I started with Pax about two weeks ago. In total I've been in the office about a week and a half. In that time I figured out I'm the only English speaker in the office and the use of english is not needed at the Beijing branch, Chinese sales are very different than sales in the U.S. (This is mostly due to people in the office reiterating this point to me every chance they get), and that Chinese business etiquette is very different from American business etiquette.
I'll start by describing the not- so- english friendly working environment. In keeping with the theme of having to be flexible and go with the flow here in China, my first communications with anyone in the office were done with my boss, all in Chinese. After half understanding, and being scared witless about how I could actually help the office, I was given a cubicle and introduced to my co- workers (once again, in Chinese). I was then given product manuals to study and familiarize myself with the products I would be hoping to sell or help sell by the end of the semester (as above, in Chinese characters). I then proceeded to spend the rest of the day using Pax's english site and google translate to create a database of vocab I need to learn so that I can be of use to the office. Currently I don't have any responsibilities, but I'm trying hard to become literate in Pax's business and to find ways that I can help out around the office.
I've also learned that Chinese sales are very different from sales in the U.S. They're more complicated. Unlike the U.S., sales in China aren't based entirely off of a product's quality and then the price that one can get it at. Sales in China have a lot to do with the way you treat the person that you're trying to sell to and the type of relationship you have with him or her. This can mean that taking a client out to get drunk and sign karaoke on a regular basis can be incredibly beneficial to business. I think this aspect of Chinese business will change as more Chinese business make their move into selling their product and brand in other countries. For those of you fearing the U.S. economy taking a back seat to China in coming years, you'll know it's arrived when you're buying brands you can't imagine trying to pronounce correctly.
Finally, Chinese business etiquette is possibly one of the most interesting things I've gotten to observe during my internship. A few things to note are a lack of work breaks, socializing, or a lack of inappropriate times to answer phone calls. If there are any real work breaks taken to socialize it has to be done through QQ (China's version of AIM). The office remains quite all day except for an occasional phone call. That brings me to another observation. I have had the opportunity to follow one of the salesmen to negotiations. This allowed me to get a feel of what negotiations are like in China. Something very interesting that I noticed was that Chinese people answer calls in the middle of meetings with clients and it is entirely appropriate. I guess the best way I could describe Chinese business etiquette is casual. From jeans and a sweater being appropriate business attire to watching negotiations happen around a ping pong table in an unfinished conference room, Chinese business is significantly more casual than American business.
Well, I hope everyone back home is well, and I love and miss you all. I plan on starting a "text" study this week, and I'm not really sure how I want to go about it as I feel like my gifts aren't necessarily in researching and teaching "Dad's" word.
Yours,
Colton
