How to find a job in Tianjin
Tianjin is an important port city in northeastern China, one of the five central national cities, and one of China's largest urban areas with a population of over 15 million. The city hosts numerous big companies and industries recruiting expats, and it shouldn't be difficult for a foreign professional to find a job in Tianjin.
Despite the city's popularity, the cost of living in Tianjin is much lower compared to first-tier cities. This, in turn, makes it an attractive destination for expats, about 40,000 of which call Tianjin their home.
Read about Tianjin's economy, update your CV and start job-hunting!
Important:
Since the COVID-pandemic, traveling to China and applying for the needed documents has become substantially more complicated. Keep in mind that even if you secure a job offer in Tianjin, you may need to wait until the situation changes before traveling to the country.
Tianjin economy
Tianjin is one of the country's most important industrial cities, with its biggest industries being machine building, textile, chemistry, metallurgical and petroleum.
The city is home to several economic areas, including the Tianjin Baodi Economic and Technological Development Zone, the Tianjin High Technologies Industrial Park, the Tianjin Export Processing Zone, the Wuqing Development Zone and Huayuan Industrial Development Zone, etc. All of these contribute significantly to the city's GDP.
Moreover, the city hosts the region's busiest port, as well as a multitude of international companies, including Toyota, Samsung, HP, and many others. There are also many higher education establishments, including the University of Nankai and the University of Civil Aviation of China.
The job market in Tianjin
As Tianjin is one of China's busiest ports, you will find a large number of international companies here, with Samsung, HP, Toyota and others all being represented in the city. This opens up quite a few opportunities for expats — and you may even be relocated to Tianjin from your home country if you work for an international company.
The city's special economic areas (Tianjin Baodi Economic and Technological Development Zone, Tianjin High Technologies Industrial Park, and others) are home to a large number of local export companies that also hire foreign professionals in different fields. You may find opportunities in technology, IT, web development, industrial design, engineering, project management, and more. Plus, as many companies in Tianjin make products for international markets, they are also interested in hiring foreign professionals in sales, marketing, social media management, promotion, PR, etc.
There are 17 universities in Tianjin, which means there are job offers available in the education industry. As with most cities in China, one of the easiest ways to get a job in Tianjin is by exploring opportunities in English teaching. There are several public schools and private training centers in Tianjin that regularly hire English teachers. Plus, there are also opportunities in corporate training, tutoring, exam prep, and more.
How to find a job in Tianjin?
If you are job hunting from outside China, the best place to start your job search is online. Check out the following websites for opportunities in Tianjin: Echinacities, HiredChina, ChinaTeachingJobs, JobsDB.
Another useful tool in remote job hunting is social media. Make sure your Linkedin account is fully updated and indicates that you are open to new opportunities. It is also a good idea to change your Linkedin location to Tianjin so that your profile is more visible to employers and headhunters in the city.
If you are an experienced professional, your job search will be more efficient if you go through a hiring agency. You will find a lot of Tianjin recruiters and hiring agencies on Linkedin.
Yet another way to go about your job search is to contact potential employers directly. You can look up companies in your field with offices in Tianjin and check their website for potential employment opportunities. You can also reach out to their HR departments and inquire whether there are any openings in the department you want to work in.
You can also check with employers in your home country. Some international companies may have branch offices or manufacturing facilities in Tianjin. Finding a job in your home country first and then exploring relocation options may be one of the best ways to have job security in China.
The best thing about being relocated from a company back home is that international companies typically provide their employees with generous relocation packages that include perks such as moving costs, accommodation, living expenses, education for children, tickets to fly back home for holidays and more.
Before you set out on your job search in China, make sure to download the WeChat app. It's the number one app in China with over 900 million users and is used for most online communication in the country. WeChat is primarily a messenger app, but you can also use it for work calls, sharing documents, holding online meetings, setting up work group chats, and more. WeChat is also a social media, shopping, and contactless payment tool.
If you want to search for work in Tianjin when you are already in the country, you can still do all of the above. However, to work in China legally, you will need to apply for a work permit and residence — and the only way to do that is from outside of China. So, if you secure a job offer, you will need to travel back home and apply for a work visa before starting your employment.
Important:
Currently, you can only travel to China if you have a valid residence permit. You will also need to undergo a quarantine on your arrival. Make sure to check the latest entry requirements to the country before making any travel plans.
How to apply for a job in Tianjin?
Applying for a job in Tianjin is similar to applying for a job in most other Chinese cities. Have your resume and cover letter ready. If you are applying for a job in an international company or seeking a position where knowledge of Chinese isn't required, you can send your application in English. However, if you speak and write Chinese, make sure to mention this in your application. It is also a good idea to send out copies of your resume and cover letter in Chinese. Good command of Chinese will substantially increase your employment options.
The next step in the application process will be a message or call from the hiring manager or your future employer. As we've mentioned above, make sure you download the WeChat app, as a lot of communication in China — including work communication — happens on the app. In fact, it's a good idea to add your WeChat ID to your application so that your potential employer can get in touch with you quickly.
If the employer is interested in your application, you will next go through a round of interviews. Note that if you are applying for work in a large company, you may need to interview with several department heads at different levels. If you are applying for work in a smaller firm, one or two interviews will probably be enough.
How to apply for a work visa to China?
The only way to work in China legally is to apply for a work visa. To do so, you will need to go through the following steps:
- Applying for a work permit
- Obtaining a PU letter (optional for applicants from some countries)
- Applying for the work visa itself.
Note that all work visas in China are classified into three categories:
- Class A (high-level talent)
- Class B (professional personnel)
- Class C (non-technical and service workers hired for seasonal/temporary projects).
The eligibility requirements for each visa class may differ.
The first thing you will need to do is obtain a job offer. Having a valid work contract is essential for applying for a work visa in China. You will also need to make sure that your employer is capable of sponsoring your work visa. There are special requirements for companies in China that want to employ foreigners — and your employer will need to meet these requirements to provide you with a visa.
Once you have secured a work contract, you will need to ask your employer to send you an official invitation (work permit notice). You may also need to obtain a PU letter, an invitation that is issued by the China Foreign Affairs Office. Currently, applicants from the United States, Austria, Croatia, Czech, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and South Korea do not require a PU letter. However, as these requirements change frequently, make sure to check whether you need a PU letter prior to your application.
As the related requirements change frequently, check with your local Chinese embassy or consulate whether you need a PU letter to apply for a work visa.
Once you've collected the above documents, you can apply for the work visa itself. You can submit your application at your nearest embassy or consulate in China. Note that you will need to make an appointment first.
If your application is approved and you receive your work visa, check whether all the information on your visa is correct, such as your name's spelling, type of visa, entry date, length of stay, etc.
When you have received your work visa, you will be able to travel to China. But while a work visa grants you entry into the country, it only allows for a limited stay. It is essential that you start your residence permit application process as soon as you arrive in China to make sure you complete your application in time.
Important:
Obtaining a work permit is the only way to work in China legally. With that, you may find job offers (especially in English teaching) that won't provide you with the needed documents. While quite a few expats do engage in such employment offers, the consequences for working illegally in China are severe. You will be facing heavy fines and deportation. You may even be banned from visiting China in the future.
Wages in Tianjin
As an English teacher in Tianjin, you will probably be making from RMB 12,000 ($1,800) to 20,000 ($3,000) and sometimes more. Your salary will depend on your level of experience, the training center you work for, and how many teaching hours you take on. You can increase your earnings by tutoring on the side, working as a corporate trainer for companies, teaching online, and more.
If you work in sales, you can be making anywhere from RMB 8,000 ($1,200) to 30,000 ($4,400) and more, depending on your line of work, base salary, commission, etc. Those working in tech-related fields can expect to earn from RMB 20,000 ($3,000) to 40,000 ($6,000), depending on the position.
Cost of living in Tianjin
As mentioned above, the cost of living in Tianjin is lower compared to many other cities in China. As with most relocations, your biggest expense will be renting accommodation. You should expect to pay from RMB 2,000 to 4,000 for a studio or one-bedroom apartment in Tianjin, further away from the city center. Renting a two-bedroom in the city center will probably cost you upwards of RMB 8,000.
For a single person, your expenses in the city may range from RMB 5,000 to 15,000 per month. Naturally, if you are moving to Tianjin with your family or want to live a specific lifestyle, you may be spending substantially more.
What are the perks of living in Tianjin?
You will like living in Tianjin if you want to live in a modern, well-developed city off the popular expat track. Just half an hour away from Beijing, Tianjin is also a good place to start if you eventually want to move to the capital. Tianjin is a megacity with a population of over 14 million people. Tianjin does have an expat community, but there are much fewer foreigners in the city compared to other large cities like Beijing, Shanghai or Shenzhen. This means that you will be dealing with less competition when looking for work.
As Tianjin is very close to Beijing, you will be within easy reach of all the amenities of the capital city. Plus, the city itself has a developed infrastructure and a lot of after-work activities to explore: from sightseeing and hiking to discovering the region's diverse cuisine.
