Military service in CV?

NorthernNomad · 20-06-2010, 07:20 PM

I was wondering if anyone could comment on how military service is regarded in Hong Kong?

I'm a passport holder of a Scandinavian country that still has compulsory military service for young men. I did a year in the marines back in my early 20s. I live and work in London now (in professional services, so completely unrelated to anything military!), and here in London it has always been seen as a positive thing and an asset to my CV (based on conversations with recruiters, colleagues, and bosses). Should I assume the same with Hong Kong? Should I stress that it was compulsory service? It was a whole year of my life after uni, so I'd rather not leave the year blank, although it was 8 years ago now. Or would you people that live and work there think it is a non-issue and actually nothing to think about when it comes to putting together a CV? Thanks a lot.

JaredHK · 20-06-2010, 07:42 PM

I added it to my CV and had no problems at all. I got a lot of questions about the war and if I killed anyone but that's about it. I had no choice but to add it in since I had to account for roughly 6 years that I spent in the military.

jpinst · 21-06-2010, 12:46 AM

Do you know where you are going? First of all, Hong Kong is not the Chinese mainland. They still have adventure corps for youth, and active veterans groups here. You questions seems to imply you are trying to get a job in a place you know absolutely nothing about.

Raccon · 21-06-2010, 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by jpinst:

Do you know where you are going? First of all, Hong Kong is not the Chinese mainland. They still have adventure corps for youth, and active veterans groups here. You questions seems to imply you are trying to get a job in a place you know absolutely nothing about.

I don't quite see the link between having or not having a youth adventure corps and veterans groups and what one writes into his CV, because your reply implies if they didn't have such mentioning military service on the CV may not be a good idea.
That being said I would also put it on the CV if I were to apply a job in the mainland, better to openly state it and risking getting rejected as opposed to having them find out later when you are in the country already (though I wouldn't know if this is a problem or not).

NorthernNomad · 21-06-2010, 03:59 AM

Relax Jpinst. I'm not 'trying to get a job in a place I know nothing about'. I'm simply moving to hong kong for personal reasons on a dependant visa. Hopefully the job thing will works itself out as well. The question is innocent enough as different places have different work related customs and has nothing to do with mainland china or anything else political.

UStoHKexpat · 21-06-2010, 09:11 AM

I know that military can effect entry and work visa's in mainland because my brothers visa application was denied because of his background in Military Intelligence, more specifically PsyOp. They didn't want to risk that he might be a spy.

I don't however know if it is an issue for getting jobs in HK or if it will effect a work or dependents visa. My service doesn't seem to be a problem, but I was just a lowly communications specialist and not military intelligence.

jayinhongkong · 21-06-2010, 09:18 AM

If you were a spy, would you advertise the fact you had a PsyOp background to a foreign government? I can see the Chinese govt. thought about that one.

jpinst · 23-06-2010, 04:45 AM

This entire thread is meaningless. In China I would not put on my CV I was a member of Falungong. In Hong Kong, it won't help you but nobody cares....at least to the point of employing you. That said, compulsory military service in Europe is akin to babysitting and learning what a gun looks like. Did you shoot your 15 bullets? Then don't worry about it, come with your wife, and get a job like everybody else. I believe that all foreigners who have served their countries in the past are considered potential spies or whatever in the mainland. Call me paranoid, but I am not as paranoid as they are...

NorthernNomad · 23-06-2010, 05:36 AM

Thanks for letting us know your opinion. Little sissy internet bully.

Boris · 23-06-2010, 06:42 AM

The OP should not worry about Jpinst because they are a troll.\

Mention your service, it will not matter. If the troll had any knowledge of mainland culture at all then they would know that the military services are highly thought of for service to the people. Unlike all forms of the police whom are highly despised. As an ex serving service member I have many ex PLA friends and when in Qingdao get invitations to their special restaurants and drinking clubs. I see my service as a plus and not a hindrance.

Be proud of whatever you have done and stand tall. Treat trolls like the dog mess on the bottom of your shoe and give it no more thought.