Career advice
Curated writing from operators, recruiters, and HR leaders — written for people building real careers in HK.
I recently witnessed two senior candidates interviewing for a China CEO role. Both candidates had great track records and talent – but only one was able to stand out as a leader. The unsuccessful candidate – let’s call him Mr Manager – had plenty of experience in government relations, a key requirement for the job. He had even managed a major government relations crisis for a multinational in China, with noted success.
Most social networking sites share a common goal of connecting or reconnecting people through the internet. At some point in their history, each has built a credible following of members. It is this member base that attracts the attention of businesses wishing to identify, connect and engage with it, and eventually to sell products and services to it.
Is your stiff neck and shoulders disturbing your daily routine? Do you sometimes find the tightness unbearable and affecting other parts of the body?
Established in 1984, The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) is the only surveying professional body incorporated by ordinance in Hong Kong. As of 1 August 2014, the number of members reached 8927, of which 6049 were corporate members, 66 were associate members and 2812 were probationers and students. HKIS work includes setting standards for professional services and performance, establishing codes of ethics, determining requirements for admission as professional surveyors, and encouraging members to upgrade skills through continuing professional development.
If you’re feeling stuck in a rut at work or think that your career is not progressing at the pace you would like it to, it’s time to ask your employer about the opportunities available within the business to “stretch” or develop your skills through hands-on involvement in projects or tasks.
For many Hong Kong engineers who finished secondary school in the 1970s, choosing a career path was straightforward. Having picked the science stream in secondary school, aspiring youngsters who did not like their chemistry or biology as much as their maths and physics would choose engineering rather than the medical sciences in university. Ir Victor Cheung, however, did not have that choice. Growing up the son of a cook, he seemed destined for a life in a commercial kitchen too – until two mentors stepped in.
In a recent article by Business Insider, it told a story that a large, successful enterprise startup tried to poach a “programmer” currently working at Google. The startup made the programmer what it thought was a big offer: a $500,000 salary but the programmer told the startup thanks, but Google was currently paying him $3 million per year in cash and restricted stock units.
Last week when I was in Singapore, I met up with a versatile and resourceful engineer and what impressed me the most was the productivity of their team. Just the two of them, they were able to come up with over 20 apps one year and those were not “make a fart” or “throw the dart” type of app but apps commissioned by big brands with complexity and server handling.
The HKIE consists of the following classes of membership: Classes of Membership Description Fellow (FHKIE) Fellow is the highest grade of membership available for application. A Fellow should have obtained a position of considerable technical and/or administrative responsibility for sufficient duration in meeting the respective requirements. Member (MHKIE) A Member is a fully qualified engineer, who is competent to discharge duties at professional level.
做老板是不少人的心願。工作了若干年頭後，有很多人都希望一嘗創業；也有初出茅廬者拿著資金搞生意，一展抱負。創業是高深的學問，相信沒有甚麼必勝定律，因為一門成功的生意本來就要靠天時、地利及人和的完美配合，缺一不可。 路直路彎又一關有關創業的故事多不勝數，有可歌可泣的情節，也有值得學習的道理。創業一定會一鳴天下響嗎？百人當中或有幾人能一炮而紅，但在大多數情況下，創業也是意志與毅力的試煉。看準時機、定好方向及備妥資源，然後全力出擊，這是邁出創業第一步的四大步驟。然而更精彩的情節還未出現，好戲在後頭！ 創業與打工的最大分別是自負營虧，盈虧成敗全在自己手裡。這可以說是自由，也可以說是冒險，像滑浪一樣經歷高低起跌。逐漸更會發覺自己既是老板也是「大打雜」，以往由下屬和助手代勞的工作，現要有可能要自己「一腳踢」。高高低低，路直路彎，霎眼間又過一關。當自己順利過渡了難關或克服了障礙，當中的滿足感與成功感亦不言而喻。 強化 ‘3Q’創業者縱有運氣眷顧或千萬家財作後盾，更重要是時常保持正面的心態，才有突破險阻、承先啟後及繼往開來的能力和勇氣。‘3Q’ 必須齊備 ── 包括處理問題的知識、智慧和分析能力 ( IQ )、控制情緒以克服困難的能耐 ( EQ )，以及在逆境中堅守信念及絕對反擊的鋼鐵心志 ( AQ )。
Jobseekers with Cantonese, English and Mandarin language skills are at a distinct advantage in the growing Hong Kong economy.
I recently attended the Echelon Tech Conference 2014 held in Singapore. It is the largest gathering of investors, venture capitalists, private equity funds, incubators and creative entrepreneurs from all over Asia who are passionate about creating and discovering the next generation of disruptive businesses that will change the status quo of business models. The event attracted big guns including representatives from Google, Twitter and AirBnB. Eduardo Saverin, one of the original five co-founders of Facebook, was spotted scouting around the show.