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The success of China’s technology companies is one of the most exciting and promising aspects of the country’s economic rise. While many accusations have been leveled at Chinese tech giants for copying other companies' technology, these companies are now pushing the limits of innovation and our understanding of how technology fits into daily life. Setting aside doubts about imitation, we can readily identify the five most dynamic tech companies —Baidu,-- Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, Xiaomi, and Lenovo—and to understand their roles in China's economy, let's compare them to their international equivalents:

China is a developing economy with abundant economic opportunity for foreigners that come with an open mind to new cultural experiences. Working in China for three years taught me that while learning Chinese opens up lots of job options, paying attention to the culture was equally important in making the most of China's work opportunities. Chinese cultural aspects such as saving face and relationships (关系 Guānxì) are a great deal more subtle than the rules of professionalism in the West, so it is difficult to say exactly what actions you should take in the workplace apart from a willingness to absorb the culture and patience when it comes to getting results. However, if you are able to understand the Chinese cultural perspective and communicate accordingly, China can be a place where anything is possible for your business ideas.

If you are looking to further your career in China, it is really important to learn how to put your best foot forward during an interview. In China, the concept of face (面子 miànzi) defines all business relations, making the in-person interview (面试 miànshì) the most important factor in landing a job. China is a high-context culture, and while the same standards of interviewing in the West still apply, you need to keep your case relevant to your interviewer's cultural perspective. Making sure that you address the company’s main hiring concerns – cultural differences, commitment, and growth potential– is the best way to come across as professional. There are several do’s and don’ts that will help you see eye-to-eye with your Chinese interviewer.

Related: How To Find A Job In China

China is a dynamic job market that has distinct career advantages at the entry level if you are ambitious and enterprising, and at the senior level if you are experienced. In my experience, the opportunity to live and work in a totally different culture and environment is the biggest reward, and going to work in China is quite an adventure for most people. With the rate at which Chinese are learning English far outpacing the number of new Mandarin learners, it is no longer easy to find jobs just because you speak English. Being proficient in Chinese or at least demonstrating the intent to learn is crucial for you to show recruiters that you are invested in the country and intend to stay. Furthermore, you will want to learn Chinese if you are to make the most of your opportunity to experience this transformative period in the development the Chinese economy. To find a good job in China, you usually need to be able to apply language and cross-cultural communication skills to a specific profession. Check out this list of the top eight job markets for foreigners, so you can get an idea of some of the best places learning Chinese can lead.