Applying to Hong Kong Start-ups and SMEs

Most graduate-recruitment advice focuses on large banks and multinational companies, but many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in Hong Kong also hire. Their recruitment methods, interview focus and risks can differ. This guide covers where to find roles, how to check an employer, what to prepare for interviews and what to confirm before signing. See Batch 1, nos. 1, 2 and 9, for visa rules, and Batch 1, no. 17, and Batch 2, nos. 5–8, for employment rights.

1. How recruitment at SMEs and start-ups can differ

1. There may be no fixed campus-recruitment process. Hiring starts when a vacancy opens, the pace can be quick and a decision may follow one or two interviews.
2. Your interviewer may be the founder, department head or prospective manager.
3. Employers may place more weight on whether you can contribute immediately and handle a variety of work.
4. Job descriptions may be broad, so clarify the actual duties during the interview.
5. A small employer may have less experience arranging work visas for non-local graduates, so learn the rules yourself; see Batch 1, no. 9.

2. Where to find roles

1. University career-centre job systems: many SMEs recruit through university job platforms; see no. 18 in this batch.
2. Government-supported internship and employment schemes. For example, the Innovation and Technology Commission’s STEM Internship Scheme says that any company or organisation may offer an innovation-and-technology-related internship, subject to approval by participating universities. Its definition is broad: actual work needs only to contain an innovation or technology element, such as technology-related intellectual-property work, digital marketing or manufacturing data analysis. Non-local students may intern only in Hong Kong and must meet the conditions of their stay.
3. The Labour Department’s Interactive Employment Service website also lists many vacancies.
4. Events, job fairs and start-up communities in technology parks.
5. Speculative applications: Prospects advises contacting an employer when public information suggests a skills gap or a challenge that you could help address. Briefly explain the problem you could solve instead of asking generally whether there are any jobs.

3. How to check a company

1. Check company-registration records. The Companies Registry’s e-Search service can provide basic company information. Its FAQ says a company particulars report costs HK$22 and includes details such as the registered office address, share capital, directors and company secretary. This can help confirm that the company exists, when it was set up and who its directors are.
2. Review public information: the company website, whether its product can actually be used, news coverage and funding announcements.
3. Ask current or former employees. Find people through LinkedIn or your alumni network; see Batch 2, no. 18.
4. If an employment agency introduced you, check its licence. The Labour Department says employment agencies must hold a licence from the Commissioner for Labour. Apart from the prescribed commission (currently 10% of the first month’s wages after a job is secured), they may not charge job seekers other fees. Check the licence on the Labour Department’s employment-agency page.

4. Warning signs

Among the job-trap methods and warning signs in the Labour Department’s guidance, the following are most relevant to job seekers:

1. Paying first: requests for registration, administration, work-document or training fees. The Labour Department says legitimate employers generally do not ask employees to pay fees.
2. An advertisement promising high pay with no experience or education requirements. Check whether the salary and conditions make sense for the market.
3. “You are hired” immediately, with no interview and no clear description of the work.
4. Pressure during an interview to buy products, invest, borrow money or switch to sales.
5. Requests for your identity card or bank card, or for you to sign a bank authorisation.
6. An interview at an unusually isolated location.

If you encounter these signs, do not sign documents, hand over identity documents or pay. Contact the Labour Department, police or Independent Commission Against Corruption if needed.

5. What to focus on in the interview

1. Motivation: why choose a small employer instead of a large company? Give a genuine reason, such as wanting to take responsibility earlier or being interested in the product itself.
2. Learn the product. Try the employer’s product or service before the interview and prepare one or two specific observations or suggestions. Keep criticism constructive.
3. Show practical ability. Prepare a portfolio or a demonstration that you can open and show during the interview, or offer to complete a small test task.
4. Show range. Prepare examples of working in different areas, such as both data analysis and writing promotional copy.
5. Culture and pace: start-up priorities can change quickly. Prepare an example of working in an uncertain environment.

6. Questions to ask the employer

1. What would I do day to day, and who would I report to?
2. How large is the team, and whom would I work with?
3. What is the company’s funding and business position? Ask only for information the employer is willing to share, for example, “What stage of development is the company at?”
4. Visa: has the company arranged work visas for non-local employees before? If you hold IANG, you can explain that changing jobs during the IANG period does not require prior Immigration Department approval; an extension later requires information from the employer. See Batch 1, nos. 2 and 9.
5. Training and supervision: will someone be available to guide you?

7. Terms to confirm before signing

1. Written contract: ask for a written contract or offer letter setting out the role, pay, working hours, rest days, leave, probation and notice period. The Labour Department says a legitimate employer should let a prospective employee have enough time to read and consider the contract. Do not sign immediately if something is unclear.
2. Pay: monthly salary, any year-end payment and payday.
3. MPF: employers must enrol eligible employees in MPF and make contributions; see Batch 1, nos. 17 and 19.
4. Shares or options: some start-ups use equity incentives for part of compensation. Ask for written details of the number of shares or options, vesting conditions and what happens when you leave. Get professional advice if needed. Do not accept cash pay below the statutory minimum wage in exchange for equity.
5. Location: will you regularly travel to Shenzhen or elsewhere on the mainland, and who pays the related costs?

8. After joining

1. Check whether the actual work matches what the advertisement and interview described. The Labour Department also advises job seekers to watch for pressure to switch into investment-related or sales work.
2. Keep payslips, your contract and important notices.
3. See Batch 2, no. 6, for ways to address employment disputes.

Sources

• Innovation and Technology Fund, Innovation and Technology Commission, “STEM Internship Scheme”, checked 20 October 2026.
• Companies Registry, “Frequently Asked Questions on e-Search” and “How to Obtain Company Information”, checked 20 October 2026.
• Labour Department, “Finding a Licensed Employment Agency”, checked 20 October 2026.
• Labour Department, Interactive Employment Service, “Beware of Employment Traps”, checked 20 October 2026.
• Prospects, “How to write a speculative job application”, checked 20 October 2026.
• CUHK Career Planning and Development Centre, “Kickstart Your Career in Hong Kong for Non-local Students”, updated 20 January 2026 and checked 20 October 2026.