The biggest challenge for foreign professionals working in China will be the competition with other foreigners who have developed several skills. (Photo : Getty Images)
Foreign graduates who acquire a master’s degree or above at a Chinese university or a renowned foreign university even can now get a work permit and visa in China--with or without experience.
In a report by the Global Times, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Education have jointly issued a guideline, allowing such provided the foreign students fulfill some basic conditions, such as having an academic average of at least 80 or B level.
This new policy is good news to young foreign students because, in the past, foreign students had to have two years’ work experience to work in China.
“I think this new policy will help encourage more foreigners in China, especially young people like me,” said Siti Anuar, a freshman who hails from Malaysia.
When it comes to salary, the 2017 Asia Salary and Employment Outlook survey released by international recruitment consultancy Michael Page in December revealed that nearly half or 48 percent of the surveyed companies on the Chinese mainland plan to increase their staff in 2017.
In the next 12 months, 45 percent expect to offer a 6 percent to 10 percent salary increase.
The survey interviewed around 1,000 employers from different industries on the mainland.
So if you’re into financial technology, social media (social media manager, chief marketing officer, digital marketing officer), e-commerce, and digital sectors, there is a higher chance of being hired in China as there is a great shortage of experienced people in these areas.
“Particularly those with Internet, digital, e-commerce, and online marketing operation skills, and we will still see salary increases in those areas,” said Brett Rose, head of the Shanghai Office of Robert Walters China.
In the past several years, China has made it difficult for some foreigners to land a job in some industries due to its thriving economy.
But with Chinese government transition to a leading high-tech economy, it resulted in the accelerated hiring of skilled e-commerce and technology workers.
However, the biggest challenge for foreign professionals working in China will be the competition with other foreigners who have developed several skills such as those who speak fluent Chinese or well-versed with international politics.
Some international businesses prefer hiring people who know different languages, especially Chinese.
Since October last year, the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) has launched a new pilot work permit policy and has been in place in Beijing, Shanghai, and other selected areas.
The new policy classifies foreign workers into categories A, B, or C based on their profession, level of education, work experience and so forth.
It will be officially launched in the whole country on April 1.
