The importance of guanxi in executives' career management in China is being seen as changing as a result of online career management and social media sites, according to a recently released survey.

The survey covered more than 100 executives in China. About 25 of them were Chinese nationals and 65 percent were expatriates. It was conducted by BlueSteps, the career management service of the Association of Executive Search Consultants - a worldwide professional association for the retained executive search and leadership consulting industry.

The term guanxi is used in China to describe influential personal relationships. "Our survey results reflect the change in senior executives' career management strategies in China," said AESC Asia-Pacific Managing Director Christine Hayward. "The social networking websites, both international and Chinese, are playing a big role in the career management of executives in China currently."