Job Discussion Forums

[Zero]

Does anyone do corporate training? I noticed that ClarkMorgan, for example, pays well -- 20,000 to 30,000 RMB per month. Of course, the qualifications are different from regular ESL teaching. For starters, they want you to have corporate experience and be bilingual.

Just curious whether anyone has made their way into this line of work. Would like to hear more about how you got there and what it's like.

[LanGuTou]

If corporate training takes your fancy, it maybe a case for looking at the freelancing options.

Firstly, do some research on locally based corporations. WOFE and JV may be the most likely in terms of requiring language training as foreign communication would be very likely. After WOFE/JV spread the search to other international trading companies. Internet recruitment sites such as zhaopin.com will help this process.

Secondly, prepare a pristine CV/resume in English and Chinese along with a "sell oneself" focussed cover letter. Send to the HR Department and try to ascertain the potential need for freelance language support.

Thirdly, design yourself a comprehensive business plan. Decide on the contents of what you would like to teach and how to present it. Try to do a few financial predictions, break even forecast and cash flow forecasts. Use this information to design a pricing structure.

Fourthly, if you get the impression that demand is there for the skills that you are offering, approach the local government with a proposal to establish your own Wholly Owned Foreign Enterprise (WOFE). You will be asked to come up with a wad of registered capital. This is where your negotiation power will be put to the test. You will undoubtedly be quoted figures like 30K or 40K USD. By using an imaginative approach, it is possible and you can get that figure down to 20K (or less) USD to be deposited within one year of registration.

You will be asked the scope of your business activities. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES use words like English language, school or teaching! You will never get the lowest registered capital level. Use words like Business Consultancy, Corporate Training etc. Try to register your company as a Consultancy Service Provider.

The registered capital requirement always seems imposing. If you take a deep breath, it is not so bad. 20K USD is only equivalent to about 130K CNY or so. If you have done your research, you are competent and well prepared, you can easily cover that figure in year. 30K+ rmb per month should be within your grasp. Along with the strong CNY against weakened USD, you will also have the exchange advantage. Make the money in rmb, exchange to USD then transfer to your capital account from an offshore location. Job done! Once the capital is banked and checked, you can then take it out again for your own consumption or company investment although tax will be deducted.

Even if the worst comes to the worst and you don't reach the required capital requirement, you can borrow the money and repay it as soon as your RC Account has been checked.

There are many sidelines you could quite legally carry out such as translation work, proof reading, helping to develop marketing material for companies and so on that could potentially double your income. You can also, of course, on the quiet carry on as a FT or tutor if you hit a difficult spell or need extra income.

Finally, if you do go down the freelancing or WOFE road, remember to allow for certain expenses. The cost of registering the business will be around 1000 - 2000 rmb. You will need to appoint an accountant who will require an upfront payment of anything between 3 months and a year. You cannot register a business using the address of a university apartment etc. You will have to allow for the rental of an office facility that will require a deposit. Add to the the cost of utilities such as internet, electricity, water, maintenance etc. You will have to pay for your own medical examination and residence permit along with an agent to carry this process out (c. 6000 rmb). There are other miscellaneous expenses. I would estimate that you should allow 20k rmb for start up costs.

The potential return on investment could be between 300k rmb and 500k rmb per year if you are competent, flexible and industrious without even going overboard.

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

some interesting info up there. thanks.

[Zero]

I like your ideas. What background do you think a person would need in order to have credibility?

I wonder if it might be less complicated to get a low-hours university job in a second- or third-tier city, like a Wuxi, for visa purposes. And then start the training business on the side. Perhaps the market would be less saturated with other trainers.

[mike w]

I've been in corporate training in China for the last five years, working for a Chinese company. From 1992 to 2002 I was in corporate training for a leading UK company working in UK, China, Italy, an Germany.

PM if you want to know more.

[LanGuTou]

[drjtrekker]

LanGu Tou,

[LanGuTou]

[El Macho]

Thanks, LanGuTou, good value in the above post. Do you know how the costs for registering a JV compare to registering a WFOE?

[LanGuTou]

[El Macho]

If the setup costs are equivalent (especially for something like consulting), there seems to be very little reason to consider going the JV route. Thanks. Any resources in English you can recommend about these sorts of things?

[LanGuTou]

I certainly prefer the WFOE route because I don't like other people involved with my dealings when it can be helped.

As for reading resources, there is masses available on line by doing simple searches. You can buy material from Amazon or Xinhua Bookstores. There is a very quaint little book called "Doing Business in China for Dummies" that contains some useful advice. I must admit, I used a torrent website to download that and some other reading material.

However, never lose sight of the fact that this is China and absolutely nothing is black and white. The reading material will tell you one thing, reality will be totally or significantly different. Like everything in China life, setting up a business is swaythed in shades of grey. You need to do plenty of leg work. Ask people who have already set up businesses successfully in China. Get yourself on LinkedIn or other professional websites and ask questions etc.

Your best resource remains word of mouth. Find out who is involved in Foreign Investment at the local government offices and try to befriend someone in the know. You may find them surprisingly accommodating because it is their job to attract foreign investment.

The man that heads the department that has handled my business registration is wonderful. He is one of the most down to earth Chinese that I have ever met. He has helped me to identify many loopholes and many things that are to my advantage. Sometimes, inviting these people for a meal and a few drinks can set your life up!

As part of my initial business plan, I paid a company to help me find an unpaid internship role that was flexible enough to fit around my teaching duties. That happened and I linked up with a Chinese man with many years of experience in business and international trading. My investment just to get this link was more than 2000 rmb but he has been wonderful from start to finish. The best business consultant one could dream of!

Every question or every peroblem I have encountered, he knew the answer to or someone else who could help me. He has negotiated on my behalf, got discounts on my behalf and helped me with every financial matter. We are now very close friends. My longer term planning involves buying his business and going into international trading. We have tentative discussions about that even now.