This document summarizes a seminar on job opportunities for Chinese students and graduates in the UK. It discusses graduate schemes and internships at international companies, the typical recruitment process, and key attributes companies look for, such as motivation, leadership, and communication skills. It also provides examples of common interview questions and tips for effectively answering questions about motivations, competencies, commercial awareness, and general topics. The goal is to help Chinese candidates understand Western recruitment thinking and communicate their strengths during the hiring process.

1. Job Opportunities for
Chinese Students and
Graduates
Sussex University
16 March 2017

2. David Peckham
Engineer – 7 years
Management Consultant - PwC 13 years
- PA Consulting Group 6 Years
Now - Director Mandarin Consulting

3. MANDARIN CONSULTING
Job Opportunities for Chinese Students and
Graduates in the UK

4. This Seminar Covers . . .
• Who are Mandarin Consulting?
• What opportunities are there in the UK?
• The recruitment process – the parts Chinese
candidates find difficult

5. We Are the Leading International Career Coaching
Organisation for Chinese Students and Graduates . . .
New York
Hong Kong
Beijing
Sydney 2017
London
Manchester
Birmingham
Edinburgh
Toronto 2017
Los Angeles
Chicago
Nanjing

6. Mandarin Consulting – some of our coaches

7. A few of the companies our candidates have joined

8. Job Opportunities for Chinese Students
and Graduates in the UK

9. What are Graduate Schemes in International Companies?
• A job – paying the market salary (usually in excess of £25,000
per year)
• A unique opportunity to be trained while working – probably the
most important training of your career
• Usually results in a professional qualification often recognised
internationally.

10. What are Graduate Schemes in International Companies?
• The foundation for a fast track career into senior management
• Exposure to global ideas and methods, an opportunity to work
alongside industry experts
• Open for applications all year round but principally in the period
September to December
• Often independent of degree major
. . . . . but competitive

11. What are Internships in International Companies?
• Working in a company usually for 2 to 8 weeks during summer
vacation (other times are possible!)
• Opportunity to try out a sector/company
• Understanding how international companies operate
• Opportunity to develop “competencies” and strengthen your CV
• Often results in a graduate scheme job!
. . . . . but also competitive

12. Area Presenting Opportunities for Improvement:
• Bridging cultural differences, to achieve effective
communication and connection
• Using your Chinese background as a competitive advantage and
strength
• Strategically planning personal career goals based on skills and
interests
• Making the most of personal strengths, talents, interests and
abilities

13. Area Presenting Opportunities for Improvement:
• Understanding Western international companies’ recruitment
and selection processes and thinking
• Learning to demonstrate passion, motivation and confidence
through all stages of the recruitment process
• Learning to be at ease and communicate effectively with
Westerners

14. The International Recruitment Process
Steps Chinese Candidates Find Difficult

15. Typical Job Application Process
Senior interviewOnline tests
Application JOB!!
CV
Cover
Letter
Interviews
Assessment
Center
This is a SELLING process

16. What do we mean by “Selling”?
Matching:
The Requirements Of The Job
Your Skills And Attributes
to
You need to understand both these parts

17. Sell on Benefits not Specification
This car has 0.5mm steel box sections front
and rear with shear stiffeners at 150mm
centres allowing high energy crumple zone
absorption together with side bars . . .
Benefit
Specification
This car is one of the safest in Europe!
Automobile Association

18. What attributes are companies looking for. . . ?

19. Attributes Companies Look For
Chinese International
• Hard working
• Loyal
• Carry-out orders effectively
• Know their place in the structure
• Obedient
• Contacts (Guanxi)
. . . . . And others
• Motivated
• Team player
• Potential leader
• Good communicator
• Inquistiveness/Questioning
• Having fun at work!
. . . . . And others
There are clear differences in requirements. . .

20. Organisations are Looking for Key Attributes
These May Include:
• Motivation and drive
• Leadership and teamwork
• Communication and persuasion skills
• Genuine motivation behind your application
• Individuality and innovation
• Problem-solving abilities
• Awareness of the business world and implications
• The “Ah HA!!” factor – original thinking
Four Types of Attribute and Four Types of Questions . . .

21. Four Types of Question . . .
Motivational Questions
Competency Questions
Commercial Awareness Questions
General Questions

22. Four Types of Question . . .
Motivational Questions
Competency Questions
Commercial Awareness Questions
General Questions

23. An Inevitable Question:
(This is a motivational type question)
Why do you want to
join our
organisation?
The Matching Is Between
Your Requirements
And
What The Organisation Offers
It tests your knowledge of the company
You need to be clear what your requirements are . . .

24. Some Examples of Requirements
• High value, intensive training
• Working with world recognised experts
• Rapid assignment of responsibility
. . . . . And there are others
This is a better way of answering this question!

25. Four Types of Question . . .
Motivational Questions
Competency Questions
Commercial Awareness Questions
General Questions

26. Competency Questions . . . .
Typical competency-based questions start . . .
Describe a time
when you . . .
Give an example
of . . . .
Describe how
you . .
These questions aim to probe your
skills and abilities in a practical setting

27. Examples of Competency Questions . . . .
• Give me an example of a problem you have faced in the past.
How did you solve the problem?
• Tell me about a time when you taught someone something
• Describe a situation where you inspired others to meet a
common goal
• Tell me about a time when you worked successfully as part of a
team

28. Answering a Competency Question
• Think of the purpose of the question
• Formulate your answer to address this purpose
• Use the STAR method to structure your answer
Tell me about a time when
you were unsuccessful
Purposes might include . . .
• That you like to try different things
• Adventurous
• Test for innovation, resilience
• Learning from mistakes

29. Four Types of Question . . .
Motivational Questions
Competency Questions
Commercial Awareness Questions
General Questions

30. Examples of Commercial Awareness Questions . . .
• Give me an example of a company that is doing well. Why is it
doing well?
• Tell me about a recent item you’ve read in the news. How do
you think this will impact our organization? What do you think
we should do about it?
• What factors do you think are important to make a successful
business?
• How have oil prices moved recently? What impact do you think
this will have on businesses and the economy
and there are others

31. A Commercial Awareness Example . . .
Give me an example of a company that is doing well.
Why is it doing well?
From “The Economist”

32. Four Types of Question . . .
Motivational Questions
Competency Questions
Commercial Awareness Questions
General Questions

33. General Questions . . . .
These need to be thought through
• Tell me about yourself
• What is your main weakness (area for improvement)?
• Why did you choose to attend your college/university?
• What is your main achievement so far?
• What do you see yourself doing in five years’ time?

34. Other, General Questions . . . .
These have been asked in interviews recently
• How many cows are there in the UK?
• How many people are on the London Underground at any
moment in time?
• How many ping pong balls can be fitted into a 747 aircraft?
These test your thinking process

35. The Job Seeking Skills Equation . . .ACADEMIC
LEVEL
JOBSEEKING
SKILLS
JOB
LEVEL
ACADEMIC
LEVEL
JOBSEEKING
SKILLS
JOB
LEVEL

36. THE END
Nurturing talent
Building confidence
Developing passion
Assisting in self-discovery
Gaining life skills
Bridging cultural differences
London • Manchester • Birmingham • Edinburgh
New York • Chicago • Los Angeles • Beijing • Nanjing • Hong Kong
Website: www.mciworldwide.co.uk