by Larry Wang

CEO and founder of Wang & Li Asia Resources

China’s 2008 Recruitment Firm of the Year

 

“How many mainland Chinese can you think of who are running multi-million dollar companies today in the U.S. compared to here in China?”.. This is my response when I get asked the question, “Why are so many mainlanders looking to return to China these days,”Frankly, there’s no comparison. 

 

When I set up our office in Shanghai 10 years ago, going and staying overseas was the objective of every mainlander who could find a way to go abroad and also afford it. Places like the U.S. and Europe not only offered better career opportunities, but also a far better quality of life. 

 

The trade-offs were huge though.  Overseas, mainland professionals had to compete in less familiar environments and perform in their second language. As a result, rather than business and leadership roles, they were mainly directed into technical and engineering career tracks.  Going abroad also meant separation, sometimes for many years, from close relationships.

 

That’s all changed. Although many still want to study or gain some work experience overseas, they don’t necessarily want to stay abroad. Here in China, returnees can leverage and apply 100% of their international training in a place that they know intimately. My recruitment firm sees the demand for their backgrounds from the many middle to senior management positions that we fill with them for our multinational clients.  To borrow an expression, it’s in China now where they can “be all you can be.” 

 

On top of this, they can also pursue their success while being near family and friends, and having the quality of life that previously was only attainable overseas. So while money may not be the driving factor for every mainlander, the chance for a better life certainly is. Increasingly, from a career and qualify of life perspective, China is the place where they are able to best achieve that. As part of this trend, I’m happy that my company is able to help many mainland professionals of this generation find great opportunities back here in their home country.