Companies are becoming less interested in the programs

Becoming a "management trainee" at a prestigious multinational company or State-owned enterprise was once a grand aspiration of fresh-faced graduates in China.

But now, the buzzword is hardly ever heard in the job market. Many companies are losing confidence in the approach, according to a recent survey conducted by one of the country's leading recruitment service providers, BRecruit.

About 86 percent of the 300-plus companies polled said they started their management training, or MT, programs between 2006 and 2012. But more than 40 percent have given up the program. Less than 4 percent of those surveyed have launched a program since 2013.

Employers' interest in candidates with MT experience is also declining. Two years ago, more than 80 percent of companies expressed willingness to hire people who have gone through management training. However, starting from this year, only 30 percent of the employers will give extra weight to MT experience - and even those companies said they would need to check out each candidate's qualifications before admission.

About 84 percent of the polled companies said they have been under pressure when carrying out MT programs. Among those that have given up or suspended their MT programs, a large chunk - 47 percent - cite long-term high costs as the top reason. Another 28 percent said the major obstacle has been the difficulty of promoting MTs according to the company's original plans.

Zeng Wu, human resources manager at an investment bank, said the company gave up its MT program two years ago because it failed to retain the talent.

"We did not have a well-planned promotion system. The senior employees are quite discontent with this," he said.

What is more disheartening is that the career future of MTs is not especially promising. Only one-fourth of the MTs were promoted within two to three years of training. More than 32 percent remain at entry level when they completed training. About 28 percent of the trainees quit their jobs before training was completed. Another 11 percent even quit before landing another job.

According to BRecruit, high work pressure, unfair training policies, vague career paths and unreasonable salary structures are the main reasons trainees leave their positions.

Zhan Min, human resources manager at a Shanghai branch of a global retailing company, said the company's MT program was suspended last year because of the corporation's plan to integrate global business. Only one MT stayed through to completion of his training, while the other 20 all quit before finishing.

But there is a glimmer of hope. Management trainees are still in relatively high demand in real estate, fast-moving consumer goods, retail and e-commerce, as well as bioscience industries. This is largely buoyed by the fast-growing e-commerce industry, which has changed the landscape of all industries in some respect, said Pete Chia, managing director of BRecruit China.

shijing@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 09/30/2014 page6)