Career advice
Curated writing from operators, recruiters, and HR leaders — written for people building real careers in HK.
Securing a job interview is just the first step in presenting yourself to a potential employer. Candidates are now expected to go through many interviews……
An employee with a degree and a great personality fit is more likely to excel compared to an employee with the same degree but with a bad personality fit……
It’s 5am and my first meeting of the day begins. In my profession, I meet some of the most influential professionals in Hong Kong……
Once upon a time, writing a strong cover letter was essential to a successful job application……
Attending a job interview is a stressful and nerve-racking experience for most people……
Anyone who has applied for a job over the past few years will have noticed an increase in the number of interviews they have to attend. The general consensus from a number of surveys is that the average length of the interview process has risen from 13 days in 2009 to 23 days in 2013.
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.
While your technical skills and experience are important in getting a foot in the door when looking for a new job, it…
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.
Moving up the career ladder and progressing to “management” is a common professional goal. The change in title, status and salary are obvious upsides, but with this shift comes a new set of responsibilities, many of which lurk beneath the surface. From the outside looking in, management can often seem easy. As an employee, it is easy to see a leader’s faults and overlook the value that they bring. Becoming a manager yourself often brings some shocking realisations.
Data analytics seems to be the talk of the town. Whether it’s helping identify business opportunities or protecting companies from cyber attacks, demand for IT professionals with these skills is set to continue. But to succeed in this highly competitive field you’ll, need more than just technical skills. You’ll also need the human touch.
If you’re a senior manager with aspirations to lead a company, you’d do well to look beyond the bounds of your…