Flexibility needed to score expat gigs in Asia

Ex-pat IT pros are finding it increasingly difficult to persuade Asian employers to put them on the payroll, nevertheless opportunities exist for those who prove they can be flexible, adapt easily to a new working culture and have deep knowledge at the cutting edge of innovation, according to experts.

Another big draw for Hong Kong firms for the moment is candidates with skills in certain key areas, including PMP-level project management, trading systems, cloud computing, software development and business analysis, the report found.

Although the days when ex-pat pros were parachuted in at great cost to Asian businesses are broadly speaking over, the market is all in all awash with opportunities for those with the right skills set and outlook, said Pownall.