I absolute love Asian cuisine. Late last year I travelled throughout Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, and Shanghai sampling everything each place had to offer. Aside from the food, it was fascinating to see how vastly different these countries compared.
Staff Spotlight: Tom Trieu
What is your favorite travel memory?
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
Even though I have only been at TIC TWO for a short period of time I have grown a lot both personally and professionally. Working in Shanghai and at TIC TWO has really challenged me to learn new things and apply all the knowledge I have gained in prior experiences on an international stage. In short, I now have a greater understand and perspective on international business!
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
The best stories that I have heard so far at TIC TWO all have had to do with our interns looking for ways to come back to Shanghai because they can't get enough of it!
What position do you hold at TIC TWO? What has been your career path so far?
My title at TIC TWO is Strategic Development Manager which focuses primary on the Canadian and American markets. My job is to bring high quality internship placements to young Americans and Canadians looking to gain international work experience.
Prior to working at TIC TWO I worked in the Sales and Marketing department of an Oil and Gas company in Vancouver, Canada. I worked there for 2 years as the lead on all marketing initiatives which included rebranding their image and website, to planning and organizing trade shows and much much more. I also played a significant role within other departments of the company which allowed me to work closely with the Engineers and Millwrights on the assembly floor. I am able to bring the knowledge I have gained within Sales, Marketing, Manufacturing, and Engineering to TIC TWO and help young individuals indentify exactly what they’re looking to achieve abroad!
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
In the short time I have been here the proudest moments I had being a member of the TIC TWO team would be speaking with our participants right before the program comes to an end and hearing that they had an awesome time. I felt that not only were we able to provide a great service, but we also made a lasting impression as individuals!
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
I think the biggest factor in any successful company is its ability to be flexible and highly adaptive to the changing demands of its consumer and market place while holding on to their roots and high ethical/moral standards.
What does the future hold for TIC TWO - any exciting new programs to share?
There are many exciting initiatives going on at the moment but for now we are really concentrating on ensuring we are able to secure quality placements for what will be our busiest summer yet!
Prior to the summer program we are making some major changes to how the program is run to ensure it’s the best it can be. TIC TWO has recently brought on more up and coming talent to improve the entire program. The participants in 2014 and beyond will have a truly unique experience prepared for them!
What about the future of the industry? How do you think interning abroad will change over the next 10 years?
I believe that international work experience is going to pay a huge factor in securing a job in nearly all markets. There are more people now than ever graduating with a degree from top universities around the world. This makes for an increasingly competitive job market especially for fresh graduates. Having international experience will not only set you apart from your peers but show future employers that you are able to grow and adapt to new environments and cultures.
What country have you always wanted to visit?
Up until late last year, I have always wanted to visit Japan. I was lucky enough to spend a week there prior to joining TIC TWO in their Shanghai office. My goal now is to backpack around South East Asia, Europe, UK, and Australia!
Why is language learning and cultural immersion important to you?
Being of Chinese descent, growing up in Canada, I never had the opportunity to get a really good feel of what life would’ve been like in China, let alone learn the language! I figured the only way I could find out and learn was to come out here myself and immerse myself in The Mainland!
What language have you always wanted to learn and why?
I have always wanted to learn how to speak Mandarin, Japanese, and Cantonese. Right now, my goal is to learn Mandarin. Its proving to be rather difficult but having daily exposure to it really helps.
What unique qualities does your company possess?
TIC TWO is very transparent and upfront with its approach and operates with high ethically standards. This culture is reinforced by the people that work here as we – we all take a lot of pride in everything that we do here.
The team is built with people from all around the world with different backgrounds and areas of expertise that allows TIC TWO to find unique solutions for any challenges that approaches us.
What changes would you make to the intern abroad industry?
The first thing I would change would be the accessibility of interning abroad. Having international work experience on your resume will definitely set you apart from your peers but it is extremely difficult to find a promising internship when you’re half way around the world. Even after you’ve found your placement there are still many challenges both prior and after arriving in country. These are huge limiting factors that prevent a lot of students and recent graduates from considering interning abroad as a viable option.