Blog 5: A Pause but Not Stop here!

Time flies, one month passed and it comes to the end on of my internship life.

I have gained and growth a lot during this internship, not only learning a new software (CorelDraw) but also precious experience.

I am grateful to have the chance to work in this hotel and all the people here.

As going to graduate soon, this internship did help me to prepare myself for the real world. Besides, this internship also helps me to discover the PR role in hotel industry.

Although I only have one month internship, it has been a fruitful month. I not only discovered the PR role in hotel, but also discover my ability during one month internship. Before that, I only have little confidence in me and I always doubt myself that I cannot do this, or thinking that is too hard for me to handle. Surprisingly, throughout this internship, by the encouragement from my supervisor and managers, and the chance that they had given to me, have faith in me. Slowly, I building up confidence and took up those tasks and challenges.

Moreover, as my internship is start during the Christmas season, my supervisor took one week holiday leave, hence I have to take up all her job. That is a challenge for me, as I have to be independence, handle her jobs and stand by for the emergency work or last minute changes. Besides, there is also an “inner challenge” to me, such as how can I overcome the laziness and procrastination by being discipline and self-control when I was all alone in the office. However, I am thankful for the chance, as I can push myself to the limit and growth.       

By the way, here is a reminder for all of us.

“Say what you should, do what you should, do not over say something. Be wise and control your tongue although it is the smallest part of our body, but it can make people stumble.”

“The word you use must be careful, it is like a weapon, it might cause harm or kill someone without you knowing.”

This is NOT THE END but JUST START!

Group Photo - Refreshment after singing Christmas Caroling in Grand Palace Hotel

Hoh Xiao Mei 

15109206 / 7e0a7613

Blog 4: Hotel is not just about hotel, it could be something more

Before I start my internship in the hotel industry, I always have the thought that hotel is just a building that provide “temporary home” or “shelter” for travelers and good food for food lover. After working in the hotel, I changed my mind. Hotel is not just about a place to stay and to dine in with good food, it could be something more.

During my internship, then only I know that actually hotel is just like other for-profit- oraganisation, they operate their business at the same time they also have several Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. For example, in this hotel, Grand Palace Hotel, they will bring goodies, sing Christmas caroling and share the love and joy to the patients in general hospital during the Christmas season. Besides, they also design and selling bookmarks for charity purpose. From the bookmark design to printing, cutting, typing up a ribbon and packaging all is handling by PR.

                                                                                              

Lesson learns:

• As a PR person, you may need to carry certain level of hard skill as well as soft skill.

• Every software that they use in the hotel must be the original version. Pirated software is not allowed to use in the corporate.

• Regarding to the design, if that is necessary, you can download some of the pictures online and sometime you might need to pay for the picture in order to get the original picture.

•             As a PR, dress up properly and be there earlier for every event.  

Sing Christmas Caroling and bring goodies to children in General Hospital 

Hoh Xiao Mei 

15109206 / 7e0a7613

Blog 3: Explore What PR do in the Hotel industry

One of the reasons that I choose to have my internship in the hotel industry is because I would like to know what is the role that PR paly in the hotel industry.   

As working a couple days in the hotel, I slowly discovered what is the role of PR in the hotel.

From my observation, to be a PR in the hotel is not an easy job, he/she must have certain skill with him/ her. For example, my supervisor, her job scope is quite big. She must know how to use CorelDraw, Adobe Photoshop all those software in order to design menu, signage, brochure, poster, website update and Christmas Charity Bookmark (CSR program). Besides, she also need to have photo shooting skill as she need to attend every function and event that held by the hotel and be the photographer. Moreover, when the restaurant launches new dishes for every season, my supervisor has to be there to shot for the dishes and design table menu and brochure for it. On the other hands, she has to be able to go communicate well with media person.           

**However, different organizations has different definition to the PR, therefore their job scope will be different as well.

Something I can learn from my supervisor:

• Be polite and patience. In service industry, there is no hierarchy, meaning you have to be polite to everyone, even they are housekeepers, they equally deserve your polite. Besides, there are always some great functions and events happen in the hotel, therefore, as a PR, she contact with media in polite way as well. Because I am new to this hotel, she is patience to me, teach me and guild me.

•      Always has the habit of noting down those tasks and the due date.

•      Well time management and discipline is the key of finishing your work effectiveness and efficiency. 

      

      Hoh Xiao Mei 

15109206 / 7e0a7613

Blog 2: Taste the real world - Intern life start!

Before I start my internship, I was informed to go the hotel few days earlier for the purpose of filling up some documents, understand the hotel rules and regulation in the hotel, getting familiar in my workplace and people here.

First day of internship:

I was told to write up a press release for the upcoming event which is sing Christmas caroling in the general hospital.

What’s in my mind?

•      People said that is a gap between the thing (hard skill) that you have learnt in the university and what the real world is. However, I found that statement is not really true because somehow I can link what I had learnt from the university to my work in this hotel.

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•       I feel grateful because I am not as bad as what senior told me that just sitting in the office and do nothing but I am using my skill to contribute to the hotel that I currently working with.

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•      Stressful. As I poor in English, I doubted my ability to take up this task. However, my supervisor keep encouraging me and willing to help me when I faced difficulties.

What I have learnt?

•       My manager told me that as working in the hotel industry, service is important. Therefore do not forget about those magic words (Thank you, Please, Sorry) and greeting to everyone even a housekeeping worker.

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•      When you are not clear about anything, do not hesitate to ask your supervisor or people around you. 

• When I am not sure about the news angel, always referring back to the media clipping. Media clipping can be consider as a reference for you to refer and come out with an idea to write about press release.  

Hoh Xiao Mei 

15109206 / 7e0a7613

Blog 1: For The First Time

Hello, Xiao Mei here. I’m currently taking PR393 (like you all here).

I worked as an intern in Grand Palace Hotel, Miri. Although I only work for the hotel for 20+ days, yet I learnt a lot while intern in this hotel.

Actually most of the hotel or workplaces prefer trainee or intern with three months working / internship with the firm/ organization because they need time to train and teach the intern and the intern him/herself need time to learn and get familiar with the company and the culture inside.

Because of the tight schedule, I cannot work for the hotel for three months. However, I am so blessed to get offer from the hotel and have the chance to work as an intern in this hotel with less than one month (yet fulfill the minimum 20 days requirement).

Let’s share about the first interview experience.

I was informed to have an interview in the hotel, and after class I rush to the hotel with my semi-formal outfit.

I was informing that to look for the person but I didn’t know that he is the general manager of the hotel. After he introduced himself, that is a big shock for me that I am meeting up with the GM. (A big shock to me!)

The first time I feel like I am stepping into the real world and workplace, no longer a student no longer in campus life.

Although that is an interview, for me it is like another best lesson in my life.

During the interview, the GM was not only asking about your basic information, he even asked me to define some of the business term, such as marketing, and sale and he came out with a conclusion. I would say the interview is more like first stepping stone to enter the real world. He explained to me about the company and his job scope patiently. Finally, he said he accepted me as an intern to work in this hotel.

How I feel during interview?

• Of cause, I felt nervous because that is the very first interview in my life. However, after talking to the GM, I felt release, not really stress any more. He made the conversation in a casual way and made me felt comfortable to talk with him.

What I learn in this interview?

• As a manager, they must have certain level of leadership skill in them to lead the employees. Being friendly and kind to the employees does not mean that the manager does not strict in the law and regulation. Manager can build a good environment and culture in the workplace, having a good bonding and relationship with employees, but the managers still holder his/ hers power and all the employees will respect to the manager and they do not take it as granted.

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• Every little thing that place and design in this hotel, that must be a reason behind. Even the front office employees’ uniform design. For example, in this hotel, all the female front officers are wearing red and white color uniform. According to the GM, he said that as AirAsia is popular and famous, so the hotel decided to let the front officers wear similar to AirAsia flight attendances’ uniform as it will make the customer to remember about the hotel and feel familiar. Therefore, when people think about AirAsia, they will also remember that is a hotel in Miri also wearing the similar uniform with AirAsia flight attendances. 

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•      You are not as awesome as what people praise to you, but at the same time, you are not as bad as who do you think you are. So, be confident always.

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•       Sincerity and your personal character are important as well.  

In conclusion, that’s an unforgettable interview in my life. 

First day internship - my name tag  

Hoh Xiao Mei 

15109206 / 7e0a7613