Although updating your CV is always a bit of a pain, it’s something we all should be doing every year or so, or at least every time we look for a new job. If you’re looking for your first job in China, you’ll need to spend a little extra time fulfilling the unspoken résumé requirements of this country of convention. Here are some tips for reworking your CV for jobs in China.

Source: david silver

Order

Many aspects remain the same. Like any other CV, your China CV should be no longer than two pages. You want the information to be clear, concise and direct, without losing any pertinent details.

As usual, write your CV in anti-chronological order, with your personal Information at the top of the first page, followed by your employment history and then your education history. If your educational background is more impressive or pertinent to the position you’re applying for than your employment history, put that up top instead. At the bottom, include a list of references and their contact details or simply state that "references are available on request.”

Personal information

Chinese employers may expect to see much more in the way of personal information than we’re used to supplying on our CVs in the West. Some Chinese will include their marital status and whether or not they have children. As China is trying to crack down on discrimination on these grounds, however, we don’t suggest you share this information unless you really want to. Women who are married but still childless often find it hard to get jobs in China as employers are worried they will take maternity leave in the imminent future.

You will want to provide your full name, address, phone number and email address, as usual. If you’re already in China or have managed to set up a WeChat account from afar, be sure to include your WeChat ID too, as many employers and HR personnel will prefer this means of communication. Résumé for China should also include your date of birth and your gender, as Chinese employers may not automatically be able to figure the latter out.

Finally, unless you’re really against it, include a headshot either on your CV or as part of your application bundle. Although most jobs have nothing to do with how you look, Chinese employers see the headshot as an important part of the application. The photo can be passport sized. Make sure you look smart and dress conservatively.

Work experience

You’ll need at least two years’ work experience in a relevant field in order to get your work visa for most expat jobs in China. Make sure your CV dates add up to this and that you’ll be able to obtain signed letters from your previous employers in order to prove it.

You should go into a little more detail when writing up your work experience on a CV for jobs in China. For each role, list the job title, the company and the period of time you worked there as usual, but also succinctly explain the duties you carried out and the responsibilities bestowed on you. List any promotions gained or skills acquired, but try to refrain from bragging, as this is looked down upon in Chinese society. A Chinese employer may not necessarily understand what a certain role requires in the West, so go into detail but remain modest and resist flourishing language.

Education

This section is particularly important for China as you won’t be able to obtain a working visa without at least an undergraduate degree. Also be aware that you’ll need to prove your degree with your original certificate in order to get that visa. As well as university degrees, be sure to include any other diplomas or awards your achieved during your education. This kind of thing doesn’t count as bragging and impresses Chinese employers.

Languages

Include a section about languages when reworking your CV for jobs in China. Almost all foreigners working in China will require some level of English, so state if it’s your native language or the level you’re at if not. Differentiate between your speaking, reading and writing abilities and include any information about recognised tests you’ve taken. Speaking Chinese will not be essential for many expat jobs, but of course it is a huge advantage. Again, include your level of Chinese in terms of speaking, reading and writing and what HSK level you’re at if you’ve taken the tests. If you really want to impress, provide a Chinese version of your CV along with the English version.

Extracurricular

You could include personal interests and curricular activities at the end of your CV, but this is not necessary in China. If you do include it, try to use this section as a way to further explain your organisational or team working abilities. Perhaps you captained a local sports team or have done volunteer work, for example. As with any CV, it’s probably not worth including this section if your interests are reading, going out for dinner and watching movies, unless by way of proving your strong interest in Chinese culture (e.g. reading Chinese literature, cooking Chinese food, watching Chinese movies).

Beyond the CV

If an employer is interested in your CV, they will probably follow up to ask you about your expected salary and availability before committing to an interview. Do some research on the range of possible salaries for the position you’re applying for as you may find they differ widely to what you’d expect in your home country. Salaries will also differ widely depending on what city in China the job is based in. It is always better to ask for too much than too little, but you don’t want to write yourself out of the running by suggesting something truly ridiculous. You may also be asked for previous salaries, so have these ready and converted to RMB to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Right, you’re now ready to begin reworking your resume for jobs in China. Good luck!

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