Language requirements for Hong Kong investment banking
Is it possible to work as an investment banker in Hong Kong while knowing how to speak only English and no other languages?
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Of course it is possible. You will just be at a disadvantage.
yes hhh, I ofen hear them to speak English.
Think about where most HK IBD deals are coming from. Straight from mainland.
If you think mainlanders want to do deals while speaking english you’re in for a massive surprise. From what i’ve seen it’s not even about speaking mandarin, you pretty much have to be a born & bred local mainlander.
Can’t confirm but i hear stories of SA IBD classes being 70-80% mainlanders
A lot of job postings (not just in finance but in general) now specify English & Mandarin as a language requirement, but the local language is cantonese, it’s such a tragedy to see the average HKer getting shafted like this 😭😭
Mandarin will be a minimum for junior roles. Will be different if internal transfer
Mandarin will be a minimum for junior roles. Will be different if internal transfer
Yes. Tough, but done many times across several firms. Really depends on your caliber, and specific regional/sector coverage that you are interviewing for. More likely for someone who already has IB (or relevant transaction experience) than an entry-level analyst.
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