HR Corner Trainee programme offers all-round development by Charles Mak Comprehensive two-year scheme cultivates future leaders Having run specialist graduate training programmes for close to 25 years, The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) knows that the most important thing for future leaders is to start them off on the right foot. Therefore, the company's graduate recruits join a two-year programme which ensures they visit all the core business units and learn about the full scope of activities in terms of success factors, management focus, service pledges and operating procedures. According to Margaret Cheng, head of corporate human resources for Towngas, the aim of the graduate training programme is to equip people to think critically and strategically, and enable them to generate plausible business solutions. "They don't only observe, but are expected to identify the strengths of a department and the market, and to make suggestions about how the business can be run more effectively," she explains. "We require trainees to develop a macro-economic view instead of simply focusing on specific disciplines." "If someone has clear purpose when applying for a job and is selective about their potential employers, that's a good sign" "In the programme's second year, trainees are attached to one department for the first six months and are expected to gain a comprehensive understanding of the department's functions," Ms Cheng adds. China focus The final part of the programme involves an attachment with one of the company's mainland joint ventures (JVs), which ties in with the overall direction of the business. "Changes have been made to align our people development policies with the company's decision to tap into the mainland market," Ms Cheng notes. "During the attachment, trainees are in a different environment. They need to adapt to change and see how we could help our JVs to enhance their operations." One example is Carol Lai, who is now assistant to the vice president of GH-Fusion Corporation Limited, a joint venture between Towngas and UK-based Fusion Group. She completed her formal training programme last August and is now stationed in Zhongshan. She is highly positive about the career prospects of the job, and hopes to develop a fruitful career. "It allows me to work closely with colleagues from Hong Kong, the mainland and the UK," she says. "The exposure is good and it has helped me to see things from different perspectives." Thinking back to her initial six-month attachment, Ms Lai says she was involved in cost control projects and carried out various analyses of the business. "We were not there to watch, but were expected to get involved and make a contribution," she recalls. As an industrial engineering graduate, she views the move to China as an excellent opportunity. "I was prepared for it because, nowadays, any job related to that discipline would most likely take me there anyway," she says. Right mindset In summarising what Towngas looks for in candidates, Ms Cheng says the company's policy is to hire for attitude and train for skills. They expect graduates to have a certain level of technical competence and, therefore, focus on finding people who are outgoing and creative, and can show team spirit, integrity and entrepreneurship during the recruitment process. Loren Tam, a corporate communications officer who also completed his training in August, believes the programme has given him a great head start. "It helped me understand that what we're doing is not just a job," he says. "A public utility reaches and potentially affects so many people." In his opinion, the programme was well structured in terms of content and length, allowing enough time to develop practical skills and gain experience. He adds that, over the two years, the company clearly showed its commitment and dedication to developing talent. Trainee engineers are also expected to fulfil the mandatory requirements of the Scheme A professional qualification administered by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. "Within the two years, engineers like me can acquire the necessary technical knowledge," Ms Lai says. Varying numbers of graduate recruits are taken on each year, depending on the forecast demands of the business. Preference is given to those who can show they have made an effort to understand the business and, in particular, developments of the China market. "That shows they can use their initiative and are keen to learn about the market and us," says Ms Cheng. "If someone has clear purpose when applying for a job and is selective about their potential employers, that's a good sign." Salient points - Trainee programmes aim to enhance critical and strategic thinking - Philosophy to hire for attitude and train for skills - Foundation year familiarises trainees with the core businesses - A keen China focus to meet development plans - An outgoing personality, creativity, integrity, entrepreneurship and team spirit are necessary Taken from Career Times 29 December 2006, p. A16 Your comments are welcome at [email protected]