For Ross Steel, the owner of a Melbourne automotive business, employing local Chinese Ting Huang to head up his Chinese operations has been an invaluable decision in more ways than one. Sophie Loras reports.

ROSS STEEL
Owner - ETP Automotive
ETP Automotive is a family business in engine transmission manufacturing and Ting has worked for us for two years. I started looking at employing overseas Chinese when I was first setting up and planning the Chinese business. Initially I looked at Chinese who had studied in
Australia - but I felt very uneasy about their loyalty and whether I'd be able to keep them. The returning Chinese are well educated but I think over confident. They are text book graduates and not always practical people. We had one guy with a PhD in accounting from Australia and frankly I think he was unemployable. What he thought he would get out of it and what he really was capable of doing... he had no experience whatsoever and wasn't prepared to go back down the ladder to get it. With Ting she showed right at the start that she was very loyal and basically just had a different perspective to things. I lost her for 12 months - she had been head-hunted by someone else - then I caught up with her again and asked her if she wanted to join us.

One of the big advantages is the cultural experience I've had - meeting her grandmother, her brother and her family, because you understand a lot more about the Chinese culture than you do on a tour and then you understand the people you are dealing with a lot more.
It started with bringing Ting to Australia to improve her business English. She was in Australia for six months and was travelling backwards and forwards to China setting up the WOFE. She was the trail blazer. The WOFE process began in March 2007 and was completed by November 2007. Ting did it in just eight months!

We also had her in the warehouse doing hands on jobs, measuring equipment and learning technical terms. I now think she is part of the family.

TING HUANG
International Trade Manager,
ETP Automotive (Shanghai)

Ting Huang during her time in Australia.

I decided after completing university that I didn't want to be a teacher so I got a job in an engine parts factory initially as an HR assistant. After about a year I spoke to my manager about changing to a new department and I was moved to the trading department. That's when I first met Ross who was a customer. He later offered me a position with his company.

I really liked the experience in Australia. Firstly I started to know what western countries are really like and learnt more about western customs. Of course it helped me to improve my English and I began learning about all the engine parts. It really helped when I met with new customers and knew how to treat them in a western way.

Our Chinese operation has just started so everything has been new for us. So in the beginning it wasn't so easy. We learnt new things everyday and it was a great experience for me. Ross and I worked together to set up this company from nothing to everything that it is today. In that time we've looked after our old customers, taken on new customers, dealt with the Chinese government and followed all the laws. It's been a great challenge and I have more responsibility within the company than I would have in a Chinese one and I like this responsibility.

When I worked for a Chinese company my manager told me everyday what I had to do with very clear instructions so I didn't have to think too much, whereas here I sometimes have to make very important decisions on my own. There's more pressure than in a Chinese company but I enjoy it.

I now want to stay with this company because I enjoy working here and I know I have done a good job working with the rest of the team to set it up. With this job I can work in China and I can also visit Australia regularly. I have many chances to go overseas for exhibitions and I feel I know China better now than I did before. I also know my BMW is coming! ■