Fundamentals Are More Important Than Talent

Hello this is HSBC Communications office, Jasmine speaking, how may I help you?

Coming back to Brunei from Perth to find the ideal placement for PR393 sounds uncertain at the beginning for me. After two semesters of waiting and changing focus from different career fields, I have finally, FINALLY, found my placement that promises me to my dream graduation. *tears of joy

The past four weeks has seen an enormous growth in my time management skill, writing, communication, as well as reading habit and other fundamentals that may sound inconsequential for some, but has actually played a vital role for me to become a competent employee as I am today.

My first day working at HSBC's HQ in Brunei, surprisingly concluded with a good pace. The first feeling when I stepped in my office was a very welcoming HSBC theme with the red chairs and flooring; then I saw the long stretch of windows that overlook the minute capital of Brunei where traffic may sound too absurd to believe (but its true).

The first thing that reached my mind was my 'little black diary', which I remembered as a tip to us from the very first PR393 orientation session I attended at campus. I met Gerry my supervisor, who is also the Communications Manager of HSBC. He introduced me to the Marketing and Communications department, and briefed me through everyone's job scope at the department.

Then, straight away I had things to do, Gerry gave me a copy of the communications plan for the month of April, so that I can absorb what was going on for the next following weeks. And, I was more than happy to find out that I will be able to contribute the effort of my own to the annual charity event called HSBC Walk Run Cycle 2012; which has already seen an enormous improvement from the previous event last year.

This may sound funny but my first challenge after that was to write a press release, which took me the whole morning at office to edit to make sure that my writing style can match with the identity of HSBC's. My other job scopes for the day include writing a list of interview questions for the Managing Director of Valor Property Agency, and  attending a meeting with Gerry and the Advertising Sales Manager of Brunei Press to talk about the details of the supplementary pages in Borneo Bulletin.

So far, I feel that I am on the right track; I have gained a lot in such a short period of time and the Public Relations units I have registered with Curtin has definitely landed me where I am today.



Thank You for reading.

Jasmine Tan

Bentley