Empowering Employees
By Ron Cune
Whether your production facilities in China grow slowly or fast, there comes a time you need to expand, and hire new employees. China however doesn’t have a very well developed system of recruitment agencies specialised in temporarily workers like Manpower that allows the entrepreneur to act fast. The new labour law in many cases obliges you to hire new employees for a longer period of time.
Finding dedicated employees isn’t easy in Europe. In China, Western Managers face even a bigger challenge. The cultural differences make it hard to see through the person and see what the added values of the candidate are.
As a result to often the newly hired employee has been selected on the appearances, the Masters degree or his/her language skills. Western Managers tend to overrate these factors.
For example, oral expression doesn’t say much about the candidates qualifications for the job.
Those who are able to express themselves perfectly won’t guarantee a perfect match in your organisation.
Let’s be frank, you probably need someone who is able to get the job done. Not someone who is just able to explain the situation.
Ron Cune, Dragondancers
September 13th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Beyond C & B on recruiting in China
This is a very interesting perspective, I like to add 2 cents of my experiences as an ex-expat Executive in China,
1. Don’t just use the recruiting process that we use in US or Europe, bring your heart with you to China, that means your company’s mission, value and vision. What’s your commitment in China? how do you expect them to join you to achieve your goals and objectives as partners? Talents are seeking for a job which can be turned out to become a career where they can be proud of.
2. Start to invest in T & D ( Training and Developemnt), focus on old fashion C & B ( Compensation and Benefit) alone is essential but it’s not enough for talent retension now, Western China job market is mature now, they are looking for Career development inside the organization.
3. Culture barrier for you to take the lead: I believe that you need a coach with experience to help you out, these are 2 different worlds, one is low content culture, another one is high context culture. You need to learn and manage it.
David Dan, an executive coach.
October 11th, 2008 at 3:52 am
Yes, I agree with you, for many persons academic qualifications and personal appearance count, while it is more important to see through all these and decide if the person before you can have the job done, is an achiever.
Sometimes you need to put things in their right perspective, you hire someone to help you accomplish something, not to serve as an ornament.
If the hired person is an asset, then investing in T&D, or in C&B is worth every penny, otherwise…..
October 13th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Interesting article and I have to say I found it fairly easy to build and retain good people. The selection of candidates is quite standard (basic qualifications in pre selection) and it all boils down to the interview(s).
One of the better interview techniques is to have follow-up questions where you ask candidates on their actual experiences and how they have dealt with them (instead of the wanted answers people prepare for) and just listen.
Standard C&B and training are important, but the determining factor in my view has been the culture of the company and the atmosphere you are able to create in your team. An open environment with room for development (this can easily be on the job training), genuine interest in people and show your willingness to support them. This will not only develop your people but people will also be willing to support you when you are in need.
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Since culture barrier really a problem to the european companies, which tend to be more individual orientation and lower context in the social relationship, my suggestion is try to know more about the Chinese history, which largly decided the behaviour and ways of thinking of Chinese people. What they do must have a reason, which might seem not related at all in the short-term, however, Chinese own reputation of long-term determination, so do not lose patience, and just listen to them what they say.
As a Chinese student in France now, I learnt a lot from people around. Different culture could be changed into a huge power when treat it correctly.
Good luck!