[andante]

My interview in HK is in 2 weeks time.. & I've been reading some materials about the industry, doing my prep for the position and researching on the company.

I've even surfed jobsdb, monster, jobstreet for interview tips & done every possible mock up interviews. Still, i'm feeling unsettled... Maybe coz its an interview away from home and i'm not sure if the style's gona be different?

The interviewer's French and i've only spoken to him a couple of times over the telephone...he sounds pleasant thou not especially friendly (That's wat most french are like i think? Cool and unapproachable initially but totally wacky after that..) & it sure doesnt help when i've only been to 2 jobs interviews in my entire 23 yrs of existance. Anyone has any pointers to offer pleaseeeee?

I quoted my salary expectations as 32,000HKD per month and it is with a current salary of approximately 20,000HKD (for my job in singapore) in mind. Am i right to assume they would think of that as just my wage & not inclusive of rent & miscellanous?

I've no husbands(depedents) or kids taggig along.. so that amount, after reading geoexpat forum, shld be pretty decent for one right??

Would i be asking too much if i ask for rent allowance? I read in one of the threads quite a few ended up with local packages & have to pay rent out of their own pocket. Is it really hard to attain a expat package these days?

[Mat]

"That's wat most french are like i think? Cool and unapproachable initially but totally wacky after that.."

Nah we are not all like that...:-)))))

[Mat]

"my salary expectations as 32,000HKD "

If I were you I would give a range..just from experience.

[Mat]

"if i ask for rent allowance"

It costs nothing to ask, it does not mean they give :-)

[freeier]

depending on which line and why they need u. if they need u badly everything is possible rite.. 8-)

anyway think u are still young, 23 ?, so if you are looking for exposure and experience don't price yourself out of the market. some hkers or chinese are probably willing to take far less to join a good company.

me also from singapore and boss is french... hmmm

[kristof]

Eh eh true french people are not like that, though I am a very unpleasant one ha ha.
I'd say you are targetting on a high salary, but then it all depends on what you do.
My boss and other french managers I interviewed with are usually not that generous on the first offer (maybe other companies too actually).
You could either say you already make 30000 for example, if it's too late the guy is very likely to offer you exactly what you already make and that's it, especially as you are young.
What job industry do you work in, and what does the french company do here?

[andante]

Originally Posted by Mat

"my salary expectations as 32,000HKD "

If I were you I would give a range..just from experience.

Thanks mat! but i've already mentioned the amt in the email.. wont be v wise if i change it when i'm there rite?

btw, the part on french, that's wat i experienced.. and that's wat a french client of mine claimed too!

maybe he was just talking abt himself..

[Mat]

"You could either say you already make 30000 for example"

Do not say you are making 30.000 if you are not. Many emlpoyers contact your previous employer so you better play "clean" and give your current salary.

If the company is a "good" company, they are not stupid and they know there is a Delta between living in HK and Singapore so they will adjust your salary accordingly.

30.000 can be....if you are in IB, it is not uncommon to get such salary even at 23/25 years old.

[Mat]

Originally Posted by andante

btw, the part on french, that's wat i experienced.. and that's wat a french client of mine claimed too!

maybe he was just talking abt himself..

When you are in HK, contact me, I'll show you that some are different :-)))

[tsuiwah]

As mat stated, lying about your salary is about the dumbest thing you can do. Another dumb thing would be to focus too much on the package. Focus on the interview. Practice practice practice. Do some news searches on your company and its competitors. Google your interviewer and his boss(es).

You will get what you will get. It is pretty simple. You are wasting energy thinking about something that isn't under your control. You can always ask for MORE, as someone said earlier, but you never ask until you get the offer first. I don't think there is a lot of flexibility for your employer (assume it is a French bank) to give you a better deal than what they give everyone else at your level. Even without a housing allowance, your stated salary expectation of HK$32K already sounds high to me unless you are a superstar coming out of NUS or a good overseas university with high honors. A local graduate with more experience (in any number of First World countries) would be thrilled with that salary. Remember your tax rate is going to be about 15%.