Zhao spent his early career in Inner Mongolia before being transferred to work for the Ministry of Supervision and the CCDI in Beijing.

He left Inner Mongolia in 1992 to take on a job in the research office of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).

Since joining the CCDI, Zhao has taken on the role of the leader of a coordination group in charge of implementing specific aspects of the reforms of the discipline and supervision system.

[5] Zhao was also put in charge of the Office for the Supervision of Discipline Personnel, an internal audit and control organ of the CCDI.

[6] In 2013, Zhao was also named deputy leader of the Central Leading Group for Advancing Mass Line Education.