Ask Headmaster Ken

Hello Headmaster Ken,

I am considering taking a position at a translation company that is based in Shanghai. I have lived and worked in China for almost a year and a half now, though this has all been on student visas. So, I have read a lot about the work visa process but I have never actually been through it. I am a little worried about the two year work experience requirement. Is it possible for me to get a work visa in Shanghai? What are my options?

Here is my situation. I graduated college in May of 2009 and came to China in November 2009. When I apply for the visa, my graduation date will have been more than two years ago. I have plenty of work experience from jobs that I have done during college, but this was all prior to graduation. Since graduating, I taught English full-time at a training center in China for 10 months, and I have a recommendation letter from that school. All this teaching was on a student visa! I also have been doing freelance editing and translation for the past year.

I have heard that Shanghai is very strict about things like this. My problem is this: how can I tell them that I have two years of work experience when I have been in China for one and a half years on a student visa? I have never heard of anyone being asked for documentation of their experience for an ESL job, as most English schools seem to only care about your graduation date.

Thanks for any answers you can provide!

In Shanghai, it is common to require two years of relevant, full-time, work experience after graduation from a four year college.

Shanghai is a popular destination, hence it is competitive.

You may want to consider other cities.

I agree with Ken that teaching positions in Shanghai are extremely competitive but you specifically made reference to a job in a translation copy. I have no idea whether this is a teaching or copy editing position.

Either way, ask your prospective employer to consider hiring you under an Alien Employment License--the requirements for this do not include two years of post-secondary work experience. See Headmaster's Ken earlier discussion on Alien Employment License for more information.