- Hardcore gamer A: ‘Dude, AFK while playing Resident Evil 4?’ Reformed ex-hardcore gamer B: ‘Just got a programmer job offer from a tech start-up’
- Gamer A: ‘SHUT UP! But you’re not a computer science major.’ Gamer B: ‘Don’t need to be. That’s a myth! I’m learning to code online’
Thomas Chan, the co-founder of Career Hackers, is not a techie himself, but he managed to lead his team, expanded Career Hackers to Singapore, and see success in Hong Kong’s I&T market. Photo: HandoutThomas Chan, co-founder of Career Hackers at the Hong Kong Science Park, says you can work in I&T without having a background in tech. His start-up is an AI-powered virtual simulation all-in-one career platform. And he believes it has the potential to be a game changer in the recruitment sector in Hong Kong and across Asia. be a game changer in the recruitment sector in Hong Kong and across Asia. Thomas has already made a new milestone in his start-up journey as he took Career Hackers to Singapore. This is the first step in his plan for market expansion in Southeast Asia as many companies in the region are competing for talent.
As a business graduate who previously worked in banking and finance, he taught himself to program and found there are no major barriers to entering the I&T field.
“There are tons of free resources available online where you can learn programming on your own,” he says.
Hong Kong’s largest I&T ecosystem offers growth opportunities for tech and non-tech talents
Thomas was also fortunate to receive guidance from some super helpful people at the Hong Kong Science Park, which is just one of the many plus points of this forward-looking I&T hub.
“When I got stuck somewhere, I just asked my neighbours for help,” he says. “I hadn’t initially expected to find such an open, vibrant culture here, and it has helped me a lot throughout my own journey.”
A rewarding journey for jobseekers and working professionals is what matters to Thomas. “We want to create solutions to upskill jobseekers and help them find jobs that suit them better. We want to make their careers more rewarding,” he says.
“Technology is best when it brings people together”
His business background combined with technical know-how and soft skills gives Career Hackers an edge. But he also makes a point of bouncing ideas around with friends and colleagues.
“We share insights and perspectives, which often helps us get on the same page,” he says. “And when we talk about adding new features, we set things out clearly and define the nature of what we want to achieve, so that we can align our goals. When tech people understand the vision, they sometimes come up with a better solution.”
Over the years, the I&T sector has welcomed many people with diverse skills and allows them to realise their potential and succeed in unexpected ways.
A variety of domain knowledge is essential for I&T success
“I have a colleague who is a social sciences graduate,” Thomas says. “He has helped us build connections with NGOs and academia. Another colleague is a journalism graduate, and she helps us with social media. There are lots of other roles, like marketing and sales, that don’t require specialist tech knowledge.
“We hire people who have the right attitude and can grow with us because they are willing to learn.”
Unleash your potential in the I&T sector by exploring the Hong Kong I&T Career Expo until May 1!