We reached out to a couple of Management Trainees in The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) and asked them some questions about their experience in the role. Let’s see what they have to say!

hkjc grad

Robert
University of Cambridge
Land Economy: Law, Economics and the Environment, with aspects of Business Finance

Can you let us know which area of the business or which rotation you are working in the company?

I am in my first year of the Management Trainee programme at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and am working in the Equestrian Affairs department under the Racing division.

What were the first 6 months like? What have you enjoyed?

I've only been here 3 months so far, but I've thoroughly enjoyed my time here. While I've always wanted to pursue a career in sports, Equestrian wasn't a sport I was initially familiar with before joining, so there's definitely been a steep learning curve there. Otherwise, I've had the chance to work on some very exciting projects and the people have all been super approachable and welcoming. No two days are the same here, which has been really refreshing!

Was your position with the HKJC MT Programme as you expected it to be? Did anything take you by surprise?

This is my first job so I didn't really have any concrete expectations of what it'd be like. At first I was surprised by the scale of operations here at the Club but that's something I've gotten used to by now.

Everyone is keen on maintaining work/life balance, with that in mind what is the longest day you have put it and have you worked weekends at all?

My working hours are fairly consistent. Occasionally I do go to work on weekends to help out with our shows and events, but when that happens the Club has been really good in giving me a rest day back during the week.

On a day to day basis, what do you work on?

It's a very dynamic and varied role, so a little bit of everything to be honest! When I'm in the office, it's mostly business planning for the projects we have going on in the department. This could be anything from coordinating with people from other departments or other companies, to managing spreadsheets, researching and writing reports. Once in a while I'll be based in our Riding Schools, where I support our shows and competitions which has really helped me familiarise myself with the sport.

Can you highlight some projects that you worked on at The Hong Kong Jockey Club?

Developing a business plan for the opening of a pony park in 2025.
A business analysis on our department's Retired Horse Unit.
Coordinating the installation of a Gallery Room at one of our riding schools.
Supporting the redevelopment of one of our riding schools next summer.
The transformation of our hard-copy indemnity forms into an e-form solution.
Creating a database to keep track of all HKJC show results, and exploring the potential to implement an entire show management system.
Coordinating a media request to film a documentary programme with one of our senior riders.

What systems do you use for your current role?

Windows and Citrix Workspace if I'm not in office.

What sort of support are you provided at The Hong Kong Jockey Club?

My manager in particular has been super approachable and often goes out of her way to support me, which I'm very grateful for. The entire department has also been very willing to help and everyone has been easy to work with. The only slight and occasional difficulty is getting in touch and communicating with people from other departments, but that is to be expected given the size of the Club.

What skills do you think you need to succeed in your role and do they differ from what you envisioned?

I think the most important skills you need to succeed in this role are flexibility and communication skills. Given the wide variety of different jobs and projects, it's impossible to get things done alone so I've definitely noticed the importance of asking people for help and working together with people to achieve whatever needs to be done.

What are the best perks or benefits at The Hong Kong Jockey Club?

The Club offers staff discounts at a bunch of places and shops around Hong Kong, and employees get healthcare and insurance plans too. In the office building there are restaurants and gyms too which is also good!

hkjc grad

Tracy
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Journalism & Communication

Can you let us know which area of the business or which rotation you are working in the company?

I am currently rotating in Racing Event Marketing department in HKJC.

What were the first 6 months like? What have you enjoyed?

I joined the Club in August 2020 and have spent most of my first 6 months working from home. Nevertheless, my colleagues were really supportive in helping me transition into a new role and understanding horse racing. I enjoyed having a taste of the Club's different businesses (racing, charities, membership etc.) within a short period of time.

Was your position with the HKJC MT Programme as you expected it to be? Did anything take you by surprise?

Currently rotating in Racing Event Marketing, I was surprised at how fast-pacing the team is as we plan and execute marketing campaigns for the Club's major race meetings every month, but I enjoyed the dynamic work environment a lot.

Everyone is keen on maintaining work/life balance, with that in mind what is the longest day you have put it and have you worked weekends at all?

I would usually work till 7:30pm, but never worked on Saturdays.

On a day to day basis, what do you work on?

Preparation for major race meetings (e.g. HK International Races), including:

Event marketing proposal
Media partnership
Social media engagement
Attendance drive programs
Onsite event production, logistics
Gifts sourcing

Can you highlight some projects that you worked on at The Hong Kong Jockey Club?

Marketing campaign for Season Opening, National Day and Sa Sa Ladies' Purse Day (Season 21/22).

What systems do you use for your current role?

Microsoft software

What sort of support are you provided at The Hong Kong Jockey Club?

We have regular catch-up sessions with the Head of Department from our host division, for us to share any feedback we have and update our progress. We also receive MT training workshops arranged by HR on leadership & effective communication etc.

What skills do you think you need to succeed in your role and do they differ from what you envisioned?

I think soft skills are very important to navigate in a large corporation, e.g. stakeholder management skills & being spontaneous and flexible to changes, which was what I expected before I started.

What are the best perks or benefits at The Hong Kong Jockey Club?

Medical plans, team-building activities

Anthea
The University of Hong Kong
Bachelor of Business Administrations (Marketing & Human Resources Management)

Can you let us know which area of the business or which rotation you are working in the company?

I am currently rotating in the Retail & Broadcasting team of Customer & International Business Development division.

What were the first 6 months like? What have you enjoyed?

As a third-year MT in HKJC, I have rotated to various teams, i.e. Retail, Racing Event Marketing, Property and Broadcasting. I enjoyed this cross-functional rotation a lot as I was given chances to explore different fields and participated in multiple projects which have broadened my horizons.

Was your position with the HKJC MT Programme as you expected it to be? Did anything take you by surprise?

Definitely! I think the most surprising part would be my attachment in Property team. As a business student, I do not have any related professional knowledge in the field, yet, with the support of my supervisors and teammates, I could handle the work smoothly and develop additional skillsets.

Everyone is keen on maintaining work/life balance, with that in mind what is the longest day you have put it and have you worked weekends at all?

I think my longest working day since I joined HKJC would be voluntarily working as an ambassador at an annual international racing event – Hong Kong International Races (HKIR). I recalled that we needed to escort different overseas jockeys, trainers and owners during that time. However, even there’s a bit tired, I found this experience eyes-opening and I enjoyed this ambassador role a lot.

As there’s a working roster when I rotated to the retail branch, I usually need to report duty on Saturdays and Sundays.

On a day to day basis, what do you work on?

Research and study the behaviour of new generations
Evaluate existing marketing approaches and provide suggestions for enhancement
Assist in the strategic planning of retail branches
Coordinate with vendors for projects arrangements

Can you highlight some projects that you worked on at The Hong Kong Jockey Club?

Racing Event Marketing: Enhancing customer’s experiences in Happy Wednesday
Property Development Projects: Renovation of 4 newly formatted retail branches
Retail & Broadcasting Team: Marketing to New Generations

What systems do you use for your current role?

Mainly Microsoft Words, PowerPoints and Excel (on and off: Photoshop and Premiere Pro)

What sort of support are you provided at The Hong Kong Jockey Club?

Company: different soft and hard skills trainings
Supervisor: providing guidance and empowering me to work on different projects

What skills do you think you need to succeed in your role and do they differ from what you envisioned?

As what I expected, communications, problem-solving, agility, leadership skills and the desire to learn are essential.

What are the best perks or benefits at The Hong Kong Jockey Club?

Highlights: Career Development, Performance Bonus, Tuition Reimbursement