[freeier]

well, then the conclusion drawn is that the company is not suitable for you/neily and its better to miss it then to moan over the loss right ? 8-)

[links]

I was in a Singapore company offshore office in HK and now working with a local trading firm here. The cultural differences mention by you guys here are quite truth especially the confront part. In HK, people are very concern on the status in the organisation and dare not obey their boss so if someone dare to speak out his/her mind, then the boss will take this staff as rebelious staff and may fire him/her off at no time.

Also, the management views here are very short sighted, they dont bother about the long term benefit and only concern what they can get in the very near future. In simpler words is they focus on "do it" more than "how to do it".

I have a very miserable working experience here while the people are so afraid of bearing the responsibilities and follow the rules of " do less so less mistake make" and I have to do alot of extra work to get my projects done.

One more thing is, ever since my first job in here, I found that the office politics here are quite serious. People will spend long time to plot to set up their colleague instead of working together and do things better. I been suffered on this, I just try to work well and be friendly to my colleague but then they will do alot of back stab on me while I am busy to sort up the jobs overlook by them...sad.

[Grungerock]

Originally Posted by links

I was in a Singapore company offshore office in HK and now working with a local trading firm here. The cultural differences mention by you guys here are quite truth especially the confront part. In HK, people are very concern on the status in the organisation and dare not obey their boss so if someone dare to speak out his/her mind, then the boss will take this staff as rebelious staff and may fire him/her off at no time.

Also, the management views here are very short sighted, they dont bother about the long term benefit and only concern what they can get in the very near future. In simpler words is they focus on "do it" more than "how to do it".

I have a very miserable working experience here while the people are so afraid of bearing the responsibilities and follow the rules of " do less so less mistake make" and I have to do alot of extra work to get my projects done.

One more thing is, ever since my first job in here, I found that the office politics here are quite serious. People will spend long time to plot to set up their colleague instead of working together and do things better. I been suffered on this, I just try to work well and be friendly to my colleague but then they will do alot of back stab on me while I am busy to sort up the jobs overlook by them...sad.

This is a fact especially working in a locally run asian companies in HK. I have heard too many stories.

[MelissaM]

Originally Posted by Grungerock

This is a fact especially working in a locally run asian companies in HK. I have heard too many stories.

What I can say is narrow minded companies will stand to loose and fail if they really have such mind sets...

It is true that they really plot and destroy than to work together hand in hand with the collegues which I believe that are childish and cannot handle bigger tasks in the near future.

What to do ? Its sad but true!

[jimbo]

Originally Posted by Grungerock

This is a fact especially working in a locally run asian companies in HK. I have heard too many stories.

Yes it is indeed true, Office politics and power struggles are everyday occurences. Hence why I do not apply to local HK companies when looking for work.

[freeier]

I think it is funny why everyone has so much complains about employment of foreigner etc.
this is a free market, at the end if a company can show it improved by much with foreign 'employees'.. others are bound to do the same.

if the companies are only in for short term profit and they do not want the hassle of having to deal with too many issues, why not ?
market changes so much. things relevant today is not going to be relevant in 2 years time.

[Mariposita]

I really think it depends on the interviewer and perhaps extends to the culture of the organisation which is always difficult to pigeon hole. I haven't been out in the professional world for long, but after many interviews and offers, I've found that the opportunity simply comes in all shapes and sizes and sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't.

Personally I've found that despite good interview skills, it's necessary to leverage yourself through EQ and really guage the person that's interviewing you as well as the organisation. Definitely not an easy thing to do so it has been a live and learn process for me. Advice may say 'be yourself' but I think it's more 'be yourself subject to your environment'. If I know an employer has an aggressive business model I'll attempt to be more willing to churn out new ideas and say what I'm open to opportunities and show my competitive nature. If the industry expects a more discreet personality I would speak more slowly and in a calmer manner and act more willing to accept what that employer has to offer.

By being a 'chameleon' at my interviews, I've managed to earn offers from all types of positions at institutions that vary in their culture and sizes, from local firms to international ones. Of course I've had my share of mishaps through it all and I come out of interviews feeling I've been unfairly dismissed but it's just an additional building block for the future.

If I had to describe my team, I would have to say that I'm the most international person on it. Even my boss is a local. But in terms of mindset, he likes that I am willing to take on new initiatives and not restrict myself to what has been written in black & white. I told him at my interview that I'm interested in working at the frontlines and although that was not the exact description of my job, he keeps my interest in mind and constantly reminds me to participate in training programs that will promote me to the frontline within the year. So, this shows we don't always get our stereotypes.

I have heard nasty things about office politics though. It's all reflected on TVB tv series and my mum always warns me to be aware of backstabbing colleagues etc. I've only run into one such incident at my last job when I was interested in this conference and asked the big boss if I was allowed to attend. He recommended that I go so I did so. Later on, a newcomer to the firm who specialised in the conference subject, complained that they couldn't go because I went. (I never verified that she was the one who made a fuss about it but it really couldn't have been anyone else, plus she stopped talking to me when she realised our boss had assigned me to attend the event). So later on when I heard from my mentor that someone was not pleased with the fact that they sent a junior employee to the event and berated me for it, I argued my point (which they actually accepted), decided that they didn't value me in my role as much as they should and quit since so many other firms were willing to hire me and compensate me more! Ironically, some of the companies that gave offers were from the conference since I contacted the people I befriended there! (I know it's a childish thing to do but at this point I just feel like sticking my tongue out at the person that backstabbed me)

[links]

I just think that, if those people put in the intelligence which they used in office politics in their work, HK companies will go much more better than current situation.

[freeier]

let's put it this way, politics is there everywhere in every single company. a matter of more or less. the more money at stake or the higher risk of losing job, the more people behave in that manner.

a person with reasonably high EQ and IQ usually know how to avoid the trap and move away from the danger spot. or make use of it to his/her advantage. that's just part and parcel of life.

[MelissaM]

The truth hurts than again....If u cant beat them join them...try adapting to the new culture and environment. Sometimes you never know what new surprises and information you may learn through the grapevine...

Use it to your advantage and you can have a spring board to greater heights!~

Good Luck all!