Ready for a move but concerned about leaving
I joined my company straight from college as a management trainee and I am now in the third and final year of the programme. Things have been going well and, when the programme ends, I stand to get a substantial pay rise and a promotion. It all seems rosy, but I have become disillusioned with the finance industry and I’m looking for a move into some other sector. However, I am getting guilt feelings about this, given the amount of effort and expense the company and my colleagues have put into training me. I feel I would be letting them down if I left. Should I be letting sentiment cloud my decision, or should I just follow my gut feelings ?
...
Where are the best change management jobs?
I have become more and more specialised in change management in the last five years and am now at the stage where I believe I can apply what I have learned to industries outside the one I’ve spent my career in (retail). Could you give me advice about what industry has the most lucrative change management paths? Are there specific technical skills I might need that I might not have already?
...
Do marketing managers need to be tech-savvy?
My company has just splashed out on a new analytics software package and we’re all being trained on how to use it effectively. I’ve never been a technical person, and have worked my way up to a marketing management position based on my gut feelings rather than spreadsheets full of numbers – this approach usually serves me well. However, it seems like the marketing industry is increasingly looking to analytics to make decisions. If I don’t keep up with analytics technology, am I going to fall behind? How can I become more of a “tech person”?
...
Map the logistics market in Hong Kong before jumping ship
I manage the procurement operations of a mid-sized logistics firm that is likely to be subject to M&A activity later this year, merging with a much bigger firm. It’s hard to tell whether this is a good or bad thing for me and my team and, subsequently, I’m not sure whether to stay or look for something new.There’s a possibility that new opportunities will become apparent within the new company, but it’s just as possible that I’ll be deemed surplus to requirements and let go – and if that’s the case I’d rather have a head start when it comes to job-hunting. What’s the job market like in the industry at the moment and do you think I should jump before being pushed?
...
That old question: Should you retire early if you’re comfortable and have had a successful career?
I have spent a lot of time over the last six months trying to decide whether to retire or continue working. Thanks to a relatively successful career in finance, if I retire now – at what is a relatively young age (early 50s) – I could do so comfortably. It’s tempting, as I have some big travel plans, but I’m quite worried about being bored and unfulfilled for the next 20-30 years. I also feel I still have something to offer my company and industry. Do you know people who have retired early and regretted it?
...
An MBA may not be the best choice for technology or knowledge-based employees
I have a degree in computer sciences and for several years I’ve been managing an IT department in a small company. I can’t really see much future in my role and am wondering whether an MBA might open up more management roles or start-up opportunities where I have more freedom. However, some colleagues tell me MBAs are an outdated concept and I should rely on my hands-on experience instead to get a job in a bigger company. Are MBAs really a waste of time?
...
Can your work-life balance tip too far the right way?
I left my stressful marketing job three months ago to take on a similar role with significantly less responsibility and stress, and almost the same pay. I thought it would be great to be rid of many of the management responsibilities I’d had and have a better work-life balance, but I’m actually quite bored and missing being more of a decision maker. There is a chance I might be able to get my old job back and it’s becoming more appealing to do so. But I can’t help thinking I’m forgetting all the things that caused me to leave in the first place. Would I be making a big mistake by going back?
...
Permanent residency can provide more career options for expat engineers in Hong Kong
I hate my engineering job and am thinking about leaving. Although I like the industry, I’m not happy at my firm. I have an opportunity in another country, with the same industry and in a similar role, but am one year from getting permanent residency in Hong Kong. Should I wait for permanent residency before making a career move? Or take the position and return to Hong Kong in a year or two, when I’m ready to join another company?
...
Bankers lured towards the FinTech field need to think carefully before making the switch
There has been a lot of talk lately about bankers moving into financial technology and starting up their own companies in this sphere. I have been on the client side of investment banking for over eight years now and I am wondering if I am being left behind. I have moderate IT skills, but my passion is for dealing with clients on a personal level. With a wave of layoffs at major banks recently, should I be looking at upgrading my skills to become more tech savvy?
...
Bringing new ideas to a company can take time and tact
Career Doctor
one-dimensional
,
non-interactive
,
cultural fit and growth potential
,
Corporate Culture
I have recently completed a certificate in web design in Canada and have returned to Hong Kong hoping to find work. Looking around, I have found the local websites to be one-dimensional, non-interactive and uninspiring. Would it be worthwhile looking for work at a local company, or should I cast my net wider to international agencies? Is there an opportunity to change the safe approach of local agencies?
...
