Remember that the language barrier and the lack of local connections might be detrimental if you’re an expat wondering how to enter China’s burgeoning job market. Make sure you know someone who works there before applying for a job in China. During the course of the application procedure, you may be asked to reveal certain nonobvious facts about yourself, such as the number of children you have.
Hiring Expats In China: A Guide for Foreigners
For non-native speakers of Chinese, the difficulty of finding work in the country is compounded by the language barrier. Many firms require candidates to have at least a basic knowledge of the local language, and many job websites and classified ads are only available in the local language.
China has strict rules for foreigners looking for work since the market favors hiring locals. Applicants need to prove they are qualified by showcasing a range of skills and experiences, as well as academic and professional accolades.
Techniques for Successful Chinese Business Networking
You need to know the appropriate people, whether you’re an expat or a native, in China if you want to be hired. That’s why it pays to have a connection inside the company you’re trying to be hired by. If you’re trying to break into a new field, networking might be beneficial by pointing you in the direction of employment vacancies or introducing you to contacts at other firms.
It is a good idea to start creating your network in China by joining online job-networking discussion groups and reaching out to people who are already working in the country. Networking with locals might help you create an impression in the community you’re considering moving to. Business cards produced in Simplified Chinese and English will come in handy for this purpose.
Job Seekers in China Turn to the Web
You shouldn’t put all your eggs in the professional networking basket; online job listings are also a possibility. Postings for available positions are more likely to be found on the internet these days. Most of these sites are in Chinese and aren’t always designed for expats, so it may be tough for foreigners to find work. For this reason, it would do you well to acquire at least a rudimentary knowledge of the Chinese language.
Help with Your Resume or CV
Details as personal as your date and place of birth, marital status, and—in certain cases—the number of children you’ve had and your race need to be included on your resume. In the Chinese resume format, it is common to include a photo. An individual’s educational background is listed first, followed by their work history in reverse chronological order (most recent accomplishments first).
If you see a job ad that interests you and you think it would be a good fit, you should see if you can get in touch with a company representative via your China-based business contacts. Many more companies will want to hire you as a result. Keep in mind that it is not a good idea to conduct your job search in China by sending in applications to random companies.
A second choice is to put one’s résumé on a website and hope that a hiring manager comes across it. This is how some immigrants to your nation have found jobs. There should be a backup plan in place in case this one doesn’t work out.
Tips for Writing a Cover Letter
Be warned that Chinese recruiters often ignore cover letters sent with resumes. Instead, resumes should focus on a candidate’s successes in their relevant work experience.
Many applicants also include a brief review of themselves as a candidate at the end of their CV. When compared to the CV’s references section, which formerly provided insight into the applicant’s personality and hobbies, this area is now obsolete.
Tips for Aceing the Job Interview In the event that your application is accepted and you are invited in for an interview, you will want to show enthusiasm and speak about your skills while yet maintaining a courteous manner and a feeling of humility toward your superiors. Be on time, always have business cards, and never forget any of these easy tips to avoid “losing your face.”