How to Find Work in China as a Foreigner

For those unfamiliar with the region, the Middle Kingdom might be intimidating. Many expatriates, despite cultural differences, language barriers, and other obstacles, are able to find work and create a career in China despite the difficulties.

When looking for your first employment, keep in mind that only certain expatriates, i.e. those who are qualified for work visas, are allowed to work lawfully in China. If you are looking for a career in the United States, you'll need a bachelor's degree from your native country. The absence of this document will severely limit your ability to lawfully operate in China.

In most situations, a non-criminal background check and letters of recommendation from previous employers are also required, in addition to a slew of other paperwork. In order to work legally in the United States, one must get a work visa. The procedure may be lengthy, and the laws often change. You should always double-check to make sure your prospective employer is prepared to go through all required steps to ensure you have the suitable visa to work in China before you accept a position there.

Job-hunting for the first time

Educator Positions

ESL (English as a Second Language) teaching is a great approach for many job seekers to acquire a footing in the China job market and begin building a career in China. You'll have an edge over other applicants if you've taught before. Qualifications in English as a second language (ESL) will follow suit. If you aim to teach English as a second language for a lengthy period of time, the CELTA is a worthwhile investment, despite its expensive cost. Alternatively, you may want to look into a less expensive TEFL (Teaching English to Foreigners) credential. You may want to choose the latter choice if you don't plan on working in ESL for the long run.

ESL employment may be found in a variety of places. ESL instructors may find a wide variety of job listings on the internet. It's very uncommon to find positions that require just a few hours a week, but they're also low-paying and don't give many prospects to advance or develop a long-term career in the field. When considering one of these roles, it's important to evaluate what you'll do with all that extra time. Developing additional career-related abilities, such as studying Chinese or working as a freelancer, may be an advantage of this route.

After-school and weekend English sessions are among the other opportunities available. Positions are available in mainland China from firms including Education First (EF) and Meten International. Teaching on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as nights throughout the week, may put a strain on your time management skills. You will also be expected to teach additional sessions during the summer and winter breaks. On the plus side, you'll have the chance to advance in your profession. Teaching roles may be held in a school's administration and later transferred to EF's Shanghai headquarters, where they can work on the company's recruiting or course design, among many other things.

Jobs Other Than Teaching

There are additional, though fewer, avenues for finding a first job in China outside ESL. Proofreaders and editors who are native English speakers are in high demand, especially in China's first-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Product listings on shopping websites, blogs, and periodicals are all examples of this.

A lot of companies are eager to hire new employees, just as in ESL. As with English as a Second Language (ESL), you should build up some experience before applying. Writing samples, such as a blog or freelancing work, are commonplace when applying for these types of professions. Check your resume for spelling and punctuation mistakes before sending it out to potential employers. When applying for a job that requires fixing English, mistakes will not seem good!