part time rates in HK...?
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- jruggs
So there may be chance to work for a year at an agency in HK..thing is it will most likely be part time..they have no designer and the demand has been growing..the owner says he'd like me on deck for the more frequent design requests but nothing FT yet..but wants to pay me monthly..Im trying to figure what sort of monthly rate I can throw at them that is reasonable and among the hk design/print industry standards..any ideas out there...the job is mostly at a small print agency with some occasional web dev thrown in..thx
- akrokdesign0
i assume it cost like hell to live there. you can probably apply N.Y or London rates to HK.
- jruggs0
well the US is 7.75 HK dollars..so..
- jruggs0
sorry...1 USD = 7.75 HKD
- akrokdesign0
what's the job title? graphic designer, art director?
- akrokdesign0
also how many years of experience do you have? ( work exp. )
- desmo0
i hear there are a lot of shady agencies in hk. my friend who lives and works there says he knows a few people who worked the same situation as you are in and got totally screwed over. (ie, didnt get paid at all)
- akrokdesign0
i hope you like noodles. lol. :-)
- Yeah - that's all we have here dude. Noodles.jevad
- i was thinking more of that he only geting a part time job.akrokdesign
- Hahahahha...so yeah...ramen fest!jevad
- jruggs0
yea desmo..i have heard that once...but my girl works at the actual agency...is a native of HK and the agency consists of about 10 ppl total..in house printing and all that...my title would be graphic designer..the only one...im a bit nervous cause i got a FT gig here in the states and a bit of a cushy life but I may take the risk given the fact that she owns her place and works there to begin with...who knows..just trying to gauge how much i should throw out there..
- jruggs0
exp level is around 7+ yrs
- akrokdesign0
well, if 75-85k would be mid-range for a sr. designer in N.Y.
hmm. well, i wouldn't say 50% off as part-time. as it might be upto 32 hrs per wk. so,if you go by 80k and go 65% of that, it's 52k.
if you go by 80k and go 75% of that, it's 60k.60k = 480k (hk) gone by 8.00 and not 7.75 as its right now but it might go up or down.
by the way, wound't your girl has some inside information. ???
- akrokdesign0
your in philly now?
- ephix0
I could be wrong, but it sounds like it's just a print shop to me, which means all the local staff will be paid a pittance and it isn't likely they would want to pay someone a lot more. 8000hkd a month is pretty normal for local people for a full time job.
- jevad0
Let me be the first to burst your bubble and/or any preconception you have about Hong Kong.
Working in the 'creative' industry here, is not easy.
Whatever you are making in the US per year, you can take off 25% right away.
Whatever you are paying for rent, you can add 25% right away.
The US dollar is pegged to the HK dollar at 7.75
It's really hard to go any further than that not knowing the company vitals because as ephix rightly says, locals here work for peanuts. An absolute pittance. So for a company to hire an expensive gweilo they really have to be bringing something special to the table.
- akrokdesign0
are you making good $$$ now? happy at work?
cause going from full-time to part-time its a bit nuts unless you don't like it or are un-happy and need something new.
also, going from a ad agency / design studio to a print shop sounds like you going backwards.
- jruggs0
Thx for the info...yes my girl has inside info but leaving the whole-'how much i get paid' part up to me and her boss..assuming that I am a 'gwei lo' is a whole other thing...I wouldnt say that im happy where i am now just getting a paycheck for assembly line production work in suburbia USA...I see it as an opportunity but Im not trying to dive in blindfolded..her boss knows Id like to come to hk and knows she wants me there..id live with her..and help out with some bills since she owns(Mei Foo)...anyways thx all..especially akrok!
any more info would be great!