Resume critique / job hunt advice

[TBJ]

Hello all. I've been on the job hunt now for about a month. Since I got my depedent visa, I can work here without sponsorship.

I am trying to find a job in the finance industry, specifically in investment banking, private equity, hedge funds, etc.

I don't speak Cantonese or Mandarin fluently, I am still learning. My background is in technical consulting and sales. I recently obtained my Bachelors degree in Business Administration with a focus on Finance.

Headhunters have been no use to me. Seems like they only focus on the big fish which can bring them the big bucks.

Job hunting here is pretty depressing. Back in the states I got a lot of response from my resume. Here, I get nothing, no calls for interviews, not even a denial message.

Does anyone know of any open positions that they could refer me to?

Would any of you mind taking a look at my resume?

I would appreciate any advice and support.

[jimbo]

Have you tried the usual suspects such as Robert Walters, Robert Half and Hudson and Ambition etc?

I've been in the same position as you and believe you me its soul destroying at times but its only been a month so far thus its still early days.

Have you been applying directly to the companies concerned and then following it up by phone calls etc?

Also in this town you need to make use of your network a hell of a lot more than say in the states.

[TBJ]

I have tried Robert Half and Ambition. No luck. Will try out those others you've mentioned.

I have not been following up with phone calls as much as I should be. It seems ackward to follow up with them if they have already tossed out your resume. Maybe I need to just start pestering them in order to get things moving.

I am slowly building up my network here and I might have an upcoming interview due to a referral.

I'll hit up the Chamber of Commerce happy hours here pretty soon, I hear that is great way to network here.

[rabaka_g]

Hi There

Yeah, I know how u feel. Try and keep motivated!

I moved here about a year ago and thought getting a job would be easy. Similar to your situation, I was also on a dependent visa, can only speak English, and I was a Chartered Accountant from Australia.

After applying for Accounting jobs for a few months I wasn't getting anywhere. It was very disheartening, knowing my husband's career was going great, but I was sitting at home watching cable thinking it would be sooo easy to get a job in Oz.

In the end, I worked as a part time Native English Teacher for about 7 months, while I studied to become a qualified accountant in HK.

At the moment I'm also job hunting again, and find I'm getting more of a response now I have a HK qualification.

I'm not a HR expert, but I'd be happy to look at your resume?

I agree with jimbo, a month isn't a long time to search, so don't get too down about it.

For searching for jobs, I've been doing a lot myslef (rather than relying on recruiting agencies).

I find the SCMP Saturday paper fairly good - I also find searching the newspaper easier than the net, as you can quickly see what languages they require (rather than clicking into every entry on the net, and having to scroll to the bottom of every page to find the language).

Good luck with the job hunting!

[freeier]

be realistic, market is bad. banks are cutting headcount and retrenching.

with no experience in the finance sector and no hope of bringing in immediate revenue, tell me who wld be so enthusiastic to employ u ?

[TBJ]

be realistic, market is bad. banks are cutting headcount and retrenching.

with no experience in the finance sector and no hope of bringing in immediate revenue, tell me who wld be so enthusiastic to employ u ?

The only reason someone wouldn't be so enthusiastic to employ me is that I'm not a jackass like 95% of the people in your industry.

Most of the headcount is being cut in the US, not in Asia. Banks are still expanding here. Also, I hear most of the positions being cut are on the senior level.

Aside from that, I have many qualities which make me desirable in this industry. It's not like I don't have any experience in the finance sector. I have been trading options and stocks with great success for the last 5 years. Last year I had a 67% return on my trading portfolio. Maybe I should just create my own hedge fund?

[Boris]

The only reason someone wouldn't be so enthusiastic to employ me is that I'm not a jackass like 95% of the people in your industry.

Aside from that, I have many qualities which make me desirable in this industry.

Last year I had a 67% return on my trading portfolio. Maybe I should just create my own hedge fund?

Point one - HUGE Ego, NIL People Skills

Point two - HUGE Arrogance, Nil People Skills

Point three - Successful at working by himself because of - NIL PEOPLE SKILLS and Inflated Worth of Self -- Ever thought of customer service for I Cable ?

[TBJ]

Point one - HUGE Ego, NIL People Skills

Point two - HUGE Arrogance, Nil People Skills

Point three - Successful at working by himself because of - NIL PEOPLE SKILLS and Inflated Worth of Self -- Ever thought of customer service for I Cable ?

I rest my case. Another case of assholism among the IB community.

You think I have no people skills because I call your industry ripe with jackasses? I'm merely stating the facts.

You don't know me personally so don't start criticizing me on a personal level.

[jimbo]

TBJ

Its the way you came across in response to Freeiers valid comments is how you were judged.

Why do you want to be in the IB arena for if you think the vasy majority are assholes?

[TBJ]

TBJ

Its the way you came across in response to Freeiers valid comments is how you were judged.

Why do you want to be in the IB arena for if you think the vasy majority are assholes?

Freeier needs to say something else than how bad the market is and how no one is going to hire anybody. That's his response to everyone looking to get in IB and it makes him come across as a jackass.

The IB industry need to get its head out of it ass. That why the majority of them are in the mess they are in now. The only that doesn't conform to the asshole model is Goldman Sachs, and look how good they are doing now. Their culture prides themselves in open mindedness and diversity.

The others are so focused on recruiting every Wharton and Harvard jackass graduate that comes their way. They fall into the great dilemma of group think where individuals have no say.