Tailored support and industry insights: Inside the MBA careers service

According to our latest Prospective Students Survey, applicants cite preparedness for their career among their top reasons for pursuing an MBA. The survey also reveals that, after securing a return on their investment (ROI), career outcomes are the most researched aspect of business education for students.

Business school helps students secure these outcomes by building fundamental business knowledge, developing key skills, and gaining valuable experience. Alongside this, schools can also offer specific career advancing tools—from career coaching to networking events with industry professionals. 

At HKU Business School, the careers service offers students a range of resources to help them secure a role upon graduation and prepare for success throughout their careers.

We spoke to insiders at HKU to find out more. 

What career resources are available at business school?

From one-to-one mentorship to interview preparation sessions, career support can help students throughout their MBA journey. At HKU, students begin working with the careers service before they start the program, while support extends beyond graduation and into their careers.

“We prepare MBA graduates for the challenging job market with a structured career roadmap,” says Ernest Cheung, director of career development and training at HKU. “We have a tailored career preparation program to ensure graduates’ professional relevance in their target industries.”

This ability to tailor the experience was beneficial for Claudia Barajas, an MBA graduate from HKU who now works as global project manager at Adidas.

“There are a lot of options put on the table in terms of career support, and then you can choose which ones you would like to pick,” explains Claudia. “They offer networking events, mentorship, interview practice, and they introduce you to other MBA colleagues.”

Claudia found interview preparation to be one of the most helpful parts of the careers service, particularly the experience of practicing interviews and gaining expert feedback.

“Another useful aspect was the mentorship, because you have the opportunity to connect directly with people working in Hong Kong and they can provide guidance about how to approach the market and how to make broader connections,” she says.

“These mentors are all esteemed leaders from various industries,” Ernest says. “Around 80% of them are C-level and the others may be department heads or executive directors.”

One particularly important part of the school’s mentorship process is engaging employers to gain their perspective of the hiring process. This helps students understand how recruitment works—from what to include in an application to how to impress in an interview.

“From a candidate’s angle, it can be tempting to put everything on their resume because they think this can show they can do the job, but social and interpersonal skills are just as important,” says Ernest. “Employers want to know about a candidate’s work ethic and if they can fit the company’s culture and team dynamics."

How can students tailor the career support they receive?

Career support is provided on an individual level through mentoring sessions. Students also have the opportunity to make the most out of the other services on offer, tailoring the support to their individual needs.

“We send out surveys to students two to three months before they join us, starting career services over Zoom,” says Ernest. “We want to know about their previous job experience, their dream company, and why they decided to come to Hong Kong.”

Ernest adds that even before the program begins, students are encouraged to set specific career goals to stay focused and motivated throughout the MBA.

“Every student is different, which is why we need to collaborate with each individual student to unlock their full potential,” he says.

Although there are a range of career services available at the business school, it is helpful to have an industry and role in mind to understand which services will help you succeed in your chosen field.

“It’s important you have clarity and are proactive from the start of the program,” says Claudia. “There are many resources on the table, but you have to know which opportunities you want to take and make the most out of them.”

Originally from Mexico, Claudia found the opportunities provided by HKU’s careers service particularly valuable in helping her transition into a new country, culture, and market.

“As an international student, networking events are extremely helpful because you’re new to the market,” says Claudia. “Having these connections was extremely meaningful, to even be able to understand how business works in this part of the world.”

How does career support prepare students for success after graduation?

Although the business school career service largely focuses on helping students land a job once they graduate, support often continues past graduation. At HKU, this means helping students find new roles and supporting them throughout their careers.

“Being an international student in Hong Kong, it was not an easy journey to secure a role. It required a lot of persistence,” explains Claudia. “Throughout the process, the career development team was by my side, offering guidance and giving me feedback until I secured my role.

“It’s not like you graduate and that’s it,” she continues. “I can feel the support all the time and even now, if I feel I need some guidance in my current job, I know that I can reach out to them and they will make time and provide support.”