Citigroup@Hongkong or Microsoft@Beijing?

From you point of view, which company can provide a better career/life in the long run. corporate finance job @Microsoft Beijing or financial analysis job @Citigroup Hongkong?

Which one has better pay growth/promotion opportunities?

Which one has better exit opportunities?

Any commend will be appreciated, Thanks!

 
Best Response

Hong Kong is, in my view, a vastly superior place to live compared to Beijing. HK is extremely modern, clean, and transportation is very convenient. Nightlife is outstanding. True, the cost of living in Beijing is much cheaper than HK, but the difference is definitely not worth it.

I can't give a detailed answer with regards to pay/promotion/exit opportunities- but living in HK is absolutely > living in Beijing. Especially if you are not from Asia, adjusting to life in HK is much easier than living in Beijing. HK has a huge expatriate community, lots of guys from the U.S., U.K., Australia/Canada/etc.

And, Citi is great in HK.

 

To be honest, although I can make up a lot of stories during interviews, I actually do not know what I want to do in the future. Maybe making some decent money to support a family is the only thing I have figured out so far. That is why I ask which one has better pay growth/promotion opportunities.

Now Citigroup Hongkong's job offer pays less than Microsoft Beijing'. But normally I guess banking has better pay growth/promotion opportunities, such as bonus or sth? But people also say Citi is famous for being cheap, and from my experience, Microsoft is really generous, at least when they extend an offer.

I understand the two jobs are so different. Basically my dilemma is a bad company in my favorite industry (tons of people on this board said Citi is a no-caring, low pay, bad culture bank), and a good company in an industry I have no idea of.

Any suggestions or thoughts to share? Thanks

By the way , is it easy to transfer from Citi Hongkong office to US or Canada after working for a few years there?

 

I'm currently in Beijing. Next week, I'll be in HK. I've been in Asia (traveling between Beijing and HK) since February.

I prefer Hong Kong over Beijing for numerous reasons.

  • HK is a modern city. Beijing is not. Beijing's toilets are the same as they were 15 years ago when I first visited.
  • People in Beijing spit.
  • Beijing is massive. Their metro system isn't set up well compared to HK and taxi drivers are often unfamiliar with the places you want to go so you end up giving them directions.
  • Dust storms in Beijing suck.

Overall, it depends on your job prospects. HK is not the place to live if you make anywhere near the average salary.

- V
 

it is a rotational middle/back office job, will rotate among strategy, business development, planning/ analysis, treasury, accounting and financial reporting/control functions.so not sure which specific position will be. thanks

 

Thanks Viktri.

you mentioned "HK is not the place to live if you make anywhere near the average salary."

what is the range of average salary for associate level in Hong Kong?

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