Planning to hire in China? Zhaopin, with over 200 million registered users, is often a first stop for international companies entering the market. This guide will walk you through how to hire on Zhaopin effectively.
The Platform at a Glance
Zhaopin works best for entry to mid-level hiring, offering a substantial pool of active candidates at competitive rates. While it’s excellent for volume recruitment, it’s less effective for executive searches or specialist roles.
The platform is only available in Chinese, so you’ll need someone with decent Mandarin language skills to navigate it effectively.
How to Post a Job on Zhaopin
Important: You must have a legal entity established in China to hire on Zhaopin. If you don’t have one yet, contact us about using an Employer of Record (EOR) service to handle your hiring needs legally.
If you have a legal entity in China, you’ll need three documents to sign up for Zhaopin:
- Business license
- Legal representative’s ID (front and back)
- Authorisation letter (if you’re not the legal representative)
The verification process typically takes 2-3 business days. All documents must be in Chinese and meet local regulatory requirements.
After verification, you can begin posting jobs. Each posting goes through a review process that typically takes one business day.
Pricing & Packages
The free enterprise account is quite generous and should suffice unless you’re hiring at scale. You get:
- 10 free job postings
- Basic resume downloads
- Direct messaging with up to 3 candidates daily
Note: The free offerings regularly change.
If you’re planning large-scale recruitment or need premium features, you might want to consider a paid package.
Paid Options
Zhaopin offers several annual subscription options based on team size and hiring needs. Here’s what you get with the basic single-user package (5,380 yuan/year, approximately $750):
Core Features:
- 50 simultaneous job postings
- Professional messaging system
- Up to 100 candidate chats daily
Premium Benefits:
- Enhanced visibility in search results
- Priority placement features
- Advanced candidate matching tools
Higher-tier packages are available for teams of two or more users, offering increased posting limits and additional features.
Time You’re Hiring with Seasonal Trends
Remember to time your hiring appropriately. The Chinese job market follows distinct seasonal patterns. The best hiring windows are post-Chinese New Year (Q1) and post-National Day (October), when candidates actively seek new opportunities – though expect higher salary demands during these peak periods. The market slows significantly at year-end, while Q4 is optimal for campus recruitment.
Key Takeaways
Zhaopin offers excellent value for entry to mid-level recruitment, particularly if you’re hiring at volume. The platform’s extensive candidate pool and competitive pricing make it an efficient choice for most standard positions.
However, for senior executives or specialized roles, you may want to consider alternatives like Liepin, which tends to attract more experienced candidates. While Zhaopin is cost-effective, success rates for high-end recruitment are notably lower than on these premium platforms.
