I studied mathematics and philosophy for my MA at St Andrews and ancient philosophy for my MSt at Oxford. The two most exciting projects during that time were starting a creperie (which is still running after several handovers) and taking a one-year sabbatical from St Andrews to learn Spanish in Madrid and then to work in Buenos Aires.
Why join JETS?
There is no doubt that the best way to enter the Asian workplace is through Jardines. The JET scheme offers endless opportunities to explore a variety of markets from Beijing to Jakarta while rotating between both front and back end departments. If you have an adventurous and curious mind, I believe this position is one of the best training grounds to learn how to run a business as quickly as possible.
What three top tips would you give your fellow Bright Network members?
- The programme is unique. Think carefully as to whether you will enjoy the idea of rotating to different departments or if you will find this frustrating given you have a clear idea that you want to join the Finance team (for example).
- Like any application, you can guess most of the questions that will be asked. Read the press releases, look at the latest issue of the Thistle, and know what makes Jardines different. Come prepared and there won’t be any surprises.
- Speak to people who have been through the process before and who are currently at Jardines. LinkedIn will be the best way to reach out to them.
What was the toughest part of the application process? And your favourite part?
I was always sceptical of the saying “an interview is a means for you [the candidate] to interview the company as much as it is for them to interview you”. However, the Jardines AC proved me wrong. There were as many interviewers as there were candidates and these included senior business leaders such as the CFO and CEO of business units. While this certainly raised the tension in the room, you immediately realise how seriously Jardines takes this process and the value they see in JETs. The effort Jardines puts into running the application process is testament to their investment in the programme more generally.
Could you share your experiences in Jardines as a trainee, especially the life and work in HK/Asia?
Having little experience in Asia prior to starting the JET scheme, it was thrilling to move to HK. I love the city, endless hikes to try over the weekend and a whole new culture to discover. Professionally, I really enjoyed my HR rotation as this is something I would never have tried otherwise, I now see this function in a different light. Being part of the JET family is also a huge privilege, meeting Ben Keswick was definitely a highlight!
Sharing of a day of your current work-life
After arriving at Quarry Bay and grabbing my breakfast from Pret (avocado and egg sandwich with fresh orange juice offer for 36 HK$ – winning combo) I head to the 29th floor of Devon house where Jardine Schindler is based. I read up on any news for the first half-hour (especially applicable this past year) and follow with whichever work is highest in my priority list. During the first two weeks of every month during my finance rotation, I would work on the reporting and forecasting files. These involved consolidating information sourced from various parties, so would do most of that ‘heavy excel work’ in the morning. I often found myself going to Shugetsu for lunch, best ramen in HK hands down. Would have meetings in the afternoon - if any are needed. By 6pm most people have left and by 7pm everyone is out because the AC stops!