COMS students enrolled in ORGC2027 Interviewing learned about successful strategies when applying for communication positions in Hong Kong or overseas from Ms Adina Surdu, Client Director at Fire Without Smoke, a creative studio dedicated to the video games industry based in London. Having worked as an Account Director at McCann Worldgroup Hong Kong before moving to London, Ms Surdu’s sharing covered practical and cultural issues that young professionals should consider when applying for advertising, PR, or organisational communication positions.
The response from students was positive; most of them appreciated the new perspectives and the encouragement received from the industry speaker. While some students stress their lack of experience beyond internships, Ms Surdu emphasised the importance of soft skills during the interview stage of applying for a position and the students’ abilities to overcome their fears and see themselves as valuable members of the newly joined teams. During the Q&A section of the sharing, students asked about the main similarities between junior positions in Hong Kong and London. The speaker believes both places are leaders in the field of professional communication. In both Hong Kong and London, students can overcome challenges by demonstrating a responsible attitude, persistence, and developing a team spirit.
This talk was made possible by the Virtual Teaching, Real Education project sponsored by Hong Kong SAR University Grants Committee.