[coolgirl]

agree with freeier. At the end of the day, it's all about supply and demand. For example, there are so much MBA grads flocking to HK from Harvard, etc., so post MBA, it's near to impossible to get an expat salary at that level. What companies do, however, is that they match US salaries, with HK tax, it still is quite a good deal.

Of course if we're talking senior management, it's a different story.

Even if CX offers housing, at the end of the day, the total package is what counts. One wouldnt need a housing allowance if the offer is good anyway.

[barbara30]

I agree with what you say cool girl but in the aerospace buisness there is a shortage of people not the other way round.

If he accepts the 35k he will be ona good bit less than half the norm for an expat working at cathay even people recently employed.

[PDLM]

I think we need to be clear here what type of role at CX - it could be anything from a DEFO on the freighters, through cabin crew, engineering, operations, marketing,... My impression is that the closer you are to working on the planes then the more "regulated"/standard the packages are, and the further you are from them then the more individually everything is negotiated. And at the end of the day in that case you just have to make a judgement on how badly they need/want you, and how badly you want to work for them, and push them (or not) accordingly.

[barbara30]

Absolutely PDLM and it’s based on the guy not currently being in HK, normally when it’s expats it’s only for jobs where there is a real lack of people to do the job hence the housing etc. Most people are highly skilled and the best at what they do which doesn’t come cheaply. If they paid the basic salary only I doubt there would be many expats working at Cathay as they could do better elsewhere.

However the guy knows his current salary and living standards and will be better placed to know if he would be better or worse off working for CX.

They’re a very good company to work for but if your not earning enough to live a decent life then it would make it difficult to stay causing difficulties for both parties, as the company needs to find a replacement and the guy a new job.

[nation]

There was another guy who posted just recently (in the last couple of weeks) saying that he was a new expat hire at CX and he has not been offered any expat benefits, including housing. If I remember correctly I think he also said his base was lower than others in the same position. There may very well have been a shift in recent months in CX's thinking with regard to salary packages and/or hiring policies, both local and expat packages. Of course if they were to change their policies common sense dictates that there would be no impact on existing hires which may be the situation in Barbara's husband's case.

[freeier]

it's quite an interesting phenomenom in CX then...
how would I manage this diversified group of guys, all working on similar project, and getting paid differently

like what babara said, the lowly paid guys will be grouchy and unhappy
if CX is paying below market rate to the lowest paid guy, then the lowest paid guy wld go because he is not getting what he is worth, and his colleague are getting much more than him.

if CX is already paying right at market rate to the lowest guy, the person will hold a grudge and probably choose to go elsewhere where he gets almost same pay as others. unless in his view, the prospect in CX is much better then he wld wnat to stay for the future potential.

if CX pays above market rate to the lowest guy, then obviously the guy will find it difficult going anywhere else. and those that are paid the expat packages, will either have to be contributing alot more than what's normally expected of the job, or wld feel threatened as any cost cutting move will target them first or their contracts will not be extended.

so end of the day, i'd prob not want to buy CX shares as the management seems not to be able to control such situations.

8-)

anyway on expat package. coolgirl and my views are similar, probably because we are from similar employment background. we are both from european banks and the market is extremely hot for ppl these days. yet i don't think anyone is being employed on expat packages anymore. unless its a really niche place like a boutique fund etc that employs just 1 or 2 person etc. reason, i think is similar to what i have said. u create too big a drift between the local employees and the foreign employees, and u are going to have difficulties retaining ppl...

[cK123]

Can you refer the website Jimbo?

How is it to define a native speaker? They must come from America, England, Australia...? What if they are from those countries but of an Asian origins? Does it count as native speaker? I guess those from Asian origins must find job as NET difficult in HK.

[Beth Danae]

I am here working for a huge company. I was brought over with an expat package, and I am not senior management or management at all for that matter. This is true for many of my collegues also.

Our rent is 17,000 per month and we live in a 700sf apt, very small from what we were used to. All that to say, don't cut yourself short, you'll find many things here are much more expensive than elsewhere...

[sunniefaith]

CK123,

The net website is http://www.emb.gov.hk

I'm of Asian descent, actually from Spore and I managed to secure a position with them.

Originally Posted by cK123

Can you refer the website Jimbo?

How is it to define a native speaker? They must come from America, England, Australia...? What if they are from those countries but of an Asian origins? Does it count as native speaker? I guess those from Asian origins must find job as NET difficult in HK.

[jimbo]

Originally Posted by cK123

Can you refer the website Jimbo?

How is it to define a native speaker? They must come from America, England, Australia...? What if they are from those countries but of an Asian origins? Does it count as native speaker? I guess those from Asian origins must find job as NET difficult in HK.

Um which website?

Native speaker usually means that you are able to speak to the same standard as say an american/canadian etc.

I'm a British Born Chinese thus I would consider myself to be a Native English Speaker, As long as you have a good level of English and pretty much fluent then I don't see a reason why it would be difficult.

Theres only one issue I have come across but this is pretty rare, Some locals do prefer there kids to be taught by some blonde blue eyed American etc rather than somebody fluent but looks local.