Advertisement

Working on learning

Upward movement in any organisation or, indeed, simply keeping pace with change, requires constant self-improvement. Experience gained on the job still counts for a lot but, as professionals in Hong Kong are quick to acknowledge, it is just one of the factors needed to step up to the next level, and open the door to new career opportunities.

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
0
Working on learning

Upward movement in any organisation or, indeed, simply keeping pace with change, requires constant self-improvement. Experience gained on the job still counts for a lot but, as professionals in Hong Kong are quick to acknowledge, it is just one of the factors needed to step up to the next level, and open the door to new career opportunities.

Continuing education is also essential, and the range of courses and formats now available means that no one is short of choice.

"Today's business environment is ever-changing and very competitive," says Glover Chan, spokesman for the Hong Kong Management Association (HKMA). "It is therefore crucial for managers and professionals in every sector to keep upgrading their skills, knowledge and qualifications."

There are two aspects to this. One relates to attaining or adding to job-specific or specialist skills needed to perform effectively in a current or planned assignment. The other looks further ahead. It is more about gaining the generalist perspective and all-round management abilities that anyone aiming for a senior leadership position must at some point acquire.

" Professionals who have been working for, say, five years have experience of and exposure to their sector's marketplace and business environment," Chan says. "But to run any kind of team, they also need general management skills and to understand how everything - finance, logistics, marketing and HR - fits together."

To cater for different types and levels of demand, the HKMA either offers - or can steer people towards - as many as 2,000 different courses. These include short seminars and two-day programmes for immediate job needs, with topics such as negotiation skills or IT awareness. There are also workshops, diploma and certificate courses, top-up programmes, degrees and part-time MBAs.

Advertisement