For Employers

Career Connections Info

"Our aim is for Career Connections to be a tool for companies like yours to operate successfully in the growing China market."

— Hong Yang,
China Center Director

Let us help you succeed in China

You know that operating in the China market is critical in this global economy. Career Connections can help you find qualified entry-level employees from the U.S. to meet your needs and add immediate value to your operations in China.

Our candidates bring to your company:

  • Strong Mandarin and professional skills
  • Experience living in China
  • Ability to live and flourish in a Chinese environment
  • Long-term potential for your global operations

Vision

A Message from Director Hong Yang

Since 1979, the China Center has worked to strengthen the bridges that connect Minnesota and China. The Career Connections program expands our bridge building to the rapidly developing U.S.-China business sector. As you well know, in 2002 China attracted more than$50 billion in Foreign Direct Investment and enjoyed nearly $100 billion in bilateral trade with the U.S. Combine this with China's admission to the WTO and predictions for continued economic growth near 7 percent annually, and it is obvious that successful operations in the China market are critical to U.S. companies.

A key to successful operations in China is knowledgeable and skilled employees. Career Connections links your company with college graduates who have fluency in Mandarin, strong cross-cultural experience in China, and valuable professional skills. These graduates are prepared to work for your company in China for six to twelve months in paid entry-level positions. Such entry-level career placements are not only cost effective for your China operations, but also allow your company to develop potential long-term employees within your company.

Our aim is that Career Connections be a tool for China-based companies, like yours, to operate successfully in the growing China market while adding value to your local staff. As with all successful projects, Career Connections must be done in partnership with a broader community.

I look forward to working with your company to develop Minnesota's talented graduates into long-term assets for your operations whether in China or elsewhere in the world.

To learn more about the details of this exciting program, please see the program details below. Please contact me at the China Center to discuss any of these details further.

Dr. Hong Yang

China Center Director
(612) 624-1002
hongyang@umn.edu

Progam Details

So how does Career Connections work?

First we pre-screen all applicants to ensure that your company chooses from qualified candidates who meet your needs. After you've made your selection, Career Connections handles the pre-depature logistics to ensure a successful career placement in China.

Career Connections provides:

  • Marketing: Recruits candidates, sends resumes and videos of qualified candidates to cooperating companies, and arranges phone interviews for selected candidates
  • Placement Contract: Provides and administers the placement contract upon verbal acceptance from the placed professional
  • Logistics Management: Supplies the placed professional with logistical orientation for visas, airline tickets, travel insurance, pre-departure orientation, and housing
  • Insurance: Ensures that each placed professional purchases health and accident insurance coverage for the duration of their placement
  • Monitoring and Evaluation: Contacts placed professionals one month after their start date to monitor their adjustment to working and living in China; conducts an evaluation with each placed professional regarding their work experience upon completion of their placment

Cooperating companies provide:

  • Local Entry-Level Salary: Pays placed professionals at local entry-level wages
  • Housing: Provides housing for placed professionals or a stipend and assistance in finding housing
  • Professional Experience: Provides placed professional with experience utilizing their professional skills as well as their Mandarin abilities
  • Placement Fee: Pays Career Connections a fee equal to 10% of the placed professional's salary for the duration of their placement
  • Employee Evaluation: Submits an evaluation to Career Connections regarding the placed professional's performance upon the completion of the placement

Contact Info

For more information, please contact:

Joan Brzezinski
China Center — Assistant Director
Phone: 612-624-1002
Fax: 612-625-0045
E-mail: chinactr@umn.edu