Tag Archives: China recruitment Agency

Career Builder – Q&A Session

Monday, 09 March 2015 02:17
q&a  

 

March is the peak season for job-hunting and job-hopping. Some of our listeners are about to graduate and try to find jobs, others want to change their jobs and hop to another company. They want some enlightening ideas from the expert in Career builder by putting forward their questions to us.

Today Robert Parkinson, founder and CEO of RMG Selection, gave his answers to these challenging questions in this Q&A session of Career Builder. Go and get the answers by yourself.

  1. Question from Cattle:

In China, there is a common custom for employers to ask what kind of salary package you want. But if there is a proper manner to ask the employer about the salary package and when is the appropriate time to ask?

  • You cannot talk about money staff in public. But you may say what you expectations are. You’ve got to use your common sense and go with your opinions. Actually, it’s a question of judgement in the situation.
  • The other thing you can do is to research how much the position would pay. This is to make sure that your predictions are realistic and in line with the market.
  • Sometimes the employer may ask how much salary you want and that may be the appropriate time to raise you expectations. And when you answer this question, you should be both realistic and confident.
  1. Question from Z:

Z is unsure about the direction he wants to take his career in and is not sure how to find the right field for him. So can you please suggest?

  • Do some testing, like DISC. All these tests may give you indications that what kind of person you are and what kind of jobs are appropriate for you. So use some available tools out there.
  • Talk to experienced people who are at the age of 4 or so. I guarantee you be someone different.
  1. Question from Draco:

I have a year’s work experience and since then have spent several months doing part time jobs without being able to find another full time position. How should I explain this during my next job interview?

  • It depends on the context why you left your first job. If the reasons are not reasonable, it’s better to leave them off the CV. But if it is reasonable for you to make the change, then it is completely fine to do part-time job. Actually it shows initiative.
  1. Question from Susan:

I’m working at a joint venture company here in Beijing, and I am thinking changing my job to another one, which is my company’s rival in the market. I can’t get my supervisor to recommend me of course, but I’ve got a friend in my current company who can help me write a reference. I’m concerned about whether such reference will raise doubts about my friend’s ethic standards.

  • I think it depends on which context you put the reference. If it is a character reference, I think it is OK. But you can’t really place it as an employee reference. It depends on what the rival company means and the rival company may well-anticipated that situation.
  1. Question from Chenlin:

I switched jobs three times in the last year. I have heard that the employers within the same city and industry often know each other and I am scared that I may have built up a bad reputation with the industry, is that really true? How should I also explain this to my next employer? Have I ruined my career?

  • The world is small. You need to be careful because people do talk. Don’t do this again. Stay in your current job at least for the next three or four years.
  1. Question from Paul:

I have been working in my current company for a year and I really like my job, while I don’t get on particularly well with my co-workers. Sometimes I really want to leave my job but I am scared that would look bad on my CV. Should I try and gain another year of experience here for the sake my CV or just move on?

  • You should investigate about the causes of the poor relationship. And ask yourself the following questions. Is that something you can overcome or you can do something about? Would that be a mini achievement for him to learn to get on with people? Or are you discriminated against?
  • To solve the issue with your colleagues would be a great thing to do. Because you didn’t do that, chances are that the same situation would move to the next job. The pattern may continue. So sort out the current situation and then decide what should be done next.
  1. Question from Xiaoxiong:

Last year, I completed a law degree at LSE and I have been working in the field for less than a year and have decided it is not for me. I am really interested in Finance. I do not have the relevant experience in the field but I consider myself quite knowledgeable about the industry. I have considered taking the CFA exams and would like to know if switching career fields would be feasible?

  • Everyone’s first job is tedious groundwork. If you quit that and go to CFA exams, you may similarly find finance is not for you when you encounter difficulties.
  • Whatever you do, do it well and enjoy it. Make the best of your potential. That’s the point.
  1. Question from Summer:

I am currently living in Guangzhou with my family. I have been offered a good job in Beijing. Is it worth me holding out for a better position in area I would prefer or should just bite the bullet and take the job in Beijing?

  • Sometimes bullet biting is quite good for young people because employers want to see people push themselves and do things that challenge them.
  • People need to be mobile nowadays in China. So I suggest Summer go and accept the job in Beijing.

Listen to the program on CRI: http://english.cri.cn/7146/2015/03/04/3481s868561.htm

 

Soap's Conniving Concubines Draw Offical Fire – RMG Senior Consultant on Global Times

Tuesday, 30 October 2012 03:43

A review of the rating charts for Chinese television series over the last couple of years shows what seems to be a magic formula: feature a scheming harem involved in a back-stabbing power struggle in ancient China.

Many series on this theme involve intricate plot lines in which concubines forge alliances and cliques that end up fighting each other in the hope of gaining favor with the emperor.

The soap operas appear to resonate in the hearts and minds of some viewers by reminding them of office politics. Some have even compiled their own interpretations of the shows, saying the stories set in ancient times allude to various social abuses that can also be found in the modern world.

The Legend of Zhen Huan, one of the latest hits, has been viewed more than 30 million times on a video website letv.com. On an online forum on baidu.com, fans have posted nearly 3,800 discussions and more than 44,000 comments have been written.

The finale of the show garnered 10 percent of the viewing public in Shanghai, ranking it top of the chart.

Critics note that viewers’ enthusiasm for such TV shows is rooted in China’s thousand-year culture of connections and relationship networking. Viewers love to pry apart and analyze what’s happening behind the scenes of the power conflicts.

Office politics

The success of the “palace-infighting” shows dates back to the 2004 series War and Beauty produced by Hong Kong’s TVB. The characters deceive, manipulate and betray each other to get what they want. Their ruthlessness was seen as a metaphor for today’s office politics.

Over the past year there has been an explosion of such shows, including The Palace, The Emperor’s Harem and Curse of the Royal Harem. The most popular is the The Legend of Zhen Huan.

Adapted from a novel, the show revolves around Zhen Huan, a newcomer to the emperor’s harem. An innocent and pure girl at the beginning of the series, Zhen finds herself caught up in fierce infighting among the concubines.

Using her wits and sometimes unscrupulous methods, Zhen fights her way into the emperor’s heart, eventually becoming the empress.

Fans see the show as a metaphor for “survival in today’s professional world.” They see Zhen as a white-collar professional dressed in an ancient outfit.

One review posted online compared the emperor to a typical workplace boss, and the concubines to employees who are willing to try any means to win their boss’ favor.

“Everyone can find an example of their own experiences in the show. Some characters may be sitting in the office next door,” said Zhang Nan, an office worker.

Zheng Xiaolong, the TV series’ director, likened the heroine’s story to a college graduate who finally becomes CEO of a company.

Li Yin, a senior consultant with the headhunting consultancy RMG Selection, told the Global Times that just like today’s professional world, concubines in ancient times were also ranked, and could be promoted and demoted.

“The show tells us about rules in the professional world. For instance, one shouldn’t become arrogant once he or she finds favor in a company; otherwise, it will affect their performance and cause their career to nosedive,” Li noted. “This is particularly important in some State-owned enterprises, where there is a sense of hierarchy based on the country’s long feudal history.”

“The show also tells us that “fence sitters” won’t win the heart of any party in a company, including the boss,” Li said.

Not without criticisms

Despite its high ratings, The Legend of Zhen Huan has also stirred controversies.

Some argued that the metaphor for office politics is simplified demonizing of the professional world.

Wei Min, a human resources specialist with a foreign-owned enterprise, told the Global Times that she regards The Legend of Zhen Huan as a favorite pastime, and does not over-interpret its relevance to today’s professional world.

“There are some tips you should remember, but scheming and power struggles are not that prevalent in an office as some viewers suggested,” Wei said.

“If you follow the fans, you will start to assume your colleagues are rivals and waste your energy on infighting,” said Li.

Meanwhile, an opinion piece in the People’s Daily lambasted the TV series featuring palace infighting, calling for an end to such shows.

It criticized the programs for promoting the rule of the jungle and back-stabbing that magnify the evil side of human nature. It fears the dramas will twist young people’s perception of social relationships.

A portrayal of real world

The New Weekly magazine suggested the palace infighting dramas portray some social problems that plague today’s real world.

The concubines in the shows are often backed by wealthy and influential families, which many people believe is pretty much a necessity to get ahead in the world today. The New Weekly compared the imperial harem to a miniature social network.

Zhang Yiwu, a professor of cultural studies at Peking University, said that China’s youth over-estimate the complexity of the real world and are taking the dramas as their bible.

“When young people leave school and go out into the professional world, they are unsophisticated, like a blank piece of paper. They might sometimes imagine the worst of society, and such dramas cater to them,” he said, adding that such shows won’t necessarily cause a negative impact on the society.

Read the article: http://www.globaltimes.cn/NEWS/tabid/99/ID/710437/Soaps-conniving-concubines-draw-offical-fire.aspx

Read the magazine:  https://www.rmgselection.com/images/rmg%20news_gt_may_cl_1.jpg

Soap’s Conniving Concubines Draw Offical Fire – RMG Senior Consultant on Global Times

Tuesday, 30 October 2012 03:43

A review of the rating charts for Chinese television series over the last couple of years shows what seems to be a magic formula: feature a scheming harem involved in a back-stabbing power struggle in ancient China.

Many series on this theme involve intricate plot lines in which concubines forge alliances and cliques that end up fighting each other in the hope of gaining favor with the emperor.

The soap operas appear to resonate in the hearts and minds of some viewers by reminding them of office politics. Some have even compiled their own interpretations of the shows, saying the stories set in ancient times allude to various social abuses that can also be found in the modern world.

The Legend of Zhen Huan, one of the latest hits, has been viewed more than 30 million times on a video website letv.com. On an online forum on baidu.com, fans have posted nearly 3,800 discussions and more than 44,000 comments have been written.

The finale of the show garnered 10 percent of the viewing public in Shanghai, ranking it top of the chart.

Critics note that viewers’ enthusiasm for such TV shows is rooted in China’s thousand-year culture of connections and relationship networking. Viewers love to pry apart and analyze what’s happening behind the scenes of the power conflicts.

Office politics

The success of the “palace-infighting” shows dates back to the 2004 series War and Beauty produced by Hong Kong’s TVB. The characters deceive, manipulate and betray each other to get what they want. Their ruthlessness was seen as a metaphor for today’s office politics.

Over the past year there has been an explosion of such shows, including The Palace, The Emperor’s Harem and Curse of the Royal Harem. The most popular is the The Legend of Zhen Huan.

Adapted from a novel, the show revolves around Zhen Huan, a newcomer to the emperor’s harem. An innocent and pure girl at the beginning of the series, Zhen finds herself caught up in fierce infighting among the concubines.

Using her wits and sometimes unscrupulous methods, Zhen fights her way into the emperor’s heart, eventually becoming the empress.

Fans see the show as a metaphor for “survival in today’s professional world.” They see Zhen as a white-collar professional dressed in an ancient outfit.

One review posted online compared the emperor to a typical workplace boss, and the concubines to employees who are willing to try any means to win their boss’ favor.

“Everyone can find an example of their own experiences in the show. Some characters may be sitting in the office next door,” said Zhang Nan, an office worker.

Zheng Xiaolong, the TV series’ director, likened the heroine’s story to a college graduate who finally becomes CEO of a company.

Li Yin, a senior consultant with the headhunting consultancy RMG Selection, told the Global Times that just like today’s professional world, concubines in ancient times were also ranked, and could be promoted and demoted.

“The show tells us about rules in the professional world. For instance, one shouldn’t become arrogant once he or she finds favor in a company; otherwise, it will affect their performance and cause their career to nosedive,” Li noted. “This is particularly important in some State-owned enterprises, where there is a sense of hierarchy based on the country’s long feudal history.”

“The show also tells us that “fence sitters” won’t win the heart of any party in a company, including the boss,” Li said.

Not without criticisms

Despite its high ratings, The Legend of Zhen Huan has also stirred controversies.

Some argued that the metaphor for office politics is simplified demonizing of the professional world.

Wei Min, a human resources specialist with a foreign-owned enterprise, told the Global Times that she regards The Legend of Zhen Huan as a favorite pastime, and does not over-interpret its relevance to today’s professional world.

“There are some tips you should remember, but scheming and power struggles are not that prevalent in an office as some viewers suggested,” Wei said.

“If you follow the fans, you will start to assume your colleagues are rivals and waste your energy on infighting,” said Li.

Meanwhile, an opinion piece in the People’s Daily lambasted the TV series featuring palace infighting, calling for an end to such shows.

It criticized the programs for promoting the rule of the jungle and back-stabbing that magnify the evil side of human nature. It fears the dramas will twist young people’s perception of social relationships.

A portrayal of real world

The New Weekly magazine suggested the palace infighting dramas portray some social problems that plague today’s real world.

The concubines in the shows are often backed by wealthy and influential families, which many people believe is pretty much a necessity to get ahead in the world today. The New Weekly compared the imperial harem to a miniature social network.

Zhang Yiwu, a professor of cultural studies at Peking University, said that China’s youth over-estimate the complexity of the real world and are taking the dramas as their bible.

“When young people leave school and go out into the professional world, they are unsophisticated, like a blank piece of paper. They might sometimes imagine the worst of society, and such dramas cater to them,” he said, adding that such shows won’t necessarily cause a negative impact on the society.

Read the article: http://www.globaltimes.cn/NEWS/tabid/99/ID/710437/Soaps-conniving-concubines-draw-offical-fire.aspx

Read the magazine:  https://www.rmgselection.com/images/rmg%20news_gt_may_cl_1.jpg

Times Tougher for Western Job Seekers – RMG Marketing Manager on Global Times

Thursday, 25 October 2012 05:12

It used to be that Westerners had it easy in China. They enjoyed higher salaries, tax breaks, and preferential treatment in the job market. A white face itself was valuable enough.

But things have changed. Foreign background is no longer valued so much in job recruitment here.

Compared with the past, employers have become pickier these days. Sophie Li, marketing manager of the Beijing branch of RMG International Business Consulting, a hiring service provider, said among foreign applicants with similar professional experience and academic merit, those who really know China and the Chinese language are preferred.

In addition to the increasing influx of foreign professionals, domestic competitors continue to sharpen their foreign language skills and international business tactics, so the novelty of the white face has faded.

According to Li, she receives three to five application letters a week, mostly from foreigners in their 30s and 40s with three years or more of working experience. But in the past, there was only one application letter every two weeks.

Now for low-level positions, foreigners can’t compete with Chinese college graduates willing to take posts for as little as 2,500 yuan ($396) a month.

Although opportunities for foreigners have diminished in China, vacancies for experienced applicants with advanced professional skills are still abundant.

Several industries have reported a talent shortage in China, including IT, energy saving, accounting and finance. For example, it is estimated that up to 1 million professional jobs across the country are unfilled in the sector of 3G wireless mobile networks, and the annual salary for 3G engineers is estimated to reach 150,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan in four years, the Xinhua News Agency reported at the end of 2011.

Meanwhile, a forum of management and accounting professionals held August in Beijing revealed that China has about 3 million job openings in these field.

For experienced multilingual applicants with perseverance and a good work ethic, this is still the land of milk and honey.

Read the whole artile: http://www.globaltimes.cn/NEWS/tabid/99/ID/694141/Times-tougher-for-Western-job-seekers.aspx

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