Looking for a job

[BHS1]

I'm looking for a job in the IT field. I graduated in June 2008 from a Masters of Information Systems (MIS) and Bachelors of Commerce in Toronto, Ontario, and worked a couple months at an Investment Bank. Since then I have not been able to find a job. My major is in Systems Design and Implementation and minor in Business Management. I hope someone can help me out as I need to pay my bills and expenses. Thanks

[jimbo]

BHS1

Do you require sponsorship or do you hold a valid HK I.D Card?
As you're aware the job market is pretty dead right now and have you tried the usual agencies such as Hudson, ambition etc etc?

[Claire ex-ax]

Just fyi, this was from The Standard this week:

Graduates should lower their salary expectations by about 20 percent this year, with a quarter of job vacancies disappearing because of the financial crisis, Hong Kong University has warned.

Herman Chan Ping-kwong, HKU's careers and placement director, said there were 25 percent fewer vacancies for graduates this year, compared with 2008, and called on students to lower salary expectations from the HK$12,000-HK$15,000 range to HK$10,000-HK$12,000.

Chan said vacancies were particularly tight in financial management and customer services.

[emmie]

As with Jimbo's and Claire's points: whether you have the visa / relevant resident status to be able to work here, AND are willing to bring your salary expectations (when asked, like they often do here) in line with current "conditions", will affect how long your job search here will be. And building social networks may lead to other possibilities to think about, too.

Locals I know have mentioned that certain gov depts or gov-subsidised bodies are still hiring but, perhaps, 1-2 year contract staff; although main drawback here is most - if not all - post requirements regarding IT would also expect bilingual skills (HKCEE Chinese).

[jimbo]

Most of the companies in the Financial sector are currently having hiring freezes at present and this is nto likely to be lifted till after the first quarter of this year at the earliest.

[chuyee17]

yes, it seems pretty dead now, and in fact my company is currently having hiring freezes, and no replacement for staffs who are resigned. pretty bad.. i'm in currently working in singapore.

any idea when the situation of hiring getting better this year?