How does a CBC find an IT consulting job?

[jimbo]

Send it over when you're ready

Well I had a chat with a local I.T manager last night and some interesting things came up.

Theres a steady demand for Project Managers and or Account Managers and those aren't usually advertised in the press, Its usually via networking and the specialist I.T recruiters, The usual multi national ones. The smaller companies are happy to get people on board with less than 5 years experience say but the big MNC's seem to want the world on a stick and can and will wait months for a 100% match and get some other schmuck to take on the role in the meantime, Whereas somebody thats available immediately who is maybe a 90% match won't get a look in.

The new grads are usually either in the helpdesk analyst field or coders just to get their foot in the door as competition is fierce amongst new grads.

[wolfpack]

Being an IT Consultant doesn't mean you work for one of the typical consulting firms. The trend now is to do internal consulting, and IT/Technology consulting roles are plentiful across all industries.

To answer your question on the other thread (US-based MBA). If you wanted to do management consulting in HK, I would highly recommend at top 10 school (not 11-20). If IT consulting is your gig, then I would focus on specializing in a niche market to pass the "experience" barrier.

Just to give you some background. I'm an exchange student from one of those US MBA programs, at HKUST. I would highly advice against pursuing an MBA at HKUST for the following reasons: 1.) The consulting names do not actively recruit there. Some exceptional students may pass on, but there is no existing quota. 2.) It is a 12-16 month program, meaning there will not be any experienced 2nd years to pass knowledge down to you. This also means each class essentially reinvents the wheel every year.
3.) I'm really not sure where that ranking comes from, but as a whole I have been exceptionally disappointed by the caliber of the students here. There is a reason McKinsey does not consistently hire here.

Hope that helps.

[Steven878]

Well I just found a job in hong kong I live in Holland at the moment and grew up here. I did a lot of job applies and had very few responses last year I had an interview with a small consulting firm which was specialist in PeopleSoft Consulting I didn't like the terms so I did not take it.
I stopped for some time with applying for jobs started again about 3 weeks ago and got like 3 responses. Had 2 times an interview on the phone agreed on the terms so I have a job now. I also work in the I.T. sector but am a specialist in PeopleSoft Financials. So it is not impossible. Now I have to figure out an apartment which is not easy! My job will be in Central so would like to stay on Hong Kong Island.

[ITCBC]

congrats Steven878... its good to hear that even after some hardship, you eventually got an opportunity in HK. Its good to hear a story that it is possible to arrange interviews via phone...and find a job while overseas (altho I do agree it is much harder). I hope I could have the same luck.

However, I think you are in a better position since you have a specialized skill in Peoplesoft Financials...similar to SAP. I see more postings for specialized package expertise than general IT consultants.
Do you have many years of experience? Like 5-8 yrs?

[KnowItAll]

Hate to burst your bubble - but without specific and specialist skills and a career track of PM / analyst ... going to be tough.

3 years is not enough time in the trenches in my opinion, in IT.

[ITCBC]

no problem Knowitall... I definately agree its not quite the experience level needed to guarantee a placement for me in HK... especially without a specialization in a bigname package like Peoplesoft/SAP, and without experience in financial services (since HK is all banks), and without full fluency in canto/mandarin. :P

my odds dont look good... but I'll hope for a miracle

[jimbo]

no problem Knowitall... I definately agree its not quite the experience level needed to guarantee a placement for me in HK... especially without a specialization in a bigname package like Peoplesoft/SAP, and without experience in financial services (since HK is all banks), and without full fluency in canto/mandarin. :P

You can still try the big 4 accountancy firms in HK as they all do have a strong presence here and also some of the larger Insurers such as AIG etc thus its not all banks in this town even though it seems that way at times! haha

If you don't have any current exposure in peoplesoft/Sap then are there any courses you can take at college etc to help your cause?

[Steven878]

Thanks ITBC!
If you believe in your capacities you can do it.

I have 10 years working experience and 7 years experience working with PeopleSoft Financials did several implementations and upgrades in different countries.

congrats Steven878... its good to hear that even after some hardship, you eventually got an opportunity in HK. Its good to hear a story that it is possible to arrange interviews via phone...and find a job while overseas (altho I do agree it is much harder). I hope I could have the same luck.

However, I think you are in a better position since you have a specialized skill in Peoplesoft Financials...similar to SAP. I see more postings for specialized package expertise than general IT consultants.
Do you have many years of experience? Like 5-8 yrs?

[ITCBC]

10 yrs experience with 7 yrs in a specialization sounds like good chances anywhere... are you also fully fluent in canto/mandarin?

I guess I'll have to wait 7 more yrs before I can find a job with good terms in HK

[Steven878]

Well I was born and raised here in Holland but always spoke cantonese with my parents, still do.
I don't speak mandarin.. this will be my first job in hong kong hope the differences are not to big with working in europe here.