We spoke with seven young people to learn about their current jobs — whether they find them fulfilling or not — and the ideal jobs and working environment they envision for themselves.
24 years old, AI Startup
#small team, #dynamic, #meaningful, #high rate of learning, #fast-paced
I am working with an AI startup based in the US which focuses on real-time language translation. I am also exploring a side project with friends focused on AI testing and marking in high schools. I find my current work in the startup environment more fulfilling than my previous role as a software engineer in a bank, where I didn’t have opportunities to work on cutting-edge technologies. In my current role, I enjoy the independence I have, the small team dynamic, and the sense of ownership that comes with it. It’s exciting to work on meaningful projects and learn constantly.
I am incredibly happy with my job. I find the task of solving the global language barrier interesting and fulfilling. Although challenging sometimes, it’s incredible to be part of something that could have such a large impact. Additionally, my side project of bringing AI into education has the potential to positively affect students, teachers, and schools. I really feel the impact of my work. The high rate of learning in both roles is something I enjoy, as I thrive in fast-paced environments. This contrasts with the previous role, where the pace was slower, and the work was often hindered by bureaucracy.
It’s important for me to know and see the fruits of my labour. When I was at a large bank, the fruit, or the value I was generating, was from some other faraway corporate client. Now, working for startups, I can see the customers, talk to them, and see their joy when a piece of technology can help them.
The only issue is that all my peers in my two roles are remote, and no one is in Hong Kong. The closest person is in Australia. Technology is amazing in that it lets us work together quite efficiently, but I still miss the human touch and face-to-face conversations. I wish someone could invent a teleporter asap!
I’m still figuring out my perfect job or working environment, but I know I’m getting closer to it. For me, having a high degree of autonomy and the ability to make a positive impact are essential for success. I believe that’s something that comes naturally with being part of a small, focused team.
24 years old, Graphic Designer
#work-life balance, #flexible, #smaller but collaborative team, #learning
I enjoy the process of typography in graphic design the most, but my current job doesn’t offer many opportunities to engage in what I love, which creates a gap between my expectations and reality. I often have to work overtime without extra pay. If there’s no overtime pay, I prefer not to stay late at work. However, my current job takes up too much of my time, leaving me with little space and time for personal thought and creativity. I often work until 10 pm, and since my home is far from the office, I don’t get home until midnight.
I believe having personal time is very important; when you subtract time spent with family and friends and in romantic relationships, there’s even less time left for myself.
To balance my creativity and the limitations and restraints imposed by my company, I’ve learnt to create more than one version of the design: one that follows exactly their requirements, one that is slightly off from the requests, and one that is totally from my design aesthetic.
In my ideal work environment, I wouldn’t work five days a week but rather have a flexible schedule of three to four days. I would handle tasks at home when possible because commuting takes up a lot of my time. I also prefer smaller teams for the workspace because I want to communicate and collaborate with colleagues and my boss. In larger companies, I feel each colleague tends to focus solely on their tasks with little communication with others, which creates a lack of unity.
The most important aspect of a happy job is that it allows me to apply my skills and creativity while continuously learning.
Currently, I do not have a full picture of my future career, and I struggle to find a job that fully aligns with my goals and passion. Therefore, I am seeking various positions and trying to eliminate the options to sort out my possible career path.
27 years old, Public Relations
#efficient, #interactive, #meaningful, #diverse
In my previous role as a PR officer, the tasks I was given were mainly supportive in nature, meaning there was not much room for me to take initiative and ownership. A lot of my tasks were dependent on third parties, such as partners and colleagues from other departments, which made it hard for me to finish my work within my preferred time frame and structure. Plus, the whole hierarchical culture in big companies made things feel slow and inefficient. It sometimes left me feeling like just another cog in the machine—like my work didn’t really matter all that much and I can’t see how my contribution to the company has been recognised or rewarded.
Our parents’ generation values stable jobs so much because they grew up in a time when resources were scarce. But for us, it’s different. Since our basic needs are met, like food and housing, we’re looking for more than a paycheck in our career. We are looking for self-actualisation, our identity and how we can make a difference to society.
For me, the ideal job isn’t a typical 9-to-5 sitting in a cubicle job. I want something where I can interact with people, make decisions, and actually see the impact of my work. I also value flexibility and autonomy—I’d love to have the time and energy to explore my interests, for example, managing my social media accounts. I don’t want to be defined by just one role.
It is hard for me to name one dream job or dream company as I envision my career as a lifelong learning journey, so I would not be surprised or reject the idea of switching jobs where I see fit. Actually, the thought of staying in one role and one job for more than a few years scares me more!
29 years old, Hospitality
#stable working hours, #challenging, #human interaction, #work-life balance
I currently work as an engagement manager at one of the coworking spaces in Hong Kong. I do quite enjoy my current job as I have always been looking for stable working hours and customer-facing positions.
I used to work in hotels, but when COVID-19 came, the head counts were on hold. It was a bit upsetting, and I felt lost, wondering if I should explore industries outside of hospitality. That’s when I made the switch to coworking spaces.
The reason I chose to stay in the hospitality industry is my educational background and eight years of experience in this sector. I also feel more challenged and fulfilled in guest-facing roles , as they allow me to interact directly with clients. Stable working hours are another priority for me because my sleep quality was severely affected by the constant shift rotations in hotels. This eventually weakened my immune system and led to eczema, which took me almost a year to recover from.
If I could design my perfect job or working environment, it would provide a work-life balance with little breaks of 10 minutes every two hours and a 1.5-hour lunch break, allowing employees to refresh their minds before going back to perform work efficiently.
29 years old, Slasher
#flexible, #creative, #new experience
I currently work as a slasher, meaning I have multiple jobs simultaneously. I work as an actress, host, emcee, video editor, pilates instructor, boardgames teacher, and some more.
Being a slasher gives me the flexibility to plan my schedule, so every day is different for me, and I really enjoy having the freedom to decide how I want my day to go. I did do a nine-to-five internship during university, and that was when I realised being “trapped” in the same role in the same environment every day was not how I wanted to live my life. Each job of mine brings a different type of fulfilment, such as how I can be creative in video editing, how I can connect with people when I teach, and how I can use my language skills for hosting. Work never gets boring because I am always meeting new people and doing new projects.
One disadvantage of being a slasher is that I cannot enjoy employee welfare. Since I don’t work full-time for a company, I don’t get medical insurance, year-end bonuses, or other benefits that a company would normally offer. Also, it can sometimes feel lonely to always work alone at home and have no long-term colleagues.
If I could design a perfect working environment, I would include a space where slashers and freelancers can come together and work alongside each other. This way, even though our work is flexible and irregular, we can still have the human connection and support we need.
34 years old, Area Sales Manager
#work-life balance, #flexible, #contemporary, #energetic working culture
I’m happy with my job at a multinational corporation. It offers a great work-life balance, respects personal decisions, and allows me to engage with diverse cultures, broadening my horizons. While it doesn’t fully align with my academic background, the language skills I’ve developed help me connect with people from different walks of life. The opportunity to travel and meet clients worldwide makes it the ideal role I’ve been seeking.
That said, I hope the company recruits more Gen Z employees. The current environment feels somewhat outdated, and I believe a younger perspective could bring fresh energy and positively transform the workplace culture.
In my ideal working environment, I’d work in a modern, flexible environment with a team of peers around my age. A contemporary office space would also be key to fostering both my happiness and success.
33 years old, IT Developer
#flexible, #supportive, #collaborative team culture
I enjoy new tasks or projects using skills that I didn’t know and haven’t tried before. However, I‘m not happy with the work I do in my current company because of the overwhelming workload, lack of support from the team and poor work environment.
When I first joined this company, there was only one toilet for female employees, which frequently malfunctioned. This forced me to go to the nearby shopping centre for basic restroom needs. Additionally, during a major layoff at that time, there was little support available from experienced colleagues, as the culture seemed to reflect the saying, “Each person sweeps the snow in front of their own door.”
What is even more disheartening is that our company recently fired our remote offshore project manager in Taiwan and just last week let go of our designer in Singapore. Instead of boasting about significant profits and bonuses or pursuing a public offering, I believe companies should refrain from laying off employees right before the Chinese New Year.
To create a happier working environment, I believe it would be beneficial to implement a policy that allows for one day of sick leave without requiring a doctor’s note. Furthermore, a hybrid work policy with more work-from-home options and flexible hot desks where each space is available for any worker would enhance employee satisfaction.
It is essential to foster a team culture that is not toxic and focuses on more than just getting work done. A supportive environment that encourages cooperation rather than constant competition for fame, income, and power is crucial. Colleagues should collaborate and face external challenges as a united front.
I plan to stay at this company for at least a year, as I’ve changed five IT jobs in less than five years and want to avoid frequent switches. ■