The HKUST Career Guide 2013

The HKUST

CAREER GUIDE

2013

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Contact us Enquiries Opening Hours Room 4001, 4/F (via Lift 4)

Academic Building

Tel: +852 2358 6688 Fax: +852 2719 9412

Monday to Thursday Friday 08:45 – 13:00 08:45 – 13:00 Th e H KU ST CA RE ER GU ID E 2 01 3

:// ca re er .u st .h k

U

niversity education is not merely a program for career

preparation. These three years, or four if this is your

first year at HKUST, will prepare you for your life. The

triumphs and tribulations that you encounter as a university

student will urge you to search your soul – finding out

what truly intrigues and excites you, and to live out your

own story — being true to yourself while becoming

what you want to see in this world.

As you are about to read this Guide, you may be

tempted to do all the ‘right things’ to land that

perfect job: get good grades, write a strong

resume and join as many activities as you can.

However, I can tell you right now that there is

no safe formula to success. Instead of ‘playing

it safe’, dare to make mistakes and learn

from them. It is when you learn to handle

setbacks and mistakes that you develop

character and resilience. Take that leap

of faith and don’t be confined by what

you see; instead, reach out for what you

believe in. It is then that you will find in

you your true potentials, and perhaps

discover your niche — your calling.

Your future job does not only pay the

bills, it is potentially the very platform

where you can orchestrate a life that

is meaningful to you as well as others.

That will be your story of impact. And

here is the chapter that paves way to

the climax of that story. Write it with

confidence, passion and the desire to

be the difference.

Prof Tony F CHAN

Feature Story:

RADICA Systems Limited

Francis KWOK, Irene CHEUNG, Kinsen LEE

Plan your path

The power of

strong

determination

Matthew SHUM

Something new,

Something more

Alex YAP, C K LOW, Jason SONG

From hometown

to the

motherland

Benjamin BACH

It’s never too late

to be what you

might have been

Jannet CHEUNG Internship Learning Scheme

Think outside

the books

Eddie LAU, Derek LI

Extra-curricular

activities

Carol CHAN

Never give

up on your

dream job

Alan LAM

Get ahead to

identify and

research

Alger HOI Career Development

Multiple

degrees

Peter CHOY

A civil

engineer’s

true story

Ray CHAN

I don’t stop

when I’m tired

Michael IP Career Mosaic

A gentleman in

ladies industry

Maurice CHAN Career Building Course

Everyone

has a chance

to fly

Helen LO

Contents

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17

Extreme

Dream

Follow

your

Hearts

Trust

your

Journey

Fly

Beyond

your

Horizons

:// ca re er .u st .h k

i, I am Cheryl, Associate Director of the

Career Center. It’s time of the year for the

release of the Career Guide 2013 and I

hope that each individual story in this booklet

could somehow provide you with inspirations

a n d i n s i g h t s o n h o w to s t a r t o f f yo u r

career. Whether you decide to pursue your

postgraduate education or move on with your

career after graduation, we are here to assist you

along the way, professionally and effectively.

My team is proud of our roles as your

Consultant, Trainer & Partner

.

Our missions are to help:

•

EXPAND

your career opportunities through our vast and growing

network with prospective employers in Hong Kong, Mainland

China and worldwide.

•

EMPOWER

yourself with the knowledge on how to identify a

career of your choice and meanwhile assist you on your

career decision.

•

EQUIP

yourself to be competitive in the job market and learn the

important values to sustain a successful career.

I work very closely with a team of dedicated and experienced

Career Advisors and pertinent colleagues to help you land on the

road of success. We’re more than happy to listen to your needs and

guide you the best way we know how. Therefore I urge each of you

to gain maximum leverage from the abundant resources here at the

Career Center. They are all thoughtfully designed and offered to you

throughout your HKUST education.

Until then, have a good year ahead and all the best in your endeavors.

Cheryl LEE

Associate Director, Career Center

Student Affairs Office

On-campus Recruitment Calendar

On-campus recruitment

Government recruitment

Other resources

As a bridge between HKUST and employers, the Career

Center brings recruiters from different industries to our

campus so that you can meet them face to face.

Here is a general and tentative timeline of on-campus recruitment events for the year. Mark your calendar and register in advance at the Career Center website (http://career.ust.hk→“Event Registration”).

Government recruitment follows a set timeline each year and requires standardized assessment procedures. If you are interested in working for the government, the calendar can help you plan your job search and internship activities for the coming year.

Online Job Vacancy Information

❖ JIJIS (Joint Institutions Job Information System) – All full-time university students can visit www.jijis.org.hk to look for full-time, part-time, temporary and summer jobs. First-time users need to register before logging in. For enquiries, please email to support@jijis.org.hk. ❖ Jobs on the Career Center website – Some hot jobs are posted on the

Career Center website: http://career.ust.hk→“Finding a Job”.

General Career Information

❖ The Career Center subscribes to the Vault Online Career Library at http://career.ust.hk/vault.html. All HKUST students and staff have FREE access to these useful and updated resources for job search, career exploration and industry updates.

❖ Reading materials on career planning, industries, company information, professional qualifications and business strategies etc. are available at the Career Center (Rm 4001, Academic Building via Lift 4). Do drop by and take a look.

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On-Campus Recruitment Schedule – Business Sectors

Government recruitment schedule (tentative)

Fall

Semester SemesterSpring

Accounting ✓ ✓

Airlines/Transportation/Logistics ✓ ✓

Conglomerates ✓ ✓

Construction/Engineering

Consultancy ✓ ✓

Education & Research ✓ ✓

Engineering ✓ ✓

Entertainment ✓ ✓

Fast Moving Consumer Goods ✓ ✓ Financial Services/Investment &

Commercial Banks ✓ ✓ Food and Beverage ✓

Government ✓ Government Related Organizations ✓ ✓ Insurance ✓ ✓

Fall

Semester

Sep Administration Officer (AO)/Executive Officer II (EOII) recruitment talk on campus Applications for AO/EOII

Oct Tentative Schedule for Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) and Basic Law Test (BLT) Recruitment

Career Mosaic – Recruitment for graduate posts or internships and career talks by private sectors and Government departments

Nov Applications for Auxiliary Police (Undergraduates) Scheme (AUS) and Police Mentoring Programme (PMP)

Nomination of AUS and PMP by University PMP selection interviews on campus

Dec Tentative schedule for CRE and BLT outside Hong Kong

Spring

Semester

Jan Applications for AO Summer Internship

AUS selection interviews at Auxiliary Police Headquarters Feb Panel Interviews on campus for AO Summer Internship Apr Announcement of AO Summer Internship results

Announcement of AO offers PMP Inauguration Ceremony Applications for CRE/BLT in June

Applications for Post-Secondary Student Summer Internship Programme at various departments

May Announcement of AUS appointments

Summer

Term

Jun Common Recruitment Examination and Basic Law Test Jun – Aug Post-Secondary Student Summer Internship Programme

AO Summer Internship PMP Job attachment

AUS training at Auxiliary Police Headquarters Aug Applications for CRE/BLT in October

Fall

Semester SemesterSpring

Internship Program Organizers ✓ ✓ Information Technology ✓ ✓ Management Consulting ✓

Manufacturing ✓

Marketing & Market Research ✓

Media/Advertising/PR ✓ ✓

NGOs ✓

Pharmaceuticals ✓

Property Development &

Real Estate ✓ Public Utilities ✓ ✓ Recruitment Agencies ✓ ✓ Retail/Trading ✓ ✓ Telecommunication ✓ ✓ Testing Services ✓ ✓

R A D I C A S y s t e m s L i m i t e d

A leading e-marketing solution provider founded and managed by

three passionate HKUST alumni

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Company Profile

With over 10 years of strong

background in email marketing,

RADICA is helping more than

300 top companies in Asia to

reach over 500 million consumers

through their state-of-the-art

e-marketing solutions. All their

products are 100% developed

by the in-house research team

and clients include LVMH group,

Hong Kong Trade Development

Council, PCCW, CTrip, Li Ning, just

to name a few.

◆ 中國網上零售年會中國電子商務業優秀

服務大獎

◆ 2011 ROI Festival Product Award 3rd (The Best Email Marketing Solution in China) – Technical Platform (Permission-based Email Marketing)

◆ Best Business Management Award 2011

◆ Top 10 Digital Agency of the Year & Top 3 Local Hero Award

◆ Top 10 Direct Marketing of Asia & Top 3 Local Hero Award

◆ Hong Kong ICT Awards 2011 Best Business Award (Product Stream) Merit

◆ China Top 30 Ecommerce Marketing Solution Providers Award

◆ 上海三優企業獎

2002

2006

2010

2005

2009

2011

◆ Innovative Mobile e-Services Awards – Education Category

◆ Best New Oracle Partner Technology Award

◆ Top 10 Loyalty Marketing and CRM Agency of the Year & Top 3 Local Hero Award

◆ Top 10 Direct Marketing of Asia & Top 3 Local Hero Award

◆ 2010 ROI Festival Digital Award – Category of Technology Platform

– Permission Based Email Marketing

◆ Hong Kong

Outstanding Software Applications Competition – Special Award

◆ Ad100 Top Men of Online Advertising 2009 – Francis Kwok

◆ Adworld Top Tech Awards

I

t is widely known that people graduating in Physics will either end up teaching or finding a stable job in the Government sector or in a laboratory. Francis Kwok, a Bachelor of Science in Physics at the HKUST, broke the convention by setting up his own company, RADICA Systems Limited, an eMarketing solutions provider. Being the Founder and CEO of the company, he and his team took ten years to expand its sales operations from one to six markets in Asia.

Francis’s success did not come easy or by sheer luck. When he graduated from HKUST he started off sending job applications to leading consulting and auditing firms but to no avail. He even applied for a Management Trainee position at Cathay Pacific but also proved futile. Finally he found a job at a software company where he played

the role of Assistant Account Manager.

Life is full of surprises and don’t underestimate

the potential in you

Francis KWOK

Founder and CeO

BSc (Physics)

“Be creative and

never loose your

perseverance no

matter how difficult

a time you face.”

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In the meantime, Francis spent his spare time with his friends devising a business plan for a start up company. “I always knew I wanted to run a software company but in order to do that I needed to get some practical experience first. So I tried to learn as much as possible while I was on the job and waiting for the right moment to come,” says Francis.

The efforts that Francis and co-partners put in for their new business plan paid off. His own company, RADICA Systems, was finally open. “Initially there were only 5 of us in the company but we were all very passionate about the new business and had the same goal to strive for. I remember our first product launch at the AMC Cinema turned out to be quite successful. Not only did over 500 alumni and students from

EMBA and MBA together with business friends and partners show up to support, Professor Tony

Eastham, then President & CEO, HKUST RandD Corporation Limited and Associate VP for Research & Development, HKUST also came to congratulate us. I was so grateful for everyone

who attended the event. It was very encouraging for all of us. By the end of the day, we already received a few signed orders.” Francis recalls.

Running a business is bound to encounter obstacles along the way. RADICA’s business took a plunge during the SARS pandemic in 2003 and Francis had to face a tough business decision. “The impact brought by SARS had almost forced me to close down my business. Because of the poor business performance I had to discuss the situation with my team and let them decide whether they wanted to stay with the company or not. Fortunately everyone had the faith with the company and the business was back on track in 2004. Today RADICA Systems is one of the leading eMarketing solutions providers in Hong Kong.”

What Francis experienced during the beginning of his start-up company was kind of rough but he insisted on braving the storm regardless of its difficulty and he took it as an invaluable lesson to learn. “Everyone faces problems in life, just don’t try to run away and face them

with the right attitude.

Not everyone is a born genius but I am sure hardworking, perseverance plus constant

learning can change one’s life for the better. I always keep saying to myself: dream big, stay

hungry and stay foolish, just like our great late Apple Master, Steve Jobs,” says Francis.

Be your own BOSS

• Why do you want to start a business?

• What is the degree of knowledge or

expertise you have in the business venture

of your choice?

• How much capital is available to you?

• What are your skills?

• What are your likes and dislikes?

• How much effort will you be willing to

devote to your business venture?

• Can you face up to the challenges and stress

L

ife is full of twists and turns. Some people have to go through trials and errors before settling into a permanent career while others are just lucky enough to go through less, yet still ending up with the same result. Irene Cheung, a former graduate of Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing at the HKUST, belongs to the latter. With an outgoing personality and a keen interest in marketing, her career development over the years leaped from being a public relations professional to an entrepreneur, co-running a company with Francis Kwok that provides eMarketing solutions and the business is expanding rapidly.

Unlike many graduates who would tend to send out heaps of resumes in the hope of securing some interviews in return. “The way I looked for a job was very targeted. I only sent out my

resume to the companies I wanted to work for and whether I had the right profile they were looking for, rather than hitting

every major company in Hong Kong. I think it’s a waste of time and energy,” says Irene.

At that time Irene was hoping to find a job in the entertainment industry, so she applied a job with a demo cassette and a cover

letter at a radio broadcasting station and a music company

respectively. Although Irene did not hear back from these two companies but she was happy that she gave it a try.

How Irene co-found RADICA Systems Limited with Francis Kwok? It goes back to her third year at the university. Irene and Francis met in an elective course named Western Drama in the 20th Century. “Francis has always wanted to start his own company, so he presented the business idea to me and it dawned on us that we both had similar thoughts. Gradually and systematically, RADICA Systems finally came to life and I am real glad that the PR skills I previously acquired could put in good use for marketing my own company now.” Through the collective efforts, the company won a few industry awards in just a matter of few years and both Francis and Irene are frequently invited to give talks about eMarketing topics in Hong Kong and overseas.

Be clear of what you want and go for it

Irene CHEUNG

Co-founder and executive Director

BBA (Marketing)

Irene’s tips for job seekers

1

Before going to the interview, study

the company well through its website

and be prepared to answer your strengths and weaknesses because your potential manager would like to know whether you are suitable for the job or not.

2

.

Learn the job requirements well and

try to ask intelligent questions that are related to the job but stay away from asking about salary and staff benefits.

3

Find a chance to talk about your

achievement(s) at the university

because that can more or less demonstrate your leadership ability.

4

Having a good eye contac t with your interviewer shows that you are confident and respectful.

5

Be a humble listener, and be receptive

to challenges when the interviewer ask you what you think of it. A positive attitude will earn you lots of miles.

6

If it takes multiple interviews before finding a job, so be it and try to improve through learning the mistakes you made during the interview. Success is just around the corner.

“China is the market

for now and future but

you have to be

open-m i n d e d w i t h h o w

people do business

in the Mainland and

be flexible with the

cultural difference.

Don’t stay in a comfort

zone when you still

have lots of energy to

build success. ”

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W

or k passion, faith, persistence and self-motivation seem to be the key factors for the success of Kinsen Lee, who received his Bachelor in Engineering with major in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and one of alumni at the HKUST.

Be focused and targeted o n j o b s e a r c h g o a l s , Kinsen did not have to go through many attempts before finding himself a job; “I just participated

in a career talk arranged by a consulting firm and

thought the industry could offer me good experience

in my field. I therefore submitted my job application and I got hired. In hindsight, I consider I was lucky,” says Kinsen.

Figuratively speaking, a job would not be a job without challenges; some can handle them nicely through accumulated experiences while others who have less experience may have to work harder to overcome. Kinsen has faced many challenges at work but he always managed to overcome them by analyzing the root of each issue and going through one step at a time and, of course, the collective efforts from the team as well. “I remember I was once assigned a task that I had not much experience on. Not only did it require certain product knowledge that I was not quite familiar with, I also had to deal with other issues such as language barrier, cultural difference, client management and heading a team. However, through personal perseverance plus a can-do

attitude, I managed it well though it took a longer

time. Through this particular exercise, I learned that hesitation and lacked of personal motivation would always be an obstacle in getting things done. But as long as you are confident and have faith in your

Believe in yourself and work with true passion

proved rewarding

Kinsen LEE

Chief Operating Officer

BEng (Electrical and Electronics Engineering)

own ability, there’s nothing that cannot be resolved. Without w h i c h , f a i l u re i s b o u n d to happen,” Kinsen explains.

Although K insen has gone through different jobs and roles before he’s become the COO at RADICA and having the job he likes most. “One would be extremely lucky to find a dream job at the beginning of his/her career stage and stays long-term. Often than not, there

are phases in life where there are bound to be some bumpy roads along the way, but take it as an invaluable experience and learn from it each time. It ’s impor tant not to get despair.”

Teamwork has always been one of the most important work aspects in completing any given task. No company would appreciate individualism as it not only dampens the team morale and allow the person to take credit from other people who have worked hard in it, it also creates resentment with one another within the team. “The beauty of teamwork is that everyone can contribute ideas

and only things can be done better through collective efforts. Meanwhile having a humble attitude to learn can earn trust and respect from people at work and a happy working

environment.”

“Demonstrating a strong

passion and a good attitude

towards the job would help

you put your foot into the

door.”

Plan your path

Know yourself Get Involved Think Ahead Explore your Options Get Equipped

Know yourself

Find out about your personal qualities, what you like, what you care about, what you’re good at, what excites you etc. The Career Center offers workshops that help you to understand your personality types through different psychological assessments like MBTI and Self-Directed Search (SDS). Make good use of these workshops and get ready to know yourself and what you stand for.

Get Involved

Once you set a foot on campus, you will be presented with a kaleidoscope of extra-curricular activities: interest clubs, student societies, sports teams, enrichment programs etc. Try to strike a balance in

what you participate in.

Think Ahead

Use your extra time and summer vacation to give your resume a boost. Find a summer job, get into

voluntary work, join an exchange program, or take part in a study tour. Take a leadership role

in these activities, and try to brush up your language skills. The Language Center is a great source to advance your language abilities.

Explore your Options

Get off the couch and look for ways to identify your c_{areer interests and gain some real work} experience. Join the Internship Learning Scheme (ILS_{) offered by the Career Center is a good} choice. What’s more is to attend job fairs, recruitment _{events, alumni sharing sessions and}

company visits to know more about different industr_ies.

Get Equipped

Visit Career Center website and sign up for worksh_{ops on Resume Writing, Interview Skills,}

Presentation Skills and Group Discussion Skills, and a Mo_{ck Aptitude Test Session. Soft skills such as} Business Etiquette, Personal Grooming and Work Ethics ar_{e also part of the package.}

Take the Career Building Course, a one-credit gener_{al education free elective offered by the Career} Center, for more structured job search skills training.

Plan Ahead

Give yourself an honest assessment of what you have _{done and what still needs to be done. If} all seems too much to handle, you can always make an _{appointment with one of the Career}

Advisors. They are a group of experts focus on differen_{t areas. Through professional coaching and}

discussion, they can help you to prioritize and focus on wha_{t’s urgent and important.}

Year

2

:// ca re er .u st .h k by Doe Zantamata

It starts with a DREAM.

Add faith,

and it becomes a belief.

Add action,

and it becomes a part of life.

Add perseverance,

and it becomes a goal in sight

.

Add patience and time,

and it ends with a dream com

es true.

Plan Ahead Build your Network Get Ready Look Ahead

Build your Network

Be creative in your job search. Expand your netwo_{rk through family members, relatives,}

friends, classmates, ex-colleagues, acquaintances, alum_{ni and other sources. Effective channels} include joining a professional organization as a stud_{ent member through which you can} build resourceful connections.

Get Ready

Early birds always catch the worm. Make yourself av_{ailable to meet up with employers at}

recruitment talks and Career Mosaic. Make sure you h_{ave at least a set of presentable resume}

and cover letter on hand, and customize them acco_{rding to individual needs. 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 lik_{e to go through a more structured job} search skills training, taking the Career Building Course _{offered by the Career Center will be a} good choice.

Look Ahead

No one can predict how good or bad the economic en_{vironment will be when you graduate.} The time may be hard. Remember, this is only the first p_{hase of your entire career path. You will}

continue to equip yourself and whatever experience y_{ou will have gathered in your first job will}

not be in vain. If you can’t find a job that you love yet, _{love the job you can get ! A positive} attitude makes a world of difference. Take charge of you_{r career development journey and build} up your credentials along the way.

T

here’s no better real life example when it comes to how much a “will power” can turn negativity around. Matthew Shum, a graduate of Bachelor of Business and Administration at the HKUST in 2004, whose job application was turned down by the same company twice. However, owing to his personal tenacity in pursuing what he considered a long-term career as well as a dream job, he finally got the job at his third attempt and, with the company he applied previously.

Being quite certain of his interest and long-term career goal, Matthew immediately applied with Cathay Pacific (CX) for a cadet pilot position as soon as he graduated. His first attempt was not a complete disaster as he made it to the final interview before being rejected. He later disclosed that he was competing with over 1000 applicants.

Knowing that he could not re -apply straight away, he then took up a job as Passenger Service Agent with an airline. Matthew stayed with the company for two years but his dream of becoming a cadet pilot did not vanish, nonetheless. “I

knew I had to learn more of the flying knowledge in order to stand for a better chance next time, so in the

meantime I decided to take up a 3-month aviation theory program while constantly educating myself with

The power of strong determination and

persistence can overcome hurdles

Matthew SHUM

Second Officer (Pilot), Cathay Pacific

BBA (Information Systems and Marketing)

aviation magazines. I even went to Canada for a 10-hour virtual flying program just to have a taste of it,” admits Matthew.

A year passed Matthew re-applied for the same position with CX. Unfortunately he was rejected again but this time he was quite hurt, as he had put in so much effort to prepare for it. “I was very depressed and suddenly lost all the drive I used to have. I almost wanted to give it up completely and for good,” says Matthew.

After a week of recuperation he came to senses and worked out a plan in which he thought could help him succeed in getting the job. “Since I took my 10-hour flying program in Canada, I figured the next best thing

for me was to obtain a pilot license.

I finally found a pilot school in Sydney where it offered a flight-training program. After a year of learning how to fly the friendly skies, I managed to acquire a commercial pilot license in

2007.

Matthew’s dream of being a cadet pilot finally came t r u e i n 2 0 0 8 w h e n h e applied for the third time with CX. “Having learned from my past experiences, I couldn’t be more ready this time though I was still somewhat worried if I might fail one more time again. So just to be prudent, I jotted down some questions w h i c h I t h o u g h t t h e y m i g h t c o m e up at the interview a n d r e h e a r s e d a f e w t i m e s   p r i o r ,”

says Matthew. After

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Fly

Be

:// ca re er .u st .h k

“Take some time to set a clear and

attainable goal and go for it. In

the process, there’re bound to be

roadblocks along the way, but make

sure you don’t lose your confidence

and drive. No matter how impossible

the task seems, don’t be afraid to fail

and just give it a try.”

several rounds of interviews and a thorough physical check, the airlines made him an offer and his flying career began since then. He is now the Second Officer (Pilot) at CX.

As a cadet pilot with an international airlines company, Matthew faces constant challenges. “My key objective in this job is to protect the safety of my passengers, so I am required to go through

Tips for Job Hunting

Advertised job openings are available through a host of platforms. The most popular include:

1

Newspapers and other printed mass media

2

On-line portals

3

Employer websites

4

Career Mosaic / Job fairs

5

Professional associations

6

Networking

7

Employment agencies (more efficient for those who have work experience)

regular and stringent tests such as the simulator program and simulator check every 2 and 6 months respectively, a job knowledge and medical examinations every year. Also, I sometimes have to fly 15-hour of non-stop flights, which can be tiring.” But since pilot work is what Matthew always has a strong passion for, challenges he faces in his job

are obviously become a strong motivation for constant improvement.

From hometown to the motherland

Benjamin BACH

Government Affairs Specialist, hainan Airlines, China

BBA (Information Systems and Marketing)

F

or a variety of reasons, many local Hong Kong students are reluctant to travel to China, let alone relocate there to develop a career. As a typical Hongkonger currently working as the Government Affairs Specialist for Hainan Airlines in China, Benjamin Bach offers insight and advice on moving from his hometown to the motherland. After graduating with a Bachelor Degree in Business and Administration from the HKUST in 2011, Benjamin got an internship offer in the Corporate Communications Department at Dragonair to better understand the aviation industry.

H e t h e n w e n t o n t o w o r k i n t h e R o u t e Development Department, one of the core operation departments, with Hainan Airlines. “When I started there I soon realized that I did

not have the concrete industry knowledge, and what I’d learned in my internship was just basic know-how. Airline operation was far

more complicated and professional than I had ever expected, and we are not allowed to make a single mistake in every small step as it may lead to disastrous outcome like serious flight delay.” However, the intensive training has equipped Benjamin with a lot of hands-on experiences. “The

learning process was slow, time-consuming, frustrating, but fascinating.”

For fresh graduates who are considering a m o v e t o C h i n a , t h e r e a r e m a n y concerns. “Working i n M a i n l a n d C h i n a is not easy for Hong

Kong people, especially to those

who have been well taken care of since birth and have never left home for long periods of time, like me,” he recalls.

“For university graduates, the salaries and benefits offered in China are also much lower than those jobs in Hong Kong. All these made me think of giving up and returning home, but

my passion for the airline industry and the fact that I was lucky enough to be hired by an airline right after graduation made me persist.”

There are a number of critical success factors in any career, and for Benjamin an important one is to remain humble. “This means you’re always willing to listen to the advice of others,

to respect the unfamiliar and to learn from other’s experience.” To balance what you like and

dislike in a job also matters. “In the last 8 months working in China, I’ve learned to adjust my

attitude instead of the environment.”

China’s economy continues to grow, and so do work opportunities. Never say never to yourself. To equip yourself better for the China market, it is very critical to brush up your Mandarin and English speaking skills and possess strong analytical ability. “Communicate more with Mainland students, they can teach you a lot,”

he advices.

“Life is an adventure,

dare it !”

your

H

or

iz

on

s

Fly

Be

yo

nd

It’s never too late

to be what you might have been :

From Hong Kong to Japan

Jannet CHEUNG

experienced head-hunter, has lived and worked in Tokyo for 9 years

BBA (Management of Organizations)

J

apanese culture fascinates many, especially Hongkongers, who have been heavily influenced by it. The allure of its culture and the fact that it has played a major role in the world of economics particularly appealed to Jannet Cheung, who moved there 9 years ago. She elaborates on making the move, taking risks, and keeping a positive mindset.

When the time Jannet graduated from HKUST, the global economy was in crisis. “I remember having a very hard time getting a job,” she says. “There were times when I almost lost confidence in myself.” She preserved and eventually secured a position as Marketing Executive with a leading German exhibition organiser.

It was when Jannet went to work as a Human Resources Officer with a blue chip company in Hong Kong that she decided to look further afield. “Deciding to pursue overseas opportunities was one of the most challenging experiences I have ever made in my career. There were so many uncertainties; I couldn’t speak the

language and didn’t have any friends or a network that I could rely on. I had to start everything from scratch.”

Making such a huge decision didn’t come lightly. “Needless to say, I worried about all the uncertainties and considered it could be a risky move. But the risk-taking side of me won the battle.” After 25 years in Hong Kong, Jannet wanted an adventure. “I thought it was time to see the world outside, learn how people from different parts of the world think and live,” she explains.

A successful career transition

6 Steps when you are contemplating a career change:

1

Find out as much as you can about your options through

research and networking.

Look for opportunity to

‘shadow’ professionals working in your target career.

2

Consult your network of contacts to find out about

opportunities in the sectors

that interest you – this will be easier than starting from scratch.

3

Identify the skills you have that are transferrable to your desired career.

4

Note any areas where you are lacking. Consider if further education or

training will be necessary

and factor the time and cost into your transition plan.

5

If you are not doing so already, start saving a ‘nest egg’, cut back on non-essential spending and have a financial

plan in place to cover potential

periods of unemployment.

6

Find freelance or volunteer

work that will let you ‘try

out’ the new field. For example, if you want to go into teaching, you could take up a part-time teaching job over the weekends.

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“Japan has been good to me”, she says. “I’ve had the chance to do many things I couldn’t when I was in Hong Kong.” Is her job perfect? “There is no

such thing as a perfect job. I can guarantee you

that living in pure perfectionism will frustrate you more than anything!

Every coin has two sides. I often find balancing both sides isn’t as difficult as I think. If you dislike

any aspect of your job, try to share your views with colleagues or friends. There might be a good reason for things being the way they are.”

“Life is a fun process.

Hardships you face

today will pass –

so don’t give up!”

A successful career transition

6 Steps when you are contemplating a career change:

1

Find out as much as you can about your options through

research and networking.

Look for opportunity to

‘shadow’ professionals working in your target career.

2

Consult your network of contacts to find out about

opportunities in the sectors

that interest you – this will be easier than starting from scratch.

3

Identify the skills you have that are transferrable to your desired career.

4

Note any areas where you are lacking. Consider if further education or

training will be necessary

and factor the time and cost into your transition plan.

5

If you are not doing so already, start saving a ‘nest egg’, cut back on non-essential spending and have a financial

plan in place to cover potential

periods of unemployment.

6

Find freelance or volunteer

work that will let you ‘try

out’ the new field. For example, if you want to go into teaching, you could take up a part-time teaching job over the weekends.

How to build a successful career? “Be persistent,

consistent and work hard,” she advises. “It’s also

important to be humble and never stop learning. When I was a student, I had an idea of what I wanted to be but didn’t have the exact details of how to get there. Details evolved with the

journey; there are aspects about yourself that you don’t know until the experience presents them.”

It’s time of the year again

to offer our students the Internship

Learning Scheme (ILS), where you will receive

a series of training including comprehensive

pre-internship workshop, self development of personal

confidence and competence, acquiring solid work

experience and building useful network.

The pre-internship training is composed of three areas: personal

management, work exploration and career building. After the

internship, participants will have learned how to consolidate the experience

and put it in their credentials for future job search.

Reflections of ILS participants

_{Employer’s Feedback}

Eligibility:

ILS is open

to HKUST undergraduates of all disciplines

(except exchange in students), with priority given to penultimate-year students.

“ILS is a comprehensive program. It guided me from learning to practicing,

from practicing to evaluation, and from evaluation back to learning. The training will

definitely help me tremendously in my job seeking skills.”

Stephanie LEUNG, Intern at IBM China/Hong Kong Ltd

“I would like to thank ILS team and KPMG for offering me this excellent opportunity. Grab all the opportunities and promote yourself to a higher level! It is never

too late to plan for a brighter future.” Natalie HO, Intern at KPMG

Internsh

ip Learn

ing

Scheme

“Natalie of HKUST was a hard working and sincere student. With her strong IT ability, she was able to perform tasks at a high standard. She was eager to seize every opportunity to

acquire knowledge from others. Her remarkable performance exceeded our

expectation.”

Police Sports and Recreation Club, Hong Kong Police Force

“實習生勤於思考， 並能結合實際操作中的不同情況 提出適當的建議。對於內地和香港 物流業的異同觀察得很細緻。 科大學生不但虛心學習，英文水平和 舉一反三的能力都很好。 非常值得我司年輕員工學習。” 金瑪國際運輸代理有限公司

:// ca re er .u st .h k

Types of Internship

Internship opportunities are available in private or public organizations in Hong Kong, Mainland China or overseas countries. Career Center will inform ILS participants of various internship opportunities. However, placement is not guaranteed and participants need to take full responsibility in securing their internships. They may also take up internships they solicit from their own sources.

On-campus Internship Program

This program allows undergraduate students to acquire work experience within the University. Internship opportunities are available at both academic and administration support departments/ offices. Undergraduates in any discipline except exchange in students are eligible to apply. Internships can be curriculum related or non-curriculum related. They come in two categories: ➤ Full-time internship during summer or winter break (employment duration no less than one

month per intern; full-time internship during winter break only applies to local students) ➤ Part-time internship throughout the year (minimum 30 hours per intern)

Internship openings are usually advertised through the following channels:

➤ Career Center website at http://career.ust.hk → “Internship” → “On-campus Internship Program”

Enquiry:

via email: sails@ust.hk

Selected employers for ILS participants

BASF

CLP Power Hong Kong Ltd Cre8plus

Crossroads Foundation Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Hang Seng Bank

Hawley and Hazel Chemical Co. (HK) Ltd Hong Kong Police Force

Hospital Authority HSBC

Inland Revenue Department J.P. Morgan

Meinhardt Infrastructure and Environment Ltd NWS Holding Ltd

PricewaterhouseCoopers

SOCAM Development Ltd Sun Hung Kai Properties The Bank of East Asia

The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Ltd THe Hong Kong Society for the Blind

The Link Management Ltd Harry Nurses Registry, Inc. (USA) JML Singapore Pte Ltd (Singapore) Walt Disney World (USA)

上海電力股份有限公司 東方早報（上海） 雷克軟件系統有限公司（上海） 北京大學第一醫院 北京和君咨詢有限公司 施耐德電氣（北京）

(GNED

2510 /

SCIE1

100 / P

DEV50

20)

Enrol

via St

udent

Inform

ation

System

School of Science, Year 2

“I really enjoyed the fun an

_{d relaxing atmosphere the}

instructor

created for these classes.

_{The materials were all well}

prepared

and the instructor was ve

_{ry knowledgeable and I en}

joyed the

interaction. Lastly, the instr

_{uctor’s experience in HR w}

as great.”

School of Engineering, Yea

_{r 3}

“The program was very p

_{ractical and inspiring. I no}

w have a

much better idea on how t

_{o job hunt and prepare my}

self better

prior to attending a job in

_{terview. Thanks a lot.”}

School of Business & Mana

_{gement, Year 1}

“The handouts were inform

ative and an in-depth look

_{of the HR}

professional of some of th

e leading companies in Ho

_{ng Kong}

helped us a lot when we

_{are talking to business pe}

ople in a

real situation. Lots of real

life examples offered at th

_{e career}

building course! ”

Postgraduate, Year 2

“Resourceful

handouts, logical flow

_{of course design, in-depth}

insights from HR's perspective.

It's good to have students

_to

address their difficulties in job-hunting.”

Career B

uilding C

ourse

~ prep

are you

for the

world

:// ca re er .u st .h k

The Career

Building C

ourses are

1-credit g

eneral

education

free elective

s offered si

nce Spring

2009

for underg

raduate an

d postgrad

uate stude

nts

in differen

t classes.

Led by we

ll-experien

ced

instructors

with exte

nsive expe

rtise in ca

reer

planning a

nd recruitm

ent, the co

urses cove

r the

basics of c

areer build

ing, includ

ing

• self-exp

loration an

d understa

nding

• current

job market

s and indu

stry analys

is

• HR mark

ing schem

es on resum

e and cove

r

letter

• mock in

terviews w

ith real ind

ustry senio

rs

or HR profe

ssionals

• negotiat

e and man

age job off

ers

Most of th

e learning

will take

place thro

ugh

weekly le

ctures and

interactive

exercises

in

class, inclu

ding group

discussion

s and pract

ices,

role plays,

experience

sharing fro

m alumni a

nd

personaliz

ed feedbac

k from the

instructor

.

Are you ready?

“You cannot imagine how this course can enrich

your thoughts unless you come to the class. Be

Think Outside the Books

Eddie LAU & Derek LI

The drama king

If you asked Eddie Lau (BEng in Computer

Science and Information Engineering, 2004)

what he did in his three years at HKUST. He would tell you: “Drama, rehearsals, organizing Drama Society activities... Everything was related to drama.” And he would tell you that he seldom went to class, because he felt things were too “expected”. So Eddie was not the typical ‘good student’. But in his final year, he took the initiative to attend some postgraduate classes in software programming – just because he found t h e m “i n te re s t i n g”. H e g r a d u a t e d w i t h t h i r d honors, and thought he would get into theater

as a career.

A new passion

Little did he know that he would spend the subsequent four years working as a programmer in four different companies. “I realized my passion for programming while I was at my first job. I knew my heart changed when I would rather spend time writing programs than doing drama,” Eddie said. His next job brought him to Singapore, where he stayed for a year. “I got bored of the place after the second week, but I got to meet and work with people of different ethnic backgrounds. And since the job wasn’t that demanding, I got quite a bit of free time to take more IT courses. At that time, I got

interested in hacking – after all, you have to know

how to hack before you know how to prevent hacking!” During that year in Singapore, this third

honors graduate went to the library to read every day.

The good hacker

Later in Hong Kong, he and some friends started a ‘hacking group’ that helps people develop a secure computer system. One of their clients was The Hong Kong Jockey Club – their job was to make sure that the online betting system was secure and would not fall prey to hacks. “It was a satisfying challenge! The best part about doing something like this is you know you’re really helping others.” Now as a Developer at Thought Sauce, Eddie thinks he has “the best job in Hong Kong”. “A good job is

getting paid for doing things that you're good at, things that you like and things that you care about. ”

A

t a university that strives for excellence, having substandard

grades does not make a student’s life easy. However,

excellence is not limited within the classroom. Two alumni

share their stories of not conforming to expectations, yet

finding their passion and in the end, excelling at what they do.

“We need to keep

setting small goals that

are achievable, and not

be distracted by

unrelated matters.”

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A born performer

D e r e k L i ( B B A i n Management, 1999) has

always been a performer at heart. As a teenager, he was already the “Michael Jackson” in his secondary school. “I just loved being on stage and dreamed of becoming a pop singer,” he said.

After getting into HKUST, however, he played safe and chose Accounting as his program of study. But his talent in performing arts could not be hidden. He became the “Dance King” at the first HKUST Dance Society event that he joined. The rest, as they say, is history.

It did not take long for Derek to realize that he was in the wrong program. “I wasn’t thinking too much ahead; I just knew that I was not interested in joining the Big Four. So I decided to quit Accounting and switch to Management. They said I would regret it, but I needed to be

true to myself and pick something that I felt good about. I can’t do something just because everyone else is doing it.”

The inevitable return

After staying at a sizeable trading company as an Assistant Merchandiser for 21 months, he decided to leave. It turned out that his passion had found him again. “One of my HKUST friends asked me

to perform a dance with her at her company’s annual dinner,” recalled Derek. “I thought it was a nice chance to be on stage again. During rehearsal, however, that feeling came back. I felt like I had found myself again – this is me!”

Derek’s epiphany led to another realization: he needed to go back to school. “Those two years of intensive dancing at HKUST were not enough. So I got into the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts (HKAPA) and studied Musical Theater Dance full-time for two years. Those two years were really special. I had never felt so sure of something in

my life before.”

While at HKAPA, Derek was spotted by an experienced dance teacher who recruited him to teach at her school. That kick started Derek’s career as a Jazz/Jazz Funk dance instructor. In 2008, he and two other friends started their own dance group – Dance Unique. “Our goal is to use dance

to touch the community. We wanted to develop

closer relationships with our students – to really go through the ups and downs of being a dancer with them. ”

Now as an instructor, a choreographer and a freelance performer, Derek is also exploring dance therapy and travels to Beijing regularly to receive training in a China–Germany professional dance therapy program. “Nothing makes more sense to

me than to live out and share my passion. It all comes down to what makes me real. And with

dancing, I can be true to who I am.”

W

orking in the retail industry can be fun and rewarding but some sacrifices have to be made if one wants to stand out from the crowd. Michael Ip, Area Manager of UNIQLO, says his present position in this apparel chain store did not come easy.

Michael majored in Economics in School of Business and Management but did not quite have a clue of what he wanted to do when he graduated in 2002. “I remember there were many job listings in the placement office, so I sent out heaps of applications hoping that I could find a decent job by the time I left the university,” says Michael.

The first job Michael found after he graduated was Field Marketing Researcher and headed a small team. It was just a two-month stint before he took up another job at JUSCO, where he began his career in retail business. Having worked there for 3 years, he moved to UNIQLO Hong Kong Limited, a sizeable apparel chain store in Asia, as their Store Manager. He was then asked to open the first store in Hong Kong.

“ This huge assignment got to be the most challenging work for me so far,” Michael says.

I don’t stop when I’m tired; I stop when I’m done

Michael IP

Area Manager – UnIQLO hong Kong

BBA (Economics)

“We did not expect the response would be so overwhelming and we were quite short of staff. At that time I knew I had no choice but to stand guard until the situation improved. So I worked nearly 20 to 22 hours a day and hardly slept. As the team head, I realise I have the responsibility to

make sure everything is under control and that my team members would see me as their role model. “

A dream job to Michael is not about high pay and ordering people around. He sees a job that can offer the opportunity to demonstrate one’s ability, even though it could be stressful at the beginning, and there are prospects to grow within the organisation is considered a dream job. “To build a successful career in an organisation, not only does it require total dedication and a strong passion towards your work, understanding the organisation’s

value and mission helps build your loyalty with the company. And if anyone is interested in pursuing a career in retail business, make sure they enjoy interacting with people. After all,

retail business is servicing business.”

Editor’s note: Michael has recently left for Japan to attend UNIQLO’s 6-month intensive training.

“Be tough. Don’t ask what

your school or company can do

for you, ask what you can do

for your school or company.”

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U

pon graduating from university, the next step is to enter the job market, which can sometimes appear to be a daunting task. A graduate of Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Management at the HKUST, Maurice Chan tells us about where to start and what fresh graduates should keep in mind when starting to climb the career ladder.

Since Maurice graduated in 2010, he has been a Management Trainee at AmorePacific. The position required him to rotate between various departments and brands: operations, training, marketing, and business strategy departments of leading Korean cosmetic brands LANEIGE and Sulwhasoo. After one year Maurice decided to join the customer relationship management department as Executive in LANEIGE, to fully evolve the role encompasses strategy planning, marketing research, customer analysis, focus groups and tele-surveys co-ordinations.

“like what you do and be

passionate about your work

in order to be successful.”

Maurice found his job by casting a wide net. He looked online and applied for jobs in many different sectors, such as manpower services, property, merchandizing and textile companies. “I knew I wanted a job that was challenging and that would

A gentleman in ladies industry

Maurice CHAN

Customer Relationship Management executive – AmorePacific

BBA (Marketing and Management)

evolve. I also kept in mind that I wasn’t looking for a job for a few months; I was looking for a career.” Regardless of salary, Maurice suggests applying to big companies “because you can learn more from them. I looked into big companies in the beauty and cosmetic industry, something I’m really interested in, and honed in on them. I got quite picky when job hunting, and as a result, got a second interview with AmorePacific. In fact, I cancelled a scheduled 5-day trip to do the

interview – which shows how serious I was about it.”

What tips can Maurice offer on interviews? “Be yourself as opposed to pretending to be someone you’re not,” he says. “Try and project confidence and show

your strengths. But also be prepared to tell your weaknesses, because potential employers are interested in how you overcome them.”

Maurice agrees that job interviews can be a helpful experience, “the more interviews you do, the

clearer on what you’re looking for. Every interview is

an opportunity, and there’s no point in being nervous, because you have nothing to lose.”

When Maurice began with AmorePacific he had little knowledge of the industry. “I read many magazines and printed out information from the Internet to equip myself better. I even attended make-up class on my own and I was the only gentleman in class.” His passion for the industry has helped him meet career challenges by being adaptable. “I like changes and treat each one as an opportunity to improve.”

Career Mosaic is a large-scale job fair organized

by the Career Center, in March and October. The

objectives are to provide an effective platform for

corporate branding, on-campus recruitment and to

enhance HKUST students’ awareness of the career

opportunities

offered by promising

employers.

March

Career M

osaic

Recruitment Talk

Career Chat

:// ca re er .u st .h k

Benefits to students

❖

Identify graduate or internship opportunities

in your areas of interest

❖

Meet with employers of different industries

face to face at the booths and recruitment

talks

❖

Submit applications directly to the

employers at the booths

❖

Get interviews from some employers

right on the spot

❖

Discuss with the experienced Career

Advisors at the Career Chat corner

regarding your career-related questions

Benefits to employers

❖

Effective way to meet and recruit talents

❖

One-stop services include exhibition, recruitment talk, career

seminar, on-site application and interview

Come prepared

It can be like jungles due to the large number of employers. To avoid being overwhelmed, get a copy of the floor plan,

list of exhibitors and career talk schedules in advance.

Do your research before attending Career Mosaic and make

a note of the organizations that interest you.

Make a point of arrival before the crowd so that you can

get more personal time with the recruiters. Dress well for the occasion and bring copies of your updated resume. It’s a good idea to bring soft copy on a portable USB drive as

October

Exhibition

Extra-curricular activities help explore

the more capable side in you

Carol CHAN

Group Manager, hong Kong Taiwan Integrated Business Planning,

Product Supply, hong Kong – Procter & Gamble (P&G)

BEng in Industrial Engineering & Engineering Management (Logistics Management)

U

ndeniably extra-curricular activities offered in universities are known to train participants to be more organized, multi-tasking and versatile, and these are the important qualities many companies are always looking for.

Carol Chan, a former graduate of Bachelor of Engineering with a major in Industrial Engineering & Engineering Management (Logistics Management) at the HKUST, shares with you her invaluable experience when she played the role of President of her own faculty and how she well managed her time between school work and extra-curricular activities.

“The President role offered me different opportunities to learn how to deal with things like problem solving, project and crisis

management, leadership and presentation skills. That

helps me tremendously for my present job or in any job I would do in future,” says Carol.

“Think through what

you want, and start to

plan your future as

early as you can.”

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