【Event Review】HR Perspectives on Manufacturing Talent Development

Recently, the Work placement, Employability and Career Development Team (WEC) at the International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) successfully hosted a manufacturing industry sharing session, part of the "Explore the Corporate World" series. The event focused on the career prospects for IBSS students within the manufacturing sector. Three senior HR experts from different types of enterprises provided in-depth, practical, and forward-looking insights on industry trends, talent demands, and career development, fostering lively interaction throughout.

The session was moderated by Ms Hailu Hou, Career Counsellor at IBSS. The roundtable forum guests included: Ms Susan Xu, Human Resources Director (HRD) at Powersite Group; Ms Hanghang Li, HR & Talent Acquisition at Chery Jaguar Land Rover; and Ms Shirley Zhang, HRBP at DESMI. With their extensive HR management experience across diverse fields and enterprise types, the three guests offered students comprehensive career guidance for the manufacturing industry, ranging from strategic perspectives to practical advice.

从左至右：侯海璐老师、徐华容女士、李航航女士（左二）、李航航女士

With over 20 years of experience in HR, having worked in state-owned, multi-national company, and private enterprises, Ms. Xu provided a systematic analysis of the differences in organizational culture and management mechanisms across these enterprise types. She highlighted the high openness of positions within manufacturing, noting that students from business backgrounds can actively explore diverse roles beyond R&D and manufacturing engineering, such as HR, marketing and sales, supply chain, project management, etc. She specifically advised XJTLU students to closely follow macro-trends like import substitution and corporate globalization, make full use of university resources, solidify their professional foundation, and courageously choose career paths aligned with their personal aspirations.

Bringing a cross-functional background from lean production to human resources, Ms. Li pointed out that the expanding new energy vehicle market is creating significant development opportunities for related industries. Using the "Co-creation Center Trainee" program as an example, she emphasized that adaptability and resilience are as crucial as communication skills. She encouraged business students to actively seek internships in the automotive or manufacturing sectors, take ownership of project modules as team lead, and enhance their overall competencies through practical experience. She stated that career development is not limited to vertical paths, underscoring the importance of "lateral growth," and advised students to maintain an open mind, stay informed about the entire industry chain, and actively explore diverse possibilities.

Leveraging years of practical HR experience in European and American manufacturing enterprises, Ms. Zhang outlined key paths for long-term HR career development within the manufacturing sector for business students. She recommended that, alongside leveraging their business expertise, students should master fundamental labor laws, develop data and cost awareness, and enhance their communication skills with colleagues from diverse backgrounds, including technical staff and foreign employees. She encouraged students to proactively learn about company products and process flow through cross-departmental communication and external training to better support effective HR initiatives. In recruitment, she focuses on qualities like learning agility, English communication skills, responsibility, and mental resilience, reminding students to actively seize opportunities during organizational transformations to continually expand their professional growth space.

The sharing session generated positive feedback among attending students. Many participants expressed that the guests' insights were both visionary and practical, helping them form a clearer understanding of career paths in manufacturing and providing clear guidance for their subsequent learning direction and competency development. In her concluding remarks, Ms. Hailu Hou stated that the WEC team is committed to bridging the gap between academic learning and employer expectations, helping students broaden their career perspectives and enhance their employability. Moving forward, the team will launch more employability workshops and events to support students at every step of their professional development.

供稿、编辑：侯海璐

摄影：蔡雅虹、张小禹