Gi2C Group: Alumni Network

I’m really happy with my accommodation in Beijing from Gi2C, it’s modern large flat I was sharing with two more people, we had everything we need in there, apartment was clean and pretty close to subway station, so really convenient.
Of course even living in perfect apartment you shouldn’t just stay at home all the time. It’s important to go out and see what is it to live in China, work for Chinese corporation and hang out with Chinese coworkers. You can’t do everything you did in University, here is different environment, working environment, different people here, you are gonna talk to them and deal with more things than just your lectures. I think interning overseas it’s great opportunity to gain experience of communications with people from different cultures. I’ve gained great experience of communications with Chinese people here.

I just finished my graduation, had a look around about some internships in different locations and I thought China could be a good experience. So I choose Gi2C program. I did it because I remember going to a few kind of careers conventions when I was still in university and career specialists said smth like that really small people were actually having an internship. For companies if you were doing an internship it sounds like very good because if you have university qualification it’s fine but being in a work structure is very different. Btw, working hours in China are different, it’s longer here.

Concerning my experience in Shanghai. Shanghai is very modern and it’s always very busy, there is always something to do, some new parties are going on or some new exhibitions to see. In the same time life in Shanghai is much cheaper compare to place where I came from. Metro system is very good it can usually get you wherever you need to go or very close to that place, taxi cabs usually are pretty cheap as well. Btw, food is fantastic, you can get very good meals here very cheap. It’s also good place to try different fruits.

About agency. Gi2C definitely helps to reach gap in communication, helps with Chinese classes which can be quite helpful if you want to know the basics. It comes easier to adapt to the city after learning some basic Chinese. Gi2C also organized some social events where you can meet some new people and explore more about Chinese culture.

So after all my advice is: being here try to travel as much as possible, explore the culture so much as you can, it’s maybe once in a lifetime opportunity so make the most of it.

I would recommend it. Totally enjoyed my internship with Gi2C last summer, sorry for delayed feedback. I just got Birthday card from my manager and realised that it would be at least polite to write review for this agency, they are really good and deserve it. My internship was an amazing opportunity to meet like-minded people and learn about the industry. The internship was well organised by Gi2C and included social events, networking opportunities and volunteering events which I really appreciate even it wasn't so necessary to my career path. Concerning accomodation, my studio was located in central Beijing, Guomao area, the cost of living was above average, there were plenty of opportunities to go out and dine so I was happy with accomodation. My 2 months internship passed very quickly and it certainly felt that we were very busy. I wish I could do it again but it's just a time for next step in my life.

I was/still am devastatingly disappointed with my experience with Gi2C.

Paul Dodds was charming and charismatic. After three 1 hour Skype conversations and writing a detailed description of what I wanted in an internship experience in China: to work in a commercial property sales or valuations team, I was encouraged and assured that they would find my 'ultimate' internship. Paul convinced me to pay my $300, receiving an early bird discount (9 months in advance) and that he would get back to me 'very soon' with a fantastic offer.

Five months went by and I was well into my savings. I wrote to Paul asking of any update. No response. I wrote again a week later, to which he replied 'I'm working on it'.

The very next day my first offer (one or two potential offers) came via email (what a coincidence!). After specifying my desires to work in a commercial (think city buildings) property firm in their sales or valuations department...I was sent an offer to work in the MARKETING team of a small residential hotel. I declined the offer and questioned whether they had me confused with another applicant. No response.

I followed up this query the following week. Again, the very next day I received an offer (ANOTHER coincidence!). This second offer was to work in the MARKETING team of a local, small scale real estate agency. Again, the offer was not even close to what Paul assured me he and his team could arrange.

After a few more emails, the team at Gi2C brushed me off with a 'bad luck' attitude.

I wholeheartedly accept that I may not have been the strongest candidate to apply for commercial property internships in China through Gi2C. But after barraging the team with questions (to which I have never received any response), I am convinced that Gi2C simply do not have any relationships or networks in the commercial property industry of Shanghai or Beijing. And therefore, Paul Dodds and Gi2C were wrongful in convincing me that they could satisfy me desires. They behaved unethically and unprofessionally.

Gi2C refused to refund my $300. I argued that they behaved fraudulently (virtually), in that they knew they could not arrange such an internship, yet, they continued to bait an honest and motivated student.

Not only did I not go to China. I did not receive my $300 refund. Nor an apology. And the opportunity cost of such an event falling through, is that I missed countless other internship opportunities and suddenly my 'window of opportunity' was closed.

I believe Gi2C have established relationships with 3rd and 4th tier small-scale firms, from which both financially profit from these generic 'internships'.

If you dream of a tailored internship, I employ you to please look elsewhere! Don't waste your time here! If you decide to hold conversations with Gi2C, they will undoubtedly assure you that they will find/make something happen for you, specifically. However, this is not the case. You will be offered a generic program offered to countless others.

You have been warned!

I have been cheated by this company. I have been waiting for very long time after I submitted the application form. I have sent emails asking and complaining but no one reply me. When the 45 days 'deadline' come, they only gave me an offer of 2 months working in Beijing although I have been emphasized several times that I could only work in Shanghai for one month. I asked for refund several times but they replied me that the $300 USD is not a deposit but a application processing free. They can just ignore their terms as well as your application. I had high expectation at first but what I leave now is merely rage and disappointment.

This internship provider is, in my opinion, one of the worst in China. Just be aware that you won't receive 80% of the things your were promised and the price is overly high. That being said, doing an internship in China is a great opportunity and can really open a lot of doors for you. So I definitely recommend interning in China, but my suggestion is that you do some more research and choose a better program provider that actually cares about your success. It'll be worth it in the end and you'll actually get your money's worth.

Everything was good except for the language classes I opted for. I found it impossible to make it to them with the work schedule and location I was given. They plop you in a language school that isn't close to the housing or my internship location, and wasn't easy for any of my flat mates to make it to either. What I was confused about is that there are language teachers/classes that work at the apartments they put you in, so why not use that extremely convenient resource? I also noticed many language schools around the neighbourhood we lived in to. I noticed on my first week that making it to the language classes across town was never going to happen with the commute required and I asked for a refund but they wouldn't allow that. So I think if you're looking into using Getin2China, it is good but don't sign up for the language package. You will be able to find teachers or classes right in your apartment complex and you won't be throwing your money away. I feel that for the price they are asking for, they could have been a lot more thoughtful about their customers on this issue. I suppose they are receiving compensation for sending people to that specific school though. SO I would recommend Gi2C but I want people to be aware of this.

I started my internship 4 days after arriving to Shanghai. Jean, my placement coordinator accompany me to the company on my first day. I was interning with the Bridge Capital, an investment company with a few branches around China. The work given for the first two weeks was mainly learn about company services and doing research witch was vey good. For the rest of the time I was involved helping our team with some international projects as well as contact our existing clients. As the part of the program there were some activities arranged by Get in2 China but I had time to join only a few of them. After work I often went out with other interns to some bars. I can recommend to Zeal and Rouge bar.

I found Get in2 China's team to be extremely helpful and friendly. I really enjoyed my time in Shanghai and will definitely miss it a lot.