Hong Kong Career Blog

After a rough week of 15 hour days no less than three people commented on the fact that I had bags under my eyes and I “look terrible”.  While I didn’t mind since it’s all due to some very good things happening professionally, the fact is that stress is stress and at some point you need to take some steps to reduce it and stave off some of the negative symptoms.  Hong Kongers are particularly susceptible not only to work stress, but also (in the case of expats) the stress of dealing with settling into life in a foreign country.  While I would not have singled out accountants as the most stressed out group of professionals, the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) holds regular seminars on how to manage stress:

“The Hong Kong Institute of CPAs and CABA (the benevolent association for members of the ICAEW) work together
to offer information seminars and interactive workshops for members.

Aims of the programme
• To understand what stress is, and the impact on business.
• To recognise the causes, signs and symptoms of stress.
• To consider ways in which we can minimise the effects of stress.
Interactive workshop
This in-depth interactive workshop serves as preventive training for members who wish to understand stress and
minimise the effects of stress in order to enhance their well-being and performance. The knowledge acquired
may also help participants to enhance the well-being and performance of their staff who experience stress.”

…

Venue: Hong Kong Institute of CPAs Training Centre, 27/F., Wu Chung House, 213 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong.

Date: Multiple, starting on 20 September, 2010

Enrolment fee: Free of charge for HKICPA member or student; and IA / HKIAAT’s member or student; and ICAEW member or student; with a deposit of HK$750# per participant, refundable on completion of the workshop.
Target audience: Members who wish to learn about the causes and effects of their stress and how it may be managed, in order to enhance their well-being and performance.
CPD: 3 hours of CPD credit

Yes, you get also get CPD credit in the bargain.  What have you got to lose besides stress?

For more career management tips, please visit us at Ambition Hong Kong and My Ambition.

At some point, most expats return home after their time in Hong Kong, and when looking for a job back home, your ability to market your overseas experience to employers will be crucial for finding the right role

Often, expats may view their time abroad as a working holiday of sorts, and that’s well and good.  But, potential employers and recruiters may view it the same way and want to know whether or not you have gained any experience that will add value to an organization.  So, here are some things to consider:

1. Being even vaguely familiar with the differences in business practices in Hong Kong and China vs. Western markets can be a huge selling point.  Many companies that would like to do business in the area, are fearful of the somewhat inscrutable nature of the Chinese business environment and if you can be the person that helps illuminate some of the  points on which they are unclear, you’ll be one step closer to landing a job.

2. Unless you are absolutely fluent in spoken and written Chinese, don’t over-emphasize your Chinese language ability.  Unless you are at a native speaking level, there is likely a Chinese candidate out there who is at  a native level in both English and Chinese.  This isn’t to say that you should not point out that you have some skill, but don’t think that just because you took a couple years of Mandarin or Cantonese that you will be significantly more marketable.

3. If you’re not looking for a particularly specialized position, focus on jobs like sales, business development or account management.  These kinds of positions can be good for job seekers with some level of Chinese, but your cultural knowledge and understanding of day to day life in Hong Kong and China will prove to be more of an asset.

The bottom line is, find what you’re good at, find the roles that may suit you and then put a Chinese spin on your skills and work history.  Just because you’ve lived in China will not make you a superstar, but it may just give you the leg up you need when being considered against other candidates.

For more career advice for expats in Hong Kong and China, please visit us at Ambition Hong Kong.

Effective networking is a key component of an effective job search.  Whether you are actively seeking work or just testing the waters, there is no substitute for having good relationships with other professionals within your industry.

One great source of information for both expats and locals working in Hong Kong are the myriad chambers of commerce.

Coming up on September 9, 2010, the French Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (FCCIHK) will be presenting a course on practical networking:

“This module specifically covers the following topics:

- Networking- definitions and the myths.

- Tips for networking success.

- Building networking into your daily

- Routine-time effective ways to network.

- Networking etiquette at an event.

- How to follow up after a networking event.

- The follow up note. – Specific tips on making the follow up note a tool to further relationships.

- Common networking etiquette faux pas and how to avoid them.

Get more details and register.  And please subscribe to the blog and visit us at Ambition Hong Kong to keep on top of the latest job news and marketing events for professionals in Hong Kong.

When you’re working with a recruitment firm to assist in your job search, one of the things you may come to appreciate is the feedback that you’ll get on how to improve your resume or CV.  Coming from an experienced and reputable recruiter, this advice is almost always spot on…except when it isn’t.  By this I mean that a recruiter’s job is to cast wide a net for you, while still maintaining a focus on finding the right job for you.  A large part of this process is minimizing risk by focusing on work experience that is proven to be of interest to employers.  However, once in a while this may come at the cost of excluding something from your CV that might be the key to making you stand out from your competitors who probably have very similar academic and employment credentials.

“Do you have an example?” you ask.  Of course!

Many, many years ago, as a fresh grad out of a prestigious American college, I planned to do what many similarly situated grads do, spend a couple of years doing mindless work for long hours at a New York law firm.  Despite the terrible hours and generally unchallenging nature of the work, the competition for these jobs is fierce as they are the best way for a grad with few discernable job skills to make a LOT of money to pay off college loans or help pay for graduate school, in my case law school.

Needless to say, I submitted my resume to a lot of staffing agencies.  During the process, I was universally told by the well-meaning people at these agencies to remove some  seemingly irrelevant work experience.

During my first year in college, I worked on what may be the best job I ever had, driving a seaweed harvester.  While this was a fun job, most employment agents felt that it was not particularly relevant or recent enough to be of interest to employers.  I, on the other hand, had seen how people reacted when I mentioned this job, usually with a mix of amazement that it existed and jealousy that I drove around in the sun on a lake all summer.  I also knew that my grades were likely not nearly as impressive as most of my competition and that taking a calculated risk to set myself apart was probably necessary.  So, over the objections of my recruiter, it stayed on my CV.

I soon got an offer of an interview with huge firm that is generally always in the conversation when debating the most powerful and respected law firms in the world.  After going through the preliminary meetings and paper work, I met with two young associates.  We engaged in a few minutes of small talk and general discussion about my school experience and why I wanted to work at their firm.  Then, one of them noticed the aforementioned job.  He had grown up in a town similar to mine and had seen the harvesters and had always wanted that job.  For the rest of the “interview”, the three of us talked about nothing but that job and all of favorite high school, college jobs and dream jobs.  Unsurprisingly, none of these involved working in the legal field.  Nonetheless, my contact at the staffing agency called me the next, clearly surprised, and told me that I had been extended an offer to start the next week.  Apparently I had managed to skip at least one more round of interviews thanks to my connection with my interviewers.

Was I lucky?  Certainly.  Does it help that I generally perform better than many of my peers in interviews?  So I’m told.  Was it wrong for the recruiter to try and steer me away from keeping the old job on my CV?  Certainly not.  Recruiters know the ins and outs of firm hiring processes better than you do.  But no one, not your recruiter, not your friends and not your family, knows your particular circumstances and past experiences better than you do.  So, you should take their guidance, since working with a recruiter is a partnership, but ultimately you have to remember that it’s your job search and resume and the final call is yours.  If you have a particular skill or interest that is truly unique or which sheds some light on your character or personality, go ahead and highlight it.  It just may be the thing that tips the scales in your favor.

For more career management tips and to learn how Hong Kong’s best recruitment company can help you in your job search, please visit Ambition Hong Kong.

The recent tough times in the job market have made it more important than ever for job seekers to use every weapon in their arsenal on the hunt for a new career.  Networking is one of them and it is among the (if not THE) most effective. The first things to do is to develop a step by step plan to maximize your potential:

Step 1 – who is in your network?

Devise a list of previous colleagues, referees, associations, university alumnis etc you have previously been connected with. The next step is to work out how to get back in touch with those that have fallen by the wayside. An introductory email, phone call or even meeting them for a coffee will suffice.

You will be surprised at the amount of people on the list. You also need to construct a list of associations or groups that you would like to be part of. This could be a professional group, specific technical group or simply a sporting activity.

Step 2 – what do you say?

If you are looking to hook up on the phone this is easy, say G’day! Ask how they have been getting along since you last were in touch. Do explain you are trying to identify some networks to be part of and they may well introduce you to some of their associations. The easier option is to email, but try and get out of your comfort zone here as you will be networking in person eventually.

If you are looking to get introduced to new groups then ask how often they get together and what benefits have come from being part of their club. If it is appropriate to meet people for a coffee then consider what you need to say about you, your career to date and what you want to get out of meeting them. Let’s call this your ‘pitch’. You may also need to consider what you can do for them. Networking, after all, is a two-way street.

Step 3 – attend an event

We have all been there, walked into a room packed with people, fumbling with our name badge or business cards and headed straight for the refreshment area…it should have a neon flashing sign above it saying “turn back go and introduce your self to someone”. The first rule here is to be comfortable and if you are more comfy with a drink in your hand then so be it. However, no you have no excuse but to face the room and scan what pockets of people you may wish to introduce yourself to. I find it easier to approach smaller groups of 2 or 3 people and smile, ask if I can join them (are they really going to say no?) and then introduce myself.

The best part of joining a group is your open questions such as “so what brings you here today?” or “have you attended this event before?” This allows the question to be to the group and presumably there will be 2 or 3 answers before you have to contribute your own. This also avoids the 80’s networking trap of ‘what do you do for a living’ and scanning the room for potential new clients! You can ask this question its just not appropriate to be one of the first! You may also find out if there is anyone else you should or could be introduced to.

Step 4 – Business cards

Think how much time is put into the production of your business card, marketing, branding, accuracy, cost to print! Do you really think it is necessary to share a business card with every single person you meet. Some do. My thoughts here are, if you are passed a business card, thank the individual and if you are not likely to be connected or need to follow up – hand it back, graciously of course.

Attending an event is not about accumulating business cards, unless of course you are like the 80’s sharks who then follow up to sell something to everyone. Treat a business card as a way to follow up, the connecting link to common ground and future business.

Step 5 – Following up

Events can be costly, your time to meet people can also be viewed as an investment. So why on earth would we not follow up with someone we have connected with? The best way is to follow up by phone call, perhaps with an interesting article you had referred to, or email with details of the association you had discussed. You need to keep your network alive so you may want to refer the individual onto someone else within your own network.

In the future, we will endeavor to keep you abreast of the latest developments in effective networking (including how to use social networks properly), so be sure to subscribe to the blog to stay ahead of the curve and optimize your job search.

And please do visit us at Ambition Hong Kong to see some of the great jobs we have for professionals in finance, banking, accounting, marketing and more.

We hate to feel like we are beating a dead horse, but evidence continues to mount, indicating that Asia is the place for people seeking to start or develop their careers, no matter what the industry.   China, India, South Korea and the rest of Asia are experiencing economic growth as the U.S. and Europe continue to struggle to escape the clutches of the latest economic crisis.  As a result, more and more Westerners are considering trying the expat lifestyle and giving Asia a try.  The International Herald Tribune (the international edition of the New York Times) recently reported on the phenomenon:

“During the downturn, millions of people in Asia — from factory and construction workers to bankers and architects — lost their jobs as demand for the region’s exports plummeted and multinational companies cut back. But with most Asian countries free of bank failures and the crippling debt loads that governments and households in the West are trying to pay down, economies in the region have bounced back quickly. (Japan is an exception.)

The article also quotes Ambition’s own Matthew Hill, Managing Director of the Hong Kong office:

“In Hong Kong, the recruiting firm Ambition estimates that the number of résumés arriving from the United States and Europe has risen 20 to 30 percent since 2008. These now make up about two-thirds of the more than 600 résumés its Hong Kong office gets every month, said Matthew Hill, Ambition’s managing director for the city.”

…

“Many companies in Hong Kong said it was hard to find qualified candidates and complained that salaries were rising, Ambition said in another report.”

Read the full article.

To find a job that might just convince you to become the next expat working in Asia, please visit us at Ambition Hong Kong.

The always on top of things people at Mashable have some keen insight into how job seekers can enhance their chances of landing their dream job…use social media. While the statistics are a bit old, they still support that job seekers in today’s economy need to get every advantage they can while job hunting thanks to the following state of affairs:

“In 2008, there were 1.2 million job lossess, unemployment is currently at 6.5%, and the largest companies are shedding as much as 10% of their workforces. There will be 1.5 million college graduates this year, yet the job growth ratee is at a six year low, at 1.3%! The amount of jobs posted online is decreasing at over 13%, which has all led to the ratioo of 3.3 job seekers per each job.

Social networks are starting to become part of the criteria that both hiring managers and college admissions officers are using to weed out applicants. One in fivee hiring managers conduct background checks using social networks (primarily Facebook),”

We could not agree more, and in fact have a couple of favorites from the 7 tips that Mashable shares:

 7. Subscribe to blogs that have job listings

We all subscribe to blogs to receive information based on our interests, at least I hope. Over time we rely on these sources for information to keep us updated on what is happening in certain industries or different trends that are developing. In the past few years, the larger blogs have started to integrate job banks into their own websites, using software/hosting from companies such as Job-a-matic.”

And last (and technically 8th) but certainly not least:

 “Integrate the traditional and social media approach.  These seven secrets are extremely important in your next job search. The most successful job searches come from those who have already built up strong networks, both online and off. You need to integrate this new-age approach with the traditional approach you’ve already been using, in order to be consistent, so there are no surprises from the recruiter’s perspective. They want the candidate they see on paper or online.”

Perfectly put.  We have obviously adopted some social media tools to connect with and communicate with clients and candidates, but there is no substitute for some of the old job hunt skills that people needed to succeed in a pre-Facebook world. 

You can read the full article here and please visit us at Ambition Hong Kong to search our job listings and get more job search tips.

While every interview often consists of a lot of similar questions, there are differences in interviewers, each with their own particular style.  The bottom line is that each interviewer is trying to answer a few basic questions for themselves:

• Can you do the job based on your level of experience?
• Do you really want the position or are you perhaps just “seeing what’s out there”?
• Are you a good fit for the job and the organization as a whole?

Some interviewers may use a more casual style, but most will have a solid format that they follow and they will ask specifically ‘targeted’ questions to get a feel for who you are, what you’ve accomplished and what you can bring to the role in question.  Below are some of the most commonly asked questions, and strategies for giving “good” answers.

“Tell me About Yourself?”

This is usually used as an opening question and you do need to proceed with caution. Be concise but informative in your response. Depending on your career stage it should take 2-4 minutes and include the “highlights” (and lowlights) and be predominately focused on your professional career although include significant personal events and experiences if they have impacted on your career. You can also start with ‘where would you like me to start?’ so to get an idea of what they are really interested in.

“What are your three key strengths and can you give me a recent practical example that illustrates each strength?”

In almost every interview a question about your key strengths or skills will arise. Whether or not you are in job seeking mode you should know how and why you are different and (preferably) stronger than your contemporaries. You should be striving to make yourself better and stronger.

“What value have you added to your company in your current role and what value have they added to you?”

This is a double question so you have to remember both parts. Beginning with the first part, with employers seeking ‘added value’ it’s important to be able to identify and quantify what value you have added to your company. Identify ways you have increased output or the responsibilities attached to the role and how you have benefited the company.

In the second part of the question it’s important to be able to identify how you have progressed and what skills and experience you have added to your profile. Employers like to meet people who are aware of key issues and perceptive of changing situations and so this can be an indicator. This question often complements the previous question.

“What are you most passionate about?”

Most Interviewers are seeking that special ingredient ‘X’ in their new hires. Someone who is passionate about what they do and this often can be outside as well as inside work. Indeed you should make the point that you are passionate about work and about being the best you can be but that you do have a special passion outside work in whatever area this may be.

“Tell me about a time when you displayed (characteristic or quality) X. What was the result? What was the outcome?”

This is often related to the skills and abilities required for the role as indicated in the job specification or advertisement and so before each interview try and construct an answer related around their specific requirements. They are looking for recent real life examples. You can practice these interview questions with our products.

“Is there anything you would have done differently in your current role?”

This is a chance to outline mistakes you may have made or lost opportunities and often it’s prudent to do so. You can portray your human side but ensure that your observations don’t portray you as negligent or careless. It’s a delicate question and requires a well considered answer.

“Why did you make the move from Company X to Company Y?”

Employers are looking for new hires that make well-considered logical decisions and career moves can be indicative of one’s broader behaviour. They will like the fact that you made a considered move to gain broader skills. Increasingly employers are rejecting candidates who’s motives have been purely financial. If you have a series of quick moves on your resume, you need to be prepared to provide some logical reasons.

“What are your career goals over the next 3-5 years?”

You should for your own well being have a well thought our career plan. You should know what skills you wish to develop and how this translates in terms of job title and company and sector. Having a medium term career plan again reinforces the fact that you are a stable and ‘considered’ individual.

“How would you describe your relationship with your current manager how would they describe it?”

You are likely to have at least one question on how you relate to people particularly if the job involves contact with others. The interview itself will portray much of what the interviewer wants to know about your personal and social skills but you should be able to describe your relationship with your manager and contemporaries and if relevant subordinates. If you do have an issue then you need to provide a balanced rather than a one sided assessment

Whichever questions the interviewer asks, they wish to form an impression of you as a capable, ambitious and a likeable person. This is true however senior, junior, specialist or generalist the role. In all your responses you need to provide answers that accurately portray yourself in that way. Thinking about the answers you may give prior to your interview will be a valuable investment.

For more tips on how you can maximize your potential in your job search, please visit us at My Ambition.

One of the most time consuming tasks in your job search is tailoring your resume to reflect the experience you have gained in your most recent role and making it as relevant as possible to the new position you are seeking.  While there are generally no right or wrong choices as far as style or format, there are some simple things you can do to make your CV that much more appealing to potential employers and avoid mistakes that may keep you out of consideration for an interview.

• Remember, the point of your resume is simply to get the interview. As a mid-level or senior executive, you may fall into the trap of trying to put too much information into your CV.  As an experienced professional, you will likely have a long employment history and a wealth of experience, but that does not mean that it all has to go into your resume.  Your challenge is to emphasize the experience that is most relevant to the position you are seeking, while briefly and succinctly describing other roles that are less important.  Taking the time to tailor your resume so that it highlights the skills that will be valuable to each prospective employer will pay off in the long run.  This does not mean you should take liberties with the truth and exaggerate your qualifications.  And honestly, if you have to do that, then you are probably not right for the job.  However, if you do have any unusual or interesting talents or qualifications, do include them.

• There is no hard and fast rule for formatting a resume, but there are some general guidelines that you should consider.  You should generally try and limit the details of your experience to the last 10-15 years, while using one or two brief sentences to talk about your early career. You should also keep in mind that an executive resume can be as long as (but no longer than) 3 or 4 pages for jobs in Australia and around Asia. On the other hand, in other places (like the U.S.) the general rule of thumb is to keep your resume limited to 1-2 pages.  Other things to do include using plenty of white space for contrast with your text and keeping things consistent.  You should also avoid the temptation to use lots of italics, bold, capitals and underlines, which can clutter things up and distract the reader from what’s important, the content!

• Include your references if they are willing and able since this is a good way to “name drop”.  Including your referee’s names and contact numbers can work in your favor if they are prominent executives and will be happy to endorse you on a regular basis.

• Before you send your CV out, have a fresh pair of eyes objectively review it for grammar, consistency and coherence.  You should do this yourself as well, but having it read by a friend or colleague, who understands your experience and industry, will help you make sure that your resume is representing you in a way that will be most appealing to readers.

• Finally, follow up  to make sure your resume was received.  This will help you ensure that it’s gotten into the right hands and also give you an excuse to keep your name fresh in the minds of hiring managers.  Not only that, but it will also illustrate that you are both thorough and courteous!

Now, it’s time to find the opportunities that will let you put your resume writing skills to the test, so please visit us at Ambition Hong Kong to see some of the great jobs we have in Hong Kong and elsewhere.

Leaving a job can often result in an employee needing to sorts more than a few complicated issues, and this is especially true for expats working in Hong Kong.  Before leaving your current job, you will need to give your employer the contractually required termination notice or even payment in lieu of notice.   And of course, your employer must do the same if the termination of contract was initiated by them.  And that’s the simple part.  Next you’ll have to determine whether or not you can get certain termination or end of year payments, as well as how and when you shall receive them.  As always, one of the first places you should go for information about employment regulations for expats in Hong Kong is the government website, which has plenty of useful links to help guide you through the job changing process.  Below are just a few:

Frequently asked questions about termination of contract of employment: http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/faq/cap57d_whole.htm

Frequently asked questions about end of year payment: http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/faq/cap57j_whole.htm

Frequently asked questions about severance and long service payment: http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/faq/cap57l_whole.htm

Another thing you’ll have to consider is how you’ll manage your Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) benefits.  You may handle accrued benefits  by transferring them to a contribution account under your new employer’s MPF scheme, or you may want to transfer them to a preserved account under an MPF scheme of your choosing.  You can even keep them in a preserved account under the original MPF scheme for continuous investment. This can all be daunting, and especially so at a time of already high stress, but your options are set out at the government website:

Managing your MPF benefits when changing jobs (including request form for preserved account details):

http://www.mpfa.org.hk/english/abt_mpfs/abt_mpfs_fms/abt_mpfs_fms_cep/abt_mpfs_fms_cep.html

Request for fund transfer form (pdf file):

http://www.mpfa.org.hk/english/leg_reg/leg_reg_gui/leg_reg_gui_p4/files/Annex_A_to_IV_3_e.pdf

And then, of course, there is the issue of your visa and sponsorship.  If you have been issued a visa to work in Hong Kong and leave your job, you need to inform the Immigration Department of the termination immediately as you are not allowed to change jobs or work at a part-time job without the permission of the Immigration Department.  For more information, visit the link below:

Termination of Sponsorship of Overseas Employees:

http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/faq_es_vnpr.htm#e

As always, if you have questions or comments, please do visit us at Ambition Hong Kong.