A job fair for graduates of universities in the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Kazakhstan who speak Chinese was held in Astana. This was the fourth such event, organized annually. Interest in the fair has been increasing each year, both from employers and from Kazakhstani citizens looking for work.
This year, more than 200 people participated in the fair. Twenty-four Chinese and Kazakh-Chinese joint venture companies offered job opportunities to applicants. These companies are involved in the oil and gas sector, energy, renewable energy, road construction, and other fields.
The fair is held annually thanks to the joint efforts of the Association of Graduates of PRC Universities and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan. In his opening speech, Wang Tao, Counselor of the Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan, emphasized the importance of the fair, especially during the active and joint development of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative. He noted that Kazakhstan, as a leading country in Central Asia, is becoming more attractive for investment.
"More and more China-funded enterprises are appearing here and starting to grow, attracting a large number of local young talents to develop together. They not only make a significant contribution to the economic and social development of Kazakhstan but also build bridges of friendship between the peoples of China and Kazakhstan. With the internationalization of education in China, more Kazakhstani students prefer to study in China, which has become one of the top three popular countries for overseas education among Kazakhstanis. Students studying in China have become real 'civilian diplomats' and cultural ambassadors in strengthening China-Kazakhstan friendship" Wang Tao, Counselor of the Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan
Wang Tao expressed confidence that after the state visit of PRC President Xi Jinping to Kazakhstan in July this year, a new historical opportunity has opened up for cooperation in various fields, offering significant prospects for Chinese enterprises and graduates of PRC universities.
Jamilya Eleusizova, head of the "Friendship of PRC University Graduates" Association, also emphasized the relevance, popularity, and demand for the job fair.
"The job fair aims to highlight the importance of a Chinese diploma and education. Graduates should not think that the education they received in China is useless. At our event, there is an opportunity to clearly see the demand for their knowledge. Everyone can apply their skills and find a job in their specialty here in Kazakhstan. Our desire to help students and graduates motivates us to annually gather as many Chinese companies as possible at the fair, thereby ensuring as many participants as possible are employed" Jamilya Eleusizova, Head of the "Friendship of PRC University Graduates" Association
Moreover, fair participants have the opportunity to undergo mini-interviews with representatives of more than 20 leading Chinese companies in one place and receive complete information about salaries and working conditions. The job vacancies offered vary. For example, this time, the construction company "NFC Kazakhstan" offered a translator position with knowledge of Chinese to work at its branch in Almaty. Meanwhile, "Kazakhstan Energy Investment" was looking for specialists to work in the administrative, technical, and production departments at a facility in the Akmola region.
"To join the administrative department, knowledge of Chinese is essential. For the technical department, education in the field of energy is needed; knowledge of Chinese is not critical. Working conditions are negotiable. The salary for those who come without experience starts at 350,000 tenge. Specialists are sent to China for advanced training as needed. We have 11 projects: 9 wind and 2 solar power plants, located in different regions. There are good growth prospects, mainly for production workers and in the technical department. Some employees rise from entry-level positions to qualified specialists. This is our second time participating in the job fair. Last year, we hired a female translator. She is still working with us" Alina Sharipova, Manager of "Kazakhstan Energy Investment"
Both young people and adults with over ten years of work experience attended the fair. Some were brought by their relatives, while others traveled from other cities, such as Almaty, Pavlodar, and Aktobe.
"In 2018, I completed my master's degree at a university in Chongqing. Since then, I have worked in two Chinese companies and continue to work. I live in Aktobe. But I want to move to a big city. So, I came specifically to see if there is a suitable job for me in Astana or Almaty. There are many interesting vacancies. I left my resume everywhere. I am waiting and hoping. This is my first time participating, and I think such fairs are very useful, especially for people who don't know what companies exist and what kind of work they offer. I know all the companies represented here, but it's very difficult to contact them directly. Nobody will accept you from the street. But here, everyone is in one place; you approach them, sit down. Very convenient" Job fair participant Zhanar Begaliyeva
Among the participants were also representatives of the Confucius Institute. As carriers of Chinese culture, they offered all participants to improve their knowledge of the Chinese language and enroll in their courses. According to Yang Lei, head of the Confucius Institute on the Chinese side, 80% of the fair participants' faces are familiar to them. This means many are their students.
"We constantly participate in the job fair because the mission of the Confucius Institute is to enhance the competitiveness of Kazakhstani citizens. We not only teach the Chinese language but also help with employment by posting job vacancies on our Instagram pages. I think the Association of PRC University Graduates and the Confucius Institute will always make efforts to create jobs that stimulate economic growth in the country, and such fairs need to be held more often" Yang Lei, Director of the Confucius Institute at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University
The job fair is currently held free of charge. However, starting next year, organizers may introduce a participation fee. They also plan to organize similar events in Almaty, where there is mutual demand.
Saida Zharkinova
