There are problems with expatriate staff as well. Especially, (and unfortunately) often with personnel in professional services.
Hiring lawyers with no China
experience
Expensive, and not really much point, especially if their Chinese language
capabilities are minimal. However, many look good, and although their firms may
have a China presence, what about their individual presence in China?
International lawyers are great at international work – cross border
structuring and so on – but far too many of them profess expertise in areas of
China practice they are neither qualified or experienced to be dealing with.
Are you looking for a salesman selling his firm, or proper advice? Really, if
you need to hire a lawyer with China experience – go to a firm that has the
real thing. That’s what they are there for, and China has had private lawyers
now for 15 years – Google their names to see how well known they are.
Hiring personnel On their
language skills alone
Well, everyone has to start somewhere. But a new kid just out of language
school is still a new kid out of language school, and will have no experience
dealing with the “China issues.” Don’t expect miracles. And two years in China
does not an expert make. Young graduates do have skills of course, but don’t weigh
them down too much with managerial responsibilities before they have had time
to adjust them to a commercial business environment and have found their feet
around your business. A management development program designed to maximize on
their language skills yet introduce them to your business will reap greater
rewards both for you and for them if you treat them with continuing educational
attention.
The China guys
Expats of note are those who really know their way around, and can steer you
away from all the problems. They will have a good grasp of the language, and
may well have settled down with family here. You cannot survive in China
without knowing how to get on, and this is a matter of experience as well as
possessing inherent patience, tenacity and people and communications skills.
They are available – interestingly at this time, many of the established
multinationals are localizing and expatriate engineering and other talent is
perhaps more available in China than ever before.
