I can't comment on the typo thing as it never seems to be a problem in my team. But here are some thoughts for the hiring culture in China. I am a technical manager and currently taking care of a team of engineers in a large online education company. I do recruiting myself.
> having attended a top computer science school doesn’t matter.
Matters to me. Unlike in U.S., the selection process for college/university entrance is more effective in China, especially for top schools. I am not saying those from less top schools are not as good. It is just more efficient for the resume screening. The education system has done this much better than a short interview or resume.
> listing side projects on your resume isn’t as advantageous as expected.
Somewhat agree. It does have some impact, but I will read the code. It is advantageous for me as I can see his previous work in deep details.
> GPA doesn’t seem to matter.
Hm... here nobody lists GPA unless it's very high, and high GPA means nothing to me.
> having worked at a top company matters.
It does. Former employees from Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent (BAT) are more welcome, for the same reason as the top school thing. The selection there is much more strict and cruel. But I often ask the question 'why you leave B/A/T while they pay better and are generous in stock options?'. The question implies my concern that the candidate leaves B/A/T for some weakness that may also have bad influence in my team.
The branding of top company is a double-edged sword. While you are enjoying the branding, you must be prepared to explain why giving it up.
I was an engineering manager in one of the big Internet companies in Shanghai for 2 years.
As a foreigner (Singaporean), my own experience was those graduating from top Chinese schools actually is a dis-service to the whole team since those graduates tend to think too high of themselves, and thus are arrogant, slacking, demanding high benefits (salary, holidays, etc.), but their outputs don't commensurate with their attitude. Definitely there are good graduates from those schools and your experience may differ, but so far this is my observation.
As such I now no longer hire graduates from top Chinese colleges. Instead, those from second or third tier schools are more humble and hardworking.
No, I am not suppressing any salary. My staff (who came from a pretty not-well-known school) got a monthly basic salary of RMB25K, which I think isn't low in any standard, even in Shanghai. But I think he deserved every cent of it and I am happy to pay.
> having attended a top computer science school doesn’t matter.
Matters to me. Unlike in U.S., the selection process for college/university entrance is more effective in China, especially for top schools. I am not saying those from less top schools are not as good. It is just more efficient for the resume screening. The education system has done this much better than a short interview or resume.
> listing side projects on your resume isn’t as advantageous as expected.
Somewhat agree. It does have some impact, but I will read the code. It is advantageous for me as I can see his previous work in deep details.
> GPA doesn’t seem to matter.
Hm... here nobody lists GPA unless it's very high, and high GPA means nothing to me.
> having worked at a top company matters.
It does. Former employees from Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent (BAT) are more welcome, for the same reason as the top school thing. The selection there is much more strict and cruel. But I often ask the question 'why you leave B/A/T while they pay better and are generous in stock options?'. The question implies my concern that the candidate leaves B/A/T for some weakness that may also have bad influence in my team.
The branding of top company is a double-edged sword. While you are enjoying the branding, you must be prepared to explain why giving it up.