China has become the 1st economic power in the world. As China is increasingly becoming internationalized, more job opportunities are arising and available for foreigners. In general, foreign workersin China are employees at international companies with the largest proportion working in marketing and sales, banking,finance and engineering. However the type of work available for foreigners may vary depending on the location, qualifications and Chinese proficiency. For example, in top tier cities like Shanghai and Beijing applicants can find jobs in a wide variety of sectors, especially in the booming Finance and IT sectors. on the other hand in Tier 2 cities such as Suzhou, applicants with expertise int he manufacturing industry will find more opportunities. Similarly, General jobs (marketing, sales, PR) require a certain level of Chinese while technical jobs (engineering, IT, architects) usually do not. In the case of general jobs,the more you speak Chinese the better, so if you intend to work here don’t understimate the benefits of learning Chinese, even the basics!
OPENINGS FOR FOREIGNERS
Most of opportunities for full time jobs in China are in Finance, Banking, Marketing, engineering and other fields that require a very specific skill set such as expertise in Lean or programming. In China, 85% of the expatriate workforce is employed by International firms ; in terms of proportion, around 40% of the expat jobs are in marketing and sales, followed by 20% in engineering, 10% in management and 5% in IT.
Even though Chinese is not always a necessity, the highest paying jobs usually require the ability to speak Mandarin. Similarly, the highest is the requirement for Chinese proficiency, the highest is the salary.
SO HOW TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES TO LAND ONE OF THOSE JOBS ?
Network Network Network
The importance of networking to find a job is invaluable anywhere in the world but it is especially true in China. One of the fundamental components of Chinese culture is called « guanxi » which literally means « relationship »and is considered paramount to land jobs and expand businesses. There are several etiquette rules in guanxi, handing over a business cards while holding it with both hands is one of them. As one would expect from a country that values relationships above all, China offers a wide variety of networking opportunities.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a gold mine for expats who seek jobs in China. Most companies have a LinkedIn account on which employees’ profiles can be accessed. The ideal strategy is to add HR staff of the companies you are interested in (or send them a mail if you have the premium account) because they are the ones who in charge of the recruitment. However before you do that, make sure you have a solid profile with professional picture, oganised and detailed information about your past experiences and recommendations. Furthermore, you should try the same process with headhunters specialised in the industry or field you are interested in.
Networking event
Networking events are the most obvious place to meet professionals and expand your network. Shanghai and Beijing hold networking events every week. Make sure you have a stack of business cards to hand out during the networking events even if you are still a student. Have a read through the next article « Business cards for students and job seekers » to learn about what to include in a business card in order to ace your first meetings.
In a bar, club, KTV…
It is very common in China to build relationship even in places where people spend their leisure time. This brings us back to the importance and extant of« guanxi » in China. Meet as many people as you can, anywhere you can just don’t forget your business cards !
Chinese websites
Websites such as www.smartshanghai.com and www.shanghaiexpat.com have several offers targeted at expats. It can be useful to find an offer or a company in which you are interested. You could apply directly online, but don’t forget that you can find the company and its HR employees on LinkedIn !
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