In today's tight labour market, where the competition for highly skilled staff is intense, one company has found a way to attract future managers. Tyco Fire and Security last September started an Asia-wide management trainee (AMT) programme that received an overwhelming response from about 1,500 applicants.
Of all these hopefuls, only six - two from the mainland and one each from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and India - made it through the rigorous selection process. The successful trainees, all recent graduates, are set to become managers next month after an intensive 12-month training programme that saw them rotated through the different departments within the company.
'We believe that to attract the best talent, we need to differentiate our talent development programme,' said Roger Tsang, general manager Hong Kong and Macau of ADT Security Services, a member of the Tyco group. He added that one of the distinctive features of Tyco's AMT programme was that it had the backing of its Asia headquarters in Singapore.
The idea came from Tyco Fire and Security's human resource director for Asia, Agnes Tan.
'Senior management places great emphasis on this programme,' Mr Tsang said. 'Not many other trainees have the opportunity to engage the company president.' Funding for the programme, provided by Tyco's Asia headquarters, varies from trainee to trainee, with costs for the programme going as high as US$500,000.
The programme targets high potential and academically strong candidates. Applicants are required to have a basic degree, be proficient in English, and be customer oriented with excellent interpersonal and communications skills.