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China: Big Culture & Big OpportunitiesThe People’s Republic of China has since 1970’s enjoyed great economic times. China ranks

as one of the top economies in the world occupying the second position after The

U.S.A

The first reason for China’s ever-thriving economy is due to its large population. According to the recent

estimates by United Nations, China’s population stands at 1,381,777,424. This figure undoubtedly provides a significant market demand for various

products and services. More so, in the last few decades, china’s economy has experienced an

escalated growth. In the last decade, for instance, China’s economy has tripled its economic growth.

To this extent, China is a world-renowned manufacturing hub that exports garments,

electronics, construction material and equipment. It is hard to visit any household anywhere in the world and fail to recognize the words, ‘made in China’ on

electronics and kitchenware. In fact, China has completely overtaken the manufacture of electronics

and machinery in the world.

Western young people seeking to expand their career horizons will find great job opportunities in China.

This is mainly so because International business has found China a great business hub. In this regard, China

hosts several multi- national companies that young people may work in include.

According to the Forbes Global 2000, 2015, China hosts the second largest number of the largest and

most powerful public companies in the world. Western young persons interested in the field of

communications, marketing, accounting and advertising will find China the ideal place to build

their careers.

Chinese Culture offers a true taste of the other side of life.

the Chinese culture can be traced back to six and a half decades ago. China is a particularly large country whose culture and traditions depends on geography and ethnicity. There are over a billion people living in China with 56 recognized ethnic groups e. g Tibetans, Naxi, Hezhen (smallest group), the Manchus and the

Mongols just to mention a few.

The largest ethnic minority group is Han Chinese that has about 900 million people. It is safe to suggest China to cultural anthropologists who specialize in

studying different cultures and traditions as they have a variety of groups to co-workers. It is because of this

culture, among other things, that China brags its popularity globally.

As one of the oldest cultures in the world, the Chinese culture can be traced back to six and a half decades

ago and depends on the China’s geography and ethnicity. The history of drinking in China dates back 7000 years ago. Alcohol is part of many traditional

festivals and celebrations such as weddings and after striking business deals. Scientifically, traditional

Chinese medicine considers alcohol a leader of other medicines’ that can guide other medicines to the

place of disease.

The Chinese culture is characterized by its art that is influenced by China’s rich mystical and spiritual history.

The Chinese cultural norms encourage social drinking but at the same time it discourages solitary drinking. Alcohol is not only a deep rooted culture among the

social life of the Chinese people but also in the business arena. The pivotal lace that alcohol holds in

the Chinese culture may be correctly traced in the old society that nicknamed alcohol as the water of

history’.

Any professional coach on how to succeed in Chinese business must mention that understanding the

alcohol drinking culture is appreciating how business works in China. One Chinese business man has got this whole drinking culture all right and states that

drinking culture is more than corrupt and degrading rather it is an art of bonding and brokering big deals. It is because of this culture, among other things, that

China brags its popularity globally.

Young entrepreneurs from Western countries may find this way of doing business and flourishing career

a little hard to comprehend.

In America for instance, a man or woman who is dressed in the best designer suit is likely to win a deal

as opposed to one who drinks a lot as in China. In actual terms, one’s drinking level speaks to how

affectionate you feel to the person seated with you on the table. The hidden golden secret for foreigners to

succeed in business is to have high tolerance for alcohol. Embracing the drinking culture is a sure way

of greasing the wheels of business in China.

Drinking makes sense in the current society where the work environments have become more flexible. Most people feel that drinking after work is a crucial way of

enhancing relationships. It is naïve to ignore the significance of good working relationships bearing in mind that as a foreigner you dearly need not ignore

your coworkers but also because you will have to stick with such coworkers for some considerable time.

Attitudes towards alcohol can vary radically from one culture to another, making it hard to

know when it is significant to mention it let alone drink it

Showing the wrong attitude towards alcohol can make or break a relationship not only on a social frontier

but also on a professional basis. It is, therefore, important to know how alcohol is perceived in a

particular place. Alcohol is viewed as a tradition part of Chinese life and is consumed for pleasure and

relaxing after a day’s hard work. The Chinese people see it as an essential part of building a relationship

although one can be exempted from drinking with the excuse of cultural differences.

However, certain job posts in China require one to be able to drink to uplift their mood. It is, for this reason, occasional suggestions to consume liquor are made as

part of the “office work.” While bonding with coworkers outside an office, social pressure and the

need to spark up, warm feelings are done by drinking alcohol.

At these social gatherings, supervisors and employees get together to drink alcohol and in the process, they get to exchange views thus encouraging team spirit. This also promotes harmony among the colleagues.

It is ironical that in China, high positions are often those that require alcohol capacities, for example, being a

secretary (male) could mean frequently hosting guests in restaurants and not rarely continuing to several

hours of alcohol swallowing. When a business partnership is at stake, the Chinese embark on

entertaining the other party with wine. This act of showing a willingness to drink enables friendship to

erupt under the cover of formality, and the result is that a deal will be struck to suit both parties.

Although such drinking may echo cold business courtesy, interests and social hierarchy, in the end, a new realm of friendly dizziness might be explored.

The bottom line is that foreigners can easily go into a business venture by simply sipping alcohol at KVTs. People in China celebrate contracts and important milestones around alcohol even before leaving the

meeting room. It is thus expected that foreigners will join them in toasting to such success and enjoy

alcohol.

In China, gift -giving is an important part of creating a friendship so a foreigner may be expected to bring

alcohol at the beginning of a business meeting. When visiting a Chinese home, say for example a colleague’s

house, it would be appropriate to carry with you a bottle of alcohol that will freestyle as a gift and such

offering it is seen as a kind and generous gesture. Also during holidays, companies offer the best alcohol as

gifts to their prominent clients as a way of maintaining good relations between them.

It would be equally important to mention that the Chinese people are a friendly community

who are keen to make acquaintances with any foreigner who visits their country, be it for work

purposes or leisure. A foreigner will be invited by a kind Chinese family for a meal which is

accompanied by alcohol if they can impress them. It is this forthcoming gestures that make China the best place to live and take up a job.

One way that western young people working in China can bound with coworkers s by visiting

KTVs. KTV are a model of Karaoke bars, but that are entirely comprised of private rooms. KTVs have grown in the recent years. Traditionally,

though, China was this very conservative country with just a dozen of party joints. Although some

KTVs are family oriented, some are used as fronts for people to drink themselves silly and indulge in

all sorts of immorality such as prostitution.

Nonetheless, there are several of KTVs that as mentioned above, are family oriented and can be used by colleagues to bond after work. The KTV rooms’ vary in size and you can book just a few of your colleagues

for an exclusively private room and enjoy a quality bonding time or book the entire of your work team.

The rooms are very cozy and luxurious. Also, coworkers who do not indulge in alcohol can be

served with a variety of drinks that they prefer such as Chinese teas. Chinese are not strangers to alcohol,

though.

It is, therefore, common to find yourself invited for a drink after work with a Chinese colleague or a

visiting partner. What’s more, while the western drinking culture involves one or two beers after

work, the Chinese culture involves getting drunk. Here, drinking till drunk with a person shows that

there is some level of trust between two. Trust is an essential component of a successful business deal.

Quite contrasting to the western way of things, the Chinese idea of communications is about building

relations. In a western way, communications, on the other hand, is the exchange of information. What a

better way to build relationships with colleagues then that catching up after work in KTVs? Even

though Karaoke’s are in western countries, they are particularly popular in China and it is therefore not a

surprise to find foreigners getting acquainted.

KTVs offer an ideal way for coworkers to bond as they hear each other sing and cheer on coworkers to sing. Apart from a having a sort of free style singing, you and your coworkers can enjoy dancing, having meals and drinks together and even play games.

Some of the popular games you and your coworkers can engage in over a glass of alcohol include finger

guessing.

Once at the KTV ensure you pick songs that are decent and not songs that tend to be morally corrupt. Songs those are morally neutral, as you do not want co -workers feeling offended. Moreover, where such coworkers are older, such songs ought to be songs

that speak to all generations, and not entirely party songs. The success of a karaoke night with coworkers must not be an embarrassing endeavor. You do not want to let yourself loose on the KTV that you can

barely look at your coworker the following day.

BonusClick on the link below to read the full blog post!

https://blog.laowaicareer.com/china-rich-culture-rich-career-opportunities

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