The Ultimate Guide to Chinese Job Boards (2024)

Chinese Job Boards! There are likely more big platforms than you think. After all, the Chinese job market is the largest domestic one in the world.

Despite their relative obscurity abroad, many of these platforms are comparable to international counterparts such as LinkedIn, Indeed, Monster, and ZipRecruiter in terms of both user base and revenues.

Here’s a Table of Contents for the platforms covered, listed by date founded. While this set of job boards covers the major players in terms of users and revenues, we’re on the lookout for new emerging platforms and will update this list as they come!

Chinese Job Boards: A Table of Contents

1997: Zhilian Zhaopin (智联招聘)

1998: 51Job (前程无忧)

2005: 58.com (58同城)

2005: Ganji (赶集网)

2011: Liepin (同道猎聘)

2013: Maimai (脉脉)

2013: Lagou (拉勾)

2014: BOSS Zhipin (BOSS直聘)

1997: Zhilian Zhaopin (智联招聘) - The Oldest & Longest Standing of the Leading Job Platforms in China

Introduction

Zhilian Zhaopin, also known simply as Zhaopin or Zhaopin.com, is one of the leading online recruitment platforms in China, connecting job seekers and employers across the country. In this article, we will explore the history and uses of Zhilian Zhaopin, including its key features, user statistics, and impact on the Chinese job market.

Company History

The company was founded in 1997 as an offline recruitment agency in Beijing. In 2004, the company launched its online platform, allowing job seekers and employers to connect online. Since then, the company has grown rapidly, expanding its reach across China and developing a range of innovative features to improve the recruitment process.

In 2014, Zhilian Zhaopin was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, raising over $170 million in its initial public offering. The company continues to invest in technology and expand its services, including the launch of a mobile app in 2015 and the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help match job seekers with relevant job postings.

Annual highlights

Here is a timeline breakdown of the key events related to the Chinese HR company Zhilian Zhaopin:

1997: Founded in Beijing as an offline recruitment agency.

2004: Launches its online platform, allowing job seekers and employers to connect online.

2011: Acquired by SEEK, an Australian online recruitment company.

2014: Listed on the New York Stock Exchange, raising over $170 million in its initial public offering.

2015: Launches its mobile app, making it easier for job seekers to search for job postings on the go.

2017: Introduces AI-powered tools to help match job seekers with relevant job postings and improve the efficiency of the recruitment process.

2017: Hillhouse Capital, FountainVest Partners, and Seek International take Zhaopin private at a value of $1.01 billion USD.

2018: Partners with Tencent to expand its reach and improve its mobile offerings.

2020: Launches a series of online recruitment events in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing job seekers to connect with potential employers virtually.

2021: Announces plans to launch an online education platform, providing job seekers with access to career development resources and training.

2021: Changes ownership once again – a private consortium led by China-based Primavera Capital Group purchase the majority share of the company.

Key Features of Zhilian Zhaopin (智联招聘)

Here are some of the key features and competitive differences of the Chinese HR company Zhilian Zhaopin:

Job Search: The job search function allows job seekers to browse job postings by location, industry, salary, and other advanced criteria.

AI-Driven Matching: AI-powered tools help to match job seekers with relevant job postings, aiming to improve the efficiency of the recruitment process for both job seekers and employers.

Extensive Job Postings: The platform hosts a wide range of job postings across different industries and job functions, providing job seekers with a broad selection of opportunities.

Career Development Resources: A range of career development resources, including articles, videos, and courses on topics such as interview skills, resume writing, and career planning. These resources can be especially useful for entry-level job seekers who are just starting their careers.

Resume Builder: The resume builder tool allows job seekers to create a professional resume in just a few minutes. The tool provides templates and prompts to help job seekers highlight their skills and experience and create a resume that stands out to potential employers.

Employer Branding: The platform includes tools and resources for employers to build their brand and attract top talent. This includes company profile pages, job postings, and targeted advertising to help employers reach the right candidates.

Online Recruitment Events: Zhilian Zhaopin regularly hosts online live recruitment events, allowing employers to connect with job seekers in real-time. These events provide a virtual space for job seekers to learn more about potential employers and apply for job opportunities.

Mobile-Friendly Platform: The platform is designed to be mobile-friendly and has a comprehensive app for both employers and job seekers, allowing job seekers to search for jobs and apply on the go.

Strong User Base: With over 200 million registered users and over 120 million monthly active users, Zhilian Zhaopin has a strong user base and is one of the largest online recruitment platforms in China.

User Statistics

The company has a significant user base in China, here are a few highlights to that end:

Over 200 million registered users as of 2021.

Over 9 million average daily active users in 2020.

Used by over 90% of the top 500 companies in China.

Available in over 30 cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.

User Growth

2014: Reports over 60 million registered users.

2018: Reports over 160 million registered users and over 100 million monthly active users.

2020: Reports over 200 million registered users and over 120 million monthly active users.

Revenue Growth

2004: Launches its online platform, generating its first online revenue.

2014: After going public, reports revenue of over $240 million for the fiscal year.

2015: Reported revenue of $331 million and net income of $50.7 million.

2016: Reported revenue of $390 million and net income of $58.2 million.

2017: Reported revenue of $481 million and net income of $78.4 million.

2018: Reported revenue of $611 million and net income of $91.6 million.

2019: Reported revenue of $692 million and net $94 million.

2020: Reported revenue of $764 million and net $102 million.

*Since the most recent ownership shuffle in 2021, public financial and user statistics are not as readily available.

How to Use Zhilian Zhaopin (智联招聘)

For Job-seekers

Job seekers can sign up on Zhaopin for free via their website Zhaopin.com or mobile app. Once signed up, users can:

Upload their CV and/or use the Resume builders.
Search for and apply to jobs.
Sign up and attend online recruitment events.
Use the career development resource center.
Exchange direct messages from employers & recruiters.

For Companies & Recruiters

To sign up as a company or recruiter, organizations will need a Chinese entity registered. Once a business account is created, employers can do things like:

Customize their branding.
Post for open positions.
Utilize the AI-enabled matching system to do things like recieve recommended matches for positons.
Message candidates directly.

A limited amount of features are available with a free account. More features and usage amounts unlock with paid employer accounts (which make up a majority of Zhaopin’s revenues).

Zhilian Zhaopin (智联招聘): Conclusion

With its strong user base and growing range of tools and resources, Zhilian Zhaopin is poised to remain a key player in the Chinese HR market for years to come.

References & Further Reading on Zhaopin:

Zhilian Zhaopin website: https://special.zhaopin.com/sh/2009/aboutus/about.html
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/zhaopin
Pitchbook: https://pitchbook.com/newsletter/chinas-zhaopin-goes-public-on-nyse
Seeking Alpha: https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ZPIN/news
ZoomInfo: https://www.zoominfo.com/c/zhaopin-ltd/43302973
PRNewswire: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zhaopins-china-employment-data-now-available-on-bloomberg-300394490.html
Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/australias-seek-talks-cut-zhaopin-stake-makes-ex-cba-boss-narev-ceo-2021-02-23/

Want to post your open position(s) on Zhilian Zhaopin? Our China Candidate Sourcing Pro service helps companies utilize leading Chinese jobs sites like Zhilian Zhaopin and its major competitors.

1998: 51job (前程无忧) - From an Internet 1.0 Success Story to Consistent Market Leader

Company Introduction

51job is a prominent Human Resources company based in China that has established itself as a leading platform for job recruitment and career-related services. Since its founding in 1998, the firm has played a significant role in connecting job seekers and employers, facilitating efficient and effective talent acquisition in the Chinese job market. The company has developed a comprehensive suite of services, leveraging technological advancements to address the evolving needs of both job seekers and employers.

In this article, we dive into the history, offerings, growth, and uses of the mega hiring platform, 51job!

51job's Historic Highlights

Here is a history of the organization broken down in to some key milestones:

1998: 51job’s Founding

Rick Yan and Kathleen Chien found the company, with its headquarters in Shanghai. The original goal was to provide a platform for job seekers and employers to connect online.

2004: Initial Public Offering (IPO)

In December 2004, the company went public on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol “JOBS.” This move helped the company raise capital to support its growth and expansion.

2005: Expansion of Regional Offices

To extend its reach across China, the organization expanded its operations by establishing regional offices in key cities like Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. This expansion allowed the company to better serve job seekers and employers nationwide.

2006: Launch of 51job University

Launched “51job University,” an initiative to provide professional training and development programs for job seekers. This service aimed to enhance job seekers’ skills and increase their competitiveness in the job market.

2011: Acquisition of HR Solutions Provider

In October 2011 they acquired HR Solutions, a company specializing in recruitment outsourcing and human resources services. This acquisition expanded 51job’s portfolio of services, allowing it to offer a broader range of solutions to its clients.

2014: Introduction of Mobile Apps

Introduced mobile apps for iOS and Android platforms. These apps enabled job seekers to search and apply for jobs conveniently using their smartphones.

2015: Acquisition of Yingjie Sheng

In April 2015 the firm bought Yingjie Sheng, a fast-growing job and internship site focused on recent college grads.

2017: Strategic Investment in Lagou

In September 2017 the company announced that it would invest USD $120 million in Lagou to obtain a 60% stake in the company. Lagou is a leading job platform in China focused on the IT sector.

2018: Strategic Partnership with WeChat

In June 2018, the company entered into a strategic partnership with WeChat, a popular messaging and social media platform in China. This collaboration aimed to enhance the recruitment experience by integrating 51job’s services with WeChat’s extensive user base.

2022: 51job is Taken Private

‘JOBS’ is delisted from the NASDAQ through a merger with Garnet Faith Limited, in a deal valued at around USD $4.3 billion.

What 51job offers

51job provides a range of services and features to both job seekers and employers in China. Here is a breakdown of the services and functions offered:

Job Search and Application

Job Search: Job seekers can browse and search for job opportunities posted by employers on the company website or mobile app. They can filter jobs by various criteria such as industry, location, salary, and experience level.

Application Submission: Those seeking employment can submit their resumes and application materials directly through the platform for specific job listings.

Resume Database

Creation: Job seekers can create and upload their resumes to the 51job platform, allowing employers to find their profiles easily.

Resume Search: Employers can search the extensive resume database to find suitable candidates for their job openings. They can use filters to refine their search based on qualifications, experience, and other relevant criteria.

Company Profiles

Employers can create and manage company profiles to showcase their organization’s information, culture, and job openings. These profiles help in attracting potential candidates and enhancing employer branding.

Career Resources and Training

51job University: 51job provides training and professional development programs through 51job University. Job seekers can access various courses, workshops, and resources to enhance their skills, career prospects, and job market competitiveness.

Career Advice: 51job offers career guidance, articles, and resources to assist job seekers in navigating the job market, improving their resumes, preparing for interviews, and advancing their careers.

Value-added Services

Recruitment Advertising: Employers can purchase advertising space on 51job to promote their job openings to a wider audience.

Recruitment Outsourcing: 51job offers recruitment outsourcing services, assisting employers in managing the entire recruitment process, including candidate sourcing, screening, and selection.

Background Checks: 51job provides background screening services to employers to verify candidate qualifications, employment history, and other relevant information.

Mobile apps

51job offers mobile apps for iOS and Android platforms, allowing job seekers and employers to access its services conveniently on their smartphones and tablets.

Users Who benefit from 51job's Services

Job Seekers: Individuals looking for employment in various industries and roles can utilize 51job to search for job opportunities, apply directly to listings, create and upload their resumes, access career resources and training, and receive career advice.

Employers: Organizations of all sizes can benefit from 51job’s services. Employers can post job openings, search resumes, manage applications, create company profiles, utilize value-added services like recruitment advertising and outsourcing, and streamline their hiring processes.

Growth Snapshot

51job’s growth since launching in 1998 has been solid and steady. Since going public in 2004, the company has publicly filed key figures on their growth. Here a few of those highlights:

Annual Revenues have gone from RMB479.9 million (US$58.0 million) in 2004 to RMB4,420.4 million (US$693.7 million) in 2021, growing to nearly 11 times over!

Total User Base had grown to 155 million by 2021.

Monthly Active Users (MAU) has grown to nearly 20 million as of December 2022. In comparison, global HR giant ZipRecruiter has roughly 25 million MAU.

Active CV Database had grown to over 142 million by 2020.

How to Use 51job

For Job-seekers

Job seekers can sign up on 51job for free via their mobile app or website. Once signed up, users can:

Upload their CV and/or use the CV support tools.
Search for and apply to jobs.
Sign up and attend online recruitment events.
Use the career development resource center.
Exchange direct messages with employers & recruiters.

For Companies & Recruiters

Once a business account is created, 51job provides a comprehensive solution for talent acquisition and management. Its services encompass job posting, resume search, recruitment advertising, and recruitment outsourcing. With access to a vast pool of job seekers and advanced search functionalities, employers can efficiently identify and connect with qualified candidates that align with their specific hiring requirements. Additionally, 51job offers other value-added services such as background checks, enabling employers to make informed hiring decisions.

A limited amount of features are available with a free account. More features and usage amounts unlock with paid employer accounts (which make up a majority of company revenues).

51job (前程无忧): Conclusion

In summary, 51job is a prominent Chinese HR company that has revolutionized the job recruitment landscape in China. Through its comprehensive suite of services, user-friendly platform, and dedication to meeting the needs of both job seekers and employers, 51job continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of talent acquisition and career development in the Chinese job market.

In order to use the platform, companies & recruiters must have a valid company and office location registered in China. TeamedUp China has just that!

References & Further Reading on 51job:

Want to post your open position(s) on 51job? Our China Candidate Sourcing Pro service helps companies utilize leading Chinese platforms like 51job and its major competitors.

2005: 58.com (58同城) - Classifieds and So Much More

58.com (58同城 / Wǔbā Tóngchéng), often referred to as ‘The Craigslist of China’, is a massive classifieds platform that has been growing healthily in both users and scope since its founding in 2005. While the comparison to Craigslist was very fair back in the firms’ early days, the modern 58 TongCheng more resembles a combination of eBay, Indeed, Handy, and Zillow than it does a traditional Web 1.0 classifieds site.

In this article we cover 58’s Company History, Service Offerings, Memorable Name and Key Leader.

58 Tongcheng (58同城): Company History

2005: Yao Jinbo founds 58.com in Beijing. He still serves as the CEO as of 2023.

2007: The company thrives via a simple classifieds model. Throughout the year it sets up office branches in Tianjin, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. The team builds out localized websites for more than 160 cities across the country.

2009: Registered users surpass 100 million!

2011: Chinese celebrity Yang Mi becomes the first celebrity spokesperson for 58.com – beginning a years-long relationship between the two. This event ushers in an era of massive marketing and national brand recognition for the platform.

Yang Mi’s ad spot for 58.com in 2019

2013: 58.com was officially listed on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: ‘WUBA’), raising $187 million USD in the process.

2014: Strategic investments and acquisitions. In 2014, 58.com began deploying its capital in a significant way. Highlights for the year include investments in eDaijia (e代驾, Real Estate), Momo (陌陌, Social Media and Dating), Baojia (宝驾租车, Car Rental), and purchase of Charm 91 (购魅力91, Recruitment).

2015: Two giants merge (and more acquisitions).

In April, 58.com announces a strategic investment and merger with Ganji, their biggest competitor and second-largest classifieds portal in China at the time. Founder CEO Yao Jinbo refers to the former rivalry between 58 and Ganji as “the most intense on the Internet.”
Throughout the rest of the year, the newly formed 58 Group acquires other service giants Anjuke (安居客, Real Estate), ChinaHR (中华英才网, Human Resources), Jxedt.com (驾校一点通, Transportation and Licensing), and invests in Tubatu (土巴兔装修网, Home Decoration).

2018: In a widely promoted partnership, 58 launches its WeChat App and secures a $200 million USD investment from Tencent for its newly launched University-focused platform ZhuanZhuan (转转, Recruitment & Second-Hand Services).

The company reports adding 100 million users in 2018 alone.

2020: A group of investors including Warburg Pincus Asia LLC, General Atlantic Singapore Fund Pte Ltd, Ocean Link Partners Ltd, Founder/CEO Jinbo Yao, and Internet Opportunity Fund LP (an entity controlled by Yao) take 58 private off of the NYSE. The deal values the company at about $8.7 billion USD.

2022: The Ganji brand is changed from ‘Gangji Web’ (赶集网 Gǎnjí wǎng) to ‘Ganji Recruit’ (赶集直招 Gǎnjí zhí zhāo). The intent is to refocus the brand from general classifieds to recruitment and jobs.

58 China (58同城): Service Offerings

58.com (58同城) is a comprehensive online classifieds platform in China that offers a diverse range of services.

Here’s a breakdown of the main service categories on 58’s flagship platform:

Job Listings: 58 is a prominent posting platform for job seekers and employers. Users can browse job listings, post resumes, and connect with potential employers, similar in function to top international job sites like Indeed, Monster, and LinkedIn Jobs.
Real Estate Services: The platform includes a robust real estate section where users can find property listings for sale or rent, including residential and commercial properties.
Second-hand (and first-hand) Goods: Individuals can buy and sell second-hand goods, ranging from electronics to furniture. The platform serves as a virtual marketplace for pre-owned items similar to eBay. And just like eBay, this marketplace has over time grown to include traditional retailers also selling first-hand goods.
Local Services: 58.com has a robust local services listings section which includes in-home services, beauty and wellness, education, and a whole lot more. The platform is used by local businesses across China to reach a broader audience and advertise in-person services.
Automotive Listings: The platform features another expansive section for buying and selling vehicles, including both new and used cars. It provides a dedicated space for both individuals and dealerships to showcase vehicles and connect with potential buyers.
Home Services: In addition to the local services section, there is a dedicated area for in-home services such as housekeeping, moving, nannies, repairs, and anything else you might imagine!
Recycling Services: As of my last visit to the site, 58 has added recycling services to the marquee along with the previous categories. Looks like a pretty straightforward way for businesses to connect with local recycling services for practically any category of goods.

Promoted Services of 58 Tóngchéng: ‘Find a Job’ / ‘Find a Home’ / ”2nd Hand Cars’

58.com: The Unique and Memorable Name

While the number 58 might not signify anything special to most, one thing is for certain – 58 as a company name is super easy to remember and even easier to type into a browser. I’d go as far as to say that after reading this article, you’re likely to relate this simple two-digit number to this Chinese company for the foreseeable future!

And that’s part of what makes a great brand name – simplicity and memorability.

So how did 58.com get its name?

Where did the number 58 come from? Is ’58’ significant in the Chinese language?

These are some of the questions this writer had, and boy does the Chinese internet have some interesting answers!

Let’s break down the full Chinese name a bit first for context: 58同城 / Wǔbā Tóngchéng

The number 58 in Chinese is pronounced Wǔbā.
The next part, 同城 Tóngchéng, translates to ‘Same City’.

SOME of the 58 naming theories from the Chinese Internet:

When the company was founded, it had 58 employees. [1]
The founder already had and liked the simple domain name. [2]
The logo design session took place on May 8th (5/8), which happens to be Smile Day in China. [3]

The DIRECT explainer from the founder, posted on his own Wechat moments:

Addressing the name’s meaning directly in a WeChat post, 58’s founder explained that the name derives from a sort of homophone.

In Chinese, 5 (wǔ) sounds like ‘Me/I’ (wǒ).

8 (bā) sounds like the adjective for ‘send/develop’ (发 fā).

Bringing it all together, the name sounds like ‘我发同城’, or ‘I develop in the same city’.

He goes one step further to explain that the ‘I’ is really meant to mean ‘we’, and the true meaning is ‘我们一起发，共同富裕’ or ‘Let’s prosper together’.

The 58.com Founder: Yao Jinbo (姚劲波)

The 58 Tongcheng founder is a key part of the firm’s direction and success over the years. The company proudly promotes him as the public figure and face of the company to this day.

In 2001, Yao co-founded the successful online platform XueDa Education (currently listed on the Chinese Stock Exchange). This success enabled him the opportunity find funding for and launch 58 in 2005.

Yao has been at the helm of 58 since its founding, and still serves as the firm’s CEO as of 2023. Here is an interesting ’60 Minutes’ style interview with him in 2013 covering his background and interesting appearance getting playfully roasted on a famous Chinese talk show: Yao Jinbo Interview (in Chinese).

In 2018, Yao won a representative spot in the 13th National People’s Congress, and held it in the 2023-announced 14th National People’s Congress.

58 Tongcheng (58同城): A Wrap Up

While 58 Tóngchéng may have started out eyeing Craiglist’s success in the US, it can be argued that the company has innovated and expanded beyond what Craiglist ever envisioned. 58 has matured into a super platform for classifieds in the modern era.

Want to post your open position(s) on 58? Our China Candidate Sourcing Pro service helps companies utilize leading Chinese platforms like 58 and its major competitors.

2005: Ganji (赶集网) - Another Classifieds Powerhouse

Ganji (赶集网 / Gǎnjí wǎng) is a giant classifieds platform in China that has gone through quite a successful journey. Since its founding in 2005, the firm grew to a valuation of over a billion $USD by 2015!

While it may be easiest to first compare it to Craigslist in the US, you’ll soon see how it grew beyond that to become more like eBay, Handy, Zillow, and (now mostly) Indeed throughout the ride.

In this article, we cover Ganji’s Company History, Service Offerings, Memorable Name, and Key Leader.

Ganji (赶集网): Company History

March 2005: Ganji.com website was officially launched. The team is based out of Beijing and prioritizes building the best online classifieds product in China.

August 2007: Ganji sets up strategic partnership with Hong Kong media giant TOM Network.

November 2008: Just a few years in, Ganji is selected as “Top 100 Domestic Commercial Websites” by the leading Chinese category magazine Internet Weekly.

December 2009: The firm opens a sizeable Shanghai branch as both web traffic and headcount rise. 2009 statistics show that Ganji.com’s user stickiness (accounting for things like time spent on site and total pages viewed per user) is the best of China’s classified sites.

January 2010: Ganji makes its first notable acquisition, purchasing tech communications firm 263.net.

May 2010: Receives a joint investment of nearly US$20 million from Nokia Growth Partners Fund and Lanchi Venture Capital.

March 2011: ‘Ganji Group‘ is officially launched to capitalize on the massive trend in and uptick of group buying in China.

May 2011: Receives a US$70 million investment from Capital Today and Sequoia Investment, setting a new fundraising record in China’s online classifieds competition.

July 2011: New relationships! Services ‘Ganji Marriage’ and ‘Ganji Life 2.0’, featuring an online dating platform, were released.

November 2011: Noteable service Mayi 蚂蚁短租 (Mǎyǐ duǎn zū) is launched to serve the short-term rental and homestay market in China. CEO Yang Haoyong regards Mayi (also referred to as ‘Ant Short-term Rental’ in English) as “Ganji’s second entrepreneurial project.”

April 2012: Ganji launched Wowotuan (55tuan.com) as a dedicated group-buying e-commerce platform. The brand goes on to raise hundreds of millions in capital from investors like Goldman Sachs. As of 2024, the brand is focused on electronic/mobile payment and Point-of-sale (POS) services for merchants.

February 2013: Ganji.com hit some big user numbers. During this time, the platform had an average of 2.35 million new posts per day, 21.69 million visitors per day, and 253.66 million page views per day.

August 2014: Ganji’s total financing surpasses USD 200 million. CEO Yang Haoyong publicly states plans to take the company public in the United States in June 2015.

April 2015: 58.com announced that the company would strategically invest in Ganji, in a deal valued at USD $1.15 billion. 58 acquired a 43.2% stake in Ganji for 34 million common shares (17 million ADSs) and US$412.2 million in cash.

January 2022: 58.com announced that its now subsidiary ‘Ganji.com’ / ‘赶集网’ 更名“ will be renamed ‘Ganji Direct Recruitment’ / ‘赶集直招’ and that the platform will primarily focus on the recruitment and jobs market.

Ganji (赶集网): Service Offerings

As of 2022, Ganji is primarily focused on the first item of this list – Jobs! The other services on this list all started out under the Ganji brand umbrella, but have been either merged into an existing 58 Tongcheng brand or spun off to another brand name entirely.

From the start, Ganji planned on offering a comprehensive online classifieds platform in China that offered a diverse range of services, not unlike Craigslist in the US.

Here’s a breakdown of the main service categories offered across Ganji’s platform lifespan (2005-present):

Job Listings: Ganji has a strong foundation as a posting platform for job seekers and employers. Users can browse job listings, post resumes, and connect with potential employers, similar in function to top international job sites like Indeed, Monster, and LinkedIn Jobs. As of 2022, the platform name has been changed to reflect the brand focus on this core competency: ‘Ganji Direct Recruitment’ / ‘赶集直招’ (Gǎnjí zhí zhāo).
Real Estate Services: The Ganji platform used to include a large real estate section where users could find residential and commercial property listings for sale or rent. This has since been spun off into the Mayi and 58 Tongcheng brands.

2014 Job & Real-Estate focused Ad spot for Ganji – featuring the Donkey mascot!

3. Second-hand Goods: Users could buy and sell used items, including electronics, furniture, clothing, and more. This service has been directed towards 58 Tongcheng’s primary goods market.

4. Local Services: Ganji facilitated the advertisement of various services – popularly local ones such as tutoring, home maintenance, cleaning, and event planning. This is also under the 58 Tongcheng brand now.

5. Automotive Listings: The platform featured another section for buying and selling vehicles, mostly second-hand used cars.

6. Group-buying Services: Ganji had a leg up on the competition when got in on the group-buying craze, as it already had millions of local service businesses signed up on its platform. The business was spun out into its own brand, Wowotuan, which now offers a number of services for local merchants.

7. Pets: In the advertisement below, ‘Find a pet’ (找宠物 Zhǎo chǒngwù) is displayed prominently on one of the bags. It seems that pets were a large part of the former Ganji platform, and likely now under the 58 brand in some way.

Ganji (赶集网): The Name

The term ‘Ganji’ (赶集) in Chinese is commonly translated to English as ‘Go to market‘. The second part of the name in Chinese, 网 (wǎng) just means ‘web’ in the sense of the internet 🙂

The Ganji Founder: Mark Yang Haoyong (杨浩涌)

The Ganji founder has been a key part of the firm’s direction and success over the years.

At the end of December 2004, Yang had hustled up USD $100,000 from friends to start an online classifieds business. By March 20, 2005, Ganji.com launched out of a small office in Beijing.

After a merger of sorts in 2015, Yang Haoyong and 58.com CEO Yao Jinbo serve as co-CEOs and co-chairmen of the newly formed entity.

From November 2015, Yang also served as the Chairman, CEO, and key investor of Guazi Used Cars (瓜子二手车 guāzǐ èrshǒu chē). Guazi has had immense success in China and Southeast Asia since and has raised hundreds of millions of dollars, valued as a unicorn.

The combined, impressive business successes he has had put him at #2674 on the 2021 Forbes Rich List!

Ganji: A Wrap Up

Ganij grew fast and efficiently in the late 2000s and early 2010s, earning a lot of brand value and loyal users along the way. Founder CEO Yang Haoyong led Ganji to a mutually beneficial merger with their largest rival, 58 Tongcheng, in 2015.

Since then, the assets of Ganji have seen continued success. The brand itself has been more targeted, now focused primarily on the jobs market and related career services.

Want to post your open position(s) on Ganji? Our China Candidate Sourcing Pro service helps companies utilize leading Chinese platforms like Ganji and its major competitors.

2011: Tongdao Liepin (同道猎聘) - The Platform Focused on High-End Talent

Company Introduction

Liepin is a prominent Chinese HR (Human Resources) company that has made significant strides in the executive and professional recruitment sector. Founded in 2011, Liepin has established itself as a leading platform in the Chinese job market, catering specifically to high-level talent and top-tier professionals.

With its comprehensive range of services, Liepin aims to bridge the gap between qualified candidates and esteemed employers, facilitating successful matches that drive career growth and organizational success.

A Focus on High-end and Top-Tier Talent

Liepin primarily targets the executive and professional job market in China. The company focuses on connecting high-level talent and top-tier professionals with leading employers across various industries. Liepin’s services cater to individuals seeking executive-level positions, specialized professionals, and those with significant work experience.

Liepin’s platform and resources are designed to address the unique needs and career aspirations of this target market. By offering tailored job opportunities, executive resume creation tools, career guidance, and networking features, Liepin aims to facilitate successful matches between qualified candidates and esteemed employers in the executive and professional segments.

This specialized approach distinguishes it from general job recruitment platforms and positions it as a leading player in the executive and professional recruitment space in China.

Liepin's Historic Highlights

Here is a history of the organization broken down in to some key milestones:

2011: Liepin’s Founding

Liepin was founded in 2011 as an online platform dedicated to executive and professional recruitment. From the start, the company aimed to provide a specialized service for connecting top-level talent with job opportunities in China.

2014: Changed domain name from Lietou to Liepin

In January 2014, the domain name of Liepin.com was changed from lietou.com (猎头), a name synonymous with headhunting, to liepin.com (猎聘). This domain name change signifies that it will serve more professional managers and enterprises in addition to serving the headhunting industry.

2017: Acquisition of ChinaHR

Liepin acquired ChinaHR, another major Chinese job site, in 2017. This acquisition helped Liepin expand its user base, increase its market share, and further diversify its offerings in the recruitment industry.

2018: Collaboration with Tsinghua University

Liepin collaborated with Tsinghua University in 2018 to establish the Liepin-Tsinghua Talent Research Center. This collaboration aimed to conduct research on talent development, recruitment trends, and market insights to better serve the needs of job seekers and employers.

2018: Listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange

Wise Talent Information Technology, the parent company of Chinese executive headhunting platform Liepin.com, joined the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in June 2018.

2019: Launch of AI-Driven Solutions

Liepin introduced artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions to its platform in 2019. These AI technologies enhanced the matching process between job seekers and employers, improving efficiency and accuracy in the recruitment process.

2020: Tongdao Liepin Group

In June 2020, the parent entity was renamed “Tongdao Liepin Group” to express the company’s strategy of more diversified human resources services.

What Liepin Offers

The company offers a range of services and features tailored to executive and professional recruitment. Here is a detailed breakdown of the services provided, along with their functions, use cases, and the users who benefit:

Job Search and Application

Function: Liepin enables job seekers to search for executive and professional job opportunities in various industries and locations.

Use Cases: Job seekers can explore a wide range of positions, access detailed job descriptions, and apply for relevant roles directly through the platform.

Users: Job seekers looking for executive or professional-level positions benefit from the extensive job listings and efficient application process provided by Liepin.

Executive Resume Creation and Management

Function: Liepin offers tools for creating and managing executive resumes, allowing job seekers to showcase their skills, experiences, and achievements effectively.

Use Cases: Job seekers can create professional resumes, highlight their key strengths, and tailor them to specific job applications. They can also store and update their resumes for future use.

Users: Job seekers aiming to present their executive-level qualifications and experiences in a comprehensive and professional manner benefit from Liepin’s resume creation and management tools.

Career Guidance and Development

Function: Liepin provides career resources, including articles, guides, and industry insights, to support professional growth and development.

Use Cases: Job seekers can access career advice, interview tips, networking strategies, and industry trends to enhance their job search and career progression.

Users: Job seekers seeking guidance, insights, and tools to navigate their career paths and make informed decisions benefit from Liepin’s career development resources.

Employer Branding and Recruitment Solutions

Function: Liepin offers employer branding and recruitment solutions to companies and organizations, helping them attract and hire top executive talent.

Use Cases: Employers can leverage Liepin’s platform to showcase their company culture, promote job opportunities, and engage with potential candidates. They can also access tools for candidate screening and evaluation.

Users: Employers seeking to recruit executive-level professionals and build their employer brand benefit from Liepin’s employer-focused solutions.

Networking and Professional Connections

Function: Liepin facilitates networking and professional connections through its platform, allowing users to connect with industry peers and expand their professional network.

Use Cases: Job seekers can connect with professionals in their industry, join relevant groups, and participate in industry-specific discussions to enhance their networking and collaboration opportunities.

Users: Job seekers and professionals looking to expand their professional network, connect with industry experts, and explore collaboration opportunities benefit from Liepin’s networking features.

Liepin's Advantages and Differentiators

The Chinese HR company distinguishes itself from its major competitors through several key factors:

Focus on Executive and Professional Recruitment

Liepin specializes in executive and professional recruitment, catering to high-level talent and top-tier professionals. This focus allows Liepin to provide targeted services and resources tailored to the unique needs of this segment, including exclusive job opportunities, executive resume creation tools, and career guidance specific to executive-level positions.

Advanced Technology and AI Capabilities

Liepin leverages advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics, to enhance the recruitment process. The company’s AI algorithms help match candidates with relevant job openings, improving efficiency and precision in candidate selection. By utilizing technology-driven solutions, Liepin offers a competitive edge in identifying the most suitable talent for employers and providing personalized recommendations to job seekers.

Strong Industry Partnerships

Liepin has cultivated strategic partnerships with leading organizations, educational institutions, and industry experts. These collaborations enable Liepin to access exclusive networks, industry insights, and market trends, resulting in enhanced recruitment opportunities for both job seekers and employers. The company’s partnerships contribute to its credibility, reputation, and ability to attract high-quality job listings and candidates.

Extensive Employer Branding Solutions

Liepin offers comprehensive employer branding solutions, allowing companies to showcase their unique value proposition and attract top talent. Through its platform, employers can create attractive company profiles, highlight corporate culture, and engage with potential candidates. This emphasis on employer branding enhances the recruitment process and helps companies stand out in a competitive market.

Rich Data and Insights

Liepin gathers extensive data on job market trends, candidate profiles, and industry developments. This data-driven approach enables the company to provide valuable insights to employers, helping them make informed recruitment decisions and develop effective talent acquisition strategies. Job seekers also benefit from access to market insights, salary information, and career guidance to make well-informed career choices.

Wealth of Industry Experience

Liepin’s long-standing presence in the Chinese HR industry has allowed it to build expertise, credibility, and a strong reputation. The company’s experience and deep understanding of the Chinese job market give it an edge in providing tailored solutions and services that meet the unique needs of both job seekers and employers.

Growth Snapshot

Liepin’s growth since launching in 2011 has been impressive and consistent. Since going public in 2018, the company has publicly filed key figures on their growth. Here a few of those highlights:

Annual Revenues reached RMB824.7 million (US$115,7 million) in 2017 after only 6 years of business! From 2017-2022 the company more than tripled their revenue, reaching RMB2,637.9 million (US$370.1 million).

Total Individual Users reached 83.5 million by 2022.

Verified Business Users grew to 1,129,568 as of year end 2022.

Verified Headhunter Users grew to 211,772 by year end 2022.

How to Use Liepin

For Job-seekers

Job seekers can sign up on Liepin for free via their mobile app or website. Once signed up, users can:

Register: Start by creating an account on the Liepin platform. You may need to provide your email address, contact information, and other relevant details.
Create a Profile: After registration, complete your profile by adding essential information such as your education, work experience, skills, and any other relevant details. A well-structured profile increases visibility and attracts potential employers.
Search for Jobs: Utilize Liepin’s search function to explore executive and professional job opportunities. Specify search criteria, including industry, location, job title, and other relevant factors, to narrow down the results. Browse through the available job listings to find positions that match your qualifications and career goals.
Apply for Positions: Once you find a suitable job opening, review the job description, requirements, and application instructions carefully. Prepare a tailored resume and cover letter highlighting your relevant skills and experiences. Submit your application directly through the Liepin platform, following the specified application procedure.
Network: Leverage Liepin’s networking features to expand your professional connections. Connect with industry peers, join relevant groups, and participate in discussions to enhance your network and gain insights. Networking can open doors to potential job opportunities and industry-related information.
Utilize Career Resources: Take advantage of Liepin’s career resources, including articles, guides, and industry insights. Access career advice, interview tips, and strategies for professional development. Stay updated on market trends, industry news, and salary information to make informed career decisions.

For Companies & Recruiters

To sign up as a company or recruiter, organizations will need a Chinese entity registered.

Once a business account is created, companies and headhunters can use these functions:

Company Profile Creation: Employers can create a company profile on Liepin to showcase their organization, mission, and culture. Provide detailed information about the company, its values, and work environment to attract top talent.

Job Posting: Employers can post job openings on Liepin to reach a targeted audience of executive and professional job seekers. Specify job requirements, responsibilities, and qualifications to attract relevant candidates.

Candidate Screening and Evaluation: Liepin offers tools to screen and evaluate candidates efficiently. Employers can review candidate profiles, resumes, and other relevant information to shortlist potential candidates for further evaluation.

Employer Branding: Employers can leverage Liepin’s employer branding solutions to enhance their reputation and attract high-quality candidates. Highlight the company’s unique selling points, showcase success stories, and engage with potential candidates to build a strong employer brand.

Tongdao Liepin (同道猎聘): Conclusion

In summary, Liepin offers an array of innovative tools, including job search capabilities, executive resume creation, career guidance resources, and employer branding solutions.

A focus on executive and professional recruitment, advanced technology, strategic partnerships, employer branding solutions, data-driven insights, and industry experience contribute to its differentiation and position as a leading player in the market.

By leveraging advanced technologies and market insights, Liepin has been able to create a dynamic ecosystem that benefits both job seekers and employers.

References & Further Reading on Liepin:

Want to post your open position(s) on Liepin? Our China Candidate Sourcing Pro service helps companies utilize leading Chinese platforms like Liepin and its major competitors.

2013: Maimai (脉脉) - The 'LinkedIn' of China

Let’s dive into MaiMai, the giant Chinese networking and jobs platform often compared to LinkedIn!

In this article, we cover Maimai’s Company History, Service Offerings, Comparisons to LinkedIn, and User Info.

Maimai (脉脉): Company History

In October 2013, Maimai was officially launched by founders Lin Fan (林帆) and Huang Wei (黄威) in Beijing, China. The firm raises Series A financing from Wuyuan Venture Capital.

In August 2014, Maimai raised Series B financing from IDG and Wuyuan Capital (again). This year also saw the company start to focus on professional social media in addition to job services.

In December 2016, just over 3 years after launching, Maimai achieved break-even.

In November 2017, the firm received Series C financing, led by DCM, with IDG Capital and Wuyuan Capital continuing to invest. In addition, China’s leading career platform Zhaopin Recruitment was introduced as a strategic investor.

In April 2018, Maimai raised Series D financing from a group including DST, IDG Capital, Wuyuan Capital, and DCM. The round values the company at over $1 billion USD, rendering it a Unicorn.

In April 2019, Maimai’s registered users exceeded 80 million. In December of the same year, the ‘Colleague Circle’ function was launched, allowing co-workers a platform to share and discuss their work and companies.

In March 2022, the number of registered users reached 120 million. The ‘Company Review’ model is also launched this year, aiming to provide transparent reviews and feedback from current and former employees.

What Maimai (脉脉) Offers

Maimai’s success can be attributed to its user-friendly interface and a wide array of features tailored nicely to the Chinese job market. Some of its key features include:

Industry-focused Communities:

Maimai operates through industry-based communities where professionals can connect, discuss trends, and build relationships with others in their field.

Anonymous Job Search:

Job seekers can discreetly search for opportunities without revealing their identity, giving them more control over their job search process.

AI-driven Recommendations:

Maimai’s AI algorithms offer personalized job recommendations to users based on their skills, experience, and preferences.

More Than an Online Résumé:

Users can create and showcase a comprehensive online presence and portfolio, ideally allowing employers to discover and connect with potential candidates more effectively.

Talent Sourcing for Employers:

While this is a given, it still needs to be said as it is the primary revenue driver for the platform. Maimai provides companies with a place to source and connect with talent. They aim to make recruitment more efficient for paid company clients.

Integration of AI and Big Data:

Like nearly all of the Unicorn tech companies in the modern age, Maimai has invested heavily in AI and big data technologies to enhance its services. With these technologies, the platform aims to better analyze user behavior and trends, optimize job recommendations, improve employer-candidate matching, and facilitate more efficient networking.

Comparisons to LinkedIn

Maimai has been bluntly referred to as the LinkedIn of China.

From the beginning, Maimai has often garnered comparison due to its blend of both professional networking and career services into one platform.

By 2014, founder Lin Fan was trying to separate Maimai from the comparison in interviews like this one:

“我们从没说过我们是中国LinkedIn，我们认为自己是工作版的微信。”
“Do not call us the LinkedIn of China. We position ourselves as ‘WeChat for Work’, WeChat solves personal needs and we solve working needs.”
-Lin Fan, Founder of Maimai (脉脉)

Interestingly, WeChat DID create a ‘Wechat Work’ product, now called ‘WeCom’, that is similar to Slack. We covered that platform a bit on our list of 10 Chinese Alternatives To LinkedIn.

As for LinkedIn and Maimai in the China market, there is a clear winner. Since launching in 2013, Maimai has grown to over 110 million users (over twice that of the former LinkedIn China) and is thriving. LinkedIn China, on the other hand, has closed down operations completely in the country as of 8/2023.

User Snapshot

'Mid-to-high-end Talents'

From Maimai’s Website:

“The Maimai platform has gathered a large number of ‘mid-to-high-end talents’.
Its users come from many Fortune 500 and China’s Fortune 500 companies, and are mainly urban workplace elites with high education and high income.
It currently covers IT Internet, artificial intelligence, new energy vehicles, chips, biomedicine, auditing, finance, cultural media, real estate, manufacturing, education and training and other industries.”

Industries Covered

While Maimai covers nearly all industries, it’s focus on ‘mid-to-high-end talents’ does concentrate around a few key ones:

The ‘Internet & Technology’ and ‘Sales & Services’ industries cover 51% of Maimai users.

The ‘Medical & Health’, ‘Automotive’, and ‘Finance & Real Estate’ industries each make up a solid amount of users as well, coming in at 12%, 12%, and 10% of users respectively.

MaiMai - a Wrap Up

Maimai (脉脉) has emerged as a trailblazer in the Chinese HR industry, revolutionizing how professionals connect and employers recruit.

The firm is growing at an outstanding pace, continuing investment in emerging technologies, and has even beaten out its international comparison and competitor, LinkedIn, in the Chinese market.

While Maimai still has many strong competitors in the Chinese job services market, its unique position as both a networking AND jobs platform should continue to provide benefits.

Want to post your open position(s) on Maimai? Our China Candidate Sourcing Pro service helps companies utilize leading Chinese platforms like Maimai and its major competitors.

2013: Lagou (拉勾) - The Platform for Tech Jobs

Lagou (拉勾 / Lā gōu), also referred to as Lagou Zhaopin (拉勾招聘 / lā gōu zhāopìn), is a giant Chinese jobs platform focused on STEM jobs – that’s Science, Technology, Engineering, & Maths.

Lagou’s customer list is a who’s who of Chinese titans: Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu, ByteDance (Douyin/Tiktok), Billibilli, Meituan, Weibo, Huawei, XiaoHongShu, Xiaomi, Pinduoduo, Kuaishou, Trip.com, Didi, Ant Group, Midea, & JingDong (JD.com) – just to name a few! This is where China’s tech giants from all types of service and product sectors go to find engineering & tech talent. With top-tier Demand from notable companies comes a great Supply – skilled STEM workers in China have all at least heard of Lagou.

In this article, we cover Lagou’s Company History, Service Offerings, and Competitive Advantages.

Lagou (拉勾): Company History

2013: Xu Dandan founds Lagou in Beijing. From the start, Lagou was positioned as a vertical recruitment platform for Internet talents. Referring to the target of tech talent with in-depth knowledge of certain skill sets, the founder said the company had a focus “One inch wide and one kilometer deep”.

2014: Funding rapid fire! Lagou has a BIG second year, convincing 3 sets of investors that it has a unique and valuable proposition in the Chinese HR landscape. It probably helped that the platform snagged over 1 million registered users in its first year of business!

January 2014: Raises $330,00 USD from angel investors.
March 2014: Raises $5,000,000 USD in series A.
August 2014: Raises $25,000,000 in series B.

2015-2016: With a war chest of financing and connections, Lagou enters a stage of rapid growth and expansion. The firm sets up an education unit with the aim of providing quality training to make candidates “more valuable”.

March 2016: Raises $34,000,000 USD in series C funding round. Qiming Venture Partners again joins this round after participating in series B.

2017: In September, the Chinese HR services company 51job acquired a controlling stake in Lagou, marking a significant development in the company’s history.

September 2017: Raises $120,000,000 USD in series D funding.

2018: Reaches 1.2 million companies registered, 34 million job seekers registered. At this stage, the platform is receiving over 12 million job applications every month.

2019: The platform broadens its focus to cover various industries beyond just IT and technology.

2020: Lagou reaches over 25 million users.

2022: The company’s annual employment promotion following Chinese New Year hits record heights. During the promo, an average of 100 new jobs were posted every minute, and someone received an offer every 6 seconds!

2023: After 10 years, Founder & CEO Xu Dandan steps down. HR giant and controlling owner 51job takes over management.

What Lagou (拉勾) Offers

Lagou (拉勾) is a prominent Chinese HR service that has become a key player in the country’s talent acquisition and recruitment landscape. Its functionality and advantages make it a valuable resource for both job seekers and employers. Here’s a comprehensive overview of what Lagou offers:

Functionality:

Industry-Specific Job Boards: Lagou provides specialized job boards for different industries, ensuring that job seekers and employers can connect within their respective sectors. Unlike many competitors, Lagou has very specific categories and specializations when it comes to STEM-related fields. This specialization makes it easier for job seekers to find targeted positions relevant to their expertise.
Company Profiles: Employers can create detailed company profiles, showcasing their corporate culture, values, and available job opportunities. In addition to financial figures, Lagou encourages companies to emphasize their qualitative aspects: Mission, founding team, values, etc. These profiles serve as a valuable resource for job seekers looking to understand the organizations they might join.
Job Search: Lagou offers a robust job search feature. Job seekers can filter job listings based on various criteria, including job title, location, industry, and company size. This makes it easier for professionals to find job opportunities that match their preferences. Lagou stands out here due to it’s refined and specific search for technical skills and qualifications.
Personalized Job Recommendations: Lagou employs advanced algorithms to offer personalized job recommendations to users. These recommendations take into account the user’s qualifications, experience, and preferences, making the job search process more efficient and targeted.
Community and Networking: The platform has a community and networking aspect, allowing professionals to connect, share knowledge, and engage in discussions related to their fields of interest. This feature promotes interaction and collaboration among users. While Lagou isn’t billed as a networking site, it has amassed a great community for tech-related discussions and a set of resources for STEM-related content.
Offline Career Events: Lagou hosts numerous offline career events and job fairs across China. These events facilitate in-person networking opportunities and can be especially beneficial for job seekers and employers looking for face-to-face interactions. As mentioned above, many of these events boast EXCELLENT results, such as the 2022 Chinese New Year promotional event when 100 new jobs were posted every minute, and someone received an offer every 6 seconds!

Competitive Advantages:

Industry Specialization: One of Lagou’s primary advantages is its industry specialization. The company has said from the start that it will be a tech-first and deep-focus technology needs. By doing this, Lagou has become the go to spot for certain types of positions including software, hardware, aerospace, automotive/NEV, blockchain, and AI. By focusing on these specific sectors, the platform helps job seekers and employers within those industries find the most relevant and tailored opportunities.
Company Insights: Job seekers can gain valuable insights into companies by exploring detailed company profiles. Lagou differentiates a bit here – the company profiles are organized more like Crunchbase than Indeed, suiting a tech-centric environment. This part of the site promotes companies in a way similar to Silicon Valley – founders, story, mission, and funding are all presented proudly.
Personalization: Lagou’s use of advanced algorithms for personalized job recommendations streamlines the job search process. This feature saves time and effort for job seekers by presenting them with job opportunities that closely match their qualifications and preferences. On the other side of the equation, the advanced matching and recommendations here have certainly saved our team a lot of time connecting to the right types of candidates.
Networking and Collaboration: Lagou provides an environment for professionals to network, share knowledge, and engage in discussions related to their fields of expertise. Again, this is a very tech-centric vibe here with many discussions centering around what life is like working in big tech, strories in tech and funding, and like like!
Offline Events: Offline events have proved to be a big part of Tech culture in both the East and West. The platform’s organization of offline career events enhances opportunities for in-person networking and connections. These events complement the digital experience and create a more comprehensive ecosystem for job seekers and employers.
Strategic Acquisition: The acquisition of a controlling stake in Lagou by 51job (one of the big 4 job sites in China) in 2017 has strengthened the platform’s position in the competitive Chinese HR market, contributing to its growth and potential for future development.

Lagou: A Wrap Up

In conclusion, Lagou (拉勾) offers a range of features and advantages that cater to the unique needs of job seekers and employers in China, especially those in tech! Its industry-specific focus, personalized job recommendations, and networking opportunities set it apart as a leading HR service in the country. As the Chinese job market continues to evolve, Lagou remains a valuable resource for STEM professionals and organizations seeking top tech talent to connect and collaborate effectively.

As of 2023 the company has entered a new phase of management, with founder Xu Dandan stepping down to make way for majority owner 51job to run things. While Lagou still has many strong competitors in the Chinese job services market, its unique position as a Technology & STEM first platform should continue to provide benefits.

References & Further Reading on Lagou:

Want to post your open position(s) on Lagou? Our China Candidate Sourcing Pro service helps companies utilize leading Chinese platforms like Lagou and its major competitors.

2014: BOSS Zhipin (BOSS直聘) - The Fastest Growing and Newest Big Player

BOSS Zhipin, also referred to as BOSS App or BOSS直聘, is the largest hiring and recruitment platform in all of China by monthly active users (MAUs). Founded in 2014, the company has quickly established itself as a leading online recruitment platform, connecting job seekers with employers in a user-friendly and efficient manner.

In this article we dive in to the history, offerings, growth, and uses of the mega hiring app, BOSS Zhipin!

Historic Highlights

Here is a timeline breakdown of the key events related to the Chinese HR company BOSS Zhipin:

2014: BOSS Zhipin was founded and launched its platform for part-time job seekers in China.

2015: Expanded to include full-time job postings and had over 1 million registered users.

2016: Raised $50 million in funding from investors and had over 10 million registered users.

2017: Had over 50 million registered users and was one of the top job search platforms in China.

2018: Named one of the “World’s Most Innovative Companies” by Fast Company, and its user base continued to grow rapidly.

2019: Hit over 100 million registered users and was the largest job search platform in China. Tencent leads a large round of funding (look up how much).

2020: BOSS Zhipin merged with Kanzhun, another Chinese HR company. The newly formed entity ‘Kanzhun Limited’ became one of the largest HR companies in the world.

2021: BOSS Zhipin reached over 200 million registered users and more than 10 million active job postings. In June 2021, Kanzhun Limited went public on the NASDAQ stock exchange of New York, raising $912 million USD.

2022: Kanzhun Limited listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

What BOSS Zhipin (BOSS直聘) offers

There are MANY recruiting platforms in China, so what makes BOSS Zhipin different?

Boss Zhipin aims to disrupt the traditional recruitment industry by connecting job hunters directly with employers using artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics. It also touts the ease of conversations between candidates and employes/recruiters via the Boss Zhipin app. The company calls this the “direct recruitment model” and is aimed at efficiency and time saving.

features

BOSS Zhipin claims these main features help them stand out from the pack:

- Mobile-native. We started as a mobile app, and we were built for the era of mobile internet. Our highly interactive mobile-native platform improves user experience and recruitment efficiency by enabling job seekers and enterprise users to engage in meaningful communication anytime, anywhere.
- Recommendation-based. We provide targeted job and candidate matches and recommendations through a feed stream format, which leverages large, live datasets to deliver accurate and tailored matching results.
- Direct chat. Users can initiate direct chat with their counterparties on our platform. Direct chatting ensures that our users are active with real demands, and they can confirm each other’s intentions and their suitability before the interview, which makes the job-hunting experience highly informative and efficient.

Functions

To dive a little deeper, here’s a list of the FUNCTIONS the platform provides:

Job search: Allows job seekers to search for job postings by location, industry, job function, salary, and other criteria. The platform offers a wide range of job postings, from entry-level positions to executive roles.

Resume builder: BOSS Zhipin provides job seekers with a free resume builder tool that allows them to create professional resumes and cover letters that can be customized for specific job applications.

AI matching: The platform uses AI technology to match job seekers with job openings that are relevant to their skills and experience.

Interview preparation: BOSS Zhipin offers a range of resources and tools to help job seekers prepare for job interviews, including interview tips, sample interview questions, and mock interview sessions.

Employer branding: Offers a range of services to help employers build their brand and attract top talent. This includes customized company profiles, job postings with rich media content, and targeted employer branding campaigns.

Mobile app: BOSS Zhipin has a mobile app that allows users to search for jobs, apply for positions, and receive job alerts on the go.

Social networking: Offers a social networking feature that allows job seekers to connect with other professionals in their field and expand their network.

Data insights: The platform provides employers with detailed data insights on their recruitment process, including candidate sourcing, applicant tracking, and time-to-hire.

Growth Snapshot

BOSS Zhipin’s growth since launching has been nothing short of phenomenal. Since going public in 2021, the company has publicly filed key figures on their recent growth. Here a few of those highlights (in Chinese Yuan):

Annual Revenues have gone from 999 million in 2019 to 4.5 billion in 2022, about a 450% increase in just 3 years!

Monthly Active Users (MAU) have increased from 19.8 million in 2020 to 28.7 million in 2022, nearly a 45% increase in only 2 years.

Total paid enterprise customers have increased from 2.2 million in 2020 to 3.6 million in 2022, around a 64% increase in only 2 years.

Net income has gone from -502 million in 2019 to +107 million in 2022, making the company profitable on paper for the first time since reporting.

How to Use BOSS Zhipin (BOSS直聘)

For Job-seekers

Job seekers can sign up on BOSS Zhipin for free via their mobile app or website. Once signed up, users can:

Upload their CV and/or use the CV support tools.
Search for and apply to jobs.
Sign up and attend online recruitment events.
Use the career development resource center.
Exchange direct messages with employers & recruiters.

For Companies & Recruiters

To sign up as a company or recruiter, organizations will need a Chinese entity registered as well as an active legitimate office location in China. After entering company information, BOSS Zhipin staff will be in contact to verify the account (likely via a video call in your office location). Once a business account is created, employers can do things like:

Customize their branding.
Post for open positions.
Utilize the AI-enabled matching system to do things like recieve recommended matches for positons.
Message candidates directly.

A limited amount of features are available with a free account. More features and usage amounts unlock with paid employer accounts (which make up a majority of company revenues).

BOSS Zhipin (BOSS直聘): Conclusion

BOSS Zhipin has quickly grown to become the largest hiring platform in all of China. They believe that an app first and direct connection model has streamlined the hiring process and made the process more transparent for job seekers, companies, and recruiting firms alike.

The market leader doesn’t seem to be willing to give up it’s spot at the top and has doubled down on putting a massive amount of it’s revenue back in to research & development as well as aggressive marketing campaigns throughout the nation.

In order to use the platform, companies & recruiters must have a valid company and office location registered in China. TeamedUp China has just that!

References & Further Reading on BOSS:

BOSS Zhipin website: https://ir.zhipin.com/
Yahoo! Finance: https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/BZ?p=BZ
Statista: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1211995/china-leading-hiring-apps-based-on-monthly-active-users/
Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-11/kanzhun-soars-in-debut-after-top-of-range-912-million-u-s-ipo
Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/bosszhipin
FIFA: https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/boss-zhipin-signs-on-as-official-regional-supporter-of-fifa-world-cup-qatar
Pymnts: https://www.pymnts.com/news/ipo/2021/chinese-online-recruiter-boss-zhipin-eyes-united-states-ipo/
Pitchbook: https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/166603-51

Want to post your open position(s) on Boss Zhipin? Our China Candidate Sourcing Pro service helps companies utilize leading Chinese platforms like BOSS Zhipin (BOSS直聘) and its major competitors.