More Foreign Interns Seek Work in China

Adventurous graduates, facing a troubled job market in the US, turn to internships and work for free in exchange for experience. Spurred by publicity about the 2008 Beijing Olympics and then the global financial crisis, increasing numbers head to China, reports China Daily. The international program AIESEC, based in the Netherlands, arranges internships in 107 nations; China is now the most popular destination. More than 200 organizations and firms, including Microsoft, participate. Popular positions are in journalism, teaching English, finance and business – drawing even students who have never studied the Chinese language. Chinese state-owned businesses are intrigued about the chance to try out top-of-the line students from Harvard and MIT for long-term posts. The students bring vitality, new ideas and a global cachet to the Chinese workplace, report Xu Junqian and Duan Yan. Internships could be the foundation of China’s future global workforce. – YaleGlobal