Chinese Workers Say “No Thanks” to Offers of Work from Western Companies

Recruiters have long sought exceptionally skilled workers from China.  They looked for people who might be able to really help serve American-owned companies and appreciate the opportunity to work for a western company.  According to a report from the Corporate Executive Board, recruiting workers from China has become much more difficult.

In an effort to address this difficulty, the Corporate Executive Board suggested that companies work harder to appeal to Chinese workers. 

When a person is debating leaving their community to live faraway, it’s important to know that the job will provide long-term career opportunities.  Job candidates may want to know about the long-term stability and future prospects of your organization.  They may also want to know what a company has done for the Chinese marketplace and for Chinese employees.  Worker may want to know if they will be able to stay in China as they gain more responsibility.

Chinese workers may be under the impression that foreign corporations will never allow Chinese workers to occupy the top positions at a corporation.  Is this impression a myth or a fact?  If there seems to be some truth to this impression, a company would do well to reconsider its hierarchical system.

The Corporate Executive Board also suggests that companies build “a quasi-local brand that will be respected by Chinese employees and potentially perceived as more domestic in nature.”

Recruiters are undoubtedly among the first to recognize shifts is attitude about working for American companies.  What do you think would be the best practices for recruiting and retaining talented workers from abroad?