The internship is a good chance to exercise students’ theoretical knowledge learned in university. Many students, long to make full use of these internship opportunities to improve their practical competence. Especially international students have a strong desire to get an internship. In this article, we will guide you on how to find an internship in China. 

1. The internet

You can search for internships on the internet, looking through internship information on many of China’s recruiting websites, like 51jobs, Zhaopin, or direct search in each search engine, you will get many internship information. You can contact the company HR and talk to them about your internship job.

What's more, you can use the HiyaTalent website of CUCAS, HiyaTalent is an online employment solution platform providing career opportunities for foreign job seekers in China. HiyaTalent releases recruitment information and provides customized and professional information services for foreign job seekers.

2. Internship and career fairs

During the academic year, the majority of college consortiums or colleges offer a minimum of one career fair which usually focuses on internships. Even though you may be looking for an internship in a specific geographic location, make sure to never miss going to the fairs where you can easily network with various recruiters. The majority of organizations have many offices, so even if you do change your mind later on, you can easily get in touch with them

3. Your university

Your school is one of the first points of contact to consider when looking for an internship in China. University will provide some internships and hold large job fairs for students if some big companies have an agreement with universities about internships, generally, the students who can meet the demands of the company will be recommended by universities and offered a good internship.

4. Visit some companies by yourself.

If you are an MBBS graduate, you can contact HR in some hospitals, you can give your CV to the people who are in charge of recruiting doctors, thus you will win great opportunities to get an internship.

5. Third-party internship providers

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 finding a good placement service will cost you some bucks. 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 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.

6. Other ways to look for internships: books and periodicals

There are many other ways to find an internship in China and one of them is the annual directories of internships. Checking out newspapers and trade magazines for your career field or major can also help you find an internship. On the other hand, it's also a good idea to check out your college library, since they may already have subscriptions to these publications where you could find vital info regarding internship programs.

How to choose an honest and capable agency?

l  Regarding a credit transfer, make sure the beneficiary is the company that runs the agency. As far as Paypal goes, ask for an invoice before paying and make sure the recipient of the funds is the same company that runs the agency.

l  Make sure you’re dealing with a Limited Company, not Mr. Wei Chen, Mr. Pang Zhou, or Mr. Furio Fu (fictional names).

l  Take a look at the agency’s website. Does it seem serious and up to date? Is the name of the company that runs the website visible?

l  Does the agency require you to pay right away or submit you to an interview in English? Because if you speak neither English nor Chinese, no serious agency would consider your candidacy.

l  Moreover, before accepting you as a client, the agency should verify your professional credentials. Let me explain: If you want to do an internship in a financial firm with headquarters in Shanghai, at the very least you should be majoring in economics. If you’ve been studying physiotherapy, the agency should turn you down.

What is the benefit of an internship in China?

1. China’s economy is booming, which also means that having this China internship on your resume will impress potential future employers. Doing an internship program in China opens so many doors for you. It will improve your resume, but it will also teach you new skills that you would never be able to learn anywhere else.

2. Networking and personal growth! On top of gaining knowledge and experience comes the fact that you’ll have the ability to build up your network and develop your understanding of international opportunities. Building your network in any given situation will improve your future job chances, but it’s quite an asset to have a network in China. Your China summer internship or industrial placements and the network it creates might land you a job opportunity in the future since China’s influence is only growing.

3. It is a paid internship too! China is especially a good place for your paid internships; you’ll be able to see the beautiful country and experience the ancient and modern culture up close. Visiting China is a unique experience that you won’t be able to recreate anywhere else, which is why you shouldn’t skip this opportunity.

Best times to intern in China

You may think that there are still years, months and weeks to the start of your China internship program so you are hesitant to get started, last-minute arrangements lead to anxiety.

Summer internships in China normally start around late May till September every year. Huge multinational companies open summer applications from April. It is best to begin summer placements around May. The summer internships are very unique and an opportunity to explore.

Winter internships hosted in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen are at the heart of Chinese culture. The Chinese New Year festival is celebrated around February. Applicants looking for winter internships should start submissions around September.

Spring and Fall internships though not as popular as above, preparations are ideal and we always advise students and graduates looking for internship jobs to begin at least 3 months ahead.

Top Reasons to Intern in China

l  Experience a unique culture

l  The Chinese economy is booming

l  Make new contacts

l  Gain work experience perfect to boost your CV/resume

l  Improve your language skills

l  Meet new people from all over the world

l  Impress future employers

l  A great way to spend a productive gap year in China

l  Some intern programs lead to full-time jobs in China

In today’s increasingly interconnected world, an internship in China has never been more at your fingertips than it is today. You have a great opportunity to learn an incredibly rewarding language and culture whilst working, expanding your social networks, and building ties between East and West. Interning in an amazing city like Beijing, Shenzhen or Shanghai can prove a life-changing experience, one which will certainly secure prospects to work permanently in the country should you seek it. Try something new and exciting, intern in China, the opportunities are just waiting for you!