How to Apply for Jobs in Chinese || Words And Phrases You Need to Know

How to Get a Job in China || A Simple 5 Step Guide

Want to work in China? Not sure where to start? We’ve got you! Here is a simple 5 step guide on how to get a job in China.

Applying for a job in your home country or native language is hard enough. So, navigating the application process in a different country or language can be slightly daunting. 

If you’re looking for work in China and don’t know where to start, don’t panic! 

We’ve prepared this easy to follow step-by-step guide to walk you through all the words and phrases you might need throughout the entire application process, from applying for to accepting a job. 

Here’s what we’ll cover: 

How to Get a Job in China || Step 1 – Searching for a Job

How to Get a Job in China || Step 2 – Shortlisting Positions

How to Get a Job in China || Step 3 – Applying for Jobs

How to Get a Job in China || Step 4 – The Interview

How to Get a Job in China || Step 5 – Accepting an Offer

BONUS || Things to Note

How to Get a Job in China || FAQs

Step 1 | Searching for a Job 

People often get stuck at this hurdle because it’s not as simple as typing ‘jobs in China’ into Google.

To find positions (岗位 gǎngwèi) that actually exist and you’re interested in applying for, you need to know where to look.

China has its own platforms for most things, and job hunting (求职 qiúzhí) is no exception.

There are a whole host of different apps, websites and social media accounts dedicated to advertising vacancies in various industries (行业 hángyè).

TOP TIP || I recommend you start your search on easily accessible sites like hiredchina.com or on WeChat.

Once you’ve found a few job sites (求职网 qiúzhí wǎng) to browse, your search for the perfect position will begin with a hunt through the listed vacancies. 

Take note of these useful words to navigate job sites. 

Most of the time, you can apply for jobs directly from the platform you found them on or by adding the hiring manager on WeChat (work-life what?). 

It’s unlikely that you’ll need to apply by email, but in case you do, you can check out our guide to writing emails in Chinese. 

Step 2 | Shortlisting Positions 

Even if you’re looking for opportunities (找工作 zhǎo gōngzuò) on an English-language website, you may still find there are a lot of Chinese words to decipher. 

The good news is that job descriptions (职位介绍 zhíwèi jièshào) are structured in pretty much the same way in China as they are elsewhere.

So, as long as you know which words to look for, you shouldn’t have trouble decoding them.

Here are a few words to look out for:

Once you’ve shortlisted a few positions, you’ll want to tailor your CV and cover letter to each role.

Check out these handy guides to make sure they meet local standards: 

• How to write a cover letter in Chinese 
• How to prepare your CV in Chinese

Step 3 | Applying for Jobs

You’ve shortlisted positions, you’ve read the requirements, and you’re confident you’ll be a great fit. Now it’s time to apply! 

This is where you really start putting your language skills to the test.

TOP TIP || Even if you’re applying for an English-speaking position, showing that you can speak and understand Chinese is an advantage. 

In fact, most interviewers will ask if you can speak Chinese.

While it’s not usually a dealbreaker if you can’t, being able to will certainly help you stand out for competitive positions. 

So, let’s look at some useful phrases for the application process. 

Depending on the role you’re applying for, you may be asked to complete a test after you’ve applied.

This is nothing to worry about. It’s just a way for the hiring manager to determine if you’re a good fit for the role.

I did a handful of tests for various companies when I was applying for copywriting roles, and it was a great way to get an insight into what the day-to-day work would be like.

DID YOU KNOW || If you’re applying for teaching jobs, you might be asked to give an on or offline teaching demonstration, depending on where you’re applying from. Again, this is perfectly normal.

I’m from the UK, and I’m used to job application processes moving very slowly, so I was shocked at how quickly Chinese hiring managers work.

For basically every job I applied for, I got a reply within a day, sometimes even a few hours! 

If you’re successful, you’ll probably be invited to an interview. So, let’s move on to the scariest but most exciting step in the process…

Step 4 | The Interview Stage

You’ve made it! You’ve secured an interview, but now you’re kind of freaking out. 

• What if they speak to me in Chinese? 
• What if I don’t understand them? 
• What if I mess it all up!?

I’ve been there. 

The first non-teaching job I applied for in China didn’t require any Mandarin, so I felt pretty confident when I picked up the phone. 

For the first 20 minutes or so, things were going really well. 

Then, out of nowhere, the interviewer switched to Chinese, put the phone on a loudspeaker and introduced two of her colleagues, who asked me a series of questions I could barely understand. 

Safe to say I didn’t get the job. 

But I did learn an important lesson that I hope you’ll carry with you. It’s always better to prepare answers to a few questions just in case. You never know when you might need them!

So, here are some common interview questions to listen out for in Chinese:

Regarding Question 2 || You’ll know how to answer this better than us, but if you’re responding in Chinese, it’s worth mentioning how your language skills can be an asset in any position!

PRO TIP || Compliment the company. Use this question to show that you’ve done your research. Mention a specific thing you like about them – whether it’s their social media channels, a recent marketing campaign or the company culture.

Regarding Question 5 || If certain things about the work culture annoyed you, make sure not to say it. There’s a chance the company you’re interviewing for has a similar way of working, so don’t risk putting your foot in it by complaining!

PRO TIP Regarding Question 6 || Remember that everything can be negotiated in China, and many job descriptions don’t indicate how much they are actually willing to pay. 

If the position you’re applying for has a lower salary than you’d expect, don’t be afraid to give them a slightly higher number. They’ll be expecting a bit of back and forth!

Step 5 | Accepting a Job Offer

If you’ve reached this stage, huge congratulations are in order! It’s no easy feat securing a job, let alone one in another country. 

By this point, just a few essential words and phrases remain.

By law, foreign employees can’t start working until they’ve secured their visa, so you might have to wait for a couple of months before your first day. 

TOP TIP || Why not use that time to brush up on your language skills and remind your new company why you were such a great hire?

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How to Get a Job in China || Final Thoughts

While finding a job in China as a foreigner is possible, there are a few important things to be aware of.

IMPORTANT || It’s much harder to find a job from outside the country – especially nowadays.

Even if a company is interested in you, they might not be prepared to sponsor your visa and wait for you to arrive to fill the position. 

TOP TIP || Keep searching and applying for jobs as often as you can. 

You need two years of relevant working experience to apply for non-teaching jobs.

This is a work visa application requirement, and it’s very hard to secure a job without it. 

PRO TIP || Apply once you’ve got two years of work experience or look for a teaching job. 

Chinese language skills aren’t necessary, but they’re hugely beneficial.

Speaking and understanding Chinese, even at a basic level, is a massive advantage when applying for jobs. 

Brush up on your language skills to impress potential employers.

Applying for a job in China might feel overwhelming, especially if you’re doing it from outside the country. 

But I’m speaking from experience when I say that it’s absolutely possible to find and secure one. It just takes a bit of hard work and perseverance!

So, good luck and 加油!

Are you interested in working in China? What kind of position would you like to find? Let us know in the comments!

Working for a Chinese Company || Differences to Learn and Mistakes to Avoid

Working for a Chinese company is very different to working for a western one. There are plenty of things to learn. Today we teach you those, with reasoning.

How to Get a Job in China || FAQs

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