Fifteen BYU–Hawaii students recently visited Hong Kong for a
jumpstart to their professional networks, meeting with 12 different
companies through the university’s Career Connect program. Career
Connect, organized by BYU–Hawaii Career Services, is a program that
invites students to experience a snapshot of employment by visiting
companies and organizations in various parts of the world, meeting with
their officials, and observing their day-to-day operations.
During the trip to Hong Kong, students met with company officials
including the Vice President of Hong Kong Disney, Senior Vice President
at HSBC (Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp.), Senior Manager of Human
Resources at Deloitte Hong Kong, and Legal Counsel for The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“A certificate will get you to the door, but your skills will get you
to go higher,” said Jodi Chowen, Career Services director at
BYU–Hawaii. “Any corporation has a technology, business, human
resources, education and an anthropology side. It is not so much about
your major, but what skills and knowledge you have, and the value you
can bring to a company. Students are so focused on their major, but
one’s major won’t guarantee a job.” She expects students to take the
trip seriously, be well prepared, and make the most of the opportunity
to prepare for life after graduation.
Yifen Beus, a BYU–Hawaii professor who helped on the Career Connect
trip to Hong Kong, gave the following suggestions to students who are
getting ready for their future career: “Polish your resume, practice
interview skills, and have a vision for your career path. You need to
know what you want to do and have a general idea of what you want to
look for.” She invited students to be prepared for an internship and
employment by keeping a portfolio and collecting presentable written
works. Her advice for students about interviewing was to be active in
asking and answering questions because “when your potential employer
asks questions, your answer can show that you did your homework and what
you might bring to the company.”
Elizabeth Wood, a senior in psychology from Texas, got two employment
invitations during the Hong Kong Career Connect. “Be prepared to ask
questions,” Wood advised students who want to participate in future
Career Connect trips. “Asking questions makes you look like a desirable
employee. Many Hong Kong companies want to hire someone who went to a
university in the United States. They expect you to work hard, smart,
and independently if needed. If you are from a passive culture, you need
to be able to overcome your cultural preferences.”
Agreeing with Wood, Nike Chan, a junior studying Supply Chain
Management from Hong Kong, also left Hong Kong with an employment
invitation. “Asking questions with a happy and passionate attitude can
attract an employer’s attention and opportunities will follow” said
Chan. “Don’t be shy to ask for personal advice or a business card.”
All students, regardless of their major, are welcome to apply for
Career Connect. Each trip visits one particular city. Besides Hong Kong,
Career Connect also visits cities and countries such as Shanghai,
Taiwan, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Samoa, and other areas across the
United States. Upcoming Career Connects will be to Taiwan and Samoa in
September and New York in December. Students are required to have at
least a 2.0 GPA, be in their junior year or later, have a connection
with the local area (citizen or served a mission there), and intend to
live or to work in that area after graduation.
See this article on BYU-Hawaii University News Room
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