I am 22 and recently completed a Master’s in Computer Science from the University of Northumbria in the UK. Before that I worked as an IT administrator in Hong Kong for two years. I’m looking for junior system administrator/engineer, IT specialist or Java/Android programmer jobs and I have already applied for many which require English only. However in the past month my CV has only been requested 20 times. Can you please shed some light on what I’m doing wrong and how I can land a job here? Milan
Firstly, you need to be conscious that while Cantonese is not often a requirement for junior-level IT roles in Hong Kong, employers sometimes prefer to hire Cantonese speakers.
I suggest you remain very flexible salary-wise and target entry-level roles with good career growth, as experience is more important than pay at this stage.
HR professionals get inundated with CVs from jobseekers and unless your CV catches their eye quickly, it is unlikely that they will get back to you. I cannot comment on your CV, but you could ask your peers, as well as other recruitment professionals, for their thoughts.
It typically takes jobseekers between one and three months, depending on their background and time of year, to secure a role. It takes time to find the right position in Hong Kong. If you have good Java programming skills then you have skills that are in demand.
I suggest that you stay focused and build on your current proactive activity by attending IT seminars, IT networking events and career fairs, as well as utilise recruitment websites to maximise your chances.
Christopher Aukland is regional director of Michael Page and Page Personnel in Hong Kong. Michael Page and Page Personnel are part of PageGroup, one of the world’s leading recruitment companies, with operations in 164 offices in 34 countries worldwide.
