Working at DeGrille 

Over these past few months, I've built up an incredible synergy with my supervisor and mentor, as well as the salespeople and installation crews of this company.

I've managed to work around language barriers when communicating with installers of Indian and Bangladeshi descent, accommodating to them when they are busy installing grilles and shades, and ensuring that my filming does not disrupt them. They also actively accommodate to me where possible, to ensure I get the shots I need to create a good video for that week. They recognise me whenever I visit the office warehouse now, and sometimes when they're leaving the job site in their lorry, I'd wave at them to say goodbye, and they would too. I realise this all sounds extremely cliched but I'm actually astonished at how six months of internship can enable me to build a connection with people from vastly different walks of life than me, who speak a different language than I do.

Apart from the installers, I've also worked closely with our sales associates, especially when they are overseeing projects, handling customer enquiries and what not. They would share with me their experience of handling difficult customers, and impart on their knowledge of their customers' needs, which helps me craft my content to help satisfy those needs, ensuring that DeGrille's marketing is also consumer-centric. I'm not a very extroverted person, so sales is something that I've always thought of as out-of-reach, despite its association with marketing. But being able to work together with people who are genuinely passionate about helping their clients and working to solve their problems together has definitely allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, far more than I'd have anticipated.

And of course, this all wouldn't be possible without the help of my supervisor and mentor, who have guided me every step of the way. They have been incredibly approachable right from the start, and I'd often find myself learning so much about the company, this industry, local SMEs and life (quite literally, I'm going to serve NS soon), just from our casual conversations together alone. Of course there'd be times where they think my work could be improved, or some things could be changed, which I'd usually be happy to accommodate to. Sometimes I'd propose an alternative idea I find to be more effective marketing-wise, and they'd be open-minded about it, genuinely considering my idea, allowing me to comfortably express my suggestions. They would place their trust in me and grant me the creative freedom to produce quality videos.

I've come to learn ultimately that people like these aren't common; and I've
come to greatly appreciate the work ethics that this small but
growing company embodies.

The Choice Of A New Generation