China Jobs

Many foreigners are looking for jobs in China. Traditionally, expatriates have moved to China to hold senior positions in international companies in one of the major cities, to start their own businesses there, or to teach English there. A Chinese work visa needs to be found for expatriates working in the country. The process of obtaining a work permit in China can be complex and largely handled by recruitment companies.

China Jobs Market

Expatriates working in China usually hold senior management and positions in the fields of it, human resources, finance, accounting and manufacturing. However, with the change of economic situation, high skilled talents from all levels of enterprises have been looking for jobs in China. As the country continues to move towards a services and special skills economy, many immigrants are now working in sales, marketing, engineering and banking sectors.

The education sector remains the country's largest source of employment for foreigners, with a large part of its foreign workforce engaged in the teaching profession. Although it may have been a relatively low paying job, English as a foreign language teaching in China has developed into a considerable salary for highly educated foreigners. It is also a way for many foreigners to make money while experiencing new countries and cultures.

Looking for China Jobs

Most expatriate jobs are found in major cities with large expatriate business communities, such as Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou. Speaking Mandarin is an advantage and is often a way to ensure a high paying job. However, many international companies use English in their daily affairs, and many foreigners do not have Mandarin.

To balance this view, however, most foreigners continue to be employed by international companies, while opportunities for companies wholly owned by the Chinese remain limited. While many companies are still subsidizing housing costs, air tickets, health insurance, and some taxes, the benefits of the relocation package are lower than before.

Many local companies are also more willing to hire Chinese candidates with overseas experience. The cost of employing foreign employees is high, and many people initially find it difficult to adapt to language and culture. In addition, some enterprises have turned to employ middle-level managers from Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. These candidates not only often speak English, but also require low salaries, and often speak some Mandarin.

One of the ways many young foreign professionals find this problem is to get entry-level positions with relatively low salaries and exchange their earnings for experiences that benefit them later in their careers (in China or elsewhere).

Working culture in China

Chinese business culture is dominated by "Guan Xi", which is a more complex localized concept of western network concept. Because local businessmen rarely do business with people they don't know and trust, they spend a lot of time cultivating and maintaining relationships.

Face is related to the concept of relationship. It is important that expatriates always act with dignity and avoid offending or embarrassing their Chinese counterparts at all costs.

For foreigners, integrating into Chinese corporate culture can be a big challenge. In particular, language barriers may require some adjustment, and expatriates should learn at least some key phrases in Mandarin.

Despite the challenges, expatriates who did succeed in finding jobs and integrating into working life in China still showed high satisfaction.