SmartIntern's Philosophy

When we graduated university in 2008, the reasons to come to China were simple. They still are:

  • China is currently undergoing the largest industrial revolution in the history of mankind.
  • From 1979 to 2010, China's economy grew by an average of nearly 10% per year.
  • Mandarin Chinese is the world's most widely spoken language.
  • Peking Duck is simply delicious. 

The Reasons-to-Move-to-China List goes on. But what we have discovered is that, in spite of its rapid economic growth, finding a good job in China can be more even more difficult than finding a good job back home. The truth is that there are plenty of bad jobs in China, and bad internships. Sure, fetching coffee (or tea) in China is more exciting than doing it back home, but a dead end looks much the same anywhere. 

Having seen many bright and ambitious expat friends stuck in career limbo, we have learned that in spite of all the optimism surrounding China, it has plenty of career pitfalls. That's OK though- you shouldn't go to China if you don't like a challenge.

Our challenge to ourselves when forming SmartIntern was this:

"How can we connect students and young professionals with jobs in Shanghai that allow them to hit the ground running? How can we use more than a decade's worth of combined experience forging a career path in China to accelerate the careers of our customers? How can we educate others on how to to leverage technology and global experience to their advantage, wherever their career takes them? How can we identify where a student or professional's passion and skillset intersect with emerging trends, like Big Data or Mobile Payments?" More than anything, we asked: "How can we prepare students for a global economy that is changing an unprecedented rate?"

SmartIntern is a culmination of our hard work and experience in China's job market, and is designed to make your transition into China, whether for a summer internship or a full-time job. We focus on all the details- your apartment, your metro cards and your SIM cards- so you can focus on your career. And we help you think about the big stuff too- emerging industry trends, global developments, and productivity techniques- so that you can be a more effective global professional.

Success In Shanghai

We believe that, if you are adaptable, resilient, and persistent, there is a place for you in China's economy. The problem is, that place can be hard to find.

In China, personal contacts take on a whole new meaning, and success in China often comes down to who you know. Without access to a strong personal network, it can be difficult to find the positions that do exist.

China's many opportunities offer few clearly defined career paths. After all, deciding whether to cross the globe for an internship probably wasn't something most of our parents had to consider. And you can't exactly look to your peers back home for direction. China is new terrain, which is exciting but also very challenging, and it can take years to really find your footing here. By leveraging our experience and expertise, we at SmartIntern help you find your place in the world's most dynamic economy faster.

Whether you stay in China for three months or three years or three decades, the tools you gain from SmartIntern will provide you with the rock solid foundation you need to thrive in a global, digital landscape.

Success Beyond Shanghai

In 2013, Shanghai, China is one of the top places to accelerate your career. That said, we have never advocated the approach of putting 'all your eggs in one basket' and believe that, while China experience is a huge asset, simply 'knowing China' doesn't have the value it did ten years ago. We believe that the true value of China is in the many opportunities it provides to work above one's level in positions traditionally reserved for senior executives, thus enabling you to develop a career toolset much more quickly than you would back home.

Beyond this, experience in China can give you a framework that you can apply to the rest of the world. China is the future, yes, but so is Indonesia, and so is Brazil, and so is Kenya. Those who successfully navigate a landscape as complex as China's will be better prepared to identify global opportunities and tap into other markets as they emerge onto the global stage.

Launch a Career from Shanghai.

Some of the world's best, brightest, and most globally-minded young people are eschewing the slowly deteriorating path of the corporate career ladder in favor of a more promising path overseas. We have done this ourselves and consider it to be one of the best decisions we ever made. Applying to SmartIntern's program is simple and free, so you have nothing to lose: Apply Now!

 

Learn more about our Internships in China here.