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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Is Guandong's job market more open to non natives/non Europeans than Shanghai's or other regions
Hi, I have been in Shanghai for about 5 months and have found that it is quite difficult to get jobs and interviews because I don't have the proper passport, is it true that Guandong is more open to non First Wolders?
Regards,
Sorry OP but the question you ask is quite subjective.
As I can only speak of what I know from the city in which I reside, it appears that the general trend to only offer legal work to those from the "Big Five" countries is fairly common practice throughout this land. It is certainly the case where I live in Guangdong.
That said, the policy may differ in other cities which are less attractive to those intending to work in China.
My best advice would be to apply for jobs in different locations and see what their foreign affairs dept says but in the top tier cities it is likely to be problematic at best.
Sebastiano528:
I am not looking for a teaching job really. I want a professional job in my field, is just that I feel that there is discrimination according to where u come from in Shanghai, it is true that there are few companies from my country here... It seems Guandong can be more open since is a trading hub and has about 100 million population so lot of business is going on and thousands of companies related to international trade, is that right or might be the same in all China?
Hotwater:
As I said above. Your big problem for working in international trade in China is that there is a huge group of degree educated Chinese people who speak English. So you have lots of competition.
iWolf:
As my previous response was harmonised for being too explicit, I'll try again.
Mr Sebastion, I made no mention of teaching in my polite reply to your question. I understand that you may not wish to believe what I said but as mentioned, I am only relaying the information that I know from my city.
To reinterate, the policy here is that only those who are qualified (bachelor degree and no criminal record - see thread regarding authenticating documents too) and come from the Big Five countries may apply for a working type residence permit here. Those from other countries are currently being refused application. It happened to a good friend of mine who had several previous work permits because he wasn't from one of those countries.
As Mr Hotwater said, you have a shot should you have a skill that no chinese possess.
It all depends on the job you are applying for.
If you're trying to find an ESL English teaching job as a non-native then generally Guangdong is similar to Shanghai in that it is very difficult to get a work permit as a non-native speaker.
Sebastiano528:
no Teaching job, I am looking for a professional job in Marketing/Business fields
Hotwater:
Then your nationality shouldn't be that important. What is important is your educational background and work experience.
What do you have to offer that a Chinese person can't do? That's one of the main points around getting a job offer and work permit.
Sorry OP but the question you ask is quite subjective.
As I can only speak of what I know from the city in which I reside, it appears that the general trend to only offer legal work to those from the "Big Five" countries is fairly common practice throughout this land. It is certainly the case where I live in Guangdong.
That said, the policy may differ in other cities which are less attractive to those intending to work in China.
My best advice would be to apply for jobs in different locations and see what their foreign affairs dept says but in the top tier cities it is likely to be problematic at best.
Sebastiano528:
I am not looking for a teaching job really. I want a professional job in my field, is just that I feel that there is discrimination according to where u come from in Shanghai, it is true that there are few companies from my country here... It seems Guandong can be more open since is a trading hub and has about 100 million population so lot of business is going on and thousands of companies related to international trade, is that right or might be the same in all China?
Hotwater:
As I said above. Your big problem for working in international trade in China is that there is a huge group of degree educated Chinese people who speak English. So you have lots of competition.
iWolf:
As my previous response was harmonised for being too explicit, I'll try again.
Mr Sebastion, I made no mention of teaching in my polite reply to your question. I understand that you may not wish to believe what I said but as mentioned, I am only relaying the information that I know from my city.
To reinterate, the policy here is that only those who are qualified (bachelor degree and no criminal record - see thread regarding authenticating documents too) and come from the Big Five countries may apply for a working type residence permit here. Those from other countries are currently being refused application. It happened to a good friend of mine who had several previous work permits because he wasn't from one of those countries.
As Mr Hotwater said, you have a shot should you have a skill that no chinese possess.
open the gates
ScotsAlan:
Let one one in and they will all come? Is that not a typical Enoch Powel answer to the issues of the world?
philbravery:
actually i had the Mantua in mind when they opened the gate in the east that started the Qing dynasty . better a Mantua than a peasant on the throne. maybe to profound for you contemplate
been in Shanghai 5 months ?
on a visa ?
this should be good lol
According to China's State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs' latest rule released in September, non-native English speakers cannot be hired as English teachers without a degree from a native English speaking country proving their language proficiency.
The topic is now trending on social network platforms, including Reddit and Quora, drawing the attention of numerous foreigners living in China.
"Foreigners from non-native English speaking countries can no longer teach English in China at any level unless they have a bachelor degree or above from an English-speaking country plus two years' working experience in English language education," according to the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs' email reply to Metropolitan. "If a non-native English speaker majored in education, or has a teacher's certificate recognized by our administration, such as a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate, then the two years' work experience is not necessary," the administration said, emphasizing that "a bachelor degree or above is still a must."
In Marco's case, although he majored in education in the Philippines, has five years' experience teaching the English language, and a recently acquired the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certificate, he is now barred from legally teaching in China because he does not have a degree from an English-speaking country.
The administration issued the policy to attract more native English speakers with a qualified educational background to further improve China's English language education level, the administration explained.
According to a 2015 Chinese Business View report, many non-native English teachers failed an evaluation administered by a professional interpreter in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, due to their poor pronunciation. The report said a large amount of non-native English speakers are still working as English language teachers in second- and third-tier cities. The reason it said was that most native English speakers were reluctant to go to small cities, causing the quality of English language education in those areas to suffer.
Mu Yanwen, the founder and CEO of Boto Education, an English-language education institution based in Beijing, spoke of meeting an English teacher from Ukraine on his business trip to Shenyang, Liaoning Province in 2015. "When I asked him about his job, he told me that what he did in the school was 'just being white,'" said Mu. "He said his Caucasian face convinces the students' parents that the school offers professional English-language education, but his English was not that proficient."
Chinese people now demand better English-language education and they can judge whether an English teacher is qualified, according to Mu, who prefers to hire native English speakers that understand Western culture.
"The only non-native English speaking teacher I hired is from Germany. He got his English teaching degree in the US and teaches European history," he said.
Marco thinks it's a pity that a lot of qualified non-native English speakers cannot teach the language though they can educate well and have good classroom experience "I feel bad about it. But what else can we do? Well, I am hoping for the best. I hope there will be changes in policy in the future," Marco sa
Hotwater:
Good post Ironman related to English teaching.
Any info on regulations about nationality for non-teaching jobs. OP claims his background is not teaching but business.
Shining_brow:
SAFEA are idiots. (no, not sorry Icnif!)
The solution is incredibly easy - to someone who can think a bit. Which isn't whoever is in charge of SAFEA.
Teaching or language qualification (degree level) PLUS proven language level - eg, IELTS/TOEFL/PET. (obviously, this would instantly preclude about 95% or more of Chinese teachers...).
Shining_brow:
"According to a 2015 Chinese Business View report, many non-native English teachers failed an evaluation administered by a professional interpreter in Xi'an,"
I've also spoken to some 'professional interpreters' in China - I wouldn't hire them to teach English, let alone try to evaluate it...
icnif77:
icnif have never wrote about SAFEA's values considering the evaluation of FTs, whom they grant WP.
icnif told me, he had always positive experience with SAFEA at (employer's) violations/disrespect of the Contract and respect of Chinese law, what is entirely different ball game.
In other words, SAFEA intervenes usually after WP is granted already.
My posts about SAFEA
why do you always give advise for teaching positions?
he is not looking for one, so the big five rule does not apply.
Anyways, to get a job you must have something of value to offer. Since chinese believe some countries are superior, a correct passport matters.
Many chinese even only know like 7 countries, so if you are not of one of the 6 good countries on the list (africa is no.7 but on the bad side of the list) it will be hard to get a job.
Hotwater:
Because of lot of posters don't read details and think only English teachers use this site.
Its funny how "Africa" is seen as a country. But then to a lot of Chinese people there are only a couple of countries. China, Japan, America & Weigou
Shining_brow:
Hots - that would be North Africa... in contrast to South Africa :D
dom87:
they don't differ between continent and country.
Europe is sometimes also a country where als speak white language or sometimes all speak english.
amazing
I had a look on the jobs board here (this site), and there are non teaching jobs advertised in Shenzhen.
I don't have a degree but have a work permit. They wanted me to produce a degree but I got the ok based on my work experience.
I also know loads of non europeans who work in non teaching jobs in Guangzhou. In fact, I personally know very few foreign teachers here. Most non Chinese people I know work in Industry or are traders.