Best time to go to China - Right after graduation or later?

[goingtochina]

Hi,

I'm graduating from undergrad in the US this May and I have a job offer from a big multinational. However, I want to go to China for about two years to learn the language from scratch. Some people say I should take the job offer I have, work for two years, and then go to China. Also, I could study some Chinese during those two years since I have never studied the language. Maybe the company could even help me go to China. But some say I should decline the job offer and go now, right after graduation.

Any advice would be welcome.

[sissi]

Everyone has his own balance of value.Just follow you heart:)

But I have a example to you.My classmate,just as you,has a job offer from a big multinational company with a descent salary.Most of us support her to pick up the offer ^_^

[mlomker]

I dunno about that. Once you start into a career you're likely to meet somebody and then you'll be like me...34 and thinking wtf happened to my plans? lol.

[Language Guy]

I've never been a huge proponent of immersion with no knowledge of the language. I think you should at least study a little before you're forced to use it in everyday life. But if you know that this technique works for you, it's not an issue.

[wushijiao]

I dunno about that. Once you start into a career you're likely to meet somebody and then you'll be like me...34 and thinking wtf happened to my plans? lol.

Or you could be like me, planning to be in China for only a year or two after graduation, which has somehow expanded into five years, wondering wtf will I do for my real career.

[roddy]

The obvious idea is to try and combine the two - can the company send you to China in the future? Maybe they might be willing to sponsor a certain amount of language study?

But like the gentlemen above say, there's a real chance of getting stuck (quite possibly very happily) in either situation . . .

Roddy

[Zhang]

I was in exactly the same situation last year, chose to take the job. Still not 100% sure I made the right decision, but im fairly confident.

At the time of taking the job my attitutde was that it would be easy to quit a year later and goto China. But after having worked there for more than 6 months now and feeling happily settled in, its really not that easy.

Its both an extremely difficult hard decision to make....and also extremely important/life impacting. The right decision will of course depend upon many factors, it might be different for you than it was for me.

I would welcome further discussion on this topic!

[HashiriKata]

wtf happened to my plans?

I've got a career but still keep repeating this question !!!

Perhaps I don't really know anything and can't really advice either way. Perhaps if you're given to regretting, you'll be regretting it no matter whichever choice you'd take; and perhaps if you're basically a happy fool, you'll always be a happy fool, no matter what you do ???

[sky888]

Go now(broke or not) and worry about the job later. You get stuck in your job, you start buying things that are difficult to get out of, 10 years later your thinking 'could have, should have, would have'.

After you get the 'job', there might not be a chance for a longer term stay when you get rooted in life. IMHO, the life enrichment before hand will be more valueable in the long run.

[johnmck]

Do what I did: take the job, get married, buy a house, have children and then think about going to China!!!

The chances of me ever living in China are now about as low as the chances of me ever using the language, but what the hell I enjoy learning it.

[goingtochina]

Thank you all for your replies. I still haven't made my final decision, but it looks like I may take the job, despite the possible costs associated with that (comment about costs of getting rid of house, car, etc.). I think it may still be worth it to take this opportunity now that I have it, start studying the language now and then go to China in a few years, with or without my company.

[kudra]

If you are not starting the job until the fall, you might squeeze in some study. Doing the Middlebury summer program would give you some idea of what you would be getting yourself into.

http://www.middlebury.edu/academics/ls/chinese/program/9-Week+Intensive+Language+Sessions.htm

At least you'd have more information. Suppose after getting pounded 9 weeks you decide it's not for you, then you could get on with the job and career with minimal if any regrets. If you decided after 9 weeks Middlebury you realize you have found your bliss, then it's a question of whether it would be totally burning bridges to tell the multinational you've had a change of heart.

Also, if you did 9 weeks at Middlebury, you'd have a decent foundation to continue on the side so you might be able to do both at once. Don't know how it would work, but you could more convincingly lobby your employer to either pay for more Chinese language training, and or get you posted there.

Even though the tuition is steep, I think the program is probably the best intensive summer program in the US (not counting some hypothetical govt agency training). Think of it as a cheap price for the options created by the end of summer. Again, don't know if you can put them off until Fall, but I can't imagine they want new hires not to get a break after graduating. Granted this is not everyone's idea of a break after graduation.

[Lu]

Kudra's advice sounds very good.

I'm sort of in the same situation: am about to graduate, and wonder if I should stay here and find a job, or go to China and stay there for some years. Advice from a friend was to go to China now, now that I don't have many things keeping me here (no car, house, boyfriend). If I want to go, now is be the best time.

But then I don't have a good job offer here. In your case you also have to think how big the chance is that you'll find an equally good job 2 years later.

Whichever you choose, be happy with your choice, and never regret it!

[Shiela]

Hi GoingtoChina,

I have just left my job and will be going to Bejing to study in Sept06. Agree with the other posters, trying to sort out all your committments - house, car, tax return - before leaving for China can be a real hassle. However, not impossible!

If you don't want to reject the job offer have you considered going to China to do a Summer course? Usually for between 4-6 weeks and still return to the US in time to take up the job. That way, you can see if you like being in China. (BTW, if studying at uni, suggest applying directly and not through an agency as it will be cheaper.)

Also, if the job is with a major multinational they may already have (or intend to have) interests in China so any language skills will be beneficial - however basic. Many multinationals have overseas job opportunities on their intranet, so any language skill could give you an advantage.

Another thought, a lot of big companies now offer sabbaticals - normally a year max - after say 2-3 years with the company. Although they may not sponsor you, they would hold your job open for you. You can decide later whether or not to return.

Shiela

[md1101]

i would have thought if you've managed to pull off that job offer it should be easier to pull it off again with chinese under your belt. im of the personal view that once you start work... itll take over most of your life unless you really believe youll be able to quit... and once you start earning money (a meaningful amount such as from this job) youll find it harder and harder to stop it all and go to china. studying in china will be an invaluable experience for you. so i recommend the china option. if, however, you REALLY think its unlikely youll get a job offer as good as this one after going to china... then sure take the job.. but i find that hard to believe

good luck with your decision

definitely ask them the realistic chances of them sending you to china in the near future

[Harvey]

I'm graduating from undergrad in the US this May and I have a job offer from a big multinational. However, I want to go to China for about two years to learn the language from scratch. Some people say I should take the job offer I have, work for two years, and then go to China. Also, I could study some Chinese during those two years since I have never studied the language. Maybe the company could even help me go to China. But some say I should decline the job offer and go now, right after graduation.

Interesting :-) I graduated from undergrad in the US and immediately went to work for a multinational in my field. After 4 years, I'm going to drop it and go to China.

Personally, I think this is the better way to go, rather than immediately gonig to China for language study.

Reason I say this is that it will be easier to get a job after the language study, if you already have some serious work experience on your resume. Also, After having worked for a while, I think when you go back to study again you'll have your heart in it even -more-, and really appreciate being able to spend your time just learning.

Disclaimer. If this job at the multinational excites you hardly at all, or if you are already insanely passionate about learning Chinese langauge, they maybe you should just go to China and study.

I was lucky in that, my first job was overseas, thus I wasn't able to accumulate much "stuff" to make it difficult to leave before gong to China. No car, no house, not even much furniture...

Even if you end up taking the job first, you gotta keep telling yourself that you're -really- gonna leave after 2-3 yrs cause you -really- want to experience China and learn Chinese... or you may have too much fun with all the cash and responsibilty that before you know it you'll be 40 married with children and stuck!

[Zhende ma?]

I was in a similar position several years ago. I had a job offer and I could decline it and go to China to study for scratch or take the job and study on the side. I took the job (a consulting job) and took Chinese classes for two hours every Saturday at the local language institute. It was a great move. First, I got great work experience. Second, I was diligent with my Chinese (practice characters every day if you can!) and was able to get an HSK scholarship to study in China after two years of study. Then I applied to business school, left my job (which was wrapping up anyway) and went to China for a semester. If it weren't for other reasons I would have stayed in China for a whole year.

I got a lot out of my time in China. Since I wasn't starting from nothing I could enjoy it much more and ramp my Chinese up much faster. Also, I was able to meet cool people and job contacts over there. Having work experience does make you more credible. And as someone mentioned earlier, you may even convince your job to send you over there.

I say take the job but have a plan on going to China (despite the fact I really didn't have a firm plan...) Most of all, take language lessons, participate in these forums, watch movies, etc. to get your Chinese going.