My Journey of Job Hunting in China

From Teaching in Nanjing to Exploring New Opportunities

My name is Adeel, and I recently found a job in China after a long and challenging search. I'm 34 years old and originally from Pakistan. Six years ago, I came to China to work as an English teacher in Nanjing. It was a good start, and I quickly adapted to life in this bustling city. I made some great friends like Faisal, who also came from Pakistan to work as a teacher. We often explored the city together, visiting places like the Confucius Temple and Xuanwu Lake. But as time went on, new regulations made it difficult for non-native English speakers like us to continue teaching.

One day, my school informed me that my credentials didn't meet the new requirements, and they wouldn't renew my contract. I was devastated. However, when COVID-19 hit, everything changed. The school needed teachers desperately, so they extended my contract for another year. I switched to online teaching, which was a new experience for me. 

The lockdown and staying at home made me feel safer, otherwise we were warned of police crackeddown over non-qualified teachers. 

But as the pandemic started to ease, I received the dreaded news again—my contract wouldn't be extended. I knew I had to find a new job, but the job market in China was tough, especially for someone like me who wasn't from a native English-speaking country.

Job search Journey, walking back home after a failed interview

The Struggle to Find a New Path

I decided to try my luck in other fields, so I started applying for jobs outside of teaching. I used platforms like Boss, JobinChina, eChinaCareers, and JobTube. My friend Sara, who had successfully transitioned from teaching to marketing, suggested I try LinkedIn as well. I spent countless hours refining my resume and adding relevant experience, but it was frustrating. I sent out 62 applications and got only 4 replies. Most of these came from JobTube, where I had applied for about 18-20 jobs. On LinkedIn, many positions seemed like a perfect fit, but I received only one response, which was a polite rejection.

Feeling disheartened, I reached out to my friend Ahmed, who had been living in Shanghai for the past few years and successfully landed a non-teaching job. He recommended I try eChinaJobs (eChinacities), which had over 400,000 job listings. It felt like a goldmine. I applied to several positions and, after two weeks, finally got a couple of responses. But even then, I faced issues like bounced emails. I realized that using Gmail in China isn't reliable, so I switched to a QQ email account. It made a significant difference.

One day, I applied for a job at a marketing firm in Hangzhou. To my surprise, I got a reply within a few days. They wanted to interview me! I was over the moon. I prepared extensively, practicing with my friend Faisal. The first interview was online, and it went well. A week later, they invited me for an in-person interview in Hangzhou.

The Journey to Hangzhou: A New Beginning

I remember the day of the interview clearly. I took the high-speed train from Nanjing to Hangzhou. It was my first time traveling on China's famous bullet trains, and the experience was incredible. The journey took less than two hours, and I spent most of the time nervously going over my notes. When I arrived in Hangzhou, I was struck by the beauty of the city. 

Took this while waiting for the interview

The interview went better than I expected. The HR manager, Ms. Wang, was very friendly and made me feel at ease. A week later, I received the offer letter. I couldn't believe it—I had finally found a new job! 

How JustJobs Group Helped Me

Throughout this journey, I had also joined JustJobs Group, a service under OneTube. I applied for eight jobs related to marketing and trade and got three responses. This service was a game-changer for me. It helped me connect with companies that were looking for candidates with my skill set. Eventually, I landed the job in Hangzhou, and now I'm in the process of getting my work visa sorted.

My Advice to Job Seekers in China:

1. Keep Your Hopes Up: The job market is tough, but don't let rejection get you down. Keep applying and refining your approach.
2. Choose the Right Platforms: If your Chinese is strong, BOSS can be a good option. If not, JustJobs Group is highly efficient and can connect you with the right opportunities.
3. Adapt and Persist: Use different email addresses to avoid issues with bounced emails, and always be ready to adapt your approach.
4. Master Mandarin：There's hardly any good job that doesn't require mandarin skills, including reading and writing.

Finding a job in China isn't easy, especially as a non-native English speaker. But with perseverance and the right resources, it's possible. JustJobs Group played a crucial role in my success, and I hope my story can inspire others to keep pushing forward. Best of luck to everyone out there!