Even those with limited or no knowledge of Chinese are heeding the call. They are lured by China’s surging economy, the lower cost of living and a chance to bypass some of the dues-paying that is common to first jobs in the United States.
[...] A big draw of working in China, many young people say, is that they feel it allows them to skip a rung or two on the career ladder.
The Times profiles a bevy of young Americans who shipped out for China, both because of the lack of jobs at home as well as the feeling that China affords faster career advancement.
Not to be overlooked as well is the idea of China as a place that affords tremendous opportunity for personal and professional growth:
That said, Mr. Woetzel added, someone who has been able to make a mark in China is a valuable hire.
“At McKinsey, we are looking for people who have demonstrated leadership,” he said, “and working in a context like China builds character, requires you to be a lot more entrepreneurial and forces you to innovate.”
Most experiences living and working abroad build character, self-reliance, confidence, etc. (also see: How to convince your parents that studying and living abroad is good for your career). And not to take away from the virtues of living in any other country, but after having lived and worked in China myself, I can attest that the Middle Kingdom in particular provides character-building experiences in spades.
[...] first reaction to the story was that if you’re young and looking for an international, [...]