The HKUST Career Guide 2014

Abstract

The HKUST career guide 2014 HKUST C Tips for career success Options after graduation Color your university li fe Graduates sha re career insights The HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 niversity education is not merely a program for career preparation. These four years, if this is your first year at HKUST, will prepare you for your life. The triumphs and tribulations that you encounter as a university student will urge you to search your soul — finding out what truly intrigues and excites you, and to live out your own story — being true to yourself while becoming what you want to see in this world. As you are about to read this Guide, you may be tempted to do all the ‘right things’ to land that perfect job: get good grades, write a strong resume and join as many activities as you can. However, I can tell you right now that there is no safe formula to success. Instead of ‘playing it safe’, dare to make mistakes and learn from them. It is when you learn to handle setbacks and mistakes that you develop character and resilience. Take that leap of faith and don’t be confined by what you see; instead, reach out for what you believe in. It is then that you will find in you your true potentials, and perhaps discover your niche – your calling. Your future job does not only pay the bills, it is potentially the very platform where you can orchestrate a life that is meaningful to you as well as others. That will be your story of impact. And here is the chapter that paves way to the climax of that story. Write it with confidence, passion and the desire to be the difference. Prof Tony F CHAN President U http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 1 Career Building Course Never give up on your dream job Alan LAM A civil engineer’s true story Ray CHAN Extra-curricular activities Carol CHAN A gentleman in ladies industry Maurice CHAN I don’t stop when I’m tired Michael IP 2 Generations. 1 Vision Jack WU, Penny KHOO Dare to be different ? Sidney TAM, Jason CAI Feature Story: RADICA Systems Limited Francis KWOK, Irene CHEUNG, Kinsen LEE C O N T E N T S The power of strong determination Matthew SHUM From hometown to the motherland Benjamin BACH Everyone has a chance to fly Helen LO Something new, Something more Alex YAP, C K LOW, Jason SONG From Civil & Structural Engineering to Business Development Michael LEUNG Career Mosaic Plan your path Internship Learning Scheme Career Development Programs THE HKUST 2 CAREER GUIDE 2014 8 32 34 35 36 38 40 41 42 14 16 18 20 21 22 26 28 30 Hi, I am Cheryl, Associate Director of the Career Center. It’s time of the year for the release of the Career Guide 2014 and I hope that each individual story in this booklet could somehow provide you with inspirations and insights on how to start off your career. Whether you decide to pursue your postgraduate education or move on with your career after graduation, we are here to assist you along the way, professionally and effectively. My team is proud of our roles as your Consultant, Trainer & Partner. Our missions are to help: • EXPAND your career opportunities through our vast and growing network with prospective employers in Hong Kong, Mainland China and worldwide. • EMPOWER yourself with the knowledge on how to identify a career of your choice and meanwhile assist you on your career decision. • EQUIP yourself to be competitive in the job market and learn the important values to sustain a successful career. I work very closely with a team of dedicated and experienced Career Advisors and pertinent colleagues to help you land on the road of success. We’re more than happy to listen to your needs and guide you the best way we know how. Therefore I urge each of you to gain maximum leverage from the abundant resources here at the Career Center. They are all thoughtfully designed and offered to you throughout your HKUST education. Until then, have a good year ahead and all the best in your endeavors. Cheryl LEE Associate Director, Career Center Student Affairs Office http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 3 Ethics and the Job Search While in the process of knocking on doors for job interviews, there are a few key ethics one must observe carefully in order to have a better chance of getting a job. Contrarily, some people may get passed with unethical behavior but in time it will come back to haunt you and, at the very least, you will lose your credibility, if not your job. Never exaggerate the level of experience or education background It is not unusual for fresh graduates to exaggerate the level of experience or education background just to get their first chance of job interview. But “lying is never fine, ever.” If one falsifies the work experience and gets hired without being found out, sooner or later the person will be caught on spot when he/she is asked to do some work but incapable of delivering it due to being inexperience. Therefore never take a short cut by lying. Consult good resume writing guides or visit our Career Advisor for advice. Remember, “honesty is virtue” for everyone. The second ethic is whether it is acceptable to interview just to “practice or to earn experience.” Understandably most fresh graduates get nervous at a job interview but that does not mean you should accept interviews for the sake of experience rather being really interested in the job. You must understand the process involves interviewer’s time and money. More importantly, you are depriving a chance for another student who may have a strong interest in that job. Should you have any doubt, go talk to our Career Advisor or try to talk with alumni for advice, but don’t abuse the job interview if you are not serious about it. Be serious about every interview 4 THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 Not to accept a job offer but withdraw Interview cancellation and no-show The last key ethic is whether it is fine to accept a job offer and withdraw later if a better offer comes along. The answer is definitely “no”. If you need time to think it over, most likely the company is happy to offer you a grace period to make decision. The last thing either you or the company want is you stay for a short period and off for another company. Make sure it is managed in an amicable fashion so that you don’t leave the company a bad impression. Whether you are being interviewed on or off campus, make absolutely sure you allow enough time to cancel prior because this is an important etiquette to observe and it reflects your sense of commitment and personality. Another serious negative behavior is failing to attend a scheduled interview without bothering to notify the Career Center or the company for proper arrangement. It is considered very unprofessional and rude, not to mention it hurts the image of your own university and the people who helped set up the interview for you. http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 5 On-campus Recruitment Calendar On-campus recruitment Government recruitment Other resources As a bridge between HKUST and employers, the Career Center brings recruiters from different industries to our campus so that you can meet them face to face. Here is a general and tentative timeline of on-campus recruitment events for the year. Mark your calendar and register in advance at the Career Center website (http://career.ust.hk→“Event Registration”). Government recruitment follows a set timeline each year and requires standardized assessment procedures. If you are interested in working for the government, the calendar can help you plan your job search and internship activities for the coming year. Online Job Vacancy Information JIJIS (Joint Institutions Job Information System) – All full-time university students can visit www.jijis.org.hk to look for full-time, parttime, temporary and summer jobs. First-time users need to register before logging in. For enquiries, please email to support@jijis.org.hk. Jobs on the Career Center website – Some hot jobs are posted on the Career Center website: http://career.ust.hk→“Finding a Job”. General Career Information The Career Center subscribes to the Vault Online Career Library at http://career.ust.hk/vault.html. All HKUST students and staff have FREE access to these useful and updated resources for job search, career exploration and industry updates. Reading materials on career planning, industries, company information, professional qualifications and business strategies etc. are available at the Career Center (Rm 4001, Academic Building via Lift 4). Do drop by and take a look. Additional job-hunting resources can be found at the HKUST Library website: http://library.ust.hk/guides/jobs/jobs.html. 6 THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 On-Campus Recruitment Schedule – Business Sectors Government recruitment schedule (tentative) Fall Semester Spring Semester Accounting ✓ ✓ Airlines/Transportation/Logistics ✓ ✓ Conglomerates ✓ ✓ Construction/Engineering Consultancy ✓ ✓ Education & Research ✓ ✓ Engineering ✓ ✓ Entertainment ✓ ✓ Fast Moving Consumer Goods ✓ ✓ Financial Services / Investment & Commercial Banks ✓ ✓ Food and Beverage ✓ Government ✓ Government Related Organizations ✓ ✓ Insurance ✓ ✓ Fall Semester Sep Administration Officer (AO)/Executive Officer II (EOII) recruitment talk on campus Applications for AO/EOII Oct Tentative Schedule for Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) and Basic Law Test (BLT) Recruitment Career Mosaic – Recruitment for graduate posts or internships and career talks by private sectors and Government departments Nov Applications for Auxiliary Police (Undergraduates) Scheme (AUS) and Police Mentoring Programme (PMP) Nomination of AUS and PMP by University PMP selection interviews on campus Dec Tentative schedule for CRE and BLT outside Hong Kong Spring Semester Jan Applications for AO Summer Internship AUS selection interviews at Auxiliary Police Headquarters Feb Panel Interviews on campus for AO Summer Internship Apr Announcement of AO Summer Internship results Announcement of AO offers PMP Inauguration Ceremony Applications for CRE/BLT in June Applications for Post-Secondary Student Summer Internship Programme at various departments May Announcement of AUS appointments Summer Term Jun Common Recruitment Examination and Basic Law Test Jun – Aug Post-Secondary Student Summer Internship Programme AO Summer Internship PMP Job attachment AUS training at Auxiliary Police Headquarters Aug Applications for CRE/BLT in October Fall Semester Spring Semester Internship Program Organizers ✓ ✓ Information Technology ✓ ✓ Management Consulting ✓ Manufacturing ✓ Marketing & Market Research ✓ Media/Advertising/PR ✓ ✓ NGOs ✓ Pharmaceuticals ✓ Property Development & Real Estate ✓ Public Utilities ✓ ✓ Recruitment Agencies ✓ ✓ Retail /Trading ✓ ✓ Telecommunication ✓ ✓ Testing Services ✓ ✓ http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 7 RADICA Systems Limited A leading e-marketing solution provider founded and managed by three passionate HKUST alumni Company Profile With over 10 years of strong background in email marketing, RADICA is helping more than 300 top companies in Asia to reach over 500 million consumers through their state-of-the-ar t e-marketing solutions. All their products are 100% developed by the in-house research team and clients include LVMH group, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, PCCW, CTrip, Li Ning, just to name a few. 中國網上零售年會中國電子商務業優秀 服務大獎 2011 ROI Festival Product Award 3rd (The Best Email Marketing Solution in China) – Technical Platform (Permission-based Email Marketing) Best Business Management Award 2011 Top 10 Digital Agency of the Year & Top 3 Local Hero Award Top 10 Direct Marketing of Asia & Top 3 Local Hero Award Hong Kong ICT Awards 2011 Best Business Award (Product Stream) Merit China Top 30 Ecommerce Marketing Solution Providers Award 上海三優企業獎 2002 2006 2010 2005 2009 2011 Innovative Mobile e-Services Awards – Education Category Best New Oracle Partner Technology Award Top 10 Loyalty Marketing and CRM Agency of the Year & Top 3 Local Hero Award Top 10 Direct Marketing of Asia & Top 3 Local Hero Award 2010 ROI Festival Digital Award – Category of Technology Platform – Permission Based Email Marketing Hong Kong Outstanding Software Applications Competition – Special Award Ad100 Top Men of Online Advertising 2009 – Francis Kwok Adworld Top Tech Awards Corporate Awards http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 9 It is widely known that people graduating in Physics will either end up teaching or finding a stable job in the Government sector or in a laboratory. Francis Kwok, a Bachelor of Science in Physics at the HKUST, broke the convention by setting up his own company, RADICA Systems Limited, an eMarketing solutions provider. Being the Founder and CEO of the company, he and his team took ten years to expand its sales operations from one to six markets in Asia. Francis’s success did not come easy or by sheer luck. When he graduated from HKUST he started off sending job applications to leading consulting and auditing firms but to no avail. He even applied for a Management Trainee position at Cathay Pacific but also proved futile. Finally he found a job at a software company where he played the role of Assistant Account Manager. Life is full of surprises and don’t underestimate the potential in you Francis KWOK Founder and CEO BSc (Physics) “Be creative and never loose your perseverance no matter how difficult a time you face.” 10 THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 In the meantime, Francis spent his spare time with his friends devising a business plan for a start up company. “I always knew I wanted to run a software company but in order to do that I needed to get some practical experience first. So I tried to learn as much as possible while I was on the job and waiting for the right moment to come,” says Francis. The efforts that Francis and co-partners put in for their new business plan paid off. His own company, RADICA Systems, was finally open. “Initially there were only 5 of us in the company but we were all very passionate about the new business and had the same goal to strive for. I remember our first product launch at the AMC Cinema turned out to be quite successful. Not only did over 500 alumni and students from EMBA and MBA together with business friends and partners show up to support, Professor Tony Eastham, then President & CEO, HKUST RandD Corporation Limited and Associate VP for Research & Development, HKUST also came to congratulate us. I was so grateful for everyone who attended the event. It was very encouraging for all of us. By the end of the day, we already received a few signed orders.” Francis recalls. Running a business is bound to encounter obstacles along the way. RADICA’s business took a plunge during the SARS pandemic in 2003 and Francis had to face a tough business decision. “The impact brought by SARS had almost forced me to close down my business. Because of the poor business performance I had to discuss the situation with my team and let them decide whether they wanted to stay with the company or not. Fortunately everyone had the faith with the company and the business was back on track in 2004. Today RADICA Systems is one of the leading eMarketing solutions providers in Hong Kong.” What Francis experienced during the beginning of his start-up company was kind of rough but he insisted on braving the storm regardless of its difficulty and he took it as an invaluable lesson to learn. “Everyone faces problems in life, just don’t try to run away and face them with the right attitude. Not everyone is a born genius but I am sure hardworking, perseverance plus constant learning can change one’s life for the better. I always keep saying to myself: dream big, stay hungry and stay foolish, just like our great late Apple Master, Steve Jobs,” says Francis. Be your own BOSS • Why do you want to start a business? • What is the degree of knowledge or expertise you have in the business venture of your choice? • How much capital is available to you? • What are your skills? • What are your likes and dislikes? • How much effort will you be willing to devote to your business venture? • Can you face up to the challenges and stress associated with being a business owner? http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 11 Life is full of twists and turns . Some people have to go through trials and errors before settling into a permanent career while others are just lucky enough to go through less, yet still ending up with the same result. Irene Cheung, a former graduate of Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing at the HKUST, belongs to the latter. With an outgoing per sonal i t y and a keen interest in marketing, her career development over the years leaped from being a public relations professional to an entrepreneur, co-running a company with Francis Kwok that provides eMarketing solutions and the business is expanding rapidly. Unlike many graduates who would tend to send out heaps of resumes in the hope of securing some interviews in return. “The way I looked for a job was very targeted. I only sent out my resume to the companies I wanted to work for and whether I had the right profile they were looking for, rather than hitting every major company in Hong Kong. I think it’s a waste of time and energy,” says Irene. At that time Irene was hoping to find a job in the entertainment industry, so she applied a job with a demo cassette and a cover letter at a radio broadcasting station and a music company respectively. Although Irene did not hear back from these two companies but she was happy that she gave it a try. How Irene co-found RADICA Systems Limited with Francis Kwok? It goes back to her third year at the university. Irene and Francis met in an elective course named Western Drama in the 20th Century. “Francis has always wanted to start his own company, so he presented the business idea to me and it dawned on us that we both had similar thoughts. Gradually and systematically, RADICA Systems finally came to life and I am real glad that the PR skills I previously acquired could put in good use for marketing my own company now.” Through the collective efforts, the company won a few industry awards in just a matter of few years and both Francis and Irene are frequently invited to give talks about eMarketing topics in Hong Kong and overseas. Be clear of what you want and go for it Irene CHEUNG Co-founder and Executive Director BBA (Marketing) “China is the market for now and future but you have to be open-minded wi t h h ow p e opl e do business in the Mainland and be flexible with the cultural difference. Don’t stay in a comfort zone when you still have lots of energy to build success. ” Irene’s tips for job seekers 1 Before going to the interview, study the company well through its website and be prepared to answer your strengths and weaknesses because your potential manager would like to know whether you are suitable for the job or not. 2. Learn the job requirements well and try to ask intelligent questions that are related to the job but stay away from asking about salary and staff benefits. 3 F i n d a c h a n c e t o t a l k a b o u t y o u r achievement(s) at the university because that can more or les s demons t rate your leadership ability. 4 Having a good eye contact with your interviewer shows that you are confident and respectful. 5 Be a humble listener, and be receptive to challenges when the interviewer ask you what you think of it. A positive attitude will earn you lots of miles. 6 If it takes multiple interviews before finding a job, so be it and try to improve through learning the mistakes you made during the interview. Success is just around the corner. 12 THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 Wor k pas s ion, fai th, persistence and selfmotivation seem to be the key factors for the success of Kinsen Lee, who received his Bachelor in Engineering with major in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and one of alumni at the HKUST. Be focused and targeted o n j o b s e a r c h g o a l s , Kinsen did not have to go through many attempts before finding himself a job; “I just participated in a career talk arranged by a consulting firm and thought the industry could offer me good experience in my f ield. I therefore submi t ted my job application and I got hired. In hindsight, I consider I was lucky,” says Kinsen. Figuratively speaking, a job would not be a job without challenges; some can handle them nicely through accumulated experiences while others who have less experience may have to work harder to overcome. Kinsen has faced many challenges at work but he always managed to overcome them by analyzing the root of each issue and going through one step at a time and, of course, the collective efforts from the team as well. “I remember I was once assigned a task that I had not much experience on. Not only did it require certain product knowledge that I was not quite familiar with, I also had to deal with other issues such as language barrier, cultural difference, client management and heading a team. However, through personal perseverance plus a can-do attitude, I managed it well though it took a longer time. Through this particular exercise, I learned that hesitation and lacked of personal motivation would always be an obstacle in getting things done. But as long as you are confident and have faith in your Believe in yourself and work with true passion proved rewarding Kinsen LEE Chief Operating Officer BEng (Electrical and Electronics Engineering) own ability, there’s nothing that cannot be resolved. Without whi ch, f a i lure i s bound to happen,” Kinsen explains. Al though Kinsen has gone through different jobs and roles before he’s become the COO at RADICA and having the job he likes most. “One would be extremely lucky to find a dream job at the beginning of his/her career stage and stays longterm. Often than not, there are phases in life where there are bound to be some bumpy roads along the way, but take it as an invaluable experience and learn from it each time. I t ’s impor tant not to get despair.” Teamwork has always been one of the most important work aspects in completing any given task. No company would appreciate individualism as it not only dampens the team morale and allow the person to take credit from other people who have worked hard in it, it also creates resentment with one another within the team. “The beauty of teamwork is that everyone can contribute ideas and only things can be done better through collective efforts. Meanwhile having a humble attitude to learn can earn trust and respect from people at work and a happy work ing environment.” “Demonstrating a strong passion and a good attitude towards the job would help you put your foot into the door.” http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 13 Plan your path Know yourself Get Involved Think Ahead Explore your Options Get Equipped Know yourself Find out about your personal qualities, what you like, what you care about, what you’re good at, what excites you etc. The Career Center offers workshops that help you to understand your personality types through different psychological assessments like MBTI and Self-Directed Search (SDS). Make good use of these workshops and get ready to know yourself and what you stand for. Get Involved Once you set a foot on campus, you will be presented with a kaleidoscope of extra-curricular activities: interest clubs, student societies, sports teams, enrichment programs etc. Try to strike a balance in what you participate in. Think Ahead Use your extra time and summer vacation to give your resume a boost. Find a summer job, get into voluntary work, join an exchange program, or take part in a study tour. Take a leadership role in these activities, and try to brush up your language skills. The Language Center is a great source to advance your language abilities. Explore your Options Get off the couch and look for ways to identify your career interests and gain some real work experience. Join the Internship Learning Scheme (ILS) offered by the Career Center is a good choice. What’s more is to attend job fairs, recruitment events, alumni sharing sessions and company visits to know more about different industries. Get Eq uipped Visit Career Center website and sign up for workshops on Resume Writing, Inter view Skills, Presentation Skills and Group Discussion Skills, and a Mock Aptitude Test Session. Soft skills such as Business Etiquette, Personal Grooming and Work Ethics are also part of the package. Take the Career Building Course, a one-credit general education free elective offered by the Career Center, for more structured job search skills training. Plan Ahead Give yourself an honest assessment of what you have done and what still needs to be done. If all seems too much to han dle, you can always make an appointment with one of the Career Advisors. They are a group of experts focus on different areas. Through professional coaching and discussion, they can help you to prioritize and focus on what’s urgent and important. Year 2/3 Year 1 14 THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 by Do e Zan t am a t a It sta rts wi th a DR EAM . Add fa it h, a n d it b e c omes a b el ief. Add action, a n d it b ec o me s a pa rt of l i fe. Add p erseve ran c e, and it be comes a goal in s ight. Add patie n ce a n d time, and i t e n ds w it h a d rea m c o me s t r ue. Plan Ahead Build your Network Get Ready Look Ahead Build your Network Be creative in your job sea rch. Expand your network through family members, relatives, friends, classmates, ex-colleagues, acquaintances, alumni and other sources. Effective channels include joining a professional organization as a student member through which you can build resourceful connections. Get Ready Early birds always catch the worm. Make yourself available to meet up with employers at recruitment talks and Career Mosaic. Make sure you have at least a set of presentable resume an d cover letter on hand , and customize th em a ccording to individual needs. Pol ish your interview skills by getting real interview experience. Keep abreast of current affairs, the economic situation and industry trends by media. If you would like to go through a more structured job search skills training, taking the Career Building Course offered by the Career Center will be a good choice. Look Ahead No one can predict how good or bad the economic environment will b e when you graduate. The time may be hard. Remember, this is only the first phase of your entire career path. You will continue to equip yourself and whatever experience you will have gathered in your first job will not be in vain. If you can’t find a job that you love ye t, love the job you can get ! A positive attitude makes a world of difference. Take charge of your career development journey and build up your credentials along the way. Year 4 http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 15 From Civil & Structural Engineering to Business Development Michael LEUNG Head of Macau, Hilti (Hong Kong) BEng (Civil and Structural Engineering) MSc (Structural Steel Design) After graduating from the faculty of engineering at HKUST, I soon landed an engineering job with an international consulting firm, which I had longed for. A year later, I received the Chevening Scholarship from British Council, which helped me earn my MSc of Structural Steel Design at the Imperial College, London, United Kingdom. While I was studying there I met with my peer group who came from different countries and I enjoyed talking to them and learned a lot about their cultural characteristics. I am now holding a senior engineering position but I once questioned myself whether I would enjoy being an engineer as I am quite outgoing, lively and enjoy interacting with people and doing teamwork, but a typical engineer to me is more of a deep thinker and an introvert. I later found out I worried too much. In any event, upon returning to Hong Kong from London, I managed to complete my professional char tership exam in two years and by then I decided to quit my consultancy job and look for a more challenging job, despite THE HKUST 16 CAREER GUIDE 2014 many of my friends thought I should stay working as a structural engineer. Shortly after I got an offer from an international company whose business is a supplier of construction materials. In the beginning I was relocated to Macau and working as a sales project engineer. I quite enjoyed the job itself because I met many different customers from all walks of life and I could apply a lot of what I learned at the universities and helped the sales. I remember when I played the role of senior business development manager, I faced a tough challenge in which I was assigned to launch a new product for both Hong Kong and China markets. Given the obviously different work cultures and people mentality of the two places, I had to learn how to manage my mainland staff so that they would fully cooperate with my team in Hong Kong and work hand in hand with each other. Being a department manager, people management is just as important as work knowledge. Since then I have had different opportunities working in different departments that is from engineering to marketing to project management to new product business development. After working for eight years at this company, I am now the Head of Macau overseeing the entire operations of the region. A successful career transition 6 Steps when you are contemplating a career change: 1 Find out as much as you can about your options through research and networking. Look for opportunity to ‘shadow’ professionals working in your target career. 2 Consult your network of contacts to find out about opportunities in the sectors that interest you – this will be easier than starting from scratch. 3 Identify the skills you have that are transferrable to your desired career. 4 Note any areas where you are lacking. Consider if fur ther educat ion or t raining wi l l be necessary and factor the time and cost into your transition plan. 5 If you are not doing so already, start saving a ‘nest egg’, cut back on non-essential spending and have a financial plan in place to cover potential periods of unemployment. 6 Find freelance or volunteer work that will let you ‘try out’ the new field. For example, if you want to go into teaching, you could take up a part-time teaching job over the weekends. To be successful in your job, you must always have a passion at what you do and you look forward to coming to work everyday rather than seeing it as a job that pays your bills. http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 17 There’s no better real life example when it comes to how much a “will power” can turn negativity around. Matthew Shum, a graduate of Bachelor of Business and Administration at the HKUST in 2004, whose job application was turned down by the same company twice. However, owing to his personal tenacity in pursuing what he considered a long-term career as well as a dream job, he finally got the job at his third attempt and, with the company he applied previously. Being quite certain of his interest and long-term career goal, Matthew immediately applied with Cathay Pacific (CX) for a cadet pilot position as soon as he graduated. His first attempt was not a complete disaster as he made it to the final interview before being rejected. He later disclosed that he was competing with over 1000 applicants. Knowing that he could not re-apply straight away, he then took up a job as Passenger Service Agent with an airline. Matthew stayed with the company for two years but his dream of becoming a cadet pilot did not vanish, nonetheless. “I knew I had to learn more of the flying knowledge in order to stand for a better chance next time, so in the meantime I decided to take up a 3-month aviation theory program while constantly educating myself with The power of strong determination and persistence can overcome hurdles Matthew SHUM Second Officer (Pilot), Cathay Pacific BBA (Information Systems and Marketing) aviation magazines. I even went to Canada for a 10-hour virtual flying program just to have a taste of it,” admits Matthew. A year passed Matthew re-applied for the same position with CX. Unfortunately he was rejected again but this time he was quite hurt, as he had put in so much effort to prepare for it. “I was very depressed and suddenly lost all the drive I used to have. I almost wanted to give it up completely and for good,” says Matthew. After a week of recuperation he came to senses and worked out a plan in which he thought could help him succeed in getting the job. “Since I took my 10-hour flying program in Canada, I figured the next best thing for me was to obtain a pilot license. I finally found a pilot school in Sydney where it offered a flight-training program. After a year of learning how to fly the friendly skies, I managed to acquire a commercial pilot license in 2007. Matthew’s dream of being a cadet pilot finally came t rue in 2 0 0 8 when he applied for the third time with CX. “Having learned from my past experiences, I couldn’t be more ready this time though I was still somewhat worried if I might fail one more time again. So just to be prudent, I jotted down some questions w h i c h I t h o u g h t t h e y mi g h t c ome up at the interview a n d r e h e a r s e d a f ew t ime s pr i o r ,” says Matthew. After 18 THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 several rounds of interviews and a thorough physical check, the airlines made him an offer and his flying career began since then. He is now the Second Officer (Pilot) at CX. As a cadet pilot with an international airlines company, Matthew faces constant challenges. “My key objective in this job is to protect the safety of my passengers, so I am required to go through Tips for Job Hunting Advertised job openings are available through a host of platforms. The most popular include: 1 Newspapers and other printed mass media 2 On-line portals 3 Employer websites 4 Career Mosaic / Job fairs 5 Professional associations 6 Networking 7 Employment agencies (more efficient for those who have work experience) regular and stringent tests such as the simulator program and simulator check every 2 and 6 months respectively, a job knowledge and medical examinations every year. Also, I sometimes have to fly 15-hour of non-stop flights, which can be tiring.” But since pilot work is what Matthew always has a strong passion for, challenges he faces in his job are obviously become a strong motivation for constant improvement. “Take some time to set a clear and attainable goal and go for it. In the process, there’re bound to be roadblocks along the way, but make sure you don’t lose your confidence and drive. No matter how impossible the task seems, don’t be afraid to fail and just give it a try.” http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 19 From hometown to the motherland Benjamin BACH Government Affairs Specialist, Hainan Airlines, China BBA (Information Systems and Marketing) For a variety of reasons, many local Hong Kong students are reluctant to travel to China, let alone relocate there to develop a career. As a typical Hongkonger currently working as the Government Affairs Specialist for Hainan Airlines in China, Benjamin Bach offers insight and advice on moving from his hometown to the motherland. After graduating with a Bachelor Degree in Business and Administration from the HKUST in 2011, Benjamin got an internship offer in the Corporate Communications Depar tment at Dragonair to better understand the aviation industry. He t h e n we n t o n t o wo r k i n t h e R o u t e Development Depar tment, one of the core operation departments, with Hainan Airlines. “When I started there I soon realized that I did not have the concrete industry knowledge, and what I’d learned in my internship was just basic know-how. Airline operation was far more complicated and professional than I had ever expected, and we are not allowed to make a single mistake in every small step as it may lead to disastrous outcome like serious flight delay.” However, the intensive training has equipped Benjamin with a lot of hands-on experiences. “The learning process was slow, time-consuming, frustrating, but fascinating.” For fresh graduates who are considering a move to China, t h e r e a r e ma ny concerns. “Working in Mainland China is not easy for Hong Kong people, especially to those who have been well taken care of since birth and have never left home for long periods of time, like me,” he recalls. “For university graduates, the salaries and benefits offered in China are also much lower than those jobs in Hong Kong. All these made me think of giving up and returning home, but my passion for the airline industry and the fact that I was lucky enough to be hired by an airline right after graduation made me persist.” There are a number of critical success factors in any career, and for Benjamin an important one is to remain humble. “This means you’re always willing to listen to the advice of others, to respect the unfamiliar and to learn from other’s experience.” To balance what you like and dislike in a job also matters. “In the last 8 months working in China, I’ve learned to adjust my attitude instead of the environment.” China’s economy continues to grow, and so do work opportunities. Never say never to yourself. To equip yourself better for the China market, it is very critical to brush up your Mandarin and English speaking skills and possess strong analytical ability. “Communicate more with Mainland students, they can teach you a lot,” he advices. “Life is an adventure, dare it !” 20 THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 Everyone has a chance to fly high but good patience is needed Helen LO BBA (Finance and Management) MBA As many face-to-face interview results indicate that by and large university graduates do not seem to have a clear idea of their career choice when they graduate. Helen Lo, Bachelor of Business Administration, with dual majors in Finance and Management, at the HKUST in 2005, is one of the many students who also did not quite know what she wanted. “Since I had no idea what would be the best for my career, I therefore in the beginning applied many jobs and hope through interviews I could come to know better about my choice,” explains Helen. With the help of HKUST Career Center, Helen landed with several offers and in the end chose Monitor Group as their Management Consultant. “Unlike most people who would do their interviews in Hong Kong, mine was in Philadelphia, USA, when I was on a student exchange program at the University of Pennsylvania,” says Helen. After the interview, she really liked the prospects offered in the job. “ The exposure I get working in a consulting firm is unparallel. It allows me to explore a wide range of industries, knowledge domains across different countries. It has widened my horizon a whole lot and helped me to determine my real interest for my long term career.' After working at Monitor Group for four and a half years, Helen was thinking of a career shift, so she took up an MBA program at INSEAD in France and Singapore while waiting for another right opportunity to come. “Having played the role of Management Consultant for years, I wanted to advance my next career by getting a role in corporate strategy and over time move to general management in an industry I truly like,' says Helen. Finally a corporate strategy role came up from Tencent, the largest Internet conglomerate whose business include QQ, Internet services, online games and social network platforms, in China. Usually having switched from an American company to a full Chinese background company, adjustments in terms of its corporate culture and working mentality are needed and, in most cases, fluency of the Putonghua dialect would be of great help to run things smoothly in the office. “The biggest challenges for me were to get accustomed to Putonghua in professional business conversations and adapting to the Chinese corporate culture dominated by male co-workers. But I was determined to overcome all these minor issues given the bright future prospects in this job.” I feel so lucky that I am able to work with the largest technology company in the Mainland. I’ll grab every learning opportunity within the organization. Like the saying goes, “no pain, no gain,” laughs Helen. Helen's sharing with graduates 1 Be ready to answer fully and intelligently to your prospective employer why this is the right job for you and your contribution. 2 Be always willing to take up tasks from your supervisor even though they may not be directly relevant or interesting enough at the beginning. 3 Getting practical experience and wait for your turn to come. 4 Be humble and a good working attitude guarantee success down the road. http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 21 Two buddies, Alex Yap (left) and C.K. Low (right) Something New, Something More Alex YAP, Chuan Keat LOW & Jason SONG Three non-local students decided to stay and work in Hong Kong upon graduation. They came because they wanted something new. They stayed because they wanted something more. “I decided to come to Hong Kong for my university studies because I wanted something new, something different – perhaps even something that may create ‘conflicts’. I believed conflicts would lead to growth. ” Alex YAP (BEng Logistics Management and Engineering, 2010) arrived at HKUST with his secondary school classmate – Chuan Keat LOW (BEng in Mechanical Engineering, 2010) – or “CK”, as he is more commonly known. They ended up living next door to each other in the residence hall, and becoming executive committee members of the same student society. Three years later, both of them decided not to return to Malaysia, their home country. 22 THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 “We’re from Malaysia” For CK, the thought of not returning home after graduation took some time to sink in. “I had to overcome some kind of culture shock. Even though we don’t look very ‘international’, the truth is, we differ from Hong Kong people quite a lot in our way of thinking.” On the other hand, Alex had already planned to stay in Hong Kong when he came here. “This is such a land of opportunities,” he said. In the summer of his second year, Alex took up an internship position at IDS International. A year later, he got offers from two top logistics firms; he finally picked IDS and started off as a Management Trainee. The path to finding his first job was relatively smooth, especially for an international student. “I believe it had to do with my Cantonese skills. That makes a big difference.” The path was not as easy for CK. “The thing is, some companies that are more conservative will almost imply that they want to save the job for local people,” he said. “It’s probably too troublesome to go through all the procedures to hire an international graduate. Besides, they don’t know how long you will stay in Hong Kong. So there’s an element of uncertainty there.” A different strategy Feeling a bit disheartened, CK sought advice from Ms Ruby Lam, his instructor for the Career Building Course, and was told to adopt a different strategy. “I revised my resume and took out two things: the name of my high school and the fact that I could speak Malay. And you know what, it worked. Interview invitations started coming in. Once you get an interview, the company will get to know you, regardless of your background. If you’re right for the job, they may be willing to take the extra step to hire you.” CK was a proactive job seeker. He went to career talks, customized every cover letter that he sent out and went to over 30 job interviews. In the end, he got offers from two renowned engineering firms – Parsons Brinckerhoff and Ove Arup. But he accepted neither. “I’m a very hands-on person. I need a job that is more technically-oriented.” So when Apple Inc. decided to hire him as a Supply Base Engineer, CK knew right away that he had found a job that was “more than perfect”. The year he graduated was the first year that Apple Inc. came to Asia to recruit university graduates; and HKUST was among only three universities that Apple Inc. visited. In the end, two people were hired – both of them from HKUST – and one of them was a postgraduate student. CK was the only undergraduate in Asia who got hired that year. “I feel a tremendous sense of satisfaction when I see my friends using their iPhones, but it’s important for me to stay level-headed. You can only learn if you’re humble.” http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 23 Learning (and perfecting) Cantonese Jason SONG (MSc in Engineering Enterprise Management , 2008) l ived in three ci t ies in Mainland China before coming to Hong Kong for his postgraduate studies – Wuhan, Zhuhai and Beijing. Now he knows without his Mainland experience, he would not have landed his job at Hutchison Delta Ports. “But if I didn’t speak fluent Cantonese, they probably wouldn’t have hired me either,” he said. Jason already knew that he wanted to stay in Hong Kong when he first arrived. During his one year in HKUST, he joined a lot of extra-curricular activities, which is not something expected of a postgraduate s tudent . “I interviewed to be the emcee of Career Mosaic; and unexpectedly, I got the job. I volunteered to be an HKUST Ambassador, but they already had enough people, so they asked if I wanted to help out with other things. I ended up joining the audio/visual team at one of the events.” All these involvements became an intensive Cantonese course for him. Within a year, he was talking and sounding like a local. After taking up a technology-based internship in a Singaporean company based in Hong Kong, he became a permanent employee there upon graduation. Everything seemed nice and settled. Until one day, one of his Mainland friends asked if he would be interested in a position at Hutchison Delta Ports. “I was quite happy where I was. But this position has more to do with project management, which was something that interested me.” Moreover, this position required someone who would travel to Mainland China quite frequently, so Jason’s background became a competitive edge. “I work in the container terminals in the Pearl River Delta region on a regular basis; while in Hong Kong, I need to communicate in Cantonese. So I can see how this job is a better fit for me, not to mention better prospects.” THE HKUST 24 CAREER GUIDE 2014 Prepare to work overseas The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has identified some key attributes required for a globally competent employee: ✓ Strong intercultural and communications skills ✓ Resilience – working aboard can mean losing the usual support structures like friends and family ✓ Flexibility to adapt to new situations and practices, as well as ambiguity ✓ The ability to understand, respect and adapt to cultural differences and accept diversity ✓ Knowledge of local conditions ✓ The awareness of the strategic aims of your employer and the international environment in which they operate ✓ A working knowledge of the local language / dialect To stay or not to stay To Jason, home is still Zhuhai. “But I don’t feel like I’m living in a foreign place now”, he said. In fact, he does not rule out the possibility of staying here for a longer term. “You just need to have something positive to keep you going.” Alex, however, believes he will return home some day. “One thing that I’m sure of is that I wouldn’t have become so open minded if I hadn’t stayed in Hong Kong after I graduated,” he said. “Now I look at things – especially things back in Malaysia – with fresh new eyes. I have developed the ability to embrace differences. And I have experienced growth – something that will stay with me wherever I go.” Jason Song, second from left, and his teammates http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 25 It’s time of the year again to offer our students the Internship Learning Scheme (ILS), where you will receive a series of training including comprehensive preinternship workshop, self development of personal confidence and competence, acquiring solid work experience and building useful network. The pre-internship training is composed of three areas: personal management, work exploration and career building. After the internship, participants will have learned how to consolidate the experience and put it in their credentials for future job search. Reflections of ILS participants Employer’s Feedback Eligibility: ILS is open to HKUST undergraduates of all disciplines (except exchange in students), with priority given to penultimate-year students. “ILS is a comprehensive program. It guided me from learning to practicing, from practicing to evaluation, and from evaluation back to learning. The training will definitely help me tremendously in my job seeking skills.” Stephanie LEUNG, Intern at IBM China/Hong Kong Ltd “I would like to thank ILS team and KPMG for offering me this excellent opportunity. Grab all the opportunities and promote yourself to a higher level! It is never too late to plan for a brighter future.” Natalie HO, Intern at KPMG Internship Learning Scheme “Natalie of HKUST was a hard working and sincere student. With her strong IT ability, she was able to perform tasks at a high standard. She was eager to seize every opportunity to acquire knowledge from others. Her remarkable performance exceeded our expectation.” Police Sports and Recreation Club, Hong Kong Police Force “實習生勤於思考， 並能結合實際操作中的不同情況 提出適當的建議。對於內地和香港 物流業的異同觀察得很細緻。 科大學生不但虛心學習，英文水平和 舉一反三的能力都很好。 非常值得我司年輕員工學習。” 金瑪國際運輸代理有限公司 （北京） 26 THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 Types of Internship Internship opportunities are available in private or public organizations in Hong Kong, Mainland China or overseas countries. Career Center will inform ILS participants of various internship opportunities. However, placement is not guaranteed and participants need to take full responsibility in securing their internships. They may also take up internships they solicit from their own sources. On-campus Internship Program This program allows undergraduate students to acquire work experience within the University. Internship opportunities are available at both academic and administration support departments/ offices. Undergraduates in any discipline except exchange in students are eligible to apply. Internships can be curriculum related or non-curriculum related. They come in two categories: Full-time internship during summer or winter break (employment duration no less than one month per intern; full-time internship during winter break only applies to local students) Part-time internship throughout the year (minimum 30 hours per intern) Internship openings are usually advertised through the following channels: Career Center website at http://career.ust.hk → “Internship” → “On-campus Internship Program” Enquiry: via email: sails@ust.hk Selected employers for ILS participants BASF CLP Power Hong Kong Ltd Cre8plus Crossroads Foundation Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Hang Seng Bank Hawley and Hazel Chemical Co. (HK) Ltd Hong Kong Police Force Hospital Authority HSBC Inland Revenue Department J.P. Morgan Meinhardt Infrastructure and Environment Ltd NWS Holding Ltd PricewaterhouseCoopers SOCAM Development Ltd Sun Hung Kai Properties The Bank of East Asia The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Ltd THe Hong Kong Society for the Blind The Link Management Ltd Harry Nurses Registry, Inc. (USA) JML Singapore Pte Ltd (Singapore) Walt Disney World (USA) 上海電力股份有限公司 東方早報（上海） 雷克軟件系統有限公司（上海） 北京大學第一醫院 北京和君咨詢有限公司 施耐德電氣（北京） http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 27 2 Generations. 1 Vision Jack WU Regional Director, International Business Division, Ruijie Networks BEng(Computer Science) MBA Shortly after I graduated with a Computer Science degree at the HKUST, I found myself an IT job. I find this industry very interesting and challenging as the technology of Internet continuous to evolve and there’s always so much to learn. During the early part of my computer science program I thought I would at most become a system analyst trainee when I graduated, managing software and hardware stuff. But when I began looking into the IT field for opportunities, there were available jobs like system programming, infrastructure support, solution architecture, business development, marketing and promotions. I started off as a technical trainee and gradually moved to business development and sales management. The process was rather long but an inevitable step to reach to my present position. Therefore in the year 2000 I decided to enroll in the part time MBA program at the university to better equip myself. I am always fascinated with the IT industry because it is quite dynamic and fast growing and it looks like experienced IT professionals will always be in demand in the job market. Naturally the more experience one has, the better the salary and I think even the start off package is fairly attractive for a fresh graduate. As a regional IT specialist myself, I have to stay open-minded and be receptive to changes because I come across with many people of different cultures and work styles. Otherwise, I would just create unnecessary work pressure for myself and become unhappy at work. Having said that, I should also have a good balance between work and family and not to become a work-coholic. Also I remember in those days there were many computer program assignments with tight deadlines. Fortunately I had good classmates who worked together many overnights in order to submit them on time. Through this I earned great friendships from all the classmates I worked with, and despite the fact that we were all under tremendous stress, I must say it was a really good experience learning the importance of teamwork and responsibility of meeting deadlines because this is what the commercial world is all about. As a conclusion, the IT industry will continue to evolve to meet the world demand and the learning curve for IT professionals is endless. Jack WU Penny KHOO Intern, Global Marketing Department, Ruijie Networks BEng(Mechanical Engineering) 28 THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 “What we have learned at the university may not be necessary relevant to what we do in our job. The knowledge and experience we pick up at school is only a part of it but quite a valuable training.” Being an overseas student from Malaysia, only in my final year I began active by participating company recruitment talks. Through these arrangements I met my intern company, Ruijie Network , a network solution company, and earned great experience there. I was arranged to work in their marketing department, doing all sor ts of industry analysis work, preparing product brochures, powerpoint presentations and occasionally supporting promotional events. Having completed the internship, I feel I am now more equipped when I go talk to my prospective employer(s) in the future. Just like ever y intern student, the biggest challenge I faced was having zero knowledge in the industry I worked at, yet I was asked to prepare marketing brochures with product terms I barely knew but thanks to Google for all the help I needed. As for now, I would like to consider doing a dual degree instead of having a bachelor in engineering. I think I would like the challenge of the business student project assignments and want to give it a try. My next personal mission is to earn an MBA in the United States. Since I am interested in business studies, I would like to gain more knowledge in this field and United States would provide me a better learning environment. Penny KHOO http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 29 The Dubai International Thoroughbred Internships (DITI) program I am taking at HKUST is only a 10-month program and meanwhile I have had a chance to visit one of the important thoroughbred countries, Newmarket, United Kingdom, where it is known as the home of flat racing. My exposure from this trip included meeting the vet, visiting British Racing School, Godolphin and going to Newmarket and Ascot racecourses. I am always fond of horse breeding and that’s why I took this program and decided to do something different. Another attraction is the recruitment of DITI program, which I think it can offer me a chance to be exposed to worldwide horseracing and breeding. The challenge I faced from this field trip was everything about work yet little time to rest. In any event, I should not complain too much as the whole experience was tremendous. I could not have done it by myself and most importantly, I got to see the true picture of what it would be like if I got a job like this. If I had a chance to do it again, I would like to see horseracing and horse breeding of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France. It is the most exciting horserace I have ever watched in my life. The atmosphere is terrific and the spectators are so full of excitement. I soon need to decide which thoroughbred industry is best for me as I see it as my long-term career. I always think doing something you are most interested in is most rewarding in life. Sidney TAM Dare to be different ? Sidney TAM Participant, Dubai International Thoroughbred Internships BSc (BioChemistry) Jason CAI Intern, Boeing-Cathay Pacific-HAESL BEng (Mechanical Engineering) “Do something you are interested in. Have fun !” THE HKUST 30 CAREER GUIDE 2014 I was involved in different projects during my past internships at Boeing Company, Cathay Pacific and HAESL. During my tenure at Boeing, I was assigned to develop Boeing service bulletins which were about the official guidance for modifying and improving different designs and components for commercial airplanes, especially matters related to safety and economic issues. The work involved a lot of research and people interactions with different engineering departments. I accomplished 6 service bulletins incorporating design retrofit that commended Boeing 747, 767, and 777 to fly the friendly skies around the world. The biggest challenge I encountered was the lack of aeronautical engineering background. Since it was my first experience stepping into such dynamic and one of the biggest airplane manufacturing companies in the world, I was so nervous yet excited with the opportunity. The first 2 weeks training allowed myself to familiarize with the work I was given to do and the background knowledge. I was so much at ease in my subsequent internships at Cathay Pacific and HAESL after what I had experienced at Boeing Company. Also the people I worked with were very warm and friendly and guided me along the way. If I had the chance to do it again, I would prepare myself better prior by trying to study more aeronautical knowledge and to understand more of my career goal, as well as planning a trip to the United States. Having completed all my internships, I am now very keen to learn more about the fluid/aerodynamic knowledge and hopefully one day I can even earn my master degree in this discipline. Jason CAI http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 31 (GNED2510 / SCIE1100) Enrol via Student Information System School of Science, Year 2 “I really enjoyed the fun and relaxing atmosphere the instructor created for these classes. The materials were all well prepared and the instructor was very knowledgeable and I enjoyed the interaction. Lastly, the instructor’s experience in HR was great.” School of Engineering, Year 3 “The program was very practical and inspiring. I now have a much better idea on how to job hunt and prepare myself better prior to attending a job interview. Thanks a lot.” School of Business & Management, Year 1 “The handouts were informative and an in-depth look of the HR professional of some of the leading companies in Hong Kong helped us a lot when we are talking to business people in a real situation. Lots of real life examples offered at the career building course! ” Postgraduate, Year 2 “Resourceful handouts, logical flow of course design, in-depth insights from HR's perspective. It's good to have students to address their difficulties in job-hunting.” Career Building Course ~ prepare you for the world of work 32 THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 The Career Building Courses are 1-credit general education free electives offered since Spring 2009 for undergraduate and postgraduate students in different classes. Led by well-experienced instructors with extensive exper tise in career planning and recruitment, the courses cover the basics of career building, including • self-exploration and understanding • current job markets and industr y analysis • HR mark ing schemes on resume and cover letter • mock interviews with real industr y seniors or HR professionals • negotiate and manage job offers Most of the learning will take place through week ly lectures and interactive exercises in class, including group discussions and practices, role plays, experience sharing from alumni and personalized feedback from the instructor. Are you ready? “You cannot imagine how this course can enrich your thoughts unless you come to the class. Be prepared.” http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 33 34 Working in the retail industry can be fun and rewarding but some sacrifices have to be made if one wants to stand out from the crowd. Michael Ip, Area Manager of UNIQLO, says his present position in this apparel chain store did not come easy. Michael majored in Economics in School of Business and Management but did not quite have a clue of what he wanted to do when he graduated in 2002. “I remember there were many job listings in the placement office, so I sent out heaps of applications hoping that I could find a decent job by the time I left the university,” says Michael. The first job Michael found after he graduated was Field Marketing Researcher and headed a small team. It was just a two-month stint before he took up another job at JUSCO, where he began his career in retail business. Having worked there for 3 years, he moved to UNIQLO Hong Kong Limited, a sizeable apparel chain store in Asia, as their Store Manager. He was then asked to open the first store in Hong Kong. “ This huge assignment got to be the mos t challenging work for me so far,” Michael says. I don’t stop when I’m tired; I stop when I’m done Michael IP Area Manager – UNIQLO Hong Kong BBA (Economics) Michael, second from left at a store-opening ceremony with celebrities in town. “We did not expect the response would be so overwhelming and we were quite short of staff. At that time I knew I had no choice but to stand guard until the situation improved. So I worked nearly 20 to 22 hours a day and hardly slept. As the team head, I realise I have the responsibility to make sure everything is under control and that my team members would see me as their role model. “ A dream job to Michael is not about high pay and ordering people around. He sees a job that can offer the opportunity to demonstrate one’s ability, even though it could be stressful at the beginning, and there are prospects to grow within the organisation is considered a dream job. “To build a successful career in an organisation, not only does it require total dedication and a strong passion towards your work, understanding the organisation’s value and mission helps build your loyalty with the company. And if anyone is interested in pursuing a career in retail business, make sure they enjoy interacting with people. After all, retail business is servicing business.” Editor’s note: Michael has recently left for Japan to attend UNIQLO’s 6-month intensive training. “Be tough. Don’t ask what your school or company can do for you, ask what you can do for your school or company.” Upon graduating from university, the next step is to enter the job market, which can sometimes appear to be a daunting task. A graduate of Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Management at the HKUST, Maurice Chan tells us about where to start and what fresh graduates should keep in mind when starting to climb the career ladder. Since Maurice graduated in 2010, he has been a Management Trainee at AmorePacific. The position required him to rotate between various departments and brands: operations, training, marketing, and business strategy departments of leading Korean cosmetic brands Laneige and Sulwhasoo. After one year Maurice decided to join the customer relationship management department as Executive in Laneige , to fully evolve the role encompasses strategy planning, marketing research, customer analysis, focus groups and telesurveys co-ordinations. Maurice found his job by casting a wide net. He looked online and applied for jobs in many different sectors, such as manpower services, property, merchandizing and textile companies. “I knew I wanted a job that was challenging and that would A gentleman in ladies industry Maurice CHAN Customer Relationship Management Executive – AmorePacific BBA (Marketing and Management) evolve. I also kept in mind that I wasn’t looking for a job for a few months; I was looking for a career.” Regardless of salary, Maurice suggests applying to big companies “because you can learn more from them. I looked into big companies in the beauty and cosmetic industry, something I’m really interested in, and honed in on them. I got quite picky when job hunting, and as a result, got a second interview with AmorePacific. In fact, I cancelled a scheduled 5-day trip to do the interview – which shows how serious I was about it.” What tips can Maurice offer on interviews? “Be yourself as opposed to pretending to be someone you’re not,” he says. “Try and project confidence and show your strengths. But also be prepared to tell your weaknesses, because potential employers are interested in how you overcome them.” Maurice agrees that job interviews can be a helpful experience, “the more interviews you do, the clearer on what you’re looking for. Every interview is an opportunity, and there’s no point in being nervous, because you have nothing to lose.” When Maurice began with AmorePacific he had little knowledge of the industry. “I read many magazines and printed out information from the Internet to equip myself better. I even attended make-up class on my own and I was the only gentleman in class.” His passion for the industry has helped him meet career challenges by being adaptable. “I like changes and treat each one as an opportunity to improve.” “like what you do and be passionate about your work in order to be successful.” http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 35 Career Mosaic is a large-scale job fair organized by the Career Center, in March and October. The objectives are to provide an effective platform for corporate branding, on-campus recruitment and to enhance HKUST students’ awareness of the career opportunities offered by promising employers. March Career Mosaic Recruitment Talk Career Chat Meet with employers 36 THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 Interviews & Networking Benefits to students Identify graduate or internship opportunities in your areas of interest Meet with employers of different industries face to face at the booths and recruitment talks Submit applications directly to the employers at the booths Get interviews from some employers right on the spot Discuss with the experienced Career Advisors at the Career Chat corner regarding your career-related questions Benefits to employers Effective way to meet and recruit talents One-stop services include exhibition, recruitment talk, career seminar, on-site application and interview Come prepared It can be like jungles due to the large number of employers. To avoid being overwhelmed, get a copy of the floor plan, list of exhibitors and career talk schedules in advance. Do your research before attending Career Mosaic and make a note of the organizations that interest you. Make a point of arrival before the crowd so that you can get more personal time with the recruiters. Dress well for the occasion and bring copies of your updated resume. It’s a good idea to bring soft copy on a portable USB drive as many recruiters now collect resumes electronically. October Exhibition http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 37 Extra-curricular activities help explore the more capable side in you Carol CHAN Group Manager, Hong Kong Taiwan Integrated Business Planning, Product Supply, Hong Kong – Procter & Gamble (P&G) BEng in Industrial Engineering & Engineering Management (Logistics Management) Undeniably extra-curricular activities offered in universities are known to train participants to be more organized, multi-tasking and versatile, and these are the important qualities many companies are always looking for. Carol Chan, a former graduate of Bachelor of Engineering with a major in Industrial Engineering & Engineering Management (Logistics Management) at the HKUST, shares with you her invaluable experience when she played the role of President of her own faculty and how she well managed her time between school work and extra-curricular activities. “The President role offered me different opportunities to learn how to deal with things like problem solving, project and crisis management, leadership and presentation skills. That helps me tremendously for my present job or in any job I would do in future,” says Carol. “Think through what you want, and start to plan your future as early as you can.” 38 THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 Carol is a little precocious to other schoolmates of her age when it comes to planning for future. “I remember when I was in Form 6, I already knew logistics would be the business industry for me to be in and hopefully I could make a career of it. Therefore I grabbed every opportunity to attend Open Day Forums organised by different universities and learn more about the industry, though I knew it was a bit too early for me at that stage,” recalls Carol. Finding a job for Carol after graduation was not as difficult as she had anticipated. She found her job with Procter & Gamble (P&G), one of the top fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in the world, and has been with the company since 2005. “Because of the logistics management I took at the university, it was very natural for me to pick international firms with sound logistics operations. So I sent my job application to P&G, Hong Kong Towngas, DHL and a few others. Within a short time, I was invited for interviews with P&G and Hong Kong Towngas. Having gone through the panel interviews and some written and online aptitude tests, both companies offered me the job,” says Carol. Given both companies have strong business backgrounds; she decided to join P&G because she felt she could have more international exposure than a local company. Nowadays many university students have problems dealing with multi-tasking, especially when they are also actively involved in extra-curricular activities. Carol has her own rule of thumb. “First of all it is important to ask how far you can stretch yourself before putting more on your plate. But once you feel comfortable with the multi tasks, make sure you set your priorities, which means you do the most important task first and get it out of the way. The rest can be done simultaneously with good planning or one at a time, if time permits. I t ’s always less stressful and more productive to do it in an orderly fashion.” Carol further tips off students who are about going to a job interview and how they should prepare themselves prior to the interview because there’s no second chance if the first interview failed. “Make sure they learn the company well through browsing its website and be sure they can offer a good reason as to why this is an ideal job for them, and what they would like to achieve in 5 to 10 years down the road. Companies are looking for loyal employees and work passion, not shortterm manpower.” Being the Group Manager at P&G and overseeing the product supply chain for Hong Kong and Taiwan, Carol must have done something right to deserve such esteemed position. Extra-curricular Activities There’s more to university life than lectures, assignments and textbooks. Taking part in extra-curricular activities will help you to build valuable soft skills as well as your social and professional network. 1 Non-academic pursuits add a splash of personality to your resume and can potentially set you apart from other candidates. 2 Add some ‘learning’ or ‘achievements’ in this regard. From employer’s perspective: “Extra-curricular activities are, as the name implies, extras.” “Lot of real cases and examples can be quoted in order to demonstrate you have certain leadership attributes, e.g. problem solving skills, motivating yourself and your team and project management etc.” “Getting good academic grade is still a student’s first priority. However, being able to do well in both areas implies that you are good at time management and work-life balance.” http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 39 To be a consultant or a contractor? A civil engineer’s true story Ray CHAN Management Trainee – Chun Wo Development Holdings Ltd BEng (Civil and Structural Engineering) “Many engineering students think tha t wor k ing for cont rac tor s i s not sex y when compa red wi th wor k ing a s a consultant”, says Ray Chan. Ray, got his Bachelor Degree in 2011 from Engineering School majored in Structural and Civil Engineering at HKUST, tried both during his semester break – worked for a construction contractor ’s firm as well as a consultancy – and chose instead to be an Engineering Management Trainee in a construction company. Ray joined Chun Wo Development Holdings, a big construction company in June 2011 as a Management Trainee and picked up a notable amount of knowledge about the construction business after only six months. Why? “Being a Management Trainee in a construction company is more interesting. For example, I have chance to assist in the selection of plants and excavators, and I have to work with suppliers and negotiate the commercial terms such as pricing, payment arrangement and after-sales services,” says Ray. Ray sees a university degree as a good first step in one’s career, but stresses that a lot more learning is needed to build a successful career. He says the learning process is a continuous one, especially in the engineering field where new tools and technologies are being introduced continually – and with great speed. He also regards a well-structured training program and a good mentor that enable a trainee to acquire different essential skills as of paramount importance. “As a contractor, for example, one does not deal only with technical i s sues but wi th operat ional, commercial, contractual, human as well as unexpected issues. A s a Ma n a g eme n t Trainee, Ray has the opportunity to move from one department to another and to see at first hand how their respective managers deal with the many and varied situations in the field as well as in the office. While in the office, Ray pours over all the literature on the construction business that he can lay his hands on, including research papers. He also attends talks given by career experts, consultants and people in the building industry. His passion for learning, his appreciation of the advice his trainers gave him, and his cheerful attitude in the workplace combined to serve him in good stead, and encouraged his peers to render him greater assistance. But Ray says he has never thought of giving up at the toughest of times, believing strongly in the saying that a bend in the road is not the end of the road unless one fails to make the turn. “A clear goal in mind, a strong passion to learn.” 40 THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 Never give up on your dream job, just wait for the right opportunity to come Alan LAM Animated feature production specialist, part of the production team of“AstroBoy” Animated Feature BSc (Mathematics and Computer Science) “Just do your best and God will do the rest.” Nowadays having a good qualification is essential because it can help you open many doors in your job search. Alan Lam, a Science graduate at HKUST in 2003, found himself an interesting job in the Visual Effect and 3D Animation industry and he believes to excel in an organization, it takes more than just hard work; a true passion in your work and self-motivation are the key to success. Alan is always amazed with spe c t a cul a r v i sua l e f fe c t s created in movies and the latest 3D trend certainly captures his attention “While I was studying my Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics (Mathematical S c i e n c e s o p t i o n i n Computer Science), I took a shor t program in 3D animation and fell in love with it. So I decided this would be my kind of work when I graduated. I started making enquires about what it would take to enter this field, so that I could fully prepare myself for my future career development. Alan later found out that an animator trainee did not require university education. “They are looking for someone with the right attitude and a passion for animation work, preferably with some art sense as well. Since I had no solid experience in animation work, I would just be glad as long as I could get my foot into the door regardless of the pay,” says Alan. Alan finally managed to find his dream job in a visual effect company but he had to work twice as hard to overcome his inexperience in this field. “I made good progress i n my j ob, t h a n k s to wha t I l e a r ned a t t h e u n i v e r s i t y . The mathematics and computer science I learned help me a lot along the way,” says Alan. This is just the start of his career and he understands he has a long way to go before he is recognized in the company, but he is in no hurry. According to Alan, it takes a lot of determination and perseverance to stay in the Visual Effect and 3D Animation industry. “In this industry you often have to work overnight and there are times you have to work for months, even weekends, without a break. Sometimes I feel like my whole life is nothing but work. I have been asked to change field but I love my work, nonetheless.” There is no fast lane in life in building career success and solid experience can only be earned through accumulation of time. “Be loyal and devoted to the work you do and eventually it will pay off. Never choose an occupation based on salary because it will not last long. And don’t ask why things happened but try to learn from them.” Editor’s note: Alan just left for Singapore and joined a Hollywood Academy Award-winning motion picture visual effects company. http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 41 Career Development Programs S t ude nt s f rom a l l y e a r s a nd disciplines can benefit greatly from our extensive catalog o f i n t e r e s t i n g and int e r a c t i ve p r o g r a m s t o d e v e l o p b e t t e r self-understanding, i n d u s t r y k n owl e d g e and job search skills, as well as to gain useful connections, insights and inspirations. Job Hunting Skills Training: Resume writing Interview skills Mock interview Mock aptitude test Individual career consultation Talks on negotiating job offers Personal Management Workshops: Knowing your MBTI Type Exploring career interests through Self-Directed Search (SDS) Skincare/makeup Business etiquette Work ethics Personal branding & networking First Year Success Career meetup Introduction to Career Center services Internship preparation Competitions Traders Trophy Worldwide HSBC YDC Young Entrepreneur Challenge Info Session, Industry Seminar & Experience Sharing: Update on industries and professional fields Mandatory Provident Fund seminars Common Recruitment Examination and Basic Law Test (Government) Mainland and overseas internship opportunities “Working in China” sharing Seminars on entrepreneurship Experience sharing by HKUST alumni Practical tips on working in Hong Kong for non-local students http://career.ust.hk THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 43 Accepting a job offer joyfully Remember to get the following from HR: Once you have accepted an offer (even verbal), do not: - Job title - Department or team name you belong to - Salary and benefits - Leave entitlements - Commencing date - Probation and notice period, and other terms and conditions - Time to report duty on the first day - Name, detail address and telephone number of the person you should report to - Regular working hours - Dress code - Regret on the decision you have made - Go to another interview and shop around - Be a no show for whatever reasons - Quit too soon Career Development Programs “The workshop exceeded my expectations. It covered a number of areas I wanted to learn and things I had not thought of previously. It was a good training and thank you so much!” First year UG participant, Career Meetup Participant, “Two-in-one” Mock Interview Session “The mock interview made me realize my weaknesses and how I should improve myself when in real interviews. I also learned many interview etiquettes from the career advisor.” “It was great to learn about different areas of personal branding and how to choose a career. I find the whole program very useful in helping me find Participant, a right career.” Workshop on “Discovering My Passion and Personal Brand” 44 THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2014 Acknowledgements Publisher HKUST Career Center HKUST Editorial Team Grace Siu Christina Lai Writers Vivian Au Oliver To Gerry Xavier Designer in-Design HK Limited Printer Emerald Data Processing and Printing Company Limited Not for sale All rights reserved Contact us Enquiries Opening Hours Room 4001, 4/F (via Lift 4) Academic Building Clearwater Bay Kowloon Tel: +852 2358 6688 Fax: +852 2719 9412 Email: saocc@ust.hk http://career.ust.hk Monday to Friday 08:45 – 13:00 14:00 – 17:30 Closed on public holidays