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Impressions of a Danish HR professional of Chinese Expats

Ons, 05/14/2008 - 12:30.

Viewing Chinese expats through Danish eyes

 
By Marnie Lai / marnielai@gmail.com / May 2008
 
 
An interview with the recuitment agent, Anne Pia Hansson, Career Development Consultant at Komplement on some of the challenges facing Chinese living and working in Denmark. Chinese living and working in Denmark refers to the Chinese group who originally came as students to Denmark and stayed on to work at Danish companies or who came to Denmark for work purpose. This group are typically faced with different challenges than the Chinese born in Denmark.
 
Komplement is a branch under IAK , the Unemployment Insurance Fund for Engineers, providing career counselling for members of the unemployment insurance and for members of IDA, the Danish Society of Engineers. Komplement, IAK logo

 
There has never been so many high-skilled and well-educated, resourceful Chinese professionals in Denmark before. The majority either came as students and continued into jobs at Danish international companies or accompanied their spouses who are working in Denmark. In an exclusive interview with Anne Pia Hansson, Manager of Career Development at Komplement, she tells her thoughts and experience on the Chinese in Denmark and gives some advice to the Chinese on their living and working situation.
 
Marnie Mutan Lai, a second-generation Chinese writer, met with Anne about a recuitment agent’s view on Chinese foreign workers in Denmark. Excerpts:
 
Lai: How would you describe the Chinese foreign workers?
Hansson: The Chinese, I have met, have a great sense of humor. I think that their sense of humor is very much like the Danish sense of humor. Danes are less insecure about what to joke or talk about with a Chinese because the Chinese don’t wear their religion outside, but inside themselves. Also, the Danes as a population don’t have anything bad on the Chinese. As you said, they blend so easily into our [Danish] society that we hardly hear from them. If they obtained Danish citizenship, they would be first-prize citizens “mønsterborgere” .
 
Lai: What is your impression of the Chinese you have met?
Hansson: They are much more prim and proper ( in Danish “korrekte and ordentlige”)? in their behaviour compared to other ethnic groups. And compared to Danes, I find Danes are more relaxed whereas the Chinese appear more distant and deadpanned or stiff. In fact, I think that the Chinese should be bolder in expressing themselves. In my dealings with Chinese job-seekers, I once had a client who wrote a 20 page CV! It was far too exhaustive and we managed to cut it down into 3 pages. The Chinese job-seekers are just too thorough. It has to be 100 percent correct before they act.
 
Lai: What do you mean by being prim and proper?
Hansson: Well, for instance a female Chinese client who was to start in a job, asked me how she should behave towards her boss and colleagues. I advised her that she doesn’t need to know everything when she starts in a new job. It’s okay to ask other colleagues and it’s okay to make mistake. She should just speak freely. With this being said, I also mentioned that it is important to distinguish between conversations being colleagues and friends. The Chinese shouldn’t be afraid of doing something incorrect.
 
Lai: Can you state some particular Chinese qualities that pose a disadvantage for them in their job seeking or at work? Any examples?
Hansson: That would have to be that they are too cautious and careful in their behaviour. For instance, when I ask a Chinese about their core compentencies, they seem at a loss for words. They should be better at promoting themselves. Often I need to convince the Chinese client that it is okay to call the company when the job advertisement states a contact person and phone number. In fact, it is always a good idea to call the company so that a job seeker can better target his/her cover letter to the company. Furthermore, they are too submissive. By this I mean that in a cover letter, they tend to use a too stiff and humble expressions in their cover letters. They understate their qualifications? However, I must say that the majority of the Chinese are very ambitious – far more than their Danish equals of the same age. They tend to think in a strategic CV-perspective and seem very determined to succeed. By this I mean that Denmark might not be their destination country, but it is more a stepping stone to other English-speaking countries.
 
Lai: Do you think that learning and knowing the Danish language is important for them to work in Denmark?
Hansson: Well, although English is the language at work, all the fun part happens in Danish.
 
Lai: What advice would you give the Chinese working and living in Denmark?
Hansson: That would be:
 
  • At work we’are a family, but after work we are not necessarily a family.
  • Take initiatives at work. The Danish organisations are flat and encourage employees who make the first move.
  • Learn to exploit your network. For instance, a Chinese student could ask the professor for an advice on which companies to apply for. Networking is a must in Denmark, but make an effort to mingle with Danes. Denmark is a country of association. Join cultural and sports asosociations or even sector specific clubs via the labour unions.
  • Knowing the Janteloven or the unwritten rules at work may help you decipher some situations.
  • Learn to be more assertive towards the company you want to get in to.
  • Always get somebody else to read through your cover letter and CV before sending it.
According to a polling made by Komplement, consultants all over the country have, up till now, registered contact with 23 members of Chinese origin – all women.
 
 
  

 

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