Baptiste Arfeuillère had never job hunted before. He spoke "very little Mandarin" and "no Cantonese at all." Yet in 4 months, he went from unemployed in Paris to FP&A Manager at one of Hong Kong's most prestigious luxury brands.

Here's exactly how he did it—and the specific tactics you can copy.

Baptiste's Background: From Deloitte Paris to Hong Kong Dreams

"I had 4 years of experience at Deloitte in Audit in Paris right after my studies—it was my first permanent job experience. During my studies, I did internships in France, Belgium, and Denmark."

Baptiste's motivation was clear: "I wanted to develop my career with an international component, particularly in Asia. Hong Kong is a beautiful gateway to Asia, with a significant number of expatriates, which allows for easier integration."

Why Hong Kong made sense: It offered the perfect balance of Asian opportunity with expat-friendly infrastructure—ideal for someone ready to take their career international.

First months

Commit to your Asian Experience

Baptiste treated his job search like a lifestyle choice, not a desperate sprint. He actually went traveling for a month in the middle of his search. Taking time to travel made him more attractive to employers. It showed he was genuinely committed to Asia, not just desperate for any job.

"About 4 months total, but I also used this time to travel across Asia for about a month. During travel, I only maintained existing leads but didn't start new ones."

Your timeline strategy:

Learn to Eat Like a Hong Konger

"I saved in France to afford several months without working in Hong Kong. You must avoid the 'traps' for expats—all the imported European products like cheese, yogurt, chocolate... and learn to eat like a Hong Konger."

By eating locally, Baptiste naturally integrated into Hong Kong society and found unexpected networking opportunities through shared food experiences.

Your financial survival plan:

• Calculate 4-6 months of Hong Kong living expenses and save this amount before departure
• Use food as a cultural bridge—ask colleagues for restaurant recommendations
• Track your monthly food budget to see the dramatic savings from local eating

Network and Sustain your relations

"If I had to restart my job search in Hong Kong, what would I do differently? Meet more people from the beginning."

Baptiste's networking evolution was crucial to his success. He learned the hard way that relationships matter more in Hong Kong than anywhere else.

“ We formed a group of people looking for job and we met regularly to give each other advice and motivate each other.”

“Networking is super important and I wasn't used to it at all, so I had to register for events and participate by forcing myself a little to meet new people, give business cards, etc...[…]“Don't hesitate to meet people even if they don't have offers yet and always stay active with a rhythm similar to that of work”

Your networking evolution:

Create your CV

Baptiste's CV transformation was strategic and specific to Hong Kong's expectations.

His CV upgrades:

• Added language skills (even basic Mandarin)
• Included an introduction explaining his Hong Kong motivation
• Highlighted visa status upfront
• Adapted to Hong Kong standards

Your CV adaptation:

Finding his job

The Foreign Company Strategy: "That's What Worked Best"

"My opportunities without Chinese were with French companies, and that's what worked best."

Baptiste didn't waste time learning Cantonese or pretending to be someone he wasn't. Instead, he laser-focused on French companies with Hong Kong operations.

"I started by meeting people recommended by my former employers, then I applied directly to job offers on several platforms (LinkedIn, Jobs DB, etc...) that specifically matched my search. Then I contacted HR, headhunters or the financial management of a company to meet them and find out if they have off-market opportunities.”

His target sectors:

• Finance: "Finance, Luxe, Construction" - the three sectors most open to French candidates
• Luxury brands: Where French heritage actually adds value
• Construction: French engineering reputation opens doors

Why this worked: Foreign companies needed someone who could bridge their European / American operations with Asian markets. Baptiste's native French became his biggest asset, not a limitation.

Your action steps:

Research the market rate

"I didn't negotiate the salary—the one offered suited me."

When APM Monaco made their offer, Baptiste accepted immediately. No back-and-forth, no haggling, no delay. He'd done his research upfront and knew the market rate. When the offer met his expectations, he said yes.

Your negotiation framework:

The work culture

Diversity and Adaptation

"What aspect of working in Hong Kong do you appreciate most now that you're established there? Diversity of culture at work mainly."

Baptiste found that Hong Kong's multicultural work environment was one of the biggest advantages of his move. Working in Hong Kong expose him to diverse perspectives and working styles that enhance his professional development.

Communication Style

"Getting messages across to be done a certain way isn't the same as in France. I felt like people took my instructions badly—not easy to guide them until we've proven ourselves."

Baptiste's biggest surprise wasn't the language barrier—it was the communication style. His French directness crashed headfirst into Hong Kong's relationship-first culture. In Hong Kong, your job title doesn't automatically give you authority. You have to earn credibility through performance first.

"At first I thought I could just apply and use what I learned in France, then I learned that you had to approach people differently, that it could take time, etc..."

His adaptation process: Baptiste learned to soften his approach, invest in relationships before delegating, and demonstrate competence through small wins before taking on larger leadership roles.

Your communication upgrade:

Key Takeaways

• Target companies from your home country instead of fighting language barriers - Baptiste focused exclusively on French companies and landed at APM Monaco without speaking Chinese
• Save 4-6 months of expenses and live like a local - Baptiste avoided expat spending traps by eating Hong Kong food, which also helped him integrate culturally
• Build a job search support group - "We formed a group of people looking for work and we met regularly to give each other advice and motivate each other"
• Adapt your communication style, not just your CV - Baptiste learned that relationship-building comes before authority in Hong Kong's work culture
• Network authentically at dedicated events - "Networking events specifically organized for networking work best because the barrier to approaching others is easily removed"

Focus on companies that value what you already bring, not what you lack.

Start researching companies from your home country with Hong Kong operations. Your authenticity and cultural bridge value might be exactly what they need.