You’ve looked long and hard for your perfect China job and sent out dozens of painstakingly crafted CVs. After a long search and a fair amount of back and forth with recruiters, you finally get asked for an interview. This is your doorway into the company and the job you’ve spent all this time and energy on finding. So you’d better be prepared. Here are a few things to remember when prepping for a job interview in China.

Arrival time

Although you’ll find that professional people of all types are consistently late in China, it’s the ultimate sign of disrespect to be tardy for a job interview. It’s best to arrive right on time or early, but not too early, as anything more than 5 or 10 minutes in advance could inconvenience your interviewer. If you do arrive early, make sure you mention that to the person who receives you and say you don’t mind waiting until it is convenient for your interviewer to begin.

As offices can often be well hidden within massive, multi-company tower blocks in China, it’s always a good idea to arrive in the vicinity of your interview an hour before your slot. Make sure you know for certain exactly where the office is and then find a nearby coffee shop and go through your preparation notes one last time. This way you won’t turn up flustered and sweaty and you’ll feel more composed and confident on arrival.

Research

The most important part of an interview is having done the necessary research about the company and the position you’re applying for. Read the company website ‘cover-to-cover’, or, at the very least, the ‘About us’ section where you’ll learn more about the philosophy and direction of a company. Wherever you can, use this knowledge to convince the interviewer that you fit into this philosophy and can help the company reach its goals.

Even if the website is all in Chinese, use translation software to get the gist. It’s also advisable to take a look at their social media channels, including the Chinese sites, and pick out a few posts you like or have comments on. Casually mentioning a small detail which can only be found through thorough research will likely impress your interviewer.

Questions

You should always prepare questions about the company and the role to ask the interviewer. This shows you’ve prepared well and want to know more about the company. Some interviewers will start by asking if you have any questions, so be prepared from the get-go.

Be aware, however, that it’s a bit taboo to talk about money, even at the interview stage, in China. If you feel the interview went well, this is something you can nail down with the company’s HR department afterwards. A Chinese employer wants to think you want to work for them, regardless of pay, lol.

Language

It may sound obvious, but make sure you know what language the interview will be conducted in. If the job requires a certain level of Chinese, you can expect the interviewer to at least start off with some pleasantries in Mandarin in order to gauge your level. Prepare for this by practicing introducing yourself and your work history and revising words related to the job and industry that are likely to come up.  

Documents

Although China is a massively digitalized society these days, they still love to have hard copies in a professional setting. It makes you look organized and efficient if you prepare and present a little package of documents, such as your business card, your CV, cover letter and any samples of your work. It’s also pretty common to give a headshot in China, and it certainly doesn’t hurt for employers to be able to put a face to a CV. Printing shops are plentiful and cheap in China, so go wild. Look out for signs that say 打印 (dă yìn).

Dress code

What to wear for a job interview in China depends on the type of role you’re interviewing for, but it’s always best to err on the side of smartness if in doubt. Those interviewing for creative positions can probably get away with a smart-casual vibe, while someone interviewing for a bank, for example, should punt for a suit and tie. Beards aren’t really a thing in China, so men should be clean-shaven if they can bear it. Women should aim for neat and professional hair and makeup and avoid overly short skirts or cleavage. Read this for more tips on dressing for job interviews in China.

Anything more to say about acing job interviews in China? Leave them in the comments section below.

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