Mechanical Engineering 17 February, 2000 (Thursday) 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. T1, Meng Wah Complex

1. CAREERS EDUCATION & PLACEMENT CENTRE Mechanical Engineering17 February, 2000 (Thursday)5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.T1, Meng Wah Complex Slide 1

2. Careers Education and Placement Centre • Ms Emily Wong • Manager • E-mail: eypwong@hkucc.hku.hk • Web: http://www.hku.hk/cepc Slide 2

3. Objectives of this talk • Be aware of available occupations • Be aware of ways to make an informed career choice • Be aware of ways to improve your employment prospect • How CDT can help

4. Talk Content Be aware of available occupationI. Your Degree in Mechanical Engineering ... What Next? (General Information)Be aware of ways to make an informed career choiceII. Where did the 1998 HKU Mechanical Engineering graduates go? (Specific Information) What do people in different occupations do?

5. Be aware of ways to improve your employment prospectIII. What do employers expect from you?IV. Where can you find the job and how to apply for it?V. How to succeed in getting the job? - A winning applicationVI. What to do if you are not certain about what occupations are suitable for you?How CDT can helpVII. A short demonstration

6. I. Your Degree in Mechanical Engineering ... What Next? (General Information)II. Where did the 1998 HKU Mechanical Engineering graduates go? (Specific Information)III. What do employers expect from you?IV. Where can you find the job and how to apply for it? V. How to succeed in getting the job?VI. If you are not certain about what occupations are suitable for you, please visit - Slide 2a

7. I. Your Degree in Mechanical Engineering ... What Next? (General Information) • (a) What skills have you gained on your course? • (b) Jobs directly related to your degree • (c) Jobs where a Mechanical Engineering degree would be useful • (d) Careers open to all graduates • (e) Who employs Mechanical Engineering graduates? • (f) Going on to further study • ---------------------------------------------------------------------- • Where to find the above information ? • • The Career Development Track Slide 3

8. (a). What skills have you gained on your course? • • A logical approach to problem solving • • Attention to detail • • Ability to be a good team worker • • Adaptable and able to work to deadlines • • Verbal and written communication skills Slide 3(a)

9. (b). Jobs directly related to your degree • • Mechanical Development Engineer - establishes performance of prototype equipment and compares it with specification; may propose changes and prove their effectiveness. • • Mechanical Design Engineer - analyses requirements for proposed new component, equipment or system. Creates design solutions acceptable for operating and cost parameters. • • Research Engineer - largely applied research where the aim and direction of the work is pre-determined. Work is normally within a team working on several projects concurrently. • • Production Engineer - is responsible for all engineering matters related to manufacturing methods and processes in a wide variety of industries. • • Consulting Engineer - provides professional expertise in a wide range of engineering tasks. Slide 3(b)

10. (c). Occupations where a Mechanical Engineering degree would be useful • • Analyst / Programmer - investigates and analyses a client’s data processing needs. Designs, tests and implements a system to meet these needs. Writes new programs or modifies existing software to run the system. • • Patent Examiner - studies the subject matter of filed applications for patents. Responsible for ensuring applications are acceptable under patent law and do not infringe on the rights of the inventors. • • Production Manager - plans, co-ordinates and operates manufacturing and allied production processes to ensure most efficient use of plant, manpower and materials. Slide 3(c)

11. (d). Careers open to all graduates • Project Executive • Estates Officer • Sales Manager • Marketing Executive • Administrator • etc . . . Slide 3(d)

12. II. Where did the 1998 HKU Mechanical Engineering graduates go?(Specific Information) • EmployersJob Titles • HKSAR - • Electrical & Mechanical Services Department Engineering Graduate • Electrical & Mechanical Services Department Engineering Graduate • Environmental Protection Department Engineering Graduate • Environmental Protection Department Engineering Graduate • ASM Assembly Automation Ltd Assistant Engineer • Cheung Kong Centre Property Management LtdBuilding Management Trainee • Chevalier (HK) Ltd Graduate Engineer • etc..... etc.... Slide 4

13. II. Where did the 1998 HKU Mechanical Engineering graduates go?(Cond’t) • Salary • Mean $12,214 • Minimum $7,500 • Maximum $30,083 • ------------------------------------------------------------------------- • Where to find the above information ? • • The Career Development Track Slide 5

14. III. What do employers expect from you? • (a) Job content skills • Typical work activities • Related occupations • Training • Career development and prospects • Entry requirements • (b) Personal qualities - core competencies • Analytical reasoning • Lateral thinking • Communication • Problem solving • Teamwork • ....... etc. Slide 6

15. III. What do employers expect from you?(Cond’t) • (c) Work experience • Internship • Summer job • Part-time / temporary job • Voluntary work • ....... etc. • -------------------------------------------------------------- • Where to find more detailed information ? • • The Career Development Track Slide 7

16. IV. Where can you find the job and how to apply for it? • NETjob • NETmatch (application form available now!) • Recruitment talks • Vacancy notices / newspaper cutting • Creative job search and networking • ------------------------------------------------------------------------ • Do you want to have a look at NETjob and NETmatch? • When and where will the recruitment talks be held? • Where to find out hidden employment opportunities and how to do networking? • • The Career Development Track Slide 8

17. V. How to succeed in getting the job? • (a) Written application - résumé and cover letter • (b) Various types of written tests • (i) aptitude test - verbal, numerical, diagramatic • (ii) essay writing • (iii) task paper • (iv) in-tray exercise • ....... etc • (c) Selection interviews • (i) single • (ii) group • (iii) presentation • ....... etc Slide 9

18. V. How to succeed in getting the job?(Cond’t) • ------------------------------------------------------------------------- • How to develop your skills in the above areas? • • Training sessions run by CEPC • • Written materials in the Career Development Track Slide10

19. V. How to write covering letters • Limit it to one page, one and a half at the most • A4 size quality paper • Be brief and specific - don’t re-produce your résumé • be addressed to the relevant named person in the organization

20. V. How to write covering letter… cont’d • say how you came to know about the vacancy • draw attention to relevant skills and experience • don’t merely quote what skills your have, give specific examples • say why you are attracted to and suitable for the job

21. Covering Letter • Why are you interested in the company and the job?? • Research!! • recruitment talk • career booklet • recruiting organisation’s annual report / brochure • world wide web (e.g. South China Morning Post Achive) • alumni contact/friends • CEPC homepage

22. V. How to write resumes • Keep it to 1-2 pages • Use quality A4 paper and matching envelope • Neat and clear presentation • Include information that is relevant to the job • Be achievement-oriented • Leave out expected salary unless asked for

23. The DOs • write the resume yourself • make it error free • make it look good • stress your accomplishments • be brief and specific • be honest • keep it lively - use action words (e.g. organised, participated, handled..etc) • address to the right person

24. The DON’Ts • Incomplete Information • Poor layout • Too fancy/complicated • Incorrect dates (e.g. date of birth, year of graduation)

25. One Final Rule • Remember the 4Ss • SIMPLE • SUCCINCT • STRAIGHT-FORWARD • SPECIFIC

26. Username : cepcPassword : cdt99Career Development Track(C.D.T)

27. VI. If you are not certain about what occupations are suitable for you, please visit - • PROSPECT(HE) • • a computer-assisted careers guidance system designed to help you with your career planning • • you can expect the results of the following: • - What you are good at • - What interests and motivates you • - How these relate to the world of work • - What different jobs involve • - Your chance of getting into these jobs, and • - How to make effective job applications Slide 11

28. ANSWERS QUESTIONS