Your New Job

More than a few people have made only half-joking comments about how they wish they could find a job over here.  There are a number of employment websites dedicated to getting westerners to fill jobs in China.  Here’s just one, NewChinaCareer.

The beers are on me.

Oh, and one other thing.  Often times you can make a HUGE career jump by coming here.  If you’re a college graduate stuck in an entry-level job at some company you can come here and move right into middle management.  But there are pitfalls to watch out for.  If any of you get to a point where you’re seriously considering this let me know and i’ll fill you in.

Is it like Japan, where you sort of have to find a group to belong to so you can fit in socially?

Not really, no.  The expat community here is huge, and you find people from every country.  There’s a sort of kinship among anyone who isn’t Chinese.  An American in the UK, for example, might get scorn from people who are pissed off at America because of George Bush, for example but I haven’t experienced any of that here.  I haven’t had to denounce American foreign policy in order to be able to hang out with people, you’re just taken as who you are—a foreigner in a strange country.  So I’ve ben hanging out with Brits, Scots, Danes, Canadians, Americans, Paraguayans, and so on, as well as the Chinese.  If you’re willing to go out, get drunk, stay out late, smoke like a chimney (or tolerate those who do), and generally not be a dick, you’re going to get along just fine with just about anyone.

One of the differences between China and Japan seems to be China’s ability to accept outsiders, at least those with marketable skills. I think the Japanese failed to become the great superpower they were supposed to be partly because of their highly insulated society.

I’d actually like to hear more about the “jump” you mentioned.  How do I contact you?  (Sent you an email via the address listed on RTfLC)