Seminar to bridging the gap between academia, industry

As tens of thousands of Chinese students graduate from the U.K. each year, a growing challenge looms: How to translate international education into meaningful career opportunities back home. Addressing this critical juncture, JOBShaigui, a platform supporting Chinese overseas returnees, partnered with the University of Birmingham and the University of Glasgow to host an online career event titled “Life After Graduation” on June 10.

The event targeted the unique hurdles faced by Chinese graduates returning from the U.K., offering them tailored strategies to navigate job markets both in China and internationally. With Chinese students constituting nearly 10,000 of the University of Glasgow’s enrollment — making up 85% of its master’s cohort—and University of Birmingham hosting over 5,000 Chinese nationals, the scale and stakes are considerable.

The webinar gathered human resources leaders from China’s technology, finance, and gaming industries, who shared firsthand insights on emerging recruitment trends. Practical guidance on resume optimization, interview skills, and career planning took center stage, while a robust Q&A session tackled how to bridge the often-daunting divide between foreign experience and domestic market expectations.

“The University of Birmingham, the University of Glasgow, and JOBShaigui have formed a strategic partnership, with the depth of collaboration in talent development and employment services continually growing,” said Drew Linforth, Director of Student Employability at the University of Birmingham. “By leveraging combined resources, we are equipping graduates and international students to fully unlock their career potential. This conference gathers industry leaders to offer practical insights into employer expectations and effective job-seeking strategies."

Dr. Michael Yang, founder of the China Overseas Returnees Talent Service Network, highlighted the urgency of this alignment. "Amid global economic shifts, overseas returnees must achieve precise alignment between their expertise and market demands." He also highlighted that JOBShaigui has facilitated employment opportunities for over 300,000 returnees, significantly reducing their career adaptation period. The enhanced collaboration with the University of Birmingham and University of Glasgow will further expand our service scope, providing international students with seamless support from campus to career.

Career experts from JOBShaigui and top corporate recruiters provided online career guidance, covering topics such as: industry talent programs, career pathways, interview/ resume skills, and China market integration solutions. HR specialists addressed key challenges in adapting international backgrounds to local employment.

"Through this initiative," Linforth noted, "students and new graduates have gained tangible experience our institution's dedicated commitment to their professional development in the Chinese job market."

JOBShaigui, a platform dedicated to providing overseas students' job-hunting services, has launched an initiative to precisely connect Chinese returnees with domestic employment resources. The platform’s service provides access to a vast network of employers in finance, technology, education, and more. It also offers career planning, mock interviews, resume reviews, and market analysis to ease cultural and professional transitions.