Despite his education background in engineering, Jack Lin Jia’s keen interest in investment led him to join CNI Bullion as a sales executive after he graduated. “I started my career at CNI five years ago. At that time I was not sure if this was the career for me, but it has turned out to be a challenging, rewarding and fun job,” he says.

Lin, now a key account manager, explains that there is much more to the bullion trade than just the sales aspect. “It is exciting because the market is ever-changing. The job pace is quick as I have to keep close track of the financial market, conduct analyses and provide clients with the best investment advice. It is work that requires professional skills and knowledge,” he says.

This has been especially true over the past 10 years with Hong Kong’s many financial ups and downs. “In the financial crisis of 2008, many of my friends lost their jobs. However, I managed exceptional returns thanks to the fierce fluctuation of the price of gold and its characteristics. Even though I became a bullion salesman in a time of economic turmoil, I believe it is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” he says.

Lin’s job allows him to interact with different people every day. “With the emergence of new communication channels and social media, we can keep clients up to date with market information easily. Although it might sound tiring, I enjoy interacting with clients as I deem it my duty. I enjoy helping people discover a brighter future and a more fruitful life,” he says.

Lin starts his day looking at gold prices from around the world so that he can provide updates on Asian, European and North American markets for his clients. After a morning meeting with colleagues on the market situation, he spends the rest of his day looking at financial news and conducting analyses.

Since the bullion market is quite saturated in Hong Kong, Lin thinks that it is character and knowledge that make the best salesmen. “If you thrive in a service-led people business, I dare say it’s the right job for you,” he says.

Following his promotion to key account manager last year, Lin took on a number of new duties. “Now I supervise and manage our expanding sales team and also provide daily commentary for my clients and the media,” he says.

Lin’s advice for those interested in bullion sales is to have a degree in finance, business administration or a related field. “However, a deep interest in financial products and a dynamic personality are always the keys to entering our industry,” he says.