What it does: Building construction, engineering, property development and asset leasing, railway and transportation projects.
Best known for: Chun Wo Development Holdings is one of the biggest construction companies in Hong Kong. Their large-scale projects included the RMB120 billion Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and the HK$97 billion Sha Tin-Central Link rail project.
Staff stats: Between 1,000 and 5,000 employees.
The good bits: Chun Wo offers a comprehensive programme for experienced professionals, graduates and students with 10 custom programmes. They also sponsor the participants’ expenses for acquiring certifications, courses and diplomas.
The not so good bits: The company’s salaries for interns are lower than competitors such as Sun Hung Kai Properties. Chun Wo’s interns earn up to HK$7,000 per month on average compared to HK$9,000 from other companies.
Chun Wo primarily operates in Hong Kong’s construction and real estate development industry. The company traces its roots from over 50 years since Pang Kam-Chun established the commercial group in 1968. The decades-long experience in the sector included several projects along the ‘Belt & Road’ route China’s Great Bay Area and countries in Southeast Asia.
Some of their prominent construction and property development work comprise the Central-Wan Chai Bypass, the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Passenger Clearance Building, Liantang Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Infrastructure, and the MTR Shatin to Central Link route. Chun Wo has become one of the biggest construction companies in Hong Kong. Their overseas expansion plans outside Greater China have included Abu Dhabi and Vietnam.
The company may take two weeks to process online applications for internships. You should expect to be interviewed with other candidates, although the questions won’t be too difficult. Chun Wo might be more interested in your reason to join them. The interviewer may also ask about your college or university experience that will be relevant to the job.
Students can apply as an intern at Chun Wo that may last between 8 and 12 weeks. The company also offers 10 training programmes for college, university and vocational graduates:
Assistant engineers’ median monthly salaries range from HK$16,000 and HK$18,000. Chun Wo’s BIM modellers earn HK$19,000 and HK$21,000 per month on average. The company pays an average of HK$38,000 per month for quantity surveyors.
Chun Wo’s benefits and incentives include milestone leaves for birthdays and marriages, exam and paternity leave, and staff care. Interns earn between HK$4,000 and HK$7,000 per month on average, which is lower than other companies like Sun Hung Kai Properties’ HK$9,000 monthly average pay for their interns.
Graduates who prioritise work-life balance will struggle to prosper in their roles at Chun Wo. Long work hours and overtime seem to be common among engineers and quantity surveyors. The situation, however, may stem from the shortage of skilled professionals and labourers in Hong Kong’s construction industry.
Chun Wo’s top competitors include Cheung Kong (Holdings), Great Eagle Holdings, Henderson Land Development, Sun Hung Kai Properties and Wheelock Properties (Hong Kong).
The company focuses on community involvement, environmental protection (eg carbon audit and waste management), occupational health and safety, scholarships and volunteerism among employees as the key elements of their corporate social responsibility projects.
The demand for workers in Hong Kong’s construction and property sectors continues to outpace the available supply of qualified workers. Chun Wo might be willing to pay a premium for hiring exceptional graduates. You need to have rare and sought-after credentials, including engineering and IT skills, to emerge as a front-runner for your target role.
Be prepared to work for long hours, though, as the dearth of skilled individuals indicates more work for those who are competent enough for the job. Students should also consider the uneven work-life balance given the company’s small monthly salaries for interns.