Nurturing its future leaders, Hang Lung Properties (Hang Lung) invites fresh university graduates passionate about a long-term career in the real estate industry to apply for its management trainee (MT) position.
This holistic 18-month management trainee programme aims to provide all-round exposure through in-depth on-the-job training in the various business functions of Hang Lung’s operations in both Hong Kong and mainland China. The goal is to unleash the MTs’ leadership potential.
“We customise the training curriculum to help develop and sharpen trainees’ management skills and business acumen,” says Janet Poon, General Manager – Human
Resources of Hang Lung Properties.
A comprehensive range of personal advancement course has been integrated into the customised curriculum to equip future leaders with the necessary skills. These courses cover a wide range of competencies, including: business etiquette and professional image building; presentation skills; business writing in English and Chinese; a Putonghua workshop; management skills; professional development; compliance training; and property management.
Senior executives of Hang Lung will act as role models for the MTs by becoming the mentors of MTs, sharing their experience and providing career advice. They will also spare time to attend breakfast and luncheon meetings organised for the MTs. Throughout the immersive programme, senior managers from various departments and human resources pilots will personally guide and coach individual trainees to further enhance their learning and unleash their full potential, Poon adds. “Our coach-coachee scheme aims at providing opportunities for the MTs to deepen their understanding of the various business units of Hang Lung, and to receive practical and constructive feedback and advice through meetings and other interaction with the designated corporate role models.”
Another unique feature of the programme is that MTs will be posted for six months to different Chinese cities where Hang Lung operates, to further enhance the breadth and depth of their understanding. MTs will gain a first-hand experience in mainland and equip themselves with knowledge and skills to meet the company’s needs in its ongoing business expansion in the country.
Cross-departmental collaboration is another integral component of the programme. “MTs will help coordinate various corporate projects, and in the process be immersed in our corporate core values as well as our young and energetic working culture. They are encouraged to embrace teamwork. They will also be responsible for organising a broad range of staff leisure and social activities, such as an annual dinner, the Hang Lung Social Club which organizes numerous activities including sports, cooking, and family outings for the staffs and their family members. Organising these activities helps the MTs hone their skills in communication, leadership and planning,” Poon says. “Meanwhile, we have added to the MTs’ rotation plan more corporate function, such as Sustainability, Central Leasing, and
Service Delivery, to further broaden their exposure.”
She encourages graduates from all disciplines with a passion for a career in the property industry to apply. “They should share an eagerness to gain solid experience in Hang Lung’s property development and management business in both Hong Kong and the mainland, and enjoy the rotation among our various business functions,” Poon notes. “We will assess candidates’ interpersonal and leadership skills. We expect them to possess excellent analytical thinking, as well as communications skills with high proficiency in English, Cantonese and Putonghua.”
The assessment of candidates involves group interviews. Poon advises that candidates can distinguish themselves by demonstrating that they are good team players with exceptional interpersonal skills and an understanding of others’ thinking. “This is essential because the MTs will be in constant contact with colleagues and tenants. I also recommend that they keep their answers concise and precise. They should be well prepared, with a firm grasp of the programme’s details and Hang Lung’s operations in Hong Kong and the mainland.”
The MT programme’s immersive exposure to its diverse business functions in Hong Kong and the mainland appeals to management trainee Sonia Tam, who has been assigned to work at Hang Lung’s office in Dalian. “The company’s unique business network covering some second-tier Chinese cities attracts me because it means my training will be more challenging,” adds Tam, who is a graduate in fine arts at the University of Hong Kong.
Tam says a typical day at work in Dalian involves some desktop administrative work and meetings with clients, agencies and managers. She also participates in corporate projects, including organising activities under the Hang Lung Social Club and Staff Communications
Project, and works on tasks assigned from various work stations and attachments. “I relish opportunities to try out the tasks in different business functions. For instance, from the core functions, such as Leasing & Management, to corporate functions, such as Corporate Communications and Human Resources, I have enjoyed the opportunities to get involved in projects. The amount of trust in me and other MTs from our seniors has undoubtedly been one of the best things in this internship experience.”
So far the programme has helped Tam cultivate the ability to think from a more macro perspective.
“This is one of the advantages of working in a large corporation because I would be engaged with colleagues from different departments,” she says.
