Top Tips for Job Hunting in China

Job hunting in China, for an expat, can be a daunting prospect. But with the right research and preparation, you can find the perfect job and enjoy the opportunity to experience a foreign culture and expand your career possibilities.

From experience, we’ve compiled a few tips to help the job-seeking expat ease into the Chinese job market.

Understand the Language

The language barrier can be a huge obstacle when job hunting in China. Make sure you’re familiar with the basics of the language – at least enough to do an interview and communicate in general. Chinese is a tonal language, so be sure to master the accent and pronunciations of the Mandarin language as well as the characters.

Also, depending on where you plan to work, be sure to know both traditional and simplified Chinese, as they are key to being understood by the majority of the population.

Know the Job Market

China’s job market is full of job openings across numerous fields. Before searching for a job, research the major cities and know what kind of job opportunities fit your skills best. Cities like Beijing and Shanghai are great for white collar jobs like banking, accounting, and software engineering. Other cities in the East Coast and Southeast coast such as Guangzhou and Hong Kong offer tech jobs and finance, but also concentrate in industries like logistics, travel, energy, and medical.

Be Aware of Cultural Difference

Practicing cultural properness and necessary etiquette is key when interacting with Chinese people. Speak respectfully, address people with their titles and surnames, and maintain a professional, courteous attitude. Confucian culture is also observed in China, so respect elders and practice proper behavior.

Be Ready with A Resume

Resume building is something of an art form in many cultures, with different styles accommodated. In China, a photo should be pasted at the top right of the resume, accompanied by contact information such as name, gender, date of birth, address and phone number. Hobbies and interests are not usually included. The contact information should be bright and clear, so be sure to print a resume professionally.

Search for Appropriate Job Listings

Finding the right job is a process that that requires research and patience. Start by leveraging online job postings from hiring websites like JobTonic, ChinaJOB.com, and Jobsuch as well as expat-friendly companies like BDA China, China Extras and Human Resources China to help navigate the most current job openings.

Formulate your search into specialized categories and find job related to your expertise, then filter results with what city, industry, language and experience you have.

Prepare for the Interview

Prepare the right documents. There are certain requirements in what documents you need to show in an interview. This might include copies of certifications, degrees, mark-sheets, photograph, and copies of your top 3-5 previous job descriptions. Depending on the job, sometimes employers will ask for a health check as well as a criminal background check.

Be Ready With Questions

Interviewers are just as curious to know if you’re a good fit for the job as you are. Be ready with a few inquiries about the company and its future goals for the role can show your enthusiasm and gain insight into the employers next steps.

Expect the Unconventional

Be aware that employers will not always follow the conventional methods in an interview. Interviews in China are a means for employers to gauge potential employees and their strengths, so be prepared for Big Five tests, verbal assessments and other unusual tests.

Listen to Your Mandarin With Care

In a difficult job market where employers may have their pick of dozens of applicants, one small mistake could cause you to be out of the running entirely. In a Chinese interview, small mistakes can cost dearly, so be sure to practice good pronunciation and always remember to be polite and mindful.

Prepare for the Negotiating Stage

Negotiating salary in China can be a nerve-wracking situation. Before agreeing to a job offer, make sure to record the offered salary before negotiation. This can be used as a reference and may influence the employer’s final offer.

During the negotiation stage, take notes and ask for an extra break clause to make sure the balance of your contract is honored if there is a change in working hours or salary.

Look for Government Resources

China’s government offers an Employment Service Management System (ESMS), which is a free service for job seekers that has resources for a variety of employment review and job postings. This is a great way to find suitable job listings as well as job fairs.

Visiting government career centers and professional recruitment events can also be useful for finding jobs.

Know about the Work Environment

Be sure to research and visit the potential workplace to assess the morale and safety of the organization. Mistakes are common when job hunting, and when moving to another country. Knowing the work culture of an organization will prevent cultural misunderstandings and enhance relations with employees and your peers.

Be Prepared to Appoint an Immigration Agent

Appointing an immigration agent to help with an expat’s working visa is essential. An immigration agent can make sure that all the paperwork is correctly filled out by the time the applicant takes their flight to the foreign country.

Take Time to Know the City

Knowing the local city is essential when it comes to job hunting and relocating. Make sure to do your research for the place, its accommodation and its entertainment options. Knowing the city’s public transport system, the night life and the hidden gems in the area are espically important when relocating.

These tips will help ease the expat into the Chinese job market, helping create the best possible start. With the right experience, knowledge and preparation, applicant’s can ensure the Chinese job search isn’t an intimidating one.

Let the right job find you!

Job search function
Recruitment function
Employment Solutions
Free legal advice
Get professional foreign-related legal advice

Worldwide Talent Acquisition

GEOR provides a global human resource labor management platform tailored to your requirements. We will connect you with top-notch international talent while ensuring your hiring processes align with local labor regulations. Access Talent Globally through our International Recruitment Solutions.
img

Explore Chinese Job Vacancies

As a top-tier provider of recruitment outsourcing services, we offer expat job opportunities in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, whether you're in Asia Pacific, Europe, or the Americas. For additional career opportunities and job listings in China, please log in or register to access more detailed information.
GEOR Global Recruitment is an industry-leading recruitment outsourcing service provider, we are committed to achieving compliant and efficient global recruitment for all kinds of companies around the world. We provide one-stop human resource solutions for digital global employee recruitment and management for Chinese overseas enterprises with our technology platform and professional services, and aspire to become a global human resource labor management platform, which mainly provides foreigner recruitment, foreign talent recruitment, overseas talent recruitment, foreigner job search, foreign talent network, foreigner recruitment network in China, foreign talent recruitment platform, foreign talent job search platform, foreigner talent Recruitment in China, Overseas Foreign Talent Recruitment, Foreign Talent Job Hunting in China, Foreign Talent Headhunting Service, Overseas Foreign Talent Job Hunting, Foreign Talent Intermediary Service, Foreign Talent Recruitment Platform, Foreign Talent Job Hunting Platform and so on. The company has branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Suzhou, Chengdu, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Tianjin, Ningbo, Qingdao and Changsha. Our global market experts provide a range of customized recruitment solutions based on your needs. Whether in Asia Pacific, Europe or the Americas, we will match you with the best international talent and ensure that your recruitment practices comply with local labor laws. Our experts have a unique insight into all aspects and every step of the overseas recruitment process. We offer our experience and expertise in everything from inquiring about interviews and developing offer letters to onboarding employees. By leaving the complex hassles of overseas recruiting in our hands, you can save more time and focus on your company goals of global expansion success.

Overseas Employment Agencies and International Recruitment

Whether you're looking for job opportunities abroad or planning to hire foreign talent, our guide has all the information you need. Explore the latest job openings, receive expert agency recommendations, and learn how to secure employment overseas. Don't miss out on global career opportunities; discover trustworthy international employment services right here.
Jobs
Candidates
Blog
Me