Build Your Foundation:
Acquire Key Skills and Develop Positive Attitude

There are a number of key skills and personal qualities expected from new graduates by employers. These skills and personal qualities are also important for long term career success.

Key Skills

The key skills include:

• communication skills (oral and written English and Chinese, including Putonghua)
  
• analytical reasoning
  
• lateral thinking
  
• interpersonal sensitivity
  
• practical orientation
  
• planning skill
  
• time management
  
• leadership
  
• team-working
  
• problem-solving and decision-making skill
  
• computer literacy
  
• ability to make initiative
  
• ability to learn independently
  
• knowledge of business in Hong Kong
  
• international awareness
• presentation and creativity

The personal qualities required by employers are:

• motivation
  
• sense of responsibility
  
• emotional stability
  
• confidence
  
• personal integrity

Glossaries

• Definitions

• A List of Common Business Skills

Acquiring Key Skills

These skills and qualities can be developed during your course of studies as well as through extra-curricular activities. For example, your academic studies train you to develop a clear and logical mind with the ability to analyse problems and offer critical but balanced views on the issues involved. It also refines your ability to communicate and debate. Meanwhile, your participation in the extra-curricular activities will provide you with exposures to a wide range of personal management skills such as time management, problem solving, teamwork, reaching agreement and decision making etc. These activities will develop your ability and self-confidence to work with people, help you to present your ideas effectively and convincingly and to manage your time and other resources more competently. You are strongly advised to make the best use of your valuable time in the University so as to develop your full potentials.

HKU provides numerous opportunities for you to develop your potentials e.g. hall education, student activities, competitions, overseas exchange, etc. Check out the following stories of some HKU students about how they made use of their university life to hone their key skills:

• Hall Life

• Student Activities, Competitions and Overseas Exchange

The earlier you start, the more time you have to prepare!

　

Online Materials on Key Skills Enhancement

• E-books on key skills (exclusive to HKU students)
• Business English skills
• Business Etiquette
• Communication Skills
• Confidence
• Presentation and creativity
• Team-working

Advice from Employers

• "From an employers' point of view, the right attitude is far more important than the right degree... Graduates no matter how brilliant they are on paper, will soon run into trouble without the right attitude towards their profession."
  
  - Dr Victor Fung, Group Chairman, Li & Fung group of companies [Learn More...]
  
  

• "Knowledge along will not get you very far in life. Honesty, integrity and wisdom will be the key to your success in future. Without these things, your knowledge alone will not be able to provide you with what should be considered success."
  
  - Mr Thomas Kwok, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Sun Hung Kai Properties [Learn More...]
  
  

• "Adversity can happen anywhere, at anytime, to anyone. The only solution is to think positively and prepared... Do well academically, excel in extra-curricular activities, develop top-rate interpersonal skills, train up your leadership skills and have a clear goal."
  
  - Mr Stephen Lau, Chairman of Tax Services, Ernst & Young [Learn More...]
  
  

• More Tips from Employers