It is very common for people to intern for work experience and even in the case of students, the experience of interning is often seen as a path to a future career. China is an excellent place to intern as the number of employers and available internships is huge.
Explore How to Find a Internships & Job in China
The number of companies that currently offer internships has increased dramatically in recent years. According to data from the US-based National Association of Colleges and Employers, more than 70% of companies in the US are now offering internships, and many companies are now offering internships to students from more than 30 different countries.
Through an internship with a Chinese company, you will gain valuable new professional experience, and you’ll also have the opportunity to work with members of the Chinese team. Your personal interaction with Chinese colleagues will further broaden your network of professional contacts and you will be able to establish your credibility as a potential professional.
“What will you do after you graduate?” This may be a question that students dread, but an internship can actually help figure this out. Students often don’t know what they want to do after college, but an internship can give them an experience they can use to make a decision.
If you have aspirations to work in China and learn more about the country, then you should consider visiting for one year to see how life is like for Chinese working adults.
In your internship in China, you will gain not only professional experience, but also the opportunity to make friends with locals and expats in your field. You may even find that you have an even deeper appreciation for China from these experiences.
In your internship in China, you will have the opportunity to improve your Mandarin skills. A Mandarin-speaking intern may have a different career path than one who is fluent only in English. The two languages may work well together in your field.
Stereotypical images of unpaid interns being stuck at the office buying coffee for the office are now outdated. Many Chinese companies and startups depend on their interns as crucial parts of their operations and they treat their interns as essential parts of their team.
You have a strong background in diverse geographies and markets and possess the skills and experience to be a key asset to companies.
They are available in many different fields and a wide variety of industries: tech, marketing, consulting, art, media, fashion.
How to find an internship in China
Even though China can be an intimidating place to start when you want to find a job, Chinese networks and personal connections are often your best friend.
“The Chinese” often refer to themselves as Guanxi, and this can refer to anything from you not wanting to offend your friends to networking with potential employers.
It can also be very common to land an internship through a personal recommendation or introduction. This means that it would be best to always make sure to be prepared to provide these if necessary.