On 12th July, AOE conducted a livestream session with the topic: "How to Remain in China After Graduation?"

In this session, we talked about the different ways for internationsl students to remain in China after graduation, in terms of visa extension & job application etc.

Here are some abstracts from the livestream:

China is a rapidly growing country with unlimited opportunities. Every year, thousands of international students study in China and wish to remain in China upon completion of their degrees. Today, we will talk about ways that international students can find jobs in China as well as some of the legal requirements.

First, let’s begin by understanding the requirement for obtaining a work visa in China. It is stated by the China’s immigration bureau that foreign nationals must have at least a bachelor’s degree, and two years of relevant work experience, whether in China or abroad. However, recent policies have been amended in favour of those with high skills. The new regulation states that those with master’s degree from a Chinese university or a recognized foreign school can apply for a work visa in China directly without having two years work experience.

Second, it is important to know that companies must have a foreign expert certification as well as the relevant documentations in order to hire foreign employees legally within China. Failure to obtain the legal documents may not only result in fines in the company, but also cause immigration trouble and fines for the foreign nationals in the company. So do check with that company if they are legally allowed to hire you when you work for them.

Now, let’s talk about how to increase your chance to getting a job in China.

First, get a master’s degree from a Chinese university. According to the policy that I just stated, you can degree a master’s degree from any universities in China, regardless of the ranking, in order to apply for a job in China directly without having two years of work experience. And a higher degree would also make you more favourable in the job market, because employers in China generally prefer those with a higher degree.

Second, learn Chinese skills. Since you are trying to work in China, you should be aware that Chinese is the official language in the whole country, including at your work police. 90% of the companies in China are straight local companies and most of the employers do not understand English. Having Chinese skills will facilitate your communication with your coworkers as well as the management. Of course, there are also many other big global companies in China, such as PwC, Bain and Company, Standard Chartered, and Citibank. However, even if you work at those companies, you will most likely be dealing with Chinese clients and coworkers, and some important meetings may also be conducted in Chinese. And you can improve your Chinese skills by watching Chinese videos, going to more Chinese speaking events, and making more Chinese friends. And if you pass HSK from level 1 to 6, your Chinese skills will indeed be solid enough for your workplace.

Third, find a job related to your field. If you are sure what field you are interested in working in, you can choose a major closely related to that field. Jobs such as computer programming and car manufacturing would require knowledge in specific majors. And China is in fact in shortage of skilled labors in the tech industry, so if you are enrolled in a tech major, you can become a highly wanted person in the job market. If you are not sure about your job options upon graduation, you can choose a general major. Business is a very good option in that case, because with a business degree, you can find jobs in different field, such as marketing and finance, and business skills are also needed in companies from different fields, such as Microsoft which is an IT company, Bank of China which is a financial institution, and Prologis, which is a global logistics company.

Fourth, build your professional networking. When you are still studying in university, you should attend professional meet ups and conferences to get to know more people who are extremely achievable in your field. They may have lots of influences in that field, and can connect you with different companies, offer you resources, and ultimately help you find the job you want. Social media groups are also important, because many job opportunities may be posted in Wechat or Facebook groups by respective employers. Also join the alumni networking in your university, because these alumni can also be equally helpful for you.

And guys, if you are still hesitating about studying in China, or worried about finding a job in China, you can contact us directly. We have helped numerous international students apply for schools, obtain scholarship, and solve visa difficulties, and they are extremely satisfied with our services. You can also check our previous videos and live sessions to understand some of the issues with regards to international students enrollment in Chinese universities. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.