Question about Canadian Experience...important.

[j77892]

So i'm still in the process of planning my move to HK, but something very important just popped into my mind.

I'm Chinese, but born and raised in Canada. I've attended school here, and gotten my degree here as well. If I were to work in HK for maybe 3-4 years, and come back to Canada to find a job, how hard would it be? I will be in marketing/advertising.

I've heard the horror stories of new immigrants not being able to find jobs because they didn't have "Canadian Experience" and am wondering if the same thing would happen to me if I were to make the choice to move to HK for a few years.

I have no full time experience in Canada aside from 2 summer jobs I worked during my time in university.

Now I always hear of people moving back to Canada from HK, but would like some advice for those who have experienced this first hand. It's very important to me as my family is living in Canada for the long term and as my parents age I would imagine I need to return one day to take care of them.

thanks.

[Watercooler]

It all depends. Your HK experience could be a plus if you are looking to work for a firm who wants to expand into this part of the world or just to target a bigger slice of the Chinese market. You can argue because of your experience here, you understand the mindset of HK and Chinese, you know what their preferences are like in terms of product and services.

Heck, I should be paid for this!

[Stoob]

Make sure that during certain winter sporting events you update local forums every minute about the status of the puck for games not involving Canada and every 10 secs for games they are playing.

Store your post history then present to future employers !

[BCD]

I would only come to Hk if you were coming for a job that is in your field, in the type of advertising you want to be in, and pays well. If not, slog it out in Canada getting experience in the field any way you can. With some experience under your belt you can come to HK and get a better position and it won't mess up your CV as much.

[bambieboy]

I am also a Chinese, born in HK and raised in Toronto. I think the experience in HK is valuable and I don't think it will be a problem for you to find a job in Canada should you wish to go back. I worked in Canada before but I have to say HK got a lot more opportunities and so I don't think you would want to go back for work as you will love working in HK.

[j77892]

It all depends. Your HK experience could be a plus if you are looking to work for a firm who wants to expand into this part of the world or just to target a bigger slice of the Chinese market. You can argue because of your experience here, you understand the mindset of HK and Chinese, you know what their preferences are like in terms of product and services.

Heck, I should be paid for this!

guess you don't know much about canada lol, but thanks for the post.

I would only come to Hk if you were coming for a job that is in your field, in the type of advertising you want to be in, and pays well. If not, slog it out in Canada getting experience in the field any way you can. With some experience under your belt you can come to HK and get a better position and it won't mess up your CV as much.

Yeah, this is what I was thinking because honestly entry level pays peanuts in HK. It's always the debate between pay vs experience

I am also a Chinese, born in HK and raised in Toronto. I think the experience in HK is valuable and I don't think it will be a problem for you to find a job in Canada should you wish to go back. I worked in Canada before but I have to say HK got a lot more opportunities and so I don't think you would want to go back for work as you will love working in HK.

Thanks, do you have a home back in HK or do you have to pay rent monthly?

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If anyone has any personal experiences i would love to hear them. Thanks.

[BCD]

Looks like you are getting different advice. I hold fast to my advice because you are talking the advertising/marketing field. Other fields - like architecture for instance it may be the complete opposite.
Contact some of the professional associations in HK and Canada and try to talk with people actually in the business and get their perspective.
Like I said, with a few years experience in Canada you will have contacts and understand the environment. You may not get paid well, but you won't in HK either. Then with experience in Canada you can work in Hk a while, but keep your links in Canada alive. Join professional organisations here and you University alumni association here to keep those links alive and relevant.

[j77892]

Original Post Deleted

Thanks, your advice has been the most practical and useful so far.

[Watercooler]

guess you don't know much about canada lol, but thanks for the post.



Yeah, this is what I was thinking because honestly entry level pays peanuts in HK. It's always the debate between pay vs experience



Thanks, do you have a home back in HK or do you have to pay rent monthly?

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If anyone has any personal experiences i would love to hear them. Thanks.

Trying to be a smart-ass here won't help you.

Oh by the way, I am Canadian and I know alot more about this than you think. So suck it up, OP.

If you think you know so much here, why are you here? No one here is suggesting you look for a job in Canada tailor-made with an "Asian experience" position. If you are so confident that Canadian employers will screen you out, why are you even bothering asking questions here?

[Watercooler]

Hmm, wasn't trying to be an ass but perhaps I should explain myself a little more then. Firstly, many many of the big advertising giants aren't in Canada. Second of all, the chinese market is expanding but not so much that they would create a whole new market of positions here in Canada. Lastly, (which is the most important), Canadian employers have been notorious for filtering out resumes with no Canadian experience (as in not even getting to interview). I believe this "Canadian Experience" is very exclusive to Canada - in my own experience Hong Kong employers are quite open to international experience/education.

Many new immigrants have not been considered at all in their respective fields because they didn't have Canadian experience. This is a huge issue here in Canada.

I apologize if I sounded rude to watercooler's response.



Thanks, your advice has been the most practical and useful so far.

Not with your attitude, good luck if some employer will employ you.

Stay in Canada, you clearly need more "Canadian experience" first. Correction, you need more real-life job experience to wash your smart-ass attitude. Eat some humble pie.