PCLL Candidate at The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Mina Chae. I studied BSc Economics and graduated in 2020.
Why did you choose to study Economics at Royal Holloway and what did you enjoy most about your course?
I chose to study Economics at Royal Holloway because the course offers a wide spectrum of knowledge across the different modules. It’s flexible enough to allow students to go into different disciplines after graduating and offers a large selection in future careers. Throughout the course, we were given the option to choose different elective modules to pursue our interests. My favourite part of the course was writing my dissertation and I received an abundance of support from my advisor, Ija Trapeznikova, and the department in writing it.
How was your personal experience of being part of the Economics community as a close-knit group of staff and students?
As a whole, the Economics department is always ready to impart knowledge onto students. Professors and seminar tutors are always willing to help and guide you. I personally enjoyed being part of such a close-knit community and I know my friends share the same sentiment. I was an Economics ambassador during my second and third year. This meant that I worked in the department during Open Days. I got to meet some of the students in the year above me and it was always fun working with them too.
Tell us about your career journey since graduating and what you do now. What do you enjoy most / find most rewarding about your current role?
Since graduating, I switched my career path to law. I graduated from the Juris Doctor degree at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2022 and will finish the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws in 2023. Although I am no longer in the economics field, my undergraduate degree taught me critical thinking skills which I now apply to my legal studies. Most of my friends in the same course have gone on to work in finance or one of the Big Four. This shows how flexible the course really is!
What are your top tips for students thinking about a career in your line of work/study?
A general piece of advice is that jobs, whether in finance or law, are competitive. It’s important to start applying to internships as early as first year. Don’t get discouraged by rejection letters, it’s inevitable. Just keep persisting and you will find the role for you!
