Marcus had digital banking experience at a European largest bank. He spoke no Cantonese and minimal Mandarin. The Hong Kong job market was ruthlessly competitive—hundreds of applications per position, sky-high turnover rates, and recruitment agencies that ignored him completely.

Yet after a year-long search, he landed his dream role as Digital Analyst at a major Hong Kong-based airline.

Here's exactly how he did it—and the unconventional strategy that sealed the deal.

Note: The name "Marcus" has been used in place of the actual person's name for anonymity purposes.

His Background

"I worked at European’s largest bank's subsidiary in the field of digital."

Marcus had solid European banking experience, but Hong Kong was a completely different game. Unlike many job seekers who test the waters remotely, he understood early that Hong Kong's relationship-driven culture required a different approach.

His biggest realization: In Hong Kong, showing up matters more than your CV. That’s what this article is about!

Reality Check

Most Applications Got Ignored

"Getting responses to my applications" was Marcus' biggest challenge. He was living in Europe while applying in Hong Kong.

• He quickly learned Hong Kong's job market is brutal. "Hundreds of applications for each job. High turnover rates." Most of his applications disappeared into the void.
• LinkedIn? "Useful for communication once a first contact has been made, but extremely weak success rate otherwise." So much for LinkedIn being a networking goldmine.=
• Recruitment agencies? "All were useless/totally unresponsive." Even with banking experience, recruiters ignored him completely.

The Language Problem

"Extremely important and annoying to bypass as a non-Chinese speaker."

Marcus didn't sugarcoat the language reality. Without Cantonese or Mandarin, entire sectors became inaccessible. But instead of spending months learning languages, he found a smarter workaround.

His strategy: Target roles where English fluency was the primary requirement, then prove value through other means.

That’s one of the strategy that worked the most for every person I’ve interviewed. Don’t focus on every company you can find, prioritise the ones that are open to english speakers.

What Actually Worked

Connections are everything

"Connections are everything."

But here's the twist: his most helpful networking happened in Europe, not Hong Kong.

"One event that was very useful happened in Europe in my alumni circle. A Chinese executive lady who worked at a major European car manufacturer gave me the motivation I needed to keep trying."

Sometimes the connection you need isn’t where you expect it. So explore unexpected events—even casual meetups. Reach out to your alumni communities, ask friends if they know someone working in your field, and pay attention to where your network is active.

They may have opportunities or useful contacts for you, become your networking buddy or mentor, or simply support you in your job search by showing up, sharing a laugh, and having a drink.

You're not alone in this—every conversation counts, and every shared moment brings you one step closer to where you want to be.

Cultivate your People Skills

In Hong Kong specifically, "connections are everything. Also surprising 'say x in public meeting, do y in the back end'. Save face is everywhere."

Marcus discovered Hong Kong's business culture values relationships over everything else. Public meetings often show one thing while real decisions happen privately.

"Hongkongers are extremely skilled and educated. Competition is fierce. Your persona/charisma/soft skills needs to make the difference." Technical skills get you considered. People skills get you hired.

CV Changes That Actually Mattered

"American simplified style. They don't care about European-style 'designer' CVs."

Marcus learned that Hong Kong employers prefer substance over style. His European CV with creative formatting actually hurt his chances.

His adaptation:

• Clean, simple format
• Direct, achievement-focused language
• Clear visa status upfront (dependent)
• Results-driven bullet points

Showing Up, the great decision Marcus took

Here's where Marcus story gets interesting.

After multiple video interview rounds for his target position, the role got filled by someone else. Most people would move on. Marcus made a different choice.

"I flew to Hong Kong to meet the manager. That is after having done several rounds of interviews before. The first job I applied to got filled by someone else, but the manager had all the convincing he needed after meeting me in person, and I got the next job open in his team."

Why this worked: "Connecting with a key stakeholder from the targeted company in person. It shows that you are ready to go the extra step."

The manager was so impressed by Marcus commitment that when the next role opened, he got it immediately.

Your takeaway: In Hong Kong's relationship-first culture, showing up physically demonstrates seriousness that video calls simply cannot match.

Accepting trade offs for first experience

"I accepted something lower than my expectations, but flexible benefits help mitigate the gap (but not fill it)."

Marcus took less money than he wanted. The benefits helped somewhat, but didn't completely make up the difference. He was realistic about it.

Last word: What He'd Do Differently

He just said: "Adopt the same strategy as illustrated above — but that still requires getting the chance to receive a first successful and open contact."

So “keep trying, meet as many people as possible. Come to Hong Kong and just get out there!”

Key Takeaways

Marcu’s success came down to a few unglamorous truths:

• Show up when others won't. Flying to Hong Kong for a face-to-face meeting after getting rejected for the first role got him the next one. Most candidates wouldn't bother.
• Networking happens everywhere. His breakthrough motivation came from an alumni event in Europe, not a Hong Kong networking mixer.
• Accept reality, then optimize. He took lower pay but focused on getting Hong Kong experience. Perfect salaries can wait.
• Relationships trump everything. In Hong Kong, your soft skills and connections matter more than your technical background. "Persona/charisma/soft skills needs to make the difference."

The Hong Kong job market isn't fair or easy. It's competitive, relationship-driven, and often frustrating. Marcus didn't find a secret shortcut—he just understood the rules and was willing to play by them longer than most people.

His final advice says it all: "Keep trying, meet as many people as possible. Come to Hong Kong and just get out there."

Not inspiring, maybe? But it worked.

✨ Take Action Today

Immediate Next Steps:

1. Follow Fast Track Jobs HK on LinkedIn for more insights into Hong Kong's job market
2. Register for our newsletter for exclusive tips: Get Insider Tips
3. Share this article with other professionals targeting Hong Kong opportunities!

Marcus’s story proves that Hong Kong's competitive market rewards persistence over perfection. His journey from ignored applications to landing at a major Hong Kong-based airline shows what's possible when you understand the local rules: relationships matter most, showing up physically makes the difference, and the right visa status opens doors that talent alone cannot.

Ready to start your own Hong Kong job search? Begin with Marcus’s first lesson: build connections before you need them. 🚀