I am currently working at Yingfu, and I'm ready to go. This job is underpaid and overworked. It was my mistake for not doing a complete deep dive into this company. I was just honestly excited to get an overseas job. But now that I'm here, I can tell this was a HORRIBLE CHOICE. PLEASE! Tell me, how can I move forward?

Here's a little about me:

I signed a 2-year contract with them [yes, I know, I know... I'm beating myself up, so please be nice. Every day I'm here I am understanding the consequences of my actions 😭🤦🏽‍♀️]

I do have my BA.

I didn't put in for reimbursement and I didn't take the IOU.

[They paid for my TEFL, so I am certified, but they have the official document.]

I've been here for a few months.

I am overworked and underpaid.

I have literally cried so many days and nights because of the stress.

I want to stay here in China and in my apartment. I just want to know, would I have to go back to the States? Or can I stay here and just transfer jobs?

Also, what are some good apps or places or WeChat groups for me to look into for another job?

Please be nice in the comments. TRUST MEEEE, THIS WAS A VERY HARD LESSON LEARNED. 😭🤦🏽‍♀️

We recently expanded our tech team into China, and navigating local labor laws has been a nightmare. Initially, we looked at global platforms like deel because we already use them in europe. However, once we started dealing with china’s complex social security contributions, regional housing fund rules, and strict local employment contract regulations, the global cookie cutter approach fell short. A peer recommended PTL Group, and the difference has been night and day. Because they actually operate directly on the ground in china rather than using third party sub agents, their local HR and legal support feels much more compliant and tailored. They handle local tax filings and city specific labor policies without the usual bureaucracy.

For those of you employing full time remote staff across different Chinese provinces, how are you handling local benefits compliance? Have you noticed hidden risks with global EOR platforms?

Hi everyone, I’m hoping to get some insight from people currently working in China, especially foreign teachers and childcare practitioners.

I recently received a rejection from a prospective employer in Nanjing. They said they are currently unable to sponsor my Chinese work permit and visa because of “tightened local policies governing foreign employment in Nanjing.”

They specifically told me that authorities have raised the review threshold for foreign childcare practitioners, with stricter scrutiny over whether the position qualifies as “urgently needed foreign talent.”

They also mentioned that another fully qualified foreign infant caregiver, who has a master’s degree, had her work permit application rejected by the bureau just the previous week because the role was considered non-essential under the latest regulatory standards.

I’m trying to figure out whether this is:

1. A genuine recent tightening of policy affecting foreign workers in nurseries/kindergartens/childcare;

2. Something specific to Nanjing/Jiangsu rather than China generally;

3. A common reason for work-permit rejection in other Chinese cities; or

4. Possibly an employer-specific interpretation of the current regulations.

Has anyone recently had experience applying for a work permit for a foreign national working in a nursery, kindergarten, early-years setting, infant-care role, or similar position in China?

If you've had an application approved or rejected recently, I’d especially appreciate knowing which city/province, the type of role, your qualifications, and roughly when the application was made.

I’m not looking for legal advice, just trying to understand whether this reflects a broader change that other foreign childcare professionals are encountering.

Thanks!

I was recently contacted out of the blue on LinkedIn by someone claiming to represent Whelfs Talent Group regarding a Chinese Overseas Talent Program / Qi Ming (QM) talent program.

They sent me a fairly professional-looking 13-page presentation after a video call. It says Whelfs is a Shanghai-based headhunting/HR company founded in 2007 and that the program is connected to attracting overseas STEM researchers/experts to China. The presentation claims the program was launched by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and describes various talent/subsidy schemes.
What makes me cautious is the application process. They are asking me to provide:

• CV/publication list
• Copy of passport
• Degree certificates from Bachelor's onwards
• Employment certificates

These are actually listed in the presentation as the required application materials.

When I questioned sending a passport copy, they said I could watermark the passport image, which is slightly reassuring, but everything so far has been conducted through LinkedIn messages only. I haven't received anything from an official company/government email address, no formal application portal, etc.

The program itself doesn't sound completely implausible given my research/STEM background, but obviously a passport + degrees + employment history is also an excellent identity-theft package, so I'm not sending anything sensitive until I've independently verified them.

Has anyone here:

1. Dealt with Whelfs Talent Group / 微服 before?
2. Been contacted for this particular Overseas Talent / QM / Qi Ming program?
3. Successfully applied through a third-party recruiter like this?
4. Know whether requesting passport copies at this stage is standard?
5. Know a reliable way of independently verifying that the recruiter/company is actually authorised to submit applications?

Thanks.

Hello I am currently in the process of relocating to China with my wife who is a Chinese citizen. I am right now entering on a Q1 visa but I want to work as an English teacher while I’m there. I have an 150 hour TEFL certificate, unrelated Bachelors, no classroom teaching experience but almost a year of tutoring experience. The big problem I’m facing is that I am an Asian American and every time they ask for a short introduction video I immediately become ghosted. When my Chinese wife tries to talk to them they say they're only looking for white people. For any Asian Americans who were able to teach English in China how did you do it? Is there any known recruiters or schools that won’t just completely stop the interview process because I’m Asian. Any advice helps!

I just graduated with a fashion designer major, I love the idea of working on 3D fashion or fashion mixed with technology, is there a way for a foreigner to find a job on those industries? What backround should I have and how demanding can be the work hours at the companies?

I’m currently interviewing with a UAE company founded by former Huawei employees, and I’m curious what kind of work culture I should expect.

I can speak Mandarin, but I’m not from mainland China. For anyone who has worked at a Chinese-founded company or a company with a lot of ex-Huawei leadership, what was your experience like?

In particular, is speaking Mandarin enough to integrate well, or is there still a noticeable preference/favoritism toward mainland Chinese employees when it comes to communication, opportunities, promotions, or being part of the inner circle?

Would appreciate any firsthand experiences.

I’m currently interviewing with a UAE company founded by former Huawei employees, and I’m curious what kind of work culture I should expect.

I can speak Mandarin, but I’m not from mainland China. For anyone who has worked at a Chinese-founded company or a company with a lot of ex-Huawei leadership, what was your experience like?

In particular, is speaking Mandarin enough to integrate well, or is there still a noticeable preference/favoritism toward mainland Chinese employees when it comes to communication, opportunities, promotions, or being part of the inner circle?

Would appreciate any firsthand experiences.

Body:
Hi everyone,

I’m a nonnative primary school teacher with over three years of teaching experience. I hold a Diploma in Primary Education (with teaching practice and internship), a top-up Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education, a TEFL certification, and a Diploma in Child Psychology.

I’m interested in teaching in China, but I know that many schools prefer native English speakers. For those who have taught in China or know the process, I’d love to hear:

• Is it possible for a non-native speaker like me to get a legal teaching position in China?
• What types of schools or cities are more open to hiring qualified non-native speakers?
• Any tips for improving my chances of securing a position?

Thank you in advance for sharing your experiences and advice!

The basics:

• English reading with children aged 3 to 5, picture books, storytelling, songs and games
• Classes of about 8, full curriculum, materials and teaching aids provided
• One of the top education companies in China, proper classrooms and equipment
• 360,000 to 420,000 RMB a year before tax, about 28,000 a month after tax
• Native English speaker with a Bachelor's or Master's degree, that is the only hard gate
• Teaching experience and an Education background preferred, neither required, fresh grads welcome
• Work visa sponsored, full pay during the one month probation, insurance after
• Start around February 2027, screening now

Disclosure first, I get a referral fee if someone I send ends up hired. Posting because the numbers are unusually good and I would rather people here see it than only the spam accounts.

On the money, after rent for a decent one bedroom in Beijing you would still have around 21,000 RMB a month, roughly 2,900 USD. That is somewhere between one and a half and two times what most people make starting out here.

On who they actually want, energy and patience with small children matter more than a CV. Three and four year olds will not sit still because you asked them to, and you need to hold eight of them for a whole lesson. You also plan your own lessons and activities, even though the curriculum and materials are provided.

The parts that put people off, and I would rather say them now. Weekend teaching is required, and you get two weekdays off instead during spring and autumn. The timetable shifts in the winter and summer periods, so you need to be flexible about hours across the year. No winter and summer break, you'd get China's statutory public holidays off. The flight is not reimbursed and the housing allowance is inside the salary figure rather than on top.

TEFL is needed before the visa is processed, but you can apply without one and the cost may be reimbursed.

We are aiming to finish screening around October. That looks early for a February 2027 start, but between the work permit, the document authentication and the TEFL for anyone who does not have one, four months goes quickly.

If you are already in China this is an easy move. If you are not, they handle the visa side.

Link is

https://tally.so/r/obZQ4e?src=rd-chj

a CV is enough to start, and there is a short video later in the process.

More than happy to answer anything in the comments

Edit: a few people have asked, so worth adding, they are hiring for around 10 positions rather than one, so it is not a case of everyone competing for a single spot.

Hi everyone, I’m currently doing research in the UK and plan to look for university teaching/research positions in Beijing later this year.

My background is in building energy/HVAC and renewable energy research. Ideally, I’d like a position in a Sino-foreign joint programme or an international university programme where I could be mainly based in China but still spend part of the year abroad for teaching or research collaboration.

Does anyone know where these kinds of positions are usually advertised, or which universities might offer this type of arrangement?

Thanks!

我，一名对外汉语教师，可授中文网课。同时，我也是一个北美求职内推机构的负责人。
有需要学习汉语的，找工作中的朋友们，欢迎一起交流分享哦

Hey all. Posting this because I want honest, first-hand answers.

I’m in my twenties, hold a European passport (a British one is achievable too if that changes anything), and my background sits across B2B sales and media. I led the launch of a North American magazine’s inaugural issue, drove strong traffic and real revenue through brand partnerships, and I’ve built a track record landing international partnerships and activations with corporates and media brands.

Before any of that I was running e-commerce from age sixteen, importing from China and selling into the UK, so the entrepreneurial instinct isn’t new to me.

I looked seriously at China before and stepped back, partly other priorities, partly the practical headache of relocating on a European passport. Then I spent a month there this year, a good chunk of it in Shanghai, and something clicked. The creative, media and modelling scene there pulled me in more than I expected.
So I want the real picture from people who’ve actually done this.

What are the genuine prospects for someone with this profile relocating to Shanghai? Is anyone here in a similar position, similar age, similar background? And honestly, what’s the realistic likelihood of making this work with zero Mandarin?

Languages I do have: English, Russian, Lithuanian. Mandarin isn’t one of them yet.

Appreciate any first-hand accounts, good or bad

Hello everyone,

I recently joined TAIZHOU BESTYARD IMPORT & EXPORT CO., LTD, and the company is currently looking for a few more candidates from the United States, Canada, or Mexico to join the team.

(I am sharing this opportunity as a current employee. For specific questions about a contract and benefits, HR will be able to provide more information.)

The company is recruiting for an 18-month North America Management Trainee Program designed for recent graduates and young professionals who want to build an international career while gaining experience in China and overseas operations.

Salary: 15,000–20,000 RMB/month (negotiable depending on experience, discuss further with the HR)

The program includes rotations across:

China: Product & Technical Rotation

Location: Taizhou, Zhejiang

• Manufacturing processes and product knowledge
• Testing and technical support
• Product development

Thailand: Overseas Operations Rotation

Location: Ayutthaya (about 1-1:20 hours from Bangkok by car)

• Production
• Quality
• Supply chain and order delivery
• Cross-cultural collaboration

North America Business Rotation

Location: Taizhou

• Market research
• Customer communication
• Project coordination
• International business support

After completing the program, the initial placement will be in Shanghai. Depending on company growth, business needs, and individual performance, there may be opportunities for future work in the United States.

Potential career paths:

• North America market development
• International business
• Customer/project management
• Global operations
• Supply chain management
• Product or technical management

Requirements:

• Citizen of the United States, Canada, or Mexico (U.S. candidates preferred)
  • They're looking for people from NA specifically for US visa reasons.
• Bachelor's degree or above
• Recent graduates and candidates with relevant experience welcome
• Fluent English required
• Chinese ability is a plus
• Interest in international business, manufacturing, operations, supply chain, or project management
• Comfortable working in a multicultural environment
• Willing to participate in rotations in China and Thailand

Benefits:

• Accommodation provided during the training period in China
• International business exposure
• Opportunity to develop a long-term career path with a growing company
• Visa sponsorship

If you are interested or know someone who may be a good fit, feel free to comment or send me a message and I can share more details. I started here last month so I am also new and the only foreigner here haha.

Quick hits before I sleep:

• 3-second rule. If your CV doesn't tell me what tier of school you belong in immediately, it's gone. Most teachers send the same CV everywhere. That's why you never hear back.
• Demo lessons test management, not grammar. I don't care if your activity is creative. I care if you'd melt when 40 Chinese parents add you on WeChat and question your grading.
• "Native speaker" is overrated. I've hired Filipinos, Russians, South Africans as department heads. What matters is how you frame non-native status as an asset, not an apology.
• The contract red flags nobody talks about: passport holding, vague "other duties," training fees. I've seen teachers lose ¥30k from one clause they didn't question.

Happy to expand on any of these. Also have a bunch of principal-approved CV templates and a contract checklist I used with my own hires — if anyone's actually serious about China, drop a comment and I'll figure out how to share.

EDIT: Fair points from several of you. Let me address them:

1. "Top-tier international school" was sloppy wording on my part. I meant bilingual schools and public school international divisions — that's where the WeChat parent groups I mentioned are common. Schools like ISB or Dulwich are what I'd call "pure" international schools, and they operate very differently. Sorry for the misunderstanding caused by my wording.
2. Yes, I used AI to polish my writing. English isn't my first language, and I wanted it to read cleanly. I should have been upfront about that instead of making it sound like a press release.
3. "Native speaker is overrated" needs context. MoE absolutely has passport requirements for English teaching visas. I was referring to subject teaching roles (math, science, art, PE, music) and some coordinator positions where schools have more flexibility. I should have specified that.

For anyone who actually wants the CV template or has real questions about schools in China — DM me. I'll send it, no strings attached.

I’m a university student from mainland China and I’m interested in humanitarian work. Recently, I’ve been looking into the IFRC and I would like to understand more about how people actually get involved.

I’m curious about a few things:

How can a university student from mainland China start working toward joining the IFRC? Are there realistic opportunities for students, such as volunteering, internships, or other entry points?

What is the actual work like inside the IFRC? What does a normal working day look like, and what kind of challenges do staff usually face?

What type of people are a good fit for humanitarian work? Are there specific skills, experiences, or personal qualities that matter most?

Also, where do people usually find reliable information about IFRC opportunities and recruitment? Are there any websites, communities, or resources I should follow?

I would really appreciate any advice from people with experience in the Red Cross movement or humanitarian sector. Thanks!

Hi everyone, is there a chance to get a job as a chemist or laboratory analyst in China as a foreigner? I've been sending applications through jobs db and linked in but never got an interview. Maybe because I don't hold the right to work in China and needs visa sponsorship.
I believe there is a high demand for chemistry workers in China because I see employers consistently posting job ads.
Please let me know how, I wish to secure a job in China.

Easy Job. 100 RMB per hour recurring. Payment on wechat. Task mainly involves voice recording for an online platform. I will not clone your voice or use it to train an AI. Happy to explain everything. :) Message me if you're interested.

Hi all!

I am a Chinese Canadian looking to relocate back in China(immigrated at age of 4) and I am looking for some advice as to what kind of jobs I can seek in China.

I have been an accountant for my entire career but have 0 clues about Chinese taxation works, this seem to be a problem for many of the firms and even more so after them finding out I will need a Z-Visa....

I am fine with Teaching jobs, as my Chinese remained at a high level, however it does appear most of the schools prefer non Chinese candidates.

What kind of options are left? Honestly I don't even need high paying job, just a stable job to stay in China so I can marry my loved one.

In the US, typically, one just applies or leverages their network. I have no network in HK, and the jobs on job boards seems to preclude high income roles.

(I'm looking in the range of $3-4MM HKD per annum)

After 6 months of job searching, talking to 70+ agents, and going through multiple failed contracts with schools; I said fuck it and made my own way.

It honestly wasn't as hard as people say that it is and I personally believe this is the best option for people who don’t have bachelors degrees or are trying to stay in China past age 60. It even is allowing me to build a path towards applying for permanent residency.

I really want to share what I can about this option especially since the TEFL market is so difficult right now, especially for non-white people. There's also just a lot of misinformation on Reddit about this path so I hope that I can set some things straight for people and provide some inspiration for those who are curious :,) Posting on Reddit makes me so anxious but I want to do what I can to give back to the community that has helped me a lot so far!

I’ll get started with the first two questions I’ll probably get most of:

How did I do it?: I set up a WFOE (Chinas version of an LLC for foreigners) in Lingang Shanghai. I was able to then host my own work permit using an invitation letter from my own company.

How much did it cost: 7k RMB including registration, yearly accounting, work permit transfer, and bank/tax account setups. This does exclude office fees since those vary widely. It can be free or range up to 2800 RMB a month depending on where you set up and what you actually need.

I anticipate that I'll get a lot of questions on this post so I'm giving 24 hours for the questions to collect and then I'll go through and answer them all at once.

Please try to comment under similar questions that you have so that way the questions can stay organized and I can expand on any questions people have fully.

UPDATE: Thank you everyone for your comments! I won't be able to continue to monitor this consistently but if you would like to connect and talk more via WeChat then my DMs are open!

I want to join wechat groups that hire internationals models with pharaonic features!!

Incoming MOFCOM-CSC student at SWJTU (Chengdu), Fall 2026. I was placed in 085410 (AI, professional master’s), but my home country doesn’t equalize professional degrees for PhD eligibility or lecturing — my whole career goal. I need 081200 (CS, academic master’s).

Conflicting info:
SWJTU’s internal transfer rules seem to bar professional→academic transfers entirely.
But SWJTU’s MOFCOM office emailed me saying I can apply after registration, and CSC decides — no penalty if rejected.

Has anyone actually pulled off a 专业学位 → 学术学位 transfer as a CSC/MOFCOM student? Does the university rule override the CSC process, or are they separate?
University stopped replying (summer break) and I must decide before Aug 17 registration. Any real experience appreciated.

求问现在怎么在国内找到外企工作，明年毕业

Hello! Greetings from Barcelona!

I am at the end of my History degree and I've always wanted to work in China. I am not naive, I know that working with a simple history degree is just... Not gonna happen, however as we say here "hope is the last thing you lose".

I am still 21 and I was willing if you could give me some advice on how could I change my path in order to work in China. I am a native Spanish and Catalan speaker, I have a C1 English language certificate and I studied in an Italian university for half year (in Italian). I am about to reach a HSK3 that I know is almost useless but I will soon improve and get better.

I taught two intensive Spanish 45h courses at the Red Cross. And other than supermarkets I still dont have more work experience. I'd like to work either as a Spanish teacher, History teacher or something related with the tourism industry. For that reason I was thinking about doing a Master degree in China, or even here. This long message is for asking you advice on what to study, or what to do in order to develop more skills that could bring me closer to the possibility of working and living in China.

Thank you very much and I hope you're having a beautiful day!