Expat Jobs In Shenzhen

Are you interested in working in China? If so, you may want to consider a "small" place called "Shenzhen", which borders Hong Kong. Although it may be more and more difficult for foreigners to find jobs throughout China these days, I personally feel that there are still many opportunities for those who are willing to take the time to try new ventures. As China's capital of science and technology, Shenzhen is one of the places where I believe there are still opportunities. Here is a list of three typical expat jobs in Shenzhen for foreigners.

English teachers

English teaching is the gateway for many foreigners to enter China. The qualifications required to teach English to depend on the position you want to become. From a native English speaker who needs a college degree and an IELTS certificate to become a foreigner on the street who is found out by someone whose son needs extra help at school. Generally speaking, the fact is often the former. Those who want to teach English in China should be prepared accordingly.

In the long run, the learning scope of many English teachers in China may be very narrow. Although some people continue to run their own schools with great success, this is only a small part of it. However, the advantage of English teaching is that it provides foreigners with the basis to understand China, learn the language, and establish the necessary connections, so as to move to another occupation at the lowest cost.

International School Teachers

Although the vast majority of Chinese teachers are English teachers, in many primary and secondary school cities, you can also find a group of an international school teacher who is good at dealing with various subjects. These teachers range in age from kindergarten to sixth grade. Generally speaking, schools follow the curriculum of the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom.

In most cases, these schools want to hire teachers with at least a bachelor's degree in education and some experience. As a result, most of them are employed directly from abroad. Nevertheless, foreigners already living in China still have the opportunity to work in international schools, even if they don't have a teaching degree.

Some international schools are willing to hire local English teachers, who show a serious attitude towards education, have adapted to the local culture and will become reliable staff. You may start a supportive position at a lower salary than other qualified colleagues, but it's a good opportunity to move into a higher salary bracket and start a lifelong career.

QA Specialist / Product Manager

Some readers may be surprised at how many senior manufacturing managers in Chinese multinationals are initially English teachers.

As early as 10 or 15 years ago, Western companies were trying to find talent to regulate their manufacturing in China. Few would like to stay in the country for a week or so at a time, not even speak the language, or not want to deal with local employees at all.

Therefore, when these companies find young foreign English teachers who live in China and speak English, they are willing to give it a try even if they have no educational or working background in the relevant industry. Having field personnel who can communicate directly with suppliers and local employees is a valuable asset.

To be sure, China's manufacturing boom was not a decade ago, but many companies still understand the value of foreigners, adapting to the local culture, learning the language, and proving that they have the right professional ethics.