INFORMATION FOR
PROSPECTIVE INTERNS INCLUDING VETERINARY UNDERGRADUATES/VET
TECHNICIAN STUDENTS FROM POLYTECHNICS
Market yourself well if you
want to do well in life and get what you want. This is the reality
of life.
There are strong competitors and other factors affecting your
chances of being successful. Therefore, be prepared if you
want to be an intern. In Toa Payoh Vets, internship is Dr
Sing's giving-back to the community rather than a tool to
recruit employees. Therefore, applicants need to satisfy the
following:
1. Application via e-mail/post. E-mail to
judy@toapayohvets.com
giving 5 reasons in 500 words as to why Toa Payoh Vets should accept you as an
intern.
Enclose your resume,
2 character references and academic results of your "O",
"A" levels and undergraduate grades or equivalent.
2. Please note that we do NOT accept interns
with poor academic grades and no two character references. In other words,
your "A-level" and polytechnic grades must be in the top 5% to be accepted as
prospective undergraduates in veterinary schools in the U.K,
Australia, New Zealand or U.S.A. This
usually means at least 3 straight As and some Bs at "A" levels
or Junior College Year 2 results.
3. Applicants should provide their grades in
their school
and get 2 character references if they want to see
practice in Toa Payoh Vets by e-mail or post. E-mail for internship without any
required supporting documents will mean that you do not know
how to be successful in the real world.
4. Knowledge of digital photography
will be an advantage. Show me your portfolio if you have such
knowledge.
5.
E-mails without our above requirements and those with attached
files will not be entertained. We don't download attached
files due to concerns about viral infections. Therefore, learn
how to include your character references inside the e-mail
directly or post the application to Toa Payoh Vets, Blk 1002,
Toa Payoh Lor 8, 01-1477, Singapore 319074.
6. Interviews by Dr Sing. Bring your original
certificates and testimonials together with photocopies.
Testimonials unsigned by the teacher or referee or
without letterheads are suspect and are unacceptable. I will
phone your referees, therefore ensure that they are prepared
to talk to me about your character and integrity.
 7. Payment for internship. Please note that you will
not be paid. Follow your time schedule as arranged.
8.
Honesty is most important for interns as dark forces in
your mind seem
to work harder at the growing up age to deviate you from the
"straight" path. Thefts of money and property
of Toa Payoh Vets will be reported to the police.
9.
Diligence
at keeping records and writing up cases within 48 hours are
required. I will discuss with interns some cases. If they
don't have time to record the findings and challenges encountered in
the handling of such cases, how can they learn and profit from the
internship? I note that there are such interns from Junior
College in 2009 not adhering to this requirement.
9.1 Notebooks.
When I ask whether you have a note-book, I refer to the
electronic lap-tops, not the paper note-book.
9.2 Pen and Paper/Electronic pens. It is best you bring
your non-electronic book to write down details and
instructions of the cases.
I know some young ones are used to keying messages into the
mobile phone. You are the internet generation. However, I
cannot wait while you thumb furiously my verbal instructions
and discussions of the cases into your mobile phone because I have
lots of things to do myself and I can't wait for you.
Therefore, pen and paper are still necessary. However, if you
have an electronic pen, it is OK with me. Reports are to be
submitted within 48 hours by e-mail to me.
10. Personal safety. Toa Payoh Vets is in an
industrial park but it is a very safe place to work in the
evenings. I had an internist who told me her grandmother was worried
about her working in the evening and therefore she should work
during office hours. In such cases, my reply will be to just
stay at home. Veterinary work in the real world involves
evenings and weekend work.
11. Gossip.
Try not to waste time spent at Toa Payoh Vets by idle talk
with my staff. They have lots of work to do but some of my
staff simply love idle
chat and gossip with newcomers. Most likely you will find
that you need time management and that you practically have no
time to complete your tasks. So why spend time gossiping?
12. Self-discipline & targets.
You should write up the daily cases within 24 hours (that is
why I will ask whether you have a note-book) and e-mail them
to me (not as attached files - you figure how you do it
electronically).
13. Independence. Ask your mother not to phone me
enquiring about internship on your behalf. I don't
accept students who can't be self-reliant. Please
ask your parent or best friend NOT to accompany you for the
interview. But if mum comes, introduce the parent/s to me as a
matter of courtesy. Best friends are best left at home! This is one time you need to cut the apron's strings and be
confident as you embark on a new and wonderful adventure into
the big animal world.
 In conclusion, many young people come
for interviews and work unprepared without resume and
requirements. Some girls come with their
mothers and best friends for the interviews. Please note that you are asking
for an internship and therefore should be well prepared for
the interview so as not to waste time.
Internship
is serious business for you. You will learn the ropes and the
challenges of the real world in a commercial veterinary
practice. It is so much different from your school or home. It is not
a travel or boat cruise at Toa Payoh Vets. It is not your
"grandfather's house" where you come and go as you please and
relax at Toa Payoh Vets just like the young man in the picture
of "The Magnificent Twelve".
There is much to learn and much to teach the interns going to
study to become good veterinarians in the very short time you
are with me.
A lot of time and resources are given to the intern to get
them on the feet into the exotic and beautiful veterinary
world. I don't want youths who are not up to my expectations
to be at Toa Payoh Vets. Therefore, ensure that you are able
to comply with the above requirements
before you apply to be an intern at Toa Payoh Vets.
 Common behaviour of Singaporean interns observed. Tardiness and not
being punctual at work are commonly observed for the
previous interns. This is unacceptable and your
internship may be terminated immediately.
You may feel that you are
not paid, therefore you can come and go as you please. Toa
Payoh Vets actually must spend time and money to mentor you.
You are unlikely to be an asset to the practice
at this time of your life and if you feel otherwise, please do
not apply for internship.
The world does not owe you a living. You have to prove that
you can be an asset to Toa Payoh Vets by your actions once you
are
accepted as an intern. Note that punctuality at work is
important in Toa Payoh Vets. If you
feel that you can't be punctual or
wake up early in the morning to go to
work, please do not apply for
internship. Your good or bad behaviour
serves to undermine Toa Payoh Vets'
scheme of internship for future
applicants and therefore you need to
do your best. |
TOA
PAYOH VETS
