TL;DR

Core principles of Hong Kong CV writing: concise (1 page ideal, max 2 pages), quantified (use numbers to prove results), targeted (tailor your CV for every job). Investment banking/consulting value uniform formatting (must use the standard Bulge Bracket format); the tech industry values Portfolio/GitHub more than the CV; traditional industries still value photos (some require them). The most common reasons for failure: using the long American format, no quantified results, a CV identical to hundreds of others, and spelling or grammar errors. This article provides industry-specific CV templates and ATS optimisation tips.

I. Basic Standards for Hong Kong CV Format

resume writing, cv, curriculum vitae, job application, career document

1.1 Essential Content

  • Name (in Chinese and English): If you have a Chinese name, follow it with your English name, e.g.: Chan Tai Man (Peter)
  • Contact details: phone, email, LinkedIn URL
  • Work experience: each position should include: company name, job title, dates, 3–5 bullet points describing responsibilities and achievements
  • Education: university name, degree, major, graduation year, GPA (if advantageous)
  • Skills: language ability, computer skills, certifications
  • Personal particulars (optional): age, nationality, visa status

1.2 The Hong Kong CV Photo Debate

  • Traditional industries (banking, property, trading, retail): usually expect a photo (formal passport-style)
  • Foreign-invested / multinational companies: mostly do not require one, and may even regard a photo as superfluous
  • Tech industry: not required, and may even backfire
  • Advice: if unsure, do not include a photo (no photo will not cost you points; a photo can cost you points in certain situations)

1.3 Length (Number of Pages)

  • Less than 5 years’ experience: 1 page
  • 5–10 years’ experience: 1–2 pages
  • 10+ years’ experience: 2 pages (very rarely is a 3rd page needed)

Hong Kong employers thoroughly dislike long CVs. If they cannot scan your key points within 10 seconds, it goes in the bin.

II. CV Format Differences by Industry

2.1 Investment Banking / Finance

Extremely strict formatting requirements:

  • Must use the standard M&A format (templates available online, commonly known as “BB format”)
  • Uniform font (Times New Roman/Arial, 10–12pt)
  • Each bullet point begins with a strong verb: Led, Executed, Analyzed, Built, Managed…
  • Quantify all achievements: $X million, X%, X transactions
  • No sentence may exceed 2 lines

Example:

❌ "Helped the team with various M&A transactions and client presentations"
✅ "Executed 3 M&A transactions totaling $500M, built DCF/LBO models, and prepared client pitch books for TMT sector"

2.2 Consulting

  • Similar to investment banking but slightly more relaxed
  • Must demonstrate problem-solving ability
  • Each bullet point uses a “challenge → action → result” structure
  • A portfolio of projects rather than work history is the core

2.3 Technology Industry

  • CV format is relaxed, but GitHub/Portfolio is key
  • List the tech stack (Programming Languages, Frameworks, Tools)
  • Showcase project outcomes (links preferred)
  • No need for fancy designs (plain text/PDF beats fancy templates)
  • Some companies require a one-page CV (especially startups)

2.4 Traditional Industries

  • Place greater emphasis on personal particulars (age, marital status, expected salary)
  • Both Chinese and English CVs are sometimes required
  • Job stability matters (frequent job changes are a deduction)
  • Referees are usually required to be provided

III. ATS (Applicant Tracking System) Optimisation

Large companies use ATS to scan CVs; if you fail the ATS, your CV is eliminated before a human ever sees it.

3.1 ATS Keyword Selection

Method: extract key skills and academic requirements from the job description and weave them naturally into your CV.

Job description says: “Experience with financial modelling, DCF, LBO, and M&A execution” Your CV should contain the terms financial modelling, DCF, LBO, M&A execution (of course based on genuine experience).

3.2 Common ATS Pitfalls

  • Do not use charts/images/tables (ATS cannot read them)
  • Do not replace text with headshots/logos
  • Do not use unusual fonts or symbols
  • Use standard headings: Work Experience, Education, Skills (not My Journey, What I Learned)

IV. The Most Common CV Point-Deducting Errors

  • Spelling/grammar errors: 🔴 Fatal (especially misspelling a company name)
  • Too long (3+ pages): 🔴 Fatal for those with <10 years’ experience
  • No quantified results: 🟠 Serious
  • Inconsistent formatting (mixed font sizes/date formats): 🟠 Clearly careless
  • Mentioning irrelevant work experience (e.g. a university part-time job entirely unrelated to the role you are applying for): 🟡 Wastes space
  • Overly long personal interests (“enjoys reading, listening to music, hiking, playing ball…”): 🟡 Optional at best
  • Starting with “Responsible for…” (passive voice): 🟡 Poorly written

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V. FAQ

Q1: Does the CV need to list referees? A1: Usually not needed. Write “References available upon request” or simply leave it off. If the employer requests them, provide them after the interview.

Q2: If my GPA is not high (<3.0), should I put it on my CV? A2: If you do not, the employer will assume your GPA is low. If you have other highlights (e.g. strongly relevant internships, projects), you may omit it. Once more than 3 years have passed since graduation, GPA no longer matters.

CV writing advice is based on Hong Kong recruitment market conventions as of May 2026.