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Re: Is it time to move out of the United States?

GeekMBA360 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:34:47 -0000

Thanks. Very insightful comments! Very well said. You should start your own blog about living and working in China as a high tech professional. :-)

I recently had a conversation with people from a china-based company. They were telling me that they wanted to hire people who agree with their dreams/goals/passions, not just people who want a higher job title and a bigger pay check.

Knowing a few friends who work in high tech/PE/consulting companies in China, although they get paid well, they all seems to work much longer hours than their counterparts in the United States. I think folks need to understand the demanding work environment when they make the decision to move to China.

Good luck on your job search.

Re: Is it time to move out of the United States?

Marie Cheng — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:07:21 -0000

Great post, in that it raises the idea that it's a truly viable option, but that it should be made carefully. A career or personal move to China is no longer the simple backpacker's adventure it used to be. While that option is still there, there is such a thing as a strategic approach to moving to Asia, to China, to Singapore, even to Beijing over Shanghai over Shenzhen. I made the move in 2004, but my strategy slowly formed around 2005-2006, and I haven't looked back since.

To play the pessimist, it's actually almost behind the curve to pick up and move now without a plan or prepared thoughts on 1) why you want to be there and 2) what you can bring to the country. The rapid change you read about in the paper doesn't do justice to the actual changes occurring every day. It's high times for the 'haigui' - returning Chinese citizens who studied and worked successfully in the US for many years before deciding to go back to the motherland - and bilingualism/multiculturalism is key. Working in China isn't so much bringing your foreign expertise as it is bringing expertise, period. It isn't enough anymore to just be fluent in English and learning Chinese.

Then there is the question of your commitment. Naturally it's hard to know that when you first decide to come, but that will be on everyone's minds as you interview for jobs or plug VCs for money. Just how committed are you to China, and to China's development? They've had 3000 years of struggles with imperialists, and their memories are hardy (and only as accurate as they can be with such a lengthy history), so they aren't looking for people looking for a free pass to upper management back in their home country. I'm not trying to deter anyone from going, but, be aware that that's a question they'll ask you, and really, you should ask yourself!

Totally agree with you that a person should come short term first and see if they like their time here and feel they can adapt. You are NOT a wuss if you struggle with it, because it is indeed so different from a western environment, but better to know that first and then decide. As the Chinese say, "Feel your way across the river by touching for stepping stones."

As this is on my mind these days as I find myself looking for a new job in China, you can imagine I've been mulling over this for some time! Apologies if my tone seems too hard, but really, that's the reality.

Re: Is it time to move out of the United States?

GeekMBA360 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:46:48 -0000

Thanks, Leslie. The Forbe article you recommended is great! Shune Rein's most recent Forbe article "Three Myths About China" is also excellent.

Re: Is it time to move out of the United States?

Leslie Forman — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:16:55 -0000

Good post. I guess I was a year ahead of the curve, moving to Asia in 2006 :)

I agree that there are lots of opportunities here, but they are of no use to people who don't have any inherent interest in the region or the specific jobs people get involved in here. I actually was a Latin American Studies major and decided to come to China about a week after graduation, and my interest in China bloomed after this initial, impulsive decision.

You might want to check out this excellent Forbes article on the same topic: http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/...