I primi giorni in cui parenti e amici mi chiedevano “com’è Shanghai?” la mia risposta era sempre “caldissima”. A chi oggi, dopo due mesi trascorsi qui, mi pone la stessa domanda posso dare una risposta diversa.

Quando arrivi a Shanghai l’impatto è notevole, ti ritrovi catapultato in un mondo totalmente diverso da quello della tua quotidianità. Grazie alle persone con cui ho condiviso queste esperienza e alla grande disponibilità dello staff di CRCC Asia ho familiarizzato molto velocemente con la città e ho iniziato subito a scoprire le meraviglie che offre.

Insomma, la mia risposta alla domanda “com’è Shanghai” alla luce della mia esperienza non può che essere: una città in continuo fermento, che offre davvero tante opportunità ai giovani che hanno voglia di mettersi alla prova e in cui c’è sempre qualcosa di nuovo da scoprire.

After I graduated I always wanted to go travelling and stumbled upon CRCC Asia. I instantly got drawn to the programme from its inviting website. I didn’t think in my wildest dreams I would end up working in Shanghai, China. I felt re-assured from reading the testimonials and intern blogs. Within seven weeks of applying my application was fast tracked and all formalities from visa processing to airport pickup and orientation smoothly handled by the CRCC Asia team.

Overall it has made me a more adaptable person, not to mention the friends I have made from all over the world. I am still in contact with some and in the process of planning a future reunion. I would say this has been one of the best experiences of my life. Returning back to London this internship has opened many doors for me and has been a key conversation topic for interviews. I would highly recommend it to anyone considering undertaking an internship in Shanghai and like to thank CRCC Asia for making this happen.

Me llamo Javier Muelas, soy estudiante de cuarto año en la Dublin City University (Irlanda) y acabo de realizar dos meses de prácticas de finanzas en Shanghai.

Lo que más me gustado del programa ha sido tanto la posibilidad de hacer unas prácticas en el sector que me gusta, permitiéndome mejorar mi CV y dar un empujón a mi carrera, como el poder disfrutar enormemente de esta preciosa y loca ciudad que es Shanghai. Aquí hay un gran número de cosas que hacer después del trabajo: salidas nocturnas, restaurantes, cervezas con los colegas… Estas últimas, sin ninguna duda, las echaré de menos.

Creo que Shanghai es una ciudad perfecta, tanto para divertirse como para desarrollar una carrera profesional, el binomio más importante para un expat. ¡Me siento realmente afortunado de haberlo podido vivir! “Work hard, party harder”, dicen…

After graduating from university, I realized that I had no real professional experience to land me the type of career I was in search of. Therefore, I went in search of an internship that could help enhance my C.V. and make me stand out to potential employers. That is when I discovered the CRCC Asia internship program. I knew this was the type of experience I needed. I would gain work experience in a foreign country, learn about another culture, and begin my study of Mandarin Chinese.

Although moving to China can be scary, it was the best decision I have ever made. My internship in Shanghai was one of the best experiences not only professionally but also socially.

I would certainly recommend CRCC Asia to anyone. Not only does it enhance your C.V. but it also gives you the opportunity to have one of the greatest times of your life.

I have long had an interest in China, to the extent that I opted to take Mandarin as a first year subsidiary module. As a psychology student I saw CRCC Asia as a way to broaden my horizons in terms of work experience (I was a legal intern) as well as exploring a culture that seemed so different to mine. I chose Beijing for its history, culture and the chance to practice my beginner’s level Mandarin. After only a week I came to regret my decision to spend only a month, wishing I could stay for longer.

China is without a doubt one of the fastest growing economies of our time. I would definitely recommend that such an opportunity to be put amidst China’s elaborate and fast paced economy and to experience first hand with CRCC Asia what it’s like not only living but working in China should be grabbed quickly. There really is nothing like it.

My first impression of Beijing was ‘freezing’ and I thanked mum aloud for making me wear all my coats on the plane to save space in my luggage. The more I looked around the more I fell in love with the busy, sing-song atmosphere (you were learn very quickly that singing aloud whilst waltzing down the street is perfectly normal… the Chinese love to sing!).

I have made friends from all over Australia and New Zealand who I still keep in contact with and plan to visit this year. I can’t stress enough that my internship in Beijing is one of the most amazing experiences I have ever encountered. Chinese culture is not something that can be put into words; it is something that must be experienced first-hand.

In my final year of University I was successfully elected Vice President for Equality and Diversity of Queen’s University Belfast Students’, in this role I worked directly with international students and saw the immense benefit that an international experience was giving them – I wanted this too however I had already achieved a 2:1 LLB Law with Politics and thus wanted to gain some practical work experience.

Since returning from Asia, I decided that I no longer wanted to pursue a career in law but instead in business project management. I now live in London and work for a evolving and dynamic company called Asurion as a Program Management Analyst. I can say without question that my internship in Beijing, China a) helped me impress during the interview process and b) has equipped me with the necessary practical skillset to succeed. More importantly, I made some amazing friends whilst in China, most of which I see on a regular basis, and others (Chinese nationals) who I am planning a visit too.

A month before starting graduate studies I decided I needed a break from school. I wanted to travel and gain real world experience. After searching high and low for the perfect opportunity, I stumbled upon CRCC Asia; I am glad I did! The 2-month language and internship in Beijing was one of the best experiences I have had to date. I know it may sound cliché but I stand by it 100%.

I would highly recommend CRCC Asia language/internship program. I have met lifelong friends, gained invaluable work experience and learned so much about a unique culture. This was an unforgettable opportunity and I am thankful to CRCC Asia for making it all possible!

I was a junior at the time and started to feel the heat to land an internship. I began browsing my university’s career center website for different internships. The one that caught my eye was the internship in Beijing, China with CRCC Asia. I’m a business major and the prospect of working in China, the hub of the business world, excited me. It seemed like a no-brainer: study abroad while gaining valuable work experience. I applied immediately and before I knew it I was boarding a plane to Beijing.

Ultimately, interning in Beijing has given me that added edge to put me above the rest. It seems as if Marketing majors are a dime a dozen nowadays, but how many of them have real work experience that they gained in Beijing, China? It can be a daunting idea to consider spending two months in China, but I highly recommend it. CRCC Asia was more than helpful during my entire experience. They take care of all the hard stuff and point you in the right direction.

I vividly remember as a five-year-old sitting in my lounge looking at an encyclopedia and seeing the Great Wall of China. I was fascinated because I have never seen something so different, the culture appealed to me. My inspiration was the love of China’s culture first and foremost rather than the internship in Beijing or an addition to my CV. I wanted to understand a different way of living, the size and scale of the daily operations, whether activities came as easy for me in NZ as they do elsewhere, if not, then why?

Overall, I am confident I can prosper professionally in a competitive country, industry, and city. I intend to make my mark on the energy and resource industry. China is fast becoming the leader in this field, therefore, I will not be surprised to see myself return.