The realities of coming back

[4EverEndeavour]

Throughout my consideration of accepting this HK offer one of the primary drivers that a lot of people have been saying is, 'man just do it, if it doesn't work out, you'll still have your house and everything, just come back, what's the risk'

But it came to me overnight, in not a anxious or fearful manner, but in how logistically and realistically 'not a big deal' is to heading back.

Taking time out for 'a few years' in HK has its benefits and cool factor but I don't think I have long term goals to stay there and I sure don't want to be 'stuck' anywhere. Here or there.

I've heard that leave notice in HK can be anywhere close to 3 months. As someone that has been responsible for hiring people, I've seen things similar to this that my upper management was turned off by (this was just my case). My job market is fairly safe, but it's also volatile, absence from it can be punishing. I have also found that during these interview, my age is starting to become a factor. They love my experience but not the pay that comes associated with it. Anyone with a membership to LinkedIn can see that the job seeker forums are just posts after posts of negative encouraging job search stories. It just seems like its more and more stacked against me.

Has anyone had experience with trying to find a job back into the USA with much success for a return?

[kimwy66]

Google hasn't provided a though translator yet, so I tried my best:

Op is worried about moving back to the US after his upcoming stint in Hong Kong, because his industry are a bunch of ageist wankers, and he has high salary expectations to match his experience.

[cookie09]

Ignoring Kim, you are seriously overthrowing this OP

[4EverEndeavour]

Ignoring Kim, you are seriously overthrowing this OP

How so specifically?

EDIT: Sorry I can't tell if youre responding to Kim or saying I'm overthinking.

Or both

[4EverEndeavour]

and he has high salary expectations to match his experience.

I would have let all of this of this slide but this part I have to comment on.

It's not about expectations, it about actually not getting responses because people think you will demand too much money before bothering to ask. I've had it happen numerous times already.

Thus leading to that stickler of continuing to be unemployed and having no salary. Nothing big.

Anyways that's not really my point, just wondering what luck people had, if they had to quit and go back and look there or was able to have much success applying while still being abroad.

[HK_Katherine]

Since most of the people on a Hong Kong expat forum are actually based in Hong Kong, you are naturally not going to have a lot of "leavers" here. But some have left and still post here.. I think @jimbo may be the closest to your case.

Most people have no problem getting a job if they are only here a few years. Often people transfer in and transfer back.

The main difficulty with "going back" is not getting a job, it's realising YOU have changed. You gain a more global outlook, start to really understand cultural differences, realise not everything done the "USA way" is necessarily the best way... have a bunch of experiences and then realise your friends back in the USA just have no interest in hearing about them... that's hard. Getting a job once you have additional experience, not so much.

[Char Siu King]

The 'cool factor' threw me off.

Eye of the beholder.

[4EverEndeavour]

Thanks for that perspective @HK_Katherine

[JAherbert]

....The main difficulty with "going back" is not getting a job, it's realising YOU have changed. You gain a more global outlook, start to really understand cultural differences, realise not everything done the "USA way" is necessarily the best way... have a bunch of experiences and then realise your friends back in the USA just have no interest in hearing about them... that's hard. Getting a job once you have additional experience, not so much.

I agree 100%, for me working "here" has meant working (and holidays) all over SE Asia.

[jimbo]

Since most of the people on a Hong Kong expat forum are actually based in Hong Kong, you are naturally not going to have a lot of "leavers" here. But some have left and still post here.. I think @jimbo may be the closest to your case.

Most people have no problem getting a job if they are only here a few years. Often people transfer in and transfer back.

The main difficulty with "going back" is not getting a job, it's realising YOU have changed. You gain a more global outlook, start to really understand cultural differences, realise not everything done the "USA way" is necessarily the best way... have a bunch of experiences and then realise your friends back in the USA just have no interest in hearing about them... that's hard. Getting a job once you have additional experience, not so much.

Yup agreed wholeheartedly

I've done it, Left London, came to HK for 8 years and left for London and back to HK again albeit on a temporary basis.

Cultures change and my network has changed a lot since I've been away so it's like starting from the beginning.

Global exposure is all well and good until you have to explain to recruiters etc Who you worked for as they've never heard of them etc.

The biggest challenge I've encountered is that HK culture is very yes sir no sir and don't even think about questioning seniority.

Whereas in London it was more open and you called a spade a spade, To me it's difficult to switch between the two as I'm always the London way not the HK way.


The biggest kicker is the pay cut.
I had to consider taking a 30% pay cut to what I wanted to do in London than what I was on in HK.