Popular Jobs For Expats In China

There are plenty of job opportunities for expats in China, but it's easier said than done to find a solid job. Gone are the golden days when almost all foreigners could accept foreigners with open arms, and now China is much more selective in its admissions of foreigners. So now learn about the most popular jobs for expats in China.

Before talking about China's most popular expats to work in, it's definitely worth mentioning that there are some basic requirements for foreigners who want to work in China. As a minimum requirement, you will have a bachelor's degree and at least two years of experience in a related industry. The latter is easier to circumvent than the former, but there are more hurdles you need to jump over.

Popular Jobs For Expats In China

Education

In China, education is the most popular industry for expats. The Chinese demand for children and adults to improve their English has led to the growth of evening and weekend ESL training centers that employ native and, in some cases, non-native English speakers. If you prefer to have a set number of hours per week, you may be more inclined to apply for teaching jobs in public schools, international schools or even universities. Although ESL training centres do not necessarily require a formal teaching qualification, teaching experience and an English teaching certificate (e.g. TEFL or CELTA) are usually the minimum requirements for a work visa. If you want to teach other subjects at an international school, you may need a formal teaching qualification.

If teaching isn't for you, educational counseling is another option. As the number of Chinese students studying abroad has increased, so has the need for expatriate proofreaders and guidance on college applications. However, such jobs often have one important requirement: a degree (sometimes at master's level) from an American or British university, the more fame the better. This may not be unreasonable considering that the majority of Chinese students in the education consulting market want to study in the US or UK.

Writing and Editing

The growth of industries such as high-tech in Shenzhen and fashion in Guangzhou has created a demand for expatriate copywriters in China. In particular, businesses need expats to write content such as product listings, blogs and products and services on social media. Since this content is marketed to overseas clients, the company needs people who speak multiple languages, whether native or otherwise. Some jobs require you to have a marketing or business degree, but usually the focus of the degree is not the deciding factor. Knowledge of the products you write about is a distinct advantage (you don't have to be an expert) and a good understanding of search engine optimization (SEO) - how to get your content to rank higher on search engines. Proofreading and editing are also popular jobs for expats in China. Chinese companies often need native speakers who are fluent in various languages to edit content to maximize promotional potential.

Marketing

Marketing and sales jobs in China are similar in many ways to paperwork in that they tend to focus on foreign trade. They also tend to focus on specific overseas markets - for example, companies will hire people who speak English in the US and UK markets, people who speak French in the French market, people who speak Japanese in the Japanese market....... You'll see the point. Therefore, language skills are key.