Make the Match:
Preparing Your Application

　

To start your application…

First at all, you need to get all the facts about yourself together, such as examination grades, extra-curricular activities and work experience. What are your strengths? Make sure you have your relevant documents ready, things like examination certificates, scholarship certificates, etc.

Secondly, get information about the organisation and the job you are applying for. Decide what the selector's requirements are, then draw the connection between yourself and the job.

Application Letter

• Get yourself screened in for interviews with a well-written covering letter and résumé by:
  
  
  • being analytical about what the employer needs
    
    
  • being logical in your account of how you might meet those needs
    
    
  • substantiating your statements with evidence
    
    
  • ensuring that your written work is error free - both typing and grammatical ones
    
    
  • being specific in your résumé about past responsibilities & results achieved
    
    
  • avoiding the use of general motherhood statements or cliches
    
    
  • presenting all the information clearly and effectively
    
    
  • asking someone to comment on your letter and résumé
    

  
  

• Alternative approach to make your letter more effective
  
  
• Tips on filling out typical application forms
  　
• For teaching posts applications, prepare a statement of your teaching philosophy
  
  
• Wait! What if I have missed the closing date for application?
  

Making speculative/unsolicited applications

Look beyond advertised job openings! Approach companies of your choice even though there is no job advertisment. The rule in writing unsolicited application letters is the same as if you were responding to job advertisments. The focus is on matching your qualifications to the requirements of the employer. In the first paragraph of your cover letter, state your purpose i.e. you are writing to enquire about possible openings in the near future 

• How to write unsolicited letters
  　
• Creative Job Search On-line Guide

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Interview skills

• Do these to prepare for an interview
  
  
• Discuss with interviewers the reasons for which they should hire you. Get the interviewers interested in hiring you by:
  
  
  • being natural
    
    
  • being interesting
    
    
  • being specific
    
    
  • presenting the interviewers with reasons to hire you
    
    　
• Interview techniques
  　
  • Telephone Interviews
    
  • What should I ask at the end of an interview?
    
    　
• How to dress for a job interview?
  
  

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Other selection exercises

• Case Interviews
  　

  • Types of case interview
    　

  • Tips to prepare for case interviews
    　

  • Tips on how to ace a case interview
    　

  • On-line cases by BCG 
    　

• Common Recruitment Examination (CRE)
  　

• Group Discussions
  　

• In-tray Exercises
  　

  • Exercise 1
    　

  • Exercise 2
    　

  • Exercise 3
    　

• Presentation Exercises
  　

• Reasoning Tests [Learn more…]
  　

  • Aptitude Test
    　

• Written Chinese Tests
  　

• Written English Tests

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Thank you letter

Secure a good impression by sending a thank you letter to the interviewer right after the selection exercise. Thank you letters should be short and concise. Their purpose of it is to express your appreciation for the interviewer's time and to reiterate your interest in the job. Check out the following sites for advice:

• Secrets of effective interview thank you notes
  
  
• How to say "Thank You" and get hired
  

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Choosing between offers

Deciding on a job offer can be as challenging as the job search process. Do you know if this job offer is right for you? Do you have more than one offer to choose from? Here are a few main factors that you may consider:

• Yourself - Don't make a decision on someone else's desires. The offer may be very attractive to your classmates and friends but not necessarily to you. Consider again your interest, values, skills and personality. How perfect do they match with the job offer that you have.
  
  

• Job Duties - Ask yourself what you like and dislike about the duties. Bear in mind that as a fresh graduate, you have to start at the basics, meaning that you will have to handle tasks that that are relatively trivial from time to time. See the positive side of it: these tasks let you know the job thoroughly which is vital as you make your way up to the management level.
  
  

• Company Culture - Find out what the culture is like. Does it suit your personality? Do you prefer to work in a company that emphasis meritocracy? Or you would you rather join a firm that is more hierarchical and bureaucratic.
  
  

• Learning Opportunity and Advancement - Will there be opportunities for you to acquire new skills and drill on your strengths? Will you be given opportunities to take up more responsibilities and challenges independently over time? What is the chance for you to get a promotion if your performance is excellent?
  
  

• Your Supervisor and Colleagues - Your relationship with supervisors and colleagues can be the most rewarding and most frustrating aspect of your work. If you feel that you will be able to create synergy with the team, then you are likely to find the experience a pleasant one.

There are other possible factors that are not covered here e.g. do you need money to pay off your Government Grant and Loan? (if money is your concern, read how to negotiate your salary in a business manner) Do you prefer to work in Admiralty so that you can take evening courses at SPACE?

Prioritise your choice and choose an offer that suits you most. Remember that when you have accepted a job offer in writing you have a moral as well as legal obligation to honour the commitment. Therefore, we advise you to consider very carefully whether to accept an offer before you make a decision. Once a decision is made, you must keep your word.

What if you are still waiting for the result from another employer whom you like more? See this.

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Signing employment contract

• General Advice on Employment Contract
  
  
  • Learn your rights and obligations by reading the Concise Guide to the Employment Ordinance.
    
    
  • Avoid falling into employment traps. Read advice from the Guide for Students Seeking Summer Jobs.
    
    
• Key Points To Note
  
  
  • Contract of employment can be made orally or in writing and it includes both express and implied terms.
    
    
  • Any term of an employment contract which purports to extinguish or reduce any right, benefit or protection conferred upon the employee by the Employment Ordinance shall be void.
    
    
  • A contract of employment may be terminated by due notice or wages in lieu of notice.
    
    
  • An employee employed under a continuous contract is entitled to not less than one rest day in every period of seven days.
    
    
  • Wages shall become due on the expiry of the last day of the wage period. An employer should pay wages to an employee as soon as practicable but in any case not later than seven days after the end of the wage period.
    
    
  • An employee may claim for remedies against an employer under the following situations:
    
    
    • Unreasonable Dismissal
      
      
    • Unreasonable Variation of the Terms of the Employment Contract
      
      
    • Unreasonable and Unlawful Dismissal
      
      
• Enquiry
  
  

  • Those who wish to obtain further information about your rights and obligations under the Employment Ordinance may visit Labour Department's website or contact the Labour Department at 2717 1771.

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