Working In Hong Kong

Several differences in working style in Hong Kong that has struck me in a significant manner.

One, in New York, as an analyst, we were absolutely NOT suppose to be doing any significant amount of thinking. Any use of creativity or deviation from what your associate/VP/MD drew up would be considered blasphemous. Usually, they would look at you strangely, wonder if you are not capable of doing the simplest tasks and ask (sometimes yell) for you to do what they drew up. Maybe because each level is staffed with enough personnel, there's always an associate or VP that double checks your work and making sure that you knew what you were doing. Any questions you had on industry, finance, etc. are not considered dumb and people explained what they expected to you be doing in simple manners as if you were a child. Basically, you were trained to become a "modeling monkey", very technically sound but not expect to actually think the way humans do. In Hong Kong, the complete opposite is expected. Instructions are far and few in between and you are expected to absolutely generate new ideas on your own, with very little guidance. You always knew if you were right or wrong in New York, in Hong Kong, you are constantly floating in a sea of gray. While it's good to be told to think about what you do, it's also very counterproductive in that you are not taught how to think. Without repetition, we're not trained into thinking about things in a methodical manner. It seems like this jumbo mess of ideas in your head that you're not sure what's right, wrong, or just downright stupid. With more autonomy, one can grow, but the growth seem to be wild without direction, with a strong likelihood of becoming a crooked tree.

Two, in New York, the noise levels amongst the junior level was always at a peak. Socialization amongst co-workers are expected and not talking will get you the name of the "quiet quad". Being anti-social at work is considered a significant taboo. Maybe I would not have been natural friends with the analysts and associates in the group, but after the intensity of work level, everyone becomes friends through a culture indoctrination of socialization and talking through work. Here in Hong Kong, being social is almost look down upon. People are silent during work. When you try to engage them in conversation, they are annoyed rather than welcoming. For here, having a positive social atmosphere for work is less emphasized and the appearance of working hard and not talking is strictly adhered to. We were just as productive back in New York, but worked in a feast or famine fashion where downtime is downtime and work time is work time. In Hong Kong, everything is semi-work time.

Three, meals are suppose to be quick. Order in, 10 minutes to grab lunch downstairs at Hale and Hearty or Bocca. Dinner is suppose to be seamless, delivery. Quick. Here in Hong Kong, every meal is an adventure. Definitely takes over 1/2 hour just to get lunch anywhere because the restaurants are far away. Dinner usually is a 2 hour adventure where everyone sit down somewhere and dine family style. Then, everyone complains about the long hours of work in Hong Kong. Why doesn't people just not take those long breaks and get out at 9PM instead of 11PM? Ordering in itself is also an ordeal, often taking more than an hour vs. the 20 minutes delivery you can expect from most nearby delis in New York.

Four, totally a different brand of politics in Hong Kong. Political correctness is often thrown out of the windows. Senior bankers are allowed to make racist, sexist, albeit funny comments at work. Some comments made on the floor of the office definitely would cause shock and awe in the politically-correct sensitive atmosphere in New York (and investment bankers in New York are considered one of the most politically incorrect profession in the U.S.) Really, one of the directors once told me I could be stoned for some of the comments I am making (because I am a girl). It wasn't offensive to me personally but I wonder should people of those stature really be displaying such manners of immaturity? It's so pervasive in the culture that there's even a "Black Person toothpaste" on the market in Hong Kong. http://www.danwei.org/advertising_and_marketing/whitee_and_darkie.php. I don't even know how I should begin to feel about that. As my friends who transferred from the New York office and I often joke with each other, there's really no HR or rules here in Hong Kong.

Five, the one thing I really like about working in Hong Kong is the independence. Fake deadlines exists, but so much rarer. Because everyone sits on the trading floor together, you know when projects are actually due. Because one works more independently, there's no you must finish this off tonight so I can look at it in the morning. It's more like, do what you can, I can look at it while you finish it off in the morning. There are a lot less down time during the day (especially mornings), and a lot less painful late nights because some associate or VP created a totally ridiculous deadline. Plus, there's no printing necessary in Hong Kong because all the regional offices print so no waiting for books! So key!