[Interview] Song Eunyoung (Class of 2010)alumni_City University of Hong Kong Professor Appointment
- 글로벌경영학과
- Hit518
- 2023-10-05
Our alumni, Song Eunyoung, Class of 2010, is currently teaching students at the City University of Hong Kong, specializing in Marketing Consumer Psychology. She emphasizes the importance of setting role models as they provide guidance on what, when, and how to do things, instilling confidence in oneself that if they could do it, so can you. More details are shown through the interview.
1. Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you. Could you please introduce yourself and tell us about your current area of research?
- Hello. It's nice to meet you too. I am conducting research in the field of marketing, specifically focusing on Consumer Behavior. My research primarily examines how the use of new technologies, especially smartphones and algorithms, influences consumer decision-making.
2. You are currently working as a marketing professor at City Univ. of Hong Kong. What is the process leading up to your appointment as a professor. Could you please explain the motivation behind your application and the steps involved?
- It was important for me to be in an environment where I could feel comfortable pursuing my research. Universities in Hong Kong are all public, so they are very well-funded by the government, and they provide various forms of support to allow researchers to focus on their work. Additionally, being geographically close to Korea, I could visit family and friends more frequently, which was also appealing.
- The process leading up to my appointment was long and complex, but to summarize, while I was finishing my Ph.D., I participated in a large conference-style event called "Job Market.” After two rounds of interviews, I was offered the position. It was like a company's recruitment process.
- To go into more detail, when the "Job Market" event opens, similar to submitting applications to companies, I prepared a package of materials including my research papers and plans for future research to apply to various universities. The selected candidates then proceed to the first round of interviews, which are usually one-to-many interviews where you briefly introduce yourself and your research topics. Those who pass the first round then go on to the second round of interviews. During the second round, which usually takes about 2-3 days, I had one-on-one interviews with professors at the university and presented my papers for about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. Then I met with key administrative figures at the university involved in professorial appointments, such as the dean and provost. In cases where you visit the university in person, after the schedule ends for the day, you attend a party and have more intimate and personal time with department professors. Finally, the university holds meetings and decide on the successful candidate.
3. Until recently, there may have been disruptions in classes due to COVID-19. How did you manage to overcome this and conduct classes in Hong Kong?
- I conducted all my classes online, but in truth, the students worked harder than I did. The course I taught was Business Case Analysis and Communication, where "communication" was crucial. It was not easy for students to participate freely in an online setting. To overcome this limitation, I made a lot of efforts. Apart from class hours, I frequently held small-group Zoom meetings with students to receive continuous feedback and tried to incorporate it into the course.
4. Could you share any memorable activities, both on-campus and off-campus, that you participated in during your undergraduate years?
- To be honest, I didn't have exceptionally high grades, and I wasn't very active in on-campus or off-campus activities during my undergraduate years. I wasn't particularly dedicated to my studies or campus life, and I was busy with various activities related to my interest in fashion. However, in the first semester of my fourth year, I took a marketing course which turned out to be the turning point. Fortunately, as an undergraduate, I was able to gain research experience as a Research Assistant (RA), which allowed me to directly enter the Ph.D. program without pursuing a master's degree. Through this RA position, I realized how enjoyable and fulfilling “research” could be. It was during this time that I began to dream of a career as a professor.
5. If you have presented any research results at conferences or published any papers in prestigious journals, could you please share them?
- My most recent paper titled "Phone and Self: How Smartphone Use Increases the Preference for Uniqueness" was published in the top journal in our field, the Journal of Marketing Research. This paper reveals that when consumers use smartphones, they tend to make choices that express their individuality more than when using a conventional computer.
6. Could you please share your future research plans?
- I plan to continue researching how the use of smartphones influences human behavior. I am not only examining consumer behavior but also investigating how smartphones affect people's social relationships and cognitive abilities.
7. If you had the opportunity to visit the school again, where would you most like to go? And why?
- Actually, I visited Sungkyunkwan University earlier this summer after a long time, but I was disappointed to find that all the small stores I used to like were gone. The small coffee takeout shop called "Holic" right in front of the main gate and the cafe "Rambleas," which had delicious cakes, both disappeared. It was such a shame. If I were to recommend a place that might still be there... um... how about the waffles at the Professor's Hall? I remember going there to have waffles after lunch.
8. Finally, do you have any words of advice or messages for the students of Sungkyunkwan University's School of Business? (feat. Sungkyunkwan University School of Business students preparing for employment abroad)
- I believe having role models is important. Role models provide guidance on what, when, and how to do things, instilling confidence in oneself that if they could do it, so can you. Moreover, by following role models, you can eventually become someone else's role model, creating a cycle of inspiration. I sincerely encourage my juniors to find their own role models and, in turn, become role models for others.