* The interview was conducted in Jan 2004

• University Education
• Employment History
• What was the nature of your job and training programme at Standard Chartered Bank?
• What did you do during the one-week training programme in Singapore?
• What are you doing now?
• Are you disappointed for not being able to have more rotations?
• What sort of person will enjoy and to well in your job?
• Do you have any advice for students who have interest in applying or have applied for the training programme?
• What were the selection processes?
• What are the secrets for passing paper screening and interviews?
• What advice do you have for students who will be attending interviews of Standard Chartered Bank?
• Advice for other students

University Education

Bachelor of Science in Surveying, HKU, 2002

Employment History

I joined Standard Chartered Bank as a Management Trainee right after graduation in 2002. I am now holding the title "Manager, Credit and Marketing, Client Relationships, Wholesale Banking".

What was the nature of your job and training programme at Standard Chartered Bank?

The job nature varies according to the chosen divisions. There were three business areas that applicants can choose from:

• Consumer Banking - mainly dealing with and serving mass market clients. After classroom training and job rotations, including branch attachment, MTs will usually involve in business analysis or development in one of the value centres, e.g. Wealth Management, Mortgage & Auto, unsecured lending.
  
  
• Corporate Banking - mainly serving and promoting the bank's products to corporate clients. It is divided into different teams according to the corporate size. Front-line corporate banking is about credit analysis as well as relationship management with corporate clients.
  
  
• Global Markets - trading FX and interest-rate-related products, economic research.

I chose Corporate Banking as my preferred division. During my first half a year, I was attached to a few divisions to get an overview of the operations of the various departments. I attended some classroom trainings on banking products and was sent to Singapore to attend a one-week training programme with other trainees.

What did you do during the one-week training programme in Singapore?

Its main purpose was for networking. Trainees from all over the world gathered in Singapore to attend some soft-skills training and to get to know each other. The benefit obtained is tremendous in terms of experience sharing among trainees of different countries.

What are you doing now?

I was assigned a longer attachment in Local Corporates, Wholesale Banking after receiving classroom training and job rotations in the first half a year.

My typical day involves meeting local corporate clients, introducing to them new products and services, analysing their credits and preparing credit proposals.

Are you disappointed for not being able to have more rotations?

Not at all. I enjoy my present work very much and I appreciate this arrangement. An early settlement means a faster track to be a specialist in my field.

What sort of person will enjoy and to well in your job?

Again, this depends on the divisions that you have chosen.

If you have chosen Consumer Banking, you should:

• be friendly
  
  
• be sensitive to customers' need
  
  
• possess a high benchmarking sense as you need to know what products and services are being offered by the competitors
  
  
• be able to serve people of all walks and culture. Standard Chartered Bank has a strong presence in a number of developing countries and thus day-to-day work will in fact involve colleagues from all over the world

If you have chosen to work in my present division, that is Corporate Banking, you need to:

• be sociable
  
  
• have a broad knowledge of and interest in different banking products and services (e.g. fundamental knowledge on FX trend, currency market... etc)
  
  
• have analytical and presentation skills for preparing and presenting proposals to clients

For the Global Markets Division, one needs to be able to:

• work under pressure
  
  
• carry out trading operations in a timely and accurate manner

For this division, a more academic training programme will be provided to trainees before commencement of work.

Finally, as our Bank always explores new ideas, it will be highly beneficial if you are creative and highly flexible to changes.

Do you have any advice for students who have interest in applying or have applied for the training programme?

Get to know the five values of Standard Chartered Bank.

The Bank values people with creativity and courage. Business sense and sensitivity to what's happening around the world are also crucial.

When reading newspapers, do not just memorise facts, analyse and form your own judgment on current affairs, especially talks of the town.

What were the selection processes?

In addition to paper screening and aptitude tests, there were two rounds of interviews. The first one was an interview conducted by two representatives from the Human Resources Department. The second one was a panel interview; with the interviewers being a Human Resources Manager and a Business Manager.

In the first interview, questions were mostly general ones. The interviewers asked questions about my interest in the job and knowledge on the banking industry.

For the second interview, the Business Manager asked more business related and position-specific questions to see if I am suitable to work in his division. To assess my creativity, I was invited to suggest a new product for the Bank.

The interviewers were very friendly and the interviews were just like general chats.

The format and processes of the interview do vary from year to year and the above were the processes that I went through.

What are the secrets for passing paper screening and interviews?

They are not looking for the brightest but the most suitable candidates.

As I would describe, applicants who have international exposure, excellent command of spoken English / Putonghua and are outspoken, easy-going, responsible should stand a higher chance.

Applicants also need to have a clear career goal and be able to explain why they want to join Standard Chartered Bank in a convincing manner.

What advice do you have for students who will be attending interviews of Standard Chartered Bank?

There is no secret and fast track in winning a job. Follow the standard interview advice, keep abreast of current affairs, understand the values and culture of the Bank and most importantly, prove that you are creative, flexible and motivated. They are looking for young individuals who can bring new ideas to the Bank.

Advice for other students

Brush up your Putonghua as you may be asked in Putonghua and you will, in the long term, need to speak the language when you are appointed.

Questions are welcome. Send a note to <cepc@cepc.hku.hk>.