Prolonged recruitment cycles, stricter requirements, tightening budgets... China's recruitment market is undergoing profound changes. How to break through these challenges and create sustained value? In this RGF Perspective Special Feature, we speak with Sherman Hu, Director of RGF Professional Recruitment China. A veteran with 16 years in mid-to-senior recruitment across China and APAC, Sherman leads teams specializing in manufacturing. He shares tested strategies to empower consultants navigating today’s market.

Sherman Hu
Director
Team Coverage: Manufacturing, Life Sciences & HR

• 16 years of mid-to-senior recruitment experience in China & APAC

• Multi-year top performer; led teams to win "Top Productivity Team" awards

1. Dual Strategy, Resilience Wins

Sherman shared a recent case involving a Sales Manager role for a Manufacturing client.

Initially appearing routine, the assignment evolved into a three-month process with 100+ candidates screened. Specific language requirements and budget constraints made success seem impossible – prompting several competing agencies to withdraw.

Sherman’s pivotal approach:

Persistently convinced the client to adjust requirements using real-time market feedback.

Continuously coached candidates to maximize their interview performance.

The result? A candidate with a two-year career gap – seemingly unremarkable on paper – was placed after demonstrating exceptional potential and intellect during interactions.

2. Decoding Trends, Strategy Wins

The recruitment landscape in China is undergoing significant shifts. The case above is a perfect example of the current trends: Filling positions is taking considerably longer, line managers are increasingly demanding the 'perfect match', often waiting to exhaust candidate options before making a decision, and client budgets are tightening more than ever.

As adapting to this environment is an ongoing process, Sherman actively guides his team to focus on three key strategies:

Focus on Qualified Job Orders
Prioritize clients with genuine needs who provide substantive feedback post-CV/interview.

Offer Issued ≠ Mission Accomplished
Proactively follow up – declined offers may reveal backup options or new opportunities.

Market-Driven Expectation Management
Systematically collect/summarize market data (compensation, talent flow, skill gaps) to objectively reset client expectations.

3. Thriving Against Odds: Sherman’s Toolkit for Consultants

Sherman empathizes with consultants facing extended lead times and low CV-to-feedback ratios. His advice:

Forge Resilience
"Keep your chin up – confidence is your most valuable asset in a downturn."

Master Operational Details
"Fine-tune candidate management and client follow-ups. Precision is today’s core competitive edge."

Prioritize Action Over Perfection
"Don’t await ideal conditions. Act decisively, iterate through execution."

"No perpetual tailwinds, only enduring wisdom."
Sherman’s experience proves: When markets demand perfection, true winners bridge gaps through professional dialogue, unlock potential via candidate coaching, and leverage data-backed strategies. By treating challenges as opportunities to hone expertise, they build lasting trust with clients and candidates alike.

For Manufacturing, Life Sciences, or HR career opportunities or hiring needs, contact: sherman.hu@rgf-professional.com.cn
Explore limitless potential with Sherman.