13 January 2022 / Blog /

As a result of “a considerably more difficult operating environment and higher regulatory requirements,” LinkedIn announced in October 2021 that it will stop operations in China and the new China-only app will be a pure job-board site without any social features. The new site InJobs will focus on providing job matching and recruitment activities and will n0 longer support user-generated content or interactions.

 

While Google, Youtube, Twitter and Facebook (now Meta) left Mainland China a long time ago, Microsoft’s search engine Bing and other cloud-based commercial applications are still available in China.

The website is not merely a networking social media tool. Most users share career updates, announcements and achievements in their workplace, or introduce services and products they are currently providing. The content is relatively formal and professional compared to other social media platforms. Since it entered the China market in 2014, LinkedIn has been the last major foreign social media network operating in China and offered a unique professional platform for connection between its users. To localize, Linkedin (領英, Ling Ying) adapted its platform to the local digital ecosystem and consumer behaviors. It formed a partnership with WeChat and allowed users to connect WeChat to LinkedIn directly. The site also became a place that crosses not only China’s Firewall but also cultural boundaries. People raised genuine and civil debate here with colleagues and friends all over the world. Especially during the pandemic, LinkedIn was a platform for expression instead of only job-seeking.

 

Job-seekers in China are unlikely to miss LinkedIn that much, since they have many other options including Boss Zhipin (Boss直聘), 51Job, and Zhilian Zhaopin (智聯招聘). However, what made LinkedIn stand out was its unique contribution in employer branding and social professional networking. Over 87% Hiring Managers believe that employer brand has a significant impact to hire great talent and 40% of the interviewed talent acquisition decision makers consider social professional networks to be a long-lasting trend. Since Chinese culture values personal as well as business relationships, employee referral is considered to be a top source of quality hires. Healthy and good relationships with employees and their networks contribute to the organization in identifying and sourcing top talents.

 

Therefore, as LinkedIn is shutting down their social networking function in China, it is more important for employees to develop and operationalize employee referral programs and schemes. Stakeholders need to foresee social and professional networks as an essential and long-lasting trend in recruiting professional roles. Talent leaders should prepare to engage professionals through networking, including both personal social media and professional networks. The most effective employer branding tools would be social media including WeChat and Weibo, online professional networks including recruiting websites, and public recognition or awards.

 

Looking ahead to the new year, big data will continue to be a hot topic across China and also among talent leaders. Since employer brand is also a growing trend, survey respondents foresee recruiting becoming more marketing. Candidate and job matching will be continuously improved as personalization and needs of talent get more attention.

 

 

Reference:

  1. LinkedIn China to eliminate social features, launch new InJobs recruitment portal. (2021, October 15). KrASIA. https://kr-asia.com/linkedin-china-to-eliminate-social-features-launch-new-injobs-recruitment-portal
  2. Wertime, D. (2021, October 14). What really brought down LinkedIn’s China play. Protocol — the People, Power and Politics of Tech. https://www.protocol.com/why-linkedin-left-china
  3. China Recruiting Trends 2016. (n.d.). https://business.linkedin.com/content/dam/members/regional/zh_CN/site/events/2015/Oct/2016-China-Recruiting-Trends-Report/2016%20China%20Recruiting%20Trends%20Report.pdf
  4. Forrester. (n.d.). LinkedIn Has Not Given Up On The China Market. Forbes. Retrieved November 25, 2021, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forrester/2021/10/21/linkedin-has-not-given-up-on-the-china-market/?sh=241cd6b83d42
  5. October 20, H. Z., Business, 2021, Finance, Censorship, & Technology, G. (2021, October 20). LinkedIn Says Goodbye to China. Mind Matters. https://mindmatters.ai/2021/10/linkedin-says-goodbye-to-china/\

 

 

***The contents and information in this article are for reference only. We do not represent any legal advice. 

***If you want to reprint the article or content, please contact us or attach a link to this article and indicate the source of reprint.