Randy works as a research assistant, which  involves conducting qualitative research such as literature reviews, as well as collecting and analysing data. 

What are you enjoying most about work?

I am actually quite happy with my job right now. It gives me a taste of what being a researcher is which is something that I am interested in. And of course, the friendly working environment really helped me to blend in despite being out of work for quite a while and only being here for a short time.

What is the biggest mistake you have made since graduating and what have you learned from it?

I've made the mistake of having poor time management. Despite the lack of success in my job hunt, I could've probably optimised my time for better this. Taking online courses or learning some skills during that time would have been useful for me to aid my future career. 

What have you learned since graduating that could be helpful to other graduates?

Don't rush into getting a job, take time to look for what you really want and take a break if you're exhausted. 

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?

Don't rush into a job that you don't like. Take the time to get a job you like; this will do you a lot more good than getting a job you are not interested in. The level of interest really makes a difference in your motivation as well as your mental health. 

How, if at all, has the pandemic affected your working life? 

The pandemic has quite disrupted my career planning. It's limited where I could go - I couldn't go abroad to continue my studies or to get a job in another country.  To get a job in the research field was difficult enough in Hong Kong; the pandemic made it that much more difficult.