Statistics 24 February, 2000 (Thursday) 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. T4, Meng Wah Complex

CAREERS EDUCATION & PLACEMENT CENTRE Statistics24 February, 2000 (Thursday)1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.T4, Meng Wah Complex Slide 1

Careers Education and Placement Centre • Ms Emily Wong • Manager • E-mail: eypwong@hkucc.hku.hk • Web: http://www.hku.hk/cepc Slide 2

Objectives of this talk • Be aware of available occupations • Be aware of ways to make an informed career choice • Be aware of ways to improve your employment prospect • How CDT can help

Talk Content Be aware of available occupationI. Your Degree in Statistics ... What Next? (General Information)Be aware of ways to make an informed career choiceII. Where did the 1998 HKU Statistics graduates go? (Specific Information) What do people in different occupations do?

Be aware of ways to improve your employment prospectIII. What do employers expect from you?IV. Where can you find the job and how to apply for it?V. How to succeed in getting the job? - A winning applicationVI. What to do if you are not certain about what occupations are suitable for you?How CDT can helpVII. A short demonstration

I. Your Degree in Statistics ... What Next? (General Information)II. Where did the 1998 HKU Statistics graduates go? (Specific Information)III. What do employers expect from you?IV. Where can you find the job and how to apply for it? V. How to succeed in getting the job?VI. If you are not certain about what occupations are suitable for you, please visit - Slide 2a

I. Your Degree in Statistics ... What Next? (General Information) • (a) What skills have you gained on your course? • (b) Jobs directly related to your degree • (c) Jobs where a Statistics degree would be useful • (d) Careers open to all graduates • (e) Who employs Statistics graduates? • (f) Going on to further study • ---------------------------------------------------------------------- • Where to find the above information ? • • The Career Development Track Slide 3

(a). What skills have you gained on your course? • • highly competent in the collection and handling of data, analytical techniques, statistical methods and the use of information technology for the manipulation and interpretation of information • • understand complex problems, adopt a logical, quantitative approach to problem solving • • verbal and written communication skills • • high standard of numeracy • • good organisational skills Slide 3(a)

(b). Jobs directly related to your degree • • Government Statistician - analyses data and trends to advise ministers and colleagues in every area of government activity from education to the environment. • • Industrial Statistician - measures and interprets the variability of industrial processes in order to control all aspects of it and monitor the quality of the end product. The pharmaceutical industry is a major employer of statisticians in this area. • • Medical Statistician - uses statistical and computational techniques to analyse health service information; employed in a variety of settings including research institutions, university medical schools, hospitals, health authorities and government departments. • • Biometry - involves the application of mathematical and statistical techniques within the field of research and development in the pure and applied biological sciences e.g. agriculture, environmental science and fisheries and food science. Slide 3(b)

(b). Jobs directly related to your degree …cont’d • • Educational Research - a relatively small number of statisticians are employed in this field often on a consultancy basis in university departments or in organisations concerned with policy, analysing the impact and expenditure implications of proposed policy changes and monitoring the effects of changs. • • Actuary - studies past events to predict future outcomes. This often involves the application of probability and statistics to financial affairs, especially life assurance, pensions and social security. Opportunities exist to train with life assurance offices, general insurance offices, consultant actuaries and employee benefit consultants and the government actuaries department. • • Risk Analyst - identifies, analyses and evaluates areas of potential risk which threaten the assets or earning capacity of any organisation.

(b). Jobs directly related to your degree …cont’d • • Market Research Statistician / Analyst - responsible for liaising with clients to devise and monitor different forms of data collection and interpretation for the purpose of business planning, forecasting and market segment analysis. • • Scientific Research - opportunities exist within the Civil Service and occasionally in large industrial research laboratories to work on the design and analysis of experimental projects.

(c). Occupations where a Statistics degree would be useful • • Accountancy - employers rarely specify degree disciplines, but all look for numeracy and logical thought. • • Banking - while graduates in statistics may apply for all the posts open to graduates of any discipline they are also in demand for various specialist posts such as investment and statistical analysis and credit analysis. • • Insurance - insurance companies offer many openings in addition to actuarial work, including investment analysis, systems technology and underwriting. • • Information Technology Consultant - provides independent advice and makes recommendations on the best use of information technology to solve business problems; employed by management consultants, software and systems houses and some large manufacturers of computing equipment. Slide 3(c)

(c). Occupations where a Statistics degree would be useful (cont’d) • • Management Consultancy - opportunities exist to work on a wide range of projects in various types of consultancy firms. Competition for posts is fierce. • • Management Services - includes operational research (OR), work study, organisation and methods and ergonomics. • • Teaching - you will normally have to do a postgraduate certificate in education before entering this field. There is a substantial demand for teachers of mathematics.

(d). Careers open to all graduates • Human Resources Trainee • Research Trainee • Business Analyst • Marketing / Sales Executive • Assistant Credit Analyst • Statistical Analyst • Equity Research Assistant • Statistical Officer • etc . . . Slide 3(d)

II. Where did the 1998 HKU Statistics graduates go?(Specific Information) • EmployersJob Titles • HKSAR-Hong Kong Monetary Authority Clerk • St. Gloria College Graduate Master • HKUResearch Assistant • Brilliant Learning Centre Tutor • Dickson Concepts (Int’l) Ltd Marketing Executive • Ernst & Young Staff Accountant • Fuk Hing Industries Co Ltd Secretary • Glorious Sun Enterprises Ltd R & D Assistant • Huang Kwan & Associates Customer Relation Officer • Mattel Vendor Operations Asia Ltd Planner • New Bright Industrial Co Ltd Executive Trainee • Tong Zhi Tang Group Management Trainee Slide 4

II. Where did the 1998 HKU Statistics graduates go?(Cond’t) • Salary • Mean $11,611 • Minimum $8,000 • Maximum $21,520 • ------------------------------------------------------------------------- • Where to find the above information ? • • The Career Development Track Slide 5

III. What do employers expect from you? • (a) Job content skills • Typical work activities • Related occupations • Training • Career development and prospects • Entry requirements • (b) Personal qualities - core competencies • Analytical reasoning • Lateral thinking • Communication • Problem solving • Teamwork • ....... etc. Slide 6

III. What do employers expect from you?(Cond’t) • (c) Work experience • Internship • Summer job • Part-time / temporary job • Voluntary work • ....... etc. • -------------------------------------------------------------- • Where to find more detailed information ? • • The Career Development Track Slide 7

IV. Where can you find the job and how to apply for it? • NETjob • NETmatch (application form available now!) • Recruitment talks • Vacancy notices / newspaper cutting • Creative job search and networking • ------------------------------------------------------------------------ • Do you want to have a look at NETjob and NETmatch? • When and where will the recruitment talks be held? • Where to find out hidden employment opportunities and how to do networking? • • The Career Development Track Slide 8

V. How to succeed in getting the job? • (a) Written application - résumé and cover letter • (b) Various types of written tests • (i) aptitude test - verbal, numerical, diagramatic • (ii) essay writing • (iii) task paper • (iv) in-tray exercise • ....... etc • (c) Selection interviews • (i) single • (ii) group • (iii) presentation • ....... etc Slide 9

V. How to succeed in getting the job?(Cond’t) • ------------------------------------------------------------------------- • How to develop your skills in the above areas? • • Training sessions run by CEPC • • Written materials in the Career Development Track Slide10

V. How to write covering letters • Limit it to one page, one and a half at the most • A4 size quality paper • Be brief and specific - don’t re-produce your résumé • be addressed to the relevant named person in the organization

V. How to write covering letter… cont’d • say how you came to know about the vacancy • draw attention to relevant skills and experience • don’t merely quote what skills your have, give specific examples • say why you are attracted to and suitable for the job

Covering Letter • Why are you interested in the company and the job?? • Research!! • recruitment talk • career booklet • recruiting organisation’s annual report / brochure • world wide web (e.g. South China Morning Post Achive) • alumni contact/friends • CEPC homepage

V. How to write resumes • Keep it to 1-2 pages • Use quality A4 paper and matching envelope • Neat and clear presentation • Include information that is relevant to the job • Be achievement-oriented • Leave out expected salary unless asked for

The DOs • write the resume yourself • make it error free • make it look good • stress your accomplishments • be brief and specific • be honest • keep it lively - use action words (e.g. organised, participated, handled..etc) • address to the right person

The DON’Ts • Incomplete Information • Poor layout • Too fancy/complicated • Incorrect dates (e.g. date of birth, year of graduation)

One Final Rule • Remember the 4Ss • SIMPLE • SUCCINCT • STRAIGHT-FORWARD • SPECIFIC

Username : cepcPassword : cdt99Career Development Track(C.D.T)

VI. If you are not certain about what occupations are suitable for you, please visit - • PROSPECT(HE) • • a computer-assisted careers guidance system designed to help you with your career planning • • you can expect the results of the following: • - What you are good at • - What interests and motivates you • - How these relate to the world of work • - What different jobs involve • - Your chance of getting into these jobs, and • - How to make effective job applications Slide 11

ANSWERS QUESTIONS

Statistics 24 February, 2000 (Thursday) 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. T4, Meng Wah Complex