Speak Fluent Chinese, Find a Better Job in Shanghai

Recruiters and headhunters in China are often asked, “How can I find a better job in Shanghai?” Whether you are looking for a technical, business, teaching, or freelance job, here are a few helpful tips for finding meaningful, profitable employment in Shanghai:

1. Update your online profile.
   Recruiters in Shanghai and throughout China actively use professional social media platforms such as LinkedIn to review the profiles of potential applicants—and they’ll reach out to you when they think you are a good match. Update your online professional profile to help you get a job in Shanghai.
2. Network and develop good guanxi or ‘relationships’.
   After you arrive in China, you’ll soon learn about the concept of guanxi, or relationships, which reflects the Western idea of networking. While you may get your first job through an ad, many more jobs are acquired through meeting people, exchanging business cards, and following up with a note or call. Shanghai hosts an array of annual career fairs and networking events, and just like back home, good networking will lead to better jobs in Shanghai.
3. Speak fluent Mandarin Chinese.
   Job postings in Shanghai invariably include language requirements, ranging from ‘conversational Mandarin recommended’ to ‘native level Mandarin required’. Regardless of your current level of Mandarin Chinese, one thing is clear—learning Mandarin will help you secure a better job. You will be able to participate more fully in meetings and important decision-making, which will launch your career forward. Even if your desired job doesn’t require you to converse directly with clients in Mandarin, you will be able to build trust, and connect more quickly and on a more personal level if you can communicate in the local language.
4. You’ll also be working with Chinese colleagues who will see you more readily as a team member rather than a waiguoren or ‘foreigner’ if you can participate in daily discussions, ask about their weekend in Mandarin or order lunch at a local restaurant. Your Mandarin language skills will go a long way in setting you apart from the other applicants who haven’t taken the time to understand and study Mandarin and Chinese history and culture. Speak fluent Chinese, and get a better job in Shanghai!

Learn Chinese in Shanghai
Mandarin House Shanghai offers a variety of professional Mandarin courses to help you speak fluent Chinese and find your dream job in Shanghai. Consider enrolling in Business Chinese, where you’ll not only learn Mandarin but also business etiquette and content related to Chinese culture and tradition. Other courses such as Intensive Chinese, Private Chinese Tutoring, and HSK preparation provide rigorous training to help you speak fluent Chinese quickly and effectively. Mandarin House Shanghai is ready to help you improve your employment profile and find a job in Shanghai!