Some Advice For the China Bound Job Seeker, by David Wolf
May 21st, 2009
It’s not like an abundance of good jobs abound in California right now. Click HERE for some job hunting advice in China from David Wolf at the Silicon Hutong blog. Good post and good advice, David.
Entry Filed under: Pre-Departure, China
2 Comments Add your own
1. Scotty Hayes | June 10th, 2009 at 10:18 am
All job seekers take a look!
Just days ago, I had not realistically considered China as a source of employment, mainly because I do not speak the language. However, I have changed my tune a bit and I have been perusing the websites of the firms we will be visiting and looking at what is available. A big determinant to me to pursue China and India as viable options will be with how are trip goes. Along with many others, I really just don’t know what to expect from our trip, but that will not stop me from bringing a binder full of resumes, business cards, questions and ideas to the organizations we are fortunate enough to visit.
Mr. Wolf gives a much needed and realistic point of view for individuals looking for employment in China. I know a few us have already read through Mr. Wolf’s blog, but for those who haven’t, some of the takeaways I received were:
Most hiring decisions are made local, regardless if the company is multi-national or not. So if the decision is between you and a local with similar talents, I am sorry. My advice - make yourself more desirable to the firm.
Setting up interviews is an expensive and risky proposition for these companies. So don’t waste anybody’s time. Get there on your own dime if need be, it shows initiative.
Executives and HR directors love to see initiative. It demonstrates commitment, which is crucial to these firms. For various reasons many professionals decide to leave China within two to four years. The training and development costs of these companies are increasingly a concern.
These are small obstacles if you are determined to work abroad. So if you are serious about the opportunities in China, show a little initiative, continue to learn about the culture and start learning the language. You just might find your lucky break.
2. Alex vanDalen | June 12th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I really enjoyed this post, right now i need all the advice i can get. I’ve been planning on working in China for some time now as I believe the standard of living is much higher for a person with a decent income.
I cannot agree more with the advice offered in the article. I have been trying for many months now to secure employment in Hong Kong over the web wihtout much sucess. I believe to be successful in the job search one needs to actually be located in the place where one wants to work. While this may not be the case if you are being transferred internally within a company, to find good opportunities halfway across the world is much easier when you are actually on the ground in said location.
This does to some extent require a leap of faith. In HK for instance you cannot get a residence visa without employment, however to get employment you have to go to HK. The visitors visa is good for 6 months and cannot be used to work. Changing from a visitor to work visa while in the country is not encouraged. Thus one has to fly to HK and receive a visitors Visa, then secure employment, fly back home and apply for a work visa, and then fly back. In addition there are concerns finding housing, medical care, and the other necessities of life. Sounds a bit complicated and expensive right?.
I’ve come to the conclusion howewver that if i do not make this leap of faith, get my self out the door, and go, I may never get the momentum rolling to get my goals accomplished. I lived and worked in Canada for a while, one of the best experiences of my life, one that would have never happened had i not packed my bags and left at the spur of the moment. With perseverance and flexibility things generally work out and my time as an illegal immigrant north of the border couldn’t have been better. Had i the education I have today I would not have come back.
You should defiantly “look before you leap” and do the necessary research and prep for wherever you want go. However in the end you still have to take a chance, hope for the best, and “leap”.
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