Application Letter Critique

Ng Jia Yi
Block XXXX Lower Delta Road #XX-XX
Singapore 09XXXX

19^th February, 2013

Ministry of Education, Psychological Branch
51 Grange Road Block 1, Level 3
Singapore 249564
(65) 68386632

Dear Sir/Mdm: 

Application for MOE (Psychological Branch) Internship

I am a third year Psychology student at the National University of Singapore (NUS). I am writing to express my interest in doing an internship with the Ministry of Education (Psychological Services Branch) as described in the email advertisement. Upon receiving the advertisement, I was immediately interested in applying for a placement, as I aspire to be part of the Psychologist team involved in the education scene in Singapore after my graduation in 2014. I believe that this internship experience will provide me with the knowledge and skills essential for this prospective career.

Having been part of the education system in Singapore, I have gained many valuable experiences that have given me the opportunity to develop holistically as a student and an individual. The well-crafted school curriculum has benefited me immensely and hence inspires me to have a hand in nurturing and making a difference in the lives of schooling children and adolescents. Beyond that, I have a passion in understanding and interacting with children and adolescents, especially those with special needs. My passion in this area has led me to actively engage in various meaningful youth/children-centred activities that allowed me to pursue my interest while giving back to society. I was a part-time volunteer at Pathlight School for children with Autism between 2008 and 2009 and have been extending my service as a volunteer at Rainbow Centre (an organisation for children with special needs) since April 2012. Through these experiences I have learnt how to better understand, empathise and communicate with children with special needs. This puts me in an advantageous position when the role of an intern calls for direct services with the younger members of the community.

Aside from having a strong interest, I believe that I have the necessary skills required for an MOE (Psychological branch) intern. As a student leader in the choirs of both my secondary school (2004-2006) and junior college (2007-2008), I was given the opportunity to refine my communication skills and be more adept at team management. During my term in each choir, I worked with fellow student leaders to organise various activities to promote team bonding while seeking to improve and maintain the discipline of team members, so as to facilitate efficient music-learning and optimal performances at concerts and choral competitions. Apart from being actively involved in school activities, I co-organised a two-day day camp for the less fortunate children at Kreta Ayer Community Centre in 2007. This gave me the opportunity to further hone my interpersonal and communication skills as a leader and served as a confirmation for my passion in reaching out to youth in the community.

In addition, my academic credentials attest to my capability in psychological research and appropriate application of concepts in Psychology. As a Psychology major, I am equipped with knowledge in statistical analyses and technological know-how in SPSS – a widely used statistical software. I believe that with these skills, I will be able to effectively assist the department in conducting relevant research, and formulating psychological assessment tools that cater to specific needs of schools and institutions. Furthermore, I have learnt about the crucial developmental stages of children and adolescents in my course. This knowledge will be useful in my assistance as an intern to the tailoring of coursework and school activities for students in formal education.

I am confident that my education background and experience will stand me in good stead to assist the Psychological Branch of MOE in various research projects and policy-making. I have enclosed my resume for your consideration. I would greatly appreciate an interview and I look forward to further discuss with you my suitability for this position. I can be contacted at (+65) xxxxxxxx or ngjiayi@hotmail.com at your convenience. Thank you for taking time to review my application.

Yours faithfully,



Ng Jia Yi (Ms.)