Extended two-day event offers even more opportunities and advice for jobseekers

When planning the first few steps of what will hopefully become a long and prosperous career, there are no such things as too little information, guidance or advice.

So, the fact that the Classified Post Career Forum, which kicks off today, runs for two days instead of the usual one – allowing some exciting new sessions and activities to be included alongside continuing high-profile favorites such as the Shadow a CEO Programme – should ensure the event builds on its already considerable appeal.

Since its inaugural event in March 2014, the forum has been a useful place to go for students and young executives to talk to companies about job opportunities, management trainee programmes and graduate schemes.

Alongside the chance to meet prospective employers, there will once again be a wide range of talks and advice sessions from experts and business professionals.

Cindy Cheng, general manager for Hong Kong and Macau at health and security services provider International SOS, will be speaking at the forum. She explains the benefits of attending such comprehensive events for people starting out on their careers.

“By taking part in career events, young people can acquire more information about occupations, industries and companies,” she says. “The talks will be both informative and inspiring, and at the exhibitors’ booths, young people can learn about different organisations and get first-hand information from their representatives. This is also a chance to look for internships, shadowing schemes and related opportunities.”

As at the two previous forums, those attending today and Saturday will be able to enter the selection process for the Shadow a CEO Programme in the hope of eventually being able to accompany a senior executive through several of their working days.

Previous “shadows” have sat in on board meetings, made site visits, brainstormed new branding concepts and taken part in team-bonding corporate social responsibility days.

This time around, the executives who have volunteered to share their schedule are Lau Kashi, managing director and CEO of BCT Financial and Bank Consortium Trust; Song Hoi See, founder and chief executive of Plaza Premium Lounge Management; and Vincent Ho, president of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors and managing director of Freevision.

The forum’s wide range of job and career-advice talks – which now fall under the banner of “Topical Seminars” – will see representatives from a broad range of companies share their knowledge and experience over the two days, while providing information about training and job opportunities.

The seminars will even cover topics such as tips for creative types and new start-ups from Ray Chan, CEO and co-founder of 9GAG – an online community for web humour – and grooming advice in the form of a make-up demo from world-famous cosmetic brand Maybelline New York.

In his talk, 9GAG’s Chan will be explaining how to “make fun things that matter”. “There can be jobs that, on the one hand, are fun and interesting and, on the other, can also have an impact,” Chan says. “But I think that, right now, there is a lack of information in Hong Kong on these sorts of relatively new industries, such as the tech industries. Events like the Career Forum can help students to get this type of information.”

Another new highlight for the forum is the chance for participants to win a place on two “Company Tours” – one with Microsoft Hong Kong and one with K11 Concepts, a part of New World Development – to get an inside look at the companies, their culture and what it might be like to work in those industries.

Anyone who collects at least five stamps – which are awarded each time someone speaks to an exhibitor – will be eligible to enter the raffle for the limited number of places on these special visits.

The Microsoft tour, entitled “Develop your Career in the IT Industry and Working in Microsoft”, will also provide the opportunity to experience the latest Microsoft technology. Those who join K11 Concepts, meanwhile, will get a chance to find out what lies behind the revolutionary K11 Art Mall retail concept, with its hybrid model of art and commerce.

Given that first impressions and personal appearance still play a very significant role in determining whether one gets that job or a place on a MT programme, anyone attending the forum might also want to book a studio photo shoot.

Photogift, winner of TVB’s business start-up contest “I Am Boss” will take professional photos of forum participants that they can take home with them in digital form. To qualify for the shoot, participants will again need to collect at least five stamps from exhibitors.