Preparing For a Job Interview in China

You've been searching for a job, have sent out dozens of resumes, and have experienced a great deal of stress before you're eventually invited in for an interview. You've spent a lot of time and effort searching for a job, and the interview is your ticket in. You had best get ready for it. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind while preparing for any interview, and here are some specific to preparing for a job interview in China.

Indication of When You Can Expect to Arrive

In the event that you have an interview arranged, you should go there a little bit early but not too early. If you want to be on time, you should be there around ten to fifteen minutes early. Your interviewer may have trouble squeezing you into their busy schedule if you arrive too early for your scheduled appointment. Arriving in the area of your interview an hour beforehand will give you time to visit a nearby coffee shop and look through your prepared materials one final time before meeting with the interviewer. This will allow you to arrive calmly and assuredly, without having to hurry. If you do happen to come early for your interview, be sure to let the interviewer know, and be prepared to wait until it is a good time for them to start.

Research

Researching the firm and the role you're looking for is the most crucial component of being ready for an interview. Visit the corporate website and read it "cover to cover" to learn as much as possible about the organization. By reading the firm's 'About us' section, you may get a sense of the company's guiding principles and how they want to grow the business. With this information in hand, you can better articulate to the interviewer how your skills and experience align with those of the company. If you're looking for a job in finance, for instance, and you mention that the company's growth rate over the previous three years was x percent, you'll wow the interviewer.

Questions

Having questions ready to ask the interviewer is a must. Possessing thoughtful questions demonstrates research and a genuine interest in the organization. Prepare questions ahead of time in case the interviewer opens with a request for yours.

Cover letter review

Having an interview implies that you have applied for the position and maybe produced a cover letter. Review your cover letter to refresh your memory on the skills and qualifications that made you an ideal candidate for the position. The interviewer, who probably just read your cover letter, will also be impressed if you quote from it.

Language

Know ahead of time what language the interview will be held in. If the position demands fluency in Chinese, the interview will likely be conducted in Chinese at least in part. To be ready for this, check up terminology linked to the position and potential subjects that may come up in the interview.

Documents

Get ready by gathering any paperwork you may need. Your resume, cover letter, and any notes you've taken about the firm and position you're applying for all go under this category. In most cases, the interviewer will already have a hard copy of your resume in hand, but it never hurts to bring one just in case. It's also a good idea to bring along some examples of your previous work to the interview. China has an abundance of low-cost printing services, so there is no need to procrastinate. Keep an eye out for a board reading "" (dă yn).

To write something down with

In order to take notes throughout the interview, remember to bring a pen and paper. Even if you feel confident going into the interview, nerves might get the best of you. It will still have a polished appearance even if you don't utilize them.

Proper attire

What to wear to a job interview in China can vary according on the industry. Think about how formal you'd have to be. The dress code for an interview for a position in the creative arts, such as design, may be less strict than that of a financial institution. Dressing too much is preferable than underdressing, but only marginally. Even though ties aren't required for most jobs in China, men should nonetheless look presentable by avoiding sloppy clothing and always wearing clean shoes.