Over the past week, I have been flown over to HK for a job interview. It's been a whirlwind 4 days in a country I have never visited before, but what a place!, absoluely blown away...
Anyway, I have been offered the position ( IT Support related ) with a starting salary of $30000 a month. I'm earning less than that at the moment.
The queston is, do I do it..? The prospects of earning more seem far greater in HK than they do in the UK, but the bits worrying me are the costs. I'll be coming over alone and my needs will be small. I do realise that I won't be able to live like I do over here, but getting accustomed to how things are done over there will take some time. Things like getting medication, finding a dentist, getting fitting clothing ( I'm a little larger than the norm! although I think the diet change and walking everywhere will do me the world of good). Finding out these sort of things seem very daunting at the moment... and I'm not sure where to start...
So what do you think? Is it worth the gamble?
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definitely do it. all of the things you mention as 'worrying' are in reality not too serious. the comment about 'how things are done here' is all part of the culture shock you will experience in the first 9-12 months. don't worry, this too shall pass and soon you'll be wishing things in the UK were done like they are here (some things anyway!)...you don't mention a wife or kids...if you are single and have the slightest amount of adventure in your soul, get yourself over here. you will never regret it.
also, if you have any leverage with your prospective employer, enquire about any housing allowance they may offer on top of your salary, or at least relocation allowance...that will certainly make things easier, though as cara says, your salary as it is will set you up comfortably if you can 'live small'.
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I'm leaning towards it! always up for a challenge! I realise It'll be difficult, but it's gotta be worth a try... I do have a gf here in the UK, and I'll be keeping a base here should anything go wrong over there.. realistically I could do with some contacts for a bit of orienteering once I arrive... I'm definitely going to need some sort of help and advice... I'm sure work will put me in the right direction, but someone who knows whats whats would be invaluable... expecially when i comes to
finding somewhere to live!, I'll have a month to find something as they'll put me up for 4 weeks initially... after that I'm on my own!
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lalib
14 yrs ago
It will be a good move for you. I also lived in the UK and moved out here 6 years ago. I like the vibrancy and find life convenient here.
Will send u a PM with a link
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Dentist and doctors are well-trained and cheap. Hospitals the same if you are a HK resident. Really not an issue. The big probelm is affordable housing and having to live in a small space. This, though, you get used to. If you are earning 30,000, then the cheapest decent place you could get for rent would be about 8,000 in the New Territories (ad in 2,000 for extra travel costs though) and 12,000 HK side. You could also go down the flat-share route which is quite a good way to meet new people but also has many downsides as well. Everything else in HK is cheap as long as you don't want to live a completely European lifestyle. It's also very safe. Try to learn the language; they have officially-recognised classes at Chinese University.
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Cheers for the advice all! It's given me some pointers to start on, although the budget for accommodation will be considerably less than 8k ideally half of that as a starter is going to be more realistic!
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maz27
14 yrs ago
I have sent you a private message check through your control panel.
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Go for it m8. Hong Kong is one of the easiest places to live in the world. Almost too easy.
If you come here with the right attitude you will soon be earning considerably more, have a pretty local g.f. here and be travelling and getting new friends and new hobbies.
You might even ultimately move somewhere more hard core like Shanghai or Seoul. But HK is a good place to start in Asia.
Get that plane.
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lol! well its certainly going to be different.... pennies are going to be tight for at least the first 6 months, so I don't mind living in a shoe box to start with.. or even the sharing option.. needs will be little, bed , bog, internet and probably an iron will be all I'll need! Will have to get a hk sim of some sorts ( have you seen the prices of calling the uk on a uk contract! bloody 80 per min! thought we were in the 21st century! ). If anyone's got a room for rent I could be tempted! :)
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wait a minute...first post u said, ur coming alone and your needs are small, AND you're making 30k per month...unless you've got a sh!tload of debt in the UK (which you're now servicing on LESS than 30k/month), you should be more than OK on that salary in a comfortable flat in a nice area...I see no problems based on what you've stated so far...
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That's pretty much correct. I have house back in the UK and some fixed costs to keep paying, hence I won't have the full amount to use out in HK, prob 2/3rds ish. Ideally would want to try to pay off some of the debt faster to enable a more comfortable living style out in HK, but that would mean living on the breadline for some time which I'm willing to do.
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Do it dude, I considered the same, albeit in far less detail, and thought just roll the dice! I willl be handing my notice in at my current London employer tomorrow and landing in HK at the end of Sept, get involved!
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It's being done.. I'll be there at the beginning of october :) ... who's up for a meet?
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whilst I was with my new employer a couple of weeks ago, I filled in all the necessary details for a working visa. My question is, will this come to my home address or go to my my employers address? will I have any problems showing up at HKG with a one way ticket and an address to stay at?
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better to head to Macau for your visa activation, as you won't need a separate visa for entry (as you would to go to Shenzhen).
don't worry about clothes here. you've always got Marks & Spencer til you settle in and start exploring the city
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This is the discussion my boyfriend and I are having as he has just been offerred a job in HK. Visas, accommodation, whether I will get a job... etc.!
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Thanks. I need to look into the visa options. We certainly aren't getting married just yet. Anyway I want to work for my career, meet people and to get out and about.
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Thanks for your help. Yes I have a degree and 7 1/2 years experince in my field - speech therapy. I need to have a proper look into work and visas.
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What about someone that has a degree (economics) and two summers worth of internship experience (private equity and public finance)? I'm assuming still pretty low, but is there at least a somewhat legitimate chance?
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