Page 23 - Scholarship Guide Aug 2020

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What do you think set you
apart from the rest of the
candidates applying for a
scholarship?
I think that the NEW internship allowed the or-
ganisation to get to know me better (through
the assessment of my supervisors), which
would have given me an advantage over ap-
plicants who went through the usual selection
rounds. In the same vein, the 6 weeks also gave
me a deeper understanding of PUB’s opera-
tions, which would have aided in my responses
during the selection interview.

Nonetheless, I think that it is not so much
about “standing out”, but rather being a good
fi t for the company. Being genuine and sincere
helps the organisation assess accurately the fl ooding. This translates into always thinking of
fi t between the applicant and the organisa- how any operations or incidents can have im- Singapore
tion, which will benefi t both parties in the long pact to the water system, both upstream and Sustainability
term. Be clear about what your strengths are, downstream. The reservoirs, waterworks, ser- Scholarship
how you can contribute to the organisation, vice reservoirs, sewers are all intricately linked
then let the organisation decide if that is what to each other in our water loop. The work we (Previously known
they require. do here at PUB ensures that our system re- as the National
silience is constantly examined and improved Environment & Water
How are you enjoying your time by rethinking work processes. Of course, any Scholarship)
sudden changes to operations or incidents can
at the company? lead to high stress situations, where informa- Jolyn Tan
My time at the Joint Operations Department tion needs to be gathered from various parties Age: 24
so far has been very fulfi lling and enjoyable. while swiftly coordinating response plans. I
The past 6 months have been a steep learn- have learnt from my experience thus far that it Attained: Bachelor of
ing curve, but I am glad that I get to work is pertinent to remain calm and objective even Engineer ing (Mechanical
with what fi rst piqued the interest of my 19 during these stressful time, so as to best man- Engineering), NUS
year old self – the entire water system. As the age the situation. It also helps tremendously to
Joint Operations Manager at the Joint Opera- have colleagues who are able to guide me dur- From: Hwa Chong
tions Centre (JOC), my role is to optimise and ing these situations. After everything has been
oversee cross-cutting operations at a system resolved, there is a great sense of fulfi lment for Institution
level. Along with my colleagues from the other working things out.
operation cells in the JOC, I manage and over-
see all water-related issues in Singapore – from
pipe leaks and fl oods, to sewer chokes, as well What kinds of career and Did you always intend to have
as planning for water supply. Dealing with op- personal development a study abroad experience and
erations also means that work is dynamic and opportunities does the
fast-paced, so the work every day is different. what was it like?
The complexity of our water system also means organization provide its staff? Yes, while I wanted to study locally, I also
that there is always more to learn, keeping me As earlier mentioned, the various internships I knew that I wanted to have a taste of study-
constantly engaged at work. I am very thankful did during as an undergraduate at PUB helped ing abroad. I had the opportunity to take part
that my colleagues have been very patient in me to learn more in depth the work at differ- in a year-long exchange at Imperial College
answering my questions, sharing their wealth ent departments. At the same time, through London. This exchange allowed me to “see the
of experience with me. PUB, I had the opportunity to attend Singapore world” (literally and metaphorically) – to visit
International Water Week in 2018. It was an sites which I learned about from textbooks or
eye-opening experience, seeing global leaders documentaries, as well as to learn about other
What are the most challenging come together to discuss water issues, as well cultures. Living in a city as cosmopolitan as
responsibilities you have and as learning about advanced water technology London helped me to better appreciate and ac-
how do you cope with them? used abroad. PUB also places emphasis on con- cept diversity, while strengthening my identity
tinual learning. The establishment of the Sin-
and pride as a Singaporean. It was also through
Undoubtedly, the most challenging responsi- gapore Water Academy provides a platform for living overseas that I got to better appreciate
bility of my job is ensuring that Singapore will her employees to learn more and upgrade one’s the effi ciency and cleanliness in Singapore.
always have good water to drink and use 24/7, skills. There are also chances for internal job ro-
365 days a year. At the same time, it is neces- tations, such that employees can be exposed to
sary to ensure used water is properly reclaimed different aspects of the water system.
and that storm water does not cause any