Comment

Guanxi can be a blessing and a curse

By Zhao Yanrong (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-04 11:37

I have been told many times that guanxi, or connection, is necessary to find a job in China. I used to be one of those people who believe in this rule, but now I think sometimes guanxi could block your life too.

First, guanxi cannot always support your career path. A friend received three offers for jobs a couple of years ago, but he chose the one he was least interested in because his father was friends with the deputy manager.

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However, a competitive relationship between the general manager and deputy general manager cost my friend many opportunities. The general manager rejected my friend's promotion because he doesn't want to help anyone in his colleague's group.

Second, guanxi will sometimes limit your chances to reach your potential. Another friend's dream is to work for a worldwide media organization as an editor in Beijing. After spending a large amount of money to build guanxi in that organization, she was offered an internship.

However, my friend has now been interning for almost six months without any hope of signing a contract. Her daily activities are simple and not taking advantage of her overseas master's degree.

The problem is that all positions in this organization have been filled and there are several other interns competing for a vacancy. Guanxi did create an internship for her but it is failing to help her to get ahead.

In the end it's worth remembering that, just like wealth and power, there will always be others who have more connections than you. It all falls away when you are asked at work to complete a difficult task, and then only true ability counts.

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