Employment bureau woos returnees to fill 400 vacancies

Beijing expects to fill more than 400 vacancies with Chinese and foreign talents from overseas this year, the city's human resources bureau announced on Friday.

Some 133 positions are open to people who hold PhD degrees or work at management level overseas, and 303 more are available to professionals who have studied abroad for at least a year on master's program. The positions cover education, research, finance, medical and other areas at State and private institutions.

For example, the Capital Normal University is looking for new professors in history and applied mathematics, and enterprises like the Capital Group are seeking managers.

Local government plans to bring in 100 people to startup businesses in Zhongguancun Special Talents Zone.

Governmental funds will be provided to those who have been trained abroad, have experiences of running a business, have mastered certain patented technology or hold independent intellectual property.

"We prefer to have younger personnel (under 45), with higher academic degrees and strong working backgrounds in high-tech industries," said Song Fengjing, deputy director of the capital's human resources and social security bureau, when launching the plan on Friday.

It is the second time Beijing has launched a plan for recruiting international talents. The first, released in April 2010 with a plan to have as many as 530 new employees, attracted 476 professionals to the city.

"Beijing remains the first choice for many overseas Chinese and foreigners coming to work in China," Wang Yu, deputy director of Beijing Overseas Talents Center, told METRO. Wang said the capital surpassed other competing cities in talent and information resources, opportunities for international exchanges, and official support such as benefits in taxes, accommodation, medical care and children's education.

But David Zhang, a recruiter at a Haidian-based IT company that has been trying to hire more high-level personnel from the United States, said the process did not go smoothly because problems like housing and children's education made interested professionals decide not to come.

"Even those of us who live here can feel the pressure of soaring housing prices and worry about our children's education," Wang said.

"But the ones who made the move told me they're here for much bigger opportunities, a bigger stage and bigger obligations, things they do not get in other places, and these outweigh practical living problems."

China Daily

(China Daily 05/16/2011)