Everything You Need to Know About Hiring Practices in China

Have you got plans to run a recruitment drive in China?

You might be looking to get the cream of the crop when it comes to Chinese employees or expand your business to the local area and want to attract the best talent to work for your company.

But recruiting in China is very different from the rest of the world. You won’t be able to just walk into an interview room and casually ask your standard set of questions. There are also different processes when it comes to pre-employment checks.

So how do you complete a successful recruitment in China? If you’re looking to do it all by yourself, make sure you consider these hiring practices before starting the process.

How to Attract Chinese Employees

Fortunately, you have multiple options to attract Chinese employees, and many of them will be similar to your local country. In the major cities, job seekers will search for work online. Very few choose to pursue a career offline, but sometimes it can be a viable option.

Your first port of call should be WeChat. It’s the largest social media platform in China and often lists job opportunities in local areas.

LinkedIn isn’t restricted in China like Google and Facebook. It’s also particularly popular in the country, with over 50 million citizens holding accounts. You can place job ads on here like you would in any other country.

Regional websites are also available. Some examples of these include Zhaopin, 51 Jobs, Zhilian and Boss. These are popular spots to look for work and act very similar to job boards.

If you’re looking to recruit students, then you can attend career events or job fairs. However, these take a lot of time and effort, especially if you want to stand out amongst the crowd.

Many foreign-owned companies tend to look to local agencies for assistance in recruitment. The successful employees then migrate to the country of origin to be brought up to speed on culture, products, and services.

Do Foreign-Owned Companies Need to Work with a Local Agency?

If you are part of a foreign-owned company, it is illegal to hire employees for projects directly or to work for your business. Chinese law states that only companies based in the country can be employers.

Using local recruitment agencies has many advantages, in addition to attracting talent. However, if you plan on using an agency, you’re best to work with one that can provide you with an end-to-end solution. Rather than just find you suitable candidates, you’re able to outsource all employer liabilities such as the contract, payroll, income tax and mandatory benefits.

You could try to get around this by hiring employees through a Chinese partner company or recruiting someone through a local business. But, this is considered bending the rules in the eyes of the government and won’t be looked upon favorably. The safest option if you don’t have a local entity is to work with an agency that can provide you with and end to end solution.

What are the Requirements for Foreign Employees to Work in China?

If you want to bring your own people over to work with you in China, then you can do so. However, there are some requirements they’ll need to abide by before they clock in for the day.

Firstly, they need to obtain a work permit. This requires applying for it before they enter the country. They do have options though. They can apply for the Foreigner’s Work Permit Notice or the Foreigner’s Work Permit.

They also need to get a work-type residency permit. It’s possible to collect this from a Chinese embassy or consulate as well as the public security department in China.

What Rules Apply to the Application Process?

Anyone hired in China must be employed by a legal entity. There are also some additional records that you need to take into account when you start the recruitment process.

For example, staff employment and dismissal records need to get filled with the relevant government departments. Personnel files also need to be maintained. These documents include employment and academic history. They are transferred to the new employer.

In relation to the interview questions, you can be openly candid. In fact, it’s encouraged. You may ask about their marital status and even what their parents do for a living. It also helps you as the employer to get a more personal picture of who you’re hiring.

Before the interview ends, it’s essential to check the candidate’s salary expectation. This saves you and the candidate’s precious time, especially if you need to start background checks and filing records.

 What Restrictions Are There on Background Checks?

You are able to perform the relevant background checks before you hire someone in China. In fact, it’s highly encouraged to complete some of them, so there are no complications when they start working for you.

For example, some jobs in China may only be performed by people who don’t have a criminal conviction. This requires submitting a request to the government to obtain the necessary details.

You can also request information about a potential employee’s educational background. You will need their consent to obtain this information and if you want to look into their previous work history as well. The permission must be provided in writing before the background check commences.

What to do When You Find the Right Person

 Efficiency is critical when you find the right candidate for the job you’re hiring for. There is a high chance that his or her’s current employer will attempt to retain them. It may require you to provide something above and beyond the standard employee benefits that every company offers.

For this reason, it’s best to work with local recruitment agencies who are experienced to handle this type of situation. They’re also able to handle all of the paperwork that goes along with transferring an employee from one business to another. Whether you’re setting up a business or looking to expand your company, it’s highly recommended to use these professionals to take the extra work off your hands