Zhou Yumeng, A.K.A. Zoe, lives in Shenzhen, China, and has been part of the A-Team since 2015. She started out as Office Manager of our Shenzhen office, and later added Melbourne to her scope. As the company grew, it was more and more necessary to have someone helping boost the recruiting process in APAC, and that’s when Zoe came in: to act as a cultural ambassador, help us expand in the region, and reflect the Avature spirit from the very early stages of the Avaturian experience.
After I got to know her better, it became evident to me that her story is proof that when we do what we love and share that same feeling with people that have our same values, work turns into an incredible adventure and time flies.
I don’t want to spoil you anything else, so grab a cup of coffee, tea, or whatever you like, and accompany me through this interview with Zoe as she tells us about her experience as an ambassador and referent of the Avature culture.
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When and how did you begin your journey with Avature?
It's quite an interesting story because my Avature experience started back in 2015 when there were only four Avaturians in the Shenzhen office. What's remarkable is that three of them, including myself, have remained with Avature to this day. This level of stability is quite rare in a city like Shenzhen, known for its high employee mobility, as people from all over the country come here in search of better career opportunities.
Back then, I was primarily interested in a job that would allow me to practice my English skills. My area interviewer assured me that Avature could provide support for online or onsite English lessons, and other Avaturians were doing it as well. But what impressed me the most during my interview process was Avature's commitment to supporting personal growth.
Speaking about growth, what have been the highlights of your career so far both on a professional and personal note?
From being the Shenzhen Office Manager to taking on the role of both Office Manager (Shenzhen and Melbourne) and Talent Acquisition Specialist for China and the Philippines, my journey has been quite fulfilling. I owe a great deal of gratitude to the people who have supported me along the way. My Office Management managers were always kind and filled me with encouragement and compliments. As for the Talent Acquisition side, I must thank the local team and leadership for trusting me to handle important recruiting tasks. Emilie Machet, one of the TA Specialists in Málaga, is my mentor, the one who guides me through my growth within TA. She is incredibly kind and patient, and teaches me bit by bit, side by side. I learned not only about the recruiting process from her, but also about her way of thinking, communication skills, and the Avature culture in depth.
How do you balance the day-to-day responsibilities of being an office manager with your tasks in Talent Acquisition? Are there any similarities between the roles?
As the Office Manager, people say that I am always the first person Avaturians in Shenzhen get to know in Avature. During the onboardings, I'm the one who hands over computers and equipment, and answers questions about the office or anything they're curious about.
Now that I’m diving into the TA world, I become acquainted with new members even earlier, starting from the moment they receive replies after their applications. I act as the first point of contact in the first interview they have with Avature, when most people have limited knowledge about us.
The similarity between both roles is that I'm always the one who tells candidates what Avature is like and how our #LifeAtAvature is.
Do you feel you have the necessary flexibility and autonomy to manage your workload in your own way while you combine both roles?
Absolutely, and I believe that is the primary reason why I have stayed with Avature for more than seven years. Candidates also value this aspect greatly, as an increasing number of them mention that they are seeking new opportunities to achieve a better work-life balance.
How does it feel to be an Avature "cultural ambassador" for the China team? What do you think lies at the core of the Avature spirit and is shared by all members worldwide?
I take immense pride in being a part of Avature. The core values I always emphasize are flexibility, transparency, and collaboration, and I want to explain why.
Flexibility provides us with the best mental and physical conditions to excel in our job. Coupled with autonomy, it ignites our inner motivation to grow and take on more responsibilities.
Then, transparency primarily refers to communication within the organization. Everyone has the opportunity to connect with Avaturians from any team, making our communication more efficient and effortless.
And finally, collaboration ensures that we are always in a super friendly environment, with team members and colleagues from other teams ready to support us, provide assistance, and make sure we are never alone.
What advice would you give to someone who is about to embark on their Avature career?
Be prepared to stay here for a long time because you’ll definitely want to, take it from someone who’s been at Avature for seven years — and counting!