The summer for a recent grad without a trust fund means work, usually at an internship full of high hopes that their time toiling away at a reception desk or filing old magazines at The Atlantic in Washington will one day lead them to a full time job at CNN. Oh, to be young again. The possibilities…
College Age Unemployment
With college age unemployment a record 18.4%, according to the Economic Policy Institute, one place to turn to for a shot at future employment is China. Company’s there are hiring. And young people looking for international experience in one of the most important emerging markets on the planet are heading to the Far East for those all-import fresh out of college internships. Lauren Ratcliffe, a recent journalism graduate at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, landed in Beijing on May 26 to start her internship at Chinese news portal China.org.cn without even knowing how to say “xiexie” to the people who hired her.
Heading to China
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Anecdotally, the number of foreign interns increases yearly to China. There are no official numbers, because many come to China on tourist or student visas, depending on the length of the internship. Beijing based Getin2China Group Ltd., which helps students find internships in China, said that the number of students heading to China has risen from no more than 500 in 2007 to 10,000 this year. Not all are Americans.
Heading to China might sound exciting, but the trip would be costly, and unless the internship provides stipend. Decent middle class apartments that at least resemble American dorm life and not a developing country are not cheap. Real estate prices continue to rise in Beijing and Shanghai. And even though a dollar goes a lot farther there than it does in Washington, an interns pay is a bit higher than a Chinese shoe maker. But, at least it’s a start. China on a college student’s résumé for a year is better than a year working at TGI Friday’s and Hollister.
While doing internship in a certain company you can have a clear view of all the business strategies, plans, processes, structures, approaches, relations of that company, of the ways it builds and expands its business. Most of the companies organize special business lectures, trainings and seminars for its young employees, and this is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable practical knowledge. Besides, during the internship period you can deeply evaluate the corporate culture of a given company and understand whether it suits you or not - whether you agree to stick to the rigid rules and adhere to the conditions of work, be able to communicate with your colleagues within set framework or simply can balance personal and business life. Finally, internship is a good time to meet new people and establish some contacts and expand your network.
Since unemployment among young college graduates still shows no improvement, the class of 2012 will likely face the highest unemployment rate for young college graduates since the Great Recession began, the Economic Policy Instiute reported in April.
More information about Business Internship Program in China is available at
http://www.getin2china.com/internship-program.html
Beijing Office: +86 10 52889011
Email: info@getin2china.com
Skype: Getin2china


















