Overview
Public institutions (事业单位) in China hire professional and technical staff, managers and workers through open recruitment under the Provisional Provisions on Open Recruitment of Personnel by Public Institutions (issued 2005, in force from 2006). The exam can be run by the hiring unit itself, or organised together by the government personnel department or the unit's superior authority. Provinces may also make their own recruitment rules, so the national rules below are the common base. Your local notice sets the actual subjects, quotas and timetable.
Who can apply
Under the national rules, applicants must hold Chinese nationality, obey the constitution and law, be of good conduct, have the professional skills for the post and meet physical requirements. Posts may add their own conditions. Notices may not set discriminatory conditions. Close relatives of the unit's head cannot apply for that head's secretary, HR, finance or discipline posts, or for posts reporting directly to the head.
Exam pattern
The rules say the exam may use a written test, an interview, or several methods together. For manual-labour posts, the exam can focus on practical skill. Urgently needed high-level or scarce-skill candidates with a senior professional title or a doctorate can be assessed directly instead of by exam. Specific written-test subjects are set by the local organiser, so read your own notice.
How to apply
The national procedure has eight steps:
Draw up the recruitment plan.
Publish the recruitment notice.
Receive applications and check eligibility.
Examination and assessment.
Medical examination.
Decide the proposed hires.
Publish the result, generally for 7 to 15 days.
Sign the employment contract.
After the exam
A probation period is part of the contract term. Staff who pass probation are formally employed. Those who fail have their employment cancelled.
Preparation tips
Find your region's notice and syllabus before you plan your study.
Compare each post's conditions closely, because majors and qualifications are checked at the eligibility stage.
Treat the national rules as background only. The format, ratios and scoring come from the local organiser.