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Not too long ago, the idea of migrating from Europe to China for work would have seemed remote or even bizarre. Today, it seems a trend on the rise among Westerners unable to find jobs in recession-ridden home countries. A few weeks ago, I became one of the many young Europeans moving to Beijing to try to seize professional opportunities unimaginable back home.
As a recent graduate from a prestigious university with extensive work experience, I had been optimistic about finding paid, qualified work when I returned to my European home country. Before long, however, my expectations were dashed and I started looking for just about anything at all. The closest to a job offer I had was an interview for a part-time waitress position. Most of my friends were also unemployed, under-employed or, as the great majority, in unpaid internships. Disillusioned, I decided to try my luck elsewhere.
In sharp contrast to Europe, where several countries see up to 50 percent unemployment rate amongst young people, China seemed a promising alternative. With seemingly unstoppable economic growth and allegedly high demand for English-speaking, educated labor, I only hesitated for a moment when my friends in Beijing encouraged me to consider moving to China. I already speak some Mandarin and have some experience in the country, so the decision was easy. Within one week, I found myself on a plane to Beijing, thinking that I had nothing to lose. If I couldn’t get a job here, I thought, I couldn’t get a job anywhere.
While I had been told that getting a job in Beijing would not be hard, it was easier than I could ever have imagined. Almost instantly, I was convinced that my adventurous, and admittedly not very thought-through, idea had been successful. After only a few days, I had already had several interviews for qualified work and the salary proposals I received were about twice or three times what I would have been paid back home. This combined with a cost of living about half that in my own country has contributed to a very comfortable—as well as exciting —life in Beijing, and I don’t regret my decision for a second.
Opportunities for newly arrived foreigners in the city, as well as more established longterm expats, seem abundant. As many like myself are educated and English-speaking on a native level, the option of teaching work is a natural resort for many. Other popular alternatives are modeling and advertising jobs, for everything from video games to car shows.
While this is not my first time in China, or even in Beijing, there are of course certain things that one can just not prepare for when moving here. However, whereas I had expected language barriers and cultural differences to be the major obstacles, what surprised me the most was rather that living in Beijing as a foreigner seemed almost as easy as finding work here. Having lived in other Asian capitals before, I was particularly struck by the distinct lack of chaos. The extreme degree of organization, cleanliness and hi-tech, ultra-functional infrastructure came almost as a disappointment. Even without speaking much Mandarin, getting around was relatively effortless and, in contrast to numerous warnings from tourists and expats, the locals are remarkably friendly and helpful. Despite obviously exotic features in everyday life, including daily photo opportunities with teenage girls, karaoke, mistranslations and peculiar food, Beijing on the surface appeared very normal.
The typical Asian craziness that I had anticipated, however, was to be found on other levels. Cultural clashes in work ethics and codes of conduct have certainly made the job search far more enjoyable. These have thus far included, but are not restricted to, encouragement from employers to lie to clients about my age, length of stay in Beijing and nationality in order to establish a higher degree of confidence, as well as signing contracts that I will not wear slippers to work under any circumstances.
Expats who have been here longer than myself sometimes tell me that Beijing is not what it used to be, that getting a job is more difficult and that the city is becoming Westernized as it becomes more modern. For me, however, moving here has been a great relief and far easier than I had imagined. My Mandarin is improving by the day and I am starting to feel at home in the enormous city. And in stark contrast to my recent situation in Europe, I continue to receive job offers on a daily basis. For the time being, returning home to the dysfunctional job market has no allure at all. Moving to Beijing may still seem a bold alternative for many of my unemployed friends in Europe, but I have not doubted for a second that it has been the best possible decision for me.
As a recent graduate from a prestigious university with extensive work experience, I had been optimistic about finding paid, qualified work when I returned to my European home country. Before long, however, my expectations were dashed and I started looking for just about anything at all. The closest to a job offer I had was an interview for a part-time waitress position. Most of my friends were also unemployed, under-employed or, as the great majority, in unpaid internships. Disillusioned, I decided to try my luck elsewhere.
In sharp contrast to Europe, where several countries see up to 50 percent unemployment rate amongst young people, China seemed a promising alternative. With seemingly unstoppable economic growth and allegedly high demand for English-speaking, educated labor, I only hesitated for a moment when my friends in Beijing encouraged me to consider moving to China. I already speak some Mandarin and have some experience in the country, so the decision was easy. Within one week, I found myself on a plane to Beijing, thinking that I had nothing to lose. If I couldn’t get a job here, I thought, I couldn’t get a job anywhere.
While I had been told that getting a job in Beijing would not be hard, it was easier than I could ever have imagined. Almost instantly, I was convinced that my adventurous, and admittedly not very thought-through, idea had been successful. After only a few days, I had already had several interviews for qualified work and the salary proposals I received were about twice or three times what I would have been paid back home. This combined with a cost of living about half that in my own country has contributed to a very comfortable—as well as exciting —life in Beijing, and I don’t regret my decision for a second.
Opportunities for newly arrived foreigners in the city, as well as more established longterm expats, seem abundant. As many like myself are educated and English-speaking on a native level, the option of teaching work is a natural resort for many. Other popular alternatives are modeling and advertising jobs, for everything from video games to car shows.
While this is not my first time in China, or even in Beijing, there are of course certain things that one can just not prepare for when moving here. However, whereas I had expected language barriers and cultural differences to be the major obstacles, what surprised me the most was rather that living in Beijing as a foreigner seemed almost as easy as finding work here. Having lived in other Asian capitals before, I was particularly struck by the distinct lack of chaos. The extreme degree of organization, cleanliness and hi-tech, ultra-functional infrastructure came almost as a disappointment. Even without speaking much Mandarin, getting around was relatively effortless and, in contrast to numerous warnings from tourists and expats, the locals are remarkably friendly and helpful. Despite obviously exotic features in everyday life, including daily photo opportunities with teenage girls, karaoke, mistranslations and peculiar food, Beijing on the surface appeared very normal.
The typical Asian craziness that I had anticipated, however, was to be found on other levels. Cultural clashes in work ethics and codes of conduct have certainly made the job search far more enjoyable. These have thus far included, but are not restricted to, encouragement from employers to lie to clients about my age, length of stay in Beijing and nationality in order to establish a higher degree of confidence, as well as signing contracts that I will not wear slippers to work under any circumstances.
Expats who have been here longer than myself sometimes tell me that Beijing is not what it used to be, that getting a job is more difficult and that the city is becoming Westernized as it becomes more modern. For me, however, moving here has been a great relief and far easier than I had imagined. My Mandarin is improving by the day and I am starting to feel at home in the enormous city. And in stark contrast to my recent situation in Europe, I continue to receive job offers on a daily basis. For the time being, returning home to the dysfunctional job market has no allure at all. Moving to Beijing may still seem a bold alternative for many of my unemployed friends in Europe, but I have not doubted for a second that it has been the best possible decision for me.