Chapter 164: Vice President Candidates
The headhunting company recommended three candidates for the vice president position to Li Dong.
The first two candidates were relatively reliable, both seasoned professionals with years of experience managing large retail operations.
They were experienced and well-versed, though Li Dong felt they might be a bit old for the position, he grudgingly accepted them.
However, when Li Dong saw the third resume, he exploded in anger!
If it weren't for the fact that this headhunting company had worked with him multiple times, Li Dong would have cursed them out!
Shen Qian, female, 28 years old, with no work experience whatsoever!
The only highlight was Shen Qian's education—she had an undergraduate degree from Jingda University and a master's degree from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.
She had just returned to China recently and was currently unemployed.
A young woman with no work experience at all, and the headhunting company actually recommended her for an interview for the vice president position at Yuanfang?
That was just ridiculous!
Education is important, but it doesn't represent everything. What qualifications does a fresh graduate have to be a vice president at a company with assets worth over a hundred million?
Li Dong didn't even think twice before rejecting Shen Qian. Such a high-IQ talent should be left to others.
---
Li Dong quickly interviewed the two selected candidates the next morning.
The interview took place at Yuanfang, with HR Director Song Jie and Executive Assistant Liu Qi attending as observers.
Li Dong took the vice president candidates very seriously, spending over an hour with each.
During the interviews, Li Dong asked many questions and answered many as well.
The more he delved into the discussions, the more he frowned.
After the two candidates left, Li Dong's expression was not pleasant.
Liu Qi cautiously said, "Mr. Li!"
Li Dong's face was grim as he snorted, "They treat Yuanfang like a retirement home and dream on! What I need are capable people. Age isn't an issue, but you all heard it—what were these two candidates concerned about other than the usual clichés?"
"Salary, retirement benefits, company car…"
Li Dong grew more and more irritated as he spoke, finally instructing Liu Qi, "Put that headhunting company on our blacklist from now on. What kind of recommendations are these!"
Liu Qi nodded in understanding. Just then, Liu Qi's assistant knocked on the door and informed Li Dong that someone was looking for him.
When Li Dong asked for the visitor's identity, he was utterly speechless.
Shen Qian, the candidate he had rejected, had actually come to see him in person!
She had come directly without going through the headhunting company, which completely surprised Li Dong.
After a moment of contemplation, Li Dong decided to meet her.
Not for any particular reason, just because she had the courage to come see him, Li Dong was willing to give her a chance.
Of course, it was only a chance.
---
Li Dong had seen Shen Qian's photo on the resume, but when she entered the room, he was still struck by her appearance.
Compared to the photo, the difference was like heaven and earth.
In the photo, Shen Qian had short hair, wore glasses, and looked quite ordinary.
But the real Shen Qian had long golden hair, fair skin, and no glasses. Her eyes were large and bright, sparkling with intelligence and shrewdness.
When Li Dong saw Shen Qian for the first time, his first thought was not about her beauty but how much she had spent on cosmetic surgery.
The second thought was whether she had undergone eye enhancement.
These thoughts quickly passed, and Li Dong refocused, saying, "Please have a seat!"
Shen Qian took a seat confidently across from Li Dong without any formality.
Li Dong observed her, and she observed him.
Youth was Li Dong's first impression of everyone.
Although Shen Qian had heard that the president of Yuanfang was still a student, she had been half skeptical. Seeing it in person, however, confirmed the rumor.
Typically, candidates don't dare to stare directly at the interviewer, especially if the interviewer is the company's owner.
But Shen Qian did just that. Instead of starting with an introduction, she sat there observing Li Dong for a long time.
Liu Qi and Song Jie, who were next to Li Dong, frowned. Was this woman overly confident or just lacking manners?
Without Li Dong saying anything, Liu Qi smiled and said, "Ms. Shen, could you please introduce yourself?"
Shen Qian finally stopped staring at Li Dong and smiled, saying, "My name is Shen Qian, I am 28 years old, and I hold a master's degree in management from Kellogg School of Management…"
Li Dong listened to her without comment.
When Shen Qian finished, Li Dong said:"Ms. Shen, your memory is quite impressive. You recited your entire resume from memory. I am humbled."
Li Dong then continued, "However, high-end talent like Ms. Shen is more suited for Fortune 500 companies. What Yuanfang needs now is a seasoned manager with extensive experience. As for Ms. Shen, I'm afraid I can only say sorry."
He had initially thought that Shen Qian's visit might bring some surprises, considering talent is rare. Thus, he gave her a chance.
But the outcome was disappointing. Talk is cheap; besides an impressive degree, Shen Qian had nothing substantial to offer.
If it were for an assistant position, Shen Qian might be a suitable candidate. But for a vice president, someone Li Dong had high hopes for, Shen Qian didn't measure up.
Hearing this, Shen Qian was not flustered.
Instead, she smiled and said, "Mr. Li, since we've already spent so much time, why not let me say a few more things?"
Li Dong glanced at her and nodded, saying, "Go ahead."
"Since I took the initiative to come to see Mr. Li, do you think I'm overestimating myself? A fresh graduate daring to apply for Yuanfang's vice president position. I guess Mr. Li's first impression of me wasn't very good?"
Li Dong didn't deny it and nodded slightly.
Shen Qian wasn't surprised and continued with a smile, "Mr. Li is very candid. But I want to make one point clear. I'm not a clueless socialite. During the two years I spent in the U.S., I held many different jobs."
"Walmart, Kmart, Albertsons… I worked at all these major U.S. retail stores…"
Shen Qian then described her work experience in the U.S., all temporary jobs. She didn't stay in one department but changed jobs and departments periodically.
In over two years, Shen Qian had worked in nearly every department of major retail stores.
After she finished, Li Dong smiled and said:"So you want to demonstrate your familiarity with large retail stores?"
Before Shen Qian could speak, Li Dong continued, "But I want to ask one thing. Did Ms. Shen receive her diploma?"
"During the first year of studying abroad, you should not have been allowed to work off-campus, which means in the remaining year, not only did you have to handle heavy academic work, but you also had to constantly change jobs and departments. You switched jobs more than twenty times in a year, with each job lasting less than a month. Is this what you call familiarity?"
"Even if you are exceptionally talented and can pick things up quickly, that's fine. But those were foreign retail stores. Do you think they are the same as domestic ones?"
"Also, with your frequent job changes, how can I trust that you are a stable person? A person without any loyalty to a company is unlikely to be liked by any enterprise."
Li Dong waved his hand to interrupt Shen Qian's response and smiled, "However, I will give you a chance. The marketing department is currently looking for a research analyst. If you're willing, you can try that position."