First Impressions
By: Jenny Ko, CAS ’21
Jenny at the Lynk office in Hong Kong
Lynk – Hong Kong
It has only been my first week at work, but I have already noticed so many striking aspects of working at a startup company in Hong Kong. I am currently interning at Lynk, an expert network consulting company, which aims to connect industry experts with clients, such as investment and management consulting firms, private equity firms, etc. Here are my first impressions and what I’ve found striking about working at a startup firm:
- A relaxed, yet high pressured environment
You may be wondering how an environment can be both relaxed and high-pressure, but this is exactly what working at a startup company feels like. My coworkers are friendly and relaxed – you are able to talk to everyone, including the executives of the company. The office has an open layout, without cubicles or enclosed offices, where ideas can be thrown around the room. Both the lunch hours and the dress codes are flexible (dress casual Fridays is the best). However, it is definitely high pressure, because you have to be able to think fast on your feet and carry out different tasks and projects at once.
- The diverse workforce
Lynk is a company located in Hong Kong, so I did not expect the workforce to be so diverse. However, contrary to my beliefs, Lynk employs a diverse workforce, with employees from over 10 different countries. Although not every startup is ethnically diverse, I definitely feel like there are people with diverse work and life experiences and skills.
- Unity of the different sectors
I am part of the Korean client solutions team; however, I am able to talk to various people in the office, such as the China team, Japanese team, HR team, and even the executive board. Unlike other larger firms where you only interact with those in the same department as yourself, at Lynk, you are able to easily access and talk to all of your co-workers.
- Engaging work
As an intern, I did not expect to do much – probably getting coffee for people, making copies, filing papers etc. However, a good thing about working at a startup is that you actually get to do cool things and be involved in the work process.
I do recommend working at a startup if you want to interact with everyone and get a hands-on experience in the workforce. It may not be for everyone, but it will definitely be a positive learning experience!
The Global Research and Internship Program (GRIP) provides outstanding undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to intern or conduct research abroad for 8 to 12 weeks over the summer. Participants gain career-enhancing experience and global exposure that is essential in a global workforce. Placements and funding awards are available.