Networking and Career Conversations in Chinese

Networking works best when it is a conversation, not a request for a favor. Give a short introduction, ask about the other person’s work, and follow up only when there is a clear reason.

Chinese	Pinyin	Use
我目前做…	Wǒ mùqián zuò…	Describe your present work.
我对您的工作很感兴趣。	Wǒ duì nín de gōngzuò hěn gǎn xìngqù.	Show specific interest.
方便交换一下联系方式吗？	Fāngbiàn jiāohuàn yíxià liánxì fāngshì ma?	Ask to exchange contact details.
谢谢您今天的时间。	Xièxie nín jīntiān de shíjiān.	Close professionally.

Conversation: at an event

A: 您好，我目前做用户研究。您是做产品设计的吗？
(Nín hǎo, wǒ mùqián zuò yònghù yánjiū. Nín shì zuò chǎnpǐn shèjì de ma?)
B: 对，我主要负责移动端。
(Duì, wǒ zhǔyào fùzé yídòngduān.)
A: 我对您的工作很感兴趣，方便交换一下联系方式吗？
(Wǒ duì nín de gōngzuò hěn gǎn xìngqù, fāngbiàn jiāohuàn yíxià liánxì fāngshì ma?)

Ask a real question before requesting contact details. 方便…吗？ (fāngbiàn… ma?) gives the other person room to decline.

Conversation: follow up without pressure

A: 谢谢您今天分享经验。
(Xièxie nín jīntiān fēnxiǎng jīngyàn.)
B: 不客气，很高兴认识你。
(Bú kèqi, hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.)
A: 我把刚才提到的资料发给您，您有空再看就好。
(Wǒ bǎ gāngcái tídào de zīliào fā gěi nín, nín yǒu kòng zài kàn jiù hǎo.)

Keep the follow-up useful and low-pressure. A short message with context is better than “Do you remember me?”

Related: interviews and self-introduction for the formal version, and small talk for the ten minutes before it.

By the end of this chapter, you can say

谢谢您今天的时间。 (Xièxie nín jīntiān de shíjiān.)

Practical note for this chapter

Optional chapters for living, working and studying long-term. Confirm important rules with official sources. In this chapter, practice giving a short response and then checking what matters.

Use it in context

A: 请介绍一下您的工作。 (Qǐng jièshào yíxià nín de gōngzuò.)

B: 谢谢您今天的时间。 (Xièxie nín jīntiān de shíjiān.)

▶ Listen to the dialogue▶ Listen slowlyStop● Record my voiceStop

Phrase map for this chapter

Question or situation

请介绍一下您的工作。 (Qǐng jièshào yíxià nín de gōngzuò.)

Central response

谢谢您今天的时间。 (Xièxie nín jīntiān de shíjiān.)

Another natural way to say it

我做用户研究，方便交换一下联系方式吗？ (Wǒ zuò yònghù yánjiū, fāngbiàn jiāohuàn yíxià liánxì fāngshì ma?)

Use this variation in a situation you genuinely expect to handle.

How to use it

Listen to the model once, then say it again with one detail from your own situation.

Turn the model into three conversation turns

1. 1. Open the situation请介绍一下您的工作。 (Qǐng jièshào yíxià nín de gōngzuò.)
2. 2. Say the central response谢谢您今天的时间。 (Xièxie nín jīntiān de shíjiān.)
3. 3. Add an alternative我做用户研究，方便交换一下联系方式吗？ (Wǒ zuò yònghù yánjiū, fāngbiàn jiāohuàn yíxià liánxì fāngshì ma?)

Before acting, check the point most likely to cause a misunderstanding. This dialogue is for practice. For important decisions, confirm official guidance as well.

A useful variation

Keep the same purpose, then change the person, time or place to make it your own.

我做用户研究，方便交换一下联系方式吗？ (Wǒ zuò yònghù yánjiū, fāngbiàn jiāohuàn yíxià liánxì fāngshì ma?)

Use this variation in a situation you genuinely expect to handle.

Listen to the model once, then say it again with one detail from your own situation.

A common trap

For important details, do not decide from what you think you heard; check written information when needed.

先说明自己的工作和共同点，再请求联系信息。 (Xiān shuōmíng zìjǐ de gōngzuò hé gòngtóngdiǎn, zài qǐngqiú liánxì xìnxī.)

This dialogue is for practice. For important decisions, confirm official guidance as well.

Three-step practice

1. Open the situation in one short phrase
2. Say the central response
3. Add one detail of your own