Western Graduates Head to China for Internships

TL;DR: If you want to be part of the future brain drain to China, merely knowing Chinese culture/language isn't sufficient. Be an expert in something that's needed world-wide and you will be needed in China.

I worked at Microsoft Research in Beijing as an intern and I think one of the biggest lessons I walked away with was that in order to work in China and actually have an impact prior experience in China is necessary but _not_ sufficient. Like anywhere else - you will always need to be an expert in your field to have impact, regardless of the cultural context in which you work - being a token part of an organization affords no influence.

I think a lot of people get involved with China thinking - "I'll learn Chinese and I'm sure companies in China would love to have an American on board connecting them with Western society!" The reality is, however, that most people in the knowledge industry's English is probably a lot better than your Chinese. I worry that some people fear China's impending growth and task their kids on becoming an expert in Chinese instead of an expert in a field China greatly demands (say photovoltaics).

Being a white guy who can speak Chinese is a neat party trick in a domestic Chinese setting but is very much second to if you can warrant the insane pay rate you might demand relative to a typical domestic employee. Think about H1Bs and how they're designed to weed out anyone who's job couldn't be done by an American worker. In China, I don't think the legal rules are quite as strict, but there is plenty of swelling nationalism to more than make up for it.

I've lived and worked in China for 5 years and wanted to make a few more points:

* It is hard to get in touch with the key company person for intern opportunities;

* Even if you do, it might be the first such approach they've ever had;

* Outside the largest companies with formal intern programs there may be intern programs (and may not), but in partnership with local schools or other feeder companies;

* Global companies tend to have global intern programs with limited local admission.

That is by no means not a reason not to have a go applying. If anything, if you can break through those barriers you're already a long way there.

Bear in mind the following:

* Companies are going to ask themselves "What's in it for me?"

* They might panic about visas, especially the headache of applying for a short term working visa;

* They'll need some very strong persuasion you're committed, will avoid significant culture shock, will not simply run away, and as sponsor of your visa will not damage their reputation;

* Cowboy language schools mascaraed as intern opportunities, beware.

An additional: The article doesn't state explicitly, but the consultant company, CRCC Asia, mentioned as internship intermediator, organizes internships for a fee. That does mitigate much of the above - both effort and reward in my view. Link to their fee page: http://www.crccasia.com/internships/prices-dates

Edit: Lines initially did not break

How much can you possibly learn in two weeks?

It would be doing ruby on rails and node.js development, 3 month minimum, paid a small stipend (enough to cover cost of living in Shanghai)

Contact at interns@webagecorp.com