Work in HK??
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- heyapat0
My brother has been working there as a trader for the past 5 years and I've been to visit him several times...
It seems that rent and accommodation can be pretty expensive if you want to live on Hong Kong Isalnd, but cheaper if you live in Kowloon which kinda like living in Brooklyn as opposed to Manhattan. But from my understanding its pretty ghetto.
If you're going to want to party it can get pretty expensive... Especially if you're eating out and feel like eating something other than chinese or asian food. If you ike coffee and are used to coffee in Australia, good luck getting a decent cup.
Its a great party town and you meet alot of transient people. I know of people that go over to teach english and save money (this would pay much more than $3000 a month), but end up being several thousand dollars in debt due to partying too hard.
Be warned. :) You'll have fun.
- jevad0
Just like anywhere in teh world - if you want stupid expensive clubs - they are there. But there are also cheaper bars, clubs, and restaurants all over the place
- MRK0
kowloon isn't that ghetto :D
overall HK is a pretty friendly city. my guess: any western city of that size is far worse when it comes to crime.
- robbob0
singapore i guess is a safer but less exciting option
- hk_dwayne0
As Jevad has mentioned, HK is a mixed place. Lots to see and do - similar to Tokyo in terms of the compact nature, but a very mixed appreciation of design and creativity. Theres some great local talent with its own local vibe going on, and then theres the multinationals, the agencies etc with another thing happening.
Money wise its a mixed bag too. Global agencies are willing to pay a pemium but then they tend to be looking for bilingual talent too. Your milage may vary. It's a real melting pot of people, ideas, cultures and experiences. But just like, say New York or London, it's got its own thing going on which will work for some and not for others.
Living expenses are pretty steep. It was one of the worlds top 3 most expensive cities to live in not long ago although (thank god!) its dropped further down the list!
If youre thinking of coming over to work, its best to check out the scene first before making any major decisions :-)
I'm here if you need a POV
- Pseuro0
Got any list of big design firms/companies in HK?
- hk_dwayne0
Define 'big'?
BBDO
O&M
JWT
Grey
Enterprise IG
....etc...there's a pretty healthy number of big multinationals/agencies with online/offline scopes and then theres lots of 20-40 ppl companies. Depends what your 'fancy' is....
- jevad0
gis a job ya bastid
- dmklee0
I went to live in Hong Kong for almost a year after college...it is a huge party town and very, very expensive like other people have stated. I was living in Hong Kong island with my girlfriend in a super small apartment, and you dont even want to know how much it was costing. Kowloon is not that ghetto actually, it's only it you start going deeper past Mongkok and other areas where it gets a little sketchy.
Food is cheap, but it depends on what kind of food you like, most of the local food is good and low priced, but if get a little nostalgic for western food, it gets a little expensive.
Design community is pretty poor I would say. The quality is not there and they seem to sacrifice good design and ideas for quick fix, get it out the door design. Of course there are probably a few amazing design shops and agencies I have never heard of, but most people I have known have gone into the big ad agencies down there, I know a guy who will be heading up an Ogilvy department down there.
Quality of life in my opinion is pretty weak. It's super polluted, over crowded take a taxi cab everywhere type of living. The party scene there is amazing and most of the interesting clubs and bars are hidden and not advertised so do a little research. It really depends what type of living you want. I really like it in my earlier after college days....not sure if I would move back there ever again though.
- hk_dwayne0
I will Jevad, after you get outta that hick town youre in, suck down the salary and buy the round of beers you owe me.....and PeterH!!!
Innit guy....kinda fing
Ye old bast!
- uberdesigner0
gotta try the dog while youre there
also, try some tennesee toothpicks
- hk_dwayne0
Er....no one eats dog in Hong Kong...its illegal, not to mention cruel and unsanitary.
That would be the Mainland population across theo border.
- Pseuro0
Dai Pai Dong all the way homie
- hk_dwayne0
Yeet Lai Cha mgoi!
- jevad0
"Quality of life in my opinion is pretty weak. "
You must not have got out much then mate!
- robbob0
thanks hk_dwayne - might email you soon - cheers all - any other comments on HK or SIngapore - who wins??
- jevad0
apples and oranges!
singers is great - but a totally different city to HK...slower pace...more hassles
- robbob0
slower pace more hassles?? really? sing appeals cos its more like home (melbourne) - clean, orderly, multicultural, HK appeals cos its chaotic, energetic, more $!
what hassles jevad?
- babaganush0
Singapore - Trueman show
Hong Kong - Blade runnerI know which I'd choose...
- robbob0
i still dont get it .. why wouldnt you want to live in a safe clean city ... or is that not the point of asia? i guess we can get that back in aus or the like