* The interview was conducted in Feb 2004

• University Education
• Employment History
• What is the most important quality of a candidate, in your opinion, working for CX?
• Is the discipline of study important in the selection criteria?
• How should students prepare for the interview?
• How do the interviewers evaluate the interviewees?
• What are some qualities of a natural leader?
• What kind of employees is CX looking for?
• Can you tell us more about geographic mobility?
• What is the career path at CX?
• What are some recent developments in the airline industry?

University Education

Bachelor of Social Science, HKU, 1997

Employment History

I graduated in HKU in 1997 and joined Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd (CX) as a Management Trainee (MT). During my 6.5 years in CX, I have worked in different departments and in different parts of the world. I am now a manager in the Revenue Management Department, responsible for pricing, inventory control and yield management of various markets and routings.

What is the most important quality of a candidate, in your opinion, working for CX?

In the MT program, there will be job rotation every year in the 3-year training period, including 1 year of overseas posting. After the training, we will still be posted in different departments or countries, and each posting lasts for approximately 2 to 3 years. We will face many changes in each post and location, as well as learning to work with very different supervisors and colleagues. Hence, I think the ability to adapt to changes is very important.

Is the discipline of study important in the selection criteria?

I majored in Psychology in the Faculty of Social Sciences in HKU. Discipline of study is not a major criterion in recruitment. Employers usually look for common sense and business acumen. Academic training is to develop problem-solving and analytical skills.

How should students prepare for the interview?

Due to the dynamic nature of the training programme and airline industry, students have to show their pro-active attitude in the interviews. For example, how do you prove yourself as a person who takes initiative in your study / work history?

In addition, students should show their interest in the company. Some company and industry research in advance will be helpful, for example:

• how many destinations do the airline serves;
  
  
• how many aircrafts does CX have currently and any plan to expand the fleet;
  
  
• what kind of aircraft models are being owned by CX;
  
  
• what are the new destinations (e.g. Beijing 3 times/week); and
  
  
• opinions on new destination options, etc.

Students should also keep abreast of current events. For example, what's going on around the world, what are your opinions about the recent bird flu, etc. Students should be prepared to demonstrate their presentation skills and analytical ability.

How do the interviewers evaluate the interviewees?

Usually, interviewers will ask questions in a sequence starting from easy to more difficult levels; from personal background (e.g. academic programme, extra-curricular activities, choice of study, relationship with family / friends) to broad issues such as current events and situational questions, etc.

Students should be prepared to answer:

• What are your major strengths and weaknesses?
  
  
• More importantly, how do you deal with your weaknesses? (e.g. I have poor time management, and am therefore actively using day-timers to keep track of my activities)

We would also conduct group discussion to see how you interact with others, typically in groups of seven.

• Common roles in a group: dominant / loud leader, natural leader (thought leader), thinker (full of ideas but lack of organization), team-worker (good social mixer, but lack of pro-activeness and aggressiveness)
  
  
• CX likes to choose the natural leader (dominant leader and thinker are the least preferred)
  
  
• Interviewees will be given a situational scenario (e.g. The company is going to bankrupt, what are the options? How were these decisions made? What are the prioritized choices?)
  
  
• The inspectors will observe: How do you resolve conflicts? How do you build consensus? How do you negotiate?

What are some qualities of a natural leader?

• Listen to others first before voicing their own comments.
  
  
• Never be too stubborn; show empathy - understand others in their situation.

What kind of employees is CX looking for?

• Self-confident.
  
  
• Strong social and communications skills, demonstrate through interaction with peers.
  
  
• Leadership and management skills.
  
  
• English proficiency.
  
  
• Cantonese is mandatory.
  
  
• Ability to speak Mandarin is an advantage.
  
  
• Cultural sensitivity.
  
  
• Geographic mobility. (very important in your career choice)

Can you tell us more about geographic mobility?

We have job rotation on a regular basis. Change is a major part of our company culture.

How do you deal with change? Not all personality types fit with the dynamic change in job nature of being CX MT. A typical change example happened when I was working as a trainee in Bangkok, and was given a 2-week notice to transfer back to Hong Kong and work in Marketing. I had to pack up and relocate almost instantly. Are you prepared for such change which would also affect your personal life?

What is the career path at CX?

When you are first recruited, you will be reporting to a Regional Manager / General Manager in the first 3 years. Later in your career path, you might be appointed to work in another country as a Country Manager and to run all the operations in this location. This requires a lot of independence and leadership capability.

What are some recent developments in the airline industry?

One significant development is the emergence of low-cost carriers: Southwest Airlines in the US, Ryan Air in Europe, etc. The trend also starts emerging in Asia: Air Asia started in Malaysia (flying from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore for US$19.90), Value Air, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, and Orient Thai in Thailand.

Questions are welcome. Send a note to <cepc@cepc.hku.hk>.