Vic Chen changed role, industry, and location after an MBA from CUHK Business School
Vic Chen joined CUHK Business School with the hope of reshaping his career. After a successful MBA internship he’s now managed a career triple jump of role, industry, and location with a switch from sales in manufacturing in Taiwan to the automotive industry in Hong Kong.During his time at CUHK, Vic had support from multiple sources to help him achieve this career change—from the school’s career that offered him training and advice, to access to CUHK’s 6,600 MBA alumni across 40 countries and 34,000 business school alumni worldwide.
Vic also took on the role of director of operations for CUHK’s Global Career Club (GCC), focused on aiding students to choose successful career paths. In this role, he got practical experience of organizing large events as well as interacting with major global companies like Microsoft
In all, his MBA experience enabled Vic to build a career in an industry he was excited about and wanted to be a part of.
He started his new job in the supply chain team at luxury carmaker, INFINITI Motor Company, in Hong Kong in September 2017.
How did the CUHK MBA help you switch career path?
The program provided various courses that helped my career path. For instance, we had a statistics course teaching us how to use excel to do advanced analysis and I use this a lot in my current job.
The other courses like strategic management, strategic marketing, and fundraising and remodeling also inspired me to think of the bigger picture—again relevant in my current role.
As to job hunting and interview skills, the career center helped me hone my skills. The most important thing is that I understood that after the program there would be a lot of people also hunting for better job. I knew I needed to work hard to get what I wanted.
How important was the MBA internship?
My previous work experience was in operation management and sales in the manufacturing industry. Before I started my internship, I knew that the automotive industry had been booming for several years. That said, during the internship the team helped me really build my auto industry knowledge.
I was excited that so many advanced technologies had been installed in the vehicles, empowering the driving experience. From concept to final vehicle and delivery to the customer, there are so many things happening.
Tell us about your work with CUHK’s Global Career Club.
Being part of the global career club was great for me. I learned to cooperate with diverse team members who came from Korea, Germany, and India. This gave me the chance to appreciate different backgrounds and cultures.
I also arranged the company visit to Microsoft for our cohort. Here, I gained experience of the more broad and focused details of organizing these events. I think this practical experience is invaluable when it comes to learning something new.
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA at CUHK?
I realized that I wanted to explore more about the world and gain more professional knowledge. I believed that the MBA program would lead me to where I wanted to go.
I chose CUHK because I felt they’d try to challenge my career path in a practical way, and I felt the staff and classmates were very supportive. There’s an old saying ‘choose what you love; love what you choose,’ I chose the CUHK MBA!
What advice do you have for anyone considering an MBA?
If you decide to do an MBA, you should try your best before, during, and after the MBA program. Set your goals and work hard to achieve them. Then, once you’ve completed them, set new goals and achieve them again.
Be patient, positive, and confident. These are the three personality traits I recommend. Whatever you haven’t achieved yet, just stick to it and you can achieve it eventually.
Student Reviews
One of a kind
I studied Bioinformatics at CUHK last year. It was the only Master's degree in Hong Kong in this field. This program developed my analytical skills and equipped me to be a Bioinformatician in a very practical way.
I enjoyed my year here and met classmates from different parts of the world. If you are thinking to enhance your profile, this degree program would be a good option.
general education courses, unique college system, large campus
The university facilitates multi-dimension and interdisciplinary learning. In social science faculty, we need to choose courses as our faculty package from other departments (architecture, psychology, sociology, etc.) to learn more than our major required courses. We are also required to finish general education courses, which aid our critical thinking and humanistic sensibilities. I do recommend the social science broad-based program, and the professors I met so far are all responsible and erudite.
LLM
The faculty of law is relatively new. You do not need to have a LLB to pursue a LLM, which is special. The taught programme is great for mature students who want to obtain legal knowledge.
CUHK has good teaching staff too.
Amazing Campus and Great Educational Environment
Not only is CUHK's main campus breathtaking, it provides for a good educational environment for students. The university is well-equipped with modern and up-to-date facilities to help students with their study. We have 8 libraries in total around the campus; one for media, one for architectural studies, the medical library and the law library. The Professors are always helpful and are happy to talk to students when needed.
Moreover, the college system within the university brings forth the uniqueness of CUHK. Each student belongs to a different college, and in that students are able to meet different peoples from different countries and students from different faculties.
I think CUHK provides for a well-rounded university life for all students.
exthrillating
One of the most down to earth places in HK. A great opportunity to learn and embody the local culture. Also had one the most beautiful campus in Hong Kong up on the hillside. Glad to have graduated here.
Innovative and Supportive
My university provided me with all the support I needed, and encouraged me to be up to date with all the new developments in the world. They also provided me with the incentive to excel at what I do, and they take much pride in my achievements. I have had a very rewarding university experience.
Small, New But Friendly Law School
To being with, I think the campus of CUHK is the best and the biggest in Hong Kong, with fresh air and trees everywhere.
I am an undergraduate Law student at CUHK and I think the teaching here is great, with very friendly and nice professors and the new Lee Shau Kee Building.
In terms of the courses offered by CUHK, as one of the largest universities in Hong Kong, CUHK is an all-rounded university, offering a wide range of courses to students. Students may take the introductory courses of discipline other than their own major, or even declare a minor.
For law electives, due to the small amount of intake, the variety of law electives are not that huge. However, the Faculty is offering some international programmes, which can be treated as law electives, but at the same time, provide us with an opportunity to travel and know more about the legal system of another country.
The career support from the Faculty of Law is also amazing. The Faculty will organise CV Sessions and talks on how to get an internship from law firms or mini-pupillage from barrister's chambers. Each student will also have a Distinguished Professional Mentor, which is a current legal profession, providing us with practical advices and updates of the legal field.
Finally, from my personal experience, I think the students in CUHK are friendly and genuine. As Law students, competition is inevitable for grades, GPAs, vacation schemes and training contract. However, I think the competition in CUHK Law School is a positive one, in a sense that help us grow together, instead of fighting with each other no matter what. That is the biggest reason why I am having a very good time here in CUHK Law School.
A place to explore your interests
As a law graduate from CUHK (both undergrad and post-grad), I realise that I had many opportunities to explore my areas of interests (legal and non-legal both). The faculty/university requires us to take a certain number of non-law electives, and offers a plethora of courses to choose from. Personally, I took 3 modules in Korean --I can't say it's made me highly proficient, but it's definitely given me a good foundation (I can walk into a Korean restaurant and confidently order food, at the very least). The fact that language courses are offered also provides students who are more financially constrained an opportunity to learn a language without having to shell out a premium for a decent language course. On top of that, we have a range of law electives as well. I know of classmates who have developed lasting interest in different areas of law because of the electives they took in school. The two electives that I would say have changed me is (i) mooting and (ii) family law. I think my experience in an international commercial arbitration moot competition has helped tremendously in formulating legal arguments and legal writing. On the other hand, taking a family law elective has made me very interested in the family law practice, especially in terms of child rights. For these experiences which I have gained, I'm grateful for the opportunities provided by the school.
One main issue most students I know have is with the way our GPA is calculated and the lack of transparency in terms of how the honours system works. As our GPA is marked on a curve. it's highly unrepresentative of what we have achieved as individuals. Given that our GPA is the only criteria that is looked at when we apply for the compulsory post-graduate law course (mandatory should we want to practise law and/or be trainees in Hong Kong), it will put our own students at a distinct disadvantage when we compete for limited spaces with students from schools where GPA is not on a bell curve.
Valuable time in CUHK
I like the learning environment and people at CUHK. Surrounded by hills and Tolo Harbour, CUHK provides a balance between nature and hustle. You can always escape from the busy study life and meet your friend around the big campus for different activities.
