From Zoom to Hong Kong: Online career fairs become gateway for global talent

Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) has organized four Global Online Career Fairs this year, connecting overseas professionals with local employers amid rising demand for talent across multiple sectors.

The initiative has achieved substantial global reach. The first three fairs generated nearly 100,000 website visits and over 12,000 job applications. More than 16,000 one-on-one live chats and interview sessions were conducted, fostering in-depth conversations between employers and applicants. Both sides reported highly positive feedback.

At the September fair, more than 75 percent of participants were based overseas—including in Europe, North America, Australia, Southeast Asia and the mainland—and over 60 percent held a master’s degree or higher qualification.

A platform for precise matching

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) was among the organizations that successfully hired through the platform, onboarding several overseas experts, including an experienced technology professional from Singapore.

Paul Hotchan, Head of Talent Acquisition at the HKJC, said the Club has worked closely with HKTE to attract more international talent.

He noted that the career fairs provided “an effective platform for connecting with highly educated and experienced tech professionals” who showed strong interest in career development and Hong Kong’s quality of life.

He added that the online interview format enabled meaningful dialogue and helped assess cultural alignment and role suitability. Alongside government support measures, Hotchan said the HKJC takes pride in its diverse workforce and offers personalized assistance to help new hires settle into their new environment.

Seamless transition for new arrivals

Abhishek Sengupta, who joined the HKJC in mid-October as Senior Technical Manager of IT Major Incident Recovery, described the experience as “the most unique experience in the career.”

With 15 years of experience in technology architecture and risk management, Sengupta said the online career fair gave him the opportunity to pursue new challenges.

“The online career fair enabled easy connections with Hong Kong employers,” he said, encouraging HKTE to organize even more events for overseas professionals.

Calling Hong Kong a global metropolis with “unique advantages and opportunities,” he urged international talent to consider developing their careers in the city. Sengupta said he has adapted smoothly to both work and daily life with strong support from HKTE and the HKJC.

More events to attract global talent

Felix Chan Hoi-king, Director of HKTE, said employment and entrepreneurship remain top priorities for incoming talent. The four online career fairs and eight in-person recruitment events held this year have created valuable matching opportunities between global talent and Hong Kong employers, he said.

Emphasizing that talent is the driving force of Hong Kong’s high-quality development, Chan said HKTE will continue to organize comprehensive recruitment activities and provide diversified support services to help newcomers settle in the city.