j Confucius Institute - Budapest, Hungary

Confucius Institute - Budapest, Hungary

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A Success Story at the ELTE Chinese Career Day

2023. May 24.

A Success Story at the ELTE Chinese Career Day: Our Fresh Graduate Travels to China for a New Position!

Patrik Pongrácz, at only 23 years old, has secured a job at a major company in China. As a recent graduate from the Chinese department at ELTE, he is eager to experience life in the Far East and return to Hungary equipped with professional experience to contribute to the work of the company, which also has a headquarters in Hungary. Patrik will primarily handle translation and interpretation tasks. The Chinese Career Day, held on May 24th, marked a significant milestone in Patrik's life as a recent graduate with a bachelor's degree in Chinese, as he received a job offer within just two months.

Pongrácz Patrik


Confucius Institute: How did Chinese culture become a part of your life?

Patrik Pongrácz: Patrik Pongrácz: Since childhood, I have been a fan of Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee movies, which was my initial connection to China. When I was fifteen, I decided to try kung fu since I was fascinated by the movements I saw in the films. Not far from my hometown, I found a martial arts school, and after my first class, I knew that this would be my sport. Naturally, my goal was to explore more aspects of the culture beyond this specific area. That's when I started developing a deeper interest in the unique Far Eastern country, its language, history, politics, and economy. I always make sure to attend lectures at the Confucius Institute that touch upon modern China.


Confucius Institute: Do you still practice kung fu?

Patrik Pongrácz: Unfortunately, I'm not currently practicing the sport. I trained in martial arts for five years, but due to the global pandemic, the classes were understandably suspended. Eventually, I moved to Budapest and started studying Chinese at ELTE. A few days ago, I successfully passed my final exams.

Confucius Institute: Congratulations! So, it's time for well-deserved work now?

Patrik Pongrácz: Yes, although my future plan is to pursue a master's degree in Chinese as well. I won't start a new school this year because, thanks to the Chinese Career Day organized by the Confucius Institute, I received a promising job offer.


Confucius Institute: That's great to hear. How did you learn about the event?

Patrik Pongrácz: We were attending classes at ELTE when we saw posters for the event everywhere. We were thrilled because we noticed that Korean students had their own Korean Career Day, and I must admit we were a bit envious that other Eastern programs had job fairs. So, the organization of this event fulfilled the wishes of many of us.

Confucius Institute: How did you prepare for the Career Day?

Patrik Pongrácz: I researched what a Chinese resume should look like and what specific aspects to pay attention to. For example, the level of detail in the personal information section, and providing WeChat contact details, which is particularly important for the Chinese, as it is their primary communication channel. Of course, I also highlighted my Chinese language proficiency by stating my level of HSK certification.


Confucius Institute: How many short interviews did you participate in at the job fair?

Patrik Pongrácz: I had about five or six short interviews, followed by two longer, in-person interviews. I could have had more opportunities since I was invited for additional interviews, but by that time, I had already committed to a company. The job opportunity itself came when I sat down at one of the company's tables during the career fair, where one of their representatives conducted a Chinese-language interview. Shortly after, I had my first practical opportunity, accompanying the company's management to a negotiation where they were interested in assessing my interpreting skills. Then the decision was made to work with me in the future. And now, in a few days, I'll be flying to China.

Confucius Institute: What did your parents and friends say when they learned that you would be working at a major Chinese company in just a few weeks?

Patrik Pongrácz: They were very happy and proud of me, although they were a bit concerned about how far I would be going. I will spend over a month in Hubei Province, where they will train me for the job and help me better understand the company. Then I will return to Hungary to assist in the execution of projects organized by the company, particularly focusing on efficient communication, which means I will be doing a lot of interpreting and translation. It won't be my first time going to China; I have previously spent a few weeks there, but that was a private trip. However, I was captivated by the country, so I'm really excited for this opportunity.

Confucius Institute: Thank you very much for the interview. I wish you lots of success and a safe journey!

Patrik Pongrácz: Thank you for the opportunity and, of course, for organizing the Chinese Career Day. I owe a lot to this event!


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