bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

THE WORLD OF public relations and marketing communications was virtually terra incognita to mainland job seekers 20 years ago. But now the PR industry is a flourishing concern in China as it keeps up with the nation's rapidly developing market economy.

In fact, the industry has shown up to 50 per cent growth in recent years.  This means that new doors are opening for professional communicators who can talk the talk and walk the walk.

Leading marketing communications agency Ogilvy & Mather, which entered China 20 years ago and set up offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Fuzhou,  is preparing to expand even further.

Nanjing, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xiamen and other major mainland cities were lined up for business ventures in the next few years, said Joseph Wang,  chairman and chief executive of Shanghai & Southern China, and vice-chairman, China at Ogilvy & Mather.

'Together with regional expansion, we also aim to explore new areas and provide services in real estate, financial, public relations, health care and the hi-tech industry.'

One of the company's biggest problems is a lack of staff to facilitate further expansion.

'The local talent is far from adequate right now, so we have to recruit from other places,' he said.

About 200 people from China, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Britain and the United States are working at Shanghai Ogilvy, including 15 from Hong Kong.

'Hong Kong people have the advantage of living in an international environment,' Mr Wang said. 'The advertising industry started in Hong Kong much earlier than in the mainland, so Hong Kong people tend to be more experienced and can better serve our international clients.'

At present, there are about 20 job vacancies in various Ogilvy companies. The posts range from copywriter, designer and art director to account manager and account director.

'We welcome people from everywhere, from whatever background, so long as they can prove their ability,' Mr Wang said.

Although a university degree is not essential, Ogilvy has its own criteria for  assessing new hires.

'You don't need a bachelor's or master's degree to be Ogilvy staff, but you must show curiosity, passion, agility, courage, accountability and collaboration. Only those who prove themselves in this way qualify,' Mr Wang said.

Applicants will be invited to a series of interviews with Ogilvy management at different levels before they are considered eligible for a position.

'The candidates must be well prepared for the interviews. If a Hongkonger is applying for a position in Shanghai, he or she should at least have some basic understanding of the culture and customs here,' Mr Wang said.

'We provide a full range of professional services and strategic consulting for many domestic and international brands, so our staff must know what the local consumers are thinking. If you can't follow or understand them, you will be eliminated. Ogilvy prides itself on spending a lot of money and energy on staff training.

'Once you enter Ogilvy you get constant training, whatever your position. We have lectures and training courses to help staff get into the local culture. And we send staff to places like Harvard University to broaden their outlook,' Mr Wang said. 'The company is understandably careful about recruiting new staff, because it costs a lot to replace staff.'

As a big international company operating in different fields, Ogilvy has a wide range of job choices to offer.

'Applicants can choose from PR and advertising to investment relations. They can relocate from the mainland to Hong Kong, Taiwan and other countries once they have qualified and when vacancies are available,' Mr Wang said.

Mr Wang, who is from Hong Kong and has been based  in Shanghai for the past three years, said Shanghai was the mainland city that Hong Kong people found easiest to settle in because of the similar city culture.

'Hong Kong is after all a limited market for ambitious people. Mainland China is developing at unprecedented speed and the PR and market consulting industry just got started. There is much space left for its development,' he said.

A lot of mainland brands have yet to make an impact on the international market, making this the right time and place for companies that specialise in  building brands.

talking the talk

Ogilvy PR will expand in several major mainland cities and different fields in the next few years.

Writers, designers, art directors, account managers and technicians are required.

A university degree is not necessary. Applicants should show curiosity, passion, agility, courage, accountability, collaboration and be well prepared.

Constant training is provided to all staff in all positions.



Doors open in the PR world