Graduates keen to join the world of real estate can consider joining Hang Lung’s management trainee programme for 2018, an 18-month initiative that provides on-the-job training in various business functions within the company’s Hong Kong and mainland China portfolios. “Throughout the programme, senior executives from different departments and human resources pilots will offer strong guidance and coaching to trainees, facilitating their learning and bringing their potential into full play,” says Janet Poon, general manager-human resources.
The company is keen to recruit young talent who can provide new ideas and inspiration to the industry. “Our business is rapidly expanding, especially in mainland China, which is why our programme includes six months on the mainland. This enables our new management trainees to understand the market trend firsthand and be prepared for the organisational needs of our expanding portfolio in mainland China in the future,” Poon says.
Hang Lung’s management trainees will gain exposure and receive on-the-job training in various business functions across the Hong Kong and mainland China portfolios, and a customised training curriculum has been established to hone trainees’ management skills and business acumen.
The curriculum will include personal advancement courses designed to develop the skills and abilities of trainees needed to progress towards management roles of Hang Lung. “Management trainees will study business etiquette and professional image building, Outward Bound, effective presentation skills, business writing skills in both Chinese and English, and attend a Putonghua workshop. Management skills, professional development, compliance training, property management and training sponsorship will also be covered as part of the curriculum,” Poon says.
University graduates from any discipline are invited to join Hang Lung’s management trainee programme. “We are looking for graduates with a passion for a long-term career development in the property industry who are eager to gain solid work experience in the company’s property development and management in both Hong Kong and the mainland,” Poon says .
Successful candidates should also possess strong people and leadership skills and excellent analytical thinking in addition to excellent communication skills, with proficiency in English, Cantonese and Putonghua.
After spending 18 months as a management trainee, graduates can expect to be employed as officers for one to two years before being promoted to senior officer for a similar length of time.
These future leaders of the company would then typically spend four to eight years as an assistant manager, and then manager, before taking up a senior management role in the company, Poon says.
Trainees will have the chance to broaden their understanding of Hang Lung’s business through on-the-job training in different mainland cities. To encourage cross-departmental collaboration, management trainees will be expected to coordinate different corporate projects. “These will help them understand more about the company’s culture and core values,” Poon says.
Management trainees will additionally be responsible for organising a wide range of leisure and social activities for staff such as the company’s annual dinner, activities for the Hang Lung Social Club and getting involved with the corporate volunteering team.
All of these different responsibilities will enable trainees to demonstrate their communication skills, leadership ability and event planning expertise.
Career Forum Oct 2017: A tough but rewarding career in law enforcement
The Hong Kong Police will be at the Career Forum to share details of the roles of police inspector and police constable but hopefuls need to ensure their application stands out, given the strong interest in both positions. “We received around 6,000 applications for police inspector and 12,000 applications for police constable during 2016-2017,” says police inspector Gloria Leung. The vacancies for both positions for 2017-2018, so far, are over 1,800 in total. There are usually about 40 applicants for each police inspector pole and 10 people vying for police constable roles.
Academic qualifications of the candidates have also improved. Around 49 per cent of police constable applicants now have a diploma, higher diploma, associate degree or other higher qualifications, says Leung.
Police inspector and constable trainees alike follow a structured training programme. “Police inspectors undergo 36 weeks of residential training, covering leadership, HR management, police procedures, laws, foot drill, physical training, weapons handling, and tactics,” says Leung.
Constables are invariably first at the scene of major crimes, emergencies, heated disputes, and many other unexpected situations. Trainees need to undergo 27 weeks of residential training, which includes police procedures, laws, foot drill, physical training, weapons handling, tactics and first aid, says Leung.
The Hong Kong Police will assess future inspectors on their communication ability, judgment, general knowledge, leadership and management potential. Also important are motivation, personality and values, language proficiency, cognitive ability and physical fitness. Successful constable candidates are required to show similar attributes in addition to resources management and a community and customer focus.
Structured career paths and good promotion prospects are in place for those that make the grade. “After finishing the 36 weeks of basic training and passing the Standard I Examination, a probationary inspector is required to complete three years’ service at inspectorate rank. Having passed the Standard II examination, the probationary inspector will be confirmed as inspector,” says Leung. Once they have completed five years’ service and gained a pass at the Standard III examination, the inspector will advance to senior inspector, or might even be recommended by the selection board to be appointed chief inspector.
A police constable is required to finish their basic training and pass the various examinations. Once they have at least four years service under their belt and have passed the promotion qualifying examination, constables can be promoted to sergeant if the selection board is in agreement. Upon completion of three years’ service at the rank of sergeant, a promotion to station sergeant is possible, again subject to recommendation by the selection board.
If you become a member of the Hong Kong Police Force, you’re taking on a lifetime commitment to serving and protecting the community, with the responsibility of maintaining law and order in Hong Kong resting firmly on your shoulders. “It’s difficult, but stimulating, challenging, yet rewarding. If you’re ready to take on the challenge of a lifetime, we will give you an identity to be proud of,” Leung says.
