Career Advice Job Market Report

Career Forum Oct 2015: Company Tours offer behind-the-scenes access to high-profile firms

There are few better ways to gain an immediate insight into a company than going inside the workplace and witnessing firsthand its corporate culture and approach to business.

After being introduced in March this year, the forum’s Company Tours programme is back and this time, there are four high-profile – and very different – companies opening their doors to jobseekers: Hong Kong Broadband Network, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, JW Marriott and Towngas.

To register for one tour, forum attendees need to collect five stamps – given out when they speak to exhibiting employers – and submit their card for entry into a raffle. They can register for multiple tours by collecting 10, 15 or 20 stamps.

Towngas is one of the largest energy suppliers in Hong Kong and mainland China and its tour will provide information about its two-year graduate trainee programme. Some of the company’s current department heads and general managers went through the programme themselves. 

Besides visiting the grid control centre, hotline centre and gas exhibition room, the tour will also include a sharing session with Towngas engineers. The engineers will share some of their innovative ideas with participants, as well as give them an insight into the work they do and the challenges they face on a daily basis.

Participants on the tour will also gain a general understanding of the gas industry and the current market conditions affecting it. Those preparing to go on the tour are advised to have a thorough look at the Towngas website first so that they can gain a solid idea of what the company does.

“One of our organisation’s values is creativity and our engineers will share innovative ideas, their work experience and the challenges they face in daily operations with participants,” says Joe Lee, senior learning and development executive at Towngas. Another benefit from joining the tour is getting a feel for the company culture, he adds. 

Lee advises participants preparing for the tour to have a thorough look at the Towngas website so they can gain a solid idea of what the firm does. “They can also get an understanding of the gas industry and the current market conditions which are affecting it.”

Hong Kong Broadband Network aims to enlighten jobseekers about the company via talks on talent acquisition, engagement and direction, and career-development opportunities. 

Known for its “talent-centric” approach, the company – which offers broadband and Wi-fi access, as well as communication, entertainment and cloud solutions – was a big winner at the Human Resources Innovation Awards 2015. It scooped nine honours, including the HR Grand Winner 2015 and three gold awards – one for excellence in employee engagement.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing is one of the world’s largest exchange groups by market capitalisation and operates the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Hong Kong Futures Exchange.

Its company tour will introduce the firm’s management trainee programme and give participants the chance to work on tasks as varied as designing new traded products, consulting with buy-side funds and vetting IPO candidates. A tour of its renowned exchange exhibition hall in Central is also included.

At luxury hotel chain JW Marriott, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, the tour will feature a 60-minute visit to one of its flagship properties in Asia – the JW Marriott Hong Kong at Pacific Place in Admiralty.
As well as an introduction to the company, the two-hour-long induction will cover its service culture and career opportunities.