Beijing Jobs For Expats

Arriving in Beijing was like arriving in the world's largest construction zone. Approximately 40% of the world's cranes were reportedly in the capital, with many of them assisting the city in its preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Many people struggle with language, and communication for non-Mandarin speakers is difficult to say the least. I would strongly advise you to take a few Mandarin sessions before you go, simply to gain a grasp of the essentials, and then continue if feasible once you arrive.

Business cards are a must-have item, and I now have three files full of them. Collect at least two or three from each restaurant, shop, or tourist attraction that you visit. You simply display the card to your driver the next time you want to travel there, and it makes your life so much easier. Alternatively, you can give one to a buddy and arrange to meet at a safe location.

Foreigners working in Beijing, whether for a Chinese firm or one of the city's international firms, must demonstrate that they are foreign professionals. China is aiming to attract the best foreign talent and expats from all over the world to contribute to its development and international influence through this system.

Many international companies doing business in China have relocated to Beijing, which is helpful for expats looking for work, but the bureaucracy remains. Those who have a job or are searching for work in Beijing must still obtain a Chinese visa and work authorization.

Diplomatic employees and foreign correspondents employed by Beijing's numerous embassies and international press offices make up a sizable portion of the city's expat population. Other expats are assigned to their local branch's traditional company assignments in the capital. Regardless of where their headquarters or manufacturing plants are located in China, both Chinese and multinational corporations frequently have a representative working in Beijing. As a result, they maintain close contact with the capital's government bureaucracy.

Foreign assignments, on the other hand, are now being challenged by so-called "flexpats." Rather than relocating their entire lives and families to China for the long term, foreign personnel are sometimes employed for short-term assignments and fly in and out; these are also known as "China hires" or "frequent flyer assignments." If you aren't expecting to be sent on a flexpatriate or expatriate assignment anytime soon, here are some job-hunting recommendations in Beijing.

Last but not least, you should be prepared to take a long-term strategic approach to job seeking in Beijing. GUANXI(contacts, connections, and relationships) are an important element of doing business in China. As a result, you should strive to develop a personal network of individuals in the Beijing region who can assist you in finding suitable employment. Online communities, a fact-finding trip to China, a business visit, a language vacation, and other methods of building such a network might be effective.