CHINA INTERNSHIP PROGRAM CHEAT SHEET V. August 2017 PROGRAM OVERVIEW Program operating since 2008 500+ program Alumni 200 host companies across Beijing & Shanghai Full time placements (40 hours per week) Internships are generally unpaid but some placements more than 3 months may have a stipend/allowance Chinese and international companies Company must have English speaking supervisor Applicants are individually matched to a company or organization by ImmerQi s placement team based on suitability and their background Accommodation included; own bedroom in shared apartment or studio apartment. See our accommodation guide here. BEIJING POPULAR FOR: Public Sector, Policy, Politics Marketing, PR, Advertising Entrepreneurship Media and Creative Industries Law SHANGHAI POPULAR FOR: Banking and Finance Development, NGO, Charities Business and Consulting Computer Science & IT Engineering and Science INDUSTRIES
INCLUSIONS Pre-departure information pack Via assistance Airport pick-up and transfers Sim card and local metro card Welcome lunch Orienationan to business in China Mandarin classes (Four 45 minute lessons per week) Mnthly Social, cultural, and business networking events Completion certificate & reference letter 24/7 in-coutnry ImmerQi staff support UNIQUE SELLING POINTS 1. An internship in China is unique; it s a extraordinary addition to a student s CV, and a guaranteed talking point for future job interviews. 2. No mandarin language skills necessary; while English proficiency within the office environment will differ between companies, all interns will have an English-speaking supervisor. 3. Guanxi (What is guanxi?); Fundamentally the term guanxi is about building a network of mutually beneficial relationships which can be used for personal and business purposes. However, it plays a far more important role than in the west, as in China it s often necessary to spend time getting to know your Chinese business counterparts outside of the boardroom before the deal can be done. There is no way of knowing what types of relationships interns will develop in China, but gaining an understanding of guanxi will be a valuable soft skill in the years to come when they inevitably interact with Chinese businesses. 4. China the Superpower ; if you believe China is going to be dominating the global economy for decades to come, an internship is the perfect way to gain professional experience and learn about the business culture first hand. 5. Pay after placement confirmation; ImmerQi will only ask for the final balance to be paid, once the placement has been confirmed with both the intern and the host company (generally 4-6 weeks prior to arrival).
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF INTERNS IN CHINA? In 2016, ImmerQi conducted a survey of host companies in China to ask what their expectations were of international interns: Academic grades are not important Academic grades was deemed to be the least important factor when hiring both an intern or a full-time employee. Creativity and problem-solving skills are a huge advantage Compared to Chinese students, students educated in the west are expected to have stronger creativity and problem-solving skills, along with teamwork and collaboration Values international interns bring to a Chinese business environment include flexibility, communication skills, networking and connecting with foreigners, fresh ideas/cultural perspective, and an international influence within the office ARE YOU READY FOR CHINA? The ideal participant for the China Internship Program is either a current student and recent graduate, as this is what Chinese companies expect when taking on interns. As a general rule, students should be mature enough to handle an overseas professional internship, and independent and confident to handle living overseas. Some ideas on how to test their suitability for China could be to discuss the following concepts: Cultural Differences China is different from what most students would be used to. Students who embrace this and are open to learning about a new culture will find it easy to adjust to life in China. Culture Shock is Real Everyone is different, but it usually strikes early in the program. Often this can be triggered by very simple things like the inability to access their favourite food/tv show/website or unique things to China s large cities like packed subways and longer journey times, noise, or the language barrier.
Vegetarians, Vegans, & Allergies Food culture has changed a lot in the past 10 years in China, influenced by rising incomes within China s middle class, and millions of Chinese tourists exploring the world. In both Beijing and Shanghai, vegetarians and vegans need not worry about finding suitable options, and ImmerQi are happy to provide suggestions for local dining options. Along with food preferences, for those with allergies, ImmerQi will also translate key phrases into mandarin characters for participants to show the restaurants, like no meat or I cannot eat peanut. Go with the Flow Perhaps the most important advice for participants is to expect to be surprised, not just when you arrive and get to know China, but also in everyday life. China life seems to have a habit of not always going to way you plan. With this in mind, adaptability and an openness to really immersing yourself in a new culture are key traits for participants. PROCESS QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS Why pay for an internship? Some students may be accustomed to arranging their own internship placements, especially in their home country or continent, however China is unique in that the language barrier combined with complicated visa laws make it beneficial for most arrangements to be made on the student s behalf. There is no financial transaction between any host company and ImmerQi; the fees paid by the students cover the inclusions above plus other additional services such as continual expansion of host company partners across all sectors, individual host company matching and time spent arranging interviews, ongoing dialogue with landlords/mandarin school/host companies to ensure any issues are resolved and program runs smoothly. Many SME s in China also don t have the ability to source international interns, nor do they have the expertise to arrange visas, understand visa policies for different nationalities entering china, or have the time to help the intern source accommodation or pick them up from the airport. So, they rely on
ImmerQi help them with their recruitment requirements. ImmerQi arranges everything for the student, so the company can be ready for the intern s first day (when dropped off by ImmerQi). Visa Invitation Letters and Visa Processing Participants are required to be invited to apply for a Chinese visa, and this is usually from a third party (their host company or mandarin school). ImmerQi will communicate as clearly as possible the expectations on how long this will take, however we are reliant on the third party, so participants are encouraged to be patient and flexible during this stage of the process. Please note that the Chinese Embassy in their home country has the final stay on the duration of the visa and the number of entries. Airport Pick-up A small, but key part of the program as it is their first taste of China and the China Internship Program. It s very important that the student shares the correct arrival information to ensure the student is not left waiting or stranded. Drinking and Poor performance These two things are usually linked; in China drinking laws are not strict and so it is important that the participants have their own sense of decency in this regard so as to not cause problems during their internship. Visa Expiration ImmerQi will make every effort possible to ensure the visa is valid for the full duration of the internship, however it is the participant s responsibility to ensure that they re aware of their visa expiration, and that they do not overstay their visa. ImmerQi should also be informed if the participant plans to arrive in China early to travel, as this could prevent them for staying for the full duration of the placement. ImmerQi request to be sent a copy of their visa once received so we can assist with their departure plan, if necessary. Travelling in China Requires patience as trains are often crowded and take a long time to get to destinations. China is a huge place but travelling can often be fun and a great opportunity to learn Mandarin. What to Pack? They should have any essential things they need with them and try to avoid bringing expensive items. Despite its developing status, there are few things that cannot be bought in China if needed, and generally at a low price. Recommended Items Travel with a small/medium suitcase if possible A range of clothing, especially clothes of a standard suitable for a professional internship. Toiletries All items are generally available; however potential not your favourite brands. Footwear Both casual and suitable for professional internship Mobile phone To convert to a China number Some packaged favourite home foods that are light and not bulky A laptop computer May be required by company, and useful for keeping in touch with family Money ATM s are prolific and most accept foreign debit cards. Participants are encouraged to exchange some money prior to arriving in China, however should also be aware of potential bank fees charged by the home bank when withdrawing from local ATM s. ImmerQi can assist them to set up a local bank account if necessary. Climate The two location s climates are quite different, with Beijing Hot in the summer, and very cold and dry in the winter. Shanghai is hot and extremely humid in the summer and cold in the winter.
BEIJING SHANGHAI Season: High/Low ( C) Summer: 30/20 Winter: 2/-8 Season: High/Low ( C) Summer: 30/23 Winter: 9/1 COST OF LIVING As a country, China s cost of living is not high compared with other popular western internship destinations. Even huge cities like Shanghai (24 million) and Beijing (23 million), compared to cities like New York and London, the cost of living is approximately 40% to 50% cheaper. SHANGHAI BEIJING RESOURCES INTERNSHIP IN CHINA GUIDE CITY GUIDES PHOTOS VIDEOS