Getting a job in China

From China Studies Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Beijing at night, Creative commons, retrieved from Wikimedia Commons. Click here for original source.

Introduction

So, you think you want to work in China? There are a lot of things to consider before you sell your car, pack your bags and buy a plane ticket. Getting hired in China is a lot getting hired in the US; what works here, mostly works there too. And, no, it isn't any easier - it may even be harder. This doesn't mean though, that you shouldn't consider working there. Working in China can offer valuable experience, if you plan ahead and look twice (or even three times!) before you leap. This article will offer some suggestions on what to expect, and what to do, if you are serious about wanting to work in China.

What Getting a job in China is not - easy

"Gold Rush" mentality

Thousand of would-be millionaires went to California in the 1840s and thousands more to the Yukon a couple of decades later. Tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of men came to these places expecting to be rich by the end of their first day. Most of them ended up broke. Very few people actually made fortunes in the gold fields - the real money was in the places that the would-be rich men went to spend what gold they did find.
In a similar way, there is an idea in job-scarce Western countries, that China is swimming with great paying jobs just waiting for English speaking foreigners to come snap them up.(Beam) There may have been a time like that, a generation ago, but these days, getting a job in China isn't all that different from getting a job in the US. But don't let that discourage you! Their economy is in great shape and looks to continue being in great shape for the foreseeable future. So, there are jobs to be had in China, just expect one to be handed to you as soon as you step off the plane!(Farrar)

"Opportunity Knocks", it Isn't Handed to You on a Platter

There are opportunities in China. As is true in the US, if you have a good solid goal, and are willing to put in the work required to make it happen, you can succeed. It is easy to get sidetracked or discouraged though. You need to be actively looking for the real opportunities, the ones that will move you toward your goal. If you think that going to China is somehow going to "fix" all you problems with motivation and give you a "cushy" job with a great salary without you even trying- forget it. "You reap what you sow" is as true in China as it anywhere else. so, if you want to work in China, be prepared to work.(Anderson)

How to Find a Job in China

At some point, you will have to go to China. But there are some things you can do before you go.

Start right where you are

  • Get a job and start saving for your job hunting trip. It is really rare, these days, to get an interview offer that comes with plane fare to the company headquarters. Expect to spend time - at least 2 weeks - pounding the pavement and knocking doors in China - all at your own expense. It won't be cheap. (Rein)>br/>
  • Call the alumni of your school that you know and ask them if they know anyone in China that they can introduce you to. Introductions from someone the Chinese company knows in the US can really help.(Rein)
  • Arrange for meetings/ interviews in China, before you ever leave home. Try to fill your schedule.(Rein)

Give yourself plenty of time in China

  • Don't plan on coming home the same day you finish your last per-scheduled interview. Not many business will hire you after the first interview.
  • You will also want time for interview or meetings that you set up after you arrive.
  • Don't waste your time sightseeing when you are looking for work on your own dime. There will be time to sight see after you land your job. Stay focused! (Rein)
Shanghai Jing'an District, photo by Gao Loumi, Public domain, retrieved from Wikimedia Commons. Click here for original source.

What to Look for in a Job

  • Under 30? Look for training opportunities.

Training in China can be haphazard. Look for a job that will give you experience in several fields (like Sales and Marketing). Look for a direct supervisor with a proven track record of success - you want a Mentor. (Rein)

  • What not to look for? That 6 figure salary.

In 2009, $800 to $2000 a month was a good salary to shoot for. The China Market Research Group (in 2009) calculated that $21,000/year allowed you to have about the same kind of lifestyle you'd have in the US with a $60,000/year salary. While the ratio might have changed over the last few years, you will still not be offered as much in China as you would be, for the same job, in the US. Do your homework; check salary ranges before you interview. Make sure you can really live on the salary you can realistically expect to get. (Rein)

So, What do I Need to Get a Job in China?

Skills

  • Learn Chinese. The days when you could get a job just by being willing to go to China are long gone. Today, it is not enough to know English - unless you just want to teach English. If your goal is a good job in China, you have competition - every year, nearly 200,000 Chinese students return with degrees from overseas universities.(Farrar) After studying Chinese for four years in college, a good American student will still talk like a kid; the Chinese start studying English when they are kids. They are fluent in Chinese and they know English. There are a lot of them; they know the culture and they can be hired for less than you can.((Beam) So, knowing Chinese is no longer an added bonus when looking for that perfect job in China - it is a prerequisite.(Farrar)
  • Offer a unique skill- something besides speaking Chinese. These days, IT skills or the ability to design a building - or a semiconductor - can give you the edge you are looking for.(Beam) Another suggestion is "green" industry skills.

Following are some examples of skills required for work or possessed by those who do work in China.

Examples of skills needed

Entry-level jobs are hard to come by these days, the competition is fierce. If you don't speak Chinese or have China work experience, getting a job will be difficult. Here are some examples of skills that employers in China were looking for at the 2012 Beijing Job Fair for Foreigners - other than teaching jobs.(Farrar)

  • software monitoring systems
  • international sales (5 years experience)
  • software engineers (5 years experience)
  • exports to Africa and Southeast Asia
  • designers and installers of high-end energy-efficient windows and doors

(Farrar)

Other examples:

  • US Embassy job description - Visa assistant
Required Qualifications:
A Bachelor's degree with a major in English or a social science
A minimum of 2 years of consular, customer service, or public relations work
Level IV (Fluent)speaking, reading, and writing in both English and Chinese
Must have comprehensive knowledge of office administrative procedures, including correspondence preparation and business writing, in both American and Chinese business environments.
Must have a high degree of analytical ability in order to interpret and articulate complex legislation, and must have ability to identify and resolve urgent or sensitive situation.
Must have ability to exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with members of the public, projecting a professional, friendly telephone manner while patiently but firmly handling emotional or insistent callers, both Chinese and American. (US Embassy website)
  • Webinar Lecturer -
Sinologist and Economist, MBA, Alumnus of Hutong School (a fully licensed Chinese Language School - in China - under European Management), over 10 years experience in China, First prize winner in the Shanghai City speech contest for foreigners.
  • Business development manager (with a new materials technology business)-
Philosophy and politics degree
Two years teaching English in China (and studying Chinese)

"I guess I impressed them with my Chinese level and also my ability to fit into a Chinese organization...Those were my qualifications. They are soft skills, you could say, but they are very important for working in a Chinese company." (Farrar)


  • This gentleman was employed by a top China private equity firm -
Studied Chinese in China, earned an MBA in the US.

(Started with the firm in 2005 - three years later, was asked to leave so he could be replaced by a native Chinese. Even if you have a good skill, and are fluent in Chinese, you can loose your job any time so be prepared. Always have a back up/escape plan in place.)(Beam)

Experience

So you need to have experience, either in your chosen field, and/or in China - how do you get it? Here are a couple of suggestions.

  • Start in the US. Get a job here, where you can get solid training and a few years experience. Who knows? Your US Company might even want you to work in China for them.
    (Rein)
  • Go to school in China. This gives you a chance to network and find out where the jobs are - at the same time as you gain/improve Chinese language skills.
    (Rein)

Visa

The government can be difficult to work with. Some jobs, like the US Embassy job mentioned earlier, require you to already have the proper visa to work in China. One way to get one of those, is to first, get a job teaching English in China. This will get you the visa, give you a year or more of Chinese practice and it will give you a chance to start networking.
There was a time when the government wasn't too concerned about the proper paperwork, but, with more qualified native Chinese people available, they are getting tighter with their control. If you don't want to risk deportation, get the proper visa.
(Rein)

Wudaokou, Beijing, Creative commons, retrieved from Wikimedia Commons. Click here for original source.

Things to Keep in Mind

  • You will always be a foreigner.
  • Going to China won't magically solve all your problems.
  • It will not be a cakewalk.
  • The culture will be different.
  • Set a goal - before you go.
  • Get to know the culture.
  • Don't be a jerk - it isn't your country.
  • LEARN CHINESE
  • In China, there is no such thing as 'By the book'.

(Anderson)


A Word About Teaching English...

If all you want is the adventure of being in China, or a chance to improve your language, teaching English might be the way you want to go. But beware, the job will probably not be what you expect, and it will not pay a lot (although, by China standards, it will probably not be to low, see the comments on salary above). The requirements are usually easy to meet- English ability, light skin (Chinese parents look for the light skin as an indication of your origins in an English speaking nation) and, usually, a college degree - in any field. You must also be willing to live where the job is and possibly in the housing that comes with the job. Check the job description.
As with any job, it doesn't hurt to look for referrals from people you know; referrals for both you to the folks in China and for good places to work for. Do your homework before you go and you have a better chance to enjoy your experience working in China. (Anderson)

Resources

Retrieved from "https://bou.de/u/index.php?title=Getting_a_job_in_China&oldid=6953"