| - If you can speak Mandarin, you'll have no problem | | | | get you hired - I have great "guanxi'! |
| finding a job. If not, take a year off to learn and | | | | In China "guanxi" is a much hyped concept that |
| your future in China will be secure! | | | | refers to having valuable connections that can open |
| This really depends on which type of position you are | | | | doors that would be otherwise closed to a |
| targeting. In China, fluent Mandarin skills may help you | | | | "waiguoren" (foreigner). Again, it depends on the role |
| to land a HR or Finance position as a expat candidate | | | | and the company, but it's more likely that who |
| (and reading will probably be required), but it may not | | | | knows about you, your credibility and ability to |
| help you with a commercial role, where much more | | | | penetrate crucial organizations and build relationships |
| emphasis is put on having established relationships, | | | | with key stakeholders, and what you can actually |
| being able to build them, with critical end users | | | | contribute, that counts. |
| customers, and other parties. These vary by industry | | | | As a foreigner, even with a huge network including |
| but could include distributors, system integrators and | | | | local Chinese, there may be no way for you to gain |
| design institutes for the industrial sector, for example. | | | | the credibility, trust and a crucial "in" to local or |
| The language requirements vary depending on the | | | | national government departments, or bureaus, for |
| industry. Any knowledge of Mandarin is a plus in | | | | example, that you need to really penetrate to build |
| China, but it won't guarantee you a job. You need to | | | | your career or win the projects you are targeting. A |
| factor in the reality that in China "fluent Mandarin" | | | | strong network of contacts will certainly be an asset |
| takes years of study and maintenance, one year's | | | | for helping to market your brand message, refer |
| "total immersion" will not guarantee fluency. New | | | | opportunities and possibly refer job leads or inside |
| arrivals in China often don't realise that local dialects | | | | information, but it may not be enough to land you a |
| are prevalent and makes maintaining their skills | | | | job in China on its own. |
| challenging. | | | | - It's easy to find a GM or senior executive level |
| The "fluent Mandarin" requirements is often a | | | | position as a foreigner - the local managers don't |
| euphemism for "we won't consider a non native | | | | have my experience or leadership skills! |
| speaker", or "yours had better be good because we | | | | Whilst it's true that the "talent war" means there is a |
| will interview you in Chinese and give you a reading | | | | shortage of candidates with the necessary language, |
| and writing test". Try to get a firm understanding of | | | | leadership and business growth track record as some |
| the exact requirements first, study the job | | | | Western candidates offer, there is a rapidly increasing |
| description and check with your recruiter, if | | | | influx of Chinese overseas returnees desperate to |
| appropriate. | | | | get back into the market. Many have top MBAs, |
| A lay-man's grasp of Mandarin may be just enough, | | | | which have already been put into practice overseas, |
| and a big plus, in some sectors including the | | | | and excellent English language skills, and, often more |
| hospitality, service and education industries where a | | | | importantly, experience of managing Chinese teams |
| working command, or conversational Mandarin, has | | | | and the in-depth cultural understanding required to |
| given them an edge. | | | | land some of the increasingly localized Director, DGM |
| When considering whether or not to study Mandarin | | | | or GM positions. Many of these candidates are |
| prior moving to China, do be realistic about how much | | | | extremely flexible on their salary expectations and |
| time and effort you have to dedicate to the project, | | | | usually have family back in China, so they do not |
| and also look at other avenues of study that may | | | | require a full expat package with accommodation |
| prove more effective in helping you land your ideal | | | | allowances etc. This makes them very in demand and |
| career. | | | | a low-risk hire in the candidate market, and most |
| - In China particularly it's "who you know": that will | | | | usually, a top priority for succession planning in China. |