[stealth_bogey]

Hi, I'm a Filipino male, single and working as a data center operations-team leader at a bank here in saudi arabia. I just want to know if there's a possibility to get an IT related job in Hongkong even at my own travel/relocation expense(s). I have a bachelor's degree in computer science plus additional learning and relevant trainings in the same with 8 years of professional experience(s) in a banking/IT operations industry.

I've been to Hongkong last December 2004 for a holiday tour and I found the place very enchanting and thinking if I could work and live there.

Any informations and advice will help....Thanks,

[ap999]

www.jobsdb.com

I came out to HK originally on a long Holiday but then found a job through the site and stayed.

Good luck

[Bernard]

ap999, that's an inspiring story...are you also working in software? If so, please tell us more about how you got a foot in the door in HK!

Seems to me that the world is flooded with professional IT people so as a software person myself I feel like it would be impossible to work in HK in my profession.

The only way seems to be to get some super specialized/wierd software skills (e.g. Linux kernal hacker? A.I. developer? who knows...good luck indeed!) ;-)

Bernard.

[tt2003]

Originally Posted by Bernard

ap999, that's an inspiring story...are you also working in software? If so, please tell us more about how you got a foot in the door in HK!

Seems to me that the world is flooded with professional IT people so as a software person myself I feel like it would be impossible to work in HK in my profession.

The only way seems to be to get some super specialized/wierd software skills (e.g. Linux kernal hacker? A.I. developer? who knows...good luck indeed!) ;-)

Bernard.

I agree, but HK does not develop (A.I, Linux kernal), they are all in Silicon Valley or Taiwan. HK is a IT consumer. Your will find the lastest model caXXXn DC or motherboards in HK, but no such motherboard or DC developers are found here. Brilliant C++, Java, Oracle, Mysql guys are easily located in Shenzhen, China, or HK has already had many. If your native language is English, I suggest you should look at an investment bank or international company. I just spot a 7k- HK dollar per month VB, ASP, Sql server programmers position. The janitor salary in DisneylXXD is 9k per month.

[tt2003]

I don’t mean to discourage you, if you have been in managerial level. Then may be different story, the technical people in HK are more than enough. Also, talk to international job Agent like Robert Walters, or Michael page. Use geoexpat job agent page.

[jaykay]

Managerial level in IT is the same. Having worked as a manager in the industry for years, even for the big banks and international companies I couldn't even get a reply from most companies here. Those that did reply usually told me that I was too highly qualified or experienced, including Microsoft (mind you suppose would be a break from tradition for good old Microsoft - someone who knows what they are doing!)

IT is such a common resource now, in HK it's not highly paid an the hours are very long. You might strike lucky, just don't expect massive salaries and western style hours of work.

jaykay

[ap999]

yes i am in software (Application Dev + Banking). It actually took me nearly 4 months to find a job. Must have sent over 150 CV's and out of that only had under 10 replies and 2 interviews.

Its was not easy, money was drying up fast, my job back in London wanted answer if i was coming back or not, waiting on Approval of my HKID card, and my Service apartment tenacy was due to expire. It was persistence which paid off in the end, so hang in there however daunting things look.

Actually during my hunting period, i did notice that there are were more opportunites in China (Shenghen) than HK. I seriously considered going there since it was only "across the border" from HK.

anyways Good Luck0

[stealth_bogey]

Gee thanks to all of your replies, it seems that HK IT job market is the same as in Singapore, right? I have some email enquiries from prospective employers this past couple of weeks, filling-up some forms and answered some skills sheets but once they were informed that I'm not currently in HK even if I offered them to shoulder my own travel/relocation expenses, they easily backed out or advised me to come first to HK to discuss career move.

Anyway, thanks again.....Oyasumi nasai.

Stealth_Bogey

[Bernard]

Hmm, yep, as I suspected it is a tough break for IT'ers in HK ;-/ This has been a particularly interesting thread for me though, it helps to read of other people's experiences.

I know that 中国 produces many really talented programmers, as I studied with some of them in NZ ;-) So what kind of skills are in demand in HK then...?

Keep us posted as to how things work out Oyasumi!

Bernard.

[stealth_bogey]

Most of the enquiries I received from prospective employers were actually looking for SAP, ERP, Data Modellers, Data Warehouse Specialists and those who has some experience in enterprise backup solutions (mainframe, midrange environment).