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In this article I will explain the main reasons to choose to do an internship in China (instead of the United States, for example) and the primary options for those thinking about doing an internship in China (mainly scholarships and agencies). Moreover, I will list the principal requirements of an honest and capable agency. First, however, I would like to tell you about my experience!<\/strong><\/p>\n When, in 2009, I turned down three permanent job offers\u2014the first from a well-known multinational company and the other two from universities\u2014in order to have an adventure in China by means of a scholarship that didn\u2019t guarantee me even a scrap of a retirement contribution, the majority of my colleagues openly declared me as being insane.<\/p>\n I already thought I had made the right choice back in 2009, but the final confirmation came in September 2011, when I was invited to hold a seminar at the Universidad Javeriana of Bogota, Columbia. On the first day of the conference, the chancellor invited the organizers and speakers to dinner. It mainly consisted of internationally famous professors that had worked in universities for over thirty years, published books, and started businesses with immense potential.<\/p>\n Being 29 years old at the time, I was a bit of a crasher, as I was invited more for being friends with the conference chairman than for professional merit. I didn\u2019t expect any attention. Rather, to be honest I was a little \u201cintimidated\u201d by such a formal occasion.<\/strong><\/p>\n And then something happened that you wouldn\u2019t expect. As the waiter was serving the second dish\u2014a soup containing seven different types of potatoes (don\u2019t ask me what the difference is because I don\u2019t know)\u2014the chancellor looked at me and said:<\/p>\n \u201cUsted habla Espa\u00f1ol?<\/em>\u201d Do you speak Spanish?<\/p>\n \u201cS\u00ec.<\/em>\u201d Yes.<\/p>\n \u201cY trabaja en China, verdad?<\/em>\u201d And you work in China, right?<\/p>\n \u201cGood,\u201d the chancellor said, \u201cbecause we need more people like you. We need a bridge that connects us to China, someone that can understand both their culture and ours.\u201d<\/p>\n This started a huge discussion on China that lasted the entire dinner, ticking off more than one great professor.<\/p>\n It depends! If you go to China to finish your internship without learning a word of Chinese, without making any contacts that can be useful in the future, and without making an excellent impression on who will decide to hire you or not\u2014your supervisor at your company as an example\u2014then there\u2019s no benefit at all. You might as well take a vacation to Ibiza.<\/p>\n If instead, you take full advantage of the occasion, get yourself hired (after all, that should be the point of your internship) and manage to stay in China long enough to learn the language, understand how the system works, and therefore be able to offer an added value to a western company that has interests in Asia or a Chinese company with interests in the west) then many doors will open in your career, both if you wish to stay in Asia or if you want to return to work in Europe.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s be honest, the problem isn\u2019t a lack of work, but rather the fact that the job market has become more competitive. These days having a degree and knowing how to speak English doesn\u2019t impress anyone. It\u2019s a necessary requirement but not enough.<\/p>\n What do you know how to do? What added value can you offer my company? Why should I hire you and not one of the other 312 candidates that have a degree, speak English, and were on foreign exchange in France or Germany just like you?<\/p>\n The advantage of gaining experience in China\u2014as opposed to the United States or Australia, for example\u2014is that China is an extremely complex market that is above all difficult to understand for western companies. And those individuals that have professional qualifications that go beyond \u201cknowing Chinese\u201d and at the same time are capable of understanding both realities (east and west) are rare commodities. As a result, they are also the most sought-after.<\/strong><\/p>\n Here\u2019s an example of why many western companies struggle to have success in China and are therefore on the lookout for those able to understand the Middle Kingdom: In the west, advertisements that have greater success are those that emphasize the benefits to the individual (that is, those that respond to the question \u201cWhat\u2019s in it for me?\u201d). Conversely, in eastern Asia the best approach\u2014and in fact, the most used\u2014is that of emphasizing the benefits to others (that is, the ad has to respond to the question \u201cIn what way can this product\/service help me better my relationship with my family, my friends or workmates?\u201d).<\/p>\n The reasons behind this difference are in the underlying socio-economic issues of China and ancient Europe, and the resulting evolution of two schools of thought, that of Aristotle and the Taoist\/Confucianist mindset which are diametrically opposed. If you\u2019d like a deeper look at the matter I recommend you read \u201cThe Geography of Thoughts<\/a>,\u201d an excellent book on the subject.<\/p>\n The fact that China is such a difficult market to decipher becomes an advantage to whoever manages to understand it.<\/strong><\/p>\n In my opinion, you\u2019ve got three options. The first is finding a paid internship (perhaps through a European scholarship such as Erasmus Mundus or a regional notice such as the old Master & Black of the Sardegna Region); the second is doing it on your own (that is, personally contacting companies or universities); the third is using an agency to find you a company \u2014 or university \u2014 that will arrange your internship.<\/p>\n The pros of the first option are obvious: you\u2019re paid to gain experience that, if you\u2019ve managed to read up to here, you\u2019ll find useful for your career. The cons are just as obvious: finding a scholarship isn\u2019t easy. Moreover, much depends on your experience.<\/p>\n Personally, it took me almost a year to find a scholarship in Asia (I began looking in the summer of 2009 and I arrived in China May 31st<\/sup>, 2010). Moreover, I had to present a ten-page research project and submit to an interview in Brussels. That said, it was for an academic scholarship and not an internship with a company.<\/p>\n I\u2019m not trying to discourage you. Finding a scholarship is certainly possible. Many youths have already come to China at 16 years old<\/a>, others come before graduating or just after. In addition, some agencies offer scholarships sponsored by firms or regional boards.<\/p>\n Then there are the European scholarships, such as the Erasmus Mundus<\/a> or the Marie Curie<\/a> (more for those who wish to have a Masters or doctorate in research rather than an internship in a company to tell the truth).<\/p>\n In short, the opportunities to move to Asia on a scholarship do exist, but they require a lot of work, foresight (we\u2019re talking in times longer than a year to win a scholarship), and a good curriculum vitae (r\u00e9sum\u00e9\u2019). Moreover, the majority of the opportunities are for \u201cstudy\u201d and not an internship in a company.<\/strong><\/p>\n If you’re thinking about going in one to two years, I recommend you start exploring the matter immediately!<\/p>\n The benefit is that you don\u2019t have to pay an agency and, in some cases, you might even find someone who will pay you. But in this case, I won\u2019t speak of an \u201cinternship\u201d since technically they\u2019re taking you on short-term. The downside is that finding work in China is not at all easy (at least if you don\u2019t want to teach English or are extremely qualified).<\/p>\n Using an agency you\u2019ll find yourself in a completely opposite situation than Option A. The downside is that you have to pay out of pocket: 100-500 Euro just to research an internship and get an invitation letter for obtaining a visa<\/a>, and up to 2,000-4,000 Euro for an \u201call-inclusive\u201d service that includes researching the internship, room and board, a Chinese language course, networking, and so on.<\/p>\n The benefit is, if you choose a good agency, you won\u2019t have to wait months to leave nor exhaust yourself looking for a company that works for you: the better agencies are in contact with thousands of firms and won\u2019t have a problem finding one that fits.<\/p>\n In addition, medium to high range packages are designed to minimize \u201cculture shock\u201d \u2013by means of airport pickup, help in finding lodging, initiation courses for both Chinese language and culture, organized events with other youths with internships in China, et cetera\u2014and are best suited for the less adventurous.<\/p>\n Recently I happened to read a discussion on a forum about an article in the Evening Courier about paying for internships: the general consensus was that the idea of paying for an internship is shocking. Though I consider myself to be a pragmatic person, I don\u2019t see anything wrong with it.<\/p>\n It would be considered a \u201cpremium\u201d service, just like organized tours<\/a>, five-star hotels, first-class flights, or commercial intermediaries (for those whole deal with importing\/exporting).<\/p>\n Work\u2014when stripped of its social-political connotations so loved by the media\u2014represents one of three basic needs for human beings (the other two are sex\u2014that is the Darwinian instinct to pass on our genetic code\u2014and health\u2014which is purely our survival instinct).<\/p>\n No, I\u2019m not going off subject. The fact that it has to do with a basic human need leaves us vulnerable. Because when we\u2019re sick, haven\u2019t dated a woman in five years, or find ourselves without work, we\u2019re inclined to believe anything that might rekindle our hope.<\/p>\n This means that scam-artists have easy prey: \u201cClick here to lose 7 Kg in 7 days,\u201d \u201cThe 5 Secrets to Win Back Your Ex-Girlfriend,\u201d \u201c1,000 Euro a Month in Three Easy Steps.\u201d Have you ever seen an ad like that? Good\u2014me too.<\/p>\n That is why you need to be careful when choosing an agency you can trust: this is a sector where lots of scam-artists hang out.<\/p>\n Since I started this web site I\u2019ve received dozens of emails and comments a day, and after travel, the most popular subject is searching for work. I\u2019ve heard a ton of them: agencies that ask you to send money exclusively to an off-shore account or by Western Union (an untraceable transaction\u2014say goodbye to your money!), agencies that ask you to send your passport to China to get a visa (this one is fantastic\u2014my theory is that they resell the passports to illegal immigrants in war-torn countries), agencies that promise you a permanent position but only offer you a tourist visa good for three months (besides working illegally and risking a fine of several thousands of Euros, after three months you too become an illegal immigrant since beginning in July 2013, renewing a tourist visa is more complicated than climbing Mt. Everest barefoot), agencies that ask for money then disappear\u2014and I close here\u2014agencies that require payment to get you a non-binding job interview (unacceptable, first you should get the interview, and if you get hired for the internship or job, then they receive a commission)<\/p>\n Here\u2019s my advice:<\/p>\n None of the suggestions I\u2019ve given will allow you to establish with certainty the level of honesty or ability of a given agency; but I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll agree that if an agency lives up to all the requirements I\u2019ve listed here, you should be in good hands.<\/p>\nIf you want to get in touch an agency that may help you getting an internship in China, click here to jump directly to the contact form<\/a><\/div>\nWorking in China: My experience<\/h2>\n
What is the benefit of an internship in China?<\/h2>\n
How to find an internship in China?<\/h2>\n
Option A: Win a scholarship<\/h3>\n
Option B: Do it on your own<\/h3>\n
Option C: Use an agency<\/h3>\n
Beware of scams!<\/h2>\n
How to choose an honest and capable agency?<\/h2>\n
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Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
\n\n Can I apply for an internship if I don\u2019t know any Chinese?<\/div>\n\nYes, although the company will take your knowledge of the language into account. In general, many agencies have programs to learn Mandarin from zero or to improve your level, which you can attend while doing an internship in China. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nHow much should I budget for daily life in China?<\/div>\n\nIt depends on the city where you\u2019re going to work. The cost of living is much higher in large cities such as Shanghai or Beijing. It will also depend on your lifestyle, your leisure budget and many other factors. You can check out our article<\/a> on the cost of living in China by city. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nWhat cities in China are internships the most common in?<\/div>\n\nInternships are common in the majority of Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, among which the following are noteworthy: Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Dalian, Qingdao, Hong Kong, Xi’An, Nanjing and Hangzhou.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nWhat kind of visa do I need for an internship in China? <\/div>\n\nIn China, a visa for internships does not exist, and agencies normally offer you a business or M-type visa, or a student or X-type visa if they have an agreement with a university or educational center. While sometimes for short stays, they will pressure you to apply for a tourist visa, it\u2019s better to avoid this due to the legal consequences that this may imply.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nWhat are the best industries for an internship in China?<\/div>\n\nChina has fantastic internship sectors due to the unique opportunities that they offer, such as engineering, IT, marketing, the hotel and restaurant industry, finance and accounting, international commerce, entrepreneurship, logistics, legal associations, international development and business consulting.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAre you interested in an Internship in China?<\/h2>\n
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