At first glance it may seem like any old foreigner with some language knowledge can translate- however nothing could be further from that truth - since there are many technical nuances involved in being able to communicate what your company needs when conversing across cultural barriers between Chinese and English business partners: "For example if you don't have a good understanding of the culture then it is very hard for companies looking into expanding here," says Chen. In fact, having an expat who actually speaks Mandarin - even at entry level will be extremely valuable especially in big multinationals where communication with clients or customers matters most as part and parcel when setting foot on new ground.
The easiest route to take would be searching online via job platforms like Glassdoor which already lists a large amount of positions available now from companies that are seeking skilled individuals. Meanwhile, there is still room for expats who speak Mandarin fluently - especially during the hiring season where Chinese New Year and summer months see an uptick in employment opportunities: "I was able to land my position at one these international corporations," notes Michael Lee when referring back on his time spent as a project manager working with foreign companies' expansion into China, adding that he had no prior experience but could easily command attention from higher-ups.
It is indeed possible for individuals such like those without an advanced degree in Mandarin who become translators and even move onto other jobs - however it still leaves the door open to many more career paths now since there are so very few qualified Chinese or English speakers with degrees which makes finding work after gaining experience incredibly hard. Meanwhile, teaching remains a staple way of making ends meet for those without fluency yet seeking employment; "I taught at one point," confesses Wang Xiaoying as she recalls her stint before moving to project management - meanwhile others who had Mandarin language skills went straight into roles right away where they could potentially earn double or even triple their current salary.
In a bold new era, companies such like IBM and Microsoft now vie for spots in China; while there are still opportunities out on the table it's getting increasingly difficult as native Chinese speakers move onto these coveted positions: "As I was able to land my position at one of those international corporations," explains Lee. Meanwhile some foreign firms have been accused of undermining local competition by snatching talented employees away from domestic talent pools - although this remains subject for interpretation.
In a bold new era where IBM, Microsoft and Accenture among others vie with the Chinese themselves in seeking out top caliber native speakers who command respect across their respective industries; whilst they now work alongside these international companies whose success is partly built on Mandarin conversations between English speaking employees from other countries. At first it was mainly foreigners working within China however times are changing fast - flipping formerly common foreign-expert jobs into ones which locals could fill instead: "I think that we've seen a shift," notes Chen when asked about the recent demand for native speakers versus expats.
As one can easily see, these roles with multinational companies have brought new waves of opportunity onto the table; but it isn't just limited to teaching anymore - times are constantly changing and now there's room too. Wang states "I was hired because they needed someone who could bridge between Mandarin conversation skills" thus moving away from what many view as low-end work such jobs like translations that have seen people placed into a position without speaking the language; which has further become something of an endangered species with local talent taking over these positions.
In conclusion, having expats in companies is becoming increasingly harder - meanwhile native speakers now take up spots originally held by foreigners due to Mandarin conversations between English-speaking employees from other countries. Meanwhile some foreign firms still employ people who came here and had top-tier work experience however many of their peers moved into teaching when times were hard: "The situation has changed," Wang adds with a tinge of disappointment at the lack available high-end jobs for non-native Chinese speakers - especially those without degrees in Mandarin from before but are willing to put effort, she warns potential candidates that they have tough competition ahead.
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