Shenzhen: Honestly, Some People Just Shouldn't Bother.
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Sigh~ Speaking of Shenzhen, I am so knowledgeable! If you're planning to visit Shenzhen or are just curious about this city, my experience and insights may offer you some useful pointers!
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Shenzhen: A Hub for Technology Giants!
- If you seek a wide range of everyday consumer goods (stuff we use, like shampoo, snacks, and beverages), or a fashion-forward shopping vibe, Shanghai and Guangzhou might suit your tastes better.
- Shenzhen, however, brims with high-tech companies. It's not a place renowned for retail therapy. Therefore, if you're here to shop or savor urban indulgence, adjust your expectations slightly.
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Few International Companies.
- Shenzhen is dominated by local Chinese enterprises, while headquarters of global brand names tend to cluster in Shanghai.
- This implies that if you long to immerse yourself in an international corporate culture within Shenzhen, the experience might differ from what you anticipated.
- A Side Note: At some of these Shenzhen companies, employee benefits—like housing provident funds (a savings scheme to help employees buy homes, which may not interest visitors but counts as a local feature)—are sometimes "squeezed down," falling short compared to my prior international corporate experiences!
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If You're Not a Top Talent in Consulting, Getting into Core Departments at Major Companies Could Be Challenging.
- The core strategic sectors of Shenzhen's big companies, like tech giants, typically only recruit people from top-tier global consulting firms (such as McKinsey, Bain, and Boston, collectively known as MBB).
- For individuals with less prestigious consulting backgrounds looking to penetrate these corporations, even getting past the initial resume screening phase might seem unattainable. This note is mainly for those aiming to work in Shenzhen, while visitors can simply take it as knowledge: here is a "hub of elites."
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Pursuing a Work-Life Balance? Shenzhen Might Make You Reconsider!
- Important Note: Known for its entrepreneurial zeal, companies such as Huawei, DJI, and Tencent often illuminate the city until late at night. When I was in Shanghai, unwinding with a tipple, meal, or evening stroll after work was quite common. In contrast, everyone seems to be immersed in strenuous work in Shenzhen, with the city’s pace being incredibly fast.
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If You're a Social Butterfly Who Loves the Buzz and Avoids Staying Home ("e-person"), Shenzhen Could Disappoint Slightly.
- Kindly Reminder! Compared to other places, entertainment options in Shenzhen could feel less varied. Most gatherings tend to revolve around work talk or business strategies.
- On several occasions, I found myself perplexed while figuring out how to entertain visiting friends in Shenzhen, spending half a day pondering travel itineraries, ultimately opting to—take them across the border to Hong Kong! Hong Kong indeed boasts numerous attractions, which are conveniently accessible from Shenzhen.
- Hence, my weekends usually either entail working overtime or attending skill-enhancement courses. Otherwise, I mostly spend them exploring other cities or even travelling abroad.
Shenzhen—what type of person does it suit best? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
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Why do people say there's not much to do in Shenzhen? (Not trying to argue, genuinely asking.)
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You'll know once you get here. There's really nowhere to go.
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That's a great point. If you can make good money, it's fine. Otherwise, there's no point in staying.
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Most people think they can make a lot of money if they come to Shenzhen.
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I've been in Shenzhen for three or four years and I'm thinking of moving. Lately, I've also been considering my next job and which city to move to.
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You should go check out Shanghai.
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That's totally me! As an extrovert, I don't want to stay home, but I have no idea where to go outside! Aaaah! I'm now realizing Guangzhou and Hong Kong are way more fun!
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I chose Shenzhen purely for the climate. Shanghai's winters are much, much colder than Shenzhen's.
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That's definitely true.
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Shanghai and Hong Kong are still the top choices.
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Wouldn't settling down in HK get a bit boring too? Shanghai seems better; you can be happy there even without much money, and even happier if you have it.
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Hong Kong is also very small.
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It's not about the size.
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Welcome back to Shanghai!
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Lei Ge is back in Shanghai??
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Does Shanghai even tick the fourth box?
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With so many foreign companies? It definitely does.
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That second point about the housing provident fund really got me. I just can't.