Intern Guidebook: Shanghai
Shanghai, with its world’s busiest harbor, has continued to be the center for economy and trade in China. It is the powerhouse of China’s booming economy. As a global city, Shanghai is connected internationally to all parts of the world. By having an internship in Shanghai, you will be able to learn many things, from multicultural management to new valuable skills for your future career.
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Visa and Accommodation
The most commonly offered internship visa is the business M-visa, which officially, the M-visa is only for “commerce or trade” that is why it is very short term and requires exit and entry every 30, 60, or 90 days. You will need to obtain an invitation or recommendation letter from the company where you will have your internship. This letter, along with other necessary documents, should be submitted to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate or Chinese Visa Application Service Center in your home country.
In a city this big and this populous, there will be plenty of options for accommodation. For foreigners who are new to Shanghai, it might be better to use the service of real estate / housing agencies. Be very specific about your criteria to your agents, like about the location, budget and facilities, so that you can shorten your search time. Lastly, remember to bargain, as more often than not the landlord will be present in the viewing.
Internships Placements
There are plenty of choices for an internship in Shanghai. As the first Free Trade Zones in China, many multinational companies and startups flourished in Shanghai. Many young professionals and entrepreneurs gather in Shanghai, making it a hot pot of new and innovative ideas. Therefore, an internship in fields like finance, marketing, and engineering is the most popular in Shanghai. If you are more interested to have an internship in creative industry, like music, film, and fashion, there are also plenty of opportunities in Shanghai. After all, Shanghai is named as the City of Design by UNESCO for its commitment to the development of the creative industry.
Working Condition
During your internship in Shanghai, you will experience the strong collectivism and high hierarchy, which characterized Chinese’s culture. This translates to Chinese’s working culture, where concepts like Guanxi and GeiMianZi are very important in business. Guanxi is basically a relationship of exchanging or “paying back” favors. Chinese people prefer to build strong relationship before starting business. It is common to have small talks before a meeting or to go out drinking with your Chinese’s colleagues and business partners. In fact, being invited for drinks is considered to be a very important step in establishing a strong personsal relationship! The second concept, GeiMianZi, literally translates to “Give Face”. It means that you need to give appropriate respect to people according to rank and seniority. Basically, you will need to follow the socially accepted rules of the group and preserve the group harmony. Public confrontation needs to be avoided at all cost as it can cause a “loss of face”. This concept also make it harder for Chinese people to say no directly as it is considered impolite.
Another interesting thing to note is the significance of certain numbers in Chinese culture. Number 4 is highly avoided in China, as it is sounds like the Chinese word of “death”. On the other hand, number 8 is considered the luckiest number, as it sounds similar to the Chinese word of “prosperity”. Pay attention to these numbers, which one to avoid and which one to choose.
Life in Shanghai
It is pretty easy to get around Shanghai with its comprehensive and relatively cheap public transportation.You can also take a short trip outside the city, as Shanghai has the world fastest train, the Maglev. Walking around the city is also pretty convenient. Although be prepared to face the sea of people, as Shangai is one of the most populous cities in the world. For entertainment, there are endless choices in Shanghai.You can find many events, like music and art, all over Shanghai. There are plenty of dining places and also vibrant nightlife. From traditional markets to megamalls, Shanghai is also a shopping heaven where you can find anything you could possibly need.
Having an internship in Shanghai will definitely be an unforgettable experience that will be invaluabel to your future career.If you want to know more about Internship in Shanghai, contact us!