Chinese Career & Profession Phrases — Mandarin for Job Seeking, Workplace Communication, Career Growth & Professional Networking in China

Understanding China's job market vocabulary is the foundation of career success. Key job market terms: 招聘 (zhāo pìn) — recruit / recruitment, 求职 (qiú zhí) — job seeking, 猎头 (liè tóu) — headhunter, 内推 (nèi tuī) — internal referral, 跳槽 (tiào cáo) — job hop / switch jobs, 裸辞 (luǒ cí) — quit without having the next job lined up, 应届生 (yìng jiè shēng) — fresh graduate, 社招 (shè zhāo) — experienced hire recruitment, 春招 (chūn zhāo) — spring recruitment season, 秋招 (qiū zhāo) — autumn recruitment season, 实习 (shí xí) — internship, 试用期 (shì yòng qī) — probation period, 转正 (zhuǎn zhèng) — become a regular employee after probation. Major Chinese job platforms: 猎聘 (liè pìn) — Liepin (mid-to-senior roles), BOSS直聘 — BOSS Zhipin (direct chat with hiring managers), 脉脉 (mài mài) — Maimai (professional networking), 智联招聘 (zhì lián zhāo pìn) — Zhaopin, 前程无忧/51job — 51job. Key phrases for job searching: 我在找工作 (wǒ zài zhǎo gōng zuò) — I am looking for a job. 有没有合适的职位 (yǒu méi yǒu hé shì de zhí wèi) — Are there any suitable positions? 这个职位还在招吗 (zhè ge zhí wèi hái zài zhāo ma) — Is this position still open? 可以内推吗 (kě yǐ nèi tuī ma) — Can you give me an internal referral? 有没有猎头联系你 (yǒu méi yǒu liè tóu lián xì nǐ) — Has a headhunter contacted you? 薪资范围是多少 (xīn zī fàn wéi shì duō shǎo) — What is the salary range?

Resume and application vocabulary: 简历 (jiǎn lì) — resume/CV, 投简历 (tóu jiǎn lì) — submit a resume, 工作经验 (gōng zuò jīng yàn) — work experience, 教育背景 (jiào yù bèi jǐng) — educational background, 技能 (jì néng) — skills, 语言能力 (yǔ yán néng lì) — language ability, 证书 (zhèng shū) — certificates, 自我评价 (zì wǒ píng jià) — self-evaluation, 期望薪资 (qī wàng xīn zī) — expected salary. Job description vocabulary (JD terms): 岗位职责 (gǎng wèi zhí zé) — job responsibilities, 任职要求 (rèn zhí yāo qiú) — qualifications / requirements, 学历要求 (xué lì yāo qiú) — education requirements, 工作经验要求 (gōng zuò jīng yàn yāo qiú) — work experience requirements, 优先 (yōu xiān) — preferred / given priority. Key phrases: 你投了几家公司 (nǐ tóu le jǐ jiā gōng sī) — How many companies have you applied to? 简历发给你了 (jiǎn lì fā gěi nǐ le) — I have sent you my resume. 帮我看看简历 (bāng wǒ kàn kan jiǎn lì) — Help me review my resume. 有面试通知吗 (yǒu miàn shì tōng zhī ma) — Any interview notifications?

Professional titles in Chinese follow a strict hierarchy that reflects status and respect. C-suite and senior leadership: 总裁 (zǒng cái) — President, 首席执行官/CEO (shǒu xí zhí xíng guān) — Chief Executive Officer, 首席运营官/COO (shǒu xí yùn yíng guān) — Chief Operating Officer, 首席财务官/CFO (shǒu xí cái wù guān) — Chief Financial Officer, 首席技术官/CTO (shǒu xí jì shù guān) — Chief Technology Officer, 副总裁 (fù zǒng cái) — Vice President. Middle management and directors: 总经理 (zǒng jīng lǐ) — General Manager, 副总经理 (fù zǒng jīng lǐ) — Deputy General Manager, 总监 (zǒng jiān) — Director, 副总监 (fù zǒng jiān) — Deputy Director, 部门经理 (bù mén jīng lǐ) — Department Manager, 团队负责人 (tuán duì fù zé rén) — Team Lead. Individual contributor levels: 高级 (gāo jí) — Senior, 中级 (zhōng jí) — Mid-level, 初级 (chū jí) — Junior, 实习生 (shí xí shēng) — Intern. Addressing colleagues: add 总 (zǒng) after surname for senior leaders (e.g. 王总 — President Wang). Add 经理 (jīng lǐ) for managers. Use 老师 (lǎo shī) as a general respectful title in professional settings. Key phrases: 请问您怎么称呼 (qǐng wèn nín zěn me chēng hu) — How should I address you? 这是我的名片 (zhè shì wǒ de míng piàn) — This is my business card. 您在公司负责什么业务 (nín zài gōng sī fù zé shén me yè wù) — What business do you oversee in the company?

Company departments and organizational vocabulary: 人力资源部/HR (rén lì zī yuán bù) — Human Resources Department, 财务部 (cái wù bù) — Finance Department, 市场部 (shì chǎng bù) — Marketing Department, 销售部 (xiāo shòu bù) — Sales Department, 技术部 (jì shù bù) — Technology/Engineering Department, 研发部 (yán fā bù) — R&D Department, 运营部 (yùn yíng bù) — Operations Department, 产品部 (chǎn pǐn bù) — Product Department, 设计部 (shè jì bù) — Design Department, 法务部 (fǎ wù bù) — Legal Department, 行政部 (xíng zhèng bù) — Administration Department, 公关部/PR (gōng guān bù) — Public Relations Department, 客服部 (kè fú bù) — Customer Service Department. Company types: 国企 (guó qǐ) — state-owned enterprise, 外企 (wài qǐ) — foreign-invested company, 私企 (sī qǐ) — private company, 创业公司 (chuàng yè gōng sī) — startup, 互联网公司 (hù lián wǎng gōng sī) — internet/tech company, 跨国公司 (kuà guó gōng sī) — multinational corporation, 独角兽 (dú jiǎo shòu) — unicorn company. Key phrases: 你在哪个部门 (nǐ zài nǎ ge bù mén) — Which department are you in? 我们部门有二十个人 (wǒ men bù mén yǒu èr shí ge rén) — Our department has 20 people. 你们公司是做什么的 (nǐ men gōng sī shì zuò shén me de) — What does your company do?

Effective workplace communication in Chinese requires mastering both formal and informal registers. Meeting vocabulary: 开会 (kāi huì) — have a meeting, 会议 (huì yì) — meeting, 视频会议 (shì pín huì yì) — video conference, 例会 (lì huì) — regular meeting, 周会 (zhōu huì) — weekly meeting, 站会 (zhàn huì) — stand-up meeting, 一对一 (yī duì yī) — one-on-one meeting, 汇报 (huì bào) — report / presentation, 分享 (fēn xiǎng) — share / present, 讨论 (tǎo lùn) — discuss, 总结 (zǒng jié) — summarize. Key meeting phrases: 今天会议的主要议题是... (jīn tiān huì yì de zhǔ yào yì tí shì...) — The main agenda for today's meeting is... 谁来做会议纪要 (shéi lái zuò huì yì jì yào) — Who will take meeting minutes? 我同意 (wǒ tóng yì) — I agree, 我有不同意见 (wǒ yǒu bù tóng yì jiàn) — I have a different view, 我想补充一点 (wǒ xiǎng bǔ chōng yì diǎn) — I want to add one point. Ending a meeting: 总结一下 (zǒng jié yí xià) — Let me summarize, 下一步行动 (xià yí bù xíng dòng) — Next steps / action items, 没有其他问题了吗 (méi yǒu qí tā wèn tí le ma) — Any other questions?, 那今天就到这里 (nà jīn tiān jiù dào zhè lǐ) — Let's wrap up here for today.

Email and messaging conventions: Chinese workplace emails are less formal than Western ones. Common email vocabulary: 邮件 (yóu jiàn) — email, 发送 (fā sòng) — send, 回复 (huí fù) — reply, 抄送 (chāo sòng) — CC, 密送 (mì sòng) — BCC, 附件 (fù jiàn) — attachment, 主题 (zhǔ tí) — subject line. Email opening phrases: 您好 (nín hǎo) — Hello (formal), or 你好 (nǐ hǎo) — Hello (less formal). Key email phrases: 请查收附件 (qǐng chá shōu fù jiàn) — Please find the attachment, 收到 (shōu dào) — Received / Got it, 好的 (hǎo de) — OK / Understood, 马上处理 (mǎ shàng chǔ lǐ) — Will handle it right away, 麻烦您看一下 (má fan nín kàn yí xià) — Could you please take a look, 如有问题请随时联系 (rú yǒu wèn tí qǐng suí shí lián xì) — Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. WeChat work culture: 微信 is the primary workplace chat tool. Responding 收到 (shōu dào) to acknowledge messages is standard practice. Emojis are common and considered friendly, not unprofessional. 企业微信 (qǐ yè wēi xìn) — WeCom/Enterprise WeChat is increasingly used for official work communication.

Presentation skills: 做演示 (zuò yǎn shì) — give a presentation, PPT (pī pī tī) — PowerPoint slides, 投影 (tóu yǐng) — projector, 屏幕共享 (píng mù gòng xiǎng) — screen sharing. Useful transitions: 今天我们来看一下 (jīn tiān wǒ men lái kàn yí xià) — Today let's take a look at..., 接下来 (jiē xià lái) — Next..., 重点是... (zhòng diǎn shì...) — The key point is..., 数据显示 (shù jù xiǎn shì) — The data shows..., 有什么问题可以随时打断我 (yǒu shén me wèn tí kě yǐ suí shí dǎ duàn wǒ) — Please feel free to interrupt me with questions. After the presentation: 感谢大家的参与 (gǎn xiè dà jiā de cān yù) — Thank you all for participating. 有需要我会把PPT发给大家 (yǒu xū yào wǒ huì bǎ PPT fā gěi dà jiā) — I will share the slides if anyone needs them.

Navigating compensation and benefits conversations requires cultural awareness. Core compensation vocabulary: 薪资 (xīn zī) — salary, 工资 (gōng zī) — wages / salary, 月薪 (yuè xīn) — monthly salary, 年薪 (nián xīn) — annual salary, 税前 (shuì qián) — pre-tax / gross, 税后 (shuì hòu) — after-tax / net, 奖金 (jiǎng jīn) — bonus, 年终奖 (nián zhōng jiǎng) — year-end bonus, 绩效奖 (jì xiào jiǎng) — performance bonus, 提成 (tí chéng) — commission, 期权 (qī quán) — stock options, 股权 (gǔ quán) — equity, 涨工资 (zhǎng gōng zī) — salary increase / raise. Benefits (福利 — fú lì): 五险一金 (wǔ xiǎn yī jīn) — five insurances and one housing fund (mandatory social insurance package), 社保 (shè bǎo) — social insurance, 公积金 (gōng jī jīn) — housing fund, 补充公积金 (bǔ chōng gōng jī jīn) — supplementary housing fund, 商业保险 (shāng yè bǎo xiǎn) — commercial insurance, 餐补 (cān bǔ) — meal allowance, 交通补贴 (jiāo tōng bǔ tiē) — transportation subsidy, 通讯补贴 (tōng xùn bǔ tiē) — communication subsidy, 住房补贴 (zhù fáng bǔ tiē) — housing allowance, 弹性工作 (tán xìng gōng zuò) — flexible working hours, 远程办公 (yuǎn chéng bàn gōng) — remote work.

Salary negotiation phrases: 薪资方面我们可以谈一谈吗 (xīn zī fāng miàn wǒ men kě yǐ tán yì tán ma) — Can we discuss salary? 我的期望月薪是... (wǒ de qī wàng yuè xīn shì...) — My expected monthly salary is... 上一家公司的工资是... (shàng yì jiā gōng sī de gōng zī shì...) — My salary at my previous company was... 有没有年终奖 (yǒu méi yǒu nián zhōng jiǎng) — Is there a year-end bonus? 试用期工资是转正的百分之多少 (shì yòng qī gōng zī shì zhuǎn zhèng de bǎi fēn zhī duō shǎo) — What percentage of the regular salary is the probationary salary? (Typically 80%). Career advancement vocabulary: 升职 (shēng zhí) — promotion, 晋升 (jìn shēng) — promotion (more formal), 调岗 (diào gǎng) — transfer to a different position, 轮岗 (lún gǎng) — job rotation, 涨薪 (zhǎng xīn) — salary increase, 评级 (píng jí) — performance rating, 绩效评估 (jì xiào píng gū) — performance review, KPI (kēi pì ài) — Key Performance Indicators, OKR (ōu kēi àr) — Objectives and Key Results. Key phrases: 我什么时候可以升职 (wǒ shén me shí hou kě yǐ shēng zhí) — When can I get promoted? 今年的绩效评估结果出来了吗 (jīn nián de jì xiào píng gū jié guǒ chū lái le ma) — Are this year's performance review results out? 我的评级是什么 (wǒ de píng jí shì shén me) — What is my rating? 你有职业规划吗 (nǐ yǒu zhí yè guī huà ma) — Do you have a career plan?

Chinese workplace culture places heavy emphasis on relationships (关系 — guān xi). Building and maintaining professional relationships is as important as job performance. Relationship vocabulary: 同事 (tóng shì) — colleague, 领导 (lǐng dǎo) — leader / boss, 上级 (shàng jí) — superior, 下属 (xià shǔ) — subordinate, 老板 (lǎo bǎn) — boss, 团队 (tuán duì) — team, 合作伙伴 (hé zuò huǒ bàn) — business partner, 客户 (kè hù) — client, 甲方 (jiǎ fāng) — client side / party A (the one paying), 乙方 (yǐ fāng) — service provider side / party B (the one serving). Networking vocabulary: 人脉 (rén mài) — professional network / connections, 社交 (shè jiāo) — socializing, 行业活动 (háng yè huó dòng) — industry event, 饭局 (fàn jú) — business dinner / social meal, 应酬 (yìng chou) — social engagement / entertaining clients, 建立关系 (jiàn lì guān xi) — build relationships, 维护关系 (wéi hù guān xi) — maintain relationships.

Navigating workplace dynamics: Chinese offices often have a more hierarchical culture. Key phrases: 跟领导汇报一下 (gēn lǐng dǎo huì bào yí xià) — Give a report to the leader, 需要请示领导 (xū yào qǐng shì lǐng dǎo) — Need to ask/consult the leader, 老板怎么看 (lǎo bǎn zěn me kàn) — What does the boss think? Dealing with conflicts: approach indirectly. 麻烦你帮个忙 (má fan nǐ bāng ge máng) — Could you help me with something (softens requests), 能不能商量一下 (néng bù néng shāng liang yí xià) — Can we discuss this? 我个人觉得... (wǒ gè rén jué de...) — I personally feel... (softens criticism). Exit and transition vocabulary: 辞职 (cí zhí) — resign, 离职 (lí zhí) — leave a job, 交接 (jiāo jiē) — handover, 离职证明 (lí zhí zhèng míng) — employment separation certificate, 竞业协议 (jìng yè xié yì) — non-compete agreement, 离职补偿 (lí zhí bǔ cháng) — severance pay. Key phrases: 我决定辞职 (wǒ jué dìng cí zhí) — I have decided to resign. 最后一天是下个月几号 (zuì hòu yì tiān shì xià ge yuè jǐ hào) — My last day will be [date] next month. 需不需要竞业协议 (xū bù xū yào jìng yè xié yì) — Is there a non-compete agreement? 谁来做交接 (shéi lái zuò jiāo jiē) — Who will handle the handover? 祝你在新工作一切顺利 (zhù nǐ zài xīn gōng zuò yí qiè shùn lì) — Wishing you all the best at your new job (standard farewell phrase).