Informal opportunities to meet with potential employers are just one of the highlights of the CPA Australia Career Expo, which also provides a chance for participants to get noticed, develop connections and learn about industry developments.
'People who attend the expo gain real insights from experienced professionals,' says Bernard Poon, FCPA (Aust.), president for Greater China at CPA Australia.
Featuring 22 exhibitors - including Big Four and other accounting firms, financial and banking institutions, recruitment agencies and professional services education providers - this year's event is the largest in its eight-year history, says CPA Australia. Over 1,000 participants - including fresh graduates and students from local and Australian universities - are expected to attend.
Poon says the expo, to be held at the InterContinental Hong Kong hotel on January 14 from 9:30am to 2:30pm, also offers potential job-seekers a chance to discover the broad range of services accounting firms offer, and the way different companies operate. He adds that the expo is a one-stop event where those attending can explore career opportunities within a variety of companies.
'The expo is a great way to learn about job openings, education and the different types of career development programmes, and to practice communication and networking skills,' says Poon, who is also managing director of transaction advisory services with Ernst & Young Transactions.
Poon recommends that, to get the most out of attending the expo, participants should prepare questions about technical and soft skills training, mentoring and coaching support, and how top management communicates with employees of the firm.
Poon says they could also ask about job rotations, cross-function training, work opportunities on the mainland and regional mobility.