How to find an Internship in China
You want to do an internship in China? But you don’t know how to get things started? Well, after I finished my Bachelors Degree, I decided to get some work experience abroad before starting my Masters and an internship in China seemed like the best solution. My university offered a study tour to China and after visiting this amazing country for 2 weeks, I knew that I wanted to go back there and get a deeper insight into this culture. Here is some information on how to find an internship in China, things you need to organize before you go and other helpful advice:
Find an internship position:
Contacts: Talk to any Chinese people in your network about your plans and ideas about going to China. Chinese are very helpful and will not only give you good advice and information about their home country, but it might happen, that they actually know someone in China that works in your field of study, who would be willing to become you host company. This is how I found my internship position and as networking in China is the way of getting things done, your chances are pretty high.- Internet: Research on the web and check out the websites of your home country’s Chamber of Commerce network in China. Many of them do not only list jobs, but also internship positions in China. You can also research companies in your field on DMOZ or other industry directories and send your application directly to the companies that you want to work for. Regarding your resume, you should include a professional picture, date of birth, and list your work experience and education in chronological order.
- Internship placement programs and language schools: If you do not find an internship position in China through your contacts or the internet, you can also use an internship placement company. They will review your resume and find you an internship position in the field of your interest. Of course, this is less work for you, but it will cost you some bucks to find a good placement service. Also, some language schools offer an internship placement service, but you usually have to do a language course for a certain minimum period. This is actually a great way how to find an internship in China, as it will be a great advantage for you, if you already know at least the basics of the Chinese language. You will be able to take on more responsibilities during your internship and work more effectively with your Chinese colleagues. In addition, you will get a deeper insight into the Chinese culture and you can do more things on your own, as you don’t have to rely on others to help you with the language issues.
Living in China
Before I went to China, I read everything I could find on the country and one of the best books that helped me organize my internship in China was this on: Moon Living Abroad in China: Including Hong Kong & Macau (Just to let you know, I recommend this book, because I bought it before I went to China and I found it very helpful. (However, if you buy it after clicking on my link, I will receive a small commission from Amazon!).
If you are interested in going with an organized program, check out the following links:
Do you want to read more about my experience in China? Check out my China Diary here 🙂
MariaAbroad is a Travel Blog to inspire you and show you cool places around the world. I'll share articles about travel, culture, and craft beer. Follow me along, as I adventure through the world, one beer at a time. Cheers!
It is pretty easy to find an internship in China especially if you are not looking for a paid internship. Many Foreign companies can always have a use for a foreigner if they are working for free.
Many times if you just look for jobs on Craig’s list and LinkedIn in the location in China you want to live; then you can usually find someone that will be willing to give you a job.
This is Joanna liu from BJ, China. We are providing culture and education exchange between China and western countries. We are a comprehensive, affordable and service-oriented company. We run professional internship programs in China for several years. Our mission is to help students, graduates and young professionals bridging the gap between the students to the professional world by getting the best possible professional experience as an intern in China. We also aim at promoting professional and social connections between students from all over the world as we believe that life inside our internship program open eyes to the ways of a broader world. We have good relationships with local companies and established partnership with a number of businesses around China who are expectable to accept foreign talents from all over the world. Each internship placement is tailored to the individual according to their C.V. /Resume to ensure that they get the maximum benefit out of the internship program. We have placed interns in a diverse range of fields.
We hope to become the partner in China.Our website is :www.jahoodev.51.com
My email address: jahoodev@sina.com
I think it’s easy to find a internship in China.Of course,if you know some basic Chinese,you can get more opportunities.
Before I came to China, I studied Chinese online from http://www.mandarinnetwork.com. It’s a pretty good website.There are hundreds of interesting Chinese video lessons. Then I moved in China. The local people was surprised by my Chinese when I had a interview. Surely my Chinese is not good enough,I continue learnning it.
Internships placement
International business internship centre arrange internship and home stay for foreign student in Qingdao, please check the Website and get more details: http://www.myintern.org
E-mail :info@myintern.org
Is it necessary to speak basic / decent mandarin before seeking an internship. I think probably the best way to gain fluency in Chinese is by immersing yourself and it would seem that at internship is the perfect way to do that?
Presumably there are many international companies offering internships which would accept candidates with little or no Chinese Language skills?
There is nothing to worry about an internship in china. if you really have an aim to be there as an intern then all your hard work will work for you.
we can provides tailor-made internship programs in China. we assure you will gain unique and positive work experience, learning Chinese language and tasting Chinese culture. If you’re interested in the internship program, please contact us. My msn: internshipqd@hotmail.com
I would like to do intern in China in agriculture aspect, Any help here?
An internship in China is really helpful to enhance our CV in today’s tough economic times. Especially if its a paid one. I found the internships positions offered by Go Abroad China really interesting http://www.goabroadchina.org/
If you are looking for an Internship in China, you can contact us at Tic Two via our website at http://www.tictwo.com
We have over five years of international recruitment experience, an extensive knowledge and experience of Chinese business practice and a strong professional network.
This, complimented with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable team on the ground helps to ensure that you are able to make the most of your internship in China.
Our company is a large import and export company in Yiwu, Zhejiang China. With the improvement of our business, now we are looking for 2 young adults working here, we provide free apartment for you and other requirement we can talk about. Yiwu is an international city for small commodities , here you can make friends with people all over the world and learn how to do business with them, If you are interested pls contact Kyle Wong .My email is kylepa@sina.com
A intership abroad agency is very helpful to get an intership. I have a wonderful intern program in china with Go Abroad China.
A number of things contributed to making my internship such a fantastic experience. First of all, as I chose the home stay option, I was living with a Chinese family in a typical Beijing apartment. The family was very kind and provided assistance to me where they could. Secondly, the internship position itself and the company I worked for were excellent. For the first time since starting my studies I was able to get real-world, hands-on experience applying my knowledge, and I got to learn a lot of new stuff along the way. Thirdly, the other employees at my work were great people who really enriched my experience.
I initially discovered GAC simply because they were one of the few overseas agencies to offer an internship program in my discipline. After browsing their website for an hour or so it became apparent to me that GAC was an extremely professional organization that has a clear understanding of student needs. Then I proceeded to contact a representative of the company. All of my questions were promptly answered, and the process for applying for the internship program was clearly explained.
Prior to coming to China I did not speak any Chinese at all, and naturally this makes life a little bit difficult, especially when trying to get directions or order food at restaurants. However, the program coordinator’s service was extremely good. They were extremely friendly and helpful, and made the transition to Beijing life much easier than it would otherwise have been. I will recommend this program as it provides a very unique and rewarding experience, and is provided by a very professional and helpful organization. Choosing GAC for my internship has been an excellent decision, and I have not regretted it for a moment.
Hello everyone,
I had a very bad experience with GoAboradChina (GAC) and I’d like to share my experience to enable you to make the most suitable choice. http://www.goabroadchina.org/
First of all, I want to say that I meet other participants of the program and it seems that for some of them things worked out fine.
What happened to me?
I paid around $6,500 while applying for internship/accommodation with Chinese host/visa. All for a duration of 22 weeks(~6month). Internship should have been from Aug 2014 until Jan 2015. 2,5 month after official internship start, in Oct 2014 I asked for a refund, since it was already 2,5 month behind schedule without any result. After countless discussions I finally got a refund of 40%, which I had to fight hard for until the beginning of February 2015.
Result:
Wasted time, money and no internship. No further compensation besides the 40% refund.
If we look at the numbers:
August until mid-October ->2,5 month out of 6
For those 2,5month, I had accommodation(GAC paid my host around 160 USD/month), visa(I was told by GAC $200), no internship
Got a refund of 40% of total amount. GAC earned around 3,900 USD or 60% for doing not even 1/3 of their job.
Now let’s get to a list of facts:
1. Applied in February 2014, stating my internship should start at the beginning of August 2014.
– Internship never started. I got 5 offers, from which I declined 2. The other 3 were withdrawn by GAC themselves after I already accepted them.
2. Information is not taken seriously/my placement requirements ignored
– I wrote in my application about my requirements for the company. NONE of the offers I got from GAC did match them, even after expanding my suitable areas of work, they did not even come close to what they promised at the beginning.
Maybe my requirements were just too difficult, so check for yourself what I asked for:
“big” companies -> one company had around 20 employees
“international” -> from all employees, only one could speak English(the salesman)/I would have been the only foreigner(international also includes business with other countries, but that’s again another story)
“wind power” -> got offers from in a car factory(no, they did not have a wind farm or anything related. It was seriously just about cars and manufacturing them)
“in Shanghai” -> 2/5 offers have been in Beijing
At the end, I still accepted 3/5 offers, even if not suitable(but GAC canceled them later on)
I checked some of the companies out by myself, including a visit and a personal talk with the responsible managers(GAC did not know about this. I took the initiative with the help of a friend.)
– I informed GAC detailed about travel plans I had a week before and asked to avoid that time getting in touch with me before August. During my travels I receive emails why I don’t reply fast(it was within one day!) and that she has no idea where I am right now. Next time I should reply faster, is what she said.
3. being limited taking opportunities
It is easy to get a well-paid part time job in China as a English teacher. Since I already lived in China, I even had the right connections to do so even more easy in a very pleasing environment. After beginning of August and no internship, I was always told “we focus with all our resources on finding a suitable position for you. Don’t worry. We promise you will hear from us very soon”
So, I expected to get notified within the next few days, which would have forced me to suddenly quit my teaching job and possibly took this opportunity from me in the future. I waited 2,5 month until I asked for refund…
4. Took me for a fool – paying for unrequested services
– Few days after beginning of August, when my internship should already have started, I got a email “…Meanwhile, we prepared Chinese classes for you.” I was naĂŻve to think that this might be a compensating offer for the delay caused by GAC. I had to pay every single class.(I was stupid not to ask directly if it’s free of charge~ My fault.)
– I was told in “my folder” I have ordered services like “pick and drop at airport”/”Chinese classes”/”certificate”/”24 hour costumer service”
Facts like I never arrived at the airport, was never dropped anywhere either, certificate was never written, Chinese classes+24 hour service namely excluded on my application form, were all not convincing enough for them to not charge me. Even their own offer of 24 hour service/certificate is, to quote: “free of charge” seems to have a different meaning to GAC than to me.
4.1 monthly stipend / scholarship
Before the program, I asked for the frame of the monthly payment. I was told average is around 2.500 RMB/month, highest so far can go up to 5.000RMB/month or more.
Strangely, all my offers where the price was mentioned I was told to get 1000RMB/month.
I know, statistics suck…
5. The contact slowed down dramatically.
At first, the emails and skype msg were replied swiftly. After I paid the money, it slowed down. Waiting for around a week for a reply became more frequent. After requesting the refund, the waiting time increased even more, if the questions were answered at all.
If I only count the times I needed to wait for 4 or MORE days, I sum up more than 135 of pure waiting for replies! I have to note that I replied every email within 24hours, since I check them frequently and the whole thing anyway was very urgent after I couldn’t start in August.
6. Wasting time on unnecessary things
– Emails are most of the time(not always) friendly. Questions vary from how is the weather today or statements “its getting colder. You should wear more clothes”. That is fine, but my MS Word is telling me, that we exchanged over 25.000 words. That’s a ridiculous amount. We exchanged over 130 Emails.
While on the other hands, “difficult” questions being ignored or not answered at all.
– I got an internship by myself. In a conversation about the refund, I happened to mention “I am still in the office”. Immediately questions being asked which company? I didn’t answer, since the highest priority was getting my money back. Not for GAC. In the upcoming emails I was continuously asked about information of my company(my guess, to get a new partnership for upcoming business opportunities)
7. paypal/refund
Maximizing profit. That’s the goal of every company, so I can’t really blame them, but it’s just the way they do it which sucks for you as a costumer.
– Like already mentioned, they charged me for everything possible. Besides the above mentioned, there happened the other thing with the refund. They said something like “…normally the costumer have to take care of all transaction related costs, but in this case we will cover them.” Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Here they also asked about a paypal or Chinese Bank account.
If I receive money on paypal, paypal with deduct 2,9% as charge, while sending money, nothing happens(that method was btw. never mentioned when I needed to pay for the program at the beginning, but suddenly it became an option. Guess why?)
I asked if they would cover for the 2,9% charge, since it is an transaction fee. Suddenly, it could not be covered by GAC anymore. They did not explain why.
It had to be a Chinese Bank account. Foreign accounts were not an option. The money should have been transferred in RMB only. They said their bank account can not transfer anything, but RMB only(strange that I could only pay in USD. I even offered to pay in cash in Shanghai, since I anyway already lived in China before the internship. I offered both, USD and RMB. Both not possible.)
So they still said, they will cover transaction fees(I didn’t get answers why paypals transaction fee wasn’t covered). As far as I know, the transaction fee from a Chinese Bank account to another Chinese Bank account in RMB has NO CHARGES anyway. So the seemingly nice offer turned out like this.
I opened a new Bank account at China Construction Bank(one of the biggest Banks in China), made a picture of my bank details which I got as a printed version from the bank and sent it to GAC. “Your money has been returned to our account. Do you have a friend where we can transfer it to?” Also, no reason why the money could not have sent to my account.
8. more bad references from other people doing business with GAC
While joining two weekend activities(which have been pleasing), I also got it touch with other members of the program. I found out that a former costumer had a similar problem like me.
Huge delay, no internship, small refund, with the only difference that he took a lawyer with him. So, I was not the first, and possibly not the last.
8. Refund negotiations
First, they mentioned: “Only internship was not delivered. This covers not even 14% of the total program fee.”
After dozens of emails, in which I have simply be quoting on GAC’s previous emails, we got up to 35% refund. Since for the duration and things delivered, I did not even get 1/3 of everything which was btw. “promised”. I asked therefore for 70% refund(I didn’t even start to ask for compensation of my wasted time and my time problems I was in with my own university, since I didn’t return with the REQUIRED internship). Still, 70% sounded reasonable for me and for GAC’s services. While saying that, I was laughed at. Being asked afterwards, if we can’t find a more accommodating offer. I said “Ok, so lets meet in the middle of 35% and 70%” In easy math, that’s 52,5% refund. Later on, I was told the manager does not give more than the offered 35%, nevertheless my contact person said: “I will give you 40% and take responsibility for it” How much truth is in here, I don’t know, but I know for sure that those 5% will show up in the book if there is proper accounting going on. If it was a way to try to calm me down and make me accept only 40%, I can only guess.
I pay attention to details and exact statements. I have a well-structured record of the whole process with GAC and hour over 100 emails. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me anytime over p.kuehne@gmx.de
For the search engines:
GoAboradChina, cheater, bad experience, fraud, useful review, GAC, internship, study, travel, volunteer, internship placement, maximum profit orientated, horrible refund, internship in China, bad service, no internship
It is definitely correct that the internet is one of the best places to find a suitable internship in China. SII offers premium internships in Chengdu, one of the world’s fastest growing cities. SII provides interns with a variety of options for work, and plenty of ways to dive right into the Chinese economy. In addition, Chengdu is also one of the top tourist destinations, near places like the panda research base, JiuZhaiGou, and DuJianYan.