Experienced Risk Manager with CFA, FRM loking for a Job

[lighthse003]

These western non local banks, fintech etc usually hire expats from their own countries only, mainly from the US, UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and Switzerland... And the hiring process is done in the US or Western Europe, not in HK.

True you need to know Mandarin to work at local or Chinese finance companies in HK. Some positions also require you to speak other Chinese dialects in addition to Mandarin and Cantonese.

[shri]

@Viar would be nice to get an update either way. After all some people here have indeed tried to help out.

[Viar]

I don't think this is true. At the non local banks, fintech and other Asset Managers, there are tons of expats that don't speak chinese of any kind. I do think if your qualifications are what you say they are, there is some other reason why you are struggling to find a job or even get an interview. I'm guessing it's your resume and/ or not applying for the right jobs but that's just a guess obv

How many jobs can u really count in every hundred advertised jobs that don't require Chinese including back office jobs? Have you read this article:

Non-Chinese speakers face disadvantage in job market: survey

The reality stares you in the face if u are struggling to get a job but if you got one, you might not appreciate what others are going thru. Sometimes, one wonders the wisdom behind the decision in the first place to move to HK with very little opportunities for non-Chinese especially ethnic minorities, though quite frankly, the image of HK outside here is grandiose and much more of a global city much like New York and London than a Chinese city and that is the lure, which is albeit a mirage.

[Fiona in HKG]

How many jobs can u really count in every hundred advertised jobs that don't require Chinese including back office jobs? Have you read this article:

Non-Chinese speakers face disadvantage in job market: survey

The reality stares you in the face if u are struggling to get a job but if you got one, you might not appreciate what others are going thru. Sometimes, one wonders the wisdom behind the decision in the first place to move to HK with very little opportunities for non-Chinese especially ethnic minorities, though quite frankly, the image of HK outside here is grandiose and much more of a global city much like New York and London than a Chinese city and that is the lure, which is albeit a mirage.

The article doesn't state what level of jobs were surveyed. It goes without saying that customer-facing jobs dealing with the local public and mainland visitors (e.g. retail) will require these language skills. Management or specialty skills jobs will be different. Multinationals are your best bet. We are a global organization with a corporate office in HK and I recently hired a newly-arrived financial operations manager from the UK. It was of course not the 'normal' Hong Kong financial hire and she is on a dependent visa, but is a great contributor to the team and comes with a strong background and out-of-the-box thinking style.

Don't give up but keep pushing. I found her on LinkedIn.

[Kiz]

If you aren't getting anywhere, maybe try applying for jobs in other financial centers at the same time and you could go there if you get one, then revisit HK at a later point in your career if you want to. Just a thought.

[lighthse003]

About the "Failed in London, Try HK" , "Failed in Vancouver or Melbourne, Try HK" ...people.

Overseas born Chinese or Whites from western english speaking countries can easily find good pay jobs in HK if they have the right to work in HK already. No Chinese language expected from these people. HK locals fluent or not fluent in both English and Chinese, are envying these people.

How many jobs can u really count in every hundred advertised jobs that don't require Chinese including back office jobs? Have you read this article:

Non-Chinese speakers face disadvantage in job market: survey

The reality stares you in the face if u are struggling to get a job but if you got one, you might not appreciate what others are going thru. Sometimes, one wonders the wisdom behind the decision in the first place to move to HK with very little opportunities for non-Chinese especially ethnic minorities, though quite frankly, the image of HK outside here is grandiose and much more of a global city much like New York and London than a Chinese city and that is the lure, which is albeit a mirage.

London, NY, Toronto and Paris don't give a shit to applicants with HKU or HKUST degrees.

And this is the reason why there are still asians going to famous universities in the US or UK instead of Hong Kong and Singapore. HK kids with billionaire parents usually study overseas.

If you aren't getting anywhere, maybe try applying for jobs in other financial centers at the same time and you could go there if you get one, then revisit HK at a later point in your career if you want to. Just a thought.

[Kiz]

Fair enough, but there isn't any harm to try applying for jobs in other countries at the same time as HK if he isn't having any luck here (but obviously keep applying here too.

[Viar]

@Viar would be nice to get an update either way. After all some people here have indeed tried to help out.

No interview, no job yet.

If you aren't getting anywhere, maybe try applying for jobs in other financial centers at the same time and you could go there if you get one, then revisit HK at a later point in your career if you want to. Just a thought.

I have tried applying few times to jobs around Asia e.g. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia etc. but nothing positive yet. If one is struggling with getting a job where one has the right to work, how easy will it be to get a job where one will require a work visa? Though, surprisingly, I have had few calls from recruiters in Singapore as regards jobs in Hong Kong.

@Viar would be nice to get an update either way. After all some people here have indeed tried to help out.

I want to use this opportunity to appreciate everybody for taking the effort to assist in one way or the other. I am grateful for all your comments and time.