George Y: From EHL to Mandarin Oriental

George Yang is one of our outstanding graduates. After graduating from DHSZ in 2019, he pursued a degree in International Hotel Management at EHL. What is the experience like studying at one of the world's top universities in the field of hotel management? We were eager to have him share his firsthand experiences, so we reached out to George on October of last year. At that time, he was in the first semester of his senior year and was preparing for autumn recruitment, he was preparing for job interviews, just like countless returning students, feeling a bit lost at the crossroads of life. However, after a year of trying various potential career paths for graduates, he finally made a firm decision about his career path and secured an excellent job offer! In his confident and composed discussion, we saw how "fit" became the keyword in his relationship with the university he chose, how Dulwich played a role in transition, and how much hard work was behind his efforts. It is a wondrous story about how a simple meal led to a connection with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and he also provided valuable insights into career planning. We have selected excerpts from our Q&A with George that we believe will inspire you!

What inspired you to study hotel management?

I grew up in Suzhou, and near my home was the Pan Pacific Suzhou (formerly known as the Sheraton Hotel). My parents often took me to dine at luxurious hotels like this one. During the entire dining experience, I was captivated by the service process, delicious cuisine, decor, and the stylish uniforms of the doormen. At that moment, I asked my mother what it would be like if I pursued a career in this field. She told me about a school called the EHL in Switzerland, which is the best place in the world to study hotel management.

Why did you choose Switzerland and EHL? What factors did you consider when choosing a university, and how did you view DHSZ's educational philosophy?

When it comes to choosing a university, Chinese parents often place too much emphasis on rankings and grades, which is different from DHSZ's holistic education philosophy. However, I believe that after thinking about it more deeply, you will truly discover whether you are pursuing a highly-ranked university or if you want your child to attend a school that truly aligns with their interests and abilities. When I was choosing a school, in addition to rankings, major compatibility, and personal preferences, I also focused on macro factors such as the political and economic environment, as well as the culture of the country to determine if they would be conducive to the life of a Chinese student.

To confirm if EHL was my dream school and to explore more opportunities, I participated in their summer school in 2017. This trip was very rewarding, and I felt a strong sense of diversity at EHL. There were students from over 100 countries and regions, and it felt like living in a United Nations, where people did not hold any prejudice based on your race or skin colour. Even though English wasn't everyone's native language, we all communicated in English without any barriers.

The pristine natural environment of Switzerland, high professional rankings, and the overall atmosphere of the school all align extremely well with my career aspirations and personal interests. EHL's motto is to strive for excellence, which means not just meeting standards but surpassing them and surpassing oneself. This has had a significant impact on my professional attitude. A good academic atmosphere can have a positive influence and resonance with individuals. So, I believe that EHL is my #BestFit.

Do you feel that DHSZ has helped you adapt better to university life?

DHSZ's rich co-curricular activities (CCA), the entirely English-speaking environment, the modular system, the relatively open cultural environment, western-style management, and the overall operational model of the school are all very similar to my university experience.

During my time at DHSZ, I was actively involved in CCAs. Being a part of clubs and extracurricular activities is something I am passionate about and particularly skilled in. EHL also offers a variety of activities and extracurricular clubs that I feel right at home in. I believe that in today's competitive job market, your interests, knowledge gained outside of the classroom, and your extracurricular efforts are the most advantageous ways to set yourself apart from others.

DHSZ provided me with a comfortable path to move forward. If you can make good use of DHSZ's resources, you will definitely not feel out of place when studying abroad.

What kind of career plan have you set for yourself?

At the end of my junior year and the beginning of my senior year, I can say that I explored most of the paths that Chinese students typically face after graduation. I received an offer of master’s degree, went through the autumn recruitment process, and learned all about it, being a management trainee of a Fortune 500 company, getting an offer from overseas companies – I have tried all of them. After going through all of these experiences, I remained firm in my initial dream: the hotel industry.

Can you talk about your experiences and gains after participating in autumn recruitment? Although it might be a bit early for our students, it could be useful for them in the future.

In today's highly competitive environment, it's crucial to start thinking and preparing early. Studying diligently is important, but when everyone is doing the same, it's back to the same starting point. To stand out, as mentioned earlier, you can turn your extracurricular activities, acquiring additional certifications, internships, and more into your unique experiences. Of course, the activities you participate in should be highly relevant to the industry, such as attending open days at industry companies and discussing corporate culture with HR. Choosing the right track and projects that can help boost your background is particularly important for undergraduates.

If you don't prepare in this way, you can easily find yourself in a situation where you graduate and don't know what to do, struggling to find a job. Even if you graduate from a prestigious university – there are many graduates from prestigious universities –  how to be selected? The chosen candidate has undoubtedly put in a lot of effort preparing, interning, and accumulating experience.

What internship experiences or accumulated experiences do you think added value to your resume?

First, my university course was divided into three years of undergraduate studies and one preparatory year, which allowed me to accumulate a year of internship experience during my time in school. We could participate in various activities hosted by the school's hotel, banquet service, logistics management, and more. While other schools distribute textbooks, our school provided each of us with a Swiss Army knife and various uniforms to attend different workshops. For example, sometimes we had to slice over 2000 tomatoes in a morning. Though it was tiring, it was quite interesting, and only through such experiences could we understand the hard work in the hotel kitchen. Our school's philosophy is to cultivate high-end service professionals, so you must step by step to learn more. You can't become a manager or a leader overnight; you need to know the various job types in the entire hotel, understand the entire service process, and how it operates to manage and distinguish effectively.

Secondly, my internship at the Peninsula Beijing provided me with more real-world experience, from cleaning dishes in the kitchen to mixing drinks in the front of the house.

In different industries, relying solely on information from consumers and friends and family may not help us determine if we are suited for that line of work. Only after you've experienced it for yourself will you know its challenges and merits, and whether you're willing to continue in that field.

How did you secure this job offer, and what preparations did you make for it?

Just like Dulwich organises university fairs, universities also hold career fairs where hundreds of companies from around the world gather. The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group was one of the companies at this fair, and they offered me the job on the spot.

I could say that I was prepared but not prepared for this offer. I prepared myself. I had the right mindset for job hunting and a well-prepared resume, but I didn't specifically prepare for information about the Mandarin Oriental Hongkong. I approached the conversation with HR with a calm mindset.

Usually, at such career fairs, recruiters take your resume and tell you that they will contact you later. However, after talking to the Mandarin Oriental Hongkong recruiter, he immediately started the formal interview. He asked questions about the hotel and restaurant industry, my personal interests, and my motivation for the job. Of course, confidently answering these questions is something you can develop through your experiences at career fairs. It's about clearly expressing your aspirations and explaining why you are a good fit for the position.

As I mentioned earlier, I didn't specifically prepare for the Mandarin Oriental's recruitment, but I did have prior knowledge. When I was interning in Beijing, I had dined at the Mandarin Oriental Beijing. At that time, my internship salary was 2,300 RMB, and I spent over 800 RMB on a meal at the Mandarin Oriental just for the experience. Luxury hotel experiences focus on multi-sensory experiences, meaning you should experience the scents, designs, and underlying concepts. The delicious braised beef, the traditional Chinese decor, and the view of the Forbidden City from the restaurant left a lasting impression on me.

Going back to my interview, this dining experience became my connection with the Mandarin Oriental. What's even more interesting is that the interviewer at the time was an EHL alumnus, and he was the general manager of the Mandarin Oriental Beijing when I was dining in. The story all came together, so you could say I wasn't prepared, or you could say I had been preparing for it three years earlier.

For the students who are currently in high school, what advice would you give to them?

I would like to offer some advice to my junior students as well as their parents. It's best to have an idea of what you want to do in the future when you enter university. Of course, this can be challenging, so as someone who has been through it, I would recommend two paths: one based on your interests and the other based on market demand.

I chose the first path, which means pursuing what I love and turning it into what I excel at. I have a passion for hotels and upscale restaurants, so I chose this major and obtained various relevant certifications, such as the Hotel Industry Basic and Advanced Analysis Certificates, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 2 Certificate in Wine, the Level 2 Certificate in Spirits, and the Level 1 Certificate in Sake. I constantly improved myself to gain more specialised industry knowledge.

Additionally, make use of DHSZ's resources and plan ahead. Get involved in CCAs and other activities, especially those that are related to your future career. Learn as much as you can about the industry. For example, if you aim to work for international organisations in the future, consider joining the Model United Nations club, or participate in philanthropic activities like WingsPlan. Everything you experience, accumulate, intern in, organise, and your skills are real and cannot be taken away by anyone. Your current classmates can also become valuable resources in the future, and this is where the Dulwich Alumni Network (WAN) holds its value.

More about EHL, we interviewed the admission officer of it, and having her provide us an overview of EHL's unique approach to hospitality education and what sets it apart from other hospitality schools:

We are shaping the future of hospitality. As one of the world's leading hotel management schools, EHL invests significantly in talent acquisition and research every year. In every field around the world, there are top universities leading the way in their respective disciplines. In the field of hotel and tourism management, EHL plays such a role.

Over a decade ago, you might have heard of some domestic hotel management schools that would claim to adopt the "advanced Swiss Lausanne model." At that time, the Lausanne model referred to the integration of theory and practice. In fact, even to this day, we continue to adhere to this principle – learning by doing. We incorporate many practical courses, extracurricular activities, two global paid internships, and a final semester student business project, all of which are real-life case studies.

Furthermore, EHL has introduced 21 specialized directions, as nearly half of our students now pursue careers in fields like banking, finance, consulting, luxury goods, fast-moving consumer goods, education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship, similar to business school graduates. These 21 specialized directions include private equity and hedge funds, asset portfolio management, mergers and acquisitions, big data, crisis public relations, luxury goods management, brand planning, and entrepreneurship, among others. Many international hotel management schools have also adopted this approach and introduced various specialized directions. EHL offers the most comprehensive options and adjusts them according to current employment trends.

Our research center gathers the top scholars in their respective fields and releases numerous industry research reports every year, such as the impact of the pandemic on the industry and sustainability. I recall one report that focused on industry research for the next 15 years because some industries may disappear, while new ones will emerge. For example, 15 years ago, there was no Meituan and Didi, but these sectors have significantly addressed employment issues today. Therefore, we must conduct research on societal development to ensure that what we teach in school meets the future employment needs of our students. Our students are in high demand not only upon graduation but also in the next 15 or 25 years. As we are all aware, with the development of artificial intelligence, many jobs may be replaced by AI in the future. However, EHL has been researching this issue for many years, upgrading its curriculum and introducing the concept of "Affective Hospitality." In 2022, we launched a new undergraduate program at our Passugg campus, focusing on enhancing students' soft skills and emotional intelligence. The more a field involves interaction with people's emotions, the less likely it is to be replaced by artificial intelligence. Therefore, we must further strengthen students' listening, empathy, communication, decision-making, leadership, and other skills.

Finally, I believe in the strong brand influence of EHL. Many times, a graduation certificate speaks louder than a thousand words. Although there are rare cases where the school's background is not a deciding factor, in the initial resume screening, if your institution is not reputable, you may be eliminated. If you can't even secure an interview, how can you showcase your individual capabilities? EHL has the most robust global hotel management alumni network, with 63% of alumni in management positions. Our online recruitment platform features job postings from over 12,000 companies. Besides the university itself, EHL also operates a consulting company, serving top companies in the hotel and tourism industry, such as Ctrip, Jinjiang International, Shouqi Group, and Meituan. We also assist companies like BMW, Audi, Lexus, and UBS in improving customer satisfaction and participate in projects such as the development of Tianmenshan tourist destinations and the construction of Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. Therefore, an increasing number of people and industries are becoming aware of EHL and recognize our brand, which greatly benefits our students' future employment prospects.