Career advice

Practical guides for a Hong Kong career

Curated writing from operators, recruiters, and HR leaders — written for people building real careers in HK.

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8 Tips to Get the Company Bonus You Deserved
How to Get Promoted

8 Tips to Get the Company Bonus You Deserved

Every good employee reaches a point where they need to ask their manager for a well-deserved year-end bonus. Whether it’s annually, or every few years, asking for a bonus can be a dreaded occasion. Employers will not always freely give out bonuses for a variety of reasons. An employee who knows their worth and knows they are due for a bonus needs to muster up the courage to speak to their boss and make a strong case for why they deserve to receive a bonus. There are tips that will help the process go smoothly and have you smiling all the way to the bank.

5 Steps to advance your career in the Year of the Sheep
How to Get Promoted

5 Steps to advance your career in the Year of the Sheep

During the Chinese New Year, many people spend the time leading up to the festivities cleaning their houses to banish old qi and make room for the new. This can also be a time to clean up your work habits and make changes that can help advance your career in the new year. Perhaps you are hoping for a raise or promotion. Or maybe you are even thinking of seeking another job for an all-together new career. Here are five ways to prepare yourself for working toward a major career goal in the year of the sheep.

8 Things to avoid when asking for a raise
How to Get Promoted

8 Things to avoid when asking for a raise

Asking your manager for a raise is a delicate process. It is a stressful and often awkward experience. You need to enter your boss’s office armed with research and proof of your worth to support your request. The problem with asking for a raise is that there are only a few ways it could go right, but so many ways it could go wrong and potentially harm your career if you say or do something inappropriate. If you’re not careful with how you approach your employer, you risk humiliating yourself, pointing out your flaws instead of your strengths.

8 Ways to boost employee morale and productivity with office design
Productivity Tips

8 Ways to boost employee morale and productivity with office design

We all know that a clean, clutter-free office space can improve productivity and even boost employee morale for companies. Unfortunately, in reality, poor office design still seems to be common practice. While many businesses just simply aren’t aware of the benefits behind redesigning office spaces, others feel the cost of such an undertaking can be better used on other operational matters.

7 Signs Your Boss Is Pushing You Out
Job Search in Hong Kong

7 Signs Your Boss Is Pushing You Out

We all wish for the perfect job, the perfect paycheck, the perfect employer. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world. While we strive for happiness in all three categories…

16 Common interview mistakes to avoid
Job Search in Hong Kong

16 Common interview mistakes to avoid

So you’ve landed an interview for your dream job. Now what? Don’t just wing it! Be prepared. Here are 16 common interview mistakes to avoid: Dressing inappropriately. While there are some places where the dress code is casual, don’t assume you can show up in jeans and a t-shirt. A suit is really the only acceptable attire for a job interview. Even if the interviewer’s dress code is relaxed, wearing a suit will show that you are serious about the job.

5 Ways to achieve the elusive Work-Life Balance
Career Path Planning

5 Ways to achieve the elusive Work-Life Balance

Achieving a healthy work-life balance is an elusive feat many people have yet to reach. No matter how hard people may try, effectively juggling professional responsibilities and familial or social commitments continue to prove to be a near-impossible dream. As technology has increased the functionality of business, more and more employees are seeking better assurances in maintaining a balanced work-life schedule.

Prepare your stories before the interview
Job Search in Hong Kong

Prepare your stories before the interview

Hiring managers want to hear your story. They know past behaviour predicts future performance, so they ask for specific examples of times when you navigated office politics or delivered measurable results. The technique is called a behavioural job interview, and you know it is coming when you hear the prompt: “Tell me about a time when you … ” The next phrase can be almost anything: assumed a leadership role, saved your company money, disagreed with a boss, juggled multiple tasks or overcame an obstacle.