Careers and Placement, CEDARS the Compass
Although equipped with a Master of Philosophy (Psychology) degree,
I learned that I would face numerous challenges in competing for a
nice job in the business world. Apart from finishing the project for
my master thesis, searching in the sea of job openings of various
industries was another source of frustration. I therefore sought advice
from the Careers and Placement, Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) hoping to clarify
my career direction.
Getting Started
Visiting Ms Alpha Pau, one of the six Honorary Consultants, was my
first station. With her abundant experiences in the business world
as a senior executive, she helped consolidate my particulars into
one single page and amended my cover letter improving it significantly.
The Work Began
Polishing my cover letter and resumé was merely a start. As
a non-business student, I had to acquire sufficient business sense
very quickly. I started to pay attention to business and financial
news and read business magazines and reviews frequently and regularly.
Merely memorizing facts would surely be of no help during interviews.
The ability to analyze and present personal and original opinions
in a logical way is in fact the very ability that employers look for.
Thanks to Mr Herman Chan, the Placement Consultant at the Careers and Placement, CEDARS, my
interviewing skills were greatly improved with the number of books
and articles that he recommended to me and the workshops that he conducted.
Sales Specialist at IBM
IBM is famous for its sales-oriented culture. Sales Specialists at
IBM are not only responsible for "selling", but also for
understanding clients' IT infrastructure and needs. We are also responsible
for delivering tailor-made solutions to them. For sure, we would not
be able to do all the work; and therefore, we have to coordinate among
colleagues of the many supporting teams and motivate them to win every
deal. To be a good Sales Specialist, one must have superb leadership
qualities and presentation skills, so that s/he can interact with
people well and deliver messages logically. That may be the reason
why most members in the senior management team are promoted from this
position.
My Advice to Job Seekers
Questions related to your resumé will often be asked, so be
prepared.
Employers look for good analytical and presentation skills.
Make sure you know thoroughly the background of the firm you are
applying to.
Make sure you read widely and intelligently about issues related
to your career objective. Form your own opinions and converse as an
informed lay person with the interviewer.
Most importantly, think about your career aspirations. Consultants
at Careers and Placement, CEDARS are always there to help.
