Preparing for a Chinese Interview? 4 Essential Parts To Know

China has become a place for international professionals to build their careers in numerous industries. Being able to speak Chinese will open opportunities.

If you want to work in China or any Chinese-speaking country, being in a Chinese-language job interview can be intimidating for many foreigners.

The good news is we're here to help to let you know about Chinese interview etiquette.

Whether this is your first interview or coming from a previous job, we'll review everything you need to know about preparing for a Chinese job interview.

Will learning Chinese help me get a job?

Knowing Chinese will expand the employment pool for you, especially if you're able to speak Mandarin Chinese, the second most spoken language in the world.

Jobs that require Chinese language skills are diverse, such as interpreting, research, data analyzing, marketing, etc. China recently removed a work experience requirement for foreign postgraduate candidates, creating new opportunities for many non-native university graduates on the job hunt.

Your interviewer will know that Mandarin isn't your native language, but it's best to prepare for anything in the interview in Chinese.

What does the Chinese job interview process look like?

Part 1: Introduce yourself.

This phrase is among the most asked interview questions in any nation or language. It occurs at the beginning of the interview.

While this can be a simple request, it's worth thinking through your response beforehand.

Many interviewees struggle with picking which aspects of their life they want to share. For example, you can share your background, educational accomplishments, and career history. However, keep the answer professional without making it sound too stiff.

Let's start with how you can create an introduction:

It's Chinese business etiquette to address your superiors or colleagues by their job title, such as 经理 (jīnglǐ or manager) after your interviewer's surname.

However, if you don't know the specific position of the interviewer within the company, place either 女士 (nǚshì; Mrs.) or 先生 (xiānshēng; Mr.) after your interviewer's surname. For example, 您 好… 女士／先生 (Nínhǎo, … nǚshì/xiānshēng) — Hello, Mrs. / Mr. (name of interviewer)

After greeting your interviewer, you can talk about yourself, such as where you come from.

After you've established your personal background, move on to your educational history, such as your education level, major, and any degrees that you have obtained.

To wrap up your introduction, describe your relevant jobs after graduating. Here is a common sentence structure for this section:

Part 2: Explain why you want this job

Once you introduce yourself, your interviewer wants to know your interest in this job—a tricky question since they want to evaluate your skills, why you want this job, and what you bring to the team and company.

Like Western companies, it's always best to research the job and the Chinese company beforehand. That way, you can show off what you know and are ready to work for them.

In Chinese culture, pride, and reputation are highly valued. When Chinese people talk about those qualities, they use “mianzi,” translated as “face.” It is a concept of how others perceive you, and the respect you command from them is very important to Chinese business.

Therefore, offering compliments or giving face to your prospective employer will certainly position you in a favorable light.

Additionally, when explaining why you'd like the job, mention the ways that you hope to grow professionally and contribute to the company, for example:

Part 3: Describe your strengths and weaknesses

Describe your strengths

This question is one of the most beloved and hated ones to be asked. There are many ways to answer, yet, you want to avoid coming off as self-promoting or giving a bland and generic response.

You may have multiple skills that you have sharpened over time but think about the skills most relevant to the position in question so you can make the most of your airtime. Below are sentence constructions to demonstrate your abilities.

Common characteristics likely to be well-received by Chinese employers include:

• 热情 (rèqíng, enthusiasm or passion)

• 负责任 (fùzérèn, responsible)

• 积极 (jījí, energetic or positive)

• 主动 (zhǔdòng, proactive)

Some soft skills are in demand in today's workforce, and if you have a chance to mention them, chances are you'll get a plus point. These skills can include:

• 领导能力 (lǐngdǎo nénglì, leadership skills)

• 团队管理 (tuánduì guǎnlǐ, team management skills)

• 沟通技巧 (gōutōng jìqiǎo, communication skills)

Identifying the strengths you'd like to showcase during your interview and researching relevant Chinese vocabulary will help you confidently answer this interview question.

If you want to learn more Chinese vocabulary, consider Pandanese. The Chinese Wanikani flashcards combine mnemonics and the SRS learning system to help you learn and build Chinese vocabulary. Using Pandanese online or with the Pandanese App, you can increase your Chinese proficiency and feel more prepared to tackle anything, including interviews.

Describe your weaknesses

Answering “What are your weaknesses?” might be difficult, especially if you intend to discuss your qualifications, talents, and abilities that make you the fittest candidate for the position.

But if you combine self-awareness with a solution to your weaknesses, you're framing your limitations in a good light. The key to preparing for this question is identifying your shortcomings that still communicate strengths. It will show the interviewer you're introspective enough to know your areas of opportunity.

Examples are:

*Note: Overtime is particularly common in China's tech industry, where workers toil in a grueling ‘996' work culture, which refers to working 12-hour days, from 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days per week.

Part 4: Wrap up the interview

This section usually includes a brief chance for questions, a thank-you to candidates for coming to the interview, and an explanation of when and how the candidate will hear back from the company. This part is generally short, lasting around five minutes. At this stage, you'll probably hear the following sentence (or a similar closing remark) from your interviewer:

Before shaking hands and walking out the door, remember to thank your interviewer for their time and the chance to audition for the job with a courteous statement like the one below:

And end your interview with a slight bow as that is customary in a Chinese formal setting.

In closing

Preparing for any job interview can be stressful, let alone in another language. Knowing the process, what questions interviewers, and key Chinese phrases will help reduce your stress.

Following these tips can enhance your chances of success in a Chinese job interview to pave your career in Chinese or any Chinese-speaking country.