[w_shaw]

There was an article in the SCMP a few weeks back that listed the salaries for different classes of flight attendants for CX. Go to scmp.com and check the archives.

[yoyoho]

Originally Posted by riyaaz

Yoyoh, did you apply for CX MT?

Riyaaz

I did not apply for CX MT since I cannot meet their entry requirement.
I am not a fresh graduate. I have more than 3 years working experience.

[icer28]

I'm glad there's a place where we can meet up and share info - cause there's not exactly a deluge of info on the Cathay MT program online.

Just so you guys know, there's a couple of online interviews with past successful candidates that graduated from the University of Hong Kong - check it out and see if it's the career you want first. Certainly made my decision easier to make.

http://www.hku.hk/cepc/NEW/stories/career/gabriel.html

http://www.hku.hk/cepc/NEW/stories/c...christine.html

Good Luck guys!!

[eureka2006]

icer,
hahaha. ya... i saw those articles as well!! i just googled it up and serach for it! hahahaha...
ya.. i think this forum serves a good platform for us to talk about cx stuff... so do all of u guys planning to move to hk?
i just went to hk in april for 2 weeks and i realize how much i wanted to stay in hk!! ti's too boring in canada, esp. toronto!!! but of course i need to get a decent job such as the MT program in order to me to move!!

[icer28]

HK IS SUPER FUN!!!

Especially if you're raised abroad but still know how to speak Chinese. I stayed in HK for 2 years after my BA and I wouldn't trade that time and experience for anything - learning to live by myself, learning how to read Chinese, clubbing with locals, hunting down good and CHEAP food spots.

I used to think that I'm half-way between cause my family moved to Vancouver when I was 3 - not really fully Canadian cause of my skin colour (esp. when cliques started forming back in High school) but not really Chinese either because I didn't fit in with the Karaoke/Funky Clothes/Asian pop music culture. But once I got to HK, I started to realize that local people were so down-to-earth and that Chinese culture offered so much more. And... I did get addicted to shopping and just all that materialistic goodness - I swear shopping is detrimental to your wallet but great for your health. Now, I really do value the fact that I can dive right in to Canadian and Chinese culture without feeling like an outsider.

But it's not all good, you're going to have to deal with the fact that you're going to work 8:30~9pm or maybe even later. Cathay may be different but it's better to expect 12~13 hour days so you won't feel bad when it happens. Also, politics is expected but I know you guys can handle it from the talk I hear from Eureka - Riyazz, don't be scared off be politics!! Dare to dream right?

But I was working in the logistics biz when I was in HK and I do know for a fact that the air cargo is booming in HK and should remain so for the next 15~20 years (until the mainland air transportation infrastructure catches up and surpasses HK). I'm not sure about the passenger side but the air cargo side of transport is training up an bunch of management with experience under their belt to transfer over to China in around 5 years to lead depts and offices in China (like a bunch of people that know what they're doing and people they can trust). This from my company's clients in their 40's. I got some more info but I don't want to bore you all...

I've just decided not to go for Cathay tho so the info herein is really honest info. haha, no I'm not feeding you false info - I swear I've just made some career moves towards banking and I don't want to give it all up for a tiny speck of chance that I'd be hired at Cathay. I'm really hoping it pays off to go into banking tho...

Oh hey, do you guys have friendster? It's like Hi-5 and xanga.

[Jeanie]

Yes, i have Friendster. But I seldom use it as i didn't know if it is safe to make new friends there.

[icer28]

Hi Jeanie, Umm... I can't guarantee that friendster is safe - haha, I don't own the site . But check your PM.

[eureka2006]

hello,
icer28, thanks for the detail!!! wowow... it's very good that you can still able to speak chinese fluently! my frined came at 7 and has trouble understanding and speaking chinese... I came when i was 12, so i do know how to write, read and speak cantonese perfectly. So did you stay at your relatives house or rented a place to live? See, that will be my problem as well if i work in hk. i can live at my relatvies house for a month or so, but in a long run, i have to have my own space!
So have you been looking at the bank such as HSBC for their MT program? my friend had the interview and she was not able to continue after second interview... does HSBC hire more MT than CX? I still can't believe how little CX is hiring as they seems to have a big campaign on the website!
You know what, I have already set a goal for myself, if I can't find a good job in hk within 3-4 yrs, i might as well stay in canada, cuz my life will be much more established than today and unless they give me a sweet offer, i want to settle and stop dreaming!
Nah, I don't have friendster anymore, i thought not alot of ppl go on now, isn't?

[yoyoho]

Hello, Eureka!

As I know, the MT program of HSBC is more difficult than CX.
In fact, the number of MT hire depends on the quality of the candidates.
They will not specific how many people will they hire.

[icer28]

Hi Euruka2006,

I was living at my grandparent's place for the first few months - I then moved out after a couple of months.

I think I was pretty lucky because I found another expat who was already renting and had an extra room for me so we shared half the rent... It was a pretty nice apartment (with a club house downstairs), small though, and it was around $4000~$4700 each month depending on the season - the electricity bill obviously goes up in the summer with air-conditioning. Rent has risen in the past 2 years but I remember the average price for apartments in North Point and "Sai Wan" was around $3500 last I check - don't quote me though Also, you have to sign a contract where you promise to rent for a year with the option to continue the next. I remember it's also custom to give a deposit of 3 months at the beginning of the contract term.

As for salary, with $18,000 you're living comfy - you're not going to drive around in a Beemer, live in a home as big as yours in Toronto or afford many LV bags but you should be able to save around HKD $4000~$6000 a month - depending on splurges. You just have to be street smart and budget well. $18,000 is a pretty good starting pay... The accounting firms' entry pay is around $12,000 for a benchmark. But with our exchange rate so high, the money you earn now and bring back to HK next year will give you a fluffy financial cushion.

Yeah, I guess everyone is aiming for HSBC's MT... But take a look at their International Management program, I think it's waaay better - you get to travel around and get leadership roles immediately. It's A LOT harder and I think I'll try out 2~3 years down the road but worth a good try! Drowning in the acronym exams right now: CFA, CSI, CMA...

As for Canada and HK, I think you're right. Just for the sake of travelling and living in another culture, it's totally worth it - like a 4 semester exchange trip.