2010-05-14T16:09:00.001-07:00

The ASU Chinese Language Flagship Program Internship Experience in China

Name: Aaron Fanello, 范捷轩

Major：Chinese and Finance

Year in School: Junior

Where did you do your internship? Power Up Marketing Consulting, 至汇营销咨询有限公司

What were your duties?

The internship took place in a management and marketing consulting firm and my duties were similar to that of an assistant in a human resources department. My duties at the company included tasks such as clothing and food industry research and market analysis, finding and working with web companies that designed our new website, taking part in interviews of would-be employees and searching databases for compatible candidates. I also participated and often attended the meetings with the consultants in the office while they were brainstorming on the best ways to solve the management and marketing issues that their clients were currently facing.

What were some highlights of your internship?

One of the highlights of my internship actually happened during the first week that I started. My company was having their year-end reports meeting before the Chinese New Year started and I had the opportunity to attend and meet all of the employees. This was a highlight for a couple of reasons. First of all, I would at any other time of the year only be able to meet half of the employees of the company because for the most part they are stationed at clients companies all over China. Secondly, because they gave a year end summary on all of their projects and how they were able to solve the clients problems and overcome obstacles that arose during the process. Their presentations were very detailed and professional and it helped me to have a greater understanding right from the first week what my company was doing for their clients.

Another event that I would consider to be a highlight was my participation in the strategic planning sessions leading up to a full-market investigation with a new client that is based out of Shanghai. I was able to see the systematic process involved when reviewing the client's desires and goals and making plans in accordance with those goals so that we could help the client reach them. I was able to learn how the market analysis comes into play, when the actual market investigation starts to take place, and how this information will become valuable to the client.

The last highlight that is unrelated to the profession of my internship but it made my internship truly enjoyable, was the relationship with my co worker. I was a HR assistant and he was the HR manager so I worked with him the whole time while at the company. We traveled together and played badminton each week and often got dinner outside office hours. My wife and I both really enjoyed his friendship and I feel that this was the biggest highlight of my internship.

What tips do you have for Flagship students who will be doing internships?

One of the things that I feel very strongly about after living here in Shanghai and participating in this internship is that I feel Flagship students should start to look for and apply for internships on their own before coming to China and while they are studying in Nanjing. I feel that there are a lot of great opportunities to be found here in China and though Jian Laoshi has build up many good connections and internships in many fields there are times that internships do not match the needs or career path of the students. I felt that my internship went well considering my situation, I have not taken any business classes and my knowledge is only in Chinese, so for me to get an internship which still for the most part was a cultural and language experience, not a professional one, was a good match. If students know the requirements set forth by Flagship in relation to their internship, they could learn a lot from searching themselves while Jian Laoshi looks as well and if they are able to find a good match and put in a good name and face for the Flagship program, then Jian Laoshi can maintain that relationship and another opportunity for future Flagship students will be established.

How will this internship help you in the future?

I feel that I now have a greater interest in marketing as well as a greater understanding of consulting as a profession and some of the in and outs of the job. I see the Chinese market in a more clear light and feel that there is much for American companies to understand and apply if they are to become successful in this ever changing market. The information and knowledge that I have acquired will surely come in handy as I move forward with my education and career and desire to work in the Chinese market. I also feel that the skill of working for and with my Chinese colleagues has broadened my understanding of the culture and relationships that exists within a Chinese workplace.

The Arizona State University Chinese Language Flagship Program 亞利桑那州立大學中文領航項目