Is it possible to get job in China?
People from other countries move to China in search of new things to do, compared to the global average of 37%, which is less than half. The HSBC group did a study of foreigners and found that China is 6th in the world for disposable income, 7th in career advancement, and 8th in social life, which is how people live their lives now. A pollutant called PM 2.5 has been getting less in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou over the last three years.
Networks that are made up of people who know each other
In China, there is a term called guanxi, which means relationships. In business, it means that you do something for someone with the expectation that it will be reciprocated at some point. People can have a relationship with each other, even if they are not Chinese. This is called "guanxi," and it doesn't matter if you are Chinese or not.
It's likely that you don't have a lot of guanxi because you haven't been to China yet. You may know people who do. People from China might be friends with you, and their family has strong business ties in Shanghai. People you know in China might be able to hire you if you ask your friend if they know anyone who might be interested in you and send them your resume. Someone who wants to hire someone in Shanghai has a friendship with your friend's mom's mom. In WeChat, your friend's mom sends your résumé to the person with whom she has a "guangxi" friendship. Because she likes your resume and because your friend's mom asked her to, this person hires you. As a result, she trusts you more than she trusts most foreigners because you are linked through friendship. Everyone is happy, but now your friend's mom has to do the same for you one day.
The job boards
Job boards like Indeed and LaowaiCareer are a time-saving way to apply for jobs. Once you set up an account, you can apply for jobs in just a few clicks. LaowaiCareer is a job board for foreigners who want to work in China. Indeed is a job board for people all over the world. It's a good idea to start your job search on both of these job boards, as they show you what kinds of jobs are out there in the Chinese market.
LinkedIn and WeChat
Since LinkedIn partnered with the Chinese app WeChat which is used by virtually all smartphone users in China, LinkedIn’s popularity has grown. WeChat users can link their LinkedIn profile to their WeChat profile, which is similar to if Facebook lets users connect their LinkedIn profile to their Facebook profile. The key difference is that WeChat is used for both work and personal use.
People who are going to come to China should download WeChat and link their LinkedIn account to it. It's important to add a professional picture of yourself and some photos that show a little bit about who you are. Whenever you accept a friend request from a coworker, make sure that your moment isn't inappropriate for the workplace. Make it easy for employers to get in touch with you by including your WeChat ID at the top of your resume. This will also make your interaction with them feel more personal. As long as you have your LinkedIn profile linked to WeChat, employers will be able to look over a copy of your resume while they are on the go.
LinkedIn can also be a good way to find companies that are hiring in China. However, it is better for people who already have a job. See if your connections or people who are related to you can help you find work. For people who are just starting out, this may be more important than trying to figure out how to get a job. The person who knows the person you want to meet can make the introduction, whether it's by email or over coffee. He or she might at least be able to give you some good advice.
They have some ads in English like the Beijinger and SmartShanghai, which are both in English. The same way Craigslist works, anyone can put up jobs and everyone can apply for them. Many of the job listings on the Beijinger website are for English teachers, but on SmartShanghai, there is a wider range. There are a lot of foreigners in China who know about both of these classifieds, which could mean that there are a lot of applicants for some jobs, which could make them more competitive.
Getting to know each other events
You may be afraid of networking, but going to social events is a great way to build your professional network. Many people don't like networking, but they do it anyway because they know how important it is. Force yourself to take part. At least you'll meet interesting people who know things you don't.
Whether you live in or outside of China, Chambers of Commerce are a good place to start when you want to meet new people. For example, there is a British Chamber of Commerce in Beijing. Do not need a job to go. You do not even need to be British. Most of the people who go to the British Chamber's events are from China and from other countries that aren't China.
Then, on the other hand, you don't need to attend formal events to build your network. Any group, whether it's a knitting group or a hiking group, can be a good thing. As long as you surround yourself with people who are excited about their jobs, you'll be surrounded by chances to move up in your job. Take chances. Always ask people you meet for their business card or contact information when you meet them. You can ask them out for coffee again if you want to (or maybe for tea in China).
When you want to be successful at work in China, you need to be smart about how you look for jobs and keep looking for ways to build your network. A solution is almost always found in China. You need to know the right people who can help you get there though.