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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Special skills
Advice Columnist

Special skills

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.

Special offers
Advice Columnist

Special offers

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.

Changing rules, changing roles
Advice Columnist

Changing rules, changing roles

Another example of a CPA who has benefited from specializing is Brenda Tung at RSM Nelson Wheeler and an Institute member, who found the right specialism for her during a three-month secondment to the firm’s risk advisory services department.  “Now I have great satisfaction in being able to convince clients to accept our recommendations to enhance their internal control procedures,” says Tung, who joined from the firm’s technical department in 2010. Such procedures, she adds, help client companies satisfy listing requirements in Hong Kong.

Right place, right words
Advice Columnist

Right place, right words

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.”

Cocoon to social butterfly
Advice Columnist

Cocoon to social butterfly

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.”

專訪：梁家棟博士測量師
Advice Columnist

專訪：梁家棟博士測量師

今次的訪問，筆者很有興趣去了解作為測量師在 “打工”和 “創業” 的最大分別和要求，兩代的 “老板” 梁家棟博士 (Tony) 及其兒子梁傲文 (Martin) 正好給我們一些寶貴的參考。雖然 Tony 是本屆 PDD 的主席，但他以往四十年的工作經驗也參與了不少 GPD 及 PFMD 的工種項目。從七十年代由銀行到政府地政署，再經過多間華資及英資的發展商的練歷，到九十年代建立自己的公司以至千禧後發展國內的大市場，全因不怕競爭、樂於挑戰的性格，加上投入認真的態度，令 Tony 現在樂此不疲，仍然很喜歡這種緊密的生活及多元的社交事途。當中於八十年代香港經濟起飛，私人市場相對吸引的工資是第一個轉捩誘因；某程度上是一種工作時間和薪酬的等價交換。其後累積了十多廿年的實戰經驗而漸漸成為一種珍貴的個人資產，則是決定 “跳出去” 的關鍵；這個是另一種自由度與舒適度的取捨，收入穩定與滿足感的平衡決擇。誠然，運氣、勤奮和人際相處技巧缺一不可，我相信 “打工” 和 “創業” 亦然！

面試求職者有感
Advice Columnist

面試求職者有感

筆者雖然並非專門從事HR工作，但近幾年在會計師樓負責過自己部門內的數十次的招聘面試，由fresh graduates到experienced hires都有。所以可在此分享一些與求職者會面的經驗。 通常來面試的Junior人數比較多，而且CV的內容都大同小異，多半是剛畢業的學業成績記錄及其相關的課外活動或兼職工作經驗，要在芸芸大海之中找到一個突出的求職者面試其實已經很難。 與這些求職者會面，一般所花的時間都比較長，包括小組面試及個人面試，「第一感覺」的比重也相當高。比較起來，熱誠的工作態度及靈活的處事方式比起Transcript 上會計科成績攞A+更加重要。因為這類的同事，會事事積極進取，在忙碌的工作中也能保持著穩定的情緒面對挑戰。 至於experienced hires，在筆者而言，對工作熱誠仍然是必不可少的。其次看重的是有否具備行業的觸覺及領導才能。行業觸覺是行業知識的更高層次水平，有行業知識，才能建立行業觸覺。即使面對從未遇過的情況(顧問工作時有發生)，仍能以既有的知識和獨立的判斷力去解決問題。另外，我們的工作都是按項目形式分小組並需於短期內完成，是否具有領導才能及相關經驗(例如管理過多少同事)亦是關鍵所在。適當地分配工作及知人善任，做事才會更有效率。

Perils of the panel
Career Coaching & Guidance

Perils of the panel

Take a deep breath, collect your thoughts and stay clam, writes Marc Burrage.

Advice for advisers
Career Coaching & Guidance

Advice for advisers

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.

Don’t make hash of it
Career Coaching & Guidance

Don’t make hash of it

If you are feeling frustrated or bored at work, the last thing you should do is vent your feelings on social media, writes Marc Burrage.

Tell your story well
Career Coaching & Guidance

Tell your story well

When preparing for an interview, most people go over education, work achievements, projects they have run, successes they have had, and challenges they have faced and overcome, writes Nick Wheatley.

Top tips for success
Career Coaching & Guidance

Top tips for success

If you feel your current role holds few prospects for promotion, rather than just waiting for something to happen, take ownership of your personal development to fast track your career, writes Marc Burrage.