Job Board & Recruitment Platforms in China

LinkedIn closed its local social networking features in 2023. The platform now operates as a stripped-down job board. Chinese professionals have largely migrated to Maimai for networking and Boss Zhipin for job searching.

Liepin focuses on mid-to-senior level recruitment through a headhunting marketplace model. It connects professional recruiters with companies and candidates for higher-salary positions. It has built a reputation for higher-quality candidates compared to mass-market boards.

Boss Zhipin dominates for tech positions. Lagou is a vertical platform specializing in internet industry roles (developers, product managers, designers). For senior roles, Liepin connects candidates with professional headhunters.

Yes, though fluency in Chinese is typically required. International schools, foreign companies, and some tech startups post positions for foreign talent. Platforms like Boss Zhipin have English interfaces, but most job postings are in Chinese.

Boss Zhipin's defining innovation is "direct chat" - candidates message hiring managers directly, bypassing traditional HR resume filters. This has made it the dominant recruitment platform for tech and white-collar positions in China, though it is more transactional than LinkedIn's networking focus.

"996" refers to working 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week. It was common in China's tech industry and is frequently discussed on Maimai and other platforms. While regulators have cracked down on excessive overtime, long working hours remain a reality in many companies.

58.com dominates blue-collar and service recruitment (manufacturing workers, delivery riders, hospitality staff). Its classified model suits workers who search via local listings rather than professional career platforms.

Maimai combines LinkedIn's professional networking with anonymous workplace discussions. After LinkedIn China closed its social features in 2023, Maimai became the dominant professional social platform.