Since my family couldn't speak Chinese, I had to guide them, somehow, through more than 2, 000 miles in China and then into Southeast Asia.

CNN: Why I fled North Korea

Nick Cucinella, CEO at CareerBuilder China, advises graduates to have a CV in both English and Chinese, even if they don't speak the language, and that taking the initiative and targeting prospective employers and Chinese companies is the best path to a job.

CNN: What does it take to get a job in China?

They advanced much more quickly than if they had tried to climb the career ladder in the U.S. One young woman who works in financial services is already doing deals with senior Chinese executives even though she doesn't speak Mandarin.

FORBES: Careers

Once Nexteer hit the auction block, the Chinese investors proved surprisingly thorough, even though some of them didn't speak English, said a person familiar with the transaction.

WSJ: The Game: A GM Unit in China's Hands