The concept of internships is still quite new in China, therefore the way companies understand an internship varies widely.

As a general rule, you should always keep in mind that the lower your expectations, the likelier it is that you will be positively surprised. An internship is indeed work and you enter the company at a low level. This oftentimes means that you will be given tasks that may not be as challenging as you would have imagined. However, we have made the experience that the enterprises the Beijing Hutong School works with will push your talent if you display the willingness to step up. After all, China is a booming market and there is no end in sight. The company, NGO or manager you work for today may be the next big player in their respective field opening up great opportunities for you, too.

An internship in Beijing may be your ticket to a successful career in Asia and beyond!

Start ups

Start ups are a very common type of company in China due to the rapid development of its market. Many people see a niche and try to fill the void with their business ideas.

Oftentimes the structures and systems of start ups are not as developed as those at SMEs or corporations. Also, start ups may still lack a constant flow of customers which can cause work to be repetitive and basic at times. However, since start ups are mostly owner-run they give our interns the chance to learn how a business works top to bottom. Also, generally speaking, start ups are more open to ideas and creativity and we believe that interns can have a fantastic time if they bring along a positive attitude. After all, you may be working for one of the great companies of tomorrow.

SMEs

Many international SMEs in China are the way for companies well-established in foreign countries to build up a presence in the growing Chinese market. Upon entering China, SMEs normally bring along comprehensive systems and strategies to tackle the new market.

Work at SMEs will be much more structured than at a start up and you can be quite sure to be busy as customer relations will have been established already causing a steady inflow of orders etc. You can also expect to have the opportunity to interact with middle and even upper management but probably less so than in a start up. A little fact that may motivate you further: over the past years, some SMEs have actually offered our interns permanent positions in China upon completion of their internships.

International corporations

International corporations in China are usually quite similar to their counterparts in other countries. They bring with them corporate structures and philosophies that have been developed over decades and define corporations as what they are.

Working for an international corporation means work within highly structured processes and systems. You will be given your own little area of responsibility and it is very likely that you will report to a middle manager. There may not be a lot of contact with upper management which does not necessarily mean that you will not get the chance to make your ideas heard. The great plus is that working for an international corporation will give your CV an impressive boost and may also qualify you for future tasks especially within the same framework.

Chinese companies

Chinese companies are the home players in the Chinese market. Compared to the West they have been doing business according to a very different code of conduct, yet the recent economic upswing is to a big extent their accomplishment and therefore a display of their abilities.

Owing to the fact that the concept of internships in the western sense is new to Chinese companies, a placement with them is indeed a great challenge. You have to keep in mind that though things may be handled differently from what you are used to, these ways should not be judged. You will encounter many cross cultural differences during your time at a Chinese company but you will have to see them as your great chance to understand them.

For an internship at a Chinese company an intermediate level of Chinese is necessary. If you are keen to do such an internship but need to bring your Chinese up to speed, we propose to start with an intensive course and take the internship later.

Chambers of Commerce and NGOs

Chambers of Commerce have been operating in China for a while already. Most countries have a business club established in the big Chinese cities to boost presence and international trade. NGOs are a slightly newer phenomenon. Oftentimes relying on donations and goodwill, funding may be low which can mirror in the availability of facilities and equipment.

These not for profit institutions are a real alternative to the other types of enterprise. Chambers of Commerce are a brilliant way to build up a great network in China while working at NGOs can be very rewarding in terms of adding value to your CV and the feeling to “really have done something”. Workload, structures etc. do, however, greatly depend on the size of operations, as among Chambers of commerce and NGOs you may have big established ones as well as start ups.