Posted by
Goo
17 yrs ago
Hello,
Ok, can anyone solve this mystery: I'm in a fairly popular field (marketing) with about 10 years of work experience and two uni degrees. I have no weird employment gaps or issues and plenty of accomplishments.
I'd like to switch jobs soon so I applied to a few recruiters but the response has been less than enthusiastic. One told me I'm not qualified for a position I didn't even apply for (I wrote to them to introduce myself and ask for an intro meeting). My department has an opening and it's listed on their website, so it appears I'm not qualified for my own job? Hmm.
So what does an applicant need to do here to gain the attention of a headhunter? I am western and never mentioned salary so I don't think its merely how much I "cost". I've seen lots of jobs online that don't require Chinese (it's mostly writing in English) so I don't think that's it entirely, although obviously my lack of Chinese fluency plays a role.
Any thoughts? Anyone else finding this to be the case and can anyone offer any suggestions (I'm thinking bribes at this point!)? Thank you!
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I agree with what nw has said.
(1) A lot of consultants are crap, and if you speak to a few you can tell which ones will help you and which ones will just throw your CV around hoping for a bite (and a commission).
(2) The market is weaker right now.
I would add that the best way to find work is to go to some of the various websites and register for daily or weekly updates of job openings in your field. When you answer a posting, the recruiter will often want to meet you, and then you can get on their radar. Calling them every once in a while helps too as it will remind them that you are out there looking for X position. Some of those websites include "Monster", "JobsDB" and "Asiaxpat".
Good luck!
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You can submit your CV but that is not really how the industry works. Headhunters are engaged by companies to fill very specific positions, they work for the employer, not the candidate.
So if you contact them telling them you are looking for a job they will do no more than drop your CV into their files, and they will only call you if an employer contacts them re: a job opening and you have the qualifications.
Contrary to what many people think, they dont take your CV and work the other way around trying to find an employer for you.
The best bet for you is to check all the online and offline job sections for Hong Kong.
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What Innocence said is true. I have found a job quickly, by approaching employer directly, via email from South Africa. My cv is still filed at various employment agencies...
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"Contrary to what many people think, they dont take your CV and work the other way around trying to find an employer for you."
Goodness no. Headhunters mostly work by talking to everyone they know and getting leads on good people. Then they hunt those people down. A CV submitted over the transom is better submitted to the employers directly.
Agreed with Typhoone about the websites. I would add LinkedIn. I have had a lot of queries from that one.
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Goo
17 yrs ago
Thank you everyone,
I know recruiters don't work for me, but there are actually a lot of positions in my field right now so the openings are there. I agree with axptguy, in other countries recruiters in my industry have met me briefly to get an idea of what I really can offer, the idea being when openings come up they have a running list of good candidates already in mind. The jobs are there and I'm here so I can't figure it out what I can do differently.
NW - I tried the two you noted and they did seem pretty clueless. I think I'll start writing to my target companies directly!
Thank you everyone...
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Perhaps you could enlighten us, kennedyhk...?
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Well, here's my personal experience. I was looking for work both in UAE and Hong Kong. I've sent my cv to agencies in both countries. I also contaced prospective employers directly. Within a month I had a few offers from both countries, as a result of my direct email contact. Up to now, not one agency has given me any positive feedback, in fact the only feedback from agencies was that I had to fill in some more forms.
The fact is, that employers will only contact an agency once they are really desparate to fill an opening. Most openings are filled long before employers actually contact an agency.
Its mainly in the UK where agencies seem to play a much more crucial role in finding employment.
PS: 'kennedyhk', how could you offer anyone a refund, when it is illegal for an agency to charge the employment seeker any fees?????
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Goo
17 yrs ago
That's interesting ebow, and strenthens my resolve to go to companies directly.
Thank you!
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In my personal experience in HK I set up a meeting with a good agency in my field before I got here, very positive meeting, filled in all the forms, he offered me a role in Singapore - WTF I just got here, no thanks - never heard from him again he just wasn't interested after that.
No agencies would take my calls or see me when I first arrived. A few months later I tried again and they were falling over backwards so I figured the market must have changed, saw three, filled in the forms, all 3 immediately put me forward for jobs I had no interest in and no experience with the roles so I was never going to get the jobs in a million year and bam - totally dead again.
So my conclusion was they were trying to fill a gap at that minute as the other posters have suggested and had no interest in placing me at all.
I got my job through networking. I just resigned and haven't been replaced yet so if you are a marketer and into sports and don't mind working out of the city PM me, maybe I will be your network. NO GUARANTEES - the company HR lady is already on the case.
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SKDL
17 yrs ago
Hi allynz,
I am also looking for a Marketing role but I have no work permit yet (i'm here with my partner. Can you offer advice on companies sponsoring staff i.e. is it really difficult to obtain as some have suggested, is this something your company considers?
Many thanks
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It really depends on the industry and the level of the job. In investment banking they don't even blink. In marketing I'm not really sure.
It is typically easier if you already work for the company before coming to HK.
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Goo
17 yrs ago
Thanks allynz, I just sent you a message...
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Have no problems with recruiters making their cash, but I work in finance, and get cold calls from different recruiters for job offers, which is fine when I tell them the first time, that I am not looking to make a move, its not financial considerations I am considering, more interested in the career path I have with my current employer and when I am thinking of making a move for whatever reason, I will get in contact, but when something else comes up, I get called again, and I really don't appreciate a head hunters calling me up planting a seed of discontent in my head. I have 15 years experience now, and worked at two places, If I am going to move, then I will do it through the consultant who engineered the one and only move I have made. Not only is he well connected in my area and gets most of the mandates, he has worked it, so understands the intricacies, and he knows not to call me for a purely lateral move that involves more money, and we stay in touch by having a beer once every two or three months, and have done so for the last eight years.
Its not so much that I have anything against the industry, there are a few people who are a credit it to it, but in my experience there are far more that give it a bad name because they haven't got a clue and should have made a note when they first spoke to me, instead of continually calling and trying to fulfil a requirement, which just ends up pissing me off and not wanting to do business with them.
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RA
17 yrs ago
My perspective is from a 'marketing ' point of view. I personally have had a not so successful experience with Head Hunters. I have seen that most of them have no in depth understanding of the industry they are dealing with . They usually have a surface idea what a job position such as 'marketing Manager ' or 'Brand Manager' means, but have not updated themselves with the changing job definitions or how different industries define the role.I, for example work in a digital media industry, but in a marketing role. I am usually sent jobs which are software programming related something which I have no idea of. Some of them do not know the difference between 'marketing' , 'sales' and 'advertsing' roles.
I have also seen that if you have said 'no' to a role which they want you to apply for, they do not take it well.
You will fine a lot of head hunters in HK for Finance , not many for Marketing related roles.
One question to kennedyHK, since you sound like a headhunter. What if a headhunter advertises for a role, which you know you are perfect for.However, after you send in your CV, the headhunter does not respond. Is it okay to ask the HHH what organisation the job is for so that you can apply directly?
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RA
17 yrs ago
Kennedy, one more question, do all HHs read all the resumes they get? If no then how to get them to read yours?
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Kennedyhk, it is illegal in many countries for employment agencies to charge any fees to the employment seeker - UAE, Canada, New Zealand, Australia are just a few that I know of, I'm not sure about HK.
Anyway, I don't have any problem with a head hunter getting paid for his work at all. Its just that the fees are supposed to come from the employers. Can you imagine how many people would be paying fees to agencies in the vain hope of landing a job? Actually it does happen, and I've read of many such cases in Canada being prosecuted.
I have no problem with emploment agencies as such. Its just that in my experience, they have not produced any help at all. While at the same time, I found several job opertunities, simply by using a bit of common sense and a bit of effort.
I think the main problem is that, particularly with on-line agencies, there are many chancers (check out Dubai agencies if you want to see ridiculous!).
Since it is an area where you do not legally need any specific qualification to do the work, and there are so many people in the world looking for a better life elsewhere, you are bound to find many bullsh!tters.
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"Anyway, I don't have any problem with a head hunter getting paid for his work at all. Its just that the fees are supposed to come from the employers. Can you imagine how many people would be paying fees to agencies in the vain hope of landing a job? Actually it does happen, and I've read of many such cases in Canada being prosecuted."
This is reality for Domestic Helpers in HK. They often pay quite a lot of money to be listed.
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Goo
17 yrs ago
Hi Shanghai_blues,
Thank you for the good advice. I had some friends who work in recruiting in other countries look over my materials for me, but a career coach is a really good idea.
I had planned to try to develop a relationship with a few relevant agencies, since I've given myself 6 months to find the perfect job. But that's what surprised me - they don't seem to be interested unless there is a specific position open. But I'll keep trying, I have found a places with a much more professional approach. Networking seems to be the best bet still.
Anyone out there have a professional services marketing role? Hey, you never know! :)
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