05 Mar 2025
Recently, IBSS Work Placement, Employability and Career Development (WEC) team successfully organized a sharing event in the theme of "Explore the Corporate World – HR Function Sharing". The event brought together senior HR executives, IBSS faculty, and IBSS alumni to discuss the core functions, talent demands, and development trends in the HR field.
The event was moderated by IBSS career counsellor, Hou Hailu. The panel featured four distinguished guests, including Li Feng, Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Administration at Chery Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Co., Ltd.; Huang Xiaoyi, Head of Randstad Suzhou; Dr. Ding Bin, Program Director of Human Resource Management at IBSS; and Mu Sunqi, an IBSS alumnus and Senior HR Specialist at Shiyin Group. From their respective professional perspectives, they provided in-depth insights into the core functions of HR department, possible career development paths, and future opportunities, offering valuable career advice to students.
Li Feng, Executive VP of HRA at Chery Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Co., Ltd.
Li Feng began by introducing the organizational structure of the HR and Administration Department at Chery Jaguar Land Rover, emphasizing the importance of the three HR pillars (ODC, HRBP and C&B) and their operational support. He highlighted the need to deeply understand business operations and embrace new technologies, encouraging students to choose career paths that align with their strengths. Li also shared his company culture of "Four Mindsets, Four Abilities, and Two Voices," suggesting students to cultivate ambition, curiosity, confidence, and humility while enhancing their leadership, communication, learning, and imaginative abilities. He stressed the importance of listening to one’s inner voice and the voices of internal and external clients to achieve long-term career success.
Huang Xiaoyi, Head of Randstad Suzhou
From the perspective of a renowned HR service company, Huang Xiaoyi shared the operational model and career development paths at Randstad. She outlined two career paths: the expert track and the management track, and emphasized that working in the headhunting industry requires strong communication, learning, and adaptability skills, as well as the ability to provide comprehensive solutions to clients. Drawing from her 18 years of experience in the headhunting industry, Huang described the workplace as a journey of self-cultivation, encouraging students to maintain a positive mindset, stay resilient in the face of setbacks, and continuously enhance their core competencies by staying informed about industry trends.
Dr Ding Bin, Program Director of BA Human Resource Management at IBSS
From an educator’s perspective, Dr. Ding Bin discussed the curriculum design and future directions of the BA Human Resource Management (HRM) program. She emphasized the application of big data and AI technologies in the HR field, noting that students need to develop both managerial and technical skills. Dr. Ding also shared her experiences studying and working in different countries, encouraging students to broaden their international perspectives, cultivate a growth mindset, build resilience, and commit to lifelong learning.
Mu Sunqi, Senior HR Specialist at Shiyin Group
As an IBSS alumnus, Mu Sunqi shared his career journey from an HR management trainee at Pinduoduo to his current role as a Senior HR Specialist at Shiyin Group. He emphasized the importance of internship experiences, drawing from his own time at XJTLU, where he interned at Johnson & Johnson (social recruitment), Microsoft (campus recruitment), and AstraZeneca (HRBP). Mu advised students to focus on accumulating academic knowledge, building professional networks, and enhancing practical skills. He also shared his experiences in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, encouraging students to remain curious, passionate about learning, and embrace change.
The Q&A session sparked lively discussions, addressing questions on career planning, industry adaptation, and technological impacts. The panelists drew from their rich experiences to provide detailed responses. Li Feng emphasized the importance of leveraging strengths and fostering teamwork in HR roles. Huang Xiaoyi shared strategies for quickly understanding industry knowledge for headhunting. Dr. Ding encouraged students to maintain a growth mindset, while Mu highlighted the importance of resilience and adaptability during internships. Their insights not only provided clear career guidance but also inspired students to think proactively about their future professional development.
The HR-themed sharing event received many positive feedbacks from students. Many expressed that the event deepened their understanding of the HR field and clarified the directions they need to focus on during their studies. Hou Hailu concluded, "I hope students can identify their own career paths by aligning their interests and strengths, commit to lifelong learning, focus on deepening their expertise, and actively embrace change. The WEC team will continue to provide career counseling, industry insights, soft skills training, employability services, and internship/job opportunities to support students in achieving their career aspirations."
News drafted by: Zheng Yanchi
Photography by: Zheng Yanchi
Edited by: Hou Hailu
05 Mar 2025