Mr. Boris Chan

University Education

Bachelor of Economics and Finance (HKU, 2004)

On Exchange to University of Toronto, Canada

employment history

Banking Trainee, Enterprise Banking, DBS

Received training in Singapore from 2004 to 2005 (July 2004 – July 2005)

Source of Job Information

I learned about this Management Associate Programme through the Careers Centre of HKU. From the recruitment presentation and the brochures, I got to know that overseas training would be offered.

About the Posting/Training 

Indeed, I was excited about the opportunity to work in Singapore for a year. My academic exchange experience helped me to prepare for working abroad.

There was a 2-week orientation in the HK office .The programme included sharing sessions with the HK senior management team, full day courses on technical knowledge about the banking industry and soft skills such as presentation skills, social etiquette, etc. The orientation familiarized us with the working environment in DBS and the banking industry.

Overcoming Culture Difference

Be open-minded is the key! Sometimes you might get unset when you don’t understand people’s behaviour.  Accept these differences and try to think in others’ shoes.

People might encounter problem in terms of communication. For example, at first, I was a bit frustrated and I felt lost when people started to speak in Fu Jian - a Chinese dialect commonly used by Singaporean. But very soon, I got used to it and I started learning it too.

What have I learned

The training was enjoyable and fruitful. It's eye-opening for me to understand more about the culture of different races such as Malay and Indian. I also enjoyed telling my colleagues and friends what Hong Kong is like and how it is different from Singapore in terms of people, fashion, business environment.. etc

The learning outcome has two aspects: enhancement of technical skills and soft skills. Since DBS is headquartered in Singapore, the training gave me an opportunity to understand how the parent company operates. In particular, I have gained a more comprehensive picture about the enterprise banking segments in terms of credit, products, and sales. I am confident that I will be able to apply this knowledge in my work. What’s more important is that I have established a close tied with other trainees and colleagues from different offices of DBS. The close working relationship will no doubt facilitate my work now and in the future.

Advice to students 

"Be enthusiastic, open-minded, pro-active and progressive in a humble way as well as to enjoy” is what I want to share with my fellow schoolmates.

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