A group of MBA students at Macao Polytechnic University recently conducted a study into the challenges facing former junket employees in finding new career paths. Here their lecturer, Ryan Hong-Wai Ho, takes a look at some key findings.
Once upon a time there were junket rooms, where we used to raise a glass or two. Remember how we laughed away the hours…
VIP rooms were once the revenue driver for Macau casinos. People engaging in the junket business were well compensated and hailed as the “wunderkinds” of the gaming industry. With the collapse of the VIP junket model, gaming promoters have been knocked off their pedestals, leaving their employees high and dry.
Résumés showing gaming promotion experience no longer look attractive. Junket employees were left standing when the music stopped in VIP rooms. Since late 2021, the city’s Labour Affairs Bureau has organized a series of job-matching sessions for those affected by the closure and layoffs in the junket sector. As in life, time heals all wounds. Some junket employees suffering from career setbacks have gradually re-entered the workforce.
THE NEXT STEP
A preliminary study on the career movement of former junket employees was recently conducted by a group of MBA students at the Macao Polytechnic University. The students talked to a dozen former junket employees in March and April about how they have coped with the career change. While some have been in-between jobs, others have taken up various hospitality positions in hotel, retail and gaming (table games, cage and marketing).
In addition, some VIP room staff have left the industry and moved on to opportunities in other careers, such as insurance agent or taxi or bus driver. The following examines the highlights of their re-employment and the challenges faced by two former junket workers who have successfully reinvented their careers.
CASE 1
BREAKING INTO A BANKING CAREER
Jane (pseudonym), aged 35, worked in finance for a leading junket promoter for a decade. Her responsibilities included the preparation of management reports and data analysis. As an experienced accounting professional, Jane remarked that she was devalued for her junket experience during most job interviews. Fortunately, with a humble attitude and customer-oriented mindset, Jane convinced one hiring manager a year after leaving her junket job. She has since been working as an assistant manager for a bank.
“I only had work experience in VIP rooms for the past 10 years. Many recruiters had reservations about the competence of candidates like me, having preconceived opinions based on the stereotypes of junket employees. Meanwhile, the ‘VIP room incident’ made it even more difficult for junket employees to find jobs.
“Now, I work in the frontline … The bank has a wide range of work content and products, and the work process is heavy … It was very stressful at the beginning, but it has become much better after getting familiar with (the job) step by step.”
CASE 2
LEAPING INTO A TECHNICAL CAREER
John (pseudonym), aged 28, was a VIP host for three years. Amidst the pandemic disruption and business slowdown, John took the voluntary redundancy package offered by his then-employer and left the high-paying job in mid-2020. With a background and interest in electronics, John tailored his job search to relevant positions. It took him about two months before landing his current job as a technician at a casino equipment supplier.
“It is a foreign company. The English requirements are relatively high but manageable. In terms of salary, it is much less, a fixed pay without tips; but there is no shift work, I can rest on weekends.
“The new job was hard at first … but I can learn many maintenance skills, which are intangible assets. Salary will increase with experience and the job is suitable for long-term development. In general, I am relatively satisfied with my current job.”
RE-EMPLOYMENT CHALLENGES
Most former junket employees saw a significant drop in their remuneration. When asked about the income differentials, both interviewees admitted the current salary could not be compared to the old days, and the pay cut ranged from 50% to 60%. Jane remarked that “it is impossible to return to that pay level in the future.”
Other common challenges faced by former junket employees include skills gaps, fear of change and bias against job seekers with previous VIP room backgrounds. Hiring managers outside the junket community may, in some cases, frown upon candidates who once worked in the junket environment. Besides, junket employees were often negatively stereotyped as opportunistic and lacking work experience in other fields.
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH …
Changing careers requires patience and perseverance. It is suggested that junket employees assess their interests, qualifications, aspirations and employability skills when making career moves. In the cases of Jane and John, both have identified new career paths and explored job opportunities outside their comfort zone. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, they have turned adversity into an opportunity to start fresh and work towards their professional goals.
Job seekers are also advised to adjust their mentality and adapt to the new employment environment. For Jane and John, their positivity and determination got them through the adverse times. The two case studies exemplify the resilience of most former junket employees who have navigated the career transition and moved into new professions. Moreover, the cases of Jane and John could inspire other fellow colleagues to explore and prepare for new career possibilities, especially after an extended absence from the workplace.
Remember: when the going gets tough, the tough get going!
