A growing number of jobs for foreigners are becoming available in China, which is rapidly becoming one of the world’s leading developed nations and the world’s largest economy. This means that foreigners can expect to find interesting work experiences, attractive pay, and excellent living conditions.
Understanding the Foreigner Careers in China
Teaching
There is a high probability that a foreigner you see on the streets of any Chinese metropolis is a teacher.
Teaching has grown to be one of the most popular job options for many foreigners, and the number of foreigners moving to China to pursue this vocation is expected to keep rising. Despite the current rise of illegal/incompetent instructors, the sector is still the best option for expats in search of a new job.
Chinese culture places a high importance on education, as seen by the rigorous coursework students begin as early as three years old. In light of these facts, it is no wonder that foreign instructors find themselves in great demand in a wide range of educational settings, from kindergartens to colleges and universities.
In general, teaching employment in the United States may be more lucrative than teaching positions in the United Kingdom and other developed countries because of their lower workloads and generous benefits, as well as the fact that they are less time-consuming.
Trade/Commerce
If it weren’t for international commerce, China wouldn’t have been able to achieve its current worldwide growth. What good are China’s cheap manufacturing costs, which can generate almost every product conceivable, if these items never leave the country?
Since the early days of the Silk Road’s use as a trade route, commerce has played a critical role in linking China with the rest of the globe. The New Silk Road, which has just been established, promises to open up new markets for commerce.
Buying Chinese goods and shipping them back to their native countries, where they can be sold at a profit, has become a lucrative business model for merchants all over the globe. Ambitious foreigners are flocking to places like Guangzhou, a manufacturing powerhouse, and Yiwu, a sleepy little “factory-town” to climb the riches ladder.
IT/Tech
One of the fastest-growing industries in the world is undoubtedly information technology, and this is especially true in China, where technology is becoming an integral part of daily life.
As a whole, China is a relatively tech-savvy population that uses cellphones for everything from shopping to ordering meals to purchasing airline and rail tickets. The very demanding and competitive IT sector is thus constantly on the lookout for new talent, especially from outside China, who can assist integrate Chinese technological breakthroughs with the rest of the globe and enable worldwide presence.
Employment hours for both Chinese and international workers may be quite lengthy in this line of work. For example, Shenzhen, China’s “Silicon Valley” is well-known for its high-paying IT jobs and its infamously long work hours, which are often referred to as the ” 9-9-6 system” which means working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., every day of the week.
Writing/Media
An outsider’s perspective is invaluable when it comes to reporting back on China’s culture and lifestyle, and foreigners who live or visit there are a great source of information for the rest of us. There are always a need for new voices in the writing, editing, and content-creation industries since they are constantly looking for fresh perspectives.
The need for English content in news, media, and general content-based marketing is at an all-time high in China. Travel, expat living, current events or news, and industry-specific reporting are just a few examples of these sorts of employment.
There are international editors and freelance writers working for China Highlights. In addition to helping us interact with our audience in English (and other languages… see page foot), they provide a foreign viewpoint on travel and living in China.
Marketing
This is fantastic news for foreigners looking for work in China, since no sector can exist without adequate marketing efforts. There is always a great need for foreign talent with expertise in the disciplines of marketing, such as brand strategy, design, and advertising, in China’s ever-growing startup and established firms.
Foreign professionals are in great demand since China is relatively new to these sectors compared to the West, and they are required to assist with both local market penetration and international marketing.