection is bad. If your Wi-Fi is super unreliable, use an Ethernet cable to plug yourself in so you don’t lose service in the middle of your interview. As much as you may love your laptop, it’s still a piece of technology and doesn’t know not to die during an interview. Keep it plugged in to avoid any potential battery disasters, and quit all unnecessary programs; not only will they be distracting, but they’ll also slow down your computer’s processing (interfering with your video feed) and drain the battery quicker. If all else fails, keep your cell phone handy. In short, make sure you are in a space that has stable connection at least. DURING INTERVIEW: Two-way street Allow your internship interview to be a two-way street. Simply put, do ask your interviewees questions too. When people say a job interview should be a two-way street, they mean it—but you have to make sure you actually get into the driver’s seat and take control of the conversation. Don’t be arrogant, of course, but be confident. You have a big decision to make, too. For example, when you hear things like “schedules are flexible” (a good time to ask “how is that handled or approved? Does anyone on this team have a flex schedule?”) or “there’s some occasional travel” (a good time to ask “where was the last place someone had to go? How long did they stay in the field?”) The more you manage to make your job interview a give and take of useful information, the more rapport you’ll have with your interviewer, the more likely you’ll leave a good impression, and the more informed you’ll be when you leave. You’ll be both confident that you left a good impression and answered their questions well, but you’ll also really, truly understand what will be expected of you at work. That’s important too: The more you converse, the more the conversation naturally turns to when you start, as opposed to if you get the job. You probably know that feeling: your conversation consists of things like “these are the people you’ll be working with” and “this is what you’ll be doing” instead of “this is our team” and “this is what we do.” It’s always a good sign that you’ve made a great impression, and you’re fitting in well with your interviewer. Finally, don’t let yourself leave a job interview hoping that everything went well without knowing if it did—like the interview was a thing that just happened to you rather than a thing you actively participated in. Choose your companies wisely for this is a commitment you will be taking up for around 11 months. Most importantly, do not have unrealistic expectations of being an intern - get rough and immerse yourself in Shanghai. Good luck folks. “I have great respect for Singaporeans who come here,to China to set up their businesses. It is not easy and also requires a global outlook. In fact, by being here (in China), all of you, be it setting up your own business, or working for an MNC, already possess an advantage over your peers and friends back in Singapore. That is because you have already taken the first step.” From enforcing Singapore Airlines Ltd (SIA)’s vision to be a global company, to taking decisive measures in ensuring SIA stays relevant in today’s fast-evolving technological landscape, to weathering the myriad geopolitical, environmental, and biological challenges posed by the highly sensitive global air travel industry, Mr Stephen Lee, Chairman of SIA, has seen much. During the Singapore Speaker Series (SSS) sharing, a lot was shared in this illuminating session organized by the Overseas Singaporean Unit (OSU) for Singaporean businessmen, professionals and students based in Shanghai, where the esteemed leader of Singapore’s flagship airline carrier shared his insights and concerns on the airline industry and also, on entrepreneurship. The sharing session explored some of the challenges of the airline business in specific, including fragmented market segments, leading to increasing competition among the various airlines with their aggressive and emerging growth, global economic weakness, and volatile fuel costs. To tackle these ever-changing and dynamic challenges, brand positioning (品牌定位) of the company is thus very important. SIA prided itself in being one of the leading airlines in the industry, with its world-class airport, the Changi Airport. The association of SIA with the iconic Singaporean girl brand icon then, serves as a way to humanize and personify the brand, epitomized the high level of professionalism and service provided. With the service crew being sent for training for a period of 15 weeks, much more than the industrial standard, and refresher courses being invested as well, it is no wonder why the manpower costs makes up around 20% of the company’s operating costs. Customer experience is further enhanced through optimizing flight connectivity and enhancing transits. Following the presentation, it is time where we students look forward to, the networking session. To put it plainly, it is time for us Singaporeans to “chiong” out to the extensive array of buffet food items. We witnessed the familiar queue-forming with transparent barricades. There was Laksa (Coconut soup based noodles), delicious cold duck salad, chicken rice, and roasted duck. There was also ‘Bah Kut Teh’ (Pepper Pork-ribbs Soup) beside a pot of Tom Yum soup. A lady I met while queueing was deciding between the two - and in the end she picked the latter. And I quote, “You know one is a true Singaporean when he picks the BKT instead of tom yum soup”. Truly, Singaporeans indeed. Before I end off, here is just background with regards to the Singapore Speakers Series event: The Singapore Speakers Series is a high-signature event aimed at fostering greater interaction between eminent Singapore-based leaders and the overseas Singaporean community residing in cities with significant pockets of overseas Singaporeans such as New York, London, Sydney, Melbourne, Beijing, and Shanghai. *As long as you are interested in learning, please join us at our next Singapore Speakers Series! Contact me for more information: Hilary Pang – [email protected] After spending few hours trying to pick the ideal company of your choice, you now have to think of how to ace your interview with your potential boss. Given that your interview would be when your first impression would be made, it’s rather important to prepare for your interview(s).
When we say prepare, we don’t mean hard-core research on the company’s history, industry and background information and of course we’re not saying they are not important. But, what exactly more do you need to seal the deal? To find the answer, a few of us who got our offers (which caused us to successfully land ourselves in our respective companies) thought hard and brain-stormed a few tips that might effectively set you different from the other applicants. We hope to share these deep-insights beyond the typical tips like, “dress well and impress” that we often hear too much. BEFORE INTERVIEW 1. Resume This is your first-impression made, so make sure it’s a pleasant one. It should leave an impression. Be honest in your resume because your bosses or interviewees can tell a sincere one from one that is trying too hard. Very often, bosses will skim through your Cover Letter, so make sure you put in more effort in the introduction and concluding paragraph. Convey clearly what kind of job scope you will be interested in because you don’t want to be stuck in a job you really detest when you’re here. So spend some time, craft a unique resume that tells your bosses why you are or should be the one. 2. Dressing Just because your interview is being conducted in a less conventional way and from the comfort of home, this doesn’t mean you’re allowed to stay in your pajamas. Because your interviewer can physically see you, wear what you normally would to an interview. While this varies depending on your field, a nice blouse with a blazer is always a solid option. Don’t go halfway with your outfit, either! It can be super tempting to dress for success on the top (what can be seen on camera) and wear casual shorts or sweats on the bottom. But this could end up biting you in the butt – you never know if you’ll have to get up at some point (true story!). Your best bet is to dress like you would for a Monday morning at the office (although we understand it can be very tempting to wear your FBT shorts or boxers anyway). 3. Technical difficulties Internet connection can be spotty in the best of times, so always come up with a backup plan. Skype is often full of technical difficulties and can cause audio lag and pixelated video, especially when the connection is bad. If your Wi-Fi is super unreliable, use an Ethernet cable to plug yourself in so you don’t lose service in the middle of your interview. As much as you may love your laptop, it’s still a piece of technology and doesn’t know not to die during an interview. Keep it plugged in to avoid any potential battery disasters, and quit all unnecessary programs; not only will they be distracting, but they’ll also slow down your computer’s processing (interfering with your video feed) and drain the battery quicker. If all else fails, keep your cell phone handy. In short, make sure you are in a space that has stable connection at least. DURING INTERVIEW: Two-way street Allow your internship interview to be a two-way street. Simply put, do ask your interviewees questions too. When people say a job interview should be a two-way street, they mean it—but you have to make sure you actually get into the driver’s seat and take control of the conversation. Don’t be arrogant, of course, but be confident. You have a big decision to make, too. For example, when you hear things like “schedules are flexible” (a good time to ask “how is that handled or approved? Does anyone on this team have a flex schedule?”) or “there’s some occasional travel” (a good time to ask “where was the last place someone had to go? How long did they stay in the field?”) The more you manage to make your job interview a give and take of useful information, the more rapport you’ll have with your interviewer, the more likely you’ll leave a good impression, and the more informed you’ll be when you leave. You’ll be both confident that you left a good impression and answered their questions well, but you’ll also really, truly understand what will be expected of you at work. That’s important too: The more you converse, the more the conversation naturally turns to when you start, as opposed to if you get the job. You probably know that feeling: your conversation consists of things like “these are the people you’ll be working with” and “this is what you’ll be doing” instead of “this is our team” and “this is what we do.” It’s always a good sign that you’ve made a great impression, and you’re fitting in well with your interviewer. Finally, don’t let yourself leave a job interview hoping that everything went well without knowing if it did—like the interview was a thing that just happened to you rather than a thing you actively participated in. Choose your companies wisely for this is a commitment you will be taking up for around 11 months. Most importantly, do not have unrealistic expectations of being an intern - get rough and immerse yourself in Shanghai. Good luck folks. Here it is, our very first post.
As students do, we procrastinated from writing this post. We ain’t gonna lie, because we want to start this new blog on a right note. We ain’t gonna tell you that being on NOC is going to be easy, or that life in Shanghai means plenty of travel opportunities; we are going to provide you with the most honest opinions, so that you (yes you and you) can read this blog and feel comforted that all the shizzle that you’re gonna face in this beautiful chaos called Shanghai, your seniors have had their fair share of it. From delayed flights (for 24 hours, mind) to endless house hunting and residential administrative matters, to scams, aggressive locals, and wantonly-aimed spittle, to crazy deadlines, crazy weekends, crazy travels and crazy crazy - we’ve had it all. Everyone’s journey here is different, and you will have the privilege of hearing from all of us. Listen in to our Conversations with your current seniors here in Shanghai on NOC and what each of them has to say about their company - is it challenging? How’s the company culture? Look out for takeaways from our monthly SHEN Speaker Series, where guest speakers - leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals - are invited to share truthful, engaging and hopefully inspiring entrepreneurial experiences. Look out also for our LifeHacks, oh dear Shanghai Virgins, for we will provide you with the most detailed guides so that you can try to prevent from making the same mistakes as we did. Our wise words will include how not to get cheated in Shanghai, how to shop on the online miracle that is Taobao, how to bargain like a chinawoman, how to ride the Shanghai metro like a seasoned veteran, how to traverse the Chinese internet unconfined by the Great Firewall (via VPNs) and many more. If you are still not sold by us, then you are a hard nut to crack. But that’s good, because we need hard nuts to survive on NOC. That’s right; all of us here have hard nuts, so to speak. But do stay tuned nonetheless, because we assure you this blog will be your dose of daily China. |
SHEN
申城 (shen cheng) is an ancient name for Shanghai.
As a group of NUS and NOC students who are in Shanghai for a year-long internship programme, we have named our student organisation as SHEN (Shanghai House of Entrepreneurs). Archives
November 2017
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