[Expatpanda]

Dear Forum

For personal reasons I have moved to HK and now I am trying to find a job. But the HK job market remains a mystery to me.

I am German, speak fluent German, English and Vietnamese some Chinese too (hope to learn more). I have 3 years of experience in the fashion industry working as Design Director and Buying Manager. I have managed accounts worth millions of $. I have led departments and advised on quality assurance, cut, quality and so on. For two years I have done sourcing on my own and consulting Chinese companies on brand building in textiles.Thus I have good contacts to manufacturers in Asia, and of course to fashion companies in US and Europe. Having worked in Germany I know western markets very well.

But it seems this is not enough. I have written quite a few applications but I get zil repsonse.

OF course I can start in a lower position and try and work my way up, either as desigenr, buyer, merchandiser. Somehow though it seems my CV does not match. So shall I rewrite my CV? What about salary expectations? Do you write that into your application? How many applications on average until the first intervew?

Dear Forum, I hope for your wisdom on what to do....
cheers

[Lammarite]

I had a similar problem when i first got here and was told by someone that a possible reason was that the management of companies may be scared of you as you have a broad range of skills and experience. They will see you as a threat.

[greentea]

I think you should focus yourself on looking for the vacancies from big and multinational companies. Also, it is not a good idea for you to start working at a lower position, because the people will find that you just want to work temporarily.

All in all, just send as many CVs as possible for your job application. I think the industry that you are looking for is not bad. So you can get a job in one day if you are determined to keep trying.

[Expatpanda]

Thanks for the replies and encouragement.
That is my thinking also. I am sending dozens of applications all the time. So one surely will be successful or not. But what about salary expectations? Do you state them in your application or not? Any do's or don'ts?

[greentea]

You'd better state your expected salary at your CV just in case it will waste your time if the company cannot offer your bottom-line salary. If you don't want to give an exact salary, you can give a range. Also you can add the word "Negotiable" next to your expected salary.

Good luck.

[Asian1]

Isnt it unusal to state ones salary req on a CV? Never heard of that before, esp for an executive.

[House]

What I heard is that an HR of a company here can "browse and bin" if you are out of their expected price...which includes the ones without a price if they receive 1,000 applications for the same post. Hopefully just for more junior level jobs. But this is just from speculations. It's either you are looking into the wrong job, or you are not fit for the job (either inexperienced or overexperienced...)

[nation]

Originally Posted by House

What I heard is that an HR of a company here can "browse and bin" if you are out of their expected price...which includes the ones without a price if they receive 1,000 applications for the same post. Hopefully just for more junior level jobs. But this is just from speculations. It's either you are looking into the wrong job, or you are not fit for the job (either inexperienced or overexperienced...)

If the dumbos in HR put in the ad what they're willing to pay then they'll avoid the hoards of mis matched resumes. The same goes for their half assed wording of their job description and requirements.

[ste]

I may be wrong, I am in a very different industry, but these are my 2 cents.

Don't assume the people in HR will actually read your CV carefully enough to understand it. They may overlook a lot. If you have outstanding experience then follow up two or three times at least. If possible find out who the hiring managers are and email/call them directly. Don't be shy. In Europe agents and HR people come after you as soon as they see relevant experience. Here is the other way round for some reason.

I usually specified a very broad salary range in my cover letters, negotiable depending on terms and conditions. This seemed to do the trick for me.

On average I had one reply every 15 applications, and usually only after a second follow up. Most interviews resulted in an offer however.

[Expatpanda]

Thanks for your comments and tips...

I send a lots of job applications but still have 1 response from a headhunter ( they seems one of the biggest/ best counsultant company in HK).... But they say, my background don´t fit enough for that open position. I checked their requirements again, it fit 100%!!!!....That make me really frustrated, I know now, they don´t really read the application or they don´t understand english.

Well may be, I should restructure my application new....like, a yes/ no Question/answer, so that everybody can understand that?

@Tse
I will try to find the direct contact to the company. But most of the international or big companies use a consultant to do that for them....