The HKUST Career Guide 2017

Abstract

THE HKUST CAREER GUIDE 2017 Your career path is a lifelong conversation. It has to be constantly weighed, debated and evaluated. Some of you start off with a dream and cannot wait for it to take flight. Some of you start off with nothing and you are clueless as to what you will be doing after graduation. Regardless, your university education will help you acquire the ‘language’ in order to have an honest and meaningful ‘career conversation’ throughout your life – one that leads to ultimate fulfillment. Within the covers of this publication are loads of tips and advice as to how to learn this ‘language’, but it comes down to ‘how’ you will be taking in all this information. Will you choose to follow those that seem easy enough or appealing at first sight? I hope the following three words will help you stretch your mindset and take full advantage of what this guide – and this university – has to offer. Abandon. Yes, there is a lot you need to acquire but there is just as much you need to offload: bad habits, preconceptions about certain jobs, prejudices against certain people, and limiting thoughts about yourself. An open mind isn’t just about being receptive to something new; it’s also about freeing your mind from things and thoughts that tell you it is not possible. Examine. In this digital age, we talk about efficiency and multitasking, but we often forget to dig deeper and look into the heart of things. You may join a gamut of activities to demonstrate your range of skills and interests, but how much of those experiences truly becomes your own? What you do in these four years is not for show and tell, it is to lead to what you are meant to become. So go deeper into everything you come across. You will be surprised by the treasure you find. Imagine. University education is never meant to hand you a formula to making it big; in fact, we challenge you to envision your own idea of success. In this publication you will read stories of alumni who have taken a less traveled path. Be inspired, and know that you, too, can create your own future. What HKUST offers you is a tool kit for life – one that you can always go back to as you carry out the ‘career conversation’ in years to come. I hope you will absorb everything with fresh eyes, an open mind, and the desire to really own it. Prof Tony F Chan President 01 02|03 Cont ents Dear Students, Hi, I am Cheryl, Associate Director of Career Center at HKUST. It’s time of the year for the release of Career Guide 2017 and I hope that each individual story in this publication 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, just don’t forget we welcome your visit should you have any query at all. 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 Career Center. They are all thoughtfully designed and offered to you throughout your HKUST education. Lastly, everyone from Career Center wishes you a good year ahead and all the best in your endeavors. Yours sincerely, Cheryl Lee Associate Director (Career Center), Student Affairs Office 48 Tips for Personal Statement Writing Dr. Elaine Tang 44 Let Your Dreams Shape Your Career Rax Lau 51 Tips for CV Writing Kenneth So 46 'I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying' Tommy Lee 17 Transforming Challenges into Opportunities Willien Hui 34 Environmental Business in Today's Business Environment Jasmine Lee 42 Career Development Programs 09 Try Everything Avinaash Venkatasubramanian 12 10 Tips for Starting Your Own Business Sum Wong 14 On-Campus Recruitment Calendar 40 Use Your Mind but Always Follow Your Heart Oscar Tan 22 By Perseverance Everything Reaches its Target Chris Tsui 26 Career Mosaic 06 Plan Your Path 28 Business Networking – Creating Opportunities and Shaping Collaborations Rose Wai & Dr. Elaine Tang 20 How to Ace an Assessment Center Anna Champion 24 Build Safe and Well Tracy Zhou 32 Plan the Work and Work the Plan Sophia So 04 Ethics and the Job Search 37 Non-local Students Working in Hong Kong 30 Internship Network (iNet) 38 Success is the Sum of Small Efforts Pere Argemí Ballbè 53 Career Development Module 52 Career Building Course BEST CAREER SERVICES SATISFACTION AWARD, UNIVERSUM 2016 BEST EMPLOYABILITY RATING AWARD, UNIVERSUM 2016 TOP 3, BEST UNIVERSITY BRAND PERCEPTION AWARD, UNIVERSUM 2016 04|05 While in the process of knocking on doors for job interviews, there are a few key ethics one must observe carefully. 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. Prepare your portfolio Be HONEST and never exaggerate the level of experience or education background found out, sooner or later the person will be caught on the spot when he/she is asked to do some work but incapable of delivering it. In most organizations, lying on your employment application is grounds for immediate dismissal. Therefore never take a short cut by lying. Consult good CV writing guides or seek advice from our Career Advisor. Remember, “honesty is the best policy”. During job search Only apply and interview for jobs you are truly interested in Should I go to an interview just to practice or 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 than 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. Before an interview Interview cancellation and no show management 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 Another serious negative behavior is failing to attend a scheduled interview without bothering to notify the company and Career Center 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. Handle multiple job offers Accept a job offer in good faith 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 the process is managed in a professional fashion so that you don’t leave the company with a bad impression. Ethics and the Job Search Year 1 So, you’re a freshman – there should still be plenty of time to sit back and have fun, right? Well, doing something worthwhile and having fun are not mutually exclusive. Know Yourself Find out about your personal qualities, what you like, what you care about, what you’re good at, what excites you etc. Career Center offers workshops that help you to understand your personality types through different psychological assessments like MBTI, STRONG Interest Inventory and Lumina Spark. 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 CV 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 Center for Language Education is a great source to advance your language abilities. Year 2-3 The penultimate year of your university life is a strategic time for career planning. Aim to have a career plan, or at least a draft, ready by the end of this year. A career plan is a blueprint for action. It describes your career goal and the steps you plan to take to reach that goal. Talk to our Career Advisor if you need help. Explore Your Options Get off the couch and look for ways to identify your career interests and gain some real work experience. Joining the Internship Network (iNet) offered by 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 Equipped Visit Career Center website and sign up for Workshops on CV writing, interview skills, presentation skills, group discussion skills, and mock aptitude test sessions. 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 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 handle, you can always make an appointment with one of the Career Advisors. Through professional coaching and discussion, they can help you prioritize and focus on what’s urgent and important. 06|07 What gives you a competitive edge over others? How to make the most of your thousand days at HKUST ? Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 4 ******************************************************** 08|09 Year 4 Build Your Network Be creative in your job search. 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 and attending events, conferences, competitions and social gatherings. Social media like Facebook and LinkedIn are also effective platform through which you can build resourceful connections. Don’t be shy. People you meet through university days may become your business partners, customers, supervisors or colleagues. Get Ready Early birds always catch the worm. Make yourself available to meet up with employers at recruitment talks and job fairs. Make sure you have at least a set of presentable CV and cover letter on hand, and customize them according to individual jobs. Polish 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 more structured job search skills training, taking the Career Building Course (one-credit general education free elective) offered by Career Center will be a good choice. Look Ahead No one can predict how good or bad the economic environment will be when you graduate. The time may you love yet, 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. Try Everything AVINAASH VENKATASUBRAMANIAN Co-founder and Director of Business Development, ATOM Power Limited, HK BBA(Information Systems, minor Entrepreneurship) No I won't leave, I wanna try everything I started off my career planning knowing I wanted to be in “business,” but that’s really about it. I had an inclination towards majoring in Economics, but I ended up doing Information Systems instead. My the summer after high school (Grade 12), I decided to apply for as many jobs as I could to understand school graduate, there weren’t many offers on the table. It’s a stressful experience but once you start looking at things more rationally, you realize that if things don’t work out, it’s not the end of the world. My advice would be to take a leap of faith. As a high school student, I wouldn’t get a job unless I’m really hungry for it. Therefore I e-mailed every company, even those I was remotely interested in and told intern, whether they posted a job advertisement or not. I took a chance and it paid off. At the start of university, I really had no idea what I wanted to do. I was rolling the dice. The way I started forming a clear idea about what I wanted to do was by simply trying everything that interested from Rotaract to Film, and attended guest seminars on topics from entrepreneurship to biomedicine. want to do. Towards the end of my freshman year, a couple of friends and I decided that we wanted to change the student culture in HKUST for the better. Our objective was to promote an environment that supported fun, life-long bonds and professionalism simultaneously. So, we established Alpha Kappa Psi your thoughts, you can really understand what you prioritize for yourself. For me, it was making meaningful connections with people, impacting them in a positive way and leaving a mark.   10|11 To be completely honest, I didn’t plan to become an entrepreneur; it just happened! When you are really passionate about something and you take actions towards it – it doesn’t really feel like “joining an industry.” ATOM, the startup I co-founded, was initiated as a project in a Hall 3 dorm room in HKUST. We’ve been working on ATOM since my 3rd (and portable power. When all my peers were applying for jobs, I made the decision to follow my gut and pursue entrepreneurship full-time. Although our startup emerged by chance and because of our own needs, I’ve always considered myself to be entrepreneurially spirited. At the age of 14, I set up stalls in Dubai to sell niche food items, winning me a place in the Young Entrepreneurship Competition. From then on, I’ve successfully initiated various projects including a small t-shirt sales project and co-founding an online community with over 170,000 Facebook followers, amongst other initiatives. In Grade 12, I was awarded a business and entrepreneurship scholarship and learnt a lot more on the subject from experts at the University of Chicago. However, many people don’t actually know what they love to do. For this, I would suggest doing a job you really DON’T like. For instance, I was a waiter/cashier for a month during high-school. I have immense respect for those who do the job; however, being a waiter really wasn’t for me. It taught me a lot about dealing with customers and working in a dynamic environment. But most importantly, while doing the job, I kept thinking about what I would have rather been doing than waiting tables. Many people think entrepreneurship is a breeze, but like all jobs, nothing comes easy. I would say one of the most challenging parts is to constantly stay self-motivated. No one is going to tell you what to do next, how to do it or be annoyed at you for not showing up at work. By having unwavering belief in your product or company, you can overcome the challenges and do what’s best for the sustainable growth. For those of you interested in pursuing entrepreneurship, I would say the courage/motivation comes from genuinely believing in your product and the company’s purpose. At the very initial stages of ATOM, when I talked to my parents, who are rather orthodox and risk-averse, I explained to them that this risk is a lot better to take now than 15 years from now, when I may have a family and other people depending on me. There are always going to be ‘downs’ and several risks/obstacles to overcome no matter what job you are in. By remaining levelheaded at every situation, it becomes a lot easier to regain your courage. I often ask myself These keep me going. I know it’s cliché, but I do believe Luckily, I haven’t felt like I truly want to give up yet. That being said, I think there are two extremely important things you need to insist on having: If any of you have taken the ENTR courses with Professor Po Chi, you’ll know that he talks about how being an entrepreneur can be a lonely path, where you are often isolated from friends and family. To me, the most important factor in building a successful career is attitude. No matter what industry you are in, your attitude dictates how you deal with obstacles and rejection, and how willing you are to learn new things. It’s also important to note how a negative attitude can also really hinder your own growth and success. I have a special strategy for coping with the dislikes in my job – leave the task you like the most to the end so that you get all the tasks that you dislike out of the majority of my everyday tasks can be rather tedious. It’s therefore important to keep the bigger vision in mind. Doing all the monotonous tasks every day (along with the exciting ones every now and then) is what leads to the building of a great company. My number one expectation for fresh graduates entering the world of work is for them to be . Additionally, university is a time where you can truly understand how you work best. For some of us, it’s 30 minutes of revision every day, and for others, it’s cramming everything in the last two days. Some learn through notes, others learn through visuals or motion. To motivate yourselves, I would suggest reimagining the way you think. walls you build for yourself. My advice to those who are still students would be to seize every opportunity because this period of your life never comes back. I think you should try to have as many different experiences as possible: from attending lectures, living on campus and joining societies to cliff diving in Sai Kung and clubbing at Lan Kwai Fong. The people you meet and the experiences you have really shape who you are. heart with love I won't give up, no I won't give in; till I reach the end This early exposure has certainly played a very important role in helping me identify my strengths and what motivates me. extremely willing to learn Having a support system you can lean on really helps change your attitude when you are feeling down or need motivation. Sum Wong is the co-founder of the IT company Appzolute and EventXtra. He studied Computer Science in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. During his studies he went on exchange to Tsinghua University and George Washington University. He has joined a few startups and helped them develop their products at the early stage. Later he founded his own company EventXtra which helps event organizers such as Google, Alibaba, Deloitte and some government organizations to cut cost and time through replacing labor-intensive tasks by mobile technology. Sum and his team’s effort is well-recognized publicly especially by colleagues in the industry and the company has been selected as 'The Best Startup in Hong Kong' by Technode, as well as won a number of Mob-Ex Awards including Best CRM & Loyalty Application, Most Innovative Mobile Application and Best Direct Response Campaign. Besides technology, Sum is also passionate about personal development. He is volunteer and project leader of a remote village teaching program “Lighthouse Project” and he was once selected to compete for “Top Leader Award” and “My Favorite Leader Award“ in a Joint-School Leadership Program. SUM WONG **************************************** Follow Your Heart: Your passion would be the fuel of your long journey. Work on something that you are interested in. It's just like meeting your loved one. You will know it when you have found it. If you hesitate and are not sure about whether something is your passion, that means no, you haven't found it yet. Look For People With The Same Values and Passion: All great businesses are built by a team of people. You should look for people who believe in what you believe. You can then spend your time working together towards the same goal instead of wasting time arguing over core beliefs. However, bear in mind you do need to reinforce the values and beliefs among your team from time to time. Look For Mentors and Advisors: You should definitely have mentors and advisors both before and after you start your own business. They have experienced what you are experiencing and could show you the shortcuts to where you should be going as well as all the 'know-hows'. Having their advice will save you a lot of time and effort. Keep Learning From People: Not a lot of entrepreneurs have an MBA background; they may not even have any management experience. The good news is that you can learn from others. Books, videos, mentors, advisors and other entrepreneurs are great resources that you should take advantage of in order to learn and grow. Spend some time having coffee and keep connected to other entrepreneurs so that you can help each other during the hard times and share the happy moments. Make Things Clear: From day one, set all the rules, and share with other partners structure and details that are related to benefits and money. They might be one of the main causes of argument in the future. Make agreements and put them black and white on paper upfront so that everyone understands them clearly without any ambiguities. Set Vision and Goals: A team is always led by vision and goals. Make sure everybody really knows the vision (at least when you ask them, everybody is saying the same thing). Measurable goals will give the team direction and will be useful when evaluating the process and learning. Make sure that everybody is involved in the discussion and expectations are aligned; this creates a sense of ownership for everybody. Train Your Discipline Muscle: The day you start your business is the day you no longer have a boss; you are your own supervisor. You need discipline to keep moving yourself and your team forward. Discipline is just like your muscles – train it and it will become stronger. Focus On Solving Problems Instead Of Building A Company: Most people find it very cool to build a company. But at the end of the day, you are actually trying to solve a problem. Research shows that the biggest reason why companies fail is because they have been building something that no customer wants. Focus on solving problems and it will prevent you from failing or dying. Work In A Small Company That You Like: When you are young and inexperienced, working in a small company that you like is the fastest way by which you can learn about how to build the values and culture of a company. It gives you a safety net to try and learn without risking your own money. Most successful entrepreneurs have worked in a few companies before starting their own. Start From Something Small: A lot of big projects started from being a side project. For example, Gmail was actually developed by a group of engineers during their free time (about 20% of their total time available). Starting a side project when you are still at school is a great idea because students have the time and school has a whole pool of talents. What’s more, most people in school don’t mind working on a project just for fun instead of for making money. 10 Tips for Starting Your Own Business Thinking of starting your own business? Here are 10 tips that might help: 12|13 O n - Campus Recruitment Calendar Fa ll Te r m • Register for Common Recruitment Exam (CRE) and Basic Law Test (BLT), which would be held in October. Late application will not be accepted. • AO/EO: Attend Administrative Officer (AO)/Executive Officer (EO) recruitment talks on campus • AO/EO: Submit applications online • Attend Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) and Basic Law Test (BLT) • Attend Career Mosaic and meet representatives from different government units • Auxiliary Police (Undergraduates) Scheme (AUS) and Police Mentoring Program (PMP): Submit applications to Career Center • AO Summer Internships: Submit applications via Career Center and attend preliminary selection interviews • AO Summer Internships: Attend final selection interviews • Attend Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) and Basic Law Test (BLT) outside Hong Kong (for those who have not taken it in October) Spring Te r m • AO/EO: Attend Joint Recruitment Exam (JRE) • Auxiliary Police (Undergraduates) Scheme (AUS) and Police Mentoring Program (PMP): Attend selection interviews • AO Summer Internship: Offers announcements • AO (graduate positions): Offers announcements • Police Mentorship Program (PMP): Inauguration Ceremony • Register for Common Recruitment Exam (CRE) and Basic Law Test (BLT) which would be held in June. Late application will not be accepted. • Post-Secondary Student Summer Internship Program (PSSSIP) and Vacation Training Scheme (VTS): submit application via Career Center • Post-Secondary Student Summer Internship Program (PSSSIP) and Vacation Training Scheme (VTS): submit application via Career Center • Auxiliary Police (Undergraduates) Scheme (AUS): Offers announcements • Attend Career Mosaic and meet representatives from different government units Summer Te r m • Attend Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) and Basic Law Test (BLT) • Post-Secondary Student Summer Internship Program (PSSSIP) • AO Summer Internship • Police Mentorship Program (PMP): Job attachment • Auxiliary Police (Undergraduate) Scheme (AUS): Training at Auxiliary Police Headquarters Government Recruitment Schedule 14|15 As a bridge between HKUST and employers, the Career Center brings recruiters from different industries to our campus so you can meet them face to face. Government Recruitment Government recruitment follows a set timeline each year and requires standardized assessment procedures. If you are interested in working for the government, the following calendar can help you plan your job search in the coming year. AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN APR MAY MAR JUN JUN AUG • Accounting • Advertising/Marketing/Market Research/Public Relations • Aviation/Transport/Logistics • Architecture/Construction/Engineering Consultancy/Quantity Surveying • Banking/Finance - Commercial Banks • Banking/Finance - Investment Banks • Banking/Finance - Private Equities/Hedge Funds/Asset Management • Banking/Finance - Other financial & investment institutions • Beauty/Health Care/Fitness • Biotechnology/Chemicals/Laboratory/Testing Services • Catering/Food & Beverage • Charity/NGO/Quasi-government/Professional Bodies • Civil Service/Government • Design • Education/Research/Training • Engineering/Technical Services • Environmental Science • Fast Moving Consumer Goods • General Business Services/Other Consulting Services • HR/Recruitment Services • Hospitality/Hotels/Tourism/Entertainment • Information Technology • Insurance • Internet/Digital/e-Commerce • Manufacturing/Machinery/Motor Vehicles/Automation Equipment • Management Consulting • Media/Publishing • Medical Services/Pharmaceutical • Multi-nature Conglomerates • Property Development/Management • Retail/Wholesale/Trading/Import & Export • Telecommunication • Utilities/Energy/Power Fall Term Spring Term On-Campus Recruitment Schedule – by Industry On-campus Recruitment Here is a general and tentative timeline of our on-campus recruitment events for the year. Mark your calendar and register in advance at the Career Center website: http://career.ust.hk  “Events & Courses” Other Resources Online Job Vacancy Information “HKUST Job Board” on HKUST Career Center website - Your one-stop shop for all graduate jobs and internships specifically targeted to HKUST students. These jobs are posted on the Career Center website: http://career.ust.hk  'Jobs & Internships' JIJIS (Joint Institutions Job Information System) – All full-time university students can visit http://www.jijis.org.hk to look for full-time, part-time, temporary and summer jobs. First-time users need to register before logging in. For enquiries, please email support@jijis.org.hk. General Career Information Career Center subscribes to the Vault Online Career Library at Career Center website: http://career.ust.hk  'Resources'. 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, and professional qualifications are available at 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://libguides.ust.hk/jobhunting. 16|17 Willien started his career as Consulting Executive in Project and Behavioral Management by joining the IT industry. Throughout his early career, Willien was assigned to a number of cross-regional projects and participated as a project executive and change management associate. These exposures not only have helped Willien foster a new set of competencies, he has also earned his reputation in the company. Currently, Willien headed an internal development project, featuring services deployment and business transformation.  What was your first job hunting experience like? Unlike lots of my fellow classmates, job hunting was never smooth or pleasant for me. Back in mid-2015, at the end of the term, I had not received any job offers while lots of my friends had already secured theirs. The sense of insecurity really frustrated me. I constantly experienced failures after having participated in a number of assessment centers and still had not obtained any offers. Those days were indeed discouraging and distressing. However unpleasant the situation was, persistence finally led me to success. At last, I received offers from a number of multi-national companies. I was eventually satisfied with my ultimate achievements.  Then, did you have a clear idea about what you wanted to do? I never knew for sure what I wanted to do, but I knew what interested me. Hence, when I consider an offer, personal interest is always an important factor. I strongly believe that a person will only excel in a job he/she enjoys. Picking your first job is therefore not only about the remuneration package; oftentimes the person’s interest is more important than any financial factors. That’s why we always say – “Enjoy what you do, and the money will come!” WILLIEN HUI Consulting Executive Transition and Transformation Management, Professional Services, Global Service Businesses Fuji Xerox (Hong Kong) Limited BBA (Operations Management and Marketing) ********************************************************** Transforming Challenges into Opportunities    18|19 I had the opportunities to develop my career in Banking, Information Technology or Retail. I chose Information Technology because the job would likely offer the experience that I had longed for, such as exposure in project management and product respective areas. Students who are looking for a job should always ask themselves these questions, and the answers may give you a general idea of your future directions: What inspired you to join this industry? How do you think one could land their dream job? You won’t know what your dream job really is until you have tried and tasted the life of a particular job. While most of the time you think you know your preferences, in reality they might not turn out to be something you look for. Therefore one should always stay open to opportunities, and grasp each chance available. As far as I’m concerned, You will know when the time is right... Can you share the most challenging experience in your career? How did you overcome it? Lacking the hard skills for work isn’t the most discouraging. Rather, handling interpersonal matters to a new project, my two direct supervisingtwo managers had meanderingly asked me to pick a side. Things were subtle and this is what I think all newcomers should be aware of! solely personal, and therefore taking neither side was perhaps the most appropriate. To overcome this challenge, I decided not to get involved in anything that was personal. I simply discussed things that were business-related and provided an analysis by staying neutral. As my arguments were well supported with evidence (just like what we do in university assignments), I earned my respect and me from accepting changes, and this isn’t rare. This approach continuously reminds me of the the cause-and-effect relationship that strengthens dynamic and rapidly changing environment. What gave you the courage or motivation in every change? What do you regard as the most important factor in building a successful career? Hard skills (job knowledge) are important, but it isn’t solely about how well you can do your work. What’s have good people skills. You may be an outstanding student with excellent academic achievements, but without solid communication skills, you may fail to build relationships. In the business world, you need to learn to convey messages and present your ideas to different parties. Because connections are built through exchanging ideas, those who lack effective delivery skills may have trouble building relationships. excel in the job or be appreciated by others. In the long run, it could affect your career development. How do you balance the likes and dislikes in your job? For instance, you may enjoy working as a consultant, but you may have to work overtime regularly. Likewise, if you work for a public relations than other positions in other industries. Tradeoffs are common and inevitable, and what you need to do is to weigh the factors: Money vs. Work hours, Money vs. Interest or Interest vs. Prospects etc. Let me use a personal example as an illustration. I certainly do not enjoy the boredom and tedious work in my job, but the package training offers me the outweighed the other factors. What are your expectations on fresh graduates and students, and advice for them? Fresh graduates need to research the jobs they are applying to carefully. Each year, hundreds of to explore the consulting career. However, the title “consultant” has been overused in recent years and students should be aware of the possible problems. Let’s take the IT industry as an example: the position who handles matters with clients is the account manager, but some companies will call the account manager a “consultant”. This misleads many candidates who have overlooked the description of the role and they apply simply for the title. the only way to have explored enough. Every decision we make are associated with tradeoffs. 20|21 Anna Champion Founder, The Talent Lighthouse I often get asked to think back through my experiences of what makes a candidate stand out at an assessment center. My experience is that there is not just one thing but a contribution of factors that help a candidate become more likely to get an offer. Here are 5 top tips for “ace-ing” an assessment center: Get the Basics Right Unbelievably the basics often get over looked in the run up to an assessment center. We get so focused on being the very best that we forget to focus on the simplest things. Ensuring you know the logistics is very important (turning up late is a definite reason for rejection), as is dressing the part and doing some research. Why will a company be bothered to take the time to get to know you if you cannot be bothered to get to know them better? Go beyond the organization’s website to think about what is happening in the wider environment (economy, politics, social trends) and think through how that will impact the organization and the department you are applying to. In terms of your own skills - thinking through what the company will be looking for in an employee and how you are going to show you have those skills is also important. What part of your experiences (and not all of these have to be related to work) show you have those skills? Get some examples ready but don’t learn them word for word as you will come across as too polished. How to Ace an Assessment Center Be Curious Numerous times I have spoken to senior leaders and I have been told that a stand out criteria for successful candidates is being able to utilize their own curiosity. Rather than just regurgitating facts and taking everything as status quo asking relevant questions and showing your interest is vital. Be curious about the organization, be curious about the individuals in the organization and be curious about the future. When you are at the assessment center or interview itself: ask questions of the other candidates and the business representatives. Seek to understand other people’s perspectives. Remember it’s a two way Process Assessment centers are daunting, they are unnatural situations but they allow both candidates and the organization the ability to discover more about each other. The more detail you gain from this experience the more likely that an employment relationship will be based on mutual understanding and expectations will be better understood by all. Take time to really think about what you need to know before you make a decision whether to accept a position with the organization and utilize the experience to help you. Finally, if you are not successful – always ask for feedback. Feedback helps you improve your performance and understanding of your own strengths/abilities. The organization might not be able to give you feedback straight away but they may be able to arrange another time to walk you through what they were looking for and what you could do to improve. Don’t Compete Some people thrive on competition but for the majority competition can bring out some of your worst qualities. Under the pressure of an assessment center negative behavior can show itself. Often this is very unnecessary too… countless assessment centers we hosted we could have hired everyone that attended if they had been the right candidates. It therefore wasn’t about competing with others it was about showing themselves in the best possible way. Help others that are struggling and stop comparing yourself to others or trying to second guess who the company will hire. Be Genuine Candidates often think that they need to fit a particular mold that the company are looking for in order to get hired however, by playing a particular role or emphasizing some skills that are not your natural strengths you may be seen as fake. Trust is the biggest factor in an employment relationship and without it you are unlikely to get hired. People, recognize we are all humans and all make mistakes – but what you do with that experience is more important, how have you developed yourself after the set back? What are you doing to compensate a flaw? The other issue with pretending to be something you are not is that people who do that can end up taking a job they are not really happy with. If you feel uncomfortable in the environment or have to adapt too much to it perhaps it isn’t the right job for you. **************************************************************** 22|23 As a university student with a science and engineering background, I would really like to know how I can contribute to improving our quality of life. I have therefore participated in different seminars and competitions to know what others, who probably have similar aspirations as mine, have done and plan to do. Through these activities, I have got to know various advanced technologies and now better understand how science extensive application of information and communications technology (ICT) and smart meters with a view to saving cost and energy as well as improving living and working environments, was emerging and has sparked vigorous discussions around the world. Meanwhile, the related technologies, infrastructure, policies There were so many innovative ideas and fascinating products that I could easily spend a whole afternoon exploring, and I was also thinking whether I would be interested in working for those companies. In those activities, not only could I discuss with policy makers, executives and industry experts to see how countries are developing in terms of the Smart City idea, but I also chatted with the exhibitors to know how their and exhibitors my CV. After a number of doubts and rejections, I received one interview opportunity and eventually landed a job! Embracing Challenges engineering feasibility of developing Kowloon East into a Smart City district, which will be Hong Kong's few basic online courses about city planning before knew what I needed to consider in city design and development. Fortunately, my supervisor and colleagues were really helpful and supportive; they taught and guided me with patience. I remember once I needed to suggest a method to manage city data. Before proposing to build a cable ducts and related infrastructure are available in the area. If not, a cable network has to be built similar to my postgraduate research project; When I designed a solar cell, before using a certain material like silicon, I also needed to understand the nature of that material and what other necessary components were. From this I saw that skills I acquired in school could indeed be transferred to dealing with the tasks at work. After work, I also spent time studying past projects. From the documents and my colleagues’ experience sharing, I learned the fundamental skills and essential techniques for completing the tasks such as how to understand clients’ requirements and address their concerns. I was even able to participate in the Look (Back+ Forward) One of my beliefs when working on projects is “consider the people but don’t forget the fun.” In the research projects I had worked on and competitions I had participated in, much attention and environmental ones. True, these are of vital importance and are the motivation of the projects; however, never should we forget that Appreciating how we move due to inertia on theories can be put into practice in the community are all enjoyable and exciting to me. “Science is fun”. Enjoyment can be found in some current projects that some innovative technologies can actually be applied to the design of a building/ community/ city farms as an example - it is intriguing to think of ways to optimize LED light's wavelength to grow best tomatoes. When you look back a few years later, you will be amazed and say ‘Wow! That’s how much technology has advanced!’ Likewise, a few years ago I wouldn't have been able to predict where I am now. Different people have different ideas about how to live a university life to the fullest, and I would say “just enjoy what you do!” By Perseverance Everything Reaches its Target CHRIS TSUI Graduate Researcher, ARUP MPhil in Engineering (Energy Technology Concentration) BEng (Chemical Engineering) 24|25 ************************************** I started my career thanks to the alumni career sharing workshop organized by SENG and I got to know Hilti there. The speaker, Mr Michael Leung, is a HKUST alumnus. I was attracted by his rich experience in Hilti and the caring corporate culture. To know more about Hilti, I attended its career recruitment talk afterwards. I was interested in its global management trainee program called Outperformer Trainee. After several rounds of interviews, I luckily got the offer. To be very honest, when I was still at university some time ago, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I studied Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in HKUST, which was not a major as popular in the Hong Kong job market as Business or Finance. For work location, I also struggled between working in Hong Kong and in Shanghai at that time. Though I had no idea about what I wanted to do, I knew where my passion and strengths lied, which helped me to eliminate industries that might not be suitable for me. For example, I am passionate about interacting with people, and have good communication and interpersonal skills. Working with people is therefore more attractive to me than pure academic research. To stand out from candidates with Business background and to show my competitive edge of possessing engineering For me, the beauty of being in the construction industry is the sense of accomplishment when seeing the landscape built with my contribution. In Hong Kong and Australia, where I have worked, there is a lot of landscape built, being built and to be built using Hilti’s products and services. For example, the famous Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Barangaroo Project both use Hilti’s products. I am happy to see them built and proud to say that we have contributed to the safety of the construction. Stretch yourself The most challenging part in my career so far has been speaking Cantonese. I worked as a Cantonese, it was hard for me to communicate with local customers. At that time, language was the biggest challenge for me. My limited Cantonese caused a lot of confusion which made me unhappy. However, thanks to Hilti for offering me Cantonese courses twice a week as well as to my colleagues for practicing Cantonese with me every single day. My Cantonese improved a lot in just two months, and I So far, I have faced most changes in my career with my self-motivation. In the Outperformer Trainee Program, I have been able to rotate between various roles in different departments and locations. I was at team for a project. After that I went to Sydney for a marketing project and I am going to be involved in another project in Europe soon. Every time the change to a new environment forces me to step out of my comfort zone. This is of course not easy but I believe that it will help me to become a better Build Safe and Well TRACY ZHOU Outperformer Trainee, Hilti (Hong Kong) Limited MSc (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering) BSc (Food Science and Engineering, minor English) Enlarge your comfort zone Being willing to step out of one’s comfort zone, I think, is the most important factor in building a successful career. It is not easy but does help. Each time going out of my comfort zone helps build a better me. It requires courage and positive attitude towards challenges. Taking challenges as opportunities and embracing them contribute to building a successful career. Though it’s unavoidable to have something that I dislike during work, the job still has to be done well. I usually ask for support to acquire more skills to deal with my dislikes. For example, I am not good at big data processing. To enhance my Excel skills, I asked for Excel training and got help from colleagues who are good at it. I expect fresh graduates There will be a lot of things to learn of products, industry information and understanding customers. Experienced colleagues are more willing to share their rich knowledge with fresh graduates who have a humble attitude. My advice to students would be to be proactive and get prepared. HKUST is a very good platform with rich resources both academically and in terms of industrial practice. Proactively joining the activities that you are interested in helps to create opportunities. By no means will the opportunities come if you just sit still; opportunities are for those who are prepared. how the preparation will be of use some day. ‘Tracy’. Through adapting to new environments, I have come to realize that my comfort zone has become bigger. It’s like doing Yoga – stretching is hard; sometimes it even hurts. But after the exercises, the body will feel more at ease. I have never thought about giving up so far. When I meet line managers or friends for suggestions. Also, ― Career Mosaic Career Mosaic is a biannual campus-wide career fair organized by Career Center, in October and March. More than 300 companies and organizations participate every year. Career Mosaic offers a highly effective platform for employers to reach out to HKUST st udents to recruit them for internships and graduate employment opportunities. Benefits to students > Identify graduate and internship opportunities in their areas of interest > Meet with employers from different industries > Submit applications directly to the employers at the event > Obtain interviews from some employers on the spot Benefits to employers > Reach out to your potential talent pool to fulfill your talent needs > Build your brand on campus and increase awareness in the student community > Meet with talents and perform selection on the spot to save recruiting costs 26|27 Rose Wai Director Leadersoft Asia Ltd. (Executive Search & Development Consultancy) Elaine Tang, PhD Career Advisor 3. Know who they are beforehand if possible If you know you’re going to an event and you’re quite sure who you’re going to meet, search for some background information of the attendees beforehand. You can then do your homework – find out what projects their company is working on or research studies they’re part of that you want to know more about. In this way you don’t need to worry about not knowing what to say when you actually meet them, and above all you can use that time more meaningfully by focusing on topics that are relevant to both of you. 4. Keep the conversations short and sweet People are busy and they probably want to maximize the time at an event by meeting more people, so keep each encounter brief. Of course, don’t keep on repeating yourself; As we say – K I S S (keep it short, stupid!). If you find someone interesting and helpful, you can ask to meet again or stay in touch through email. Be considerate like we’ve talked about – if they seem to be in a rush, check if they can really stay and talk; and if not, exchange name cards/ contact information and arrange another chat. Likewise, when you feel you’ve spent enough time with someone, a good “exit strategy” would be to say you’d like another tea or you want to go say hello to a friend, of course together with a 'nice meeting you & let’s stay in touch' note. 5. Focus on the positive Use as much positive language as you can, and talk about pleasant incidences and topics. No one likes to hear you complain about your boss or how a work partner betrayed you! Networking events, unlike happy hours, are not for venting, but occasions for establishing meaningful professional connections. At the same time, even if you don’t know much about the industry yet, be humble without thinking that you’re less important. Focus on what you do know and don’t worry too much about what you don’t – this is exactly what you’re going to learn from the people you meet. 6. Don't come with a hidden purpose or request We talked about the importance of doing your homework prior to the events, but this is not the same as having a hidden agenda and coming solely to ask for favors. Of course you network to know more people in order to broaden your customer base or get a good job, but the relationship should come first – be genuine and don’t try to take advantage of others. When people know more about and get to trust you, opportunities will naturally come. 7. Be helpful or show helpfulness On top of not focusing only on your own needs and benefits, look out for opportunities to be of help to people you meet. Even if you’re still a student, they may have questions that you can answer, or skills their project needs which you can offer. The bottom line is that relationships are mutual. 8. Listen carefully, and remember names and details for follow up Pay attention when others are talking – this is just basic courtesy. When you hear something that’s really intriguing, make a note of it. Of course, it can be a mental note but it’s actually okay to jot down a few things. Just be polite and tell the person that you find what they say really useful and you would like to note it down before you forget. 9. Follow up timely It’s always good to drop someone you met a brief email or WhatsApp message after the first encounter, and try to do this within three days when the memory (well, both yours and theirs) is still fresh. A simple message will do – that it was great having met them, and that you appreciate their time/ help/ information. If there’s an actual project or job opening you’re interested in, mention that and be clear about what you want. 10. Explore networking opportunities Instead of waiting for chances to come, be proactive and look for ways where you can network with others. Try various media – follow social media pages of alumni associations, subscribe to the distribution list of a club you like, join different academic and professional organizations of your choice and their activities. 1. Be friendly and pleasant, honest and sincere All of us want to start on the right foot and leave a positive and lasting impression when meeting people for the first time. But don’t overdo it by bluffing or exaggerating. Just be honest and sincere. Also, don’t be too self-conscious – be both approachable and ready to proactively approach others. For those who’re quite shy, practice making natural eye contact with others and giving firm handshakes. When introducing yourself, make it natural without sounding like you’ve memorized a self-introduction script. 2. Be considerate of others in terms of conversation topics, knowledge level, etc It’s always good to first find out what you and the other person have in common and start with topics you both enjoy talking about. You may be an expert in something but not everyone has the same knowledge level, experience or interest. Make sure there are equal amount of turn-takings rather than you giving a speech. Business Networking – Creating Opportunities and Shaping Collaborations A simple “hello” can lead to a million things. Don’t underestimate the impact of an encounter! Do it the smart and wise way. No matter what profession you’re interested in, networking is important and often accelerates success. Not only is it useful for learning from individuals you meet, but the benefits of building your own credibility and “brand” are just as powerful. Networks are for building and maintaining, and these take time. Be prepared to invest in the relationships time and effort, before they become your invaluable resources. While there are events solely for the purposes of networking and meeting potential clients, employers and collaborators, networking might just come anytime – at the tea break of a conference, bumping into a high school friend who then introduces to you the friend she’s dining with who happens to work for your dream company. So it’s time to cultivate the skills even when you’re still at university. Here are a few tips for all of you: 28|29 Learning Through Internships The importance of internship programs simply cannot be ignored or taken lightly. In the competitive job market we face today, good jobs are scarce and only quality candidates will be chosen. As you go through your years of studies, you MUST NOT OVERLOOK the participation in INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS because this empowers you to get ready for your future career with an impressive cover letter, a strong CV and all the necessary soft skills that make you stand out from the others. HKUST Internship Network (iNet) is a flagship internship program of HKUST Career Center which provides a host of program-based internship opportunities across HK, Mainland China and many foreign countries. The following are highlights of these programs: The Cross-Cultural Internship Program Work & Travel USA Program Internship in the United States for University Students of Hong Kong (USETOs) The Intern Group International Internship Program The Bloom of Youth Global Internship Program Myriads of other Mainland summer internship programs SOAR Shanghai (30-40 students) ASEAN Internship for University Students of Hong Kong Scheme Shanghai Future Leaders Internship Program (SHFLIP) Y-Society Internship Program (Finance-related internships) HKUST campus The USA Australia/Colombia/ UK/Spain and other European countries Various Mainland cities Shanghai ASEAN countries Shanghai Beijing On-campus Internship Program Part-time or full time Duration: varies 6 -12 weeks 6-24 weeks (depending on the program) 6 weeks (depending on the programs) 6 weeks (early June – mid July) 4 -12 weeks 6 weeks 6 weeks Program Name Location Duration Government Summer Jobs, PSSSIP refers (offers 100+ jobs in different government departments; only for students who are permanent HK residents) HK Varies from 6-12 weeks Local Internships Mainland Internships Overseas Internships H KUS T I n te r nship Ne tw o r k (i N et) Overseas Internships YUEN Kin Man (SSCI Year 3 who interned at Singapore HKETO, Winter 2015) Local internship is always the opportunity students look for in their penultimate year. However, students usually may hesitate when considering overseas internship due to financial concerns or adaptability. Working overseas is a precious chance to equip myself with international outlook, especially for ASEAN countries. It was a bit challenging but I had experienced a lot and enjoyed working in Singapore. CHAN Yin Yu (SHSS Year 3 who interned at National University of Singapore, Summer 2015) I would say this internship experience is very rewarding and is beyond my expectation. It provided me with a chance to gain administrative work experience as well as research experience. In terms of academic work, I have worked with professors from sociology, Japanese studies and psychology background. It also allows me to work with professors with different working styles. These experiences allow me to recognize wide range of disciplines in social sciences and realize my research interest. Mainland Internships 譚紫驄 (SBM Year 1, 北京恆智財富投資管理公司) 我在公司期間主要參與公司的移民投資及 貸款業務，期間為拓展市場在一週內走訪 了三十多間的移民公司談合作渠道，期間 碰過不少門釘但也在每次訪談中學到說服 他人的技巧，更能看到不少公司的獨有內 部架構。最後我能談成一項合作方案令我 很有成功感，明白到自己並沒白跑。這經 歷對我最大的得著就是令我更厚面皮及有 自信，有助我未來在職場發展。此外，作 為金融中介我經常有機會到各銀行辦理業 務，能走進各大銀行的前後台部門與銀行 職員工作互動是個難得體驗，讓我在與他 們對話中了解不同銀行的架構、管理、文 化及政策。此外亦讓我了解各銀行在面對 「互聯網銀行改革」趨勢的態度及相應措 施。 李駿達 (SBM Year 3, 北京和居諮詢) 在這裡，與一群小伙伴工作，我覺得與他 們一起工作時侯的那種喜樂，比於工作上 取得成就的那份喜悅更加大和深刻。雖然 這次實習我每天都不斷加班工作，有時候 也通宵工作沒有時間休息，但是本人覺得 於是次的實習當中獲益良多，亦很享受是 次實習以及旅遊的過程。在這，本人對於 就業中心深表致謝，感謝就業中心給予我 一次珍貴的機會去參與是次實習。 30|31 ****************************************************************************** 32|33 Accomplishing that dream Grace: landing your dream job, and thanks for agreeing to share your experience with other graduates and students. Grace Siu and Sophia So got to know each other in Spring Term 2016 in Career Building Course for Global China Studies Students (SHSS1030) Grace was teaching. Grace is delighted to see Sophia land her dream job. Sophia: Thanks Grace and you’re very welcome. Grace: Would you like to start by telling us how your job hunting experience was like? Sophia: the right job can be an exhausting experience. Since I have always had the passion in working in the government in order to make contributions to the hometown which nurtured me, I applied for government jobs. The interview process was tough and time-consuming, which took more than half a year to complete. I needed to pass many rounds of assessments including aptitude tests, basic law interviews. I have waited for the offer call for more than three months. Grace: Sounds like a lot of hard work. How did you come to know that you wanted to work for the government? Did you have a clear idea what you wanted to do back in university? Sophia: However, these I began to have a clearer idea about my career. From these work experiences, I came to understand what suited me the best. For example, research projects and analyses sound boring to and meaningful. These experiences also helped me build connections in different industries. I got to know about others’ career paths, and learn from their mistakes and successes. The connections can become great resources in the future. Grace: I see. You’ve really done a lot of work! You mentioned that you enjoy administrative work. Can you tell me more how that interest has developed into the decision to join the government? Sophia: From past work experiences, I came to know that I am interested in providing administrative support. Also these experiences inspired me and made me want to contribute to the community I belong to. Being a part of the operation of the government is the most direct way for me to make contributions to society and serve people. Grace: How would you encourage those who’re off with Maths and Finance, and found out that I actually loved using logic to solve problems and communicate with people, so I went on to try out jobs that were related to this. After several attempts, I had equipped myself with different job-related skills and I was also clearer about what I wanted to do. Don’t let the fear of getting hurt prevent you from trying. You have nothing to lose in your attempts. Handling challenges Grace: Can you share your most challenging experience in a job interview? How did you overcome it? Sophia: I think the most challenging thing in any job interviews was to stay cool and organize ideas I often became anxious when I walked into an interview room, and as a result, I presented myself really poorly and even avoided eye-contact with the interviewers. My nervousness really ruined the opportunities to introduce the best of myself. Luckily, I eventually systematically; in other words, overcame it by doing many practices. For example, I attended mock interviews, asked for one-onone interview practices with career instructors These were all invaluable experiences for me because they helped me reduce stress and anxiety about interviews, and my instructors and friends always gave me constructive feedback. My believe that I could do well in an actual interview. Practice makes perfect! My nervousness gradually disappeared after several practices. and friends. Grace: I admire your courage in face of challenges. But did you ever feel like you were about to give up? If yes, what made you persist? Sophia: I’ve never thought about giving up because I was determined to make my dream come true, and there was no way for me to give up. Our dreams do not have an expiry date; we can always try again until we get what we want. Everything has two sides, and it’s important to think optimistically. Some people give up their dreams after failures. We can try to think differently – failure is one of the best ways we learn and grow. We actually become stronger and more capable of achieving our goals. Seizing opportunities Grace: Thanks Sophia. Finally, I’d like to ask if you have any advice for other graduates and students. Sophia: University is one of the best places to learn the skills that we need before we step into society. Students can choose to join different societies or participate in events held on campus. You will always taste or not. Also, gaining work experiences through internship programs helps students to bridge the gap between studies and employment successfully, and they are only provided in university, so students should seize the chances. Last but not least, I strongly encourage students to make use of the resources in our university. If you are worried about anything related to career, make an appointment with our career advisors. If you want to improve with our language instructors. Alternatively, if you want to seek advice from those that are more experienced, join a mentorship program. University life is full of fun and precious experiences. It is a pity if we waste time doing nothing. to present without a PowerPoint during the interview. I knew it was important to start early and plan in advance, so I participated in different part-time jobs and internship programs. Through Sophia: I started SOPHIA SO BSc (Global China Studies) Plan the Work and Work the Plan ************************************************************************ 34|35 A competition that turned out to be a job opportunity I was a student in the Environmental Management and Technology program offered by the Division started the moment I entered the university; the HKUST didn’t only bring me knowledge, but also prepared me for my career. I have always been passionate about environmental protection and knew clearly that I wanted to environmental protection is that it’s meaningful. Society is in need of talents with both managerial and technical skills, as well as environmental protection knowledge. sustainable development. Therefore, currently I hope I can help commercialize From my studies, I also came to understand that environmental problems are complicated; they cannot be solved simply by advanced environmental technology like I’ve just mentioned. Supports from corporates, governments and the public are equally important. From a course called ‘Green Business Strategy’, I learnt that corporates that run in a green business model can be successful. Environmental protection by the EVMT Program at HKUST. Nevertheless, I would like to focus on. I applied for management trainee (MT) programs of companies that run sustainable businesses as well as environmental consultancy jobs. in changes So far, the most challenging experience in my career is to adapt to new positions. Being able to rotate to different functions is indeed one of the best features of MT programs. For me, I have the chance to rotate to research and development (R&D), sales and marketing. This gives me an overview of the operation of the entire corporate which prepares me for the managerial career path. At the same time, the rotation feature brings challenges. Two months after I entered Schneider Electric, I was sent to the R&D center in Shanghai. I needed to adapt to the work environment in the Mainland and picked up new tasks. The time given for adapting was limited and the work was complicated especially to a fresh graduate. However, challenges somehow unlock the not-yetdiscovered potentials in us. As we say, everything is impossible to complete. Nevertheless, once you start it fearlessly, it will go smoother and smoother. This is how I adapt to each new position and embrace the changes. Recently, I have been experiencing this again in Hong Kong: When I returned to Hong Kong and was assigned to a new position in a completely – I was no longer afraid of the changes and am now courageous to tackle the new tasks assigned to me. My classmate and I formed a team and we went through multiple challenges, beating 12,000 applicants with our energy management solution. I had never imagined winning in such a prestigious global case we could achieve something. in Paris. We had to present our idea in front of over 10 judges from the senior management of Schneider Electric. For the rest of the trip, we attended career workshops and networking sessions, and toured around Paris. This was somehow similar to other MT interviews I had gone through earlier with other companies. MT programs have become more and more popular and so the selection processes have become more challenging, in order to select the most suitable candidates. I have once traveled to the Mainland with all other interviewees for an MT program application and stayed there for two days experiences helped me perform even better When I joined the MT program, I knew there would be an overseas assignment in R&D or supply chain functions, and also that before the overseas assignment, I would stay in Hong Kong for one or two assignments. Yet, the opportunity in the R&D center in Shanghai appeared rather unexpectedly. The center urgently needed an environment talent. I decided to say yes to the new arrangement – to stay in Shanghai for a year before the functional rotation in Hong Kong. I made the decision just within an hour because I believed it would be a challenging yet valuable experience. much from it; I have learned how to perform and network well in the Mainland work environment, as well as acquired knowledge related to the R&D operation. environmental problems; we need talents with the know-how to commercialize the technology, enforce environmental policies and educate people. Technology alone cannot solve I didn’t stop joining case competitions and external activities such as forums and conferences; these activities greatly helped broaden my horizons and have also increased my exposure to the industry. This is also how I after winning the champion in a global case competition, “Go Green in the City” organized by my current employer Schneider Electric. me, I will be motivated to change. For me, an interview is a two-way communication between the employers and me. The employers try to understand more about me and I am able to learn more about the employers at the same time. Through mutual communication and exploration, I understand if the job is the one I desire. Environmental Business in Today’s Business Environment JASMINE LEE Marketing Engineer, Management Trainee Program, Schneider Electric BSc (Environmental Management and Technology) In balancing the likes and dislikes in my job, the first thing I do is to analyze whether the dislikes could help me reach my goal. If the difficulty is a must in reaching my goal, I will try to overcome it. I also understand that it is impossible to like everything in my job. I will try to find the value of the tasks that I dislike and work on them efficiently. In this way, I leave time for the things I like. For example, in Shanghai, my least favorite task was to conduct environmental life cycle analysis for the products. We told the company our difficulties and the analysis tool was improved as a result. This saved us some time to actually improve the product’s environmental performance after the analysis. If you really dislike certain tasks, you need to have to find out the cause and discuss the solutions with your supervisor. I would say I am going for a career path which is not a traditional one for environment graduates. Sometimes, I doubt if I have made the right decision. What makes me persist is my passion for environmental protection, my conviction that it is important to the world, and a strong belief in adopting a business approach to solving environmental problems. Always try to solve problems and never limit yourselves The ability to adapt to changes is very important in building a successful career in today’s world. Charles Darwin, who published the theory of evolution, once said, ‘It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.’ There are always a lot of changes around us. Changes indeed occur every day, especially in the corporate world and under the current grim economic situation. I would say to fresh graduates that it is important to have problem-solving skills. This might sound cliché, but from my experience and according to the advice from managers, this is the most necessary skill for fresh graduates. Take myself as an example: I know so little when I first rotate to a certain position. Of course, experienced teammates can help me, but before that, I need to find out what the specific problem is. Sometimes, your closest teammate might not be the right person to help you. So, it is also very important to find the right person to answer your questions. If I don’t identify the specific problems myself and just keep on asking my colleagues for help, I would be very annoying and inefficient. On the other hand, if I don’t seek help from the right person, time will be wasted in waiting for people for referral. I think how to live a university life to the fullest depends on one’s personality, but I would advise students never to limit themselves. For me, I live mine to the fullest by trying everything and not being afraid of challenges. For example, I was interested in a course about air quality control and management. Some said it was a difficult course so my grade could be bad. I would also be taking the course with Engineering students who had prior knowledge of this topic. In the end, I still went for it and my result turned out to be not bad! Another example is of course joining the global case competition, “Go Green in the City” I mentioned in the beginning. When I knew its scale, I was aware that my chance of winning could be low, but I still gave it a try. The experience, as you’ve already read, turned out to be a life-changing one! People in our field maintain close relationships with academia because we want to update ourselves on the latest technological advancement in research institutions and to contribute to the nurturing of future talents. I feel so warm every time I go back to the university and reflect on my university life. Any plan to take up employment in Hong Kong during and after your study? Generally speaking, students who enter Hong Kong with a student visa cannot take up any kind of fulltime or part-time employment, whether paid or unpaid, on-campus or off-campus. Commencing May 2008, the Hong Kong Immigration Department has further relaxed the immigration policy such that non-local students may be allowed to take up curriculum- or study-related internships as well as part-time on-campus employment during term time, and to take up employment during summer months. Eligible students will be notified individually by a 'No- Objection Letter (NOL)' issued by the Immigration Department upon issue of the student visas/entry permits. You may read more about these employment-related regulations from the website of the Hong Kong Immigration Department (http://www.immd.gov.hk/ eng/index.html) and the Career Center of Student Affairs Office at HKUST (http://career.ust.hk). You should get yourself familiarized with relevant rules and regulations stipulated in these two websites and clear the legalities before starting your employment. In case of doubt, please contact Career Center. Non-compliance may result in deportation. NON-LOCAL STUDENTS WORKING IN HONG KONG 36|37 PERE ARGEMÍ BALLBÈ (歐貝樂) Management Trainee, Kerry Logistics BEng (Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management), Minor in Business Administration Full-time Advanced Diploma in Cantonese Language ******************************************************************** “Hola! I’m from Spain.” Coming to Hong Kong, I chose to study Industrial Engineering because of it being a more general stream of engineering, and thanks to which I could have exposure to different types of engineering. It happened that I liked the subject and little by little I knew what I was and wasn’t good at, and that made me focus my attention on those things that I liked and was good at. When I came to Hong Kong for university, I made the decision of diving into the culture. I did not want to spend four years having only international friends and being in environments where English was the only language. I believed then that if I did that, I would miss a lot regarding the local culture and would eventually only have a blurred idea of what Hong Kong was like. I wanted to have a full experience of Hong Kong, and that implied knowing Chinese. Clearly, a great advantage of Hong Kong and specially HKUST is that one can easily adapt to the environment, since it offers a strong and wide international community. This helped me a lot in my early stages of adaptation, but soon after I came here I stepped out of my comfort zone and started to study Cantonese. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was indeed to take a gap year and pursue a diploma in Cantonese. Take the path of less resistance? No! As someone who did not have a very clear idea what to do after graduation, I spent a lot of time figuring out what kinds of job I wanted to apply for. I had a bit of internship experience and that was quite useful, but that only told me what I didn’t like. I did not want to do it like what many people do – apply to any jobs regardless of whether they find them interesting or boring. I decided only to apply to jobs which I found especially interesting or would clearly help develop my skills after graduation. Somehow, I see now that I took some huge risks, since I didn’t apply to too many jobs (I ended up going to fewer than 10 interviews), but eventually things turned out well. At the very beginning, when I was applying for some jobs, I saw that they required perfect written and spoken Mandarin and Cantonese. I still applied for some of these positions just to have a try, but soon realized that they did not even invite me to interviews (this happened to me twice at least, with Swire and P&G). In one of the career fairs we had at HKUST, I approached different employers and once they found out that my Mandarin wasn’t too good, they smiled and said “good luck”. Even though those early experiences in my job hunting were a bit discouraging, what I learned through them is to stop and think: Who am I? What are my skills? I believe it is important to know very clearly what we are and how we distinguish ourselves from competitors. You are like a product that you are trying to sell to a customer, and the customer is the employer. Each employer has different reasons for hiring you. What is important is to understand who you are and what they want. If there is a little bit of overlap between the two, then you can give a sales pitch (i.e. the interview) and show them why you are the best fit. You may not have perfect Mandarin, but if you show that you can contribute to the company in a different way, then they may consider taking you, even though you don’t possess all the skills required in the job post. I remember that I applied for two management trainee positions, and both of them required Mandarin (which I neither spoke nor read). I still applied to both and ended up getting a job offer from one and rejecting the final interview with the other. The fact that I had experience learning Cantonese and that it was good enough for daily communication convinced the company to hire me, even though the position was normally given to local Hongkongers who speak both Cantonese and Mandarin perfectly. So my suggestion to international students is to consider what other skills you can offer – Is it communication? Adaptability? Exposure? To start with, you have been in a world-class university outside your own country for over 3 years, and that is already a lot. Leverage on your unique skills in the interviews and you will see how people value them. The doors will be opened to those who are bold enough to knock Failures pushed me to look for more opportunities. If I had got a job offer in November and accepted it, then probably I would not have known many of the companies I later had interviews with, and would not be that experienced in the hiring process. Looking back I feel thankful for those initial failures in the interviews in the first semester. There is never a blocked street; what you have to do is to turn around and look for another way. Here are some final tips for non-local students: Do something that you like or find attractive. Don’t just accept a job because you need one. Whichever country you are from, try to integrate and become a local. Get out of your comfort zone and study Chinese. You will learn more about life as well as the Asian mind. In return, because of your effort, you will build lots of lifelong friendships and see many career opportunities. Explore. Don’t say no to something just because you don’t know if you like it. But don’t try to get involved in everything (many students try to do so). Do a few things, and do them well, and through them you will build some meaningful friendships and be able to grow. 38|39 Success is the Sum of Small Efforts ******************************************************** 40|41 “Hi! I’m from Malaysia.” When I was a Year 1 student, I didn’t have a clear idea what I was going to do but I always thought I was going to work for a bank right until I knew that I wasn’t doing very well in my Finance major classes; I started to feel lost. I had totally no idea what I would be doing in my future. After a long depression, Sometimes you think that you are not interested in anything but I would say that’s not true – you just have to be honest to yourself. Everyone has something that they would like to and wish to do. Sometimes you just don't feel like admitting what interests you probably because you worry about what others may think. Don't do that but instead be honest to yourself and live your life! My job hunting experience was tough. There were a lot of factors I needed to take into account and renewal, making sure that the salary would allow me to survive in Hong Kong, job preferences, etc. Unlike a local student who can really go for any job in any industry that they are interested in, as an international student I needed to secure a professional job position in order to stay in Hong Kong. OSCAR TAN Management Trainee, Kerry Logistics BBA (Finance and Information Systems) Use Your Mind but Always Follow Your Heart To be or not to be The most challenging experience during my job search was falling into a dilemma about whether to go for an industry which I was interested in or just enter a company which was able to renew my visa. The “visa vs interest” dilemma frustrated me for a long time since I wasn’t really aiming to become a professional. Should I force myself to go for a professional job or stick to my job preference? Eventually I compromised my job preference because I really wanted to stay in Hong Kong, and the biggest problem that I had to solve would be the visa renewal issue. Do not give up! I think the most important factor in building a successful career is not stop upgrading or improving yourself. I think this should apply to anyone in any job who wants to succeed. Also, not only should you believe in what you are doing, but you also need to convince everyone in the world to believe in what you are their value so make sure you show the interviewers your juicy life and your real value! I remember that after I had sent more than 80 CVs to different companies and there wasn’t a single reply from any of them, I did think of giving up. It was extremely discouraging and I did question myself. I even thought that maybe I didn’t belong to this place and maybe I should go back to my home country to start a new chapter of life. But still, I didn’t really also arranged to see advisors in Career Center, and rewrote my cover letter and CV. I believe that in the end there would be at least one company which would like to invite me to an interview. And yes, I University is a place where you can try and get different things, and the classroom is not the only place you can learn in. Some people appreciate the experience of leading a society; some have a business idea and would like to start their own life partner here as well. There's no right or wrong when it comes to how one would like to live their and try as many different things as you can while you're still young. Live wild and free! I think Hong Ko will eventually get what you strive for. No matter what pain you suffer, do not give up and do not forget university life. Do limit yourselves to only classroom learning. The most important thing is not to Go ng is a place where you to be a humble learner. Students from all years and disciplines can benefit greatly from our extensive catalog of interesting and interactive programs to develop better self-understanding, industry knowledge and job search skills, as well as to gain useful connections and insights. 'The speakers gave very practical and unique suggestions! They are very experienced. I especially like the small group discussions in which I could ask more questions face-to-face.' (Working and Living in China) 'Rotating among different groups to interact with the guest speakers is a good idea. The session has really broadened my horizons, and I got to know different professions.' (Getting to Know Some Non-traditional Industries) 'The good and bad examples of Linkedin profiles were very practical and relevant to our industries of interest.' (Developing Linkedin Profile & Managing Social Media) 'The speaker gave an active and enthusiastic presentation which addressed everyone's needs in the room. The statistics quoted were very well tailored to the audience.' (Getting to Know the Hong Kong Job Market) 'The trainer delivered some good advice and provided great insights on panel interviews. It builds up my confidence and I am not afraid anymore.' (Panel Interview Strategies, Tips and Practice) 'The sharing of speaker's personal experiences is very useful and practical which prepares me well for handling job offers.' (Career Success in Internship and How to Handle Job Offers) Career Development Programs 42|43 Personal Management Workshops: • Career Interest Exploration through STRONG Interest Inventory • Knowing Yourself through MBTI • Fashion Styling, Skincare and Makeup • Business Etiquette • Personal Branding & Networking • The First 90 Days at the Workplace • Professional Portrait-taking Session • Delivering a Powerful Self- Introduction • Discover Your Career Passion through Coaching • Building Professional Relationship through Effective Networking • Communication Survival Skills in Workplace Job Hunting Skills Training: • CV and Cover Letter Writing • Interview Skills Workshop • Mock Interview Practices • Group Discussion Practices • Business Case Study • Developing a Linkedin Profile and Managing Social Media • Mock Aptitude Tests • Handling Multiple Job Offers • Police Inspectorate Selection Training Program • Leadership Selection Exercises for Disciplinary Forces • How to Write a Professional Personal Statement Info Session, Industry Seminar & Experience Sharing: • Industry Sharing Seminars • Overview of the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) and Basic Law Test (BLT) • Overview of Mainland and Overseas Internship Opportunities • “Working in China” Sharing Session • Information Session for Non- Local Students • Making a Successful Transition from Academia to Corporate • Management Consulting 101 – An Insider’s Perspective ************************************************************************************** 44|45 Hi, I’m Rax Lau. I graduated this year and have been assigned to United Nations (UN) Development Program as a UN University Volunteer for Monitoring and Evaluation, and Strategic Planning in Laos for six months, starting from July 2016. Leave tracks I’ve chosen this path mainly due to my family background and experiences in university. I didn’t come from a well-off family; My mom’s a cleaner and when I was small I often helped her with garbage disposal in those 30-storey buildings. Our circumstances have improved gradually after my sister started working, but I know what it feels like to be living in poverty. But after all, Hong Kong can be considered materially wealthy when compared to many other regions. I often wonder what lives of children and teenagers in those poor areas are like I was a kid. At university, I volunteered for programs that helped the homeless and people suffering from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Indeed, many people are facing different challenges, and the timely help and encouragement of others can bring much joy. Along the way, I was also fortunate to have met people who inspired me. The opportunity to volunteer my life goals before I start working full-time. The application process took me around six months, and it involved interviews with the university, government I’ve always known very well that I want to work with people in the future. Through the peer mentorship program at university and volunteering for the counseling hotline of Hok Yau Club, I came to understand that everyone’s unique and has their own story. I really enjoy connecting with people. In On track I have a lot of dreams, and this volunteer abroad program is one of them. I’m really grateful for the understanding and support from my family and girlfriend, as well as to the university for providing us students with so many learning opportunities. I would say part of the reason for this achievement is my own effort and luck. For me, it’s all about understanding myself, keeping an eye out for opportunities, and gaining the support of those who are important to me. Although an application process of half a year was rather long, it didn’t feel preparation were highly manageable. When I did get impatient, I would contact the staff or search for the latest information online. When I saw the updates I felt things were making progress and more relaxed. I was pretty calm even during the whole interview process. I was sure the interviewers would pick the best people, and if it wasn’t me then that would have saved me much time, too (hey I learned this from Grace, instructor of Career Center! :D). If you asked me which part was the most challenging, I would say it’s the group interview. Other candidates were all really outstanding: one studied abroad in France for years, and another had volunteered in other departments of UN and spoke multiple languages. What I did was to focus on my competitive edge and unique selling point, which I believe was my experience serving in the Auxiliary Police Force and my burning passion. I also tended to feel chilled during interviews, which helped put both myself and the other candidates at ease. These happened to be what the interviewers were looking for. a career that I’m passionate about and think is right and meaningful. Success would come naturally. Be on the right track Some of my friends always worry that they’re not capable enough and are therefore reluctant to try. A childhood friend of mine used to say really helpful in university life. I’ve discovered this: the result of having tried but failed and that of not trying may be the same, but trying allows you to feel how close you have been to your goal, which is precious. I know there are also folks out there who think you don’t really understand yourselves or feel lost. I hope the “Try try never mind!” would give you some courage to at least step out from your comfort For those who are still students, enjoy your university life! What I mean by “enjoy” is that when you look back one day, there will be no regrets – regrets for not grabbing an opportunity, for focusing too much on one small part of life and neglecting other out that you lived four years that didn’t really count. of my future career. is mainly about policies, we’re ultimately helping Although the program in Laos values. Not having any regrets is, to a certain extent, living your university life to the fullest. “Try try never mind!”. RAX LAU United Nations University Volunteer for M&E and Strategic Planning, Laos Co-founder, Home Ground Party House BSc in Environmental Management and Technology, minor Business Let Your Dreams Shape Your Career ******************************************************************** 46|47 Take advantage of resources at university as many things as I could. The university is like a treasure full of resources, and what you could gain from it depends on how devoted you are and how much you are willing to explore. I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying. — Michael Jordan At university I participated in many enrichment activities. I was actively involved in student societies, organized a service learning trip to Malaysia, gave primary school students classes and mentored junior UST students, and my horizons were broadened as a result. I was also fortunate enough to have advice from my coursemates and from staff at the School of Science - they indeed helped me lead a fruitful school life. in business that required a science background, or a teaching position in a secondary school. In fact, I have had little job hunting experience even after two years at university. At that time a senior suggested me to try working part-time in the university’s Health, based projects by being the coordinator of a course for children and an event helper as well. Still I did not have much idea about my career. I thought it’s time to change so I decided at the Building Course offered by Career Center to see what options were available out there. Ms. Grace Siu, the course’s instructor and one of the most enthusiastic and experienced career advisors I have a decent cover letter and deal with interviews. Most importantly, she encouraged us to explore. Inspired by her, I started looking up recruitment websites such as HKUST Job Board, JobsDB and government pages, and attended various recruitment talks to learn more about jobs of different nature. In December 2013, the School of Science sent me an email regarding a Chemist (Graduate) Trainee opening in the Hongkong Electric Company. It was a rare opportunity as public utilities seldom recruited science students. The job duties of the position included water quality control, auxiliary plant maintenance, coal and oil analyses, and giving recommendations on environmental matters – these were exactly the areas where I could put the knowledge learned in school into real practice, and the jobs aligned perfectly with my interests. Without any hesitation, I applied for the job. After three rounds of interviews, I stood out among other candidates and was hired by the company. It is no exaggeration to say that if I had not taken the Career Building Course, I would not have noticed the position and had the ability to write an application letter which eventually connected me with my current employer. The legendary basketball player Michael Jordan Sometimes we cease trying because of fears. A lot of the times our fears come from self-doubt: Why don’t you join an exchange program? “My English is not good and I’m afraid I won’t be able to talk to others.” Why don’t you spend a term in a student hall? “I don’t know anyone who stays there and my roommate’s life-style would probably be very different from mine. I’m afraid.” Why don’t you do something special? “I don’t know the situation, I’m afraid…” There would always be something you are fearful of. I feel honored to be able to share my story with you all. I wish you a successful school life and a bright future! once said, “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something; but I can’t accept not trying.” Instead, be positive. Always look at the bright side. Take a step forward and give it a shot. Sometimes you may fail in the end, but you would still learn from the experience and know better how to deal with similar situations in the future. Everyone is different – my strengths, weaknesses and interests are not the same as yours. All I can suggest you to do is to “go and try”. If you don’t try, you will never become what you want to be. TOMMY LEE Graduate Trainee, The Hongkong Electric Company Ltd. BSc (Chemistry) Very often students and graduates need to submit a personal statement, also known as a statement of purpose or application essay, when applying for further studies (such as a master’s or a PhD) or research program (such as a post-doctoral scholarship). While an application letter (also commonly called cover letter) is to job applications, a personal statement is to studies/research opportunities. The applicant details in the personal statement why they are interested in applying for the program and demonstrates their suitability, often linking that to their education qualifications, work experiences, academic and research achievements, as well as future aspirations. As you can imagine, admission committees need to review hundreds of application. You certainly don’t want to bore and frustrate them, but rather, to stand out from the other applicants and leave the most positive impression so the committee would consider shortlisting or even admitting you. Here are a few tips, some do’s and don’ts if you like, when writing personal statements, especially for those who are preparing one for the first time: 48|49 Elaine Tang, PhD Career Advisor DO Focus On The Positive Don't tell the admission committee what you don't have but what you do have; what you appreciate the program can offer and not what other programs cannot offer; what you think something (e.g. entrepreneurship, sustainability) is and not what it is not. Focusing on the positive is a very important principle of good business writing. Try practicing this in your everyday conversations too and you will soon be able to tell the difference. Personal Statement DON'T Fill Your Personal Statement With Clichés Be original and interesting - avoid expressions that are too commonly used. It wouldn't surprise you if I tell you that a lot of people begin their personal statement with 'From a very age young, I’ve been fascinated by...'. You don't want to be like everybody do you? And what do you mean by 'broadening my horizons'? Learning about other cultures? Taking classes that are very different from your major courses? Interning in a new industry? Be concrete – say what you mean and mean what you say. Also, being original and interesting doesn't mean being totally unconventional or pretentious. Just make sure the statement is genuine and an enjoyable read. Insert Random Quotes The reader(s) are interested in what you think and have done, not what other people believe or have said. Knowing what Bill Gates has said doesn't really build your credibility or enhance your suitability does it? Again, quotes often appear cliched. Just Tell, But Show! I can use hundreds of fancy words to describe myself, but without any evidence, they are just empty claims. Therefore always back up your self description with reasons. Stories are powerful in doing this - you can describe a situation you were in and a task you were assigned to, then describe what you did and what the results were (of course you put onto your statement contributions and achievements rather than failures - unless you have a good reason for doing so). Keep your stories short and sweet. Only expand the most relevant experiences. Personal statements should be concise and some institutes do limit the number of words anyway. From a very young age, I’ve been fascinated by the…. I would therefore like to broaden my horizons by participating in… Bill Gates once said, “…” Although I don’t have any work experiences…, I am a proactive learner who is willing to take up challenges. Of course, other basic but important writing principles also apply to the writing of personal statements. For example, make sure you organize your points using effective paragraphs that start with a clear and engaging topic sentence. You can give your statement a specific and attention-getting title, too, if you are allowed to do so (again, keep it appropriate and professional). Last but not least, remember that a personal statement is meant to be personal – so use it to introduce to strangers your greatest strengths and biggest achievements, and do this in close relation to the program requirements. Here is an example: My experience as Vice-president of HKUST Public Speaking Club has also improved my project management and organization skills. Last year there had been a decline in the number of new members and we suspected that we were losing some potential members to other similar societies. I proposed organizing an orientation night and in order to show the newcomers the supportive atmosphere of our club I invited several experienced members to design some special icebreaking games. The orientation night was a success ― everyone enjoyed themselves and the number of new members was larger than our expectation by 20%. There is no single correct way to write a CV but for most fresh graduates the following rules shall be observed: Tailored to the job - with specific objective/profile Clearly laid out – proper format and use of bullets Informative and concise – you don’t need to list your primary and secondary schools awards and exam results Say it as it is – most of you have never worked before but you do take part in voluntary services and/or internship. Instead of using the subject head “Work Experience”, write “Voluntary/Community Services” or “Internship”. Use action words such as developed, planned, and organized No need to put “Gender” or “Sex” under your name When it comes to languages and computer skills, most fresh graduates write: Chinese (Cantonese & Putonghua – Good) English (Good) Computer skills (MS Office - Good) When CV like this pops up, I will raise my voice at the interviewee “Do you come across any college mates who cannot speak good Cantonese, Mandarin, and/or English? As a Hongkonger, born and brought up here in Hong Kong, your Chinese language proficiency is second to none! As a graduate from HKUST, a world-class university using English as the medium of instruction, your English must be excellent. We have no place for mediocrity! You are a native Chinese speaker who also excels in English. How can you not be an expert user of MS Office as you have used the applications since grade 3? You are an engineering graduate, you must possess good working knowledge of relevant software that the job may require!” So, if you are Chinese and a graduate from HKUST, please write: Chinese (Native) English (Excellent) Japanese (Good conversational – 9 months internship at Panasonic, Osaka) French (Good conversational – 9 months exchange program in la Sorbonne, Paris) Computing Skills (MS Office – Expert user, Visual Basic and Matlab - Good working knowledge) CV Writing Kenneth So Career Advisor LANGUAGES 50|51 Open to Year 1 research postgraduate students of various schools, this module is designed to empower students to start making plans for their career beyond academia. Understanding the work world and job search strategies Presenting yourself through a winning profile Basic job interview skills such as preparing a powerful self-introduction Networking skills for young professionals Getting through a panel inter view Networking practicum with industry professionals Professional Development Course for Research Postgraduates Career Development Module Course code 6770 series • Self-exploration • Evaluation requirements of the Human Resources on a candidate’s CV and cover letter • Alumni sharing • Assessment Center simulations • Job offer management • Mock interview from industry professionals This is one of the most #Inspiring classes I have ever taken. Great trainer, #Great #Fun! You won’t ever touch your phone for the entire 2 hours! You never know how far you can go. But this course allows you to #DiscoverYourTrueSelf #HelpYouAchieveMore! I didn’t expect to have gained so much from this course. I am so grateful for the opportunity to #Transform myself to a better me. The mock interview session is really good and #Beneficial as you receive lots of #Constructive #Feedback from an interviewer from that industry. Hello guys! This course has been very #Rewarding. I’ve enjoyed #EveryClass! Ca r ee r BUI LDING CO U R S E 1-credit general education free elective GNED-2510 SCIE-1100 SHSS-1030 52