The fourth quarter "Hong Kong International Talents Career Expo 2025", organized by associations including the HK Quality and Talent Migrants Association, was held on Oct. 21. It featured job opportunities across eight key sectors, including finance, innovation and technology, culture and arts, and trade. Among the job seekers were specialists educated in the US. One mainland student who earned a degree in the US traveled to HK for the event. He shared that the US government's unpredictable policies have discouraged talent, while HK's unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle and its stable social environment were key factors attracting him to explore opportunities in the city. A startup founder also attended the event to scout for high-potential talent.
The expo, supported by the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the HK Talent Engage, drew participation from leading organizations such as the HK Jockey Club, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Towngas, and CLP Group. The event also attracted many students and graduates who were eager to gain insights into the job market.
Among the attendees was Mr. Wang, a Shanghai native who studied marketing at an American university. Accompanied by his mother, he expressed his concerns about the global job market's limited demand for fresh graduates. "I value any opportunity with growth potential, whether it's in the mainland, HK, or overseas," he explained.
Graduate: US policies deterrent to international talent
He told Wen Wei Po that global demand for graduate positions remains low, making him value any potential opportunity. "I'm willing to consider any opportunity with growth potential, whether in the mainland, HK or overseas," he said.
Wang described how HK's distinctive legal framework and development advantages under "one country, two systems" stood out in comparison to the unwelcoming policies for foreign talent in the US, motivating him to come to the expo. Observing the wide variety of participating companies, Wang said he was still evaluating his options. "As a non-local, I need to understand more about companies' policies for hiring non-local employees, the benefits they offer, and whether the onboarding process is smooth," he added.
He also noted that job seekers typically only apply to well-known firms, but this expo introduced him to many exceptional companies he hadn't previously considered. "It's been a great opportunity to uncover hidden gems," he said.
Graduates eye financial sector opportunities
Two female master's students, who are set to graduate next year, attended the fair together. They explained that they were exploring potential roles and were particularly interested in the financial sector, given HK's status as a leading international financial center. "The industry offers mature development opportunities and competitive salaries,” they shared. With their academic backgrounds aligning with the sector, they were particularly focused on financial roles. "We learned that some of our target companies were participating in this expo, so we wanted to understand their recruitment criteria and potential career paths," they added.
Startup founder Mr. Shi also visited the expo. After graduating with a degree in finance from a HK university in 2023, he started his business. "Our mainland group has a foreign trade and financing hub in HK, and my company handles business assigned by the group," he explained.
Shi attended the expo to better understand the current job market and observe how other companies recruit talent. When asked why his company wasn't actively hiring at the event, he explained that his HK operations require highly specialized skills. "Fresh graduates often lack practical banking experience despite having a solid theoretical foundation, which makes it challenging to find suitable candidates through general recruitment channels," he added. Instead, he relies on professional networks to identify the right talent.
Finance sector praises expo's positive atmosphere
Ms. Chan, a booth representative from Prudential, praised the positive atmosphere of the expo. She noted that the HKSAR government continues to prioritize talent development, and the insurance industry—an integral pillar of HK's financial sector—shares the responsibility of nurturing talent. Their main goal at the expo was to recruit frontline financial consultants to bring fresh energy into the industry.
She said that the company has received numerous inquiries and applications, and they plan to follow up with promising candidates. She also holds confidence in the industry's future.
Ms. Guo, a staff member from Paobank, said the bank, previously focused on SME banking, is now expanding into retail business. As a result, the company has created numerous new positions and hopes to attract diverse talent through the expo.
She explained that the bank is hiring for a variety of roles across front, middle, and back-office operations, including product managers and merchant services. Having participated in previous sector-specific recruitment events, such as those focused on innovation and technology, industrial manufacturing, and smart cities, Paobank has successfully attracted tech professionals. Guo expressed optimism about the results of this event, which highlighted opportunities across all "Eight Key Sectors".
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Li Zhishan; English Intern Editor: Wynnea; English Editor: Zoey SUN)
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