June 6, 2014, by Beth Dawson

Home, sweet home: returning to China

By Liting Zhang, Global Employment Manager (China)

Exams are finally over, and you may be looking forward to enjoying some home comforts when you head back to China. But after you’ve rested, you’ll want to start looking at what opportunities are out there for you. What do you need to know about the labour market in China and finding a graduate job? 

Let’s start with some good news: graduate jobs are on the rise!

According to a survey conducted by zhaopin.com, the number of graduate positions among employers in China has risen by 10% in 2014. Although the number of vacancies at multinational companies (MNCs) remains more or less the same as last year, graduate opportunities in state-owned companies in China have grown by 72%!

It’s not all about Tier 1 cities!

Consider working in Tier 2 (T2) cities such as Suzhou, Wuxi, Hefei, Chongqing and Qingdao, as well as Tier 1 cities like Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. Employers are eager to recruit graduates to these cities, as they’re shifting their focus on business operations and growth towards T2 cities.

To further expand your options, research a range of Chinese and non-Chinese companies and look at entry-level positions, as well as graduate ones.

From multinationals to growing companies, there’s lots of opportunity

The Chinese government has committed funds to subsidise the costs of paying social welfare insurance for newly recruited graduates for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Although more than half of returners want to work in MNCs, there’s a lot opportunities with SMEs, with 52% of returning graduates finding a position with these businesses.

An increasing number of smaller businesses are using LinkedIn to connect with their customers and potential employees. So ensure your LinkedIn account presents a positive and professional impression of you. For our top tips about creating a LinkedIn profile that will impress employers, visit our online networking webpage and read our blog about using virtual connections for real world success.

Skills in demand

The top four characteristics employers say they want candidates to demonstrate are a global-oriented perspective (46%), a proactive and initiative-driven approach to work (19%), English proficiency (17%) and adaptability (6%). You’ll have lots of experiences from your time at Nottingham that you can use to demonstrate these skills, such as taking additional academic writing classes, being involved in a society or having a part-time job.

Start your job hunt

If you’re planning to return home and haven’t begun to look for opportunities, here are some useful job hunting resources to get you started.

• MyCareer – when searching for vacancies and employers, use the keyword ‘China’ to view job opportunities in China and companies who are eager to recruit students from Nottingham.
• Our website – features advice about returning to China to find work
• Alumni UK – organises workshops and job fairs for UK alumni in China in March.

We’ll see you back home

Then in late September, we’ll be holding an event in Shanghai to welcome you back to China, this will be a great opportunity to network with employers and alumni who can give you insights into job hunting at home. To receive your invitation, make sure your personal email address is listed on the student portal.

If you want more advice to help you prepare for your job hunt when you return home, visit our international stand at our Graduate Jobs Fair on Monday 9 June, where our team will be on-hand to talk to you about finding opportunities.

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