A few questions regarding job hunting in HK

[Grantwood]

Hello everyone,

A little about me:

I am an American who just graduated from a Masters program in HK, and I am currently looking for opportunities in Hong Kong. My degree is related to economics and I was hoping to find a job or internship in market research, PR, English editing, or possibly even sales. I also majored in Mandarin Chinese at an American university and lived in Mainland for a year, so I can speak Mandarin well.

Okay, enough about me.

My questions are as follows:

1) I have replied to a few jobs adverts on JobsDB, SCMP, etc. and have yet to be contacted from prospective HR offices. In the States, it is common to generally follow up a cover letter and resume with an email about 1-2 weeks after sending it in to let them you are still interested in the job. Is this also common practice in HK?

2) Do you have any recommendations as to how I should go about finding a job in HK? Am I doing it all wrong? I am starting to get the idea that replying to advertisements online is not the best angle...

3) As a graduating Masters student in HK, I am granted by the HKSAR what is called "Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates", or "IANG" as I am sure they call it in the office. This essentially means that I have the right to work in Hong Kong without arranging a work visa beforehand, because I am considered a "local-graduate" of sorts. I understand that this is a huge convenience for most companies and me, as it allows us to circumvent a lot of the red-tape. Do you recommend that I include and actually write in my cover letter and resume my IANG status as a graduating "local"? Or is it common knowledge in Hong Kong that a graduating foreign student from a local university is automatically granted IANG accommodations? (I.E. do companies know after viewing my resume that they can circumvent a work visa?)

I would like to let my prospective employers know about the special IANG accommodations, but I am just not sure how unorthodox it is to include in a cover letter or resume.

Thank you for all your help!

[geo-seb]

Do you recommend that I include and actually write in my cover letter and resume my IANG status as a graduating "local"? Or is it common knowledge in Hong Kong that a graduating foreign student from a local university is automatically granted IANG accommodations? (I.E. do companies know after viewing my resume that they can circumvent a work visa?)

IANG is a rather new scheme and I believe most companies are not aware that it exists. I'd recommend to always include a short note in your cover letter or CV that points out that you have the right to work in Hong Kong (for a year) and that no visa sponsorship is required.

[wtbhotia]

what happens after the year is up, does the company have to then sponser for the visa? This new scheme sounds quite good.

[geo-seb]

It is possible to apply for an extension of stay as long as the person has a job. IANG basically gives people the same rights as a dependent visa, so it is possible to change jobs freely. It is not necessary to downgrade to a job-specific employment visa.

[Grantwood]

Thank you very much. I appreciate the advice!