Thanks to a good salary, jobs in Shanghai are very tempting for Russians. The Chinese authorities, through social programs, provide employment to the able-bodied local population. For non-residents of the country, the flow of vacancies does not dry out either. The high economic potential of the Celestial Empire, along with rapidly developing technologies, has led to the demand for experts, intelligent specialists, representatives of creative professions and specialized workers. Even a student who has mastered the initial Chinese speaking skills will be able to earn extra money.
Benefits of doing a job in Shanghai
Foreigners, including Russians, strive to work in Shanghai not only because of high salaries. They are also attracted by the prospect of career growth, which at home they can often only dream of. Citizens of other states who found work in this metropolis consider the created working conditions very acceptable, and living in Shanghai is quite comfortable. They can also participate in social security programs.
Confirms the above information from official sources. So, according to the annual survey "Amazing China", this city of central government in the PRC in 2021 was recognized as the best for foreigners for the sixth time in a row.
In general, the studies were carried out in 31 regions of the country. The top three looks like this:
- Shanghai - 3.91 points out of 6 maximum.
- Beijing scored 3.67 points.
- Guangdong Province (including Shenzhen and Guangzhou) - 3.52 points.
And in the report of the Center for China and Globalization, Shanghai was awarded first place in the "Developing Environment for International Talent" category. One of the reasons is the simplification from 2021 of the rules of employment in this city for foreign graduates.
The most in-demand professions in Shanghai
As one of the business centers in China, Shanghai is one of the cities in which, in fact, the market for the country's most demanded specialties is being formed. And here the following point is noteworthy: work in Shanghai for Russians is most often offered not by local, but by international companies, whose branches are open in the Middle Kingdom. Moreover, almost 40% of vacancies, as well as the average in China, are in the sales and marketing sector.
But not everything is so simple here. The successes of the country's economy and the popularity of its products in the international arena led to an increase in demand for representatives of other spheres of activity, which could not but affect the state of the labor market segment for foreigners.
Consider the vacancies in Shanghai that our compatriots can apply for:
- IT manager, programmer. The greatest demand in the companies of the city is used by Russian engineers who already have extensive experience in this field of activity. It is not uncommon for employers to cover a portion of their housing costs.
- Specialists in the field of logistics, recruiting and finance. Highly skilled logistics and human resources (HR) workers are among the valued staff of Shanghai leading companies. The same applies to representatives of such professions as tax manager, auditor, accountant.
- Model. Of course, this kind of job is best suited for girls in Shanghai. However, foreign guys can also work in this city, and in other municipalities of China, as a model. The fact is that local consumers are sympathetic to people with a European appearance, and they themselves are remarkable personalities in the Celestial Empire. Therefore, events or advertisements with the participation of foreigners automatically become prestigious and attractive.
- English teacher. Anyone from the post-Soviet space with knowledge of spoken English at a level not lower than intermediate can fill such a vacancy.
Many are interested in working as a lawyer in Shanghai. Everything is much more complicated here. Without a diploma from a university of the People's Republic of China, it will not be possible to fill such a vacancy. In addition, you will need to pass certain exams related to the field of jurisprudence and speak Chinese.
Moreover, the last requirement provides for language training, which, in turn, allows passing the HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) exam at least level 4. Only then will the lawyer be able to successfully interact with the client.
How to find a job in Shanghai
The business center of Shanghai - Pudong district - is the main place of concentration of labor migrants. An important fact: there are about 800 financial organizations functioning in the megalopolis, about 170 of which are with foreign investments.
To find a job in Shanghai, first of all, you need to study offers from such large international and Chinese companies as:
- Shanghai auto corporation SAIC Motor, which cooperates with General Motors and Volkswagen;
- Jiangnan shipbuilding company;
- China National Petroleum Corporation;
- China's largest steel company Shanghai Baosteel Group.
You can also find a job in Shanghai in 2021 via the Internet. Below are the most popular web resources and links to them.
- The current list of Chinese companies, including Shanghai ones - http://english.sse.com.cn/listed/company/.
- The famous Shanghai newspaper Shanghai Daily - https://www.shine.cn/.
- Job search site - https://www.xpatjobs.com/.
- Jobs in China - https://www.career-jet.cn/ and https://www.51job.com/bo/eservice.php.
At the same time, visiting Shanghai as a tourist is an ideal option for finding a job. In this way, it will be possible to look around the place, make an attempt to establish business contacts, and, perhaps, communicate with Russian-speaking people who have decided to emigrate to China.
You can also resort to the services of recruiting agencies. This will be discussed below.
What you need to find a job in Shanghai
To conduct legal labor activity in Shanghai, in fact, as in the entire People's Republic of China, you need to have:
- valid international passport;
- work visa category Z;
- residence permit (hereinafter residence permit) for the purpose of work. This is a common sticker in a foreign passport, such as a visa. Work should be indicated only as the purpose of the stay;
- work permit. This document is a plastic card with a QR code on it. When it is scanned, all personal information about the cardholder is displayed.
Not all employers are ready to assist foreigners in preparing the last two documents. Many people give preference when hiring a person who already has them.
In addition, the chances of successful employment are increased by applying:
- letters of recommendation;
- HSK certificate;
- a diploma from a Chinese university, etc.
Specialized companies and recruitment agencies for employment
Chinese specialized firms and recruiting agencies are looking for a job. The quality of services provided by companies is different. Some organize the full employment of the client up to providing assistance upon arrival in China. Other specialist firms only charge money for providing a job listing.
They all host their sites on the web. Below are a few web resources:
- https://jobs.goabroad.com/search/china/shanghai/jobs-abroad-1;
- https://jobs.echinacities.com/shanghai-jobs;
- http://www.jobsinshanghai.com/.
Successful recruiting agencies have developed a database of exclusive vacancies and signed contracts with various companies. They receive a monetary reward for finding highly qualified specialists for client companies.
Another source of income for such firms may be a certain percentage of the salary of the person employed by them. Payments are usually made no longer than 1 year.
You can choose an agency suitable for cooperation by going to its website using the appropriate link:
- http://www.china-recruitment.com/ - International Recruiting Agency;
- https://www.ginkgosearch.com/ - Ginkgo Search Partners agency;
- http://www.chefs-agency.com/ is a chefs employment agency.
What is the salary level in Shanghai
The Shanghai authorities have increased the minimum wage by ¥ 60 effective April 1, 2021.If earlier this figure was equal to ¥ 2,420 ($ 360), now it is ¥ 2,480 ($ 369) and is one of the highest in China.
The average salary of a person officially working in a metropolis, before withholding income tax, ranges from ¥ 16 thousand ($ 2,382) to ¥ 17 thousand ($ 2,530.5).
Cost of living in Shanghai
Even with a high income, when moving from Russia to Shanghai without a mortgage, it will not be possible to acquire a residential property. Calculations made on the basis of averaged data show that if the entire salary, even ¥ 17 thousand ($ 2,530.5), is completely set aside, then 54.5 will have to save up for housing in a residential area of Shanghai with an area of, for example, only 20 m2 of the year.
The cost of renting a 3-room apartment ranges from 1,000 to 3,000 dollars per month. But you will also need to pay for utilities. Their cost for a sublease of 85 m2 housing (garbage disposal, water, electricity) will be approximately ¥ 421.72 ($ 62.77).
Now a few words about nutrition. Estimated prices in cafes and restaurants:
- inexpensive lunch for one person - ¥ 33 ($ 5);
- dinner for two with alcohol - ¥ 267 ($ 40);
- Big Mac set at one of the McDonald's restaurants - ¥ 27.5 ($ 4).
In stores, 1 kg of loose rice costs ¥ 6 ($ 0.9), 1 kg of zucchini - ¥ 1.7 ($ 0.25), 1 kg of bananas - ¥ 4 ($ 0.6).
Conclusion
The prospect of quickly finding a job in Shanghai depends on the entrepreneurial spirit of the applicant, as well as on his personal and professional qualities. Knowledge of spoken Chinese is a plus, but in many cases it is sufficient to be proficient in English at the Pre-Intermediate level. Highly qualified personnel can count on the employer to provide them with visa support, housing, social benefits and a decent salary.
