Hello and welcome back to MCG Talent - Asia’s weekly Newsletter.
If you think any of the content might be useful to any of your friends/colleagues, we’d love for you to share the platform and invite them onboard 😎
Each week we bring to you our priority roles, latest updates and insights into what we’re seeing in the market at the moment.
For any new readers, you can check out our previous editions here.
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Make sure these three things are not on your CV.
Before we Start:
Looking to Grow Your Team? Let’s talk - message us here.
Connect with us across our socials for more live roles.
There's a common theme we're seeing across industries, levels and markets at the moment.
Quick 📸 from my recent trip back to Dubai!
𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.
Even in the sectors which are associated as being 'on the up', there are only so many roles and supply far out weighs demand.
We empathise massively with anyone looking at the moment.
↳ 🇦🇪 is experience an influx of close to a thousand people a day all competing for new roles as market sentiment shifts to local experience.
↳ 🇭🇰 remains tight with a clear preference for local language speakers.
↳ 🇸🇬 is placing a clear emphasis on local talent over expats.
↳ 🇸🇦 has cut expenditure massively on flagship projects impacting opportunities available to overseas talent.
It's particularly pressing in these expat heavy markets where the cost of living is so high and the pressure is always on.
Whether we like it or not the job search revolves around LinkedIn and Easy Apply is clearly not optimised for a market in which so many people are looking.
Our advice?
↳ Stay Visible - You never know who might be watching or happen to take notice. One post a week can be all you need to get on the right persons radar.
↳ Be Patient - Cliche but it really is a marathon not a sprint. We've had offers go out in as little as 24 hours all the way through to 8 months from start to finish. Keep at it. Your time will come.
↳ Be Direct - Go off-platform. Email > LinkedIn for Open Rates. Apply directly through websites vs on LinkedIn.
Priority Roles - W/E 24th August - Asia.
Product Manager - Hong Kong 🇭🇰 / Singapore 🇸🇬 - Financial Services
Our client, a leading financial services company, is seeking a Product Manager to drive product innovation and strategy in either Hong Kong or Singapore.
The ideal candidate will have experience in financial services product management, with a strong understanding of market needs and customer-centric product development. Excellent stakeholder management and strategic thinking skills are essential.
Fluency in English is required, with Mandarin or Cantonese as an advantage for Hong Kong, and familiarity with the Southeast Asian market for Singapore. For more details, please contact Charlie Bowsher.
Communications Lead - Singapore 🇸🇬 - PR Agency
Our client, a top-tier PR agency based in Singapore, is seeking a Communications Lead to develop and execute impactful communication strategies for high-profile clients.
The role requires a proven track record in public relations, exceptional storytelling skills, and experience managing client relationships in a fast-paced agency environment. Knowledge of the Asia-Pacific media landscape is a strong advantage.
Fluency in English is essential. For further details, please contact Anisha Kukreja.
Art Director - Tokyo 🇯🇵 - Advertising (Banking Experience)
Our client, a prominent advertising agency in Tokyo, is seeking an Art Director with banking sector experience to lead creative campaigns.
The ideal candidate will have a strong portfolio showcasing innovative visual designs, expertise in advertising for financial services, and the ability to manage cross-functional creative teams. A deep understanding of the Japanese market and culture is critical.
Fluency in English and Japanese is mandatory. For more information, please contact Harry Lee.
Event Manager - UAE 🇦🇪 - Luxury/Retail
Our client, a luxury retail brand in the UAE, is seeking an Event Manager to oversee high-profile events and pop-up activations.
The role requires extensive experience in event planning and execution within the luxury or retail sector, with a focus on delivering exceptional brand experiences. Candidates should have strong vendor management skills and the ability to coordinate complex logistics.
Fluency in English is required, with Arabic as a strong advantage. For further details, please contact Sherlaine Yu.
If you have colleagues who might match the criteria of the above - feel free to share this email so they can reach out and apply!
This weeks edition was written by Charlie Bowsher, Managing Director and Owner of MCG Talent - Asia. You can drop him a follow on LinkedIn here.