Looking for work in HK...

Hi, I've just stumbled across this site and forum and it seems pretty active, so I wonder if any of you could impart some advice...


My girlfriend moved to Hong Kong at the end of last year and, having recently visited and falling in love with the place, I'm hoping that I can join her.


I live in the UK and I don't speak Cantonese. I've got a lot of experience, but there doesn't seem to be a huge number of jobs that are relevant to my experience that don't require speaking Cantonese.


I'm realistic about my prospects and I know that it'll be tough to find a job out there. I'm willing to consider anything though if it means that I'll be able to be with her and enjoy the standard of living that everyone who lives in Hong Kong has - the weather, the food, the people... I absolutely love the place!


So, could anyone give me some advice? What worked for you? Are there any options that I should be considering? I would welcome any comments. Thanks for reading!

It depends in which field you have academic qualifications or working experience. To get a residence visa with work permit it should be in a field that "is not readily available in Hong Kong".

How about English teacher? Have you contact lanauage school in HK. It is most easy way to start your job in HK specially your mother lanauage is ENglish. I got a friend from France living here for few years already doing freelance French teacher. I could ask her.

A lot of my Brits or American friends don't speak the language too, and they are working for big MNC firms. Even my Aussie bf doesn't speak the language, and never gain my help on anything. Don't forget it's a British colony just 1.5 decades ago. You will be fine and quick in terms of adapting the honker life here. And we don't have horse meat mixing with beef or pork here, and we don't get ppl like Savile here too.


If you a professional of your academic, there are MNC job hunters station in HK that could help. Just like above mentioned, the easiest way is teaching English (only if you are ok and can handle kids).


And, yes price had gone up a bit, but my friends still think it's cheap and decent to live.

Hahaha, thanks for the replies, which have been both informative and humourous in equal measure!

I know that HK is an expensive place to live, but it's also a nice place to live and my girlfriend lives there, so my mind is made up.

I have a university degree and 7 years experience as a business analyst and performance manager. The thing is, this has been in governmental positions, and a similar role in HK is unlikely due to the language barrier.

I have actually got some teaching experience - I taught part-time at my university after I graduated for a year. I was very specialist though, but teaching English is something that I have considered. Finding the right TEFL courses seems like a minefield though - there are literally dozens of them out there...

Has anyone successfully got a teaching job out there with a specific TEFL course? I'd love to get some guidance as to what qualification would be sufficient.


Many thanks for the replies! That Savile horsemeat reply put a smile on my face this morning :)

As long as you are English native speakers, then you are most likely got the job whenever they have one available. My friend from Ireland with very Irish accent, is currently teaching English for adults, to be honest, I have no problem understanding his accent as I lived in Scotland for 1.5 decades. However, ppl would normally comment it's quite hard to understanding him. Therefore, if you speak the southern English (not something Glasgow accent), then it's an easy piecy job to get.


Another teacher friend is currently teaching something more professional in HK Uni, as a legal professor, he comments something like how many books you have to publish as a teach at the uni. And there are loads of expat teachers in Hong Kong too. Don't worry about that at all.