GUEST COMMENT: I've made 400 applications and 5 months later, I still can't find a job
I'm a Hong Kong permanent resident in my early thirties. I have a UK degree in business and economics, an ACCA at the foundation and certificate stage and a postgraduate certificate in business management & IT.
I've sent out 400 job applications over the last five months, but I'm still very much unemployed.
My last job was outside of financial services, where I ran my own business consultancy for 10 months before it folded earlier this year. I believe my time out of the financial sector has counted against me, causing recruiters disregard my relevant experience. I'm now hoping for a front-office role.
Here's a little more about me.
Job experience (chronologically ordered)
· Set up own business consultancy, which folded earlier this year because of a competitive market and low profit margins.
· Investment services executive and then promoted to assistant relationship manager at a private wealth management and business consultancy in Hong Kong (four years).
· Portfolio management and fund administration at a well-known financial services firm in Hong Kong (a year) and London (five months).
· Assistant accountant with a car dealer in the UK for a year.
Ideal role
I have tried to be flexible in my search, which is mainly front-office focused. I have looked for roles that are in business development, institutional sales, relationship management, investor relations and client servicing. I may not have AUM or experience in a private bank but I think I can assist private bankers in my next role, having dealt with them previously.
Can anyone give me some advice?
A version of this article first appeared on our Singapore site.
