When I decided to do an internship this year and started my research on Google, I was totally overwhelmed with the amount of offers and sites available, and all the different requirements and prerequisites. It was all too much for me.
Hence, I thought about looking to an agency to lighten my workload.
Certainly, I was as doubtful and sceptical as you probably are right now.
But I’d like to clear up some of these doubts and demonstrate why going through an agency is actually quite a positive experience.
Purposeful Placements due to many years of experience
Professional agencies will check all companies before choosing them as referees.
InternChina, for example, ensures that each company has a fluent English speaker to be available to you right from the start of your internship, as your mentor and to help you with the culture shock. This way you’ll get the most out of your internship, as there will be no language barrier.
A good agency also provides an extensive pool of companies to choose from!
This means a quick placement without any annoying research before. The agency will choose a company based on your profile and preferences, to makes sure that your internship will suit both you and the company.
Have a look at their conditions, as agencies should help you with hurdles like Visa, flight or accommodation. Especially if it’s your first time abroad, this can help take a lot of work off your hands.
You should always ask or check the following things:
– Do they have personal contacts to the companies?
– Does the agency offer customised packages if you would like to change something?
– Do they assist you in preparing the documents for application?
– When do you have to pay the fee? Before or after getting your internship position?
– And finally, and quite importantly: Where is the headquarter placed? Only if itās in the country (or better, city) of your destination, can they provide you with help whenever you need it.
Compare some agencies and their offers, it should be free for you until you get your desired position. References could help you find out which agency fits you best. And if they offer language classes or other activities besides your internship you can be sure they (mostly) really care about you.
The preferred agency should appeal to you immediately; blogs could help you to get a first insight!
The most important thing about acquiring an internship through an agency, is not to only look at the expenses side, but to think about your time abroad, your experiences, and the security an agency will provide you!
Do you also want to benefit from using an agency? Then apply now?
1) Milk
Prejudice: Chinese canāt drink any milk, they are not able to digest it, so it is also for foreigners impossible to buy (fresh) milk in China.
True or false?
False. Well more or less at least. Chinese people donāt really drink milk, not as much as we do anyways, but that doesnāt mean they donāt drink milk at all. And it also doesnāt mean that you canāt buy any milk in China. In most of the big supermarkets (Walmart, Carrefour) it is possible to buy tasty fresh milk! There are also some āvariationsā with a lot of sugar and itāll only be milk powder in Milk Tea, but…well you probably wonāt be buying that anyways!
2) In China they eat dogs
Prejudice: Chinese eat everything, even dogs!
True or false?
This is true! But itās not like Chinese people would eat dog all the time, itās more a delicacy which can be quite expensive. I have met some foreigners who tried dog and they said it was not really worth trying, just normal, nothing special. You should be more careful about the duck neck and chicken feet, because they are normally spiced with loads of Sichuan Chili!
3) Everybody in China knows Kung Fu!
Prejudice: Every person in China, no matter how young or old, knows how to do Kung Fu.
True or False?
False. Itās the same if you would say that in Germany everybody knows how to play football. But in every myth there is a spark of truth, so Chinese people like to gather in parks in the morning, doing QiGong and Taiji and in the evening, dancing together or do some other workout. But donāt be disappointed, InternChina does know one or two real KungFu teachers, so you will still have a chance to become a famous martial artist after you come to China.
Come to China and get rid of your stereotypes! Apply now via Email info@internchina.com or through our website www.internchina.com
by Hanna
If we like it or not, most of us have different stereotypes about different nations!
And it feels like there are at least a million prejudices about Chinese people, especially in Western countries. I am pretty sure that other Asian countries also have their typical Chinese stereotypes, but they might differ from the ones we have. A lot of people ask us questions about life in China and want to know if their stereotypes are true.
So, in order to make it a little less fearsome for you to come to China, I want to write something about the most common and well known stereotypes we have in German speaking countries. Here we goā¦.
1) Spitting
Prejudice: Chinese are always, everywhere spitting. When they are walking on the street. When they are sitting on the bus. When they are sitting in restaurants.
True or false?
Half-true. Itās not like every Chinese person is spitting everywhere, but you will definitely encounter some people spitting on the streets. Anyways, in public transport, on the train or airplane people are not allowed to place their phlegm wherever they want. And most young people think itās disgusting, too. So spitting becomes less and less popular in China, especially in the bigger cities.
2) Chinese people all look the same
Prejudice: All Chinese people look the same. They have all dark eyes, black hair and are small.
True or false?
False. They do not all look the same! Ok, itās true that their natural hair colour is black and eyes are mostly dark as well, but Chinese people are also able to dye their hair, as well as they are able to cut it (meaning: there are people having long hair, short hair, layers, fringe/bangsā¦). There are tall Chinese (yes, even China has a basketball team) and small Chinese. It might be a little confusing for you in the beginning, but donāt worry youāll learn to distinguish between different people. By the way, for Chinese it is the same with Westerners: for them WE all look the same.
3) Chinese canāt line up
Prejudice: Chinese people donāt know how to queue up. They donāt even know what a queue is.
True or false?
Half-true. Itās not really common in China to queue up. Especially while you are waiting for a bus, metro or elevator. Itās normally get in/on or wait for the next one. You will need to get used to this phenomenon. In some cities like Beijing or Shanghai, you might find people who are waiting for something in a queue, but still this behaviour hasnāt spread in China yet. See it as a new challenge: You will learn how to get what you want, even if itās only getting on a bus.
Would you like to do an Internship in China and see if your stereotypes are true or false? Apply now via email info@internchina.com or through our website www.internchina.com!