Career advice
Curated writing from operators, recruiters, and HR leaders — written for people building real careers in HK.
Many mountain climbers visiting high altitudes for the first time would be eager to know more about their Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) susceptibility in advance. Although various tests like VO2 Max, SO2 at simulated altitude are derived, the correlations are weak and are not good predictors for AMS vulnerability.
People sometimes confuse being active on social media like Facebook as being digitally savvy. The reality is that while social media experience helps digital marketers to be better at their job, digital marketing itself is far more complex with social media being but one component in the digital mix. The digital media marketing mix comprises of display and video, search engine optimization, pay per click, social media, content management, website design and development, affiliate marketing, online reputation management, conversion rate optimization, email marketing, etc.
今日是我的專欄第一日面世，我將會於專欄裡面分享關於社交媒體的心得、經驗和八卦瑣碎事，希望有內容之餘亦有血、有淚、有歡樂，也希望大家喜歡。 前幾天與某ICT 公司高層朋友喝咖啡敍舊，我們談天說地，吐吐苦水，傾談一下現在的市場狀況、員工流失、成本上漲、市場擴大、競爭和工作量都隨之增加等，有喜有憂。最後，他問我，六年前為何會自己創業做Social Media。 回想六年前，從工作了十多年的媒體行業，跳出來做數碼營銷，主攻社交媒體及新媒體。當時的同事、媒體工作者朋友或前輩對新媒體的認知還是相當有限。創業初期向他們解釋公司的服務及理念的時候也有一定難度，十之八九了解之後還是一頭霧水。 媒體工作者談及新媒體至今已有十年八年，但他們口中的新媒體是在新平台瀏覽傳統內容，例如網站、手機等。社交媒體對他們來說，根本不是一個媒體。 偏偏大家每日都在社交媒體平台上流連忘返，用戶有增無減，客源定當有一定的數量。當時，這門生意的概念仍然非常新，一般的製作公司不會做、傳統的媒體又不想觸及這個「網民至上」的地方。 如此龐大的市場，那時候又沒有太多人在做，為何不放膽一試？就這樣，我和我的拍檔就膽粗粗地創業了！下星期我們再談談如何開始這個工作。
Have you ever noticed how many hours you have spent on staring at computer monitor or phone? I am sure it is part of your daily life, and the more you stare at the monitors, the more you are straining your eyes.
Knowing why you weren’t chosen is vital for future interviews, writes Nick Wheatley.
Switching roles to find your specialism needn’t always be complicated, suggests Galaxy Chan, a partner at KPMG China and a member of the Hong Kong Institute of CPAs, citing her own smooth transition. Some firms, such as KPMG, provide employees opportunities for short-term internal transfers if there are vacancies. “If you are unsure that you want to make a permanent commitment in your department or want to try a different one, the human resources team can arrange a short-term secondment,” says Chan. “After that, you can always go back to your [original] department.”
Meanwhile, the growing popularity of forensic accounting is ascribed to the development of anti-fraud and anti-bribery legislation around the world, imposing more responsibilities on business owners. Few CPAs in Hong Kong are specialized in this area, but many Institute members believe that the demand for forensic accountants is stronger than ever. “This industry is really going,” says Alick Fong, manager of corporate recovery and forensic services at Mazars and an Institute member.
Compared with a decade ago, the career paths offered by accounting firms are wider and more varied. Here are some of today’s most popular accounting specializations in Hong Kong. Corporate finance These specialists not only inhabit the glamorous world of initial public offerings and other fundraising measures, they also have acquired grassroots knowledge of valuation and credit analysis. The right specialist is a person with initiative and a knack for problem solving.
Extroverts obviously find it easier to work a room, but their more reserved colleagues need not necessarily be out of the game. Successful networkers agree that the essential skills can be learned. “I wouldn’t suggest to anybody that the cocktail party is the best place to build deep relationships,” says Keith Pogson, a managing partner at Ernst & Young and past president of the Institute. “You also need to get involved in sitting on committees or bodies and meeting the people in the room. They will then help you meet other people as well.”
Introverted accountants can take comfort in knowing that often the first step of getting out there is the hardest part – and everything else usually follows naturally. “Networking is great for people who are not so confident,” says Kenneth Wong, PricewaterhouseCoopers partner. “I was one of those when I started my career. It helps you grow. You just need to get into it.”
Take a deep breath, collect your thoughts and stay clam, writes Marc Burrage.
With a view to expanding their reach in APAC and increasing the number of skilled staff in order to stimulate growth, global management consultancies are in hiring mode, writes Katharine de Vaal.