US-China Business Council’s Post

Looking to make an impact in international relations, social impact and development? Check out the top 3 job positions in these fields in our latest carousel! Whether you're aspiring to influence global policy or drive social change, these roles are shaping the future of international relations and development. Want to dive deeper? Explore more insights in the 2023 Career Report and discover where an IE University degree can take you: https://shorturl.at/pffAi

Interesting opportunities that show how private companies and administration can work together to adress and improve public policies at international level.

We are thrilled to share our latest interview article: "From UC Berkeley to Tokyo: A Journey to finding a Career, and Fulfillment, in Japan". This insightful piece delves into the experiences and perspectives of a University of California, Berkeley alumni Aaron P.. who has successfully transitioned to a professional career in Japan. Learn about his motivations, the challenges he faced, and the career view. This article is a must-read for students considering a career in Japan, HR professionals, and policymakers interested in global talent mobility. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g4tJPjz5

People are saying Hong Kong has had a tough job year. I disagree... Yes, the job market is slightly down compared to usual. In fact, a lot of my clients in the PR space have had to diversify their portfolios and become bit more 'non-specialised' in their niche to keep the business afloat. But hiring is still happening. It is just more competitive than usual as it remains a client-driven market this quarter. What does that mean? Companies still have the upper-hand when it comes to hiring and you have to be the best of the best to secure a job. What does that mean for a candidate? The bare minimum won't cut it (LinkedIn easy apply - I'm looking at you). In a client-driven market, even though there's jobs out there, you don't have the prerogative to be picky and slacking off. I've placed in excess of 30 PR and Communications professionals in Hong Kong and Singapore this year from an Account Executive level to Managing Director of a firm. The market is still moving; it requires an active push for you to make it happen. Reach out to me for a confidential discussion on your hiring needs or if you're looking for that next opportunity. In frame 📷 : Hong Kong's beautiful Aqua Luna or Cheung Po Tsai 🇭🇰 Adam Michael Toctan Harry Lee Vanessa Wong Reika Kai-Olowu Charlie Bowsher #MCGTalent #PR #Communications #Hiring

Can you get a Hong Kong Employment Visa with no degree? Well, yes and no. No, unless you have 10 years of post-secondary working experience in a managerial or supervisory capacity. Assuming you're a mere high school graduate or have five years of post-qualification experience in a managerial or supervisory capacity. Assuming you have technical or vocational qualifications or in fact if you are a university degree holder you need to have a minimum of two years post-graduation working experience in a managerial or supervisory capacity. #innovation #intelligentcontentmarketing #successmindset

"They're a good cultural fit" is possibly the most effective way of never achieving representation and inclusion in our industry. And here's why.... Earlier this week, we welcomed over a dozen senior communications professionals for our InterComms Network discussion with Aubrey Allegretti and this concept really struck a chord. Surely the very idea of finding and recruiting "people like you" is just the reason our teams and our organisations look like a drinks reception at Soho House. This year, I was a judge for PRWeek UK's Best Places to Work for their DE&I category and this was just as true for those entries we saw that really stood out. Those that shone were comfortable to be confronted and focussed on truly understanding the depth of the issues they were striving to overcome. To be frank, I think we're all bored of listening to agencies rattle off a veritable feast of initiatives and promises when the results speak for themselves: our industry is overwhelming drawn from a monolithic and (sorry, not sorry) monotonous group of middle/upper-middle class backgrounds. Where are the regional accents? Where is the racial diversity? Where are people whose parents or families weren't already in the industry and managed to get them an internship or role as a "step up". The answer, at least partly, is that as an industry, we perpetuate what is comfortable for us and we attempt to spread ourselves across all things. In doing so, we achieve very little. Much better to focus, really focus, in depth on tackling barriers to access in our industry where they exist. Imagine if agencies sat down and divided and conquered, focussing their resources and time on truly understanding and breaking down the barriers for people who don't look or sound like the rest of the people in the office. Imagine if we then shared learnings with each other on engaging and retaining the very best talent. Imagine if we stopped saying "they're a good cultural fit" and focussed instead on the value people can bring to our industry.

🎓Dream Careers - What & Why Leh? Our fun master Peng gave us an interesting topic on dream careers : 🍏If you could start your career again, what would you choose to do instead ? 🍏If you like your last career so much, why leh? We found out that we are a super fun team with aspiring “hidden talents”. Except for 3 consultants who love their last career in Banking, Finance and HR, we found that we have a 👨🏻⚕️doctor/architect👩🏻⚕️nurse👩🏻🌾farmer/gardener👗fashion designer, 👩🏻💼weather expert and 📸photographer amongst us. We are all uniquely wired and our career passions go beyond our “bread & butter” jobs. On Search, another exciting month working with Clients in Hotels, F&B, Automotive, Gaming, Luxury Retail, Printing, Supply Chain, Estate Management & Precision Engineering. Enjoying the diverse roles across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Solomon Islands. Talent market super tight across whole APAC. Clients remain cautious and maintain high talent standards. Requirements kept evolving. Searches take longer than usual to close. We remain grateful as our clients kept close to us, believing we can do the Impossible Mission. With a great team & with God’s grace, we managed to fulfil. On Consulting front, increased interest from our clients in renowned tools by our qualified assessors on Workplace Big 5, Soundwave and Emotional Intelligence. Looking forward to serve and value add to our loyal clients and candidates. "All great changes are preceded by chaos." — Deepak Chopra Without chaos, there is no quantum progress. #exquisitzasia #ipter #bni #executivesearch #executivecoaching

What does it take for fresh grads to find marketing/communication jobs in 2024 China? While in Shanghai this week, I spent time with my former New York University students and my marketing and advertising friends. Finding a desirable entry-level career position has never been more challenging, and graduates must pivot their job-hunting strategies to keep up with the times. Some of my students told me they sent hundreds of CVs to companies and rarely got responses. An overseas degree does not guarantee employment in today's China like it used to. Just because your parents forked over $400K for your education at an American university doesn't mean there's a job waiting for you at L'Oreal or Nike. I know that doesn't surprise people, but I found many who are still living in China of the past when you could choose from multiple offers. My advice: 1. Learn from your British/Australian/American classmates: your next job will come from extensive networking & relationships, not from a job website. Nobody in China finds a good job these days unless they are introduced to it by someone else. 2. Start your networking strategy as early as possible; don't wait until you graduate. Internships are great networking vehicles, and alumni can also be helpful. 3. Chinese employers are looking for stand-outs amongst the sea of available talent. Do things while you're in college that make you special - your degree is not enough. Interested in the beauty business? Why not start a beauty blog on IG, TikTok, or Xiaohongshu while you're in school? My school, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, started a beauty research club that Chinese students could join and get experience. 4. Sacrifice comfort and convenience for that first important job. I know you want to live in Shanghai, but consider Shenzhen or other cities. Expect to work your ass off for very little pay at your first gig and stay with it for a year or so. As I tell my American students, employers care more about your immediate past work experience than your university degree. Bottom line: China is becoming increasingly like the West when it comes to first employment jobs.

One of my associates asked me the other day what my motivation is, what my goal is. At the back of this question, he was probably thinking whether he wants to be in practice, to be a partner one day, to have this life. I felt I knew the answer instinctively. Even though it was never expressly broached to me. It’s not to buy some big house. I’m still staying at my conveniently located apartment. Neither is it to buy some sports car. I don’t lust for them. Nor is it to buy expensive wine. I studied it so that I can pick out what is value for money and not get cheated in wine shops or restaurants anymore. My motivation is not to let you and our team down. All of whom had left great jobs, great firms, great prospects, and for some even their family and home. To take a chance on the future that I wove. To continue on or to embark on this project with me. My goal is to give each of you careers, not jobs. To help you grow, not treat you as a dispensable cog in some money machine. To help you acquire the skills to be exceptional in this profession, and whatever else you may choose to do in the future. To build this office and this practice up into something special, so that you can be successful, fulfilled, and most importantly, free to do whatever else you may choose to do in the future. That’s why, honestly, I’ve never worked as hard as I have in the last two years since joining the Firm to open and lead our first China office. As smarmy as it may sound, yes, this above is my motivation, my goal. (Pic: Our Firm trip last weekend, gathering over 800 of us from all our regional offices together in Bangkok. Photo deliberately blurred for privacy reasons and more importantly, to show it for what it really was - a rock concert).

Have been still receiving queries about finding the recording from a start of year panel discussion that I took part in on “Unlocking China's Job Market Secrets”. So posting the link here. Many topics were covered but if I would have to pick, these would be the key points: 1. The importance of cross-cultural communication - we all know that there are significant cultural differences in different countries and regions, cross-cultural communication and cooperation have become increasingly important. The human touch remains irreplaceable. 2. Following the Trends and challenges in international expansion - the trend of Chinese companies expanding internationally, particularly into Southeast Asia and Europe, has changed the profile and recruiting decisions for establishing leadership teams abroad. At the end of the day, the devil is in the details, and finding opportunities and sectors to expand or invest in is no exception. On top of that, with cost pressures and fierce competition for talent, the following strategies are more relevant than ever before: - Moving away from a traditional employee mindset, embracing a posture of ownership and risk management. - Challenging traditional methodologies, staying abreast of industry trends, pinpoint and address critical business challenges, contribute performance enhancements, create value, and create new opportunities for your organisation. - Continuing to embrace growth and the unknown, developing the acumen to manage complex situations and relationships, avoid oversimplification and premature judgments, forge diverse professional networks, and sustain a global outlook.