Looking for a job in Hong Kong is daunting, especially if you’re a non-Chinese speaker. I was asked by a leading English-language digital publication that focuses on parenting, Sassy Mama Hong Kong, to write about career choices available to expats in Hong Kong.

This is a summary of an article that appeared in Sassy Mama Hong Kong in 2019. It has since been updated/edited.

Looking for a job in Hong Kong can often make a non-Chinese-speaking expat feel less than adequate. The job hunt can feel long and pointless, but rest assured, even seemingly “imperfect” employees can find perfect jobs in Hong Kong.

Now, I am sure I have alarmed a few people by calling them imperfect job-seekers! Don’t worry – it’s not a reflection of you, your expertise or your personality. It’s just a statement on the hiring process in Hong Kong.

If you’re looking to get back to work, or perhaps fancy a change, we take a look through your career choices, options and some challenges you might face.

Before we begin though, let’s answer an important question.

What do hiring managers in Hong Kong look for?

• Demonstrable role experience (ideally someone who has recently left the exact role they are recruiting for).

• Similarly, demonstrable sector and industry experience (someone who has always worked in the exact sector and industry they are recruiting for).

• Relevant qualifications (not skills acquired in different situations or experiences that could be transferable to the job being advertised).

• Willingness to work full-time from their office or job site (no part-timers and/or people looking for flexibility).

• Willingness to work overtime (again, no part-timers).

• Business fluency in written and spoken Cantonese, Mandarin and English (depending on the role you’re applying for).

Why are some expats not considered for jobs advertised in Hong Kong?

Given what hiring managers are looking for (as mentioned above), it’s no wonder that recruiters often believe that expats who don’t fit the bill perfectly are “risky” placements.

So, job-seekers must have the ability to communicate that they are right for a job – but what you say in a meeting may be quite different from what’s on your CV. This is because even before you get to the interview stage, you need to convince an AI-powered recruitment system. These are designed to filter out anybody who does not meet all the selection criteria, in other words, someone who doesn’t tick all the boxes. So where does that leave you?

As a possible non-Cantonese or Mandarin speaker, a career-changer, or someone who has had a career break and who may have time commitments outside of work, you are unlikely to tick all (if any) of these boxes.

However, from the dozens of stories I have heard from expats in Hong Kong, I know that despite how it might sometimes feel, you do have job options.

By having self-awareness (knowing what sets you apart from the rest), being open-minded (to try new things), persistent (to carry on despite setbacks) and leveraging the power of your networks, you too can successfully enter, or re-enter, careers that you enjoy.

Ready to try something different? These are some of your options to return to work in Hong Kong.

Career choices for expats in Hong Kong: Option 1 – Freelance and remote working

Technological advances have opened possibilities for people with different skills to deploy them remotely as freelancers, part-timers and/or on flexible contracts. One Hong Kong-based company that recognises the need of both job seekers and companies for these kinds of working arrangements is Bauhinia Solutions Limited.

Similarly, sites like Fiverr, Freelancing and Upwork connect freelancers with short to long-term projects in areas such as admin, digital marketing, customer service, engineering, IT, legal, sales, translation and writing. As most of the skills required can be deployed remotely, freelancers can build a truly global client base.

Career choices for expats in Hong Kong: Option 2 – Regular jobs in alternate fields

If you are looking for face-to-face interactions and a reliable income stream, working remotely and freelancing may not be right for you. These are some options for you to consider if you are looking for a regular job in Hong Kong:

• Teaching

• Leveraging your professional network

• Use connections from your home country

• Corporate back-to-work programmes

• Upskilling yourself

Let’s take a closer look at these regular job options for HK expats.

Teaching

A popular option available to non-Cantonese or Mandarin speakers – and especially native English speakers – is to become a teacher or a personal tutor. A glance at the openings posted on job sites shows just how many opportunities are available in these professions. Once they have acquired the right teaching qualifications, many find this option attractive as it can offer the possibility to work part-time and yet provide a regular income.

Leveraging your network

I cannot emphasise this enough. It’s step one mentioned in a previous blog on returning to work in Hong Kong.

I’d like to give you an example of a client of mine. Her job search took 18 months and nearly 20 applications! After getting professional advice, she re-engaged with her old network and expanded it by attending at least one networking event every week. Ultimately, while her network didn’t get her the job, she says she wouldn’t have been able to land it without its support, information and guidance.

If the thought of networking makes you uncomfortable, I have easy tips you can follow.

Network through Chambers of Commerce and Consulates

One way that many expats expand their networks here is through their National Consulates and Chambers of Commerce. Not only can people from your own country be a great source of potential friendships and support, but they can also be fantastic sources of information about job opportunities that may only be communicated within your community.

Back to work and career transition programmes

Some companies are creating opportunities for both local and expatriate professionals to re-enter and transition into new careers by offering structured return-to-work and training programmes. BNP Paribas, FDM, Morgan Stanley and Natixis are just a few examples of companies that have run back-to-work programmes in the past. These programmes specifically target professionals who are looking to re-enter the workforce after a career break.

Using a slightly different approach, the St. James’s Place Asia Academy offers career-changers the opportunity to become financial advisers in their company with a specially designed 12-month programme.

Retraining or upskilling yourself

Of course, you don’t have to wait for a company to provide a training programme to help you find a job. The opportunities to retrain and upskill yourself are endless. There are plenty of courses available online on Coursera, Udemy and Udacity. Prefer studying with others? Look at the wide range of options at HKU Space.

Career choices for expats in Hong Kong: Option 3 – The entrepreneurial route

Finally, starting your own business is another way to get around the job requirements mentioned above. Attend one of the Discovery Bay Handmade Markets or attend any of the many fairs and exhibitions organised throughout the year and you will get an idea of what is available and where there is a need gap.

Of course, it does not mean that anyone can turn their hobby into a profession. Though Hong Kong is very conducive to entrepreneurs, running your own business can be risky. Furthermore, many entrepreneurs will tell you that being your own boss doesn’t necessarily equate to working part-time or having a healthy work-life balance. If these things are important to you, you may be better off exploring some of the less risky options above.

Originally posted on Sassy Mama Hong Kong, 14 August, 2019