WARNING! I PRAISE MYSELF IN THIS ARTICLE. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE IT, PLEASE STOP READING IT. 🙂 THANKS Haha
I was brought into meeting room, sitting together with my Manager and so-called supervisor. The discussion was basically regarding about my industrial training report which consists of 250 pieces of paper!
My manager started off his speech very well, telling me sweet words but I know that’s not the main thing he wanted to say.
“Ethan, your report is very comprehensive and I am glad that you able to catch up that much of knowledge and skills here though just for four months. To me, your work is impressive.”
I smiled but just for the sake to smile when someone is praising me. I knew he hasn’t get into his main topic yet. Then…
“BUT! …” Listen! He said BUT!
“But I am regret to inform you that you couldn’t have your piece of work out of the building! You couldn’t send in your original report, you have to edit and make another copy of your report.”
He started to go through the report with me page by page. He hold a pen and couldn’t stop putting big cross on the content which I wrote. Well, he said P&C.
While I was preparing my report, they has already informed me that what info can be put and what cannot be put in my report. However, based on my earlier understanding, the contents which I included in my reports ain’t P&C! It’s nothing confidential. I guess his context and mine, the way we determine P&C is so much different. Let me raise a few examples:
Wait! Before I start, I would say when I considered about the content which is P&C and which not, I took the past trainees report as references. Also, I did seek for advice from my Associate Manager, since she has experiences in handling trainees reports.
In his context, even the instrument’s brands and models are confidential. For instant, if you are using a TV, you couldn’t mention you are using a TOSHIBA TV. – That’s first point! He worried if the competitor, aiya Carlsberg, know what types of instrument they use! ISH! I guess his suppliers have spread the news long before me!
Second – He likes to cut off those sentences which contains numerical data! For e.g. “The red light wavelength is operating at 650nm!” Uncle! Who doesn’t know red light works at 650nm?! OMG, that’s not P&C larrr!
And a lot more he rejected, while my stupid, so-called supervisor, just smile and nod his head for the whole meeting. Celaka! I know you are all time follower, but please, don’t always agree to your boss lar! Beh tahan!~ I despise you!
OH my friends, I was feeling damn helpless and angry! I almost burst out when the discussion near its end!
When I started to defense my stand, his face turned real dark. I was hoping they could understand my situation. I am in the dilemma of writing a report which try to fit my course requirement! The report didn’t serve the purpose for your company! I need to pass up an academic report!
He got offended since then. He started to speak bad about my report. He said “if you wish, I could explained to your lecturer later in the afternoon. I can also tell her that your report has no value-added to the company! And if your lecturer doesn’t, then next time we just don’ take UKM student.”
He said: “You should have put some recommendation on certain lab procedures you mentioned in the report! So that we can improve based on your recommendation. Then. that’s value-add to the company!”
Then, we ended our discussion!
OMG, I was so so angry the moment I stepped out the meeting room. No matter what, I still need to hang a smiley face when I backed to the main office. Deep in heart, I was thinking: “Oi, stupid. As a trainee of 4 months old, if I can think of how to improve you Heineken Laboratory Standards Procedures which been established for years, then I guess I could replace you very soon and hold your QPA manager title!”
When the fire was still burning vigorously, I heard from colleagues that my so-called supervisor acquired some comments from them, regarding on my performance within these months.
Before that, let me introduce my so-called supervisor here. He is a new guy in the department, who is only 6 months older than me! He has “slightly more than little” knowledge about beer, in term of general brewery knowledge, if there is a quiz, I guess I can beat him! What he deserved a good from me, is his all-time-follower attitude and his practical skills in handling the analysis. Well, the latter is nothing great, to me, in fact my colleagues agree that those skills can be trained easily when you are working in that particular station consecutively for 2 weeks! I think that too.
Well, I tried to accept him as my supervisor since first day of work. While he was teaching me on an analysis, I raised my very first question on my first day of work, and he said: Erm, he is not sure. Well, I just convinced myself that maybe he doesn’t came across to such case. However, after second, third and forth question, I gave up! Because almost the same answer from him, “I am not really sure”. But, there is one good thing about him, modesty! He told me: We can discuss together when there is a question that I don’t know or he doesn’t know! What de…. Abang wei abang, I datang sini untuk belajar wei!… Bukan untuk 切磋切磋！
Ever since then, whenever I face problems I will go ahead and ask my associate manager. At least, I know she has greater knowledge than me. 🙂 Well, in fact, she taught me a lot of stuff, not just skills but knowledge!
Alright, back to the COMMENT part.
Basically I share a very good relationship with most colleagues! Among all my colleagues, he requested feedbacks from two people. One who is the Innovation Manager, Ms Ting and another one is the QPA executive.
The Innovation Manager, Ms Ting, is generous and always give me chance to perform. The main task I worked together with her is the HACCP review! She gave very positive feedbacks and I felt really glad. However, she told me that, my supervisor wasn’t happy with her positive feedbacks on me! He questioned her on my attitude and in fact, he said my attitude is not appropriate! Well, again, I am glad that’s Ms Ting! She told my supervisor that my attitude is not a problem. She said I am brave and dared to talk! It’s a good sign and it shows leadership! She continued saying that maybe I might fall down one day some where on the career path, but that’s a lesson for me to learn, eventually she has her trust that I will be successful! She told my supervisor!
She continued saying I am the best student she has ever met. She once hold a number of trainees and I am the best among all. However, my supervisor didn’t want to let her go, he continued: “What if I don’t judge him as a student?”
Ms Ting said:”That’s the fact, he is a student! How can you say that?”
BIAS!
Then, my supervisor went to the QPA executive, Mr Lai. Mr Lai has no problem with my performance. But, you know what?! My supervisor said: Ethan not quarel with you meh?
OMG! How bias he was! Fortunately Mr Lai said, since when he quarrel with me? I think sometimes we had a loud discussion but that doesn’t mean we quarrel. He is just a student, give me a chance no matter what!
Well, why I knew all the conversations? Because they told me that! It shows I keep a very close relationship with them! My supervisor, you 失策liao!
Supervisor ar supervisor, I just didn’t lick your boots! That doesn’t mean you need to act that way! What a tightwad!
That was the scenario for the whole morning until lunch.
Sadly, on the same day, there is a farewell lunch for me, as usual they did for all trainees. I need to hang a fake smile on face, and telling myself, take it easy Ethan!
Well, there reached 2.30PM. Dr. Liew arrived to the office. Fortunately, Ms Ting has a short chat with her before my manager and so-called supervisor met her up. 🙂
Dr. Liew’s husband and Ms Ting were once working together in Nestle. So Ms Ting tried to compare the working culture between here and Nestle. She told that the culture in GAB is much conservative that she thought. Nestle is much open and generous to receive comments, no matter good or bad. Of course, Dr. Liew understand my situation in GAB and she definitely agree that, she said: “Haha that’s typical eng yap! He dared to talk. Even in the class, he always the one who stood up. I remembered eng yap, you sent me an email about how heavy the assignments and presentations were! Haha.”
…………………..Then, my manager and co-supervisor had a discussion session………….
So after an hour…. (it was really long….)
My co-supervisor invited me to the meeting room. They were sharing the fermentation knowledge in the meeting room by the time I went in. My manager wish to give me a chance to learn something extra from Dr. Liew, since she is working on the fermentation research project. The discussion last about 15 minutes then ….
Before my manager and so-called supervisor went out the meeting room. My manager said:”So, Dr. Liew, make sure you marked his report since you will be the one and only one who saw this report. This report is not going to hand in to your school.”
“Ethan, he really did a very great job. This is the best trainees report that I have ever received.”
“The only thing that I want Ethan to improve is to add the recommendations. But that’s alright if he has none. I know it is very hard to give comment for a newbie like him. I even tell my staffs to do it, some been stayed here for 10 years, still unable to give me one!” —— Wah, luckily dia tau pun! Tau tak pe!
That moment, I was thinking, “wah got bor? So good meh? You don’t need to speak good words just because now I am with you all in the room.”
Then, the manager and co-supervisor left the room. *Deng deng deng* Now the moment to reveal the truth!
“Aikz. Dr. Liew, so sorry, I know there must be a lot of bad comments!”
Then, Dr. Liew said: Eng Yap! NO! Is the other way round!
And she continued:
Instead, your manager praised you in every sentences. Brought your name high up to the sky. He said your report is the best report among all the trainee reports he received for the past 10 years! However, he kept repeating that no matter what, I must inform the lecturer who mark your report about the whole situation. Anyway since I have read through your report, so I will inform Dr. Sahilah to pass your report to me for assessment.
Your manager also said that he received trainees from different universities and he wondered why the quality of the student could be that varies. And he realized now, UKM has the best students among all.
…….. Please don’t get me wrong…. I don’t mean to praise myself here…. I just wished to write everything that happened on such memorable day! ……………..
However, I couldn’t believe that. So I actually hesitated is that true or Dr. Liew just wanted to comfort me.
Then, I said I need to know the bad comments. So she continued:
The ONLY bad comment from your manager is you need to improve your communication skills. He said sometimes you are too aggressive.
Anyway, Dr. Liew was supporting me that moment. She said: Mr Chey (my manager), think it positively, he dare to talk…. bla bla bla… Isn’t that’s a good quality? It is leadership quality. Don’t you agree?
And my manager AGREE. I still didn’t trust Dr. Liew! Hahaha
Then she took out the assessment form. She showed me the marks! Wohoo! Thank God! I got all excellent mark except for the communication skills ( I only managed to get a GOOD).
Well, I really appreciate everything that happened then. I pray to God and I really feel so thankful!
The only regret is that my co-supervisor didn’t really report the feedback of my colleagues to my manager. My manager is my head supervisor and he is the final decision maker on my marks. I was thinking if my co-supervisor reported the feedbacks, then my manager wouldn’t take “COMMUNICATION SKILLS” as my weakness.
Anyway, I think I am alright with all I get at this moment. Perhaps, like Dr. Liew said: Maybe Nestle is more suitable for you.
Dr Liew also said that ” I think they expect too much from you. Is too much for a student. But anyway, Ethan, take it easy.” She did agree and found it ridiculous that my manager rejected my report, saying it is P&C!
Basically we had things end at 5pm sharp. The last sentence she told was: Eng Yap, email me if you wish to know more about the final year research project.
I said: Meaning now you offer to me? Hahaha But I heard seniors said that you are strict!
Our conversation ended with laughter.
Well, I will see her this coming 11th April and discuss on the final year project. I am interested in the project she offered but well shall decide again after I have a complete picture with what her research project about.
Another 3 days to go to call my internship a stop. I just done my presentation slides, where I am going to present it on this coming Tuesday in Guinness Anchor Berhad. I hate it because I don’t see the reason why I need to do it, since the past trainees didn’t need to present.
Well, I am just a nobody who had a very bad luck. But still, I am glad god bless me, He loves me so much! Thank you God!
Last but not least, there is another assessment form on my supervisor hand, I wish that would be like Dr. Liew said: Don’t worry, since I have gone through discussion with them, and they gave you almost full marks based on the document that I hold now. So for the remaining assessment form, the marks couldn’t get too different.”
So I pray hard now! God, Please bless me, this silly, aggressive, do-no-scare-to-die man!
P/S: All the best to my coursemates who are still training out there. Take care!
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逆风翱翔 * Fly against Wind 