Hays Architecture - July 2010
CHINA
Hotspots
The retail market here continues to strengthen and there is substantial growth in the number of shopping malls and department stores going up across China. This is creating demand for Interior Designers who ideally have experience in retail projects.
Now that the financial crisis is coming to an end, there is increased investment in the hotel sector with an emphasis on Chinese business travellers. Architects and Interior Designers with a background in the hotel industry are sought.
Landscape Designers are also is demand as hotels and commercial centres recognise the value of "green" as an enhancement of their property.
The coming quarter
Architectural firms seem to be returning to a similar mentality as in 2007 meaning they will hire skilled people on a rolling or continuous basis rather than on a need-only basis. This is in line with the increasing number of projects.
Executive recruitment
The majority of activity is at the sub-executive level, with a few exceptions. Design Directors here are technically Executives despite the fact they are not the top position in the company. This role is usually filled by someone sent from the firm's headquarters.
Employer trends
Employers are still being somewhat conservative with salaries, especially for expatriate employees. Architecture remains one of the few sectors in which expats are still employable in China's increasing localised market.
Candidates tend to be interviewed a maximum of three times for a role, with the main exception being a large well-known US firm whose interviewing process involves at least eight meetings.
Candidate trends
April and May is generally the high season for recruitment in this sector and there were a number of impressive candidates looking at different options. Activity tapered off towards the end of June as it seems that skilled candidates are being snatched up quickly.
Foreigners have been willing to accept lower salaries than before, while local candidates are still less flexible.
