Ada Zhang, Overseas Operator for Gladtrust Management in China, is fairly new to the credit and collections field, having started on a different career path that ultimately led her to her current role.
ABC-Amega’s International Legal Collections Representative, Jennifer Tirre-Daniels recently spoke with Ada about her experience in the credit field
JTD: How did you get into the credit field?
AZ: I got into the field by chance, actually. I was an English teacher in China, but after some time in the classroom, I was looking for a more challenging job. I learned of my current position, and I attended a month-long company training about the industry.
JTD: What challenges, if any, have you faced in this industry?
AZ: The most challenging part for me is letting people in my country know about the industry. The credit and collections industry in China isn’t as well-known as it is in European countries or the United States, so it can present a challenge when I have to perform my job duties with a contact that might not have any knowledge about this business. Another challenge for me is to stay on top of the different laws and regulations in the collection industry, specifically those of other countries.
JTD: What is the ratio of men to women in your company?
AZ: In my company, we have more than 50% of the staff that are women, and several of them are in leadership roles. The majority of women have position in sales and operations.
JTD: How could a woman in China find a job in credit?
AZ: Credit jobs are available, and the best place to look is on various websites or career apps. The best candidates for these jobs are people who can learn quickly as well as engage well with others.
JTD: What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about getting into this industry?
AZ: The best advice I can give to someone interested in getting into this industry is to seek out education and training. The most important thing is to learn and gain expertise in credit and collections.
JTD: Where do you see yourself in the future?
AZ: I want to gain more exposure to the credit and collections industry. I want to take advantage of all the training that is available, and actively learn the collection regulations of other countries to provide better service to our customers.
About Gladtrust:
Gladtrust Management Co., Ltd. was established in Sep. 2006. Since its commencement, it has been dedicated to credit risk management service. Gladtrust helps both domestic and international clients to credit check new and existing customers and suppliers in order to avoid risk and grow the business.
Did you enjoy this interview? Read about other Women In Credit that we have interviewed!