- For economics major Wilbert Averil, working in the dynamic I&T environment at HKSTP has taught him that learning to do things beyond what you already know builds valuable human capital
- Embrace a growth mindset to cultivate a learning culture
Learning to do things beyond your range of skills and knowledge helps you to grow your human capital. Photo: ShutterstockJobs in technology have a huge array of career prospects and the flexibility offered is remarkable. The possibilities mean that everyone can develop a career that is fulfilling and has purpose. Whatever your background may be, jobs in Innovation and Technology (I&T) are providing countless opportunities for people to grow and blossom.
Wilbert Averil, an assistant at InnoAcademy Team at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), spoke with us about his journey so far in I&T and the challenges he’s faced that have helped to grow an invaluable asset – his human capital.
“At InnoAcademy, I get to work on a variety of tasks. As an economics major, I didn’t have a background in marketing, but many of my tasks are marketing-related,” Averil explained. “I learned to do things beyond my range of skills and knowledge.”
One of the tasks he was given was to manage InnoAcademy’s social media campaigns. While he may have felt a bit overwhelmed at first, he invested in learning about marketing metrics by enrolling in online courses to hone his digital marketing skills. Mistakes were made along the way, but they were also perfect learning opportunities helping him to grow and learn as a person and as an employee. He compared this to how start-ups are growing and learning by trial and error as they develop. It is an important part of the growth process.
A variety of domain knowledge is essential for I&T success
At work, Averil has thrived with the mentorship and support from senior people he has received. When talking about his participation in brainstorming sessions with senior people, he said, “Some of my ideas were implemented after. I felt heard and valued.” The inclusive environment helped to nurture Averil’s interest in developing a career in I&T and has made him more confident to try new things.
Working with senior managers and decision makers at HKSTP has allowed Averil to gain valuable insights into the nuances of how decisions are made at a higher level within an organisation. Even if you’re still relatively junior within a team, there’s always room for meaningful contributions towards success – something that should be celebrated regardless of rank or title!
Hong Kong’s Innovation & Technology sector thrives on diversity
I&T offers limitless potential, including high earning potential, for instance, if you receive start-up stock options before the company takes off. While income is certainly a consideration when job hunting, it is also important for work to challenge employees to grow. Investing in yourself through education or training can open new doors that may have been previously unavailable. In the thriving HKSTP community, Averil gained valuable career wisdom from decision makers there including the importance of building human capital early in your career to set you up for future success. He is an advocate for investing in yourself, challenging yourself, and learning from mentors to make a splash in I&T.
Hong Kong I&T Career Expo 2023, the city’s largest virtual I&T career fair where fresh graduates, university students and all young talent can browse more than 2,700 I&T job opportunities from over 250 companies in the hottest tech sectors including AI & data, biotech, fintech, and robotics, among others. I&T jobs offer great potential, both financially and professionally, for candidates with different skill sets no matter what stage they are at in their career journey.