The University of Hong Kong

Careers Education and Placement Centre

Where did the 1996 Psychology graduates go?

I. Introduction

The information contained in this paper is extracted from the Graduate Employment Survey of 1996 to answer the following questions about Psychology majors : -

II. Employment Situation in 1996

Of the 68 respondents who reported to major in Psychology, 61 graduates (90%) were in full-time employment within six months of graduation. 9% (6) went on for further studies. No unemployment was reported. (Table 1)

Psychology HKU Overall*
Total Male Female
‘96‘95 ‘96‘95 ‘96‘95 ‘96‘95
No.%No.% No.%No.% No.%No.% No.%No.%
No. of respondents 68 10080 100 14 10023 100 54 10057 100 21391002068100
F/T employed 6189.77391.3 1392.92191.3 4888.95291.2 174381.5172683.5
P/T employed seeking F/T job 0000 0000 0000 341.6180.9
Unemployed seeking F/T job 0011.3 0000 0011.8 341.6361.7
Further studies 68.867.5 17.128.7 59.347.0 31414.728113.6
Emigration/home country 0000 0000 0000 60.2810.1
Not seeking F/T job 11.500 0000 11.900 80.460.3
Table 1. Employment situation

* HKU overall refers to the figure for the total HKU population and includes M.B.,B.S. and B.D.S. graduates.

III. Further Studies

All the 6 Psychology graduates who pursued further studies studied in local tertiary institutions. See Table 2 for their academic programmes and Table 3 for source of finance for further studies.

Field of Study Academic programme
M.Phil.Master
(Coursework)
Postgraduate
Certificate
Social Sciences21
Education2
Others 1

Table 2. Academic programmes

Source of FinanceNo. of Graduates
Own Fund 5
Government Grant and Loan 1

Table 3. Source of finance for further studies

IV. Time Taken to Secure Employment

87% (52) of the graduates who were in full-time employment secured their first job offers before the end of September. The employment rate increased to 98% in December 1996. (Figure 1)

Figure 1. Time taken to secure employment

No Response = 1

V. Employment Sectors

The largest employment sector was commerce and industry (57% or 35 graduates), followed by education (21% or 13 graduates), community, social & personal services (13% or 8 graduates) and the civil service (8% or 5 graduates). (Figure 3)

Figure 2. Employment sectors

Figure 3. Employment sectors by sex

VI. Basic Salary and Gross Income

Table 4 shows the basic salary and gross income received by the 1996 Psychology graduates.

Basic Salary Gross Income
PsychologyHKU Average* PsychologyHKU Average*
‘96 ‘95 ‘96‘95 ‘96‘95‘96‘95
Mean $12,184$11,391$14,457$14,204 $13,217$12,257$15,902$15,662
Median $10,00010,000$12,000$12,000 $11,004$11,375$13,542$13,230
Minimum $6,000$3,000$3,000$2,000 $8,333$8,000$5,500$3,792
Maximum $27,000$18,145$55,000$60,000 $27,500$18,145$60,000$60,000

Table 4. Basic salary and gross income

* HKU average refers to the figure for the total HKU population and includes M.B.,B.S. and B.D.S. graduates.

VII. Number of Full-Time Job Offers

59% (36) of the Psychology graduates in full-time employment had more than one job offer. In fact, 35% (21) of graduates reported having received three or more offers. (Figure 4)

Figure 4. No. of full-time job offers

VIII. Names of Employers and Job Titles

The job titles of the 61 Psychology graduates in full-time employment and the names of their employers are listed below.

Employers : Job Titles :
CIVIL SERVICE -
* Civil Service Branch* Executive Officer II
* Customs & Excise Department* Inspector
* Social Welfare Department* Executive Officer II
* Organisation’s name not reported* Executive Officer II
* Organisation’s name not reported* Executive Officer II
EDUCATION-
* Bishop Hall Jubilee School * Substitute Teacher (Supply)
* Kowloon Tong School* Secondary School Teacher
* Lai King Catholic Secondary School* Supply Graduate Mistress
* Munsang College * Graduate Master
* Po Leung Kuk Tang Yuk Tien College* Teacher
* Pui Tak Canossian College * Secondary School Teacher
* Sacred Heart Canossian College* Secondary School Teacher
* SKH Li Ping Secondary School* CM Supply Teacher
* Tang Pui King College * Secondary School Teacher
* Teachers of English Language Education Centre* Research Assistant
* The University of Hong Kong* Research Assistant I
* The University of Hong Kong* Tutor
* The University of Hong Kong* Research Assistant
COMMUNITY, SOCIAL & PERSONAL SERVICES -
* Christian Action - Employees Retraining Centre* Assistant Employment & Training Officer
* Free Methodist Church Leung Tin Children & Youth Centre* Welfare Worker
* Hong Kong Women Christian Council* Executive Secretary
* Hospital Authority * Management Trainee
* Kindful Social Service* Assistant Research Officer
* Warehouse Teenage Club Ltd * Administrative Program Assistant
* Warehouse Teenage Club Ltd* Program Officer
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY-
* ANT World Transport (Far East) ltd* Management Trainee
* Asia TV * Marketing Executive
* Dairy Farm* Management Trainee
* DMB & B* Account Executive
* Emporium Department Store* Administrative Assistant
* Fine Markers H K Ltd* Assistant Officer
* Gennett International Ltd * Administrative Secretary
* Hong Kong Sales (Knitwear) Ltd* Assistant Merchandizer
* Jade Will Co Ltd* Marketing Coordinator
* HK Standard * Reporter
* Leo Burnett * Commercial Executive
* Linkage Online Ltd* Marketing & Communications Executive
* LS Cheung & Co Ltd* Secretary
* LSI Logic Hong Kong Ltd* Planning Trainee
* Man Fai Tai Enterprise* Shopping Assistant
* MTR* Manual Compiler
* Net Fun Ltd* Assistant Marketing Executive
* Ogilvy & Mather Advertising* Media Assistant
* Orca Design Consultant * Contact Officer
* Pacific Resource Export Ltd * Assistant Merchandiser
* Palace Property Ltd * Property Consultant
* Paper Communication Publications Ltd * Editor
* Procter & Gamble * Sales Executive
* Rankmex Consultant Ltd* Administration Supervisor
* Sing To* Reporter
* Snowman International Ltd* Marketing Assistant
* Song Development * Assistant Manager
* Star TV* Network Presentation Officer
* Swire Resources Ltd * Administration Assistant
* TBWH Lee Davis Advertising * Media Assistant
* Television Broadcasts Ltd* Assistant Personnel Officer
* The Sanwa Bank Ltd* Management Trainee
* Wing Hang Bank * Assistant Officer
* Wing On Department Store* Management Trainee
* Organization's name not reported* Management Trainee

No Response = 1

Table 5. List of employers and job titles

Note: Some alumni have indicated willingness to talk to individual students about their work. Their contact telephone number can be obtained from counsellors at CEPC.

IX.

Similar information on graduates from other disciplines of study are available for reference in the Careers Library. Please enquire with the CEPC.

Careers Education and Placement Centre
3/F Wong Chuang Lai Wah Building
Meng Wah Complex
The University of Hong Kong
Pokfulam Road
Hong Kong

Telephone : 2859 2314
Fax : (852) 2559 5238
E-Mail : CEPC@HKUCC.HKU.HK
Opening Hours :Monday - Friday (9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
Saturday (9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)

Margaret Lee
Nelson Yip

September, 1997

The analysis is based on information provided by the respondents, and the Careers Education & Placement Centre should not be held responsible for any errors arising therefrom.

No part of this report may be reproduced in any form or by whatever means,
without written permission from the Director of the Careers Education and Placement Centre,
The University of Hong Kong