Country and applications

I am a British citizen, have just finished my studies in England, I was born and grew up here, and live there now.

I am going to be applying for grad IBD programmes in Hong Kong. I am also a HK citizen so can live / work there, and previously lived there for a few years. I speak Cantonese with probably 80% fluency.

On the application form I can put down addresses in both England and HK. I am currently in HK.

So my question is, how should I be approaching the applications for the best chance of an offer? - Foreigner looking for HK job - Local looking for a local job - Foreign educated local looking for a local job

It might seem irrelevant, however, I see (at least) two issues: - Practicalities: maybe they are less keen on flying a foreigner over to assess (even though I am in HK now, if I put UK down that's what they will think) - Recruitment: they may be more impressed / interested with a foreigner (people may not agree, but it is likely the case, and I will play to it) - Compensation: there may be differences in terms of who you are on the application (flights, relocation benefits etc.)

Any thoughts? Thanks very much in advance,

4 Comments
 

Whats the difference between "local looking for a local job" and "foreign educated local looking for a local job?"

I say go for foreign educated local, and please, this is not the 1950s, they wont be more impressed/ interested with you just becuz you're a foreigner. In fact, i think you might be slightly disadvantaged, given that you are only alright with cantonese (Mandarin is important too).

 
Best Response

I'm not naive in my views, nor am I making any judgement - I am just stating what I have noticed.

For example, if you look at a lot of the recruiting websites that the banks put up, there is a real emphasis on attracting Western educated grads. It's not as if HK is lacking in talented and smart graduates, so why would a major bank have a dedicated site to attract foreigners? The grad recruitment websites for London hardly have separate appeals for Asian grads. I assume that there is some extra leverage for a foreign grad applying to HK.

Regardless, I agree with your local/language point. I am guessing that a local applying would be expected to have native Canto + bonus Mandarin, whereas a foreigner is expected to have native English + bonus Cantonese. But then I don't know what the preferences are with HK recruitment. This is what I am asking! Thanks.

 
ggkwRegardless, I agree with your local/language point. I am guessing that a local applying would be expected to have native Canto + bonus Mandarin, whereas a foreigner is expected to have native English + bonus Cantonese. But then I don't know what the preferences are with HK recruitment. This is what I am asking! Thanks.
Actually, are you Cantonese? Then even if you were born in England and educated there, people kind of expect you to be able to speak fluent Cantonese (simply based on looks/race/name).

But I'm wondering, you said you've just finished your studies? Why didn't you apply last year?

 

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