The HKUST Career Guide 2014

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Th e H KU ST CA RE ER GU ID E 2 01 4

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

Academic Building Clearwater Bay Tel: +852 2358 6688 Fax: +852 2719 9412 Email: saocc@ust.hk Monday to Friday 08:45 – 13:00 14:00 – 17:30

The HKUST

CAREER GUIDE

2014

niversity education is not merely a program for career

preparation. These four years, if this is your first year at HKUST,

will prepare you for your life. The triumphs and tribulations that

you encounter as a university student will urge you to search your

soul — finding out what truly intrigues and excites you, and

to live out your own story — being true to yourself while

becoming what you want to see in this world.

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

to do all the ‘right things’ to land that perfect job: get good

grades, write a strong resume and join as many activities

as you can. However, I can tell you right now that there is

no safe formula to success. Instead of ‘playing it safe’,

dare to make mistakes and learn from them. It is

when you learn to handle setbacks and mistakes

that you develop character and resilience. Take

that leap of faith and don’t be confined by

what you see; instead, reach out for what

you believe in. It is then that you will find

in you your true potentials, and perhaps

discover your niche – your calling.

Your future job does not only pay the bills,

it is potentially the very platform where you can

orchestrate a life that is meaningful to you as well

as others. That will be your story of impact. And

here is the chapter that paves way to the climax

of that story. Write it with confidence, passion

and the desire to be the difference.

Prof Tony F CHAN

President

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Career Building

Course

Never give up on your dream

job

Alan LAM

A civil engineer’s

true story

Ray CHAN

Extra-curricular activities

Carol CHAN

A gentleman in ladies

industry

Maurice CHAN

I don’t stop when I’m tired

Michael IP

2 Generations. 1 Vision

Jack WU, Penny KHOO

Dare to be different ?

Sidney TAM, Jason CAI

Feature Story:

RADICA Systems Limited

Francis KWOK, Irene CHEUNG, Kinsen LEE

C O N T E N T S

The power of strong

determination

Matthew SHUM

From hometown to the

motherland

Benjamin BACH

Everyone has a chance

to fly

Helen LO

Something new,

Something more

Alex YAP, C K LOW, Jason SONG

From Civil & Structural

Engineering to Business

Development

Michael LEUNG

Career Mosaic

Plan your path

Internship

Learning Scheme

Career

Development

Programs

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H

i, I am Cheryl, Associate Director of the Career Center.

It’s time of the year for the release of the Career Guide

2014 and I hope that each individual story in this booklet

could somehow provide you with inspirations and insights

on how to start off your career. Whether you decide to pursue

your postgraduate education or move on with your career

after graduation, we are here to assist you along the way,

professionally and effectively.

My team is proud of our roles as your

Consultant, Trainer &

Partner

. Our missions are to help:

•

EXPAND

your career opportunities through our vast and growing network with

prospective employers in Hong Kong, Mainland China and worldwide.

•

EMPOWER

yourself with the knowledge on how to identify a career of your

choice and meanwhile assist you on your career decision.

•

EQUIP

yourself to be competitive in the job market and learn the important

values to sustain a successful career.

I work very closely with a team of dedicated and experienced Career Advisors

and pertinent colleagues to help you land on the road of success. We’re more

than happy to listen to your needs and guide you the best way we know how.

Therefore I urge each of you to gain maximum leverage from the abundant

resources here at the Career Center. They are all thoughtfully designed and

offered to you throughout your HKUST education.

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

Cheryl LEE

Associate Director, Career Center

Student Affairs Office

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Ethics an

d

the Job S

earch

While in the process of knocking on doors for

job interviews, there are a few key ethics one must observe

carefully in order to have a better chance of getting a job. Contrarily, some

people may get passed with unethical behavior but in time it will come

back to haunt you and, at the very least, you will lose your credibility, if not

your job.

Never

exaggerate the

level of experience

or education

background

It is not unusual for fresh graduates to

exaggerate the level of experience or

education background just to get their

first chance of job interview. But “lying is

never fine, ever.” If one falsifies the work

experience and gets hired without being

found out, sooner or later the person will

be caught on spot when he/she is asked to

do some work but incapable of delivering it

due to being inexperience.

Therefore never take a short cut by

lying. Consult good resume writing

guides or visit our Career Advisor for

advice. Remember, “honesty is virtue”

for everyone.

The second ethic is whether it is acceptable

to interview just to “practice or to earn

experience.” Understandably most fresh

graduates get nervous at a job interview

but that does not mean you should accept

interviews for the sake of experience rather

being really interested in the job.

You must understand the process

involves interviewer’s time and money.

More importantly, you are depriving a

chance for another student who may

have a strong interest in that job. Should

you have any doubt, go talk to our Career

Advisor or try to talk with alumni for advice,

but don’t abuse the job interview if you are

not serious about it.

Be serious

about every

interview

Not to accept

a job offer

but withdraw

Interview

cancellation

and no-show

The last key ethic is whether it is fine to

accept a job offer and withdraw later if a

better offer comes along. The answer is

definitely “no”. If you need time to think it

over, most likely the company is happy

to offer you a grace period to make

decision.

The last thing either you or the company

want is you stay for a short period and

off for another company. Make sure it

is managed in an amicable fashion so

that you don’t leave the company a bad

impression.

Whether you are being interviewed on

or off campus, make absolutely sure

you allow enough time to cancel prior

because this is an important etiquette

to observe and it reflects your sense of

commitment and personality.

Another serious negative behavior is failing

to attend a scheduled interview without

bothering to notify the Career Center or

the company for proper arrangement. It is

considered very unprofessional and rude,

not to mention it hurts the image of your

own university and the people who helped

set up the interview for you.

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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.

❖ Additional job-hunting resources can be found at the HKUST Library

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 ✓ ✓ ht tp :// ca re er .u st .h k

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

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

Corporate Awards

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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.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

with the right attitude.

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

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

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

Be your own BOSS

• Why do you want to start a business?

• What is the degree of knowledge or

expertise you have in the business venture

of your choice?

• How much capital is available to you?

• What are your skills?

• What are your likes and dislikes?

• How much effort will you be willing to

devote to your business venture?

• Can you face up to the challenges and stress

associated with being a business owner?

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L

ife is full of twists and t u r n s. S o m e p e o p l e 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)

“China is the market for

now and future but you

have to be open-minded

w i t h h o w p e o p l e d o

business in the Mainland

and be flexible with the

cultural difference. Don’t

stay in a comfort zone

when you still have lots of

energy to build success. ”

Irene’s tips for job seekers

1

Before going to the interview, study the

company well through its website and

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

2

.

Learn the job requirements well and try to

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

3

F i n d a c h a n c e t o t a l k a b o u t y o u r

achievement(s) at the university because

that can more or less demonstrate your leadership ability.

4

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

5

Be a humble listener, and be receptive to

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

6

If it takes multiple interviews before finding a job, so be it and try to improve through

learning the mistakes you made during the

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.”

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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.}

Ye

a

r

2/

3

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.

Y

ear

4

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From Civil & Structural Engineering to

Business Development

Michael LEUNG

Head of Macau, Hilti (Hong Kong)

BEng (Civil and Structural Engineering) MSc (Structural Steel Design)

A

fter graduating from the faculty of engineering at HKUST, I soon landed an engineering job with an international consulting firm, which I had longed for. A year later, I received the Chevening Scholarship from British Council, which helped me earn my MSc of Structural Steel Design at the Imperial College, London, United Kingdom. While I was studying there I met with my peer group who came from different countries and I enjoyed talking to them and learned a lot about their cultural characteristics.

I am now holding a senior engineering position but I once

questioned myself whether I would enjoy being an engineer as I am quite outgoing, lively and enjoy interacting with people and doing teamwork, but a typical engineer to me is more

of a deep thinker and an introvert. I later found out I worried too much.

In any event, upon returning to Hong Kong from London, I managed to complete my professional chartership exam in two years and by then

I decided to quit my consultancy job and look for a more challenging job, despite

many of my friends thought I should stay working as a structural engineer. Shortly after I got an offer from an international company whose business is a supplier of construction materials. In the beginning I was relocated to Macau and working as a sales project engineer. I quite enjoyed the job itself because I met many different

customers from all walks of life and I could apply a lot of what I learned at the universities and helped the sales.

I remember when I played the role of senior business development manager, I faced a tough challenge in which I was assigned to launch a new product for both Hong Kong and China markets. Given the obviously different work cultures and people mentality of the two places, I had to learn how to manage my mainland staff so that they would fully cooperate with my team in Hong Kong and work hand in hand with each other. Being a department manager, people management is

just as important as work knowledge.

Since then I have had different opportunities working in different departments that is from engineering to marketing to project management to new product business development. After working for eight years at this company, I am now the Head of Macau overseeing the entire operations of the region.

A successful career

transition

6 Steps when you are

contemplating a career change:

1

Find out as much as you can

about your options through

research and networking. Look for

opportunity to ‘shadow’ professionals

working in your target career.

2

Consult your network of contacts

to find out about opportunities

in the sectors that interest you –

this will be easier than starting from

scratch.

3

Identify the skills you have that

are transferrable to your desired

career.

4

Note any areas where you are

lacking. Consider if 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.

To be successful in your job, you

must always have a passion at what

you do and you look forward to

coming to work everyday rather

than seeing it as a job that pays

your bills.

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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 ,”

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

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

Tips for Job Hunting

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

1

Newspapers and other printed mass media

2

On-line portals

3

Employer websites

4

Career Mosaic / Job fairs

5

Professional associations

6

Networking

7

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

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

are obviously become a strong motivation for constant improvement.

“Take some time to set a clear and

attainable goal and go for it. In

the process, there’re bound to be

roadblocks along the way, but make

sure you don’t lose your confidence

and drive. No matter how impossible

the task seems, don’t be afraid to fail

and just give it a try.”

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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 move to China,

t h e r e a r e m a n y concerns. “Working in Mainland China is not easy for Hong Kong

people, especially to those who

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

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

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

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

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

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

attitude instead of the environment.”

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

he advices.

“Life is an adventure,

dare it !”

Everyone has a chance to fly high

but good patience is needed

Helen LO

BBA (Finance and Management) MBA

A

s many face-to-face interview results indicate that by and large university graduates do not seem to have a clear idea of their career choice when they graduate. Helen Lo, Bachelor of Business Administration, with dual majors in Finance and Management, at the HKUST in 2005, is one of the many students who also did not quite know what she wanted. “Since I had no idea what would be the best for my career, I therefore in the beginning applied many jobs

and hope through interviews I could come to know better about my choice,” explains Helen.

With the help of HKUST Career Center, Helen landed with several offers and in the end chose Monitor Group as their Management Consultant. “Unlike most people who would

do their interviews in Hong Kong, mine was in Philadelphia, USA, when I was on a student exchange program at the University of Pennsylvania,” says Helen. After the interview, she really liked the prospects offered in the job. “ The exposure I get working in a consulting firm is unparallel. It allows me to explore a wide range of industries, knowledge

domains across different countries. It has widened my horizon a whole lot and helped me to determine my real interest for my long term career."

After working at Monitor Group for four and a half years, Helen was thinking of a career shift, so she took up an MBA program at INSEAD in France and Singapore while waiting for another right opportunity to come. “Having played the role of Management Consultant for years, I wanted to advance my next career by getting a role in corporate strategy and over time move to general management in an industry I truly like," says Helen. Finally a corporate strategy role came up from Tencent, the largest Internet conglomerate whose business include QQ, Internet services, online games and social network platforms, in China. Usually having switched from an American company to a full Chinese background company, adjustments in terms of its corporate culture and working mentality are needed and, in most cases, fluency of the Putonghua dialect would be of great help to run things smoothly in the office.

“The biggest challenges for me were to get accustomed

to Putonghua in professional business conversations and adapting to the Chinese corporate culture dominated by male co-workers. But I was determined

to overcome all these minor issues given the bright future prospects in this job.”

I feel so lucky that I am able to work with the largest technology company in the Mainland. I’ll grab every learning opportunity within the organization. Like the saying goes, “no pain, no gain,” laughs Helen.

Helen's sharing with graduates

1

Be ready to answer fully and intelligently to your prospective employer why this is the right job for you and your contribution.

2

Be always willing to take up tasks from your supervisor even though they may not be directly relevant or interesting enough at the beginning.

3

Getting practical experience and wait for your turn to come.

4

Be humble and a good working attitude

guarantee success down the road. _http://

ca re er .u st .h k

Something New, Something More

Alex YAP, Chuan Keat LOW & Jason SONG

T

hree non-local students decided to stay and

work in Hong Kong upon graduation. They came

because they wanted something new. They stayed

because they wanted something more.

“I decided to come to Hong Kong for my

university studies because I wanted something

new, something different – perhaps even

something that may create ‘conflicts’. I believed

conflicts would lead to growth. ”

Alex YAP (BEng Logistics Management and Engineering, 2010) arrived at HKUST

with his secondary school classmate – Chuan Keat LOW (BEng in Mechanical

Engineering, 2010) – or “CK”, as he is more commonly known. They ended up living

next door to each other in the residence hall, and becoming executive committee members of the same student society. Three years later, both of

“We’re from Malaysia”

For CK, the thought of not returning home after graduation took some time to sink in. “I had to

overcome some kind of culture shock. Even

though we don’t look very ‘international’, the truth is, we differ from Hong Kong people quite a lot in our way of thinking.” On the other hand, Alex had already planned to stay in Hong Kong when he came here. “This is such a land of opportunities,”

he said.

In the summer of his second year, Alex took up an internship position at IDS International. A year later, he got offers from two top logistics firms; he finally picked IDS and started off as a Management Trainee. The path to finding his first job was relatively smooth, especially for an international student. “I believe it had to do with my Cantonese

skills. That makes a big difference.”

The path was not as easy for CK. “The thing is, some companies that are more conservative will almost imply that they want to save the job for local people,” he said. “It’s probably too troublesome to go through all the procedures to hire an international graduate. Besides, they don’t know how long you will stay in Hong Kong. So there’s an element of uncertainty there.”

A different strategy

Feeling a bit disheartened, CK sought advice from Ms Ruby Lam, his instructor for the Career Building Course, and was told to adopt a different strategy. “I revised my resume and took out two things: the name of my high school and the fact that I could speak Malay. And you know what, it worked. Interview invitations started coming in. Once you get an interview, the company will get to know you, regardless of your background. If you’re right for the job, they may be willing to take the extra step to hire you.”

CK was a proactive job seeker. He went to career talks, customized every cover letter that he sent out and went to over 30 job interviews.

In the end, he got offers from two renowned engineering firms – Parsons Brinckerhoff and Ove Arup. But he accepted neither. “I’m a very hands-on person. I need a job that is more technically-oriented.”

So when Apple Inc. decided to hire him as a Supply Base Engineer, CK knew right away that he had found a job that was “more than perfect”. The year he graduated was the first year that Apple Inc. came to Asia to recruit university graduates; and HKUST was among only three universities that Apple Inc. visited. In the end, two people were hired – both of them from HKUST – and one of them was a postgraduate student. CK was the only undergraduate in Asia who got hired that year. “I feel a tremendous sense of satisfaction when I see my friends using their iPhones, but it’s important

for me to stay level-headed. You can only learn if you’re humble.”

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Learning (and perfecting) Cantonese

Jason SONG (MSc in Engineering Enterprise Management, 2008) lived in three cities in

Mainland China before coming to Hong Kong for his postgraduate studies – Wuhan, Zhuhai and Beijing. Now he knows without his Mainland experience, he would not have landed his job at Hutchison Delta Ports. “But if I didn’t speak fluent Cantonese, they probably wouldn’t have hired me either,” he said. Jason already knew that he wanted to stay in Hong Kong when he first arrived. During his one year in HKUST, he joined a lot of extra-curricular activities, which is not something expected of a postgraduate student. “I inter viewed to be the emcee of

Career Mosaic; and unexpectedly, I got the job. I volunteered to be an HKUST Ambassador, but they already had enough people, so they asked if I wanted to help out with other things. I ended up joining the audio/visual team at one of the events.” All these involvements

became an intensive Cantonese course for him. Within a year, he was talking and sounding like a local.

After taking up a technology-based internship in a Singaporean company based in Hong Kong, he became a permanent employee there upon graduation. Everything seemed nice and settled. Until one day, one of his Mainland friends asked if he would be interested in a position at Hutchison Delta Ports. “I was quite happy where I was. But this position has more to do with project management, which was something that interested me.”

Moreover, this position required someone who would travel to Mainland China quite frequently, so Jason’s background became a competitive edge. “I work in the container terminals in the Pearl River Delta region on a regular basis; while in Hong Kong, I need to communicate in Cantonese. So I can see how this job is a better fit for me, not to mention better prospects.”

Prepare to work overseas

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has identified some key attributes required for a globally competent employee:

✓ Strong intercultural and communications

skills

✓ Resilience – working aboard can mean

losing the usual support structures like friends and family

✓ Flexibility to adapt to new situations and

practices, as well as ambiguity

✓ The ability to understand, respect and

adapt to cultural differences and accept diversity

✓ Knowledge of local conditions

✓ The awareness of the strategic aims of

your employer and the international environment in which they operate

✓ A working knowledge of the local

language / dialect

To stay or not to stay

To Jason, home is still Zhuhai. “But I don’t feel like I’m living in a foreign place now”, he said. In fact, he does not rule out the possibility of staying here for a longer term. “You just need to have something

positive to keep you going.”

Alex, however, believes he will return home some day. “One thing that I’m sure of is that I wouldn’t have become so open minded if I hadn’t stayed in Hong Kong after I graduated,” he said. “Now I look at things – especially things back in Malaysia – with fresh new eyes. I have developed the ability to embrace differences. And I have experienced growth – something that will stay with me wherever I go.”

Jason Song, second from left, and his teammates http

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

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 （北京）

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） ht tp :// ca re er .u st .h k

2 Generations. 1 Vision

Jack WU

Regional Director, International Business Division, Ruijie Networks

BEng(Computer Science) MBA

S

hortly after I graduated with a Computer Science degree at the HKUST, I found myself an IT job. I find this industry very interesting and challenging as the technology of Internet continuous to evolve and there’s always so much to learn. During the early part of my computer science program I thought I would at most become a system analyst trainee when I graduated, managing software and hardware stuff. But when I began looking into the IT field for opportunities, there were available jobs like system programming, infrastructure support, solution architecture, business development, marketing and promotions.

I started off as a technical trainee and gradually moved to business development and sales management. The process was rather long but an inevitable step to reach to my present position. Therefore in the year 2000 I decided to enroll in the part time MBA program at the university to better equip myself.

I am always fascinated with the IT industry because it is quite dynamic and fast growing and it looks like experienced IT professionals will always be in demand in the job market. Naturally the more experience one has, the better the salary and I think even the start off package is fairly attractive for a fresh graduate.

As a regional IT specialist myself, I have to stay open-minded

and be receptive to changes because I come across with many

people of different cultures and work styles. Otherwise, I would just create unnecessary work pressure for myself and become unhappy at work. Having said that, I should also have a good

balance between work and family and not to become a work-coholic.

Also I remember in those days there were many computer program assignments with tight deadlines. Fortunately I had good classmates who worked together many overnights in order to submit them on time. Through this I earned great friendships from all the classmates I worked with, and despite the fact that we were all under tremendous stress, I must say it was a really good experience learning the

importance of teamwork and responsibility of meeting deadlines

because this is what the commercial world is all about. As a conclusion, the IT industry will continue to evolve to meet the world demand and the learning curve for IT professionals is endless.

Jack WU

Penny KHOO

Intern, Global Marketing Department, Ruijie Networks

“What we have learned at the university may not be

necessary relevant to what we do in our job. The

knowledge and experience we pick up at school is

only a part of it but quite a valuable training.”

B

eing an overseas student from Malaysia, only in my final year I began active by participating company recruitment talks. Through these arrangements I met my intern company, Ruijie Network, a network solution company, and earned great experience there. I was arranged to work in their marketing department, doing all sorts of industry analysis work, preparing product brochures, powerpoint presentations and occasionally supporting promotional events. Having completed the internship, I feel I am now more equipped when I go talk to my prospective employer(s) in the future.

Just like ever y intern student, the biggest

challenge I faced was having zero knowledge in the industry I worked at, yet I was asked to

prepare marketing brochures with product terms I barely knew but thanks to Google for all the help I needed.

As for now, I would like to consider doing a dual degree instead of having a bachelor in engineering. I think I would like the challenge of the business student project assignments and want to give it a try.

My next personal mission is to earn an MBA in the United States. Since I am interested in business studies, I would like to gain more knowledge in this field and United States would provide me a better learning environment.

Penny KHOO

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T

he Dubai International Thoroughbred Internships (DITI) program I am taking at HKUST is only a 10-month program and meanwhile I have had a chance to visit one of the important thoroughbred countries, Newmarket, United Kingdom, where it is known as the home of flat racing. My exposure from this trip included meeting the vet, visiting British Racing School, Godolphin and going to Newmarket and Ascot racecourses.

I am always fond of horse breeding and that’s why I took this program and decided to do something different. Another attraction is the recruitment of DITI program, which I think it can offer me a chance to be exposed to worldwide horseracing and breeding.

The challenge I faced from this field trip was everything about work yet little time to rest. In any event, I should not complain too much as the whole experience was tremendous. I could not have done it by myself and most importantly, I got to see the true picture of what it would be like if I got a job like this.

If I had a chance to do it again, I would like to see horseracing and horse breeding of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France. It is the most exciting horserace I have ever watched in my life. The atmosphere is terrific and the spectators are so full of excitement.

I soon need to decide which thoroughbred industry is best for me as I see it as my long-term career. I always think doing something

you are most interested in is most rewarding in life.

Sidney TAM

Dare to be different ?

Sidney TAM

Participant, Dubai International Thoroughbred Internships

BSc (BioChemistry)

Jason CAI

Intern, Boeing-Cathay Pacific-HAESL

BEng (Mechanical Engineering)

“Do something you

are interested in.

Have fun !”

I

was involved in different projects during my past internships at Boeing Company, Cathay Pacific and HAESL. During my tenure at Boeing, I was assigned to develop Boeing service bulletins which were about the official guidance for modifying and improving different designs and components for commercial airplanes, especially matters related to safety and economic issues. The work involved a lot of research and people interactions with different engineering departments. I accomplished 6 service bulletins incorporating design retrofit that commended Boeing 747, 767, and 777 to fly the friendly skies around the world.

The biggest challenge I encountered was the lack of aeronautical engineering background. Since it was my first experience stepping into such dynamic and one of the biggest airplane manufacturing companies in the world, I was so nervous yet excited with the opportunity. The first 2 weeks training allowed myself to familiarize with the work I was given to do and the background knowledge.

I was so much at ease in my subsequent internships at Cathay Pacific and HAESL after what I had experienced at Boeing Company. Also the people I worked with were very warm and friendly and guided me along the way.

If I had the chance to do it again, I would prepare myself better prior by trying to study more aeronautical knowledge and to understand more of my career goal, as well as planning a trip to the United States. Having completed all my internships, I am now very keen to learn more about the fluid/aerodynamic

knowledge and hopefully one day I can even earn my master degree in this discipline.

Jason CAI

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