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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Search result for "rejection"

How to write a cover letter (Part 1)
Workplace English

How to write a cover letter (Part 1)

Applying for a job can be a daunting task. There is so much to do — finding the right role to apply for, updating your CV, going to an interview — all of these are important steps that must be done well. Writing a cover letter can therefore sometimes seem less important when faced with other important tasks. But a good covering letter can make the difference between rejection and progressing to an interview. Let’s look at how to tackle this all-important piece of work. What is the purpose of a cover letter?

Leadership Skills for Women
Career Coaching & Guidance

Leadership Skills for Women

Many women feel they have to work twice as hard to be thought of as half as qualified as men in the workplace. Over time, there have been slight increases in the number of female world leaders and top executives, but things are far from equal. The good news is that many women have innate strengths and leadership qualities that make them just as, or some even more successful leaders than their male counterparts.

Why Failure is the Secret to Success
Advice Columnist

Why Failure is the Secret to Success

You’ve heard it a hundred times in sports and business: you have to fail in order to succeed. Sure, everyone knows someone who is very successful …….

A Step-By-Step guide to getting hired
Job Search in Hong Kong

A Step-By-Step guide to getting hired

Finding employment has been especially tough for a handful of years now. Already a nerve-wracking situation, the job search has become a paralysing experience for many and can even leave you feeling dejected and without hope. Never fear, this step-by-step guide to getting hired will ease your worries and set you in a solid direction for success.  Step 1

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.

Experience sharing on career building!
Advice Columnist

Experience sharing on career building!

Ir Alicia An is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong and joined the HKIE in September 2014. Living and working in the Asia’s most cosmopolitan city, Hong Kong, as a female professional engineer, Korean expat, and teacher, Alicia is striving for balance in career life. This is about experience sharing on career building as an environmental engineer.