VANESSA CHAN PORTFOLIO
4.0 MY REFLECTIONS
My Journal - 1st & 2nd Week (29th December 2014 - 9th January 2015)
On the first day of my internship, surprisingly, I was not nervous may be due to I done industrial training before. I reached my company at 7.35am and waiting for reporting myself to Madam Vicky, whom internship program handler. At 7.50 am, Madam Vicky brought me and another trainee to first floor and ask us to join the staffs to sing Christmas songs. After singing session, she brought us to Corporate & Training Department to know the staffs and introduce ourselves. Afterwards, Charles from the department briefed us about the corporation, terms and conditions, and attire for office. Then we were required to go through the entire corporation (4 levels) to introduce ourselves, this introduction session took us about 45 minutes. Throughout the process, I roughly remember the 8 heads of department (HOD) and able to know my supervisor, Miss Patricia Chow, HOD of Finance Department. In addition, there is gym facilities and badminton court and equipped with kitchen on top level of the building, this shows our corporation is concern on staffs' health and fitness. Then we had a short interview session with Madam Vicky. She questioned us about our personal information, how did we know about this internship program, how much we know about SCC and more. Later, I headed to see my HOD. Miss Patricia welcomed me and told me about past training arrangement, therefore I am going to be assigned to 3 different posts to expose different job scopes in coming 3 months.
I was told that entire company staffs dancing and singing on Monday to Thursday 10 minutes before working hours, while playing Tai Chi on Friday. Every department will have morning briefing every day, this is to keep every working mate up-to-date about each other's work progress. Management meeting on Monday morning and Finance and Admin Divisional meeting on Tuesday afternoon. Every trainee need to practice dancing and Tai Chi on every Tuesday and Thursday 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Datuk Vincent Pung, the CEO is a businessman who love playing sports hence the people in corporation are well encouraged to play sports.
This file is given to me which provided details of the corporation. A week later, I was given my ID card for check-in and check-out purpose. In addition, I received their corporate tee which we are required to wear on every Friday.
On the 31st, a month end gathering cum Christmas & New Year Party was held. We gathered at the gym area then proceeded to lucky draw session, game session, singing and dancing session.
Datuk CEO and other top management officers were dressed up as snowmen by the staffs.
During the first week of internship, the existing trainee who is placed at Payment Division hand over her job to me as 31st is her last day of internship. I copied down the steps of using the computer system on my notebook.
On the second week, several staffs from Finance Department were on leave hence I had to switch my post to Cashier Division immediately. At this division, I had to approach the borrowers directly, whom our customers such as receiving repayment from them. Besides, I was told that I need to do daily reconciliation daily for previous day cash closing. Then, Madam Nora, the officer taught me how to use the Thaler system to do reconciliation and issuing receipt to the customers who paying by cash or standing instructions. I also learnt how to filing the issued receipts with supporting documents. These are important for future auditing purpose. Sometimes, customers would like to enquire about their balance due, I will help them to check it by using Thaler system.
Drive-thru payment counter brings convenience to the borrowers Interior view of Cashier counter.
who are in rush.
Daily reconciliation that I have to do every day at Cashier unit. Tai Chi Class
My Reflections
Work culture: Due to month-end gatherings are always on the last day of the month, which is also closing day for cashier unit. Hence, cashier unit staffs could not participate this joyful gathering every month and of course over-time is imperative, this shows profession of the staffs. In addition, research shows that daily short morning briefing will improve efficiency of the operations and I totally agreed with it as work progress reporting provides high transparency within the department.
People & Team skills: Every staff can speak out anything regardless what topics are they, it is conducive in order to communicate between workmates. They can share or discuss with workmates about their experiences and other agendas. This could jack up communication skill and team work building.
Personal Development: Challenge faced was direct approach with the borrowers at cashier. I have to listen carefully what borrowers are requesting and they spoke in Bahasa Melayu some more, which is my weakest language. Fortunately Madam Nora helped me a lot when I did not fully understand what the borrowers were talking. Secondly, a number of technical errors on Thaler system and printing ID occurred, staff from IT Department was helpful enough to iron out my problems.
My Journal - 3rd & 4th Week (12th January 2015 - 23rd January 2015)
During these two weeks, I continued with the daily reconciliations and in charge of Tai Chi Class food refreshments. Our company has a Corporate Social Responsibility program for retirees every Wednesday. Trainees take turn to help out, trainees have to check blood pressure for the retirees, line-dancing and do Tai Chi together. Madam Nora also showed me how to do in-house transfer. In-house transfer is to set-off the borrower's amount in commercial bank account to Islamic bank account or vice versa. After doing it, we have to exert it to excel and give the manager to validate before clearing the transaction. Other than that, when issuing the receipt I might face to a problem which is the account has been blocked due to borrowers did not do their repayment for months, so I need to intercom to Credit Control Department to ask them to unblock the account immediately in order to complete the payment transaction. I was also started to filing the receipts from the branch in the same city, UTC. The officers from UTC will come to headquarters daily at the end of the day to hand in the receipts.
On the third week (13th January 2015), during daily meeting, Miss Chiu Siaw Lei briefed about what Datuk CEO had discussed on previous day's management meeting. He mentioned this year is SCC's 60th anniversary, so, a series of activities will be held in this year. Besides, he required client centers front counter must communicate with clients effectively to show SCC's efficiency. He also advised us not to assume elderly to mentor the younger, we should help each other from bottom to top, side by side. Human being should give out help voluntarily, from deep inside our heart.
I was given the task to mark the attendance of the retirees and pass them their blood pressure record card before they queue for blood pressure checking.
Line dancing time for all of us (retirees, staffs and trainees who are on duty). We were dancing to the songs that we use to dance every day before singing session.
Madam Vicky's birthday celebration on 19th January 2015.
My Reflections
Work culture: Weekly management meetings are favourable for top management from aspect of operation and financial planning. Being familiar with entire operations constantly can improve quality of plan and shorten strategic planning cycle time.
People & Team skills: Datuk CEO often give advantageous advices and give good speech. Through this, I can see he has indeed good leadership skill and I know he desires everyone to improve themselves in terms of leadership, public speaking and more skills.
Personal Development: Participating in CSR program has risen my consciousness toward elderly, what elderly want is merely being caring of.
My Journal - 5th & 6th Week (26th January 2015 - 6th February 2015)
Starting at the 5th week, I switched my post to Loan Unit. The trainee hand over her job to me before she switch to another division. She told me what do I need to do every day, firstly is use the Thaler system to exert out internal redemption (excess payment in-house transfer between IB to CB or CB to IB) and external redemption (settlement in full by cash/cheque/standing instructions) transactions of the branches within Kota Kinabalu which is headquarters, Alam Mesra and UTC to excel. Then, a new system I approached is SAP system. This is another task given by General Ledger Division. This is to record the daily amount incurred in the current account to journal voucher. Other than that, I have given credit balance listing and required to call to all the customers and ask if the bank account that they give years ago still active or not for credit refund purpose. If the account is no longer active, he/she need to fax us the copy of bank book of the active account. Before calling, we had to check if they have other loan accounts by using Thaler system. If they do have other loan account, I shall do in-house transfer by transferring the credit balance to active loan account. I have also done late payment interest adjustment, drafting stop salary deduction letter.
On 26th January 2015, the latest 3 batches of trainees had an interview session with Datuk CEO and internship program handler, Madam Vicky and Miss Melinda. Datuk CEO said there is a lot of things to learn, it depend how open we are. Good leader has bigger vision, they have the ability of knowing why it is and why doing it. He emphasised we trainee come to SCC is not merely for training and learning, but also building confidence and exposure.
Interview session. Datuk CEO and trainees on Month-end gathering cum cycling event.
My Reflections
Work culture: Credit balance is not a simple job, there is plenty of procedures such as checking if they have other active loan accounts, and calling borrowers but some of them no longer using the contact number they had given us earlier, asking them for their latest active bank account number. Some borrowers might thought we are scammers when we ask for the bank account number.
Personal Development: A month ago, I could barely remember and recognize the staffs' names and faces as there is approximately 100 staffs at Headquarters office. I was new on Tai Chi, I felt anxious and we are required to do and memorize "24-steps" in short time because we have to perform in front of CEO not long later. A month later, I could remember all the staffs' names and their faces, no longer rely on senior trainees to point out the person who I looking for. I can also do all the Tai Chi moves without referring to the trainee in front of me.
My Journal - 7th & 8th Week (9th February 2015 - 20th February 2015)
This week I repeated the tasks that given last two weeks whenever any officers in Loan division told me there are necessities. While the additional tasks I was asked to complete is issuing Settle in Full Letter to the customers which are listed. Then Satisfaction of Charge Letter will be also printed for them to prove how the customers were settled their last loan repayment such as by cash, cheque, salary deduction or standing instructions. Besides, judgment has been received to calculate the total repayment which are in arrears with approved interest by the judge. I have also updated the interest subsidy for the borrowers who are working in government owned corporation. Last but not least, the credit balance which below RM50 and cannot be contacted will be transferred to company interest income.
The extra thing that I have done in these two weeks were went to Credit Department to help them to fold the 45,000 pieces of statement of account into letter and post it out. All 23 trainees and some staffs were helping out together whenever they have no job on hand. On the 8th week Thursday, my turn to be the master to lead Tai Chi class. Additionally, Chinese New Year is around the corner, every department is required to do decoration for decoration judging competition.
Chinese calligraphy done by me.
Creative lantern made by angpau
My Reflections
Work culture: Folding statement of account letter shows flexibility and efficiency of the corporation in allocating trainees to complete other tasks in other department. It is sort of job rotation which is quite interesting.
People & Team skills: I took the initiative to tell my department staffs that I can do calligraphy and Chinese New Year decorations. This shows my intention of exposing both of my soft and hard skills.
Personal Development: First time to work with all the trainees and the process of folding the letter is tough as it requires good team work in order to get the job done as soon as possible.
My Journal - 9th & 10th Week (23rd February 2015 - 6th March 2015)
On the 9th week, I was still placed at loan unit, doing the tasks which I have been assigned in this division before. The new thing I have learnt is follow up to contract transaction through Thaler system. Meanwhile, I able to complete everything fraud less without referring the notebook as I completely familiar with the steps that needed to be taken.
Other than that, trainees have been told that the February month end gathering will be held on 5th of March and trainees’ seminar program will be on 4th of March until 6th of March. All the trainees from Headquarter and client centres will be involved in this trainees' seminar. I volunteered to be the one of the group leader. I also volunteered to arrange Trainees' show time on 6th March.
4th March 2015 - Welcoming session by CEO, Mr. Lee Shu Men
HOD of Corporate, Credit, Credit Control, HR, Admin brief about respective department
Night session: tai chi session, lion dance and performance practice
5th March 2015 - HOD of Finance, IT, Internal Audit brief about respective department
Month-end gathering and Judging decoration, Lion Dance Competition
Night session: tai chi session and performance practice
6th March 2015 - Group photo session
Depart to Kokol Haven Resort
Stress test (jungle trekking)
Tai Chi Contest
Trainees' show time
Awards giving session
On the 10th week on, I have attached to General ledger unit. Daily task is still sweeping transaction using SAP. The project I have assigned to is to do 300 adjustments from loan write off.
Meeting for trainees' seminar Four leaders and the trainees greet before Lion Dance Competition began.
Month-end gathering singing and dancing session I am the only trainee who asked to perform in judging decoration.
Me and my group members, Group Dignity Tai Chi contest
Photo taking at top of Kokol Hill after 1 and a half hours of hiking. CEO's Award giving
My Reflections
Work culture: Madam Vicky would always keep in touch with us four leaders through e-mail for the preparation of trainees' seminar.
People & Team skills: As a group leader, I have to communicate well with my members, solve their problems. I had good interactions with all the trainees, this improved our relationship. As a choreographer and director for trainees' show time performance, I glad that every trainee gave me full cooperation and the performance turned out to be pretty funny, interesting and all the staffs liked it.
Personal Development: I had my greatest accomplishment in my life, I successfully led a team which contains of 12 group members. I had to brief and remind what they have to do daily during the seminar. The leaders played the main roles throughout the seminar. Secondly, I received CEO's Award as an appreciation for my passionate and leadership during this seminar.
My Journal - 11th & 12th Week (9th March 2015 - 20th March 2015)
Daily task remains sweeping transactions, new task I have been assigned is doing bank reconciliation. SCC has a number of bank accounts, we have to do the reconciliation of all the bank accounts on bi-weekly and monthly basis. The done tasks later on are doing adjustments on loan write-off SDS for January and February, income on recovery, repayment salary deduction for January and February, loan write off late payment interest.
On 19th March 2015, my department threw a farewell party for me and another trainee. It is also my last Tai Chi practice in SCC. I was given a chance to give a speech, this is my third time formal speaking in public to the staffs.
Group photo with Finance Department staffs. Group photo with Madam Vicky and Headquarter trainees.
My Reflections
Objectives: Throughout this internship program, the objectives of university setting internship module have achieved. I have served with an opportunity to get on-job-training in preparation of work in future. As a result, practical experience under professional supervision in actual work situations is gained. I have had valuable work experiences now.
Moreover, internship program assist me in understanding my own capabilities and select areas of specialization for future coursework or for possible employment. This is supplement my classroom experiences and allow for adjustment or redirection of knowledge, skills and abilities. My discipline-specific knowledge have cultivated, so do cognitive capabilities and soft and leadership skills.
Internship program also provide networking opportunities, meet people who might help me secure a job in the future. They might assist me with future employment by providing professional experience, job contacts, personal references and other forms of assistance. References from people in the industry are invaluable to my job applications. I feel so grateful having references from Ernst & Young Kota Kinabalu and Sabah Credit Corporation.
Last but not least, I have gained competitive advantage in the job market. Madam Vicky and other staffs mentioned to me that SCC doesn’t recruit outsiders. Relatively, previous trainees have the priority to get hired.
Work culture: In these three months, I observed that SCC staffs check e-mail constantly. For instance, Miss Jeannette requests new Thaler system ID for a new trainee. She would write an e-mail to IT department staff to make request. Then, the particular staff would reply promptly upon Miss Jeannette’s request. Some staffs will go back to office on weekend or holiday to settle urgent matters. Through this, I can see their passionate toward job. Moreover, Madam Vicky did a great job in recruiting balancing trainees. Hence, we trainees get to experience culture blended 1 Malaysia style in SCC. SCC is indeed a well-integrated company, professional staffs with good time management, good problems solving skills, and everyone can give good speech.
People & Team skills: Datuk CEO advocates bottom-up leadership because some juniors have strong and good leadership. As a good leader, I know that I cannot close my mind, I have to take every experience as exposure, regardless of it is good or bad, just learn from it. As a consequence of I volunteered to be leader in trainees’ seminar and my leadership skill well exerted during the seminar. CEO’s award is a recognition of my leadership skill. I know this would definitely make me be more outstanding and have the privilege going back to SCC as a permanent staff in future. I strongly believe my priority should be building network here in SCC, so I was being more active in company activities such as helping out in MOF, a futsal competition organized by SCC.
Personal Development: In SCC, I learnt how to adapt and not assume to be taught all the time. I would be more proactive to ask for jobs, seek out answers from staffs when I’m in doubt. I get to work better under pressure when been told that the 300 adjustment journal vouchers have to be done within 5 working days. This reduced me in slacking and playing with the mobile phone. On the other hand, the best thing I have learnt in SCC is Tai Chi. I couldn’t believe that I did it, no longer have negative feeling toward it, no longer think it is boring and making my life dull. I absolutely willing to continue Tai Chi even I left SCC. Additionally, being an emcee for twice and giving speech once are the most memorable experience in my life. I never did these before. I was nervous as I was last minute to be told to be the emcee of the day, Datuk CEO was kind enough to tutor me at beside, but deep in my heart I know that my department staffs observed my proactivity and thus they chose me to be emcee. I will always remember the philosophy of life by Datuk CEO: cast, networking, and healthy body. These are what I can perceive in SCC. I am grateful that Madam Vicky discovered this, I know I am now a changed person when going out from SCC.
