A lot of clients often ask me: when is the best season to hire fresh graduates in China? With the state regulations surrounding the annual college entrance exams (Gaokao) and high school exams (Zhongkao), academic qualifications are seen as a key to opening doors in the job market. Today, I’d like to share some insights on the role academic qualifications play in overseas recruitment, using a few recent Jetspeed cases as examples.
Specialization Matters More Than the School
Compared to domestic recruitment in China, where universities like those in the 985/211 groups are highly valued, overseas companies tend to prioritize the relevance of your major over the prestige of your school. While the rankings of schools are still important, the primary focus for international employers is the alignment between your degree and the job. If your degree doesn’t offer a significant advantage, employers also place great value on further education, such as professional training courses or an MBA. In our experience, we’ve found that candidates with an MBA are often younger and more likely to be hired than their domestic counterparts.
Integrity Comes First
When reviewing resumes for overseas candidates, it’s common to see not only work experience but also academic certificates, training certifications, and references for background checks from current employers. This highlights how important the authenticity of your background is. In contrast, we’ve encountered candidates with less-than-strong academic backgrounds who stood out because they were transparent and honest about their qualifications. They included recommendation letters and were upfront about their experiences, which companies appreciated more than those who tried to optimize their resumes by hiding the truth.
A good academic background is undoubtedly a key to landing job opportunities, but even if your qualifications don’t seem highly competitive, other factors such as honesty, specialization, and further education can still help you stand out in the workplace.
