Senior management and human resources representatives from more than 30 companies and organisations attended a cocktail reception hosted by the Career and Internship Office (CAIO) of City University of Hong Kong (CityU) on 27 April. The event allowed employers to meet CityU staff and students and learn more about CityU’s approach to training the professionals for tomorrow. The cocktail reception also provided an opportunity for the University to strengthen relationships with employers and gain an insight into their expectations of graduates.

Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing, Vice-President (Student Affairs), talked about CityU’s areas of excellence and development plans during the cocktail reception. He urged employers to give CityU graduates opportunities to learn and grow so they could achieve career success.

“CityU has always maintained good relationships with employers from different industries. I hope this event will deepen the understanding of both sides and develop more opportunities for cooperation,” said Ms Cecilia Kwok Sau-fong, Director of CAIO. “Meanwhile, we look forward to learning more about their expectations of graduates, which will help us provide career training and consultation to students.”

The event was sponsored by the Lions Club of Metropolitan Hong Kong. It has attracted employers from public utilities, finance, telecommunication, retail, IT and engineering sectors. Human resources representatives from the ATAL Analogue Group of Companies were among them. “Of the tertiary institutions in Hong Kong, CityU is the more proactive one in contacting employers. We also expect to reinforce our relationship with CityU and understand the profession-focused education provided by the University,” ATAL representatives said. Discussing their expectations, they said they preferred graduates with solid professional knowledge and good language and communication skills.

Around 60 students were offered a chance to meet the employers in person at the cocktail reception. Ellie Chan Oi-ling, a Year 3 accountancy student, wanted to learn about the employers’ requirements of graduate trainees. Flora Xu Chen and Cherry Li Shu, postgraduate and undergraduate from the Department of Mathematics, both planned to undertake further studies next year. They were keen to learn how to best enhance their competitiveness in the job market and plan for the future.

Facing a competitive job market, CAIO provides a wide range of support services to students. To teach students how to demonstrate their abilities and perform in interviews, CAIO organises workshops, seminars and individual consultations to help students identify their interests, values and strengths, write resumes and cover letters, improve interview skills and grasp the requirements of different jobs.

Ms Cecilia Kwok said internships were the most effective way for students to accustom themselves to the workplace. “We provide students with practical training on attitude, teamwork and employer expectations before an internship to help them adapt to the workplace as quickly as possible and bring their skills to the fore,” Ms Kwok said. The office will also brief students on local and overseas continuing education opportunities.