Category Archives: VIDEOS ON CHINA

Video content exploring Chinese business, culture, and global engagement. This category brings together short-form and long-form video perspectives alongside related written insights.

VIDEOS ON CHINA, WORK IN CHINA

Working in Shenzhen: What Foreign Professionals Need to Know

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If you’re interested in working in China, you may want to consider Shenzhen, just over the border from Hong Kong.

In just several decades, Shenzhen has transformed from a small border city into one of China’s most important innovation and economic centers. As the birthplace of China’s tech hardware ecosystem and a hub for both startups and global R&D centres, it attracts professionals from around the world seeking dynamic, high-growth opportunities.

While it is now harder for foreigners to find jobs in China, I believe there are still many opportunities for those willing to put in the work, adapt to the local market, and work in locations outside expat-heavy first-tier cities like Shanghai. This is especially true in cities like Shenzhen, where speed, execution, and local market fit can matter more than credentials alone.

I first moved to Shenzhen in 2014 to work with Huawei, one of China’s most well-known (and infamous) tech companies. Since then, I have gained a lot of experience working and managing teams inside Chinese companies. Based on this, I’ve prepared some key advice for foreigners looking to succeed and prosper in China’s tech capital.

Take a look at the video below to learn more about these tips for working in Shenzhen:

  1. You don’t “need” to know Chinese before you come, provided you have the right skills
  2. Learning Chinese will increase your effectiveness, especially in roles requiring management or cross-departmental alignment
  3. You need to understand the specific pain points of Chinese companies and why they hire foreigners
  4. Position yourself based on what Chinese companies want, not how you view your own “value”
  5. Don’t just apply to jobs, be strategic and locate key decision makers
  6. Build relationships with recruiters in your target industries
  7. Put in the work yourself – Don’t just ask others for shortcuts
  8. Read the “Five O’Clock Club” books for a full job search system
  9. Decide if “China tech” is the right fit for you
 

If you’d like to learn more about Shenzhen, feel free to follow me on LinkedIn via the link below. I post regularly about work and life in the city, China Speed, and Chinese innovation.

If you’re interested in thoughtful perspectives on China, cross-border work, and how culture, incentives, and organizations shape real outcomes, you’re welcome to subscribe to China Culture Corner and receive future posts by email.

I also share related ideas and longer-form video commentary on LinkedIn and YouTube, and post updates across the channels linked above.

If you or your organization is navigating China execution or cross-border alignment challenges, I work with teams on an embedded and remote basis. Reach out directly: Sean@SageSightConsulting.com

LIFE IN CHINA, TECH IN CHINA, VIDEOS ON CHINA

All About Xiaomi: Smart Homes and Cool Tech

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Chinese culture and society have long been one of my interests, and it’s been fascinating to observe how the country has developed over the past 20 plus years. I’ve also been working in the Chinese high-tech sector for several years, and it’s been extremely enlightening to be on the ground in China, and watch how continued technological innovations have impacted the Chinese people and their society.

When it comes to the important technologies that Chinese companies are working on right now, we can see a number of industries that Westerners may have assumed were being solely led by their own countries. But things like solar power, artificial intelligence, electric cars, and phones have all seen impressive developments from Chinese firms. Which leads me to the subject of today’s post, a Chinese company called Xiaomi, which has been making exciting advances in the smart home and Internet of Things spaces.

I previously started using Xiaomi products a few years ago following a recommendation by a friend. Since then, I have become both a fan of their affordable products as well as their connected ecosystem, which in my experience far surpasses in scope that of their closest overseas competitors. In the below video I share the founding story of Xiaomi, the type of products they offer, and how they are doing more to bring their company to overseas markets.

I hope you’ll take the time to watch for a few minutes and learn about this exciting Chinese company and everything they are doing to further connect consumers’ lives.

Thanks for watching!

Do you have any additional questions about the Chinese tech industry or smart home products by Xiaomi? Have you ever used smart home technology or products before? How do you feel they might influence human society in the future? Please feel free to post your thoughts in the comments section. You can also send a send a message directly to the author on social media.

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CULTURE BASICS, VIDEOS ON CHINA

Chinese Spring Festival Unboxing – Celebrate the Year of the Dog

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The Chinese Spring Festival is here again! I previously wrote about some of the most important symbols of the Chinese Spring Festival, and this year I wanted to try something new. To help you, the reader, better understand these important symbols of the Spring Festival, I decided to shoot my first ever video on Chinese culture, in the form on an unboxing.

In the video I take a large box filled with various Spring Festival decorations and go through them to explain their significance to the Chinese, as well as show you how you can use them around your own home, to better get in the holiday spirit.  I hope you enjoy!

Thanks for reading!

Do you have any additional questions about traditional holiday decorations in China? Do you have any personal experiences you would like to share? Please feel free to post your thoughts in the comments section. You can also send a send a message directly to the author on social media.

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