[hicbart]

I am wondering if anyone would know if Hong Kong has a large or small range of Temporary Staff agencies that look to find work for travellers on short contracts or for those looking for longer term work.

I guess I am mainly looking for agencies that recruit for English speaking positions only as my Cantonese is nearly non-exsistant (

Muchly appreciated

CB

[bert]

I have been looking for something like this for years but never found anything. So far I have just relied on friends of my parents to get work. I am Hong Kong born, but speak very limited cantonese.

If anyone knows of such a thing please say! I'm going to give it 3 more months before I move to Britain.

[hicbart]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I understand what you are saying Bert, I guess I was hoping that because HK has a largish expat community that there would be something to cover this job market.

As for Paul, what type of obstacles have you experienced in your search?

I have a girlfriend in HK and it looks like we may have to marry for me to be able to stay there.

CB

[hicbart]

Paul,

Yes, my girlfriend is a HK resident (she is a HKBC). We are planning to marry later in the year, but our plans may have to be sped up a bit we are to be closer sooner.

Another question for you though......

Now that Hong Kong is officially Chinese again, are there still many Western (English language run) companies hiring mainly English speaking staff? I take it that you work for a multinational. I am interested to know what the corporate thinking is on staffing culture.

Regards
CB

[hicbart]

Thanks again Paul,

I think that I will have to go down the English language teaching route. I have the TESOL qualification, I just have to find a language school that will take on a Hong Kong loving, English speaking gweilo.

I am hopeful to find something in this field. I am pretty sure that when I get the residency via my partner I should have no problems in getting some teaching work as most adverts I have seen require the HK ID card or to be a resident. Once I have this it should get easier for me.

Thanks again, this really is a good web site.

CB

[KnowItAll]

>> non-locals are in the majority

There are a fair number of niche financial services firms, niche marketing outfits and consultancies (IT, architecture, construction) that have more expats than locals. Really depends on the niche you're in. It depends on the type of clients your company works with and the cost structure.

If you're walking into town with no / little experience and few specialist skills your best bets would be to start of with a type of job that starts paying the bills, while you look around. You can always find your niche once the bills are being paid. Don't assume that there is a huge middle class divide between expats holding high paying jobs and the rest that work in bars / teach english. There are many people (like me for example) who have found comfortable niches for themselves.

[KnowItAll]

hicbart, also, take a look at www.bigenglish.com they seem to have a pretty innovative website which will give you an idea about market rates for teaching english.

[Webbman75]

I was wondering what it would br like to work over there as a web developer/designer i mean getting a full-time job in a English firm overthere?, my family emigrated to the UK from HK 30 years ago , i think in the eye of the law they are techically not HK residents anymore (complicated story) but i was born in the UK and maybe the bonus for me is that i can speak very fluent cantonese. I to will be in HK soon as my GF lives overthere and would like to settle down with her.

[Webbman75]

Originally Posted by Paul

In this case I would have thought the key question is can you write (i.e. design websites in) Chinese also. Pretty much any company website built locally is going to have an English and a Chinese version...

I am currently learning to write....yep i know its gonna be difficult but no pain no gain as they say