I’ve done a fair bit of interviewing in my 9 years in China, meeting with some of China’s brightest and most promising University graduates, who are the next generation of business executives that will shape the new Chinese economy in the coming years and transform Chinese businesses into envied industry leaders.
Here are a few excerpts from some of my discussions with these future business leaders:
The Reluctant African Transferee
WoAi : So why do you want to leave your current job and work for us?
Future business leader 1 : My company wants to send me to Africa. I don’t want to move to Africa.
WoAi : Quite understandable. I have some other candidates to see, so I’ll be in touch within a week.
One day later, my phone rings:
Future business leader 1 : Hello, is there any news?
WoAi : Well, no, I’m still interviewing candidates.
Future business leader 1 : Well, I need to know now because my company is sending me to Africa soon and if you offer me the job, I won’t have to go. So what is your decision?
WoAi : Well if you need to know now the answer is no. Good luck in Burundi, I hear it’s lovely this time of year.
Future business leader 1 : [Silence] ….. So when will you be able to let me know?
WoAi : In one week.
Future business leader 1 : Okay, that’s fine, I’ll wait.
The Chaparone
WoAi : So we’ll see you on Tuesday for an interview at 3pm.
Future business leader 2 : Great, is it okay if I bring my sister?
WoAi : Er ….. Does she want a job too?
The No Show
WoAi : Can I speak to Xiao Wang?
Xiao Wang : Yes, this is she.
WoAi : We were supposed to have an interview today at 2pm. You didn’t show up and didn’t pick up your mobile so that’s why I’m calling your home number which you [foolishly] left on your resume.
Xiao Wang : Ah yes, my mother didn’t allow me to go to the interview because your office is too far from our home.
WoAi : Oh I see. So you want to work for a world leading market research agency that’s located right next to your home in the suburbs of Beijing. Well, good luck, I am sure there are many. And a quick phone call to cancel the meeting might have been a good alternative to avoiding my calls and hoping I wouldn’t try the home number.
Many multi-national companies are concerned that Chinese businesses are becoming very competitive and pose a serious threat. My view is, there’s no need to panic just yet!
August 5th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I interviewed a guy who showed up to a meeting wearing torn jeans, a tie that was undone, but still hanging around the neck and a pork-pie hat.
Now, my old group at my company was casual, but he didn’t know that.
I didn’t hire him, but eventually he got another job at my (former) company.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Yes, I’ve had that too. Not torn jeans, just jeans, no bag, no pen or pad to take notes, it just looked like she was out for a stroll. We’re client facing and business attire is expected. Surely if you’re in doubt, play it safe and wear a suit!
August 5th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
My very favorite part of interviewing people in China is that I can ask all kinds of questions that I would NEVER in a million years be able to get away with in the USA (or I am guessing the U.K)
Questions like:
Are you pregnant?
Do you want to become pregnant soon?
Are you married?
Do you like my tie?
Do you think that brown shoes are OK with this black crocodile belt?
Would a fedora make me more likely to attract a mate?
Should said fedora have a feather?
It seems that anything goes……And I like that!
August 5th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Yes Matt. Being politically correct goes out the window here. You can specify a specific gender, height, age. It’s great. I’ve seen ads for waiting staff posted in windows like: female, aged 18-23, 1.68 to 1.74 metres tall. I was surprised they didn’t specify the weight range!
August 5th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Woai, that’s a classic. Funny.
Can one assume that there are no competition in that area of the job market? Or is that just the way it is?
They need to learn to be more aggressive and assertive. Something I think are not taught in the Chinese culture.
Also interested to know if it is still customary to have a 2 hour lunch/rest break in China?
August 6th, 2008 at 3:46 am
Dave – It’s not every candidate. We get some very smart people too, don’t get me wrong, but I am still astonished that someone who has supposedly been through 4 years of university education can be quite so dumb. Says a lot about the Chinese education system, sadly.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:16 am
DaveNYC – neither of the companies I’ve worked for have 2 hour lunch breaks, but both are american.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:24 am
I have done my fair share of interviews and I cant agree more with this post
August 6th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Matt Erickson:
Have you ever been in a Turkish prison?
Do you like movies with gladiators?
etc.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
market research agency
oh, we are in the same occupation…
August 6th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
T – Yes, sorry I forgot to answer Dave’s question. Those nap breaks at lunch are a throwback to the old days and are quite rare now, especially in the south.
AM – Any specific examples to share? I do have a treasure chest of them which I will post in future posts.
Swiss – All good questions but I usually ask:
When you put your pants on, right leg first, left leg first or do you do as I do and put both at the same time?
Seraph – Yeah, same company too
August 6th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Swiss James:
Those would only be question I’d ask if I was interviewing WoAi….
WoAi: What kind of crazy person puts their pants on both legs at a time…..that’s just crazy.
August 6th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Swede James – Hey I know you, you’re Kareem Abdul-Jabbar!
August 6th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Matt – My answers would be:
1. No. But I like Turkish Delight.
2. Yes, I love any movie with (UK) Gladiators in them. I actually went to school with Rhino (Mark Smith). He hasn’t done many movies (Batman Begins) but he’s been in The Bill and Eastenders.
August 6th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
WoAi – Have you ever seen a grown man naked?
August 6th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
I see naked men 3 times a week at the gym. Not sure if they’re fully grown though, more like a work in progress, much like myself.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
again true and hillarious
forwarded to friends as jokes of the day
August 7th, 2008 at 12:44 am
The week before last my HR coordinator told me that the reason the past 3 interviewees didn’t show up was because it was too hot outside.
It still blows my mind. In a country of 1.3 billion people, supposedly fighting for jobs, you can’t be bothered to take an air conditioned cab or the subway to an air conditioned building for an interview?
August 7th, 2008 at 12:52 am
Emily that is a classic! If they can’t be bothered to come for an interview due to the heat, does it mean the expect not to have to come to work during the months of July and August for the same reason? I’ve had girls cancel dates in winter because it’s too cold to go out, but perhaps that’s a different issue altogether!
August 7th, 2008 at 6:04 am
In Japan we offered a job to someone, he accepted and said he would let us know when he could start. 2 days later he rang back to say he was very sorry but he couldn’t join our company, he had handed in his resignation and his boss had shouted at him and told him he couldn’t leave.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Dingle – So he didn’t commit hari kari out of shame then? I knew a guy who tried to break up with his Shanghainese girlfriend and a similar thing happened – she said no, so they’re still together!
August 7th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Hi – since i also work in a global market research agency we are probably interviewing the same people but… recent examples of questions and answers:
Me: So can you name a brand that you admire and might like to work on?
Candidate 1: Kylie Minougue
Me: Sorry you may have mis heard i said BRAND not band
Candidate 1: yes i know my answer is Kylie Minougue
Me: oh – ok – next
Candidate 2-
Me: so why did you want to leave Siemens?
Candidate 2: I didn’t they made me leave….
Me(slightly alarmed): Umm and why did they want you to leave?
Candidate 2: I wouldn’t work after 6 and they said i was not very good at my job….
Me: but you still want a job in a very busy and strategic marketing consultancy?
Candidate 2: Yes i think i have what you want in a manager…
Me: Taxi please…
Still it makes for good stories with friends back home
August 7th, 2008 at 11:39 am
CW – Great stories although strictly speaking, Kylie IS a brand. The second one is more shocking and yet I don’t know why, I’ve seen far worse responses. Well, similar at least.
I do suspect there’d be stories to tell even in England though.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:41 am
CW – If I come and work for you will I get the chance to work on Kylie? It sounds like a great job!
August 7th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Wiseman – Take a place in the line (behind me!).
August 7th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
it reminds me of when Homer goes for the job at the power plant with two other guys:
Smithers: What would each of you say is your worst quality?
Man 1: Well, I a workaholic.
Man 2: I push myself too hard.
Homer: Well, it takes me a long time to learn anything,
I’m kind of a goof-off…
Smithers: Okay, that’ll do.
Homer: … a little stuff starts disappearing from the workplace…
Smithers: That’s enough!
August 7th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Swiss James – Yes, exactly, but one is a satirical cartoon and the other is real world business examples. Life imitating art? Scary!
August 7th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
That’s very funny to read such comments about interviewing in western countries. Emplyees should live good there. In Russia, for example, young girls are commonly asked if they got married recently and, if yes, they will be concerned to get pregnant soon. Also some companies may practice lie detector.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
“you only mention your chinese name on your cv, do you have an english name?”
“oh yes, it is Pirate”
August 11th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Language obstacles, and lack of kowning some commonsense in an interview, less training.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
[...] What’s my point? Well, it’s a simple one. Why is it still so bloody hard to find decent staff! [...]