Taiwanese look across the Straits for job opportunities

Karen Tang, a 28-year-old Taiwanese woman, has been working almost one year at the Beijing headquarters of Qunar.com, a leading tourism search engine.

"I quit my previous four-year job, which is similar to the current one, because there was not much of a challenge and I think the online tourism market in Taiwan is limited," Tang said. "To be honest, I thought since many, or even most, talented Taiwanese people are working on the mainland, I'd like to join them."

She has already been promoted to senior manager of hotel products at the company.

Tang, who was born in Taiwan and did postgraduate work in the United Kingdom, got used to life in Beijing very quickly. She said she feels carefree and enjoys shopping, getting facials and sipping tea with friends during her spare time. Her life is much like the one she enjoyed in Taiwan, she said.

"Beijing is an open and modern city like many other cities I used to stay in," Tang said. "And I don't feel lonely, as many of my friends are also working on the mainland."

Tang is among many Taiwanese workers who are eager to bring their professional skills to the mainland.

A recent survey by 104 Job Bank, one of the largest recruiting Internet sites in the island province, showed that more than 27.2 percent of office employees older than 30 have work experience on the mainland. Another 52.4 percent of them are willing to do the same.

They held a strong desire to work in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Most of the respondents work in finance, international trade and management.

On one June day alone, more than 21,340 Taiwanese people sought work opportunities across the Straits through 104 Job Banks' recruiting platform.

More than 76.6 percent said they want to work on the mainland if the procedures become simpler for Taiwanese job-seekers.

That figure is the result of the mainland's relatively thriving economy and gradually improving cross-Straits relations.

"An increasing number of Taiwanese people hold very optimistic views on their careers on the mainland," said Sheena Du, public relations manager for 104 Job Bank.

The 104 Job Bank survey showed that 62.1 percent of those who are aggressively seeking mainland jobs are doing so because of the potential for career development.

"Currently, the mainland-based businesses would not offer Taiwan employees much higher salaries," said Huang Zhiyao, director of head-hunting at 104 Job Bank.

"However, some Taiwanese senior executives would earn millions of yuan a year on the mainland because of their incomparable know-how," Huang said.

Huang noted a trend of large mainland businesses paying salaries that are 30 percent to 50 percent higher than those paid by Taiwan-funded businesses of similar size.

"My current salary is about 10 percent higher than my previous job in Taiwan," Tang said. " But the living expenses is relatively lower in Beijing."

According to another survey by 104 Job Bank, 34 percent of Taiwanese working on the mainland who responded to the phone call earn the same amount as they previously did at home while 35 percent said their salary doubled or even tripled.

Tang said Taiwanese people apply directly for jobs on the mainland or are introduced by acquaintances. Some are transferred from their companies' Taiwan offices to their branches on the mainland as a result of business expansion.

"Under such circumstances, most of the staff feel happy because the pay will be higher and the companies will cover your housing costs and travel expense if you go back to Taiwan to visit your family," Tang said.

"Most of the Taiwanese on the mainland are either very experienced in their own industry or have excellent technological skills. That's their advantage," Huang Ying, a senior consultant at 104 Job Bank.

Tang agreed. "One of our advantages is language, mainly English, and the other is teamwork," Tang said.

"Unlike people born on the mainland of the same age, who are usually the only child in their family, most of us have brothers or sisters," she said. "We were brought up with a teamwork spirit and it is very valuable for businesses on the mainland."

Huang Ying said that Taiwanese staff still must adapt to their new home and be aware of differences in interpersonal relationships and corporate cultures, especially in some traditional industries or State-owned enterprises.

(China Daily 08/17/2009 page1)