Published on Career Center on ClassifiedPost.com

Hunt for cream of the crop

Administrative officers (AOs) form the backbone of Hong Kong's civil service and these positions have long been among the most sought after in the city.

The lucky few who manage to get accepted are trained to become multi-disciplined professional administrators. They are put on the fast track to fill up senior positions in the government.

The attraction of a career in the civil service has not been dimmed by the establishment of the political appointment system in 2008 which introduced new layers of senior officials often drawn from outside the ranks.

Recruitment exercises for 20-30 AO vacancies regularly attract 10,000 applicants or more. The candidates who are finally selected are the cream of the crop.

Some of the requirements include a first or second class honours bachelor's degree from a Hong Kong university or equivalent; a pass result in the aptitude te