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Elite of the times
By Li Shuo (Beijing Weekend)
Updated: 2004-10-16 16:06

After working 10 years in a joint venture enterprise, Tang Chaoyang quit his senior position in 2002 to complete an MBA at Peking University.

"I paid handsomely to cover my tuition fee, but believed it definitely would bring me greater success in my future career," Tang recalled of his determination and ambition. His parents and former employer opposed the decision, believing it was foolish to give up such a vital position in the company.

His two-year sacrifice paid off one Friday afternoon in late August at the Great Wall Sheraton Hotel, where he attended the first 'Gold-Collar Job Hunting Fair'. The fair is the first in Beijing providing the only job hunting arena for gold-collar employees.

Tang spent the whole afternoon meeting the HR executive of his ideal company.

"The talk was so convivial and enjoyable, the CEO met me that Sunday and I was at work Monday morning!"

What is gold-collar class?

Just as white-collar was once quoted as a trendy, popular label for employees in the last few decades, gold-collar class is now the hot brand, the in-label for personnel who manage the most vital posts assisting CEO.

Gold-collar workers are now an elite group in society, be they senior managers in joint ventures, Chinese representatives for foreign enterprise, or other veteran executive and managerial positions. Their educational background is solid and harbour a core foundation of varied management experiences. Their ability to command and apply strategy is efficient while creating and maintaining effective relations with their staff and business contacts.

They do not own the company, but they are the brains and backbone of a company and their owners.

How much they earn has been kept such a good secret that even the China National Statistics Bureau cannot deduce a definite figure. Society opinions use a criteria to evaluate if someone is of gold-collar status: they earn between 10,000 - 100,000 yuan per month; have a house and car (with a certificate for parking at tertiary education institutions); they travel all over the world, for business and pleasure, frequently.

Job hunting for gold-collar personnel

The number of people able to be employed in a gold-collar position is increasing every year in China, according to Sun Dayuan, deputy executive of Beijing Orient Huibo Human Resource Consulting Services Co Ltd, responsible for the first Gold-Collar Job Hunting Fair on August 20.

Encouraged by its success, the second fair is scheduled to be held this December.

The fair claimed to "help five-star talents to seek five-star employers in five-star hotels." Over 3,000 resumes were sent in applying to attend the fair, with 600 gold-collars allowed to seek for jobs offered by over 30 companies, each with an annual salary starting at 80,000 yuan to 1.5 million yuan (US$9,638-180,722).

"Over 60 per cent of attendees have a Masters or MBA degree, or are graduates from overseas," Sun said.

"Another 30 per cent are college students who boast over five years of working experience."

Sun notes that the flow of gold-collar talent in China is as large as what is under the tip of an iceberg.

"Gold-collar positions are vital, and parting with a valued employee, who knows many aspects of a company, is difficult. Consequently, turnover of such opportunities are slow."

Prospective gold-collar employees are reluctant to seek work at more common job hunting fairs, such as the annual fair held in the China International Exhibition Centre, where 100,000 people fight to meet with possible employers.

"The success rate of finding an ideal job is less than 9 per cent at such fairs; it's noisy, suffocating, and hardly an arena to convey one's best talents."

Other than attending gold collar only fairs, many network with friends to be introduced to company executives, or utilize headhunters.

It used to be big news for gold-collar staff leave such a secure position. However, with many more roles available today, such departures reflect more on the company than the employees.

"Several years ago, the whole gold-collar society erupted, as a vital team of gold-collar staff left SOHO China to work at another big real-estate company," Sun recalled. "Now people are not surprised to hear about jobs changes by the gold-collar class."

What defines a gold-collar employee?

Tang states his best traits are having persistence, strong willpower, and able to react positively with any severe problem.

"When other people are resting, I continue with my work. I also want to, and do, have fun, but I am happy to work hard to achieve my success."

Like Tang, many gold-collars know and believe that a better education bears sweeter fruits.

Sun says that his way to release the pressure of responsibility is to keep on studying.

"This is not a case of just reading books, but also means to communicate with friends for inspiration, and to create and put forward good ideas."

Sun works an average of 12 hours a day, claiming that his life and work cannot be separated clearly. It would be difficult to achieve success working only eight hours a day.

"I take work home and still meet with many clients in the evening. This is inevitable, part of having such responsibility."

Wang Haiyun, a senior membership director with the Capital Club, the first international private business club in Beijing, founded in 1994, said she knows only to bury her head in her work and keeps herself incredibly busy.

"I work at least 12 hours a day. There are cases when I work until three the next morning."

Her daily routine is to take elevator to the 50th floor of the Capital Mansion and never goes outside until she calls it a day, no matter how late. She is so busy she does not have any time left to feel tired.

"My way of relieving the tension is to travel abroad. Away from the country, I can leave everything behind," Wang said.

Gold-collar status is hard-earned. It is easy to envy their gains. It is certainly not easy to follow in their footsteps.



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