CAREERS EDUCATION & PLACEMENT CENTRE

CAREERS EDUCATION & PLACEMENT CENTRE Biological SciencesDate :19 October, 2000 (Thu)Time : 10:40 p.m. - 11:40 p.m.Venue :Lab E, 1/F, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Bldg.

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

Objectives of this talk I. be aware of what you should gain from your course of study II. be aware of the occupations that are open to graduates from your course of study III. be aware of the actual occupations that graduates from the previous year entered IV. how to locate information on job content skills, required by specific occupations V. know how to locate employment opportunities VI. know how to locate resources on resume writing and selection interviews VII. know how to use the CDT

I(a). Your Degree in Biological Sciences ... What Next? (General Information) (a) What skills have you gained in your course? (b) Jobs directly related to your degree (c) Jobs for which an Biological Sciences degree will be useful (d) Careers open to all graduates (e) Who employs Biological Sciences graduates? (f) Further Studies ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Where to find the above information? • Career Development Track

I(b) What skills have you gained in this course? • Scientific research • Field survey techniques • Critical data analysis • Statistics awareness • Using computers in support of experimental work • Numeracy skills • Broad scientific understanding • Analytical & Problem-solving skills

I(b) What skills have you gained in this course? • Logical thinking • Planning skill • Better time management • Communication skills • Oral/written presentation skills • Skills in teamwork • Meeting deadlines

II(a) Jobs Directly Related to your Degree • Research Assistant - undertakes research in different areas like product development, food components analysis, etc., provides technical information to the member firms of research association • Medical Research/Laboratory Scientist - in hospital and public health authorities, provides sophisticated analytical and advisory services to clinicians and other professionals.

II(a) Jobs Directly Related to your Degree • Information Science, Patents, Drug Registration - collects, abstracts, analyses and organizes data, to high standards of accuracy and to exact specifications. • Sales, Buying, Marketing - promotes and markets the sales of scientific products with the technical companies • Quality Control - tests raw materials and finished products in industries

II(a) Jobs Directly Related to your Degree • Water Quality inspector - monitors the quality of drinking water and regulates industrial effluent, negotiates charges for effluent treatment, etc. • Environmental Consultant - programmes for the reduction of pollution, or works on client contracts in different areas like environmental policy

II(a) Jobs Directly Related to your Degree • Food Scientists - works with food retailers on technical aspects of food sold in their stores like development and quality control • Recycling Officer - responsible for local environmental policies for waste reduction, re-use and recovery. Develops plans, implements and monitors a variety of recycling schemes

II(a) Jobs Directly Related to your Degree • Nature Conservation Officer- protects, manages and develops wildlife habitats in National Park, private estate or other conservation sites, negotiates with planners and developers and conducts ecological surveys. • Countryside Manager - manages countryside and visitor services, supervises and trains staff and volunteers

II(a) Jobs Directly Related to your Degree • Medical Sales Representative - represents pharmaceutical companies to general practitioners, retails pharmacists and hospital doctors, promotes the pharmaceutical products in an ethical manner. • Teacher - teaches Biology &/or Chemistry in secondary schools.

II(b) Jobs for which BiologicalSciences degree will be useful • Information Scientist - finds, stores, retrieves, evaluates and disseminates scientific, technical and commercial information, manipulates databases to answer queries from professional and other user. • Personnel, Purchasing, Distribution and Warehouse Management, Accountancy and Computing (in a scientific company)

II(b) Jobs for which BiologicalSciences degree will be useful • Project Officer in conservation organizations • Occupational Hygienist - undertakes the recognition, evaluation and control of health hazards resulting from chemical, physical or biological factors in the work environment • Environmental Health Officer - monitors and ensures the maintenance of standards of environmental and public health

II(b) Careers open to all graduates • You will find that some vacancies advertised for graduates in HK do not ask for specific degree subjects. Possession of the degree itself is taken as evidence of intellectual prowess. What is more important to the potential employer is the range of transferable skills and experience which you can demonstrate. Possession of work experience and relevant postgraduate qualifications may also help make you more attractive.

II(c) Who employs Biological Sciences graduates? • Local government • Universities and research institutes • Pharmaceutical and biotechnical companies • Hospitals • Food and drink manufactures • Government-funded agencies • Department of the Environment Protection • The Trade Development Council

II(d) Further Studies • The Chinese University of Hong Kong http://www.cuhk.hk • The University of Hong Kong http://www.hku.hk • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology http://www.ust.hk

II(d) Further Studies Studying Abroad : • UK http://www.britishcouncil.org/eis • France http://www.france.com.hk/edufrance.htm • Canada http://www.studyincanada.com • USA http://www.school.net.hk/iie • Australia http://www.education.com.hk/idp • Singapore http://www.contactsingapore.org.sg

III (a) Where did the 1999 Biology graduates go ?

III (a) Where did the 1999 Biochemistry graduates go ?

III (a) Where did the 1999 Food & Nutritional Science graduates go ?

III (a) Where did the 1999 Animal & Plant Biotechnology graduates go ?

III(b). Where did the 1999 HKU Biology graduates go? (Specific Information)

III(b). Where did the 1999 HKU Biochemistry graduates go? (Specific Information)

III(b). Where did the 1999 HKU Food & NutritionalScience graduates go? (Specific Information)

III(b). Where did the 1999 HKU Food &Nutritional Sciences graduates go? (Specific Information)

III(b). Where did the 1999 HKU Animal & Plant Biotechnology graduates go? (Specific Information)

Employment Situation(Biology) Employment Situation1996 1997 1998 1999 Unemployed 2.3% 0% 15% 6.3% Full-time employed 76.1% 79.7% 56% 69% Further Studies 21.6% 17.2% 29% 25%

Employment Situation(Biochemistry) Employment Situation1996 1997 1998 1999 Unemployed 0% 0% 17% 0% Full-time employed 65% 72.7% 33% 62% Further Studies 23.8% 16% 50% 38%

Employment Situation(Food & Nutritional Science) Employment Situation1996 1997 1998 1999 Unemployed 2.3% 2.4% 15% 13% Full-time employed 67.4% 82.9% 65% 66% Further Studies 16.3% 12.2% 18% 22%

Employment Situation(Animal & Plant Biotechnology) Employment Situation1996 1997 1998 1999 Unemployed 0% 8% 17% 0% Full-time employed 73.8% 68% 33% 62% Further Studies 23.8% 16% 50% 38%

III(c). How much did the 1999 HKU Biology graduates earn? Gross Income Mean $10,480 Minimum $8,000 Maximum $22,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Where to find the above information ? • Career Development Track

III(c). How much did the 1999 HKU Biochemistry graduates earn? Gross Income Mean $12,495 Minimum $ 8,500 Maximum $23,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Where to find the above information ? • Career Development Track

III(c). How much did the 1999 HKU Food & Nutritional Science graduates earn? Gross Income Mean $9,904 Minimum $8,000 Maximum $14,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Where to find the above information ? • Career Development Track

III(c). How much did the 1999 HKU Animal & Plant Biotechnoloty graduates earn? Gross Income Mean $9,665 Minimum $6,000 Maximum $16,095 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Where to find the above information ? • Career Development Track

III(d). What do these occupations involve? 1. Research Assistant, The University of Hong Kong 2. Medical Researcher, Tung Fong Hung (HK) Ltd /Medical Representative, Servicer (HK) Ltd ---------------------------------------------------------- Information on the other occupations can be found at “Career Development Track”

IV(a). What do employers expect from you? (a) Job comprehensiveness Typical extra-curricular activities Related occupations and training Career development and prospects Entry requirements (b) Personal qualities - core competencies Analytical reasoning Lateral thinking Communication skills Problem-solving Teamwork capabilities

IV(a). What do employers expect from you?(Cont’d) (c) Work experience Internships Summer jobs Part-time / temporary jobs Voluntary work -------------------------------------------------------------- Where to find more detailed information ? • Career Development Track

IV(b). How to locate information on job content skills, required by specific occupations? • Career Development track & • Prospects Planner available on the CEPC’s homepage <http://www.hku.hk/cepc>

V. How to locate employment opportunities? NETjobs Job site - South China Morning Post http://www.classifiedpost.com.hk - Hong Kong iMail http://www.jobmarket-online.com/ - Job Asia (needs registration) http://www.jobasia.com/ - Career Times http://www.careertimes.com.hk NETmatch (application form available now!) Recruitment talks Vacancy notices / newspaper cuttings Creative job search and networking ------------------------------------------------------------------------ • Would you like to have a look at NETjobs and NETmatch? • When and where will recruitment talks be held? • Where to find out hidden employment opportunities and how to do networking? • Career Development Track

VI(a). How to locate resources on resume writing and selection interviews? (a) Written application - resume and cover letter (b) Various types of written tests (i) aptitude test - verbal, numerical, graphical (ii) essay writing (iii) task paper (iv) in-tray exercise (c) Selection interviews (i) one-to-one (ii) group (iii) presentation

VI(b). How to locate resources on resume writing and selection interviews?(Cont’d) (a ) CEPC homepage (b ) Career Development Track (c ) Career websites hyperlinked to CEPC’s homepage ------------------------------------------------------------------------- How to develop your skills in the above areas? • Training sessions run by CEPC • Written materials in Career Development Track

VI(c). How to use the CDT? Click, Click, Click !!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.hku.hk/cepc

Use CDT and Prospects Planner • to learn what you have gained from your course of study • to learn what occupations are open to graduates from your course of study • to learn what actual occupations that graduates from the previous year entered • to locate information on job content skills required by specific occupations • to locate employment opportunities • to locate resources on resume writing and selection interviews

ANSWERS QUESTIONS

CAREERS EDUCATION & PLACEMENT CENTRE