RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - A student-led job fair in Beijing is drawing strong international interest, signaling growing demand among companies in China and beyond for globally minded graduates, particularly those with cross-cultural and language skills.

The Indonesian Student Association in China, PERMIT Beijing, held a hybrid job fair on April 11-12, 2026, attracting around 1,300 applicants from various countries.

Chairman Victor Hugo Yapadli said the annual event continues to gain traction among universities and industries, particularly due to its focus on career opportunities for international students.

“Because the PERMIT job fair focuses on career opportunities for international students, there have been 1,300 applicants so far, including 600 Indonesian students,” Victor said on Saturday, April 12, as quoted by Antara.

The fair featured 36 companies offering hundreds of job opportunities, with in-person activities hosted at Beijing University of Chemical Technology.

For many participants, the in-person format offered a key advantage. Anna Pinkiewicz, a 25-year-old postgraduate journalism student at Renmin University of China, said she preferred attending offline.

“Applying online often means waiting for a long time without certainty and can be frustrating, as applications must first be screened by a system before reaching a human reviewer. At a job fair, you can interact directly and make a strong first impression with recruiters,” she said.

Anna, who is from Poland, added that the fair felt more welcoming to foreign job seekers than others she had attended in China.

“It feels more friendly for foreigners here. The companies are open and interested in hiring international candidates. Usually, job fairs in China target both local and foreign candidates, but this one is more focused on foreign ones,” she added.

Echoing that view, Indonesian student Marvell Millensza, who is pursuing a master’s degree at Beijing Institute of Technology, said the fair provided valuable insights into the job market.

“I had the opportunity to meet recruitment teams from various Chinese and Indonesian companies and gain a lot of information about the job market. This helps me assess my position and adjust to market demands,” he said.

He added that discussions with recruiters also helped him weigh decisions between continuing his studies or entering the workforce.

“I received many perspectives that positively influenced my decision-making when choosing between further study or working. Some companies suggested entering the workforce after completing a master’s degree, as it could offer better salaries and faster career advancement,” he explained.

Recruiters also outlined specific criteria. Chinese construction software firm Glodon said it seeks candidates based on academic background, personality, language skills, and nationality for roles such as marketing promotion specialists and software implementation engineers.

Applicants from Indonesia who have studied in China are seen as particularly valuable due to their cultural understanding, especially for roles based in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, e-commerce giant JD.com is looking for candidates proficient in local languages for placements in countries such as Indonesia, Japan, and Saudi Arabia, while requiring Mandarin proficiency for roles based in China.

For students like Jeremy Nanda from Semarang, Central Java, currently studying at Tianjin Foreign Studies University, language skills are essential.

“If your goal is to find a job related to Mandarin, such as working in China or for a Chinese company, then it is very important. For me, learning Mandarin is always beneficial because it adds to my skills and ensures I am prepared if needed,” he said.

At the opening, Parulian Silalahi from the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing said the event strengthens collaboration between universities, industries, and global talent.

“In recent years, we have seen growth in sectors such as green energy, manufacturing, and international trade, which are opening wide career opportunities in China. These sectors align well with the growing readiness and technical expertise of students in China,” he said.

He added that the embassy will continue to facilitate closer connections between students, universities, and industry partners, while encouraging stronger cooperation to support foreign-language-speaking students in China.

The two-day job fair combined offline activities on April 11 with an online session on April 12. ***