A few questions

Hi,


I've always been interested in the idea of living in Hong Kong, and with a recent change in my personal circumstances, it looks like I've got the chance. But I was hoping for some advice first.


First: me. I'm a UK passport holder. For the last 10 (ish) years, I've been working in conference management, the last two as office IT support and onsite network support. Ideally, I'd like to stay in the events industry, but failing that, any good IT job will do.


Questions:

- What with the "global financial crisis" and all that, is now a good time to be moving to Hong Kong to work? Bearing in mind that I'm currently not working, and have few if any financial obligations anywhere else.

- What is the situation with Visas? I know I can get a 6 month visa if I just turn up at the airport, but does working involve some kind of business sponsorship? If it does, what are the rough costs to the company?

- Would it be better to find a job before I fly, or to find short-term lease accomodation in Hong Kong and then try to find a job?

- Finally, anyone got any good jobs they want to offer me? (It has to be worth a try.)


Thanks in advance.

Yeah, that could have been worded slightly more clearly, couldn't it? When I said I had the chance to do it, I meant that I recently found myself single and unemployed (it's been a really fun few months), so I don't have any responsibilities stopping me from trying.


Which doesn't necessarily mean that trying is a good idea, though. Looking at a few websites I see that there are still plenty of jobs being advertised, but since I don't really know how things work in Hong Kong, I could easily be missing a really obvious warning sign.


Basically, I think I'm just looking for reassurance that there are still jobs there, and that with (at least) some effort I should be able to find something.

patch964,


Ask why would anyone in HK want to employ you? What do you have that employers can't find here? What are you intending to do - just make enough to survive or make some savings? Are you prpepared to live in a room the size of a shoebox?

HK is a modern society where finding employees with qualifications to cover most jobs is not an issue and most professional employees speak English and Cantonese. Unemployment here is high by HK standards and some suggest the rate will rise to an incredible 10%. Note the 'average' salary here is around HK$12k pm, its likely you will need a job paying double that to get a work visa.

And like elsewhere jobs are often advertised as a marketing tool to show the company to the world and give the impression that business is fine, the positions may not exist...

Hi Katana,


Why would anyone want to employ me? You mean apart from my sparkling wit, charm and personality?


But, yes, you make several good points there, mostly covering some of the reasons I'm trying to work out what to do. I'm not looking to become a millionaire by going to HK; enough to live and enjoy myself would be fine. I can't speak Cantonese. I know how small the apartments can be, though I'd assume they get bigger further out from Central, and not being a drinker I'm not too fussed about being next door to the bars.


But then again, I won't always have the chance to get up and try something very different to what I've been doing for the last few years. I sort of know a couple of people in HK that I used to work with who should be able to give me some pointers about getting a job in the industry that interests me, and which I've got 10 years experience in. I've got some spare cash that I could use to find some accommodation for a month or three while I job hunt.


I think I'm talking myself into doing this. After all, it might just work.

you will have to plan on living off your savings for a few weeks, if not months (i'd have 6 months cash on hand for the move). if your savings are in ££, then unfortunately you will be more stretched in HK now. I think it's fair to say that if you're a scrooge, you will still need about HK$10,000 a month to survive (that's with flat share), or £900 (small amt compared to central London). So have about £6000 ready before you move.

HK is really open - try to see if you can get a work visa on your own merits at:

http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/QMAS.htm

Go for it! what have you got to lose, at the worst you will go back to Old Blighty in 2010, when our economy is beginning to pick up. And your time in HK shows that you've got gumption - that's worth something to a potential employer.

Best of luck!

You can come to Hkers for a couple of weeks hunting for a job (just make it your one goal over a definite period of time).

Considering the costs of living here, I wouldn't pack my stuff and leave: if you don't find a job right away, your savings might take a severe blow, whereas if you find a cheap sublet (it's illegal, but...)/flatshare/temp accomodation (you'll find all this on this website) or if you know of someone who can accomodate you, your stay-and-jobhunt in HK may not come up as too expensive. And if it fails, you will have seen HK and will feel like you've been away for a little holiday!

Of course, you may find a job quickly, but it's really down to luck as much as to your CV.

Do a little googling for headhunters and other job search, but also contact your chamber of commerce/consulate for job adverts (some chambers have recruitment services-don't know about the British Chamber, but...). Also try Canadian, Australian & American Consulates job ads, or anything where employers may be looking for native English Speakers with overseas experience.

Best of luck!

There are a number of conference companies that do events in a number of industries, but the reality it is not a highly specialised industry, they are probably going to prefer hiring someone who they don't have visa issues with. Unless you bring to the table some very specific skill which you possess, its an extra hassle for any potential employer.


That being said, they may be looking for someone with experience at any given point and you might be the only one on the market and then the outcome is inevitable, but that is very unlikely given the environment. The conference industry depends on the economy because it is a company expense that can be cut very easily. My advice is to come here looking for IT work which is more skilled.


My advice speaking as someone who has lived in Hong Kong for 35 years. Wait till things pick up. Hong Kong is a great place, and there is always someone making loads of cash whatever the situation, but it is very expensive and when it is in recession the job prospects are really bleak and if you are not tri lingual you are not eligible for 90 per cent of jobs, so looking at a paper can be depressing if not outright demoralising.


My best mate had to look for work a few times during previous recessions, I have had to help him through it on a number of occasions, either giving him a place to stay or donating cash (because It will never come back) and making sure he didn't descend into outright depression. He had a permanent ID card so no visa issues. Its tough and demoralising if you are not highly specialised and don't speak languages


If you spoke fluent Mandarin and Cantonese as well as English, I would be saying get your arse over here regardless of the economy, but if its only English and you do not have a highly specialised skill set, even with a visa its one of the worst places in the world to look for work, without it will be a complete nightmare.