I didn’t really know what to expect from my internship in Beijing. However after reflecting on my two months there, I wish it could have lasted a little longer. The internship itself was great because you are exposing yourself to a completely different business culture compared to the western world, and being able to adapt to such an environment is a unique and rewarding experience.

I definitely feel more culturally aware too, and have a much greater appreciation for Chinese culture. What I loved most about Beijing is the immense variety it provides, be it food or just things to do every day. For instance in my two months, I went from visiting the Summer Palace and Great Wall, to munching on deep-fried scorpion at the night market. Plus it’s an added bonus that you don’t have to break the bank in order to do these things.

I would highly recommend the internship program with CRCC Asia.

I achieved a degree at The School of the Art Institute, Chicago, Illinois. I did an internship in Beijing through CRCC Asia during June and August last year in architecture with spatial practice.

I was one of the first interns that received an internship with an architectural company. My experience there was fantastic. I applied to the program because I know that China is a market where architectural practice is emerging and growing. Due to their economy, I knew there were opportunities to see old, new and developing architecture in the country. The fact that the World’s Expo 2010 was held in Shanghai only added to the punch.

The revolution of architecture is on its brink. The melding of current technology and the ideas of sustainability are pushing architecture into realms of many possibilities. China and its rise of architecture development is why I chose to be a part of CRCC Asia. The spatial practice internship put me on the front lines of observing and experiencing this boom in design development. I was part of a great team that allowed me to test my skills and abilities, while applying them in architectural discourse. The internship was only supported by the many CRCC Asia activities that immersed me in the Chinese culture. I am proud of the work that I accomplished while also maintaining a business network and creating many new friends. My whole experience expanded my vision as a student, designer, and traveller. If I had the chance, I would do it all over again.

My experience during my internship helped me foster great personal and professional relationships with the people I met. The Guanxi I experienced was of the highest order. I would love to return to China now I have graduated, I will be sending my resume and applying to many firms in the area. I will also be sending my application to firms here in the states and my experience in China is at the top of my resume.

The CRCC Asia internship has provided me with the necessary tools in furthering my career. Not only do I work along side talented, international, professionals, but with my placement I have been able to narrow down my career choice and am in the process for looking for the best job.

My cultural experiences in China have broadened my view of the world. I tried reading about the Chinese culture but after living here, it was nothing I could have ever imagined. It pushed my comfort level, and although I had my “bad China days”, as the ex-pats call it, I have taken these experiences with me and will apply them towards my future.

This internship in Shanghai was a valuable experience that has changed my outlook on life and China.

I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to do an internship in Beijing via the British Council and CRCC Asia. The team were all so wonderful and were there for us 24/7, they would come with us to the hospital and be of emotional support also. The internship was wonderful and a great way to make international connections. I was placed in the exact field and even niche area that I hope to have as a career in the future. The whole team work above and beyond to make our stay enjoyable whilst giving us weekly Mandarin lessons which were very helpful and cultural activities such as calligraphy and dumpling making. I got to meet a lot of new and wonderful people and live in an amazing city for a month, altogether it was an invaluable opportunity and one of the best things I have ever done in my life.

My internship in Beijing with CRCC Asia was an incredible experience for me. It allowed me to achieve my long-time dream to visit China and to combine my time there with a practical and meaningful internship. As a university student close to graduation, I started thinking more and more about the life after I was done with my studies, and, thus, I started looking for an internship that can both teach me something and look good on my CV. Then, I came across CRCC Asia and thought doing the program and doing it in China would be a great thing for me. I applied, was successful and CRCC Asia delivered.

I got an offer for an internship in the funding division of a renowned international NGO. In retrospect, I was particularly happy at that position, because it allowed me to see the entire work process in the NGO: all the work that all other divisions were doing would inevitably go through the funding division in the shape of project proposals to potential or long-term donors. Due to the fact that my division was predominantly international and the other divisions were mostly Chinese, the atmosphere in the office seemed to incorporate the best of Chinese and Western work practices, and it was a very enjoyable environment to work in.

Then, there was the free time, and Beijing definitely is a fun place to be when it comes to that. If you are organized or know someone who can help you make arrangements, you can travel weekends and discover other cities and areas of China. I could not travel much, but, still, after two months of exploring Beijing, I continued finding new things to do and interesting places to visit. There are lots of great historic and cultural landmarks, the cuisine is great (and so very cheap), and nightlife is pretty much the same as anywhere around the world although there is a pretty big and fun expat community.

In the end, I have to say, the whole experience comes down to what motivation you have coming in and whether that changes, how happy you are with your job, and where and with whom you decide to spend your nights and weekends. I felt all those things aligned well for me, so my internship in China is definitely an experience I will remember for a long time.

At the point of my life where I was still unsure of what I wanted to do, I knew an international working experience would make me stand out from the crowd in terms of career opportunities. My academic background and strong interests in the rising economic powerhouse of China motivated me to seek first hand experience in the Chinese business environment. Having met a CRCC Asia representative at an information session presented at my university, I was convinced to apply for the program. Upon my acceptance in an initial one month internship in Beijing, I was a little unsure of what to expect. In hindsight, I have gained everything and more of what I wanted from the program, which is reflected in my decision to extend my stay by an additional month.

I was placed in a small not for profit organisation within the ‘Green Consulting’ sector. At first, I was a little sceptical about the responsibilities that I would be given due to my limited experience in the industry. Despite this, I am extremely grateful of the experiences and opportunities given to me. My tasks varied from research and analysis, updating the client database, evaluating survey results, acting as a scribe in a Board meeting and also assisting with the organisation and implantation of a high profile discussion and networking event co-organised by my company to stakeholders in China’s climate change sector.

Due to the strong connections between China and Australia, I believe that this experience will give me the competitive edge in my future career endeavours. The challenges and opportunities for professional and personal development presented to me by the CRCC Asia Internship program has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and experience everything from the language, culture, social and business environment in China. My time spent in Beijing has sparked a greater interest in the Mandarin language and I am now currently undertaking beginner lessons in hope of returning to China with a greater knowledge of the language and the ability to communicate with the locals.

The benefit of the program was the flexibility to do whatever I pleased outside of my working commitments to enjoy the vibrant city life of Beijing. I was able to explore different parts of the city on the weekends as well as after work, allowing me to immerse myself with the locals. Two standout day trips were of course, the Great Wall of China and Bungee Jumping in Shidu. In addition to my internship placement, I was offered beginner language classes, business networking events and cultural and social events. The coordinators were extremely helpful with the living experiences in Beijing, as well as providing assistance to any problems or questions I had. Furthermore, the friendships I have established with people around the globe are ones that will last a lifetime. There was never a dull moment as the city of Beijing has a unique nightlife, a numerous variety of restaurants and many things to see and do!

We all know that China leads the world in terms of Software/Hardware manufacturing. How often have you purchased an electronic product and checked out the country of manufacturing. I bet 95 percent of the time it will be “Made in China”.

After completing my Masters in Computer Security from the University of Birmingham, I was looking for a break into the IT Security Industry when I came across the CRCC Asia program. At first I was a bit skeptical about working in China, but I took a chance anyway knowing that I would be getting firsthand experience into the Chinese technology market.

My internship in Shanghai was with a visual arts company with its headquarters in Brisbane, Australia. Skysoul Pty Ltd deals with graphics animation, mobile games/application and concept art. My company provided me with a friendly, supporting and welcoming environment and I was fortunate to get a cool boss who not only guided me in every step and made sure I settled in the company well but he also tailored my internship as per my career goals. I joined them as a Mobile Application/Games Engineer and later shifted to handling the IT Security Infrastructure of the company as this is where my interests were.

During my internship, I learned the ethics and the business culture inChina. My main duties were to analyze the working environment of my company and proposing the requirements of the IT infrastructure to match the International Industry Standards. During this time, I had to short list different vendors for our IT resources, inspect their products, finalize and recommend the best ones amongst them. Apart from this, I also developed and documented the company’s Security Policy & Procedures Manual. My internship gave me a taste of the professional life of an IT Security Professional.

Apart from the professional life, Shanghai has so much to offer in terms of leisure and fun. Every day here is an adventure in itself. From the vast variety of cuisines offered at ridiculously low prices to the most posh and high end clubs located in the magnificent and beautiful architectural skylines at the Bund. I’ve had a great time here. Shanghai attracts professionals from all over the world which allowed me to make friends from diverse cultures.

Initially, I came here thinking I will be here for about 2 months, but to my surprise, after my performance evaluation by the company, I was offered a full time position as the company’s IT Security Architect. This has opened up a whole new world of opportunities which expands to horizons beyond borders. I am currently working in Shanghai and my adventures here have just begun.

It was in the context of the Australian Federal Government releasing its White Paper on Australia in the Asian Century that I decided to apply for an internship in Beijing, China through CRCC Asia. The paper highlights Asia’s transformation into the economic engine-room of the world, and the opportunities that this affords to Australia. The most significant player in this shift is China; the region’s largest economy and Australia’s biggest trading partner. In deciding to take the internship opportunity through CRCC Asia, I reasoned that in this environment having work experience in China would be viewed favourably by prospective employers. I also decided that the cultural and social experience of living in Beijing for a month made this opportunity much more attractive than doing an internship at home in Australia.

Overall I had an unforgettable experience in Beijing and look forward to returning. I would strongly recommend the CRCC Asia internship program to any student.

I spent my 2 months in Shanghai working for WA Optimum Healthcare (WHC). WHC is a healthcare company that provides 5-star services in healthcare such as regenerative medicine but also cosmetic medicine. Primarily my tasks involved understanding/researching the main driving force of the cosmetic surgery market in Shanghai, and using this knowledge to promote the company’s services as the most reputable in Shanghai. It was certainly a very challenging task but also very rewarding.

My internship in Shanghai has also influenced me to direct my career path towards sales and marketing – a long way away from my science background. Since returning to Melbourne, I have also decided to undertake formal education to learning Chinese as a second language for personal development but also to broaden my job opportunities in the future.

Mi estancia en Shanghai fue sin duda una experiencia increíble tanto a nivel profesional, pues las prácticas que realicé en una asesoría financiera han supuesto claramente un impulso a mi carrera y empleabilidad, como personal, pues tuve la oportunidad de conocer a gente maravillosa de muy distintas partes del mundo y empaparme de una cultura tan rica y fascinante como la china. Por no hablar del equipo de CRCC: amables, atentos y siempre disponibles para cualquier cosa que necesites.

Recomendaría sinceramente esta experiencia a todo aquel que se lo esté planteando, pues yo me alegro inmensamente de haberme decidido finalmente a embarcarme en ella.