Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China is widely seen as an attractive place to live and work.
How to improve your chances:
Professional training or recognized qualification in areas such as law, banking, accountancy and finance, advanced manufacturing, engineering, biotechnology, computing, healthcare and architecture, planning and construction may increase your chances of finding an employer in Hong Kong
Will English be sufficient in Hong Kong?
For those who only speak English and who have relevant experience, there may be opportunities in areas such as teaching, media, hospitality, IT, banking and finance. Language requirements:
Chinese and English are the official languages of Hong Kong. English is widely used in the government and also in the legal, professional and business sectors. However, Cantonese is increasingly being used as the language of business and fluency in Cantonese is a distinct advantage for many jobs.
English may be sufficient for jobs with large multinational companies but knowledge of Cantonese is beneficial.
Where can I work?
- Major industries: service industry (accounts for more than 90% of gross domestic product (GDP)), especially financial and professional services.
- Major companies: Bank of China (BOC) Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific Airways, Cheung Kong, China Mobile, China Netcom Group, China Unicom, CLP Holdings, Cnooc, Henderson Land, Hutchison Whampoa, Jardine Matheson, Sun Hung Kai Properties, Swire Pacific.
- Search for more companies: Kompass, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (includes a searchable database of member companies), Wikipedia - List of Companies in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Business Directory. The websites of professional bodies such as the Law Society of Hong Kong may also include contact details of member organisations.
- Average working hours: Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm (or longer, depending on the business), with an occasional half-day required on Saturday.
- Holidays: there are two types of public holiday in Hong Kong: statutory and general holidays. Statutory holidays must be provided to all employees. General holidays include every Sunday, all statutory holidays (12) and an additional five holidays.
- Tax rates: maximum salary tax is 17% (2009/10). You can check with the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department for up-to-date rates and breakdowns.
- Working practices and customs: fairly formal work environment, conservative dress code, long working hours, business networking after work - business lunches/dinners are common.
How do I apply for a job?
It is essential to research companies thoroughly when applying for jobs and to spend time on each application to make sure your skills and experiences match the vacancy requirements. Ideally.
Newspapers and the internet are an important source of graduate vacancies, and online applications are increasingly common. Networking is also widely used as a means of finding out about opportunities. Approaching any contacts you already have in the country can be productive. It may also be worth making speculative applications to employers. Recruitment agencies are widely used, but overseas applicants will need to be able to convince agencies of their long-term commitment to living and working in Hong Kong.
What are the next steps?
- Please visit www.alhamza.pk and fill up Online Assessment Form if you have not got yourself assessed yet. If you have already been assessed and given positive evaluation, you are now requested to register your application with us for professional services.
