Magazine Journalist in Shanghai, 2017

Funded by the British Council, I embarked on an internship in Shanghai, China as a magazine journalist for City Weekend, an ex-pat focused lifestyle magazine. Orientation before starting the job (which lasted 3 months) included lots of activities to meet my CRCC cohorts, setting up things like a bank account and SIM, cultural and social orientation to better understand Chinese business culture in particular, and free Mandarin lessons! The accommodation was in a good location in Pudong with all of my CRCC buddies and an amazing roommate (shoutout to Gavin!), and close enough to my office near the Nanjing Road by metro. The internship (which I sourced myself but received support from CRCC in navigating) was one of the best things I ever did for my career. The role involved reviewing michelin-starred restaurants, cocktail bars, events, and more, and was a whirlwind in both newsroom skills and the moneyed nightlife of one of the world's most exciting cities. Because of this opportunity, I have since gone on to work as a journalist in top-tier newsrooms at public broadcasters and private publications alike, and this experience has always led to a lot of very interested conversations in job interviews. Although I have since left journalism and now work in PR and political consulting, this internship also proved very useful for getting my foot in the door, especially since I have worked with PRC-based clients. If you are considering doing the CRCC thing, this is your sign to take the plunge and do it now! You will not regret it.