Prospects soften for returning graduates

BEIJING: Now the game has changed.

The advantage returnees enjoyed in the domestic labour market has almost vanished in recent years due largely to two factors – a sharp rise in their number and the improving image of Chinese higher education.

As more head out, more are coming home. A record 666,000 overseas students are forecast this year to return home, where they will need to compete with 7.95 million fresh graduates from Chinese universities, according to recruiter Lockin China.

To help boost the chances of students in Australia finding work, Lockin China and the Australian embassy organised job fairs in Beijing and Shanghai in early July targeting that group.

More than 100 companies took part, while representatives from 17 universities Down Under were also there to learn more about the job market, promote the abilities of their Chinese students and build relationships with local employers.

“We’re really, really pushing for international students returning for jobs in China’s two major cities,” Rhett Miller of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission told reporters at the job fair. “And we want to make this national.”

Michelle Maes, a senior adviser on employability at Monash University in Melbourne, said the information she gained would be used to coach Chinese students on what employers are looking for.

“About 15% of the colleges or 70,000 students are from China,” she said. “It’s very competitive for them when they come back.”

“Previously, there were few and they were special. It wasn’t hard for them to find work. Now, many more of them are studying overseas.

“They have to compete with more candidates. We want to support our Chinese students,” she added.

Speaking in August, Maes said some employers had contacted her after the job fair to discuss recruitment cooperation, while the college will also welcome representatives from Chinese companies this month during a tour organised by Lockin China. — China Daily/Asia News Network

Previously, there were few and they were special. It wasn’t hard for them to find work. Now ... they have to compete with more candidates.

Michelle Maes