The Personal Touch
Helen Khoo-Ho Bee Hong
Urban Redevelopment Authority
Human Resource
Executive Human Resource Officer
Years in service: 29
As an officer in charge of administering the URA scholarship, Ms Helen Khoo has seen many nervous candidates waiting for their interview. Besides making sure that she provides comprehensive information to these ‘A’ level students, who may not be familiar with URA’s work culture, career options and the scholarship programme, she also puts in the special effort of chatting with each candidate before the interview to put them at ease and better understand what they want in life. She would also talk to them after the interview session to gather feedback on how URA could improve the scholarship selection process.
As Helen always puts herself in her customers’ shoes, she reacts very promptly to requests and queries. She also accommodates their requests as much as possible, such as arranging for the written test to be held during lunch time so that the applicants did not have to apply for time-off or leave. Even unsuccessful applicants had written in to thank Helen for her prompt reply in informing them about the outcome of the interview and giving them encouragement and managing their self-esteem.
On her own initiative, Helen also took returning scholars and undergraduate scholars who are on attachment on URA to lunch and introduced them to one another, facilitating bonding among them.
