Hong Kong-bred Building Surveyor breaks career ground at Prometheus Real Estate Group with support from Upwardly Global
Man Yu lives and breathes buildings. After spending 40 years in Hong Kong, a bustling city renowned for its towering skyscrapers, it felt only natural for him to make a career out of maintaining them.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in facilities management, Man spent 12 years as a Building Surveyor for Hong Kong schools. In the role, he was responsible for conducting building inspections, ensuring compliance with safety regulations, and overseeing maintenance and renovation projects.
By 2016, he held a senior leadership position at a private international school nestled in the foggy hills of Lantau Island — Hong Kong’s largest island.
Moving to the U.S.
However, in January 2016, Man’s decade-long career in Hong Kong came to an abrupt halt. He, his wife, and two children upended their life in Hong Kong to reunite with family in Northern California.
“My family decided to move to the United States because my in-laws resided in California for over 20 years, and they really looked forward to having us move here,” he says. “I had never been to the United States before I moved — I had no idea about the culture, how easy it would be to get a job.”
On arrival, Man’s brother-in-law recommended Upwardly Global, an organization dedicated to helping immigrants and refugees find professional jobs in the U.S. He applied immediately, hoping it would help him navigate the unfamiliar job market.
Getting help from Upwardly Global
Over two million immigrants with college degrees are either unemployed or working in low-wage jobs that do not fully utilize their talents. Many face challenges in translating their qualifications to match the U.S. context, encountering barriers like hiring managers and recruiters being unfamiliar with their home country’s job titles and credentialing systems.
“In the United States, with a totally different system, they have different names for my profession. I was called a ‘facility manager’ back in Hong Kong, but here, we call it ‘building surveyor,’” says Man. “The qualification I got may not be recognized, so that part I worried a bit.”
Once enrolled in Upwardly Global’s Career Coaching Program, Man learned exactly how to translate his career into the U.S. context. His career coach guided him through every step of the job search process, covering U.S.-style resumes, cover letters, and interview skills. The small changes added up.
“At first, I applied for a lot of jobs with three or four-page resumes and I didn’t hear anything back,” Man remembers. “And once I made over my resume, I sent out probably 15 resumes, I got three interviews, and I got offered two jobs.”
Making connections with U.S. employers
During a mock interview workshop hosted by Upwardly Global, Man met a senior manager from Prometheus Real Estate Group, the largest private owner of multifamily properties in the San Francisco Bay Area. The connection soon spurred a job offer.
“We truly value our relationship with Upwardly Global,” says the Prometheus team. “Man has become such an integral part of Prometheus, and that would not have happened without our partnership.”
For the last eight years, Man has expanded his career at Prometheus. He currently serves as the Office Services Manager, leading a team that oversees all operations, maintenance, repairs, and events at their corporate headquarters. Man’s role is essential to Prometheus as it creates constant positive energy to employees and makes everyone feel at home.
“I worked my butt off, and we got our first house a few years ago,” says Man, whose children have also settled into life in California over the years. “For them, for me, for my wife — the whole family — there is really a big difference now. We really appreciate the opportunities in the United States.”
After just a few years at Prometheus, Man earned the award of “Home Office Promethean of the Year” in 2023 for his huge impact across the organization. In addition to his career success, he gives back to his community by volunteering at networking and mock interview events with Upwardly Global.
“I don’t know where I would be without joining Upwardly Global,” he reflects. “When you move to a new environment, dive into the local culture. Being connected is so important — that’s how your career can build.”