Why Are Overseas Returnees to China Worth So Little Now?
Article

Why Are Overseas Returnees to China Worth So Little Now?

Spending ¥2 Million on an Overseas Education for a Base Salary of ¥2,000

Jin Kuaile
Phoenix Weekly, 2017
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People in China refer to students who return to China after completing their educations abroad as hai gui, or “Sea Turtles.” Once a highly elite group that could take their pick of jobs in the market, Sea Turtles now face a new reality of lower pay and a hostile job market. One Sea Turtle who – after paying ¥2 million [$300,000] on her overseas education – only received job offers that paid between ¥2,000 and ¥4,000 a month. Her example pushed the socioeconomic phenomenon to the surface again. Writer Jin Kuaile from news outlet Phoenix Weekly examines why Sea Turtles have fallen out of favor, how they fare against local competition and how they can increase their value. Although her article is thorough, she doesn't touch on some of the indirect reasons for the Sea Turtles' decline in job market value. In an article on the same subject The Economist also noted that Chinese managers, who used to have a chip on their shoulders, are now acting more confident in picking locally educated candidates. Also, according to the same article, Sea Turtles can be a mistmatch for Chinese companies, as they “often cling to quaint Western notions like transparency, meritocracy and ethics, which puts them at a disadvantage in China’s hyper-Darwinian economy.” getAbstract recommends this article to people who consider working in China, business managers of multinational corporations, Chinese citizens who are working or studying abroad, and – even more so – those who are thinking about it. 

Summary

Returning to China with a degree from abroad used to be the “golden ticket” that opened doors to high-paying career jobs. Hai Gui or “Sea Turtles” as they are called [the Chinese phrase for “overseas returnee” sounds exactly like the animal] wore the label with pride and were admired by local family and friends. But times have changed: Today, Sea Turtles are struggling in the job market. New terms for overseas returnees are less flattering and show how the tide has turned: Overseas returnees left unwanted in the market are “Sea Cucumbers,” and those waiting around for jobs are “Seaweed.” Sea Turtles who do get job offers receive salaries far below their expectations, considering the money they invested in their education.

Mere numbers are the main reason behind this shift. Sea Turtles, once a rare species, are now flooding the job market. In the year 2000, some 39,000 Chinese studied abroad and 9,100 Chinese students returned from overseas. In 2015, about 523,700 Chinese were studying abroad...

About the Author

Jin Kuaile is a reporter for Phoenix Weekly, a leading magazine covering politics, current affairs, finance, business, social issues and culture.

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