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How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

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How to find a job in China. Actionable steps to securing your job in China. www.internasia.com
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Jan Wostyn, International Relations Director How to get a job in China? by Internship Network Asia
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Page 1: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

J an Wos tyn , I n te rna t i ona l Re l a t i ons D i rec to r

How to get a job in China?by Internship Network Asia

Page 2: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Overview

Part I: Basic information about China

Part II: Getting a job in China: how to get started?

Part III: Requirements

Part IV: Which kind of companies hire foreigners in China? What kind of jobs?

Part V: Life in China

Q&A

Page 3: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Part I : Basic information about China

Population

Economy

Politics

Language

Page 4: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Population

The world’s most populous country at 1,343,239,923 people (2012 est.)

Ethnic groups: Han versus minorities Han majority (91.5%) 55 official minorities, a.o. Tibetan,

Uygur, Mongolian, …人山人海 “ mountains and seas of

people” Ever heard of Wuhan, Chongqing or

Chengdu? Countless cities with more than 5

mio people in the purely urban areas

Page 5: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Economic Miracle

Market-oriented reforms initiated in 1978, start of the biggest economic transformation in the history of mankind

State maintains a very strong control over the economy All land is owned by the government Big state-owned companies in crucial sectors State favors its home-grown champions

By 2020, the Chinese economy is expected to overtake the USA as the biggest economy of the world Level of GDP per capita still less than 1/5th of the

USA ! Still 36% of people work in agriculture

Page 6: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Economic Challenges

Transformation export-led and investment driven economy to economy fueled by domestic demand. Currently 54% of GDP is investment

Cooling inflation (at 5,4% in 2011) without causing ‘hard landing’

Real Estate bubble?

Corruption

Rising income inequality

Congestion and environmental pressure

Page 7: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Politics

Communism? Capitalism? Socialism? Marxism? Pragmatism ! Combination of market economy and socialism with ‘Chinese

characteristics’

CCP has monopoly on power since 1949

From Maoist totalitarianism to intra-party ‘democracy’

Changing role of the press

The internet and social media Facebook, Twitter and Youtube are blocked Fear of ‘Jasmin revolution’ after Arab spring

Page 8: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Chinese Language

One official standard language = Mandarin Chinese

Several ‘regionalects’, mostly in the South: Cantonese, Shanghainese, Minnan, Xiang, etc… Mutually unintelligeable

All Chinese use the same script, however Simplified characters in Mainland China ‘Traditional’ characters in Taiwan, HK and Macao

About 3000 characters needed to read newspapers

汉语 中文 普通话

Page 9: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Part II: How to find a job in China

Getting started online

Get personal connections to China

Internships in China

Page 10: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Getting started online

Chinese job sites www.51job.com ( 我要 job) : English interface www.chinahr.com www.matchdragon.com

City-based websites aimed at foreigners with classifieds www.thebeijinger.com www.cityweekend.com.cn (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou)

Websites of Foreign chambers of commerce Subscribe to newsletters Look for job sections

Multinational companies’ websites

Page 11: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Get personal connections to China

Search your LinkedIn network for contacts based in China, 1st or 2nd degree, and ask for introductions

Do you have any family contacts who have ever done business in China?

Attend networking events related to China in your home country Local chambers of commerce China-related organizations Seminars about China China job fairs, e.g. SinoJobs in Germany

Headhunter firms may help you get a job in China, but probably not your first job Either China experience, outstanding Chinese language skills or very specific

expertise in a certain field will be required Not the appropriate channel for young job seekers, because firms simply don’t

pay headhunter fees for entry level jobs

Page 12: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Internship in China

Online job search can be challenging and frustrating because you are like drop in the ocean

Starting with an internship has several advantages: You get your first professional experience in China, which is crucial to

stand out from all the job seekers applying from abroad You get a chance to build up a local network with this first professional

identity. You get to figure out whether you like living in China or not You can acquire basic Mandarin skills on the side

How to find an internship? Broad array of agencies with internship programs Placement only or package service? Internship tailored to your needs/interests? Look for the right price-quality ratio Look out for scams

Page 13: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Part III: Requirements

Skill requirements

Visa requirements

Tax requirements

Social security requirements

Page 14: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Skill requirements for jobs/internships

Proficient business English Professional expertise and skills

Bachelor degree is a minimum requirement Some previous working experience in your field as well For internships, these requirements usually don’t exist

Basic Mandarin skills No need to be an interpreter Basic knowledge will make you much more productive, especially in personal contacts

with Chinese colleagues or business contacts For internships, zero Mandarin skills are not an issue

Interpersonal skills China’s economic infrastructure is based on ‘guanxi’ or ‘relations’ Good interpersonal skills are essential to maintain good relations with colleagues,

clients, suppliers, government officials, etc… This requires flexibility and patience and a willingness to engage in seemingly

unproductive activities such as lengthy dining, Karaoke or other activities which are aimed at strengthening relations

Intercultural skills Previous experience abroad will assure potential employers that you have some

sensitivity to intercultural differences Be aware of the indirect communication style in China

Page 15: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Visa requirements

Internships: F-visa Need invitation letter from the company where you will intern Proof of accommodation in China

Jobs: Z-visa Required documents:

Medical examination certificate 2 years of working experience with references CV in Chinese Diploma, translated in Chinese by official translation company

Procedure (see http://www.china-embassy.org) Obtain a temporary Z-visa abroad with a “visa notification letter”,

to be converted into a long-term Z-visa within 30 days in China Some agencies also provide this service without having to leave

China in case you were in China already (e.g. at the end of an internship)

Page 16: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Tax requirements

Income tax (IIT = Individual Income Tax) First 4800 CNY is exempted (approx. 750 USD) Monthly withholding system, salary to be filed before 15th

of the following month Yearly incomes above 120.000 CNY (+/- 19000 USD) also

need to file a yearly Individual Income Tax self-declaration Income tax calculator:

http://www.sjgrand.cn/individual-income-tax-calculator

An expat residing for 5 years in China, without more than a 1 month interruption will be taxed on worldwide income Expats therefore take a month sabbatical at least every 5

years…

Page 17: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Social Security for foreigners

Internship: Get your own private medical and liability insurance at any major

insurance company (about 80-100 USD/month, depending on coverage levels)

Jobs: New Social Security law in effect since Oct 15th, 2011 Increased burden on companies hiring foreigners, without much

benefit for foreigners Gross salary of 10.000 CNY/month implies cost of 14410 CNY/month

for your company and only 8664 CNY net for you You pay for a pension, but are only entitled to get it when you have

worked minimum 15 years in China, which is rather rare http://www.sjgrand.cn/individual-income-tax-calculator shows

overview of all components of the social security Unemployment benefits? Still to be seen how this will work ! A very new evolution in China, will undoubtedly still further evolve

Page 18: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Part IV: what can you expect?

What do foreigners generally do in China?What kind of companies hire foreigners in China?What kind of functional areas?Different modes of employmentSalary expectationsLife in China

Page 19: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Foreigners in China in 2010

About 524.000 foreigners officially living in China in 2010

But also 359 million non-worker arrivals every year !

Mostly employed by foreign-funded enterprisesRather rare in Chinese state-owned enterprises

Source: http://english.sina.com/z/20120516foreigner/index.shtml

Page 20: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

What kind of companies hire foreigners?

Foreign/International firms Multinationals

Foreign employees are usually expats with experience within the firm and having reached a higher management level

Less active in local hiring of foreigners in China SMEs

Often fast growing Quick decision making, less bureaucratic Very active on the ‘local foreigner market

Chinese firms Globalizing Chinese firms , e.g. Lenovo, Hai’er, Huawei, ZTE “Local” Chinese firms

Chinese knowledge will be required Careful: are you not being used as the foreign face? Or is your job

nothing more than an in-company English teacher?

Page 21: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

In what functional areas are foreigners hired?

Marketing and Sales More and more companies, both foreign and Chinese, are

targeting the local expat market, especially in Beijing or Shanghai

A foreign face with Mandarin skills is also becoming more common to sell luxury to high end Chinese customers

Finance, accounting, law With foreign firms massively investing in China, there is a

big need for foreign advice on financial, tax and legal issuesIT

Often smaller, locally founded companies providing various IT services such as website building, SEO, IT infrastructure set-up, programming tailor-made company software, etc…

Page 22: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

What’s life like in China for foreigners?

FunSafeBeijing/Shanghai versus 2nd tier cities: big

difference“Laowai”Overwhelming

Language Food Congestion

Sometimes lost in translation

Page 23: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

Lost in translation… Better learn Chinese !

Page 24: How to Get a Job in China - Internship Network Asia

About Internship Network Asia

Internship Network Asia was founded in 2008, was acquired by Hutong

School in June 2012 and now has the biggest network of partner

companies in Beijing and Shanghai. Together with Hutong School’s

far-reaching expertise in internship placement in China, we are now

one of the leading providers of high quality internships in China.

Kick-Start Your Career – Intern in Beijing or Shanghai

Search Internships


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