Untitled Document

Job hunting

Degree holders accepting junior jobs

By Kelly Yip & Roe Chan

The old joke about university students cleaning streets may not be so funny nowadays.
Tse Siu Fung, a recruiting officer of the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department, said that in light of a weak economy, many university graduates are applying for junior jobs now.
“It was rare to see degree holders in previous recruitment exercises, not even one among 100 candidates, but now the number is triple or four times more,” he said.
“This year we hired one master’s degree and six bachelor’s degree holders for the post of assistant officer II.” The minimum requirement for this post is just Form 3 level.
Mr. Tse said that such a trend is normal in the wake of an economic downturn.
However, Mr. Tom Fong Wing Ho, head of the Career Planning and Development Centre of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, said that career prospects for university graduates are still good.
He said that cases of university graduates hunting for junior jobs are not common.
According to the Graduate Employment Survey done in 2000 by the Chinese University, nearly 80 percent of graduates from the University are employed. Also, the average monthly salary is around $13,000.
“The salaries are just $1,000 to $2,000 lower than their counterparts from some of the other universities,” he said.
To maintain competitiveness, having ability is just one thing, though. It may be essential to have more luck and time as well.
Samuel Tung Wai Ming, 26, one of the many young graduates in junior jobs, said, “A bachelor’s degree did not help me much in finding a job.”
After his graduation from the City University of Hong Kong in 1999, he first became a salesman selling paints.

Kelly Yip

Samuel Tung Wai Ming says that it is worth doing junior jobs.

Discontented with it, he left his job and turned to work for a medical company, Bright Future Pharmaceutical Laboratories.
As a sales executive, he has to take different kinds of medicine with him on the street, knocking on clinic doors, one by one, day after day.
“If I had a choice, I would like to sit in an office doing administrative work, not hanging around the streets,” he said.
“Many of my colleagues are only Form 5 graduates,” he said. “My job does not require any special skills or techniques.”
He does not see his years at university as a waste, however.
“I think I am still young,” he said. “I can afford spending a few years to gain more experience.
“Whether the economy is good or bad, university graduates should look for junior jobs first,” he said. “Without any working experience, they should not mind a low salary,” he said.
“It is better to use a few years to learn and find the most suitable career. Getting experience is the most important thing.”
Mr. Fong said that university students can better equip themselves in different ways. “As long as they have competitiveness, they can acquire suitable jobs,” he said.

The old joke about university students cleaning streets may not be so funny nowadays. Tse Siu Fung, a recruiting officer of the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department, said that in light of a weak economy, many university graduates are applying for junior jobs now. “It was rare to see degree holders in previous recruitment exercises, not even one among 100 candidates, but now the number is triple or four times more,” he said. “This year we hired one master’s degree and six bachelor’s degree holders for the post of assistant officer II.” The minimum requirement for this post is just Form 3 level. Mr. Tse said that such a trend is normal in the wake of an economic downturn. However, Mr. Tom Fong Wing Ho, head of the Career Planning and Development Centre of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, said that career prospects for university graduates are still good. He said that cases of university graduates hunting for junior jobs are not common. According to the Graduate Employment Survey done in 2000 by the Chinese University, nearly 80 percent of graduates from the University are employed. Also, the average monthly salary is around $13,000. “The salaries are just $1,000 to $2,000 lower than their counterparts from some of the other universities,” he said. To maintain competitiveness, having ability is just one thing, though. It may be essential to have more luck and time as well. Samuel Tung Wai Ming, 26, one of the many young graduates in junior jobs, said, “A bachelor’s degree did not help me much in finding a job.” After his graduation from the City University of Hong Kong in 1999, he first became a salesman selling paints.	Kelly Yip

	Samuel Tung Wai Ming says that it is worth doing junior jobs.
	Discontented with it, he left his job and turned to work for a medical company, Bright Future Pharmaceutical Laboratories. As a sales executive, he has to take different kinds of medicine with him on the street, knocking on clinic doors, one by one, day after day. “If I had a choice, I would like to sit in an office doing administrative work, not hanging around the streets,” he said. “Many of my colleagues are only Form 5 graduates,” he said. “My job does not require any special skills or techniques.” He does not see his years at university as a waste, however. “I think I am still young,” he said. “I can afford spending a few years to gain more experience. “Whether the economy is good or bad, university graduates should look for junior jobs first,” he said. “Without any working experience, they should not mind a low salary,” he said. “It is better to use a few years to learn and find the most suitable career. Getting experience is the most important thing.” Mr. Fong said that university students can better equip themselves in different ways. “As long as they have competitiveness, they can acquire suitable jobs,” he said.