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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2022 Predictions: What’s Next for Data Protection?

During 2020 and 2021, there was a shift in focus to improving remote working capabilities, access to cloud infrastructure and securing data. Over the next year, however, I believe businesses will desire more control of their data, with a greater focus on the ability to facilitate portability and seamless response to the changing demands of the future. Although hybrid and multi-cloud models are not new, the freedom they provide will make it even more of a reality moving forward. With 2022 only just around the corner and promising to enable the exponential growth in the data protection industry, you might be wondering what’s next. To help plan in advance, here’s a few top trends to look out for…

Workplace English

Dealing with Meetings – Part 2

Dealing with meetings (Part 2) Last week, in part 1, we looked at input and delivery. This week, we will be looking at maintaining good relationships. Maintaining good relationships

Workplace English

Dealing with Meetings – Part 1

Dealing with meetings (Part 1) In today’s demanding workplace, meetings are a regular feature of everyone’s schedule. So how can we ensure that our attendance helps to achieve the aims that have been set? The answer lies in careful preparation, and there are several points to consider.

Workplace English

Using the correct tone in formal emails (Part 2)

In part 1 last week, we explored what tone is and why it matters in our formal email correspondence. In this section, we focus on language which will help you to make the right impression on your reader. Play it safe Using formal style, showing respect, is always the right choice in a professional context. Use the salutations below to open your email and greet your reader appropriately. Known reader:

Workplace English

Using the correct tone in formal emails (Part 1)

We’ve all been there. You’re writing an email to a client or colleague. Before you hit send, you quickly skim your email for errors. Grammar, spelling and punctuation? Everything looks fine. You click send, confident of a job well done. Later, you receive a reply and something isn’t quite right. Your usually cordial colleague seems oddly distant. Your long-term client’s response to your enquiry is terse. Frankly, it’s all a bit awkward. What could have gone wrong?

Workplace English

Proofreading fundamentals (Part 1)

In business, it’s absolutely essential to make a good impression with anyone you’re communicating with when writing – from your boss, to a potential new client, to your fellow colleagues. Making even the most basic error in your writing can send all the wrong messages – you may come across as careless, lacking attention to detail and not showing respect to your reader.

Workplace English

Top tips for getting a first-rate performance review (Part 2)

In Part 1 last week, we looked at some ways to help prepare for and write up your performance review. This week we will focus on what to say in the meeting and what to do beforehand.A conversation with your boss about your performance doesn’t have to induce panic. Hopefully, the preparation you’ve done has boosted your confidence and reminded you of your accomplishments. Before you head into that meeting, make sure to do the following. Make notesThis can help you stay on message and identify what you want to focus on.

Advice Columnist

New Grads to Factor in AI

With artificial intelligence (AI) already delivering some of the most significant and disruptive innovations of recent times, for current and future graduate students — including students not focused on technology — AI will inevitably impact their careers.

Workplace English

Giving the Perfect Presentation (Part 2)

In this part, we continue with further tips on how to give the perfect presentation……

Workplace English

Giving the Perfect Presentation (Part 1)

Very few people in the world enjoy the prospect of giving a presentation. Even though you may not be speaking to millions of people, giving the perfect presentation is still important.

Job Search in Hong Kong

【職場實用英語】5分鐘寫完Thank you letter (Part 1)

只要有 sample，有 template，寫一封 Thank you letter（感謝信）只需要 5 分鐘，相比起睇 job ads、send CV、去見工所花嘅時間，呢 5 分鐘絕對值得。 Thank you letter 真係有用？邀請得去面試嘅 candidates，大家都差唔多學歷同經驗，要突圍而出，除咗面試嘅表現，一封 Thank you letter 往往係成敗關鍵。最近有調查1顯示，高達五分一嘅招聘人員會自動 DQ 冇 send Thank you letter 嘅 candidates。根據另一份調查2，有八成 HR 經理認為你封 Thank you letter 嘅內容會左右佢哋嘅最終決定

Advice Columnist

在三十歲轉工的五個真正原因 – 可能您也是其中一分子

事先聲明：我們固然希望您正在一個合適的地方工作，並且喜愛或者因這工作而感到愉快。但萬您因它感到憂愁，卻又害怕在如今的年紀才去改變已經為時太晚，這篇文章可能為您帶來一線曙光。傑夫·貝佐斯在三十一歲才建立了亞馬遜、英國小說家約瑟夫·康拉德在二十歲前從未說過英語、Buzzfeed的創辦人喬納·派瑞提整個二十年華亦只是在教導中學生如何使用微軟辦公室系統。雖然工作性質都不一樣，但這些人都有一個共通點 – 他們都是在後來才找到自己真正的價值和志向。假如您現在十分不滿自己的工作環境，但又因為年紀而害怕尋找新的工作機會，請先看看您的周遭 – 很多成功人士都是在三十歲時才發現到自己的的興趣，所以改變永遠是「有心不怕遲」。再者，神經科學家亦認為人們年輕時在面對複雜的工作選擇的時候，會傾向避重就輕；當他們對世界有更深的了解後，便可以作出較為明智的選擇，並開展您一直渴望的人生。人們選擇在三十歲時轉職的首五個原因卓克索大學在不久前邀請了三百二十位三十到五十四歲不等、在近期作出職業改變的人士進行了一次網上投票，得到了以下促成他們作出轉職的首五個原因：工作量/ 時間：27.19% 賠償金：17.19% 晉升空間：15.94% 工作地點：10.63% 缺乏熱情：9.38% 投票者當中，近四十五個百分比的人選擇的新工作與舊工作屬於同一個行業，而有五十五個百分比的人選擇發展新的職業路向。選擇作出改變的投票者大多來自與服務業及教育界人士，所以如果您也希望嘗試一些截然不同的新事物，絕對不需要感到害怕。此外，2015年LinkedIn的調查亦指出不少公司正在積極聘請該行業以外的人士。不論任何年紀，您都該重新開始的四個徵兆我們之所以害怕新事物 – 尤其年紀越漸長時 – 是由於它所帶來的不確定性。可是，如果您覺得您的工作欠缺了某些東西、某些原素時，您便應該行動了。先將您的情感擱置在一旁，然後查看一下以下的清單，看看是否到了您該承擔這些風險、改善您的工作的時候。喬納·派瑞提 – Buzzfeed的創辦人整個二十年華亦只是在教導兒童如何使用微軟辦公室系統 1. 您無法對上班感到興奮您無法對又開展工作的新一天感到興奮。所有事看上去都是如此的沈悶和無趣；每十五分鐘您便會查看一次手錶，每一個小時您便需要一個小休。約克大學心理學家約翰·伊斯特伍德博士指出，厭倦能導致人們作出損壞性行為如暴食、酗酒、賭博等，如果您每天工作後都沈溺於酒精之中，那麼您便需要反問自己現在的公司是否一個適合您繼續待下去的地方。…