Breaking into Hong Kong's job market as an international candidate can feel like navigating a maze blindfolded. But what if you had someone on the inside showing you the way? Paris Herard, a headhunter specializing in data, AI, and tech roles with over 10 years of experience, shares the unfiltered truth about landing a job in Hong Kong.
Paris made the leap himself six years ago, moving from Dublin to Hong Kong in August 2019—just before the COVID. His journey as a successful headhunter gives him a unique perspective on both sides of the recruitment table.
And we are lucky to have his tips today in Fast Track!
The Hong Kong Difference
If you're coming from Europe or North America, prepare for a culture shock—not just socially, but professionally.
The Application Black Hole
In Europe, when you apply for a job, HR typically takes time to call you, understand your motivations, and assess if you're a good fit. In Hong Kong? It's a different story.
"HR departments here work with a checklist," Paris explains. "If you don't match exactly what the hiring manager requested, they won't even call you. Everyone has a job, everyone's busy, so they don't spend time on applications that don't perfectly match their requirements."
This means posting on JobsDB alone likely won't get you far. The platform gets flooded with applications from both local and international candidates, and your CV might never reach human eyes.
The Ghosting Culture
Here's something else to prepare for: Hong Kong has what Paris calls a "ghosting culture." You might go through first and second interviews, feel like things are going well, and then... silence.
"If a candidate hasn't heard back after two to three weeks, it generally means HR has moved forward with another candidate," Paris says matter-of-factly. "Unfortunately, they don't give reasons, even when candidates are represented by recruiters."
Don't take it personally—it's just how things work here. The key is having multiple opportunities in your pipeline so one rejection doesn't derail your entire job search.
Your Secret Weapon: Reputation and Network
In Western countries, your CV and LinkedIn profile might be enough. In Hong Kong, reputation is everything.
"Hong Kong is a city where reputation is extremely important," Paris emphasizes. "Much more so than in Western countries. Information travels fast here, and that information is shared with people when there's trust."
How to Build Your Network (The Right Way)
1. Start with Industry Events
Paris recommends targeting industry-specific events where you'll meet senior professionals. Take Hong Kong FinTech Week, for example—it's one of the biggest events where people from banking, insurance, and technology gather for business meetings and networking.
"There are specialized events in insurance, banking, and technology where people come together throughout the year," Paris notes. "I think you need to be well surrounded—it's not necessarily easy to go alone."
2. Adopt a Commercial Mindset
This might sound harsh, but you need to think strategically about networking in Hong Kong.
"People here want to exchange, but they're also very busy," Paris warns. "You need to quickly identify if someone can bring value, if it makes sense. If I'm in a very corporate environment and the person is in a very artistic field, yes, we might become friends on a human level, but not necessarily professionally—even though everyone is connected at one or two levels."
The key? Don't approach networking like you're desperately job hunting. "If someone comes with an 'I'm unemployed' approach and a too-aggressive job search methodology, it doesn't work well," Paris advises.
3. Master the Follow-Up
After meeting someone at an event, don't let the connection die. Send a LinkedIn message or email saying you enjoyed meeting them and suggest grabbing coffee in the next few months.
"People here are very willing to take coffee meetings and exchange very easily," Paris says. "Everything is more or less close by—15 to 20 minutes and you can reach many places in Hong Kong, so there's a prominence of face-to-face and building relationships with people in the industry."
The Visa Question (And Why It Matters)
Here's a hard truth: HR departments will ask about your visa status immediately, often in the first conversation. It's not just curiosity—it's a gatekeeper question.
"For compliance reasons, it's legal to ask about visa status in Hong Kong," Paris explains. "The conversation is very direct. You need to have clear answers about when you can start and what your visa situation is."
If you're applying from abroad without a visa, your chances drop significantly. This is where having a direct connection with the hiring manager (bypassing HR) can make all the difference.
Coming to Hong Kong: The Face-to-Face Advantage
Paris did something smart when he was job hunting: he flew to Hong Kong for final interviews.
"Most of my interviews were remote, but for final interviews, I came onsite," he recalls. "I wanted to see if I really liked living there since I was coming alone—no partner, no parents, nothing."
Those five days in Hong Kong sealed the deal. While remote work has changed things since COVID, being physically present still carries weight, especially for final-stage interviews.
Pro tip from Paris: If you're serious about moving to Hong Kong and can afford it, come for a week. Attend networking events, schedule coffee meetings with recruiters, and show up for final interviews in person. It demonstrates commitment that video calls simply can't match.
The Reality Check: Skills and Languages
Not every international profile that shines in Europe will have the same success in Hong Kong. Here's what you need to know:
Financial Services Dominate
"Hong Kong and Singapore have a strong concentration of multinationals," Paris notes. "If someone comes from a very small French or European company that doesn't have a prestigious name, I think it's more complicated to make a name for yourself in Hong Kong."
Companies here want candidates who can drive regional or global projects worth millions—not just local initiatives.
The Language Situation
Before COVID, being an English-only speaker was more acceptable. Things have shifted.
"If I had to give a stat on my jobs, 70-80% of my clients want Cantonese and Mandarin speakers," Paris admits. "It's not necessarily about wanting to be local—it's because hiring managers want candidates who can drive tech projects but also exchange with different business units. Even on international projects, they want people who can communicate with operations teams based in Hong Kong."
This doesn't mean English-only speakers can't find jobs—there are still companies open to international profiles. But you need to be strategic about which companies you target.
Paris's LinkedIn trick: Before applying to a company, check their employees on LinkedIn. If 98% of profiles are local Cantonese or Mandarin speakers, your chances as an English-only candidate are slim. Focus your energy on companies with more international teams.
Working with Recruiters (The Inside Scoop)
Not all recruiters are created equal, and Hong Kong has had a reputation for low barriers to entry in the recruitment industry.
"Hong Kong used to have a very low level of recruitment—transactional, with everyone able to become a recruiter because there was money to be made," Paris explains. "It was quite complicated to understand who does what and who might be specialized."
His advice? Work with recruiters who have established a reputation over time—people who post regularly on social media, create credibility in the market, and specialize in specific niches.
"After 3, 4, 5, 6 months in Hong Kong, you establish very quickly who has a bit of reputation," Paris says. "It can be people who post regularly on social networks or companies with employer brands that create a sort of credibility."
But here's the key: don't rely on just one person's opinion about a recruiter or company. "A person might think this company or recruiter isn't a good fit because of their own experience, but another person might have an excellent fit depending on the situation."
The Hiring Seasons You Need to Know
Timing matters in Hong Kong. There are distinct hiring seasons that can make or break your job search.
The Dead Zone: Mid-November to End of February
"Things advance very, very, very slowly during this period," Paris warns.
The Sweet Spot: March to August
Most large corporations distribute year-end bonuses between late February and April. Once people receive their bonuses, they're more willing to change jobs.
"If they accept an offer in April-May and are on a one or two-month notice period, they might start in June-July, which creates replacement demands in companies," Paris explains. "That makes summer quite active."
July and August actually see more recruitment activity in Hong Kong than in Europe, where everything shuts down for vacation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Assuming Your Profile Is in High Demand
Just because you had a stellar career in Europe doesn't mean you'll automatically be in demand in Hong Kong. The market values different things here—regional experience, ability to work across Asian markets, and proven track record with large-scale projects.
2. Being Too Aggressive in Job Search Mode
At networking events, don't lead with "Here's my CV, I'm looking for a job." Hong Kong's corporate culture looks down on people who are visibly job hunting.
"People who have a job are put on a pedestal according to their social and professional status," Paris notes. "If someone comes with an unemployed approach, it doesn't necessarily work well."
3. Taking One Opinion as Gospel
Your neighbor might tell you HSBC is the worst company to work for, but that might just be their experience with their specific team. Don't rule out entire companies based on one person's story.
"The fit and chemistry you can have with a person isn't necessarily the same according to teams," Paris points out. "Tomorrow, the job seeker might meet a hiring manager at HSBC and potentially it's the company where they'll be able to progress and flourish."
Paris's Final Word: Patience and Information
"My advice for all job seekers is: know how to surround yourself. Not necessarily surround yourself well, but surround yourself—the information is crucial in Hong Kong."
The job market here moves differently than in the West. Sometimes excellent candidates stay on the market for 2, 3, or even 4 months. Don't lose hope.
"Keep contact with people you had a good fit with. I know it's not easy, people are busy, but don't lose hope," Paris encourages. "There are hiring seasons in Hong Kong, and things can advance very quickly once they start moving."
Key Takeaways
✅ Build reputation over applications – Face-to-face networking trumps online applications
✅ Target industry events strategically – Focus on events where you'll meet senior professionals in your field
✅ Master the follow-up game – Send LinkedIn messages, suggest coffee meetings, stay on people's radar
✅ Be strategic about companies – Research company demographics on LinkedIn before applying
✅ Understand the culture – Expect ghosting, be prepared for direct questions about salary and visa
✅ Time your search right – March to August is prime hiring season; avoid mid-November to February
✅ Work with specialized recruiters – Find headhunters with established reputations in your niche
✅ Show up in person when possible – For final interviews, being physically present makes a difference
✅ Keep multiple opportunities active – Don't put all your eggs in one basket
✅ Don't lose hope – Job searches can take months; persistence pays off
Want more insider tips on navigating Hong Kong's job market? Connect with professionals at our networking events and build the relationships that will fast-track your career success.
Remember: In Hong Kong, it's not just what you know—it's who knows you.