With over 1.4 billion people, China is not short of labour. An often-quoted line goes, ‘in the west; there is work for which you need to find people. In China, there are people for which you need to find work.’ However, this does not mean that finding the right talent is easy, and many foreign companies face the challenge of talent recruitment and retention. As the China Desk hires talent for your China operation, we are happy to share some essential tips for finding the right person.
Define the JD
First, you must be clear in your mind about what you want. What skills are you looking for, and what personality? We also recommend writing down all the responsibilities the new hire takes on. Be as specific as possible with this list. Two key questions you should consider are:
- How is this role going to fit into your organization?
- Who will they report to in your team?
When hiring your first supply chain employee, consider a supplier account manager. This role is generalist, but it covers a range of functions. As a result, Kinyu provides JD templates for its China Desk launch phase to ensure it clearly expresses all aspects of the role.
Competitive salary
Do your research on market salaries! Recruitment firms issue many reports on benchmarks for various roles but do not always paint the whole picture. Many salary levels vary per city, and crucial role attributes include English-speaking ability. Salaries are not always low. You get what you pay for in terms of a salary package and must factor in social insurance when calculating.
Try to be competitive in your package and prepare to highlight salary right from the very beginning. We recommend putting it in the JD.
Recruitment channels
There are many differences between China and the west, and recruiting channels are no exception. Whilst it’s still possible to post jobs on the new cutback Linkedin China, it’s not a mainstream channel for talent in China. The main job sites in China are BOSS, Liepin, 58jobs and Lagou. The vast majority of job seekers use these platforms. However, if you want to post on these websites, you must be a registered entity with a Chinese national ID number. Plus, they are all in Chinese!
These websites take user experience very seriously, so they do not want bogus opportunities littering their classifieds. They even make the job poster, sign and stamp a document confirming that they currently work for the company posting the job and have the authority to publish the role.
As part of The China Desk, you can post your role on all these platforms to ensure you get the broadest reach for your position. In addition, Kinyu advertises the roles on additional channels such as the British Chamber of Commerce Guangdong, the European Chamber of Commerce and UK university alum groups.
Recruitment partners
Some roles can be unique or have a particular speciality that may require more attention. To ensure that companies get the right talent, Kinyu collaborates with some key recruitment partners in China, such as Hays. Check out our Q&A session with Cece Tang, Head of the Hays Guangzhou office.
What do Chinese candidates look for in an employer?
This question is an important one, and assumptions are often very wrong. In China, creating an attractive offer is all about priorities, and the number one priority is stability. Chinese candidates like to work in larger companies where salaries are assured, and they can map their career paths.
There are other vital areas to consider, such as power distance, team engagement and economic prospects. What candidates look for in a role is an important topic, and you can read more in our recent blog, Hiring in China 101 – the key things you need to know.
What do Chinese candidates look for in a role?
As mentioned above, candidates highly regard a well-defined JD with a clear line manager and the prospect of career progression. Stability is also a top priority for job seekers. As a result, a full-time role will always attract more applicants than a part-time one. On top of this, a position where a company will sign an employment contract instead of a consultancy one will generate more interest. The reasons for this are:
- The company will be responsible for paying social insurance
- Employment contracts are subject to Chinese labour law, which is very employee friendly.
We will be issuing an article about employment contracts soon! In addition, as part of The China Desk, you can offer attractive employee benefits, as we act as the employer of record in China.
Finally, location and travel costs are vital considerations. Many candidates will be reluctant to move to a different city due to the complications of social insurance in another city and the lack of local relationships. You should be wary of candidates willing to relocate far away for a role. Whilst they might seem inclined to do so initially, this will wear off over time, especially if they already have a family.
Get in Touch
This article could go on forever, but we must stop somewhere! We are always happy to hear from people recruiting in China, so If you would like more info on attracting the best talent – feel free to get in touch here.
