Try the classifieds on this site for some early indicators.

I'd suggest you to contact relevant chambers of commerce/trade councils and companies you'd like to work for directly and offer your service.

Forget online ads if you want a good job...

www.thebeijinger.com- looking for employment.
www.zhaopin.com.cn
www.51job.com
www.chinahr.com

you don't have to forget about online ads completely, just don't make it your main method for looking for a job. it's quite possible that you will get lucky and find a decent job via an online ad but don't count on it. many chinese firms believe that they can get a Harvard MBA graduate to work for 4.000 RMB / month on a tourist visa.

in my experience, the [really] good jobs are never advertised at all. companies just use their existing networks to find the people they need (and those networks may include eg. chambers of commerce and the like).

plus you have to consider how to market yourself. these days it's not enough "just to be a foreigner" to get a good job in China. what makes you "better" than a local?

Actually, no.

First, I'm a (so-called) fluent Mandarin speaker. Even made it in the newspapers. Call me friggin' Da Shan #2.

Now, it all comes down to money. If you're willing to work for 10k to 15k RMB a month, you'll be able to find an IT / software job in Beijing. More than that, it's going to be tough. By the way, 10k to 15k is project manager wage, not programmer wage. If you want to code, chop it down a bit.

Note that you can make double teaching English. Also, in China, foreigner = English teacher. Talk with the recruiters by all means and see what type of jobs you are offered.

Speaking Mandarin is not the issue here. You're doing something easily done by a Chinese person, so expect the standard Chinese wage with no "package". There are many Chinese people looking for work, they have International experience, speak English well, have programming and management skills, and will settle for a lower wage than I would.

If you want the elusive "package", you need to find a job that a typical Chinese person can't do (or that the company thinks they can't do). International Business Development, Sales (to International companies using you previous relationships)... teaching English.

Best of luck! If you are willing to work for the wages I mentioned above, PM me. I'll send you the resources you need.

No, contact foreign chambers of commerce in China. start with the one(s) from you home country/region and take it from there.
Find out if there are specific networks and organisations for people working in the field you are interested in. Get in there and network!

Also, contact companies HR departments directly and offer your services. With luck, that may also yield results.

Hello Maonet.

Im doing the sharepoint project now in a moderate company , my wage is 5k RMB each month, as a programer, our manager maybe offered 10K RMB per month , we are both chinese. I think if you have 3 year experience on sharepoint , you will at least be paid 15K-20K.month , try to find some IT companys at zhaopin.com websites

CM

I personally doubt you'll make more than 10-15k RMB / month working for a chinese firm on a local contract. now, that's certainly enough to get by on but you wont enjoy many Bollinger evenings that way.

try targeting foreign firms if you can. they pay better, have better management and (probably) more contract perks.

then again, that semi-dodgy chinese software firm might just be the next microsoft or alibaba...

Obviously you don't get anything what I'm saying. I said I think you can get a job but I doubt you'll make any good money.

How? Just work in and say, "Hey, I wanna talk to your boss"?!

Have you considered job search coaching with experienced and local-based career coaches and consultants?
Good to keep you on track and focus on the best-job hunting ways, that exclude online ads and job search engines but concentrate on targeting the companies that need to set of skills and strengths.
Have a look at www.inspiredbeijing.com and their job search coaching programs.
Jasmine

really a lot of suggestions and feedback above~~. Whether you have already found a job in China? or you still live in your hometown searching for a job in China? or you have just given up the idear of working in China? If possible, you are welcomed to contact with me by sending a message to me for I think with your 3Y MOSS 2007 experiences we may offer you a job in support of our US customer(Sharepoint2007 Administrator). Actually, we now have two Indian candidates who are still in process of our interview and one Indian candidate waiting for another interview arrangement.(the interviewer is from India, so Indian candidate has certain advantage in communication and also English will be the working language.)