Job hunting in HK is getting me down :(

Hey ladies,


I've reached a point where my head is spinning and I'm completely confused about where I should be or what I should do.


I moved to HK about 2 months ago. I've been working Banking for close to 7 years but have realised that I don't enjoy at all. Marketing has always been my passion but I've never really had the guts to make a career change becos my banking jobs have always been quite cushy and pay well. Anyhow - I've decided it's time to stop mucking around and I've tried to find work in HK.


What I didn't realise is how much of you self-esteem you can lose when job hunting. I'm normally really vibrant and positive but it's amazing how completely lost I feel in this town and my confidence has been shot becos I don't have the right skill/experience/language.. arrggghhhhh!!


If anyone can give me their insight as to how they find work in HK, please let me know as I'm ALL ears! I'm about ready to quit HK and head home...

Hi, why dont you get headhunter to help you? It maybe a little difficult though if you do not understand and speak cantonese. However, as a start, you might want to look for any marketing job within banking industry. Look for big banks like HSBC, Standard Chartered or CitiBank. Accept a lower position with lower pay for a start as you cant expect to enjoy the same package as before. Get one foot in, slowly develop your skill, understand the local environment and culture and build your confident.


I know how difficult it is as I was in exactly the same position as you 5 yrs ago. But today, I am in a much happier position and manage to work back where I was before. (Actually, I am in a much better position than before after i changed industry)


Good Luck!

Well I'm probably in the worse category of all. I was born here but moved to Australia when I was one, so my chinese is very so-so, and I can't read and write. But when they look at me, they EXPECT me to be able to do everything.


I am flexible and willing to take entry level positions - it's just the language barrier that is the hardest hurdle to get over.

Hey Cutiepie... I didn't receive it.

red gal, i know how hard it is, as i am in the same position as you, except i dont have any experience at all, as i graduated from university last year, i think that you should get your CV to some recruiters, I have now started to avoid the local ones as the consultants dont understand my english, but there are the one with the expat consultants they are pretty good at introducing you to their clients. Good Luck!

rititt - was your last post intended as a useful contribution?


ugh


Red gal - speak to headhunters, yes, and tell them what you are looking for but my experience is that you shouldn't build up too many hopes. I also wanted a bit of a career change and my experience here is that unless you have EXACTLY the skill set that a client is looking for they will not put your forward - they don't want to be seen as misjudging what was asked for - despite the fact that you could have commonsense coming out your ears, passion for a change to a new industry etc. And what happens is that sometimes you find that people with less of the above but some relevant experience will get the job instead. So.....


my suggestion is...don't give up hope and don't rely 100% on headhunters. A lot of jobs in this town come through word of mouth, networking, bypassing the hr dept etc. So join / attend events that are going to get you out there. Consider having a business card printed that is neutral but that perhaps says something like "marketing consultant" *** on there, just make sure you can back it up with a cv that highlights your transferrable skills. Revamp your cv if necessary - if you wan to change industry you need to rework it to something that will fit with your target, not one that lists past experience as that won't get the attention you want it to get.


*** no insult intended to people who are full-time marketing consultants, at the end of the day you have to market yourself!

Think about doing a short marketing course - through HKU, CIM etc.


You need to change your mindset and realise that you need to put yourself in front of opportunities rather than waiting for them to come to you.


It is depressing job hunting and it can feel neverending, you just need that first door to open, jam your foot in and then away you go!


Don't give up yet - if you do you'll leave HK with sad memories of what "could have been" - give it a go until you relaly have exhausted all avenues.

Hey Red Gal,


I moved to HK 8 months ago with my partner (his work transferred him here) and I think the jobhunting was the toughest part of all for me.


For the first time in my life, I was A) not working, and B) completely reliant on my partners income. It drove me crazy!


But 8 months later, I am 4 weeks into what is shaping up to be a pretty fantastic job. However, this was after months of jobhunting via printed media, internet, headhunters, networking events, etc. And also after one false start in a job I took purely because I wanted to work, even though it was not a good fit for me. I left after 2 months!


I was given alot of advice about the networking thing (I was told it was the only way to get a job here) and attended countless events, joined associations, etc. Funnily enough, the job I am in now I found in the paper!


But I would say don't discount any jobhunting method. You never know which one is going to pay off. A complete career change may be tough though - I found it hard enough to land a job in my industry (advertising) and I have quite good experience, both in the UK and Aus.


Keep your chin up and try not to let it get to you. I was ready to leave HK after the first few months but I am so glad I stuck it out. A fellow expat once said to me that at the 3 month point you will be screaming to leave HK but at 6 months things will be starting to look better. Its true! And I completely understand your frustration re jobhunting - it's never fun!


Good luck with it! :-)

Thx everyone. All points taken on board and I shall try all avenues..


It's made me feel better hearing your advice so cheers!!!


now... where's that paper?? haha

http://www.classifiedpost.com.hk/jshome.php

www.jobsdb.com.hk

Thanks guys!


After going out last night and meeting a few people, I've got a about 3 leads!! I'm not jumping to the gun or anything, but at leasts it's more than what I did get out of searching on the net.. I'll keep you posted to let you know if networking pays off.

Good luck with the job hunting!