Working in Dalian
If you are looking for a job in Dalian, you will find opportunities in trade, logistics, marketing, technology, education — and more. Dalian is a city of students, with a large expat community and lots to do in your free time.
Dalian is the Liaoning province's biggest city. It is one of the major Chinese cities due to its port, which is the country's third largest. It is also a city of many nicknames. As Dalian was founded by the Russians in 1898, it's known as ‘China's Russian city'. As it's a major trading and financial center in northeastern China, it's also called ‘the Hong Kong of Northern China'.
Dalian is also known as the city of students because of the high concentration of educational establishments, including the University of Dalian, the Dalian Polytechnic University, the University of Foreign Languages and the Dalian University of Technology.
Important:
Since the COVID-pandemic, traveling to China, as well as obtaining the needed visa and work permit, has become substantially more complicated. Keep in mind that even if you secure a job offer in Dalian, you may need to wait until the situation changes before traveling to the country.
Dalian economy
Dalian's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was $225.8 billion in 2019. The city's economy is focused on various sectors such as industry, petrochemicals, oil refineries, metallurgy, distribution, electronics, and high technology. Financial services also contribute significantly to the city's GDP — the city is Northern China's financial center, with several national and international banks and other financial institutions.
The heavy industry almost dominates Dalian's economy. It's the second largest industrial production in the province of Liaoning, with the city's major industries being petrochemicals, equipment manufacturing, shipbuilding, and others. Many international investors have chosen Dalian as their headquarters, and the city's leading enterprises include PetroChina's Dalian Corp, Dalian Locomotive & Roll Stock Works, Dalian Port Corp, and others. The city is home to several industrial parks (such as Dalian High-tech Industrial Development Zone) and special economic zones (like Dalian Free Trade Zone). You will also find big Japanese electronic brands in Dalian, including famous manufacturers such as Toshiba, Sanyo, Electric, Nidec, etc.
Dalian is also the fifth largest port city in China. This makes it the city with a lot of trading activity as well as opportunities in logistics and other related fields.
The job market in Dalian
Dalian is a university city. A lot of people from the neighboring cities and provinces come here to study. Many expats also come to Dalian to study in Chinese universities and learn Chinese. This opens up quite a few opportunities in the education sector that go beyond English teaching. You can check with local universities, and public and private schools for teaching opportunities.
If you are interested in English teaching, you will also find job opportunities in training centers, schools, universities, corporate language teaching, and more.
As Dalian is one of China's largest ports, there are also options for work in trade and logistics. Expats in Dalian can also find opportunities in sales and marketing, social media management, and other positions related to developing international markets.
Just like with most Chinese cities, one of the easiest ways to start working in Dalian is to get a job in English teaching. In most cases, you will need a TEFL certificate or a Bachelor's degree in the related field to get hired as an English teacher.
Job-hunting in Dalian
If you are job hunting from outside China, the best place to start your job search is online. There are lots of websites that post job offers for expats from Chinese companies and international companies based in Dalian. Check out websites such as Echinacities, HiredChina, ChinaTeachingJobs, JobsDB, among others.
Another useful tool in remote job hunting is social media. Make sure your Linkedin account is fully updated and indicates that you are open to new opportunities. It is also a good idea to change your Linkedin location to Dalian so that your profile is more visible to employers and headhunters in the city.
If you are an experienced professional, your job search will be more efficient if you go through a hiring agency. You can find headhunters and recruitment agencies in Dalian on Linkedin. You can also check international hiring companies like Michael Page.
Yet another way to go about your job search is to contact potential employers directly. You can look up companies in your field with offices in Dalian and check their website for potential employment opportunities. You can also reach out to their HR departments and inquire if there are any openings in the department you want to work in.
You can also check with employers in your home country. Some foreign companies have representative offices in Dalian. Finding a job in your home country first and then exploring relocation options may be one of the best ways to have job security in China. Additionally, foreign companies typically provide their employees with generous relocation packages that include perks such as moving costs, accommodation, living expenses, education for children, tickets to fly back home for holidays, etc.
Before you set out on your job search in China, make sure to download the WeChat app. It's the number one app in China with over 900 million users and is used for most online communication in the country. WeChat is primarily a messenger app — but you can also use it for work calls, sharing documents, holding online meetings, setting up work group chats, and more. WeChat is also a social media, shopping and contactless payment tool.
If you've already arrived in Dalian, you can still do all of the above. But to work in China legally, you will need to apply for a work permit and residence — and the only way to do that is from outside of China. So, if you secure a job offer, you will need to travel back home and apply for a work visa before you can start your employment.
Important:
Currently, you can only travel to China if you have a valid residence permit. You will also need to undergo a quarantine on your arrival. Make sure to check the latest entry requirements to the country before making any travel plans.
How to apply for a job in Dalian?
Applying for a job in China is similar to applying for a job in most other countries. You will need to have your resume and cover letter ready, as your potential employer will definitely ask for these before inviting you for an interview.
If you are applying for a position in an international company or a job where knowledge of Chinses isn't required, you can send your application in English. However, if you do speak Chinese, make sure to mention this in your application. If your Chinese is good, it will work to your advantage to add copies of your resume and cover letter in Chinese.
The next step in the application process will be a message or call from the hiring manager or your future employer. Make sure you download the WeChat app, as a lot of communication in China — including work communication — happens on the app. It's also a good idea to add your WeChat ID to your application so that the hiring manager can get in touch with you quickly.
If the employer is interested in your application, you will next go through a round of interviews. Note that if you are applying for work in a large company, you may need to interview with several department heads at different levels. If you are applying for work in a smaller firm, one or two interviews will probably suffice.
How to apply for a work visa to China?
The only way to work in China legally is to apply for a work visa. This is a three-step process:
- First, you need to apply for a work permit
- Second, you will need to obtain a PU a letter
- Finally, you can apply for the work visa itself.
Note that all work visas in China are classified into three categories: Class A (high-level talent), Class B (professional personnel) and Class C (non-technical and service workers hired for seasonal/temporary projects). The eligibility requirements, as well as the application process, may differ depending on the class of the working visa you are applying for.
The first thing you need to start the job application process is to obtain a job offer. Having a valid work contract is essential for applying for a work visa in China. You will also need to make sure that your employer is capable of sponsoring your work visa. There are special requirements for companies in China that want to employ foreigners — and your employer will need to meet these requirements to provide you with a visa.
Once you have secured a work contract, you will need to ask your employer to send you an official invitation (work permit notice). You may also need to obtain a PU letter, which is an invitation that is issued by the China Foreign Affairs Office. As of June 15, 2022, applicants from the following countries don't require a PU letter: the United States, Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and South Korea.
As the related requirements change frequently, make sure to check with your local Chinese embassy or consulate whether you need a PU letter to apply for a work visa.
Once you've collected the above documents, you can apply for a work visa. You can submit your application at your nearest embassy or consulate in China. Note that you will need to make an appointment first.
If your application is approved and you receive your work visa, make sure to check if all the information on your visa is correct. Check your name spelling, type of visa, entry date, length of stay, etc.
When you have received your work visa, you will be able to travel to China. But while a work visa grants you entry into the country, it only allows for a limited stay. It is essential that you start your residence permit application process as soon as you arrive in China to make sure you complete your application in time.
Important:
Obtaining a work permit is the only way to work in China legally. With that, you may find job offers (especially in English teaching) that won't provide you with the needed documents. While quite a few expats do engage in such employment offers, the consequences for working illegally in China are severe. You risk heavy fines, and deportation, and may even be banned from visiting China in the future.
Cost of living in Dalian
The cost of living in Dalian is quite affordable compared to other big cities in China. With that, how much you spend will depend on what lifestyle you plan to lead. And accommodation will be your biggest expense if your employer doesn't provide it. Rent prices for a studio in Dalian in the city start at around RMB 3,000 ($440). If you want to live close to the city center or in one of the areas popular with expats, you should budget around RMB 5,000 ($740).
What are the perks of living in Dalian?
You will like living in Dalian if you want to live in a mid-sized international city with a large young expat community. Dalian is a coastal city close to the Russia-China border, and you are just a short flight away from Beijing. Just like Beijing, Dalian has a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers.
There are a lot of leisure activities in Dalian. As a university city, Dalian is home to many bars and eateries where you can meet friends and colleagues after work. There is quite a bit of sightseeing to do in the area, and you will also have easy access to a lot of beautiful beaches.
