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How to get a job in Shanghai?

Shanghai Expat Forum Index » City Living Forums » Questions and Answers

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doublewood

Seeker

Joined: June 11, 2004
Posts: 42

Status: Offline

Posted: July 11, 2004 - 09:37 PM
Post subject: How to get a job in Shanghai?

Hi there,

I can speak english, manderain, Japanese & Cantonese with 5 yrs exp. of secretary and customer service exp.Is it able to find a job there?

thanks for any opinion:)

nice day!

Last edited by doublewood on Sep 06, 2004 - 04:26 PM; edited 1 time in total

acujerjer
Board Royalty

Joined: Sep 10, 2003
Posts: 7770
Location: up your butt and around the corner

Posted: July 12, 2004 - 01:22 AM

What kind of job? Teaching? White face helps with that, but Asian faces do get work. No Uni degree? No problem. Have you heard of a copy machine? Just get someone else's diploma, make a copy, white out the name and put yours, then copy it again. Nice degree for under 20 kuai.

vincent

Lurker

Joined: July 10, 2004
Posts: 21

Status: Offline

Posted: July 12, 2004 - 10:55 AM

joking

comradeA

Reacher

Joined: May 07, 2004
Posts: 361
Location: in the old house behind Plaza 66
Status: Offline

Posted: July 12, 2004 - 11:18 AM

I think so...

_________________
yo, comrades!

beverlyyoung

Squeeker

Joined: Apr 19, 2004
Posts: 18

Status: Offline

Posted: July 12, 2004 - 11:42 AM

how can you play such kind of tricks on doulewood, acujerjer?
I hate you !!!!!!

PhatAV8r

Raver

Joined: May 31, 2003
Posts: 384
Location: Qingpu District, SHANGHAI
Status: Offline

Posted: July 12, 2004 - 12:41 PM

doublewood, send me your resume... phatav8r@yahoo.com

doublewood

Seeker

Joined: June 11, 2004
Posts: 42

Status: Offline

Posted: July 13, 2004 - 01:32 AM

oh.....seems it's not possible?
it's doesn't matter if the salary is low....I just want to get some exp. in Shanghai, and I think may be I can so something about CS or junior secretary?? I really have no idea....my previous boss was a candian, I was working in a Americian Co as a secretary......

Thanks all ur opinion.

Last edited by doublewood on Sep 06, 2004 - 04:28 PM; edited 1 time in total

RaoulDuke

Talker

Joined: July 12, 2004
Posts: 102

Status: Offline

Posted: July 13, 2004 - 03:25 AM

It's possible, but the degree will sure help. Much of your competition will have one...

Being bilingual will help. In some ways I'd almost trade you advantages...I've been trying to get out of the university and into a business or other job. I have an MBA and great experience. I see literally 100 jobs a week that I could kick tail in...but I can't even apply for most of them because they specify fluency in Chinese. I can order lunch or steer a taxi or buy a bottle of water in Chinese, but I can only manage a brand or write a sales brochure in English. Frustrating!

comradeA

Reacher

Joined: May 07, 2004
Posts: 361
Location: in the old house behind Plaza 66
Status: Offline

Posted: July 13, 2004 - 10:49 AM

doublewood: I am sorry if I am going to sound discouraging, but you really need to straigten out your grammar and spelling (and maybe usage also) if you want to present yourself as someone who "speaks English" in an English-speaking community. In Hong Kong there are many, many people who claim to be fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin and English but most of them cannot write a proper business letter in either Chinese or English. (I refer to all the issues surrounding the Language Proficiency Assessment) If you have friends in Hong Kong, perhaps they can help you get hold of material by Professor DL Jim (詹德隆) published by the Chinese University.

You have the Japanese advantage so I would suggest that you target the Japanese companies. There is a chance they wouldn't notice / mind your English but rather would appreciate your Chinese.

A university degree helps a lot, but anything beyond highschool is better than nothing. Do you have any other training like IT, college, continued ed diplomas? They are not as good as a degree (and even that there are many types) but if you don't have any, it would look pretty bad. If you are here for a while without work, it would be a wise use of time to get something under your belt... if nothing else, at least spend some time on English.

If you are a good worker, surely that matters a lot to your boss, but as a basic standard you must be able to write a letter without him/her spending his/her professional time to correct the grammar and spelling... surely you don't expect them to hire a secretary with good English for you!? You HAVE to be able to get through the working day in an English-speaking environment on your own so that you can show them how organized / cooperative / resourceful, etc, etc. you are.

All in all I hope you don't find this an offense... I am only giving an honest assessment and suggestion... If you cannot tell the difference, that's too bad. Good luck!