Student to Student

Work in the Middle Kingdom

Internships in China for Students

By Christopher Moore
Resources updated 11/26/2023 by Transitions Abroad

The famous Shanghai skyline.

Adding work on top of study experience abroad demonstrates to employers that one can function professionally in a foreign environment. An overseas job can be the stepping stone to a life of foreign work and adventure.

At the very least, it will be an exciting time of learning and challenge. (For a comprehensive compilation of information and advice on paid and unpaid jobs as well as internships abroad for students and recent graduates, see the Internships Abroad section of the site.)

My job destination was China. As it has full membership in the World Trade Organization, China offers the student or recent graduate a wealth of possibilities to gain international work experience.

Many positions in multinational organizations in China do not require a knowledge of the language, though many of the internship programs do include Chinese classes and immersion (see programs below) as part of the experience. In addition, many opportunities for English teachers, writers, and editors are advertised in publications targeted at the foreign community in China.

I recently saw the following statement on a Chinese website: “There are more English speakers in China than in America.” True or not, there are many Chinese who speak English and still many more who want to learn.

Apart from the plethora of huge commercial directory databases, one of the best places to start a job search in China is at the American Chamber of Commerce. Here you can network and find out about job availability throughout the country (the Chamber also offers its own internships). You can order the Chamber’s directory of companies in China that employ foreigners and possibly nail down an internship before you leave the U.S. (see below).

How I Found an Internship in China

I went to my adviser and announced my plan to intern in Beijing. What kind of academic credit, if any, could I get?

Surprisingly, my adviser accepted this vague proposal without questioning how I would implement it. Now the pressure was on me: I had to go to Beijing and find an internship. When I arrived in Beijing I looked for jobs advertised in the local expat publications to get a feel for the job market and contacted whomever I could think of for possible leads. I looked at internet sites for promising openings; I went to the Chamber of Commerce and looked through their directory of U.S. companies operating in China; I made a list of potential employers in which I was interested and contacted the most attractive ones — whether they had advertised openings or not. Then I sent cover letters and resumes to the eight organizations I especially liked. From these first contacts I obtained five interviews and in the end I had four offers to choose from. At first I worked in the market research division of Unisono, a Dutch company whose focus is the Chinese marketplace. I am now interning with UNESCO in Beijing.

Living and working in China and taking part in its daily life is exhilarating. I enjoy the Chinese and love the expatriate environment, which permits one to get to know and make friends with people from around the world.

How You Can Find an Internship

All you need is a resume, a positive attitude, and appropriate work clothes. Be prepared with these necessities and you’ll lose no time. I have talked with many student interns in Beijing and can safely say that an internship can begin — if one searches diligently — within two to four weeks after arrival in China, if not before then give the many opportunities now available online.

Finding a position in China is similar to a job search anywhere. My experience has been concentrated in Beijing. But one could easily find similar possibilities in all business-oriented areas of China, such as bustling Shanghai.