Education Background and Professional Affiliation

• Chartered Member of Institution of Structural Engineers (2005)
• Postgraduate Certificate of Engineering (Bridge Engineering) (Surrey University, 2002)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Civil & Structural Engineering) (HKU, 2000

Employment History

• Hyder Consulting (UK) Ltd, Bristol, UK (2002 - present)
• Hyder Consulting (ME) Ltd, Dubai, UAE (Summer 2005) - Secondment
• Hyder Consulting (UK) Ltd, Buckinghamshire, UK (2001 - 2002)
• Meinhardt Consulting, Hong Kong (2000 - 2001)

I am currently working as a senior structural engineer in an international engineering consulting firm in the UK, providing project procurement services and engineering solutions to a wide range of clients, ranging from local government agencies to national property developers.

How did I get to know this overseas opening

I learned about the opening in the BOND (British Overseas NGOs for Development) website. The company intended to employ a few engineering graduates to work in the UK offices. The first interview took place in October 2000, and the second interview was in March 2001. Both interviews were conducted in Hong Kong. Apart from obvious questions such as 'why do you think you are suitable to work overseas?', the interviews were quite similar to those that I attended for local jobs. I believe they were looking for someone who could adapt to new environments and communicate with professionals of various disciplines. My reason to work overseas is to broaden my horizons, and learn to understand different ideas and ways of thinking which I think is important for my life and career.

Preparation for overseas posting / training

The preparation for overseas postings is very much the same as for local jobs. Acquire some workplace skills, which will enhance your productivity and efficiency; show your interest and enthusiasm in the job; be able to work as part of a team and be flexible. On top of this, be prepared to:

• adapt to a completely new and different working environment and life style e.g. foods are in European style and shops do not always open long hours in the UK
• be independent
• be geographically mobile - you may have to work in offices in different provinces / countries
• work with people of different cultural backgrounds

The ups and downs of working outside HK

Ups : I must say that this is a priceless experience for my personal growth and career development. I have met people of different cultures and professions, and this has certainly broadened my outlook. For example, by working with the British, who think and analyse problems quite differently from the Asians, I have learned to evaluate problems with an extra dimension. I have established a habit of comparing how people in HK and UK handle similar incidents and recognise that there is always more than one way to solve a problem. By analysing the reasons behind people's decisions, I have learned to consider people's backgrounds and differences before expressing my opinions. I believe my appreciation and understanding of diversity is important for my career advancement.

Downs : It needs commitment and time to adapt to a new style of living in a foreign country. Catching up with the sharp learning curve could be a bit tiring sometimes.

What have I gained?

I have been given the opportunity to work with international clients, architects and colleagues from different offices. This has enhanced my technical and management skills. Clients in the UK tend to emphasize the 'value' of a product rather than the 'cost' of it. That is, instead of spending as little time as possible or repeating old designs to save cost, clients give us plenty of room for creative work if the product will have a higher value. To them, the most economic solution (or cheapest) does not always bring the best value.

Companies in the UK recognize the importance of staff development. I have received high quality training with an accredited training scheme by the Institute of Civil Engineers. Also I have established a close link with engineers from other offices in the UK, Dubai and Australia. I am sure this will facilitate my work in the profession.

Advice for students who would like to work outside HK

Always give yourself chances to explore something different in all dimensions. Don't worry about being alone, there are many HKU graduates working overseas.

Additional Information about BOND

British Overseas NGOs for Development (BOND) www.bond.org.uk is the UK's broadest network of voluntary organisations working in international development. Founded in June 1993, BOND aims to improve the UK's contribution to international development by promoting the exchange of experience, ideas and information. The Classifieds section of BOND's website is updated frequently and it advertises international development, training, and volunteering opportunities.