Working in China

International Students
1

<p>I'll be graduating in Spring 2012, with a degree in Economics with a minor in East Asian Studies. I'm considering working in China after I graduate. Right now I'm weighing my options to see if working in China is right for me.</p>

<p>Here are my options:
1- Working in the Finance sector in the U.S
2- Working in the Finance sector in China
3- Working as an English teacher in China. I would work at a school and also look for part time tutoring jobs as well. ( I've heard that I can charge around 30-50 USD per hour)</p>

<p>So I've been to China twice. I've studied abroad in Beijing for 2 summer semesters, and I love it there. I want to work in China, because I like it there, and I feel like it would be a good life experience. I also think it would be good building my career too, because work experience in China is desirable in the U.S as well.</p>

<p>On the other hand, jobs in China just don't pay as well. The average salaries I see for Americans working in China is somewhere around 1,000-2,000 a month and about 15,000-20,000 USD a year. I think if I got a job in the fiance sector in the U.S I could expect a starting salary around 40,000.</p>

<p>By the time I graduate I will have borrowed 30,000 in loans. It will be hard to pay off if I worked in China. But at the same time, I'm not too worried about it. I have a few years grace period to pay it off.</p>

<p>I also know that the cost of living in China is significantly lower in China. It's about a third or a half of what it is in the U.S. And most job offers in China offer free housing to American employers. I feel like taking this into account, maybe the salary in China won't be too bad. How much do you the difference will be? Will I be able to save a comparable amount of money in China with respect to the U.S?</p>

<p>Another factor worth considering is that I'm Chinese American. I'm a native speaker of Cantonese. I'm also pretty decent in Mandarin but I'm no where near native-level. But I would say that I have at least working level ability in Mandarin. I studied Mandarin for 3 years, and have studied Chinese in Beijing for a total of 4 months.</p>

<p>I also feel that being Chinese American can hurt me while looking for jobs in China. I know that Chinese companies and universities like to hire Caucasians. They feel that Chinese Americans don't speak English as well. (Just to be clear though, my native language is English)</p>

<p>Also one last question. Do you know what income taxes I will be subjected to if I work in China? Do I pay Chinese and American income taxes?</p>

<p>So how do you guys weigh on this? If any of you have work experience in China, please share. Also, if you suggest working in China, tell me some ideal locations if you can.</p>

2

<p>Hi I worked in the finance sector in China and there are new visa policies that will prevent you from working in China. In order to get a work visa you need at least 2 years of work experience and be at least 25. So starting right out of college is impossible right now.</p>

3

<p>Oh I did not know that, thank you very much. But I know some friends who taught English right after they graduated. Are they an exception?</p>

4

<p>Teaching English requires a different visa compared to a Z visa if I remember the name correctly. A full work Z visa is nearly impossible to come buy nowadays even if you are already in China due to government crackdowns of people possessing foreigner passports. Hong Kong is much more foreigner friendly since you speak cantonese but the competition is intense. You either need an extremely high academic pedigree or damn good connections.</p>

5

<p>Sounds like you’ve already done a fair amount of research by actually studying there and getting a feel for day-to-day life. One thing you left out though, being an English language instructor. Being ethnically Chinese will NOT help you, and actually work against you here. As a Chinese American, you should be prepared for the bar to be one-level higher for you, than it would be for a competing non-Chinese candidate.</p>

<p>Even if the Chinese candidate has better credentials (more experience, better academic pedigree), most local school employers will prefer (or their parents will prefer) someone who looks like a Western foreigner. This is not as much a problem with international schools (which are much more formal in their job requirements, but it’s definitely difficult to overcome the “local” population’s bias towards English teachers who look Western (i.e. Caucasian)</p>

<p>Also, the language instruction industry has matured somewhat since the freewheeling days when China first opened up to the West. Back then, any caucasian looking person (with no crudentials or teaching certification) could easily land a job at most city schools. You could say the biggest qualification was to “look like a foreigner”, and that would keep school admins happy since they could show parents that their school. And any college-level B.S. used to suffice. Now, the more rigorous/prestigious schools will demand actual teaching crudentials (or a full degree in education)</p>

6

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<p>This and this. More so in mainland China. Living expenses are way lower in China, but so are your earnings. $40,000 per year wouldn’t be your starting salary, and might not even be after 10 years. A starting salary of $10-$15,000 would be more realistic.</p>

<p>You’ll also have to consider the difference of visiting as a tourist, and actually living in China full time. Can you get used to the culture, people, and daily inconveniences compared to western countries?</p>

7

<p>I don’t know what you mean by “the finance sector” here but the pay of an ibanking job,say GS, in mainland China is something like $10,000 per month.</p>

8

<p>you r referring to CNY, right…</p>

9

<p>I know plenty of Asian Americans who work in Beijing. They really emphasized their Western background though; it’s seen as a much desired advantage.</p>