There is a shortage of good sales and marketing professionals in Hong Kong, according to recruitment firm Ambition.
Connie Au, divisional manager for sales and marketing recruitment, says candidates usually receive multiple offers. "Employers [need] to be aware of the candidate-driven market and move quickly on good candidates during the recruitment process," she says, adding that counter offers are common, as employers scramble for good people.
Au says new media and digital marketing have become an important trend, and so has customer relationship management, which is particularly popular in cosmetics and skincare, and banking and telecommunications industries.
She says it's not easy for sales and marketing professionals in one industry to switch to another field, as employers prefer candidates with a similar industry background. Since they expect candidates to hit the ground running, they tend to look for people who have worked for competitors and who can fit well into the company and the team.
HK and mainland firms are increasing staff numbers
Forty-six per cent of companies in Hong Kong and southern mainland are increasing their staff numbers this month, the latest employment index by recruitment firm Michael Page has found.
The survey, which canvassed more than 100 human resources (HR) professionals and hiring managers, also reports that 47 per cent are maintaining existing levels.
Of the firms that are hiring new staff, 41 per cent are looking to fill frontline positions in areas such as sales and account management. Some 24 per cent are hiring for operational functions, such as purchasing and supply chain, while 17 per cent are increasing their back-office capabilities across areas including accounting and marketing. Forty-three per cent say most of their recruitment activity falls into the HK$31,000-HK$60,000 monthly salary bracket.
British managers are stressed despite taking leave
Two out of five managers in Britain returned to work after a holiday feeling more stressed than when they left,
The UK Institute of Leadership and Management survey of 2,500 managers found that one in three worked while on leave, often responding to emails, or answering work-related calls.
The institute's CEO, Penny de Valk, says while technology means it is easier than ever to work remotely, it also makes it hard to switch off.
