[Muskuloskeletal]

Hello,

My girlfriend is looking for employment in Hong Kong. She's been looking for a while without too much joy. If anyone has any suggestions, it'd be great if you can help. We've kept an eye out in jobsdb, classified post, Korean church in Sheung Wan.... It'd be excellent if anyone can provide some key info that we've not yet uncovered.

She speaks fluent Mandarin (reading and writing) and conversational English. We lived in Beijing for just under four years where she worked as an interpreter and in international sales.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!!!

[Alby]

She should have a business card made with her deatails such as,

Name [English/Chinese - my card has both it is a conversation piece when I first meet people]
Degree [example B.S Economics, M.B.A, etc - put the highest degree obtained as by having this on their is also a conversation piece]
Address
Telphone
Email

Daily open up the SCMP buiness section see what lunch discussions are going on - even if they are or are not relevant to her field of profession attending anything with no cost may lead to something. Also try to attend various Chamber of Commerce events with AmCham, HKCC, Can Cham, and there others. Some she will have to pay to go to and that can be considered a small cost if she is looking. Also, for example I know that a group called CSR Asia is having a gathering on January 4th in the evening - although not designated as a networking event she should learn what it is about think of going - as she never knows who will be there and who will know who.

When she gets a card she should follow-up immediately (within 24 to 48 hrs) and try to arrange for a another meeting with them either over a tea or coffee to dicsuss the individual's professional experience in Asia - that way she can learn more about other opportunities.

Also, identifying people in places and positions sending them an email and asking them for tea/coffee for a 20 minute informational interview - mentioning something to the effect in the email as "learning and exploring options in broadening my career in ..."

Volunteering, I know the YMCA in Cheung Sha Wan uses volunteers in their Cross Culture Mentor Scheme - if she is a Mandarin Speaker all the better because there are many new immigrants from China in that area too. I also know that Room to Read HK Chapter is an organization that works mainly on fundraising intiatives here in Hong Kong is always eager for voluteers too - both these places will allow her to meet and interact with professionals in a different atmosphere while demonstrating what she is capable of doing.

Has she sent out her CV to various employment agencies and headhunters?

All the above are various ways and approaches to networking and making oneself known - however a key is FOLLOW-UP - FOLLOW-UP so people don't forget about her.

[KnowItAll]

Absolutely top notch advice.

[Muskuloskeletal]

Alby,

Thanks a lot for the excellent advice. Your expertise is very enlightening and of benefit to many others. I would never have thought of those networking skills.

Here's to a happy, healthy New Year!!!

Best Wishes...

[cb1118]

oh...what's her expecting salary? (as international sales? fixed salary or with commission based on sales volume per year?)

is she willing to travel to China ? (guangdong area, 2.5hours from Hong Kong)

[cb1118]

additional note:

I have asked my korean friends about koreans working for Korean cooperation in HK...

the problem is "being a woman"

because the branch in HK is usually taking care the operation in China.
in other words, a sales must travel to China often (to Guangdong or to Shanghai)

but the trouble is the social life of business. in China, it is very common to have drinks and chats in night club afterward (even in HK)...
**places like GoldenBlue, Wanchai or Riviera, TST...etc...
it is not very comfortable for a lady to work (and represent) the company to go to such environment oftenly.

also, personal security is a concern if it is taken place in "China' (drug in drink & rape)

oftenly, the job requires the workers to be man only.

[Muskuloskeletal]

hi cb,

thanks for posting the message. before going into the salary details,
can you tell me more about any possible vacancies, what the company does...

as far as doing business in china is concerned, my girlfriend and myself are well aware of the protocol that is sometimes expected (but this is definitely not the rule) as we have lived and worked in china for four years.

We must also remember that according to Chairman Mao, "women hold up half the sky".

look forward to hearing from you.

many thanks

[cb1118]

oh... I cannot disclose too much information now. but I am planning a new year dinner with my high school classmates (whom are all koreans, in fact)

I have called one of them to ask about your situation, and hopefully he has good news to me.
(I really cannot disclose who he is but he knows someone very powerful in Korea)

[kk1112]

hi i dont know what kind of jobs your gf is looking for, but my friends restaurant is recruiting some staffs as a waitress, location is casuwaybay, if you are interested please email to katiecheng1112@gmail.com and i will give you the number,

good luck,

kk

[dropdedfwed]

Originally Posted by kk1112

hi i dont know what kind of jobs your gf is looking for, but my friends restaurant is recruiting some staffs as a waitress, location is casuwaybay, if you are interested please email to katiecheng1112@gmail.com and i will give you the number,

good luck,

kk

hey katie,

those restuarants that your friend owns wouldn't happen to be the same ones you gave a big thumbs up for in another thread would they?

no vested interest, i assume?