How to write the perfect resume in Chinese: 164 useful phrases

Nailing your Chinese CV can be the first step towards finding the job of your dreams.

Every year, more and more people choose to learn Mandarin to do business in China and get jobs at Chinese firms both in China and all around the world. But before you start working the job of your dreams, you’ll have to write an expert resume in Chinese that will impress any job recruiter out there.

On top of a stellar resume, you’ll also want to prepare for the job interview you’re sure to get. Although meeting with a potential employer can be stressful, we’ve got you covered with some helpful phrases for common job interview questions in Chinese so you never go into an interview feeling unprepared. We’ve also included some helpful cultural tips for acing a job interview in China, no matter where you’re from!

We’ve got a lot of ground to cover with 164 words and phrases about writing CVs and acing job interviews in Chinese, so let’s start with some essential vocabulary for writing a resume in Chinese!

Table of contents

• How do Chinese resumes compare with American resumes?
• Essential vocabulary for Chinese CV writing
• Common phrases you would use when doing a job interview in Chinese
• Tips for acing a job interview in Chinese
• FAQs about Chinese job hunting & work culture

How do Chinese resumes compare with American resumes?

Before we get started with all the important words and phrases to know about resumes, let’s start with the basics. Chinese resumes are different from American resumes and, in fact, almost all countries have their own unique norms and expectations for resumes. When working on a resume for China, you’ll want to keep the following in mind:

Don’t exceed two pages

Just as in the US, resumes in China shouldn’t exceed two pages save for special circumstances. For an overwhelming majority of job hunters, though, a maximum of two pages is expected. Ideally, you’ll be able to condense all of your experience to just one page, especially if you’ve only recently graduated from college and have limited work experience. If it doesn’t add anything meaningful to your job application, cut it!

Don’t be afraid to add some personality

Unlike American resumes, Chinese resumes can include some color and personality. While you’d be stuck writing in black, 12-point Times New Roman font for an American resume, you can choose a more stylish font and add some color to your resume with colorful bullet points or subheaders. Just make sure to not go overboard, as a little style can go a long way, but too much color can make your resume look like a third-grader’s homework!

Make sure to include your headshot

Including a headshot in an American CV is a big red flag, but Chinese CVs are expected to come with an updated headshot. Make sure it is a professional headshot where you are wearing formal clothing and looking straight at the camera. Save the fancy poses and fun outfits for Instagram — or Xiaohongshu!

Don’t be afraid to get personal

Resumes in the US tend to be strictly professional, so there is rarely any room for personal characteristics that aren’t strictly related to your job performance. However, showcasing some of your personality on your Chinese CV can be a great way to stand out from the rest of the pile. As everyone is focusing on listing out academic and professional qualifications, choosing to include a few hobbies or interests can help make you seem like a more well-rounded person and more likely to be a more interesting person to work with.

Consider including your personality type

Personality types like the Myers-Briggs MBTI have become massively popular in China over the past few years. So much so, in fact, that many companies include these tests as a part of the hiring process. Because of this, many newly-grads are including their MBTI personality types in their resumes in order to succinctly share a lot of information about their personality type. If you’re into personality-type tests, don’t hesitate to include your MBTI results in your resume!

Essential vocabulary for Chinese CV writing

Now that you’re familiar with how a Chinese resume might be different from an American resume, it’s time to get into some specific words and phrases that you’ll need to be familiar with when you write your first CV in Chinese. We’ve broken them down into the different sections in a typical Chinese resume, so feel free to structure your resume with the following subheadings:

Basic Information

The first section you’ll find in any Chinese resume is the 基本信息 (jī běn xìn xī), or basic information, section. You’ll want to include the most essential details about yourself here as a way to briefly introduce yourself to the hiring manager without going into too much detail about your background or experience. Here are some words and phrases that you might want to include in this section:

Educational background

Immediately after the basic information section, you’ll want to jump into the 教育背景 (jiào yù bèi jǐng) section — your educational background. Education is extremely important in China, so you’ll want to be very detailed about any educational formation you’ve received. Make sure to also mention any noteworthy accomplishments in school, like any scholarships or honors you’ve received!

Work experience

Right after your educational background, you’ll want to describe your 工作经历 (gōng zuò jīng lì), or work experience. Dive into any relevant work experience that you’ve had in the past and would like to point out. If you have an extensive and varied work history, try to keep it to the 3-5 most relevant job experiences you’ve had in the recent past.

Professions in Chinese

Another thing you’ll need to be very familiar with when working on your resume is the names of the professions in Chinese. Although you might know very well how to talk about your profession in your native language, selling it in Chinese is a totally different thing. To get you started, here are some of the most common professions in Chinese:

Skills and qualifications

The next section of your Mandarin Chinese CV is 技能与资质 (jì néng yǔ zī zhì), which lists your skills and qualifications. Here’s where you would include any special abilities that you might have that can help you stand out from the rest of the applicants, like foreign language skills and proficiency with websites.

Self evaluation

Finally, the very last section of a Chinese resume is often reserved for a special section where you can describe any other noteworthy things about yourself or your character that you didn’t get a chance to discuss before. For a more formal route, you can call this section 自我评价 (zì wǒ píng jià), or self-evaluation. In it, you can discuss how your experience and unique character traits make you the ideal candidate. For a more casual route, you can also call this section 兴趣爱好 (xìng qù ài hào), which means interests and hobbies. In it, you can describe your passions and hobbies that make you a well-rounded applicant!

Action verbs to use on your Chinese resume

You’ll also want to use some action verbs to describe all the remarkable duties and responsibilities you’ve had in your previous roles. Use one of the following verbs to give a brief yet powerful description of each role on your resume:

Common phrases you would use when doing a job interview in Chinese

If you’ve made it all the way to the interview portion, then congrats! You should give yourself a pat on the back and remember that the job recruiter is asking for an interview because they believe that you’ve got what it takes to be successful in the role they’re advertising. All you need is to practice for your interview a little bit so you can really take it home!

Below, we’ll walk you through some common phrases you might need to use during your first job interview in Chinese.

Start with an appropriate greeting

If you’ve been keeping up with our Mandarin Chinese blog, then you already know that there are dozens of ways to say hello in Chinese. So, one of the best ways to secure a great first impression is by using the appropriate greeting as soon as you meet your interviewer. For a full breakdown of Chinese greetings, check out our detailed guide above. Otherwise, take a look at the following brief overview!

Talking about your education

One of the first things that is likely to come up during your job interview is your educational background. This can be the most important phase of the interview if you’re still in school, as it gives you a chance to expand on what you’re studying and how you hope to apply it to your future job.

Talking about your work sector

Taking about your career experience is another part of the interview that you can anticipate in any job interview. Here, you’ll be able to describe the types of jobs you’ve had and paint a clear picture of your career trajectory. Here are some examples you can use:

Talking about the job you’re applying for

Finally, you’ll want to elaborate on the job you’re seeking. After all, you need to show that you understand the role you’re interested in and how your unique experience and character can fit into it. Here are a few examples you can use:

Tips for acing a job interview in Chinese

Knowing what to say during your job interview is one thing, but you also need to be aware of the cultural norms and expectations in a Chinese interview. Here are some tips that will make you stand out for all the right reasons:

1. Be professional

Although this should go without saying, you should take your Chinese job interviews seriously and be very professional. Although professionalism is also expected in the United States, it is especially important in China to behave with the highest level of professionalism during your job interviews. This means arriving on time (or early!), dressing formally, and addressing the interviewer respectfully. While some humor and informal speech may be acceptable in the US, make sure to leave it out of your job interviews in China!

2. Research the company you’re interviewing for

One of the biggest red flags for a potential employer is to find out that the interviewee did not do their due diligence in learning about the company they’re trying to work for. You should be familiar with not only the position you’re applying for but also the general operations of the company, including its products, finances, and values.

3. Be positive

Although you should always be honest in a job interview, it’s also essential to frame things the right way. Few things will be more off-putting to Chinese interviewers than hearing negative responses from the interviewee. For example, if you had a bad experience with a terrible boss, try to rephrase it as an opportunity that helped you navigate challenging workplace relations.

4. Be mindful of your body language

All cultures have different norms when it comes to body language, so you need to pay special attention to your body language when doing a job interview in Chinese. Here are some forms of non-verbal communication in Chinese to keep in mind:

• Greet with a handshake. However, you should wait for the interviewer to offer a handshake first. If a handshake isn’t offered, simply nod your head slightly when greeting.
• Don’t bow. Although some people might associate the Japanese custom of bowing with other East Asian nations, this isn’t a common practice in China.
• Avoid prolonged direct eye contact. While you shouldn’t be afraid to look your interviewer directly in the eye, you should try to avoid staring for too long as it may be interpreted as confrontational.
• Don’t use too many hand gestures. While this can be a good way to emphasize your words and keep the speaker engaged in Western countries, that’s not the case in China. Avoid using too many hand gestures as it may appear odd or obnoxious. Simply keep your hands to your side for the duration of the interview.

Following these tips can help you avoid making an embarrassing mistake in body language!

5. Be confident yet modest

Presenting yourself in the best possible way is one of the most critical goals of any job interview. However, you need to be careful not to appear cocky or like a know-it-all. A good way to show that you’re both talented and modest is to also emphasize what you hope to achieve and how you hope to continue building on your experience and skills.

6. Send a thank-you email

After the interview is done, make sure to send the interviewer a professional yet brief email thanking them for their time and consideration. This will indicate that you’re interested in the position and are eager to hear back on the results of the interview.

FAQs about Chinese job hunting & work culture

When is the best time to submit your Chinese resume?

While there are broad hiring seasons in the United States, you are generally free to submit your resume at any time of the year. In China, however, you’ll want to stick to the two main hiring periods of the year, especially if you’re a recent college grad or still in college.

The first is “金九银十” (jīn jiǔ yín shí), which literally translates to “Golden September, silver October.” This phrase refers to the ideal time for job hunting or career advancement in China. September and October are considered prime months for jobseekers, especially college students who are about to graduate the following year, as many companies launch recruitment campaigns and conduct interviews during this period.

The other is "金三银四" (jīn sān yín sì), which literally translates to "Golden March, silver April." This phrase represents another favorable time for job hunting or career development in China. Many companies conduct recruitment activities during this period, especially for working professionals with years of experience. This is also the end of Chinese New Year, people often have received bonuses from the previous year, so are more active in seeking career advancement opportunities.

What is the 996 work culture?

The 996 work culture is a relatively recent phenomenon that started with the boom of tech companies in China. This work culture sets the expectation of 12 hours of work, roughly from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week — thus the 996 name. Although Chinese law sets the workweek to a maximum of 44 hours and caps the number of overtime hours to just 36 a month, many workers feel pressured by their employers to work overtime and stay in the office until late.

While this work schedule is clearly unsustainable, the competition in the job market almost forces young people to get a 996 job out of fear of not being able to find another good job. This has contributed to the concept of 内卷 (nèi juǎn), which literally translates into “to roll inward / involution.” This is a popular term used to describe unhealthy competition leading to the feeling of being overworked and under excessive stress and pressure, often leading to depression.

This also sparked the counter-culture: 躺平 (tǎng píng) movement, which literally translates into “lying flat.” With this perspective, people choose to live a low-desire lifestyle to avoid getting dragged into the 996 rat-race.

Although not every company in China adheres to the 996 work schedule, the intensity of work in China is indeed higher than in the majority of countries worldwide. If you aspire to build a career in China, you must be mentally prepared.

Are cover letters necessary in China?

If you’re looking for a job in China, you might be pleased to learn that cover letters aren’t required in most cases. While you’re generally required to craft a unique cover letter for each job that you apply to in the United States, this isn’t the case in China. Instead, you can modify your resume to highlight specific skills and achievements that would make you more suitable for the job you’re applying for.

Time to polish your Chinese CV and get the job of your dreams!

Now that you know 164 words and phrases about Chinese resumes and job interviews, you’ve got everything you need to land your next job! Whether that role takes you to China or gets you involved with Chinese customers and businesspeople in your home country, you’ll be able to make a memorable first impression by incorporating the expert advice in this blog.

If you enjoyed our easy-to-follow guide to Chinese resumes, make sure to check out the rest of our Mandarin Chinese blog! We publish helpful guides on all aspects of learning the language, like asking for the time in Chinese and talking about months, days, and years in Chinese.