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as English . However , if you are not multilingual apply anyway because you never know !
Certificates Taking a year or two off after finishing secondary school and using that time to gain a certificate in something that is interesting and useful is a great use of time , and may even help you to discover a new passion . The number of potential courses is enormous , from languages to cooking to coding to art .
Having an extra qualification to beef up a CV is helpful , even if the qualification does not link directly to the career path you eventually decide to follow . Second-language proficiency , for example , is always an impressive addition to any CV . Having extra certificates and qualifications also shows potential employers that you enjoy learning new skills , and that you have a wide range of interests . Some institutions offering certificate programmes are listed below . Also check out some universities as a few offer online certificate programmes , like the Parson School of Design , for example .
• International Culinary Institute – offering diploma and certificate courses in international culinary training . www . ici . edu . hk
• Hotel and Tourism Institute providing quality vocational education and training for secondary school leavers . www . hti . edu . hk
• Vocational Training Council – vocational education , training , and professional development courses . www . vtc . edu . hk
• Make Up Forever Academy – offering many make-up training courses . www . makeupforever . com / hk / en-hk
• The Open University of Hong Kong – offering different levels of programmes and diplomas . www . ouhk . edu . hk
Charity Programmes When young people aren ’ t sure of what they want to do , they can sometimes feel ‘ lost ’. If all of their friends are going off to university , but they have decided to take a gap year , they may feel isolated or begin to think that they have made the wrong decision . This is why volunteering for a charitable organisation can be so beneficial . Volunteering helps you structure your time and provides a sense of worth and purpose . Not only is it good for meeting other like-minded people , but you ’ ll be giving something back to society and will feel good because of that .
Moreover , employers love to see volunteering on a CV . A lot of volunteering opportunities allow you to develop the skills you need for a job out in the ‘ real world ’, making the experience invaluable in many ways . Some organisations are listed below :
• Society for Community Organisation ( SOCO ) – volunteer to become a teacher or a mentor for the organisation ’ s child mentorship scheme . www . soco . org . hk
• Hong Kong Unison – volunteer to
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