Chinese MBA graduates are proving increasingly valuable to the world’s multinationals, eager to establish their businesses in Asia’s booming economy.
No more so than at Microsoft, the US software giant, which this year is recruiting between 30 and 35 MBA graduates worldwide to work in its China operations. Those selected will first be inculcated in the Microsoft culture and will spend 18 months in the company in three locations, including the US and Europe.
Microsoft has a strong internship and campus recruitment programme, says Malcolm Bentley, Microsoft’s regional staffing director in Beijing. Its MBA hire programme is now in its third year. “This is an issue being driven by KT [Kevin Turner, chief operating officer at Microsoft] to enhance future leadership in Microsoft,” says Mr Bentley.