Expats

It isn't as easy as it used to be

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-06-01 08:30

Expert's take | Larry Wang

Certainly, China's talent and employment market landscape has changed dramatically over the past 30 years.

There is a question I often get asked these days from people outside the Chinese mainland: "Are there still good opportunities in China for foreigners?"

With mainland talent becoming better rounded and internationally orientated, many are feeling their diminishing advantages in this market.

My answer is always: "Of course, there are."

I meet many foreigners across different industries and functions, who are realizing success in China. With words like "investment", "growth", "expansion" and "opportunity" attached to so many situations, it's a great time for anyone to be here.

Until the mid-1990s, expats were the top and, in many cases, only choice of multinationals for their middle to senior management positions. Then, global-caliber, mainland Chinese managers were almost nonexistent.

Later on, bilingual, regional professionals from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore became the top of mind talent pool for many companies.

Today, however, many mainlanders have the same world-class company backgrounds as overseas professionals.

They hold MBAs from top international programs and possess impressive credentials. Local professionals have definitely upped their game, raising the bar for everyone.

Still though, the gaps remain. "World-class" and "international-caliber" cannot be used to describe the capabilities of many mainland professionals yet.

China still lacks enough experienced senior managers and business leaders.

To grow and compete, companies in all sectors need more people who can develop and instill the best practices and world-class processes and systems that ensure their quality and standards.

They need those who are quick to solve problems, deliver solutions and develop new opportunities. With their overseas training and orientation, many foreigners are still stronger in these areas.

In many business and management aspects, mainland professionals will continue to adopt more "foreign" characteristics, where the focus is not on the Chinese way or Western way but on the best way.

For instance, I always hear foreigners are more direct than Chinese.

However, in today's fast-paced, fast-changing, competitive environment, directness happens to be faster and more efficient. Just ask any Chinese executive in a leading company.

At the same time, foreign professionals need to develop their "Chinese" skills and expertise, mainly through stronger bilingual abilities and local market knowledge.

These are what will significantly affect a person's ability to get results and compete in China. The opportunities here are definitely available to foreigners.

That is, at least, no less than what they were 30 years ago.

Capturing them just requires greater commitment, patience and persistence than before.

Larry Wang is founder of Wang & Li Asia Resources, a China-based HR firm that has specialized in foreign and non-mainland professional placements since 1994.

(China Daily 06/01/2011 page59)