Seventeen students from BYU-Hawaii in majors such as ICS, graphic design, business, finance, and marketing, visited Hong Kong in mid April through Career Connect for a jumpstart to their establishing their own professional network with over 14 different companies. Students were given the chance to meet with company official representatives including Deliotte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd., Intel, Hong Kong Sky City Marriott Hotel, Vans, and Nu Skin. After the trip, seven job offers were reported. Kay Au-Young, an account and finance senior from Hong Kong, got an offer for a job in finance. Au-Young shared his tip for impressing employers and said, “Pay attention to the employers. Share and ask meaningful questions. Questions need to be specific. I asked Nu Skin about their product’s research development strategy, and the average life of the product. The employers recognized I did research before the visit.” Another student, who also got an offer was Ellen Lo, an accounting senior from Hong Kong. She said aside from an actual job offer, she learned a meaningful lesson in optimism. Lo suggested students “to use their time wisely on the trip. You have such a short time to build your network and learn from the company officials.” She quoted the CEO of Vans and said, “You might not find your dream job at once. But when you are on the right track, the skills you’ve developed and the experiences you’ve had will bring you to your dream job.” Leading the trip to Hong Kong was Jodi Chowen, director of Career Services. She commented about the experience saying, “There is a big variety this year. Besides accounting and business firms, we also visited companies that have graphic design and communication departments, like Price Water House Coopers and Hong Kong Design Center.” Chowen explained what employers are looking for in employees. “We hear it again and again from big companies. The director of Finance from Marriott Hotel and Deliotte Regional manager director of Tax and Legal both mentioned it: The concept is that they want to hire the right people with a good fit. Academics are important, but more than important is your character,” she said. Chowen said besides being proficient in English, employers are looking for those with people skills, which refers to good communication, critical thinking, and problem solving. “Students should get out of the mentality that ‘because I am this major, I can only do this job.’ Your major doesn’t guarantee a job, not even for a business or accounting major. The goal of Career Connect is to help students find a job or internship, but if we can expand student’s visions about the market, I consider it a success,” she said. Chowen invited students from a variety of majors to participant in the upcoming Career Connect trips. “Career Connect is for any major. It is an opportunity to learn what is ready in the market. We connect companies according to the students who sign up. It is based on student’s interest. The goal is to match students with good fit employers.” Brandon T. Truscott, assistant professor of Art & Design who also accompanied the trip to Hong Kong, said he discovered the art side within the accounting firm. “At Price Water House Coopers, students who are majoring in graphic design and marketing met with the in-house design and marketing team and they showed us the type of print and publication work they do. We also toured to the Hong Kong Design Institute, White Cube Gallery exhibition, and the contemporary art galleries.”
Writer: Clover Cheng~Multimedia Journalist
