How to fund your Internship Abroad and Study Abroad Programs with CIP

Stacie's Internship Review

Practicing Marketing in China: A Sharp paradigm shift When it was time to intern, I decided to go abroad because I wanted something different. At the point of this decision, I had 4 different Internships in my area of study. Each of these internships came with a unique quality and skill that I was looking to develop.

In fact, coming to China, the reason was knowing the dynamics and different elements and forces that shape Marketing in China. Also, I wanted to learn how a culture full of social, communism and cohabitation influences marketing compared to what happens in the west. I also learnt in University that Chinese had a different Social media Platforms which every international Marketer must know about.  These propositions are enough to motivate me to pay so much to school myself in the real world.

I heard about China Internship Placements (CIP) via my career adviser in my university. I applied and was selected through an interview hosted by CIP. My Experience The Chinese approach to Marketing has always proved to be different from the west because there is cultural and societal characteristic pervasiveness. Buyer decisions are made on what others recommend and the decision even gets interesting and unpredictable in the cities.

I took my internship with an organization that conducts Market Research to formulate Market entry strategies for fresh companies entering into Chinese Market. It was a perfect opportunity for me to answer all the reasons I chose to come to China. My Job description included conducting market research, data collection, focus group engagement and past consumer pattern behavior analysis. We also sometimes do work on taste and preference of Chinese consumers, especially for consumer goods.

I played a role in selecting the right social media platforms in the right doses and the kind of combinations that are needed to achieve a good market penetration.

For 2 months worked with content team to design the write media and publication materials to fit the brand in question The Value and Development The job descriptions were very necessary to my future career and the 12 months that I stayed in Beijing was just like living the future in the present. CIP’s Entrepreneurial training was just superb!!! We joined China Accelerators, an organization that nurtures entrepreneurial ideas and are Venture Capitalists in China.

The biggest project I ever worked on was the Market entry Strategy for Tesla, an auto company with a particular E-car Brand (it is still in process). It is a kind of car that manufacturing and delivery formulae are concealed in a top secret.

At the end of the project, we noticed that the same group of people who bought Ferraris and Lamborghinis will definitely like to buy Tesla Brands due to the finishing. And 60% of these will be families of government officials and few elite Chinese. We also noticed that individuals who liked clubbing and are perpetual chronic club members will always love to acquire one. Some racers were also in this category. At the end, it was piloted and it succeeded with over 1300 brands sold all over China within 2 weeks of arrival. It was a huge success and so don’t be surprised to see Tesla in heavy presence in China sometime soon.

The social Media types and their selections depend on their brand target. Targeting the youth, Wechat and Weibo was awesome. When targeting Older generations, social groups were ideal for this. We have seen Linkedin also gaining some good percentage of penetration but are not yet ideal for marketing. The Transformative process CIP instituted a Performance appraisal system where I was graded by my supervisor based on several factors. These recommendations were ideal to helping me develop according to my career plans. The Cultural Aspect I learned the Chinese language on a private lesson arrangement and after 6 months, I felt it was cool to go. I could host basic conversations and I was allocated to a Language Partner who always assists me with progress.

To anyone looking to launch a marketing career in China, the Chinese language is the number one prerequisite, especially for marketing. I will advise anyone to take CIP’s Online Chinese lessons while in university and the rewards are great when you finally decide to intern in China. My Recommendation I will recommend CIP’s Internships to Young Graduates and University Students looking to develop their career in China. It is a complete package with lots of transformative elements in there. I will recommend their complete package as it is always helpful and supportive. It is better to spend more and get the right measure than to compromise.

Initially, I did fear that I would not meet expectations given the high caliber of the people and projects I worked on. However, everyone was more than happy to help me get up to speed and more. The challenge is there, but I don’t feel entirely on my own. This is my definition of a good internship". --Ann Leonard (Ohio University) I studied Environmental Science and Policy Management in Ohio University. Haven completed my First degree, I decided to gain a much intense skill dealing with serious projects. In the first place, no continent in the world is battling environmental degradation in the world than Asia. Asia is facing serious environmental challenges posed by aggressive economic growth. China’s most important city is no exception and for the past decades, Beijing has been suffering from massive environmental degradation including massive pollution. This sets the tone for my decision to intern in China.

I finally selected CIP to help with the placement and I was allocated to an organization with a mission to promote sustainable development and green growth. Headquartered in Beijing, they are the gateway for foreign cleantech companies to China’s green business and environmental market. They organize international conferences and outreach events, receiving and sending trade missions between countries, commercializing Chinese and foreign cleantech in China, and conducting research in sustainable development and green growth models. They also contribute to the discourse of influencing Chinese Green Economy Policies through a variety of lobby activities.

This is exactly what I was interested in so I did not waste much time before accepting the offer. My duty for the first 3 months was to conduct research and interpret results and prepare presentations for international conferences. Organize logistics for international conferences and during my internship, so many conferences were organized between Israel, Singapore, Spanish and UK governments and China. As the official organization in charge of green environment in China, we played a vital role in the delivery of these conferences. Out of these researchers and policy analysts, I was supposed to spot opportunities worth exploiting and write a proposal that is actionable. These are some of my personal contributions to the company.

Over the other half of the Internship, I plan travel logistics and schedule for business delegations to International governments and companies, Support visiting partners and on-site visits to clients; and also engage in some lobby meetings.

Why I am so poised about this internship is that I worked on famous international projects such as those funded by UNIDO, UNEP, China Green Carbon foundation and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. These experiences will live with me forever and I think my International environmental agenda will happen live!

For China Internship Placements, I entertained some doubts from the beginning. I was hesitant in paying so much to them, but this was later solved. I was not sure whether I was doing the right thing. I think that they should be able to offer a proper guarantee for such huge sums of money to be wired to them. This creates so much anxiety in the entire process and makes the preparation stage very disintegrated. At a point in time, I was made to talk with my supervisor and I tried so much due diligence but was not enough to satisfy my curiosity. I had to gamble, but I got it right if I had it wrong, I should be screwed for life! as my parents will not forgive me. I was also scared by the horrible stories that I read online about some other internship providers and this scared me about scam. I don’t know what CIP could do about it, but I think they must find a way of getting ahead of other providers so more students will know about their programs.

Aside that, CIP is a sweet family to join.

Michelle's China Internship Review

A properly researched and designed marketing strategy is the best requirement for any multinational organization looking to break boundaries to increase global market presence and revenue. Let any organization entering its multinational stage doubt this and they are reassured to fail 100%. I am confident about this because I had the opportunity to try and test this fact through CIP’s China Internship.

Let's assume that China is not an economic superpower but has just a mere 1.4 billion people and I will have still chosen it as a place of doing my Marketing Internship to gain international experience.

Going international to gain experiences is never cheap and will never be cheap. I decided to intern abroad but the reality dawn on me when it was time to pay for the entire project which cost me a 4 digit figure. I did what I could do just to remain safe, but my parents still doubt my choice but eventually, I took the risk.

The placement process was rigorous as I had to go through a 3 stage Interview one with CIP Placement department and two others with my host Company. It was a learning process which I never had in University. It was strange to me because I thought CIP had to do all those cover-ups. I have never heard that internships in China got that competitive and selective. In entirety, the process reassured me that this was a professional program and not another Chinese mass production factory.

I was finally placed into a renowned Marketing Research company based in Shanghai, China tasked with the responsibility of assisting the Market Entry Department. This is a team of 18 people doing different things. I am supposed to be part of the research squad and my role formed the basis of my superior’s task. Anytime, I make mistakes, he was definitely going to do same. Although I passed the interview, I panicked at this new job because this was my first major experience at doing any serious research aside School projects and my Thesis.

I was tasked with the responsibility of collecting information identified outlets such as super and hypermarkets, consumer agencies and other governmental institutions like Ports and Harbor Authority. This information was dissected and manipulated to get signals of the seasonality of demands, recent trends in demand and competition statistics. I did this on 23 brands from countries such as Italy, UK, US and Saudi Arabia. So what do you expect? I can just see mastery.

One major project which I managed and drove my motivation high was when I was tasked to collect consumer perception index for a Jewel Brand which was looking to expand its market share in China. I was appointed the head of the team with other interns coming from CIP and other agencies we could not speak Chinese, but we sailed through with very minimal assistance from some Chinese native speaking colleagues. My Chinese speaking skills were enhanced after 3 months of study and this I will confess was essential to my success. This project went successfully as I was awarded separately for it.

My working morale was high likewise my other colleagues because there was always a weekly reward for hard work and deadline massacre. The term deadline massacre was coined from a team meeting we had was asked to try to meet deadlines. So any time an employee finishes tasks before the appointed time, the TIME MASSACRE AWARD was given. This included 1000 RMB and a treat to Spa and Dinner with the department head on next Sunday. Haven worn this once, I felt it was an opportunity to network with my BOSS which I nailed perfectly.

This internship was not relevant on any continent, country or city than Asia, China, Shanghai. I got deep cultural insights from studying Shanghainese (Shanghai Residents). Shanghai is more cosmopolitan than you could ever imagine. They are also getting rich day by day and enjoying shopping as their pastime. So consumer goods are heavily represented. Name any internationally recognized brand and they have it.

I noticed that Chinese have a unique taste for quality and price. The perception is that the higher the price, the higher the quality which I do not necessarily agree but that’s the reality in Shanghai. This is a relevant pricing strategy for most brands. So I just laid a free tip J. Cultural issues entangle the work of a marketer in China and you cannot override it. For example, when a brand is seen to be associated with the wrong colors, people, animals etc which culture does not favour, the brand suffers. These facts are very petty but vital for success.

Chinese social media tools as a marketing zone is a different atmosphere for marketing. I already knew about Twitter, facebook, Instagram etc but they all were blocked in China so I had to learn about WEIBO, WE CHAT and Renren. It was worth it too because I could confidently lead a campaign on these platforms in addition to what is in the west.

This is more than just a review it is actually a memo and I hope you enjoyed it. If you are looking to develop your skills and get relevant, I prescribe CIP 100% for anyone without any reservation. Their teams are solid from Program design, Placement to Customer service.

I have been transformed and I will launch my career in China because I am addicted to the experience and way of life now.

China Internship Placement was at the center of getting me a consultancy internship when I was looking for one. They proved to be worth my money. I am coming from a part of the world that paying to placed into an internship was unheard of. But when I was walked though the components, I felt it was worth it.

I joined a consultancy internship assisting one of the lead Associates with preparing analysis, writing final reports and presentation. I experienced work and life in a multinational organizational setting and deep insight about China from regulation and policy framework and brand survival. I gained a valuable insight into the art and business of consulting including corporate culture. I was added to Management Consulting Team and attended corporate meetings and Training Need Assessment (TNA) segments.

These exposures mean a lot to me because I learnt about project management which is essential to managing a consultancy. I got knowledgeable about how to run a consultancy and prospect for clients. My Experience Chinese approach to management always proved to be different from the west because there are cultural and societal characteristic pervasiveness. It is seen in their everyday life. When I was briefed about the bureaucracies of work and respect for the hierarchy, I though change is going to be different in Chinese companies but hey! there is always a way of going about it. Few rules, Never regard an employees, ideas and superior to his supervisor, never contact a subordinate before a superior, always keep an eye on the rank, do not request to meet bosses together with their subordinates. Interesting huh! When you observe these rules to the letter, and assure subordinates of complete cover, you will get all information needed for a training need assessment. The Essence and Value The job descriptions were very necessary to my future career and the 12 months that I stayed in Beijing was just like living the future in the present. CIP’s Entrepreneurial training was just superb!!! We joined China Accelerators, an organization that nurtures entrepreneurial ideas and are Venture Capitalists. In my opinion, Beijing is the best city to launch careers related to business related soft skills like consultancy, research, marketing etc because here is a heavy presence of Fortune 500 companies. I understand Beijing has the highest fortune 500 Company presence than any other city in the world because most of them interested in doing business in China, would like to be very close to the Government to get first had information about policy Changes. Networking was a very important program component I miss while at home now. On a typical networking evening, all CIP interns gather at an agreed venue conveyed to very executive programs to network with Business people. It is fun and was worth ht time too. The growth Process Performance appraisal was a very vital aspect of the internship and I loved it except the realities. In the first 2 months, my performance was not as pleasant as I thought. I was encouraged to work hard and read more and I was at my best thereafter. CIP together with my host company conducts performance appraisal on my achievements and very frank recommendations are made to keep me in check. I love it though it was very corrective. I will add my voice to the rest of previous reviewers that CIP is to be trusted and their programs are solid and the experiences are real. Professionalism and good work ethics as well as fast follow ups outclass any shortfalls. We have also vowed to be ambassadors for CIP.

Just as the famous Saint Augustine said, “the world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page”. I found this to be true on my Internship Project with CIP. It is an account I would like to give and could never finish. I tried some of these into articles on some travel blogs, I wished my visa never expired and my family never keep asking me to come back home J after extending it for a month of jolly cruising ride and Tour.

I decided to do some internship in China after graduating from the university of Newcastle in Civil Engineering. Haven searching around for local jobs and getting frustrated, I decided to trip China to gain the experience that all employers keep asking during interviews. I am grateful my family did support this idea.

I chose CIP as an agent upon recommendation from a friend who once participated in this program. This experience probably had the biggest impact on my personal side. I′ve experienced coming to a city, I′ve never been, alone and being in a culture I haven’t met before. All this I think made my independent skills even stronger. Getting through the first week wasn’t very easy for me because of the unfamiliar. I don’t wish to portray here that it is the food I love, but my Welcome dinner with CIP staff was really an ice-breaking session.

I came for engineering internship in a well established Chinese company in Beijing for 6 months. I was arranged for 6 months internship, Language study and some business classes to know about Chinese business model since I was and is still interested in doing business in China. This company adopted very contemporarily and state of the art approaches to managing their company. They hired some foreign expats as staff and work culture was just like the west. It is amazing to see Chinese companies practice western approach to organizing while life after work is all about Chinese culture. The company sources contracts within and outside China and their reputation are solid internationally.

I was given a One-week orientation and training to fit into the department in Charge of Designing Intelligent Transportation Systems for countries and cities. They provide services relating to different modes of transport and traffic management. The department uses Information and communication Technology to plan transport networking. During my internship, I worked under a Supervisor who was ready to make me a real engineer. This was his promise to me on the first day I met him in the Coffee Yard.

I was happy for this opportunity because China despite its huge population has a well designed efficient transportation system which is worth studying about. The placement practically got me to know more.

I was involved in preparing bids for tenders and some project supervision tasks. I learnt and mastered How to prepare good bids to win international contracts. This makes me feel like a giant because I was never taught how to deal with this while in School.

I got to know how to use Emergency vehicle Notification procedures, How to development Automatic Road enforcements, CCTV systems and to use other Intelligent transport Technologies. I also learnt the basics of safety issues used to design the Chinese subway system.

Every engineer could judge how valuable this experience is going to be for me. CIP gave me a very wonderful supervisor who was doing a fantastic supervision.

No program is perfect and as such I don’t expect this to be very perfect. It took me a while to agree to the offer. My internship placement was changed twice before I finally settle for this one. I got frustrated in the process as I lost trust for the agency, but I got to realise that it is rather a stronger feature of their service because, the client have a say in deciding what eventually they settle for.

It is not easy getting paid placements for students in China when there are numerous young graduates willing to render such services for free. But to whoever is coming to China, I will recommend CIP as a sure way. Don’t miss it !!

There is this quote that my language tutor taught me which is “wherever you go, go with your heart” this is a quote from Confucius a very important figure in Chinese history. It is only when we do this that we will realise the full benefits of the purpose. Cultural shock is real!! Let’s get prepared as we go abroad for those expensive experiences that our own local companies are not prepared to give us.

I am yet to discover any program which is much customized and flexible than that of China Internship Placements. It is their hull mark and to me, they look different. I am a Bachelor student and graduated from Stanford University with Finance Major and minored in Asian History. I joined this program to launch my career, add some professional touch to my CV before applying to further my education (MBA). I finally decided to go China for some specific experiences which are just unique to the way of doing business there. I am aware that my demands are too strange as I wanted to work as a Junior Trader /Analyst with the relevant job descriptions. I had just 4 weeks to have this planned. I wasted one week trying to figure this out which agency is right for me and in the process, I discovered CHINA INTERNSHIP PLACEMENTS (CIP).

I ignored the so-called Big Internship providers in China because their contract terms were too strict especially where I had to pay fully for the program without knowing what to expect.

They finally arranged my desired program within 2 weeks and I had to process my visa with express service and got to China.

The company I interned with is a privately held integrated financial services company that enable clients to make effective financial decisions for today and for their retirement. Through direct offers of residential mortgages, investment advisory services, and real estate investment advice they clients' entire personal balance sheet to improve the outcomes of the financial choices of life. They are located in Shanghai with subsidiaries in Beijing, and six other provinces in China. It is a multinational company belonging to the EverGlory group of companies.

My job descriptions were solid and worth it. I handled Trade client positions using rebalancing software and excel models. Configure Rebalancer for optimum trading recommendations. Reconcile accounts and cost basis daily. Improve systems and processes through programming and innovative thinking throughout the division. Maintain client and prospect databases for request tracking, reporting, and mailings. Support the Director of Research and Portfolio Management. Support Investment management staff and clients, helping to produce a unique Wealth Management experience for clients.

The position gifted me with knowledge about the legal situation in China surrounding Real Estate and Mortgage. With the caliber of networks I have, I can confidently establish my own firm in China. My understanding was well grounded in the field as I served under a supervisor who knew much about the US, Europe, and Australian Market with over 30 years of experience.

It is envious and more than gold to me.

The package for language studies was awesome and worth it. I had a personal language tutor and we planned the lesson hours to not interfere with my internship. I am currently intermediate speaker of Mandarin.

Lessons learned is that nothing gets done properly in China without the necessary connection and Guanxi as referred in the local parlance. It is the oil that lubricates the engines of progress. That was the reason that the companies I contacted could not lead the way to get me what I wanted. China Internship Placements has what it takes. This company is well grounded. Through them, I also had a fair share of my connections.

I will disclose here that I am their campus Ambassador and I have recruited 3 of my school mates who are already in China now. This does not compromise the originality of my review because it is quality service that enticed me to be their brand ambassador.

The program has its own shortfalls just as no organization is perfect. I think they needed to open up more online contacts and visibility because I have no doubt that many young graduates are looking for such an opportunity.