Daniel Ng ’12 found the guidance he needed through our alumni mentorship program with mentor Tania Chan ’01. This success story reveals the transformative power of mentorship, from invaluable industry insights to building the confidence to make a leap.
Daniel, what prompted you to reach out to Tania through the “Ask a Career Coach” programme? Tania, what was your first impression when you received Daniel’s message?
DN: I was in the middle of moving back to Hong Kong from England and needed some insight into the career landscape of Hong Kong. Coincidentally, I saw CIS Alumni’s email advertising for Tania’s Mentorship Programme, so I jumped at the opportunity.
TC: The moment I saw Daniel’s message, I was genuinely excited! He was ready to take charge of his future, eager to get my thoughts and pointers on his future career path.
How did you structure your initial conversations? What were your goals for the programme?
DN: I reached out via her Google Forms and scheduled an hour-long call via WhatsApp video call since I was abroad. She was super keen to meet up with me for coffee once I moved back so that she could introduce me to relevant people in the IT domain who would point me in the right direction.
TC: I kicked off with a warm, open chat, reiterating confidentiality in our first meeting. I wanted to hear his dreams, challenges, and what lights him up professionally. My goal was to transform those big ideas into clear and actionable steps.
Tania, what was the most crucial piece of strategic advice you shared with Daniel?
It’s all about connections! Success in a job search is less about blasting out CVs and more about building genuine relationships. When you network smartly, i.e., ask the right questions, show curiosity – you create authentic connections and you open doors.
What has been the most rewarding part of guiding Daniel through this process?
The thrill is watching him break through his limits and land that dream role. These moments, confidence soars, and it’s the “yes, I can do this!” It fuels my passion and reminds me why mentoring is one of the most powerful things I do.
Daniel, what was the most valuable piece of advice Tania gave you, and how did you implement it into your job search strategy?
The overarching emphasis on having connections. I found my first IT job in the UK via the traditional route, i.e. browsing online to find a recruitment agency, then passing various assessments and coding challenges. Hong Kong, however, was a different game. The industry was saturated, and just being a good coder was no longer sufficient. Tania told me to bluntly dig through my connections and approach them shamelessly, buying them coffee and nudging my CV into the right hands. Through her, I discovered “super-networkers”, including the founder of the Cantab HK community, a thriving WhatsApp group that seems to expand daily. I followed her playbook and set up numerous coffee chats. While my current job didn’t come directly through these meetings, the process built bridges and gave me access to people I wouldn’t have met otherwise.
What other skills/insights did you gain from this experience?
Once I secured my job offer, Tania’s HR expertise was invaluable. She guided me to ask the right questions so that my compensation could be optimised.
(Both) What would you say to other alums who are hesitant to either ask for help as a mentee or offer their time as a mentor? Why is it worth it?
DN: Life is too short to pretend you can do everything yourself. Learn from the wise and experienced, and you will save some bruises.
TC: If you are on the fence, jump in! Mentoring isn’t just about giving or getting help. It’s a dynamic exchange that supercharges both sides. The relationships you build and the growth you experience are worth every second! This is the best part about being part of the CIS community – we help each other!