Group of students at the careers fair
By Kylie Skinner, Employer Relations Consultant
On Wednesday 29 October 2025 the University of Nottingham was invited to host The Talent Job Fair, a flagship recruitment event organised by the Chinese Service Centre for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE), Ministry of Education (China).
Taking place in the impressive Senate Chamber on University Park, the fair was attended by students from across the university and all levels of study.
The companies keen to talk to UoN students
Ahead of the fair’s official opening by Feng Xiangru, Director of Returnee Affairs Office for the CSCSE, the room started to fill up with eager students keen to meet and speak with leading universities, institutes and employers from across China.
Once underway, there was an excited buzz in the room, as students gained first hand insights and learnt about current recruitment trends from CSCSE and employers, in addition to the vacancies they had available.
The universities, institutes, and enterprises who attended included:
- Peking University (北京大学),
- Tsinghua University (清华大学),
- China University of Political Science and Law (中国政法大学),
- North China Electric Power University (华北电力大学),
- Central China Normal University (华中师范大学),
- Southwest Jiaotong University (西南交通大学),
- Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院)
- China Power Engineering Consulting Group Co., Ltd. (中国电力工程顾问集团有限公司),
- Sinopec Engineering Construction Co., Ltd. (中国石化工程建设有限公司),
- CRRC Group Co., Ltd. (中国中车集团有限公司),
- Yangtze River Delta Quantum Technology Industrial Innovation Center (量子科技长三角产业创新中心),
- Soochow University (苏州大学), Nanjing University Suzhou Campus (南京大学苏州校区),
- Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China (中国科大苏州高等研究院).
Applying for graduate jobs in China
There are two main recruitment seasons in China.
The first, and most important, is autumn recruitment, which typically starts in September and ends in December. A large proportion of graduate roles are filled during this period.
If there are any vacancies left unfilled, they may be carried over to the second recruitment season: spring recruitment, which usually takes place between March and April.
Regardless of the recruitment season, the onboarding date for these roles is generally the same year as the spring recruitment. For example, roles advertised during autumn recruitment in 2025 will have an onboarding date between summer and September 2026.
How to impress Chinese employers with your UK experience
- While pursuing opportunities in China, focus on gaining work experience in the UK during your studies. UK-based internships, volunteering, university activities and part-time roles help build transferable skills, demonstrate potential and strengthen applications, regardless of your eventual destination.
- ‘Sell’ your UK education experience, by highlighting the advantages of your overseas education such as English proficiency, global vision, and adaptability
- Differentiate yourself to stand out in applications and interviews by tailoring your CV to the job description, demonstrating clear motivation, and showcasing relevant experiences and your achievements to the recruiter
- The growing importance of digital literacy, AI skills, cross-cultural competence, and self-promotion abilities for graduates entering the Chinese job market are all emerging skills
- Start building your network and visibility in China via job search channels, professional associations, WeChat accounts and industry lists in order to help prepare for and build your understanding of the Chinese job market ahead of your return
The event was an exciting addition to our autumn events programme and we hope you were able to take away some good insights and contacts. For anyone wanting support with follow up and next steps, we're here to help. Explore our spring term events and book an appointment with an adviser to talk about your career options.
Posted on Thursday 5th February 2026