The Hindu Business Line : `India-China exciting, yet need hardsell'

The sub-continent has certainly come a long way since the `hardship transfer' days of the British Raj. In the job market though, there are still some rough patches that have to be smoothened out, say global search firms.

For instance, though considered `exciting' locations to be in, expats still look at India/China with apprehensions. "India/China while exciting, are still considered hardship postings," says Mr Sunit Mehra, Managing Partner, Hunt Partners India, a global CEO and Board search firm.

Mr Srinivas Nanduri, Practice Head, India and Middle East at Maxima Global executive Search says that while Indian postings are becoming attractive, some pep talk is still needed to convince expats about relocation. "It used to be all about persuading senior professionals (and their wives) to even consider going to China. Shanghai used to be a hard sell a few years ago, though it's not that bad now. But most expats prefer major cities in China to India as the overall work-life balance there is superior compared to India," he says.

Mr K. Sudarshan, Managing Partner at EMA Partners International, a global search firm, says that `hardship is a function of the industry in India,' "Also as long as you assure expats of a good lifestyle around a job, there is not much problem in convincing them, with Mumbai and Delhi still being the most-preferred destinations." But, most expats choose interim or short-term assignments and long-term commitments are definite no-no. Agrees Ms Shailja Dutt, Managing Director, Stellar Search and Selection, "IT, supply chain, sourcing, merchandising and mall management are attracting competitive international talent but they are all looking at interim assignments," she says.