For global employers hiring talent in China,there is one practical issue that overseas hiring teams often underestimate:
a. The video meeting tools your company normally uses may not be the tools your candidates in China. Failed connections, poor audio or video quality, and sometimes an interview that never happens at all.
b. Global companies commonly schedule interviews through Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp or LinkedIn. However, candidates based in Mainland China operate in a different digital environment. Access conditions, corporate network configurations, etc can all affect the candidate experience.
Microsoft Teams- recently announced changes to Teams Personal/Free availability in China in 2026, while enterprise users may operate through different Microsoft 365 environments. The important lesson for an overseas employer is simple: Do not assume that because a meeting platform works perfectly for your hiring manager, it will work equally well for a candidate sitting in China. So, What Do Chinese Candidates Commonly Use?
1. Tencent Meeting — 腾讯会议
For professional interviews in China, Tencent Meeting is one of the most practical options.For international participants, Tencent also provides VooV Meeting, its international meeting solution.
This makes Tencent Meeting particularly useful when coordinating interviews between overseas hiring managers and China-based candidates. For many China recruitment projects, this would be our first alternative when an international meeting platform creates connectivity problems.
2. WeChat — 微信
For one-to-one conversations, WeChat video call can be the simplest backup option. Almost every professional candidate in China already has WeChat, so there is usually no need to install unfamiliar software immediately before an interview. However, for structured panel interviews, presentations, assessment sessions or interviews requiring extensive screen sharing, a dedicated conferencing platform such as Tencent Meeting is generally more appropriate.
3. Other Platforms — But Confirm Them in Advance
Other video conferencing platforms may also be available depending on the candidate, company IT environment and specific project.
For important executive or specialist interviews, a short technical check before the formal interview can save considerable time for both the candidate and the hiring manager. The recruitment or HR team should confirm: Can the candidate access the platform? Do they already have the required account or application? Has the meeting link been tested?
Is there a backup platform if the connection fails? A Failed Connection Is Not Necessarily a Candidate Problem. This is particularly important for overseas hiring managers.
