HOW TO FIND A JOB IN BEIJING
Beijing is one of the largest cities on the planet and the capital of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern part of the state. It is considered the most important political, economic, cultural, sports and educational center of the country, where a huge number of state companies are concentrated and where the second busiest international airport in the world operates. About 140 million local tourists and more than 4.4 million foreigners visit the Chinese capital every year.
Working in Beijing for foreign applicants in 2024 is a unique opportunity to experience China's rich cultural heritage and become part of a very powerful regional economy. Over the past two decades, employment in China has attracted hundreds of thousands of professionals from all over the world.
The capital is home to China's top universities, including the prestigious Peking University. The sights of the city include magnificent temples, palaces, parks, gardens, and many historical monuments. Let's talk about the specifics of labor migration, ways to find a job, current vacancies and salaries in Beijing in 2024 below.
Labor migration to Beijing
According to some estimates, Beijing's population in 2024 is 21.7 million, the second highest in the country after Shanghai, which has about 24.2 million. It is the most populous capital in the world. Beijing's population is expected to reach 23 million in the next few years, and by 2050 it will exceed 50 million. Apart from the Chinese, a little more than 90 thousand foreigners officially reside in the city.
Jobs in Beijing are available to a wide range of applicants, including highly skilled technicians, ordinary students and girls with model looks. The city's economy grows by about 8-10% a year and contributes significantly to the country's overall GDP. Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008 and the Winter Olympics in 2022. Of course, preparations for such an event involve the creation of additional jobs.
Along with enormous employment opportunities and very decent wages compared to many other Chinese cities, long-term employment and residence in Beijing has a number of disadvantages. The main problems of this modern metropolis include large-scale traffic jams, air pollution, occasional power shortages, high population density, and frequent adverse weather conditions.
Working in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and other regions of China for foreigners is an acquaintance with Asian culture, language and mentality of local residents. Not everyone is able to adapt quickly to the new conditions. Despite low unemployment and a large economy, the competition for jobs in Beijing is enormous. Chinese citizens and labor migrants from neighboring countries, who know the local language, have an unconditional advantage to occupy vacancies.
Official employment in Beijing involves preliminary search for an employer and signing a contract. The applicant will be issued a work permit and a work visa if the Chinese or international company manages to convince the local authorities that the foreign specialist has sufficient education, qualifications and experience that will benefit the city's economy. Usually the procedure of legal labor migration to Beijing is quite complicated and takes more than one month.
How to find a job in Beijing
Beijing is home to the offices and head offices of major international and Chinese companies, including such giants as State Grid, China National Petroleum and Sinopec Group, which are the leaders of The Fortune Global 500, right behind the U.S. Walmart. Large employers in Beijing quite often need specialists from abroad with scarce skills and experience.
The northwestern part of the capital is known for its Zhongguancun technology and science center, often referred to as "China's Silicon Valley." Hundreds of foreign and Chinese companies in digital technology, biomedicine, energy, environmental protection, innovation, aerospace and so on operate here. For example, Microsoft, Intel, Nokia, IBM, Lenovo, and Baidu.
Compose a competent resume and cover letter. Write job offers to large employers directly. Of course, experience, qualifications and language skills must be top notch. Many jobs in Beijing are available to English-speaking professionals, but every year more and more local companies are making requirements to know Chinese.
Searching for jobs in Beijing
A popular resource about life in Beijing with a job database – thebeijinger.com
A well-known newspaper in Beijing – Global Times
Professional social networking site – linkedin.com
Beijing job search sites
Most expats live in Beijing's suburban areas such as Shunyi and the eastern part of the city – Dongcheng and Chaoyang. If possible, visit the Chinese capital as a tourist. Try to get in touch with local employers, make business contacts, and talk to migrant workers. Actively collect information about employment in Beijing on the Internet, visit specialized websites and thematic forums, including English-language ones.
Jobs and wages in Beijing
Applicants from abroad who perform professional activities in China on a work visa are often referred to as "foreign experts." Such an entry is made in the registration documents and is quite true. In most cases, to successfully find a job in Beijing in 2024, you need to have skills that are scarce for the local labor market.
The financial sector, real estate market, construction, information technology, pharmaceuticals, science and high-tech production play a crucial role in the city's economy. Some foreigners are successful entrepreneurs in China. Men can find jobs in the capital for programmers and construction workers. Jobs in Beijing for women are available in modeling, tourism and television.
Beijing is one of the first places not only in China, but also in Asia in terms of such an indicator as the ratio of wages to the cost of living in the city. The average salary in Beijing in 2024 is about $ 1,300 per month. At the same time, salaries for skilled workers in the capital reach $1,600 to $1,800. The minimum monthly salary in Beijing is 2,420 yuan ($335). The level of wages in China as a whole only increases every year.
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