Page 19 - UMP Issue167_final

18
CU SCOPE
UMP 大學廣場
APR 2013
University life is always a golden time for students
to figure out their future, and to find out their real
interest, capability and suitability to different industries.
Internship is an effective and efficient experience.
Therefore, to help students plan and develop their
careers, the Career Planning and Development Centre
(CPDC) of the Office of Student Affairs provides valuable
opportunities via the Global Internship Programme (GIP)
every year by sending out student interns to different
organizations in diversified industries all around the world.
From International Internships to Worldwide Graduate Jobs –
Global Internship Programme
I am a non-local student with a plan to work in Hong Kong after graduation. I recognize
that work experience is rather important to convince employer to offer us local job
opportunity; yet being unable to communicate in Cantonese at my early stage of
university, it was difficult for me to get an internship offer under keen competition.
GIP provided me the chance to obtain precious offshore work experience. With such
opportunity, I developed myself further with hands-on work experience and brushed up
my CV. Paying much effort in picking up Cantonese during academic term time, I have
much enhanced my employability in Hong Kong.
In the past three consecutive summers, I was glad to join GIP and intern in Shanghai,
New York and Singapore respectively. In Shanghai, I was placed in a property
management company, while in New York I worked in a marketing agency, which
further developed my solution-oriented mindset and multi-tasking skills. Interning in
the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore in 2012, I got many valuable
opportunities to prepare the higher-end networking events.
The rewarding offshore internship training has developed me with a sound international portfolio with higher
competitiveness. Now in my final year, I am grateful to notice a very positive progress during my job hunting in some large
multinational corporations in Hong Kong.
Terence Chen (Integrated BBA / Year 4)
interned in Hong Kong Economic Trade Office (HKETO) in Singapore (GIP 2012) From Mainland to Hong Kong
In 2012, 508 students received internship training in over
40 cities in more than 20 countries. Below are stories of
three GIP 2012 participants: a non-local student who would
like to stay in Hong Kong to work after graduation; a local
student who would like to pursue his career in the US; and
a business student who is looking for opportunities out of
business field. Let’s see how their internship experience
helped them figure out their future career path.
Being a student who studied in an international school during my teenage years, I am keen
to look for job opportunities outside Hong Kong and in the melting pot (America) after my
graduation. After setting this goal, I joined GIP and interned in the US for two summers, of
which I received reference letters from my US employer and programme supervisor. I am
extremely thankful and grateful for these chances, as they will assist me with my plan to get a
job in the US while allowing me to experience working in America.
For my last summer as an undergraduate student, I was ecstatic to be given the opportunity to work in a media company,
Oddball Films via GIP, which matches my true interests. I liked that in the company, employees had the choice to dress
casually and truly helped run the company’s business. I was able to log QuickTime clips, do research for clients, deal with
16mm and 35mm film reels, write press releases etc. I was even assigned my own project to organize the companies at
risk collection of 16mm “vinegar syndrome” films.
With the great internship experience, as well as cultural visits and exploration of the area during my free time, I have
deepened my understanding of the US work culture and environment which will surely help me with my career pursuit in the
US and my future. Upon graduation, with the potential help from my previous employer in the US, I am dedicated to looking
for a one-year internship in America and seeing how things go from there. I truly feels like the world is my oyster.
Ryan Cheung (Mechanical and Automation Engineering / Year 3)
interned in Oddball Films in San Francisco (GIP 2012) From Hong Kong to America