What jobs can you do that make use of Chinese?

[Erbse]

As previously mentioned, Chinese by itself is not worth much. As far as I understand it, you need some primary skill, for example management or whatever and Chinese as an extra skill can improve your salary further.

[msittig]

In your home country:

+ Interpreter in a courthouse or hospital

+ Work at a state or local chamber of commerce

+ Tour guide

[cui ruide]

I've been an English editor (video games) almost a year in a company, and did a bit of freelance polishing before that (media consultant). There are lots of these types of positions in various fields, especially English versions of newspapers and magazines. For now, most English translation is still carried out by Chinese translators, so the product is not perfect. Text to be edited is usually accompanied by the source Chinese for comparison. Depending on the skill of the translators, you might even need to re-translate. Sometimes you also need to interact with the Chinese translator team in order to better understand the meaning of something (in Chinese). Sometimes you instruct/advise translators. So despite working primarily with English, you do a lot with Chinese as well.

[Liebkuchen]

Thank you to everyone for your suggestions!

I like the idea of using Chinese back in the UK, particularly Scotland- so the tour guide or business translation/consultant role might be ways to go. There's not much call for Chinese in the courts or public sector- and even with the UK Chinese community, Cantonese is the community language because of Hong Kong.

As for out in China, again UK/China business or editing work sound interesting.

For me, the big thing is that there are plenty of different fields where I could use Chinese/English and cultural knowledge of the two without becoming an academic or class teaching. It means I can go ahead and learn the language for its own sake without having one eye on forcing myself down one narrow avenue like literature unless I develop a genuine interest in the subject.

I shall now relax, read my books in translation and wait it out until June when I find out in SWUFE will give me a tuition only scholarship (fingers and toes crossed)!!

[roddy]

Here's another one I hadn't though of - although to be honest I'd last about five minutes:

"Stores such as Burberry and Selfridges now have Chinese speaking staff assistants to cater to the huge number of Chinese customers," said Jonathan De Mello, a retail analyst at the CB Richard Ellis consultancy. "Chinese workers take their holidays at the same time. They come here on tour groups, everything is done for them. They are taken to shops in the West End where they feel obliged to buy something. It's very lucrative for both sides. They are the new Japanese."

De Mello said shoppers from mainland China and Hong Kong account for about 30% of the luxury goods market in Britain . . .

From

[889]

The Economist covered this in more detail last year.

http://www.economist.com/node/17722582

http://www.economist.com/blogs/bagehot/2010/12/chinese_tourism_britain

But before you sign up as a tour guide, note the warning from Mr. Zhou, a Paris travel agency operator, who "admits that Chinese travellers are 'hard work,' not like the 'disciplined' Japanese."

[Lu]

In my experience, jobs you need Chinese for are rare on job-searching websites. You need a network, be it on linkedin or though a university (my uni has an alumni network that mostly consists on someone in the university sending any Chinese-related job openings through a mailing list, this is how I found two of my former jobs).

Jobs I have done or know of people doing:

- translator and interpreter of literature, news, for cultural events, the court...

- working at the Chinese library in your country or vice versa

- working at embassy/representative office of China/Taiwan to your country or vice versa

- teaching or working for educational institutions (university, cram school...)

- journalism

- the intelligence service (they do need people who know Chinese)

- working for a Chinese company in your home country, or vice versa

- working for an organisation like Amnesty

- working your way up from foreigner no. 3 to a real speaking role

- Roddy's suggestion about the arts is also good

- starting your own company for 'consultion' about China

- starting your own company and import/export stuff from/to China

[FaustianSlip]

It really depends on what your interests and/or qualifications are beyond Chinese. There's always the Foreign Service; don't know about the Brits, but the U.S. places a premium on people who come in with Mandarin because of China's growing importance. Tour guide type stuff, business, consulting of one kind or another for a company, NGO work... there are a lot of options. I'm currently learning Mandarin for a job, so I don't have a lot of experience with the job market in China or Taiwan, but previous experience in Japan indicated that people who really polished their Japanese and took the time to get really good could walk into jobs for which they might be lacking some other (relatively minor) qualification because language and cultural understanding were bigger priorities. A lot of people over there had passable Japanese, but if you had Japanese that was a cut above, were prepared to network and a bit of a go-getter, you could do very well for yourself (bonus points if you had some kind of documentation of your language level, like the JLPT, but even that wasn't always necessary). I wouldn't be surprised if China was similar in that regard.

[Neil_H]

I have been thinking about this sort of thing. Not so much in the way of finding a job where I can learn more Mandarin but using what I have learnt (and am learning) to give me a specialist skill set.

I am an IT Manager working in a financial company with over 17 years of IT experience. My skillsets cover a wide range of areas including the technical side of the job along with budgets, project management, staff management, supplier and contract negotiation and so on.

I have a young family so don’t wish to move to China but with my ties to China through my Chinese wife the opportunity to go there more often or be involved in a company that has strong ties with China would be very interesting and help with providing a genuine goal for continuing to improve my Mandarin skills.

There is nothing really advertised on job sites in the UK. I would have thought having Mandarin down as a skill was something that would be very valuable in the future if not now for western companies.

Does China have a large amount of IT skills already in house or are there shortages like in the UK?

I suppose I would either need a company in the UK that is part of a Chinese company or a company in China that requires my sort of skills.

[yersi]

.

[travelgirl]

Supposing that someone speaks very well chinese without being native speaker and not having a Bachelor degree,what kind of job could he or she find?

[The BLCU Blog]

@travelgirl Teaching English would be an obvious choice. The money's good as well.

[travelgirl]

thank you very much for your answer.Obviously in China is a good choice. but i was also wondering what could sb do outside China and his own country,using chinese.Teaching chinese or translating for example?!but i m afraid that people would normally prefer chinese people

[skylee]

@travelgirl, "tour guide" in #22 is a very good (realistic and practicable) suggestion. I have come across many local tour guides in Europe who spoke very fluent Japanese / Mandarin leading Japanese / Mainland / Taiwan tour groups (though it seems to me that the tour guides could not answer the tourists' questions in Mandarin as fluently as when they introduced the place).

[titan]

does anyone know about working for international companies based in china?

im currently based in shanghai and was looking for a list of companies that speak mainly english. or more specifically, international engineering companies. ive tried to find a list of them, but without success. im looking for work experience/internships but i only know of a few companies that have international offices throughout the world.

[jbradfor]

There are very few international companies based in China. [by "international" I mean sell to many other countries, not just one or two.] Haier and Huawei come to mind, but not many others.

You might have better luck with non-Chinese global companies that have a presence in China.

[Gibbs]

My Company is a Chinese company, but 98% of our customers are from the US, EU, and Austrailia so our communications is all in English. We are currently offering internship opportunities. If you are interested, my contact info is below.

Internship Opportunity in China

Are you interested in gaining experience in the fastest growing economy in the world?

• Experience Chinese business and office culture.
  
• Experience daily life living in China.
  
• Learn about the investment casting industry and manufacturing process.
  

I: Company

Amos Qingdao Hainel is an professional investment casting company and metal foundry in Qingdao, China. The factory has over 500 employees and specializes in producing parts and components using stainless steel, aluminum, and copper alloys. 98% of our customers are from the European Union and the United States. We supply many large manufacturers with metal parts such as pump parts, valves, couplings, automobile parts, food machinery parts, architectural hardware, marine parts and sporting equipment.

II. Program Introduction

We are offering a 12 week paid internship (2,000 RMB every 4 weeks) where you will work at our sales office in Qingdao's Economic & Technological Development Area. In the office you will learn about international trade, custom requirements, the Chinese office environment, and Chinese business culture. You will also have ample opportunities to visit and study our production line at our factory in Qingdao's Jiaonan district. Here, you will see first hand how many of the products you buy are made and you will gain great insight into the investment casting industry. We frequently have foreign customers visit our factory to discuss business opportunities. You will have the opportunity to sit in on these meetings and learn how a Chinese business meeting is conducted.

Unlike many other internship opportunities in China, we are not an agency. You will be working with us in the office and because we are a manufacturer, you will also have the unique opportunity to visit and study at a large manufacturing facility. Access to the factory will make your office work that much more rewarding because when you describe the process to potential customers, or relay communications from the engineers to the customers, you are not regurgitating memorized marketing material. You will be able to recall what you saw in the factory and which piece of equipment has what type of capabilities. This will make the learning process easier and more enjoyable.

You will be required to work Monday to Friday from 8am to 5:30pm with 1.5hr break for lunch. If a foreign customer is visiting our factory, a business meeting may run late or include a business dinner but on average, you can plan on leaving the office at 5:30. Office dress in China is less formal than in the west. Our office dress code is casual。Jeans and a collared shirt for the boys is perfectly acceptable, girls can also wear jeans and comfortable, business appropriate clothing. Clothes dryers are rare in China so it is recommended you bring clothes that can be easily hung dry. Dry cleaning service is available but the prices are relatively higher than in the west. If you will be visiting the factory, please dress appropriately. Safety is paramount at the manufacturing facility. The factory includes a metal foundry so comfortable shoes and appropriate dress for the climate is required.

III. Daily Life and Housing

For some, daily life in China can take some getting used to. In this program, because you will be working with other interns and with our English speaking staff, we will be able to give you the guidance and support you need to make your time in China comfortable and enjoyable. Other internship programs in China, simply partner interns with local companies and that is where their service ends. Many times an intern will discover their job responsibility is simply to chat on Alibaba all day. In this program, you will learn to read a technical drawing, how to make production quotations, and how to explain the investment casting process clearly and intelligently to prospective customers. Perhaps most importantly, you will learn Chinese business culture including the numerous customs and traditions that are required when doing business in China. You will learn this by observing and experiencing it first-hand in real business situations.

You and other interns in the program will reside in a 314 sq. meter (3,379 sq. feet) 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom furnished apartment in a high rise apartment complex. All of the utilities are included in your program fee. You do not need to worry about dealing with the utility companies. We will manage all of these services for you. The apartment is in the new and modern Qingdao Economic & Technological Develop District. The apartment is within walking distance to many restaurants, a gym, bars, and large shopping centers. The large shopping center Mykal is on the same block as the apartment complex and the Jusco is across the street. Public transportation is very accessible and it is only a ten minute bus ride from the apartment to the office. You can also take a ten minute bus ride to Huangdao's beautiful Golden Sand Beach and a 30 minute bus ride to downtown Qingdao which also has many beautiful beaches and China's official Olympic sailing center.

The price for the 12 week program is:

Double room 21,850RMB

Single room (if available) 22,300RMB

This fee includes:

• 12 week internship in sales office and opportunities to visit and study at the factory.
  
• A shared room (single if available) in a furnished apartment
  
• Electricity, 24/7 hot water, Internet, heat/AC, 24/7 building security, television, kitchen gas, washing machine, dining room with table and chairs, refrigerator, and bedding.
  
• Welcome Pack (Mobile phone SIM card with 50RMB worth of prepaid minutes, map of Qingdao and Amos Qingdao Hainel employee contact information)
  
• Registering assistance at the Public Safety Bureau and help extending your visa if requested.
  

What the program fee does NOT include:

• Visa fee paid to Chinese embassy in your country
  
• Daily food expense
  
• Daily transportation expenses. (bus from the apartment to sales office is 1 RMB)
  
• 1,000 RMB Apartment deposit, which will be returned upon completion of the program if apartment is left undamaged.
  

Requirements:

Good health, English speaking, Microsoft Office proficient, business background, patient, and willing to learn.

Step 1: Email your CV / Resume to: hnyl@hainel-metal.com

Step 2: If approved, you will be invited to conduct a Skype interview where you will speak with Amos Qingdao Hainel’s office manager and a sales employee.

Step 3: After the Skype interview, if we feel you are an acceptable candidate, we will notify you of your acceptance into the program. At this time, you will be given our company's bank information. To secure your spot in the program you are required to wire 1000 RMB to our designated bank. Once you arrive, this 1000 RMB will be the deposit on your apartment. It will be returned to you upon completion of the program if the apartment is left undamaged. *Please note: wiring funds to China often requires a wire transfer fee. This fee varies by country and by bank. Please make sure you wire enough money to cover the bank fee. A total of 1000 RMB must arrive at Amos Qingdao Hainel's bank.

Step 4: We will mail you an invitation letter. You must take this invitation letter along with your actual passport with at least six months validity, one F Visa application form, and passport photos 2"x2" with white background, to the Chinese embassy in your country. Please visit the Chinese Embassy website in your country because some countries have different requirements. In America, you can use a Visa service such as My China Visa (www.mychinavisa.com ) or Visa Rite (www.visarite.com)

Step 5：A week before your scheduled arrival date we will require your initial program payment of 10,000RMB. Since your visa will be sponsored by Amos Qingdao Hainel, we must ask you pay this amount before you arrive. We must do this as a safety precaution so people do not use this sponsored visa to travel around China or conduct other business. If this payment is not received before your arrival, we will revoke the visa sponsorship.

Step 6: Once your passport has the necessary F visa, fly to Qingdao's airport where an Amos Qingdao Hainel employee will pick you up and provide you with a welcome package including a SIM card for your cell phone with 50RMB worth of prepaid minutes, a map of Qingdao, and contact information to Amos Qingdao Hainel's employees.

Step 7: From the airport, you will be taken to the apartment where you can unpack, relax, meet your roommates and other members in the internship program. You will be given two days to rest, get over the jet lag and familiarize yourself with your immediate surroundings. During this time a Amos Qingdao Hainel employee will take you out to dinner and show you where to get on and off the bus so you can report to the sales office.

Step 8: Report to the sales office where you will be introduced to your co-workers and your learning experience will begin. The remainder of the 12 week program fee will be due at this time. At the end of every 4 week period, you will receive a salary of 2,000 RMB.

Best Regards

Ryan

AMOS QINGDAO HAINEL CO,.LTD

Factory Add: #889 Lingang 8 Rd, Jiaonan Lingang Industrial Park

Qingdao city, Shandong , P.R.China 266400

Sales Tel: 0086 532 86973911

Sales Fax: 0086 532 86973915 or 0086 532 81731087

Website: http://www.hainel-metal.com

E-mail:hnyl@hainel-metal.com

Edited January 31, 2012 at 03:09 AM by Gibbs

[jasoninchina]

@ Gibbs You're my Chinese hero!

[Ivan Zimmer]

This is an intersting topic.

I have a B.A. in Chinese Literature from National Chung Kung University in Taiwan.

I also have an M.A. in Teaching Chinese as a Second/Foreign Language from National Kaohsiung Normal University in Taiwan. I have also lived in the Chinese speaking world for 18 years.

The kicker is that I am not a native speaker of Chinese. I am in fact American.

Ostensibly I should be a Chinese Teacher, but I have reservations that any hiring authority will refuse to accept my application out of hand becuase I am not a native speaker, do not hold a US accredited degree and have no military experience or multi-national corporation experience.

I've heard one needs to meet all of these qualifications in order to even be considered for ANY position using Chinese, plus one needs to be certified at ILR 4+~5 (Interagency language roundtable) to even be considered moderatly "fluent".

In addition to this, I've heard that translators need to be able to translate equally proficiently in both Chinese/English no matter their native language and that translators must produce documents which must be considered exemplary specimens of excellent writing plus the translator must be able to translate at about 300WPM bare minimum.

Even then I've heard that the translator or teacher could only hope to make about $20,000 US per year, no benifits. I've also heard that the Federal government lies about benifits and will not really provide any benifits for the worker or his family!

I've also seen that all job adds for Chinese teachers and translators are only part time and temporary.

Another thing I've heard is that the turnover rate for Chinese teachers and translators high. They (goverment and private enterprise) change people every couple of weeks to couple of months, then fire people with no advanced notice and moreover will not provide letters of recomendation under any circumstances.

If there is anybody on this forum with experience in these areas? I would thank you in advance if you could clarify these issues for me.

As far as I know, any non-native who can speak (read, write, listen, take diction and translate) at any level no matter how high are only qualified to teach English in cram-schools or private universities in either Taiwan or China proper. One may never teach at public school as one must be a citizen of the PRC or ROC.

Thanks again for any replies.

It is kind of funny though. I've met professors of Chinese from some famou US universities here in Taiwan who can barely converse in Chinese. Go figure...

[Ivan Zimmer]

Oh, by the way. I know the tranlation at 300WPM is a biy wierd, after all who can type that fast let alone translate?

Still, I just heard it. Any super-skilled translator wish to comment?