Finance

Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy in 2008 had a significant effect on investment management jobs, the availability of which afterwards became less and less. However, job vacancies in related areas, such as risk management, increased. Add to this the fact that Hong Kong is well known as being a centre of finance, so there are always opportunities to work in this industry.

Working in finance sometimes seems like taking part in an elimination race, as it seems only the strongest can stay to the end. In the process, they earn a lot more compared with people in other industries. For those who want a long-term career in this industry, having excellent knowledge and understanding of different investment products and strategies is a prerequisite. Foresight and the intellectual capabilities to make good judgments are also highly important.

Young people who want to succeed in finance should stick with the industry when suffering setbacks, instead of seeking ways out. As this industry is highly affected by external factors, finance workers may sometimes find themselves feeling low. However, if they persist, they will find there are a plethora of opportunities for them.

Dr Allen Ng, senior teaching fellow at the School of Accounting and Finance, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
As told to Chiu Po-sze