How to Plan your Future Career

*The following article is extracted from advice offered by the Career and Development Centre of the Office of Student Affairs, CUHK. For details, please visit their website at http://osanta.osa.cuhk.edu.hk/osa/cpdc/

The new term commences again! Freshmen will be excited with the University life while final year students will be busy with career preparation. Several points of concern from final year students in relation to their future career are summarized as follows:

1. Requirements from Employers

Majority of Employers prefer employees to have a global mindset, to take initiatives as well as to possess good language and analytical ability. Ideal candidates should also be enthusiastic and adaptive to change.

Recommendations from the Career Centre:


• Besides academic study, students should pay attention to what
  is happening around in HK and the outside world by reading magazines and newspapers.
  
• Enhancing the language skills by participating in language training
  courses.
  
• To have more discussion with teachers and other students so as to enhance your presentation skills, self-confidence and analytical ability. You are also recommended to participate in recruitment talks, guidance programmes and workshops organized by the Career Centre.

2. Preparation by Students in Job Hunting

Students: '……worry about the economic development and employment opportunities in Hong Kong……'

The financial storm, high unemployment rate and slack economic development puzzle most students. Most of them do not feel optimistic when they enter the job market.

Recommendations from the Career Centre:
Many factors will affect whether you can find an ideal job. The economy of Hong Kong may be an important 'external factor' in determining the difficulty of getting a job. Yet, students should not overlook those 'internal factors' which are your qualities and abilities. Instead of worrying about the economy, students should better equip themselves and enhance their own competitiveness in the job searching process. Life-long learning should be continued even though you have found a job.

Students: '……don't know my career aspiration; not sure which career field is suitable for me……'

Most students worry because they are not clear about the career fields which are suitable for them or they do not understand their own career interest. Some students concern that the discipline/subjects they studied in the University has limited their choice of future career.

Recommendations from the Career Centre:
Employers will look for candidates with all-round abilities; the discipline you studied is only one of the factors in their consideration. If you are not sure about your own career interest, you should identify the career fields that interest you most by paying attention to news from different sectors and attending recruitment talks of different companies.

Students: 'How to write a good covering letter and curriculum vitae?'

Most students do not know how to write an appealing covering letter and curriculum vitae. Some students just copy the same from samples.

Recommendations from the Career Centre:
Covering letter and curriculum vitae are your marketing tools to employers. A well-written covering letter and CV will catch the attention of employers and bring you an interview opportunity. To know more about the skills in writing a good covering letter and CV, you can attend the workshops organized by the Career Centre.

Students: '……lack confidence and nervous in the job hunting process ……'

Recommendations from the Career Centre:
Lacking of confidence and nervousness will affect your performance in interviews. You should learn to keep up your self-confidence and control your emotion so as to win in job hunting. Staff of the Career Centre are most happy to help our students by providing them with career guidance services with an aim to enhance their employability and meet the changing needs of the community.Students can visit http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/osa for more details of the services provided by the Career Centre.

3. Recruitment Talks

Most senior staff of the recruiting companies will attend recruitment talks to reach more students so as to facilitate their selection process. Some companies even invite candidates to attend tea gathering in order to observe their social, interpersonal and communication skills. Interviews may be offered to the right candidates.

Recommendations from the Career Centre:


• If students are interested in joining a particular company, they should find out the core business of the company and attend its recruitment talk. Students can visit
  http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/osa/aps/seminar/saosform.hts for details of recruitment talks.
  
• To plan ahead and be punctual in attending recruitment talks. You may bring your CV to the talks.
  
• To prepare questions for the Q&A session of recruitment talks. This may impress your potential employer.
  

Wish all graduating students will find an ideal job soon!