DISCLAIMER!
This post is dedicated to Ms Mariah, my BESE tutor for my Individual portfolio. My blog readers, please skip this post scroll down to the next one if you are not interested. Another word of caution, this is a long post. Haha


While waiting for Dennis to finish the Psychology powerpoint, I might as well complete this first. Oh well, here goes my reflection.


Well, I find BESE a very useful and interesting subject. I enjoyed wearing full suit and attending the tutorials in it but not when I'm going to be late. This module really did taught me about business etiquette and service excellence (well, it's not called BESE for nothing). The real life stories that Ms Mariah shared with the class was inspiring and humourous at times. The 3 hours tutorials were never boring for me. I still remember the story about a regular guest that Ms Mariah actually had in the hotel who will give $50 tips just by greeting him. The whole class was awed by it. Through this module, I get to learn important things like how to build a good service culture, social etiquette, dining etiquette, how to entertain corporate clients etc. Some of them look basic and some may wonder why we have to learn it. I agree that they are the most basic, but the question is do we actually practise them? Humans tend to forget the most basic and simple yet most important things in life.


After flipping through the notes, I decided that Building a Professional Presence is my favourite workshop. It is the most basic but yet the most important.
Well, I guess before we can proceed to learning all about service and etiquette, we got to look good ourselves. I’ll never forget this: “It takes only 30 seconds for someone to make an impression on you.” This shows how important grooming is. I didn’t know that grooming can be so important until I took this module. This workshop taught me how to dress appropriately for different business occasions and what to look out for when buying a new suit. Hmmm, I would actually like to go and experience a White Tie event or cocktail reception. It will probably be a once-in-a-life-time experience to really dress up for the event, especially White Tie.


Through this workshop, I’ve also learned not to judge a person by the way he dress. One example through Ms Mariah’s stories is the one that I had mentioned above. The regular guest is a rich person however he doesn’t dress in a suit every day and look “rich”. In fact, he only wore a shirt and Bermudas every time he comes to the hotel. From one look, you can never tell that he is rich enough to give $50 tips to the staff who greet him. Another example will be this fraud that dress up and give people this “I am rich” feeling but behind all those branded clothes (they are probably fake ones I guess), he actually has got nothing to pay the hotel and he stayed in a suite if I’m not wrong.


Learning the above two points are relevant to me because although they are very basic things, people tend to forget about them. In the corporate world, people will judge you by the way you dress and somehow, even if all you said to them was hello, they may already have a bad impression of you at first sight. Yes, it’s unfair but since when is the corporate world fair?
The workshop conducted by Shiseido was also very useful to me as I’m not someone who will put on make-up unless necessary. I don’t even own a cosmetic bag to begin with. However, being in HTM and as a lady, I know I have to learn these skills. It was interesting with the external facilitator sharing her stories. I own a cosmetic bag now after going through the workshop. Some girls may think that by putting make-up, it will make them look prettier. However, to me, I think by putting make-up you are actually showing respect to the person you are meeting especially in corporate context. This is because it shows that they are important to you that you actually took the time to dress up and look good.


Ok, that’s a long post. Let’s take a break. Have a break. Have a Kit Kat. Haha. (-_-|| Lame)
But here are a few jokes to freshen things up.
ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
WITNESS: Uh, he’s twenty.

ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?

ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Guess.


Phew, finally, I’m coming to the end of it. Good things don’t last, so here comes the bad part. I always dislike the criticism part of every reflection because I always do not know what to write. *sigh**cracking my head over it*


I guess what I find bad about BESE is sometimes it is quite dry because it is just copying notes and listening to the tutor. Having to wear full suit is also quite a task at times especially when I’m going to be late. I don’t enjoy rushing to school when I’m wearing a blouse and skirt. But that’s my fault. I can sleep early on Sundays so I can wake up early and prepare on Mondays for BESE.


I guess to make the 3-hour tutorial more interesting and fulfilling, the tutor can make use of videos. One example is the one shown to us during the workshop on Art of Corporate Entertainment. The video put up by the various lecturers were very humourous and it kept the class awake. Not only that, it also help me remember some of the dining etiquette that we have to take note of in fine dining in order not to embarrass ourselves.


All in all, BESE has certainly achieved its objectives (for me). I’ve learnt a great deal of things that will be important for me. I feel that some of the workshops actually prepare us to think and act like a professional manager. After going through all the workshops, I feel that I have indeed learnt and behave more like a HTM student compared to how I am when I am in Year 1.