HR Corner Firm foundation for property sector recruits by Priscilla Chong Comprehensive training puts graduates on the right track A successful graduate trainee programme has many potential benefits. Among these are the chances it gives to attract leading candidates, train recruits in specialised skills, and build teams which understand and respect the prevailing corporate values. According to managing director John Chiu, property consultancy firm Knight Frank Petty has a long tradition of recruiting local university graduates, many of whom have gone on to lengthy and varied careers with the firm. They start by completing a comprehensive training programme and a series of job rotations. This sets them on the way and allows them to acquire the full range of necessary professional expertise. "Most applicants are from disciplines such as real estate, surveying and architecture," says Mr Chiu. He adds that the selection process was made more scientific in 2000 with the introduction of a special entrance test. It now covers academic knowledge plus writing and general communication skills. The test was initially set up in collaboration with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and is now also run each year in March or April by the other local universities, in conjunction with career seminars. "The test includes case studies based on actual projects," says Mr Chiu. "This helps us to assess aptitude and, if people come up with answers close to our own, it shows they have the right kind of practical sense." He also notes that the written answers give a very good indication of logical thinking and the ability to think outside the box. It takes a good two to three years to mould graduates into fully productive employees Planning expansion This year, Knight Frank Petty took on five graduates and 19 summer interns. The numbers vary year by year depending on the overall market. "Currently, we have a team of around 600 in Greater China but, to cope with expansion plans following our recent merger, we expect to add more high-calibre staff," Mr Chiu explains. Aspiring chartered surveyors follow a programme accredited by the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS). Its aim is to give them broad experience in diverse areas of the property industry and to gain on-the-job exposure by working in a number of different departments. "It takes a good two to three years to mould graduates into fully productive employees," says Mr Chiu. "There is no fixed duration for each phase, but they can expect to spend significant time in the property management, agency and professional service divisions." In this way, they can complete the basic requirements for their HKIS qualifications, while the company can assess their general abilities and the type of work for which they are most suited. "Graduates soon realise that interpersonal and sales skills are an important part of the job," Mr Chiu notes. The programme therefore assigns a senior manager to assist each graduate surveyor by providing evaluations, coaching and guidance on both personal and professional matters. Different goals The company always hopes to confirm full-time positions for all the graduates who complete the training programme, but is cautious about outlining a typical career path. "It doesn't work out that way because each person's route depends on their self-defined career goals," says Mr Chiu. With the currently bright economic outlook, there are now many opportunities in building surveying and property management; for those who prefer to put job stability first, there are also regular openings with various government departments. The mainland's fast developing property market is expected to create increasing demand for qualified real estate professionals. In this respect, Knight Frank Petty's Hong Kong operation is likely to play a major role in training and developing staff. Already, one of this year's graduate trainees is from Beijing. She will return there next year to help run the Beijing office, and other mainland recruits are certain to follow a similar course. Outstanding features - Good graduate trainee programmes benefit both employers and recruits - Universities help to run entrance tests which look for academic and practical ability - The tests are based on actual case studies to allow for more effective assessments - Trainee programme includes comprehensive induction and job rotations - Surveyors work towards completing the necessary professional qualifications - Interpersonal and sales skills are essential in the property sector Taken from Career Times 18 August 2006, p. A20 Your comments are welcome at [email protected]