IT jobs in HK for english speaker
Jun 1st 2012, 4:06 am
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2
IT jobs in HK with only English language skills
Hi everyone,
I'm new to the forum and was hoping someone could provide some assistance or their experiences of looking for IT work in Hong Kong.
My wife and I are planning to move to HK early next year. She is from HK and I am a british citizen, so will be there as her partner/spouse.
I am an experienced IT desktop support analyst. I wanted to know, is it possible to find work over there when you have no cantonese or mandarin skills?
Are there employers who are ok with you only being able to communicate in English?
I've been on the job sites and most relevant positions require cantonese or mandarin as mandatory. i'm just worried that I wont be able to find work.
Has anyone else gone through the process of finding IT work when only being able to speak English?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks.
I'm new to the forum and was hoping someone could provide some assistance or their experiences of looking for IT work in Hong Kong.
My wife and I are planning to move to HK early next year. She is from HK and I am a british citizen, so will be there as her partner/spouse.
I am an experienced IT desktop support analyst. I wanted to know, is it possible to find work over there when you have no cantonese or mandarin skills?
Are there employers who are ok with you only being able to communicate in English?
I've been on the job sites and most relevant positions require cantonese or mandarin as mandatory. i'm just worried that I wont be able to find work.
Has anyone else gone through the process of finding IT work when only being able to speak English?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks.
Last edited by rishic; Jun 1st 2012 at 5:44 am.
Jun 4th 2012, 1:52 am
#2
MODERATOR
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Hong Kong, mostly.
Posts: 5,214
Re: IT jobs in HK for english speaker
Most of the English-speaking IT guys I know seem to be concentrated in finance-related tech support, so some experience with enterprise level systems would really help.
If your wife is sorting your visa then you could also look at doing some independent work. There is always a market for English-speaking tech support (think like the 'Geek Squad' service in the USA) where individuals and smaller companies hire you on as a consultant to set up a new system, or reconfigure their existing setup. A number of IT expats also dive into startups or doing some app development projects.
When you get here check out the http://www.startupshk.com/ community. They have meet ups most Monday nights for folks in the IT community and you can make some quick connections. Many of them have 'day jobs' at big banks and whatnot but are looking at side projects that are more interesting.
If your wife is sorting your visa then you could also look at doing some independent work. There is always a market for English-speaking tech support (think like the 'Geek Squad' service in the USA) where individuals and smaller companies hire you on as a consultant to set up a new system, or reconfigure their existing setup. A number of IT expats also dive into startups or doing some app development projects.
When you get here check out the http://www.startupshk.com/ community. They have meet ups most Monday nights for folks in the IT community and you can make some quick connections. Many of them have 'day jobs' at big banks and whatnot but are looking at side projects that are more interesting.
Jun 4th 2012, 6:51 am
#3
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2
Re: IT jobs in HK for english speaker
Thanks for the info penguinsix. Fortunately I have several years experience in supporting IT environments at finance/accounting consulting firms, so hopefully that can be a benefit in finding work.
Are the IT guys you know, only able to speak English? If so, do they struggle with not being able to speak in Cantonese at work? Or is English the main language when working at western financial firms?
Thanks.
Are the IT guys you know, only able to speak English? If so, do they struggle with not being able to speak in Cantonese at work? Or is English the main language when working at western financial firms?
Thanks.
Jun 5th 2012, 2:02 am
#4
MODERATOR
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Hong Kong, mostly.
Posts: 5,214
Re: IT jobs in HK for english speaker
It depends on where you are in the support chain. If you are the "I.T. Crowd" answering queries from the secretaries every time MSWord shuts down, well then yea, Cantonese is really helpful, probably essential in some places.
If you are deeper inside the system interacting more with the servers than people, then you'll find English is used quite a bit more in many places. I think a couple of the guys I know in one 'top 5' investment house are all from other places--Russia, Israel, Japan, US, UK, etc. English is basically the common language for them working on the deep back-end systems. This is more finance-related systems, including some high frequency trading desks and algorithmic trading setups.
If you are deeper inside the system interacting more with the servers than people, then you'll find English is used quite a bit more in many places. I think a couple of the guys I know in one 'top 5' investment house are all from other places--Russia, Israel, Japan, US, UK, etc. English is basically the common language for them working on the deep back-end systems. This is more finance-related systems, including some high frequency trading desks and algorithmic trading setups.
