Intl. Internship and Career Fair held in University Town

Video provided by International Youth Exchange & Service Station

International students in Shenzhen no longer need to look far for career opportunities. On Dec. 19, the 4th “Pick Me Up” International Internship and Career Fair brought recruitment directly to their doorstep, unfolding on the lawn of the International Youth Exchange & Service Station of Shenzhen University Town in Nanshan District.

Hosted by the Nanshan District People’s Government and organized by the Taoyuan Subdistrict Office, the fair featured nearly 40 companies on-site and 10 participating online. The event spanned a wide range of industries, including AI, finance, healthcare, logistics, and tourism. Employers offered various vacancies in technical R&D, business administration, and social media operations.

A scene of the 4th “Pick Me Up” International Internship and Career Fair. Photos courtesy of the organizers unless otherwise stated

To support job-seekers, the fair also set up dedicated service booths providing resume optimization and free consultations on work permits, residence permits, and work visas. According to the Taoyuan Subdistrict Office, the event aimed to bridge the gap between local employers and global talent while providing comprehensive guidance on employment and entrepreneurship.

Zhou Yuding, an HR manager at BGI Group, talks to a student.

Zhou Yuding, an HR manager at BGI Group, called the fair a “great opportunity” to engage with top-tier international students. “Having the fair right in University Town is convenient for both students and employers. The students are very proactive about coming to check out the opportunities,” Zhou told Shenzhen Daily.

Despite it being BGI’s first time participating, Zhou was impressed by the quality of candidates and thought that job fairs like this are necessary. “Face-to-face communication is simply more direct and effective for us,” she noted.

Jasmine, an HR manager from Howen Technologies, communicates with a student.

Jasmine, an HR manager from Howen Technologies, a Nanshan-based firm specializing in Vehicle Service Systems (VSS), echoed Zhou’s sentiments. “The students here are well-rounded, and many speak Mandarin, which is quite impressive,” she said.

Howen Technologies offered 10 positions across marketing, technical support, and R&D. Jasmine praised the event as “well-organized and properly publicized,” adding that her team will begin callbacks and interviews as early as next week.

Jackline Kimune (R) and Letta April show interest in the job opportunities on a poster. Yang Mei

For students like Jackline Kimune, from Tanzania, and Letta April, from Botswana, both postgraduates at the Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen (HITSZ), the fair was a chance to test the waters.

“All the booths we visited were very welcoming. I think there is a high possibility they might choose us,” said Kimune, a management major. Both students expressed an interest in Shenzhen’s tech sector. “Everything is about technology right now. I wouldn’t want to miss out on that trend,” April added.

Kimune noted that she isn’t just looking for “big names,” but rather companies with a “niche advantage” in their specific fields.

Eladib Moad (1st R) and Fezouati Abderrahim (2nd R) chat with a fellow student at the job fair.

While some arrived prepared with resumes, others like Moroccan students Eladib Moad and Fezouati Abderrahim — majoring in computer science at HITSZ — bumped into the job fair while strolling on the campus. They saw it as a valuable learning experience.

“Usually, we stay in the lab doing research, but here we can see what the job market actually requires,” Moad said. He observed that many companies require basic Chinese, which he views as a fair expectation. “I speak four languages: Arabic, French, English, and intermediate Chinese. This will be a major advantage in helping Chinese companies expand abroad.”

The duo expressed their intention to return to the fair next year, fully prepared with their CVs in hand.