View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
mcloo7
Joined: 18 Aug 2009 Posts: 434 Location: Hangzhou
|
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 10:02 pm Post subject: How does this job sound to you? |
|
|
I got an offer for a job in Beijing at a training center called New Power School. The pay is supposedly 12000-15000 rmb per month, with a 2000 housing allowance. There are 11 branches and the job seems to require traveling to those different branches as well as to businesses that have paid for the school's services. The recruiter says you wouldnt have to travel to more than 1 or 2 branches in a day though, and that the subway system is very cheap and convenient. Also, alot of the perks, such as paid vacation are all listed as "will be considered." What do you all think? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
kimo50
Joined: 24 Aug 2011 Posts: 119 Location: Guam
|
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 10:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hi. Are they paying for your transport around the City? Beijing is BIG and some of these locales may be quite far from each other. Intra-city travel can be tiring and shunting back and forth is draining. But for me, Beijing with its headline grabbing sky high pollution index almost every day is a "no - go." Have you researched what 2000RMB a month will rent in Beijing? Its not a lot. Is it near the transportation links? Also you may need to put down 3-6 months rental security as is typical in China - will the employer be assisting with that? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
muffintop
Joined: 07 Jan 2013 Posts: 803
|
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 10:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
..I think more information would be great. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
7969
Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong
|
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 12:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
http://www.newpower.org.cn/eng/cont.html
This is a map showing their branches.
Seems to me if a business has enough money to run all these branches they have enough money to hire a teacher to work at one school and one school only. If they have corporate clients outside the school they should be hiring people who deal strictly with that. With 11 branches possibly all over the city, corporate clients in other places and depending on where you end up living I foresee a lot of wasted time on trains, buses and taxis.
You forgot to mention the second most important aspect of the job, how many teaching hours? If they're less than 20 this job might be ok.
Other benefits "will be considered?" Not good enough.
Based on what you've said so far, I wouldn't like this job. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
mcloo7
Joined: 18 Aug 2009 Posts: 434 Location: Hangzhou
|
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 1:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
I agree that it's not that enticing. It's my first concrete offer, so I'm trying to learn how to assess them. I think you have to meet a quota of 100 hours per month, with everything above that being overtime, and that definately sounds like more than 20 hours per week. I'm not really considering this offer. Thanks for your feedback. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
zactherat
Joined: 24 Aug 2011 Posts: 295
|
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 3:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
careful - that "100 hours" could easily be "150 lessons".
and "will be considered" means "we will consider it, then decide just to keep our money, instead of give it to you". That is a device used to prey on the optimistic. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
choudoufu
Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC
|
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 3:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
1. how far apart are the schools? is the subway system really, really
that convenient? how many hours per day/week will you spend in
transit? i assume travel time is unpaid.
2. there's this:
"Practice: With student-centered mode, provide pure English environment. The interactive, passionate and wonderful class ambiance helps students master oral English skills with ease. The crazy practice makes students enjoy the sense of accomplishment in English learning."
3. how would you describe yourself?
http://www.newpower.org.cn/eng/teach.asp |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China
|
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 3:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
Can you clarify that these guys have the right to employ you and you will go through the visa process at home?
Unless you are committed to the language school market and/or need to start asap, I would wait until the public school hiring season gets going.
Good that you have an offer to mull over. Teach you more in a day than weeks poring over posts on Dave's. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GreatApe
Joined: 11 Apr 2012 Posts: 582 Location: South of Heaven and East of Nowhere
|
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 5:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
I had a good laugh at the link that choudoufu provided up above!
At least SOMEBODY'S teaching "delectable" English in China! And is the "crazy practice" remark an homage to Li Yang?
On a serious note, I agree with what has been offered here. The devil is in the details, and there's a lot of unspecified, intangible, important things with the job offer that have not been clearly defined. I wouldn't feel very comfortable taking the job unless I knew more about the specifics.
I think the high-end of the salary's pretty good, but it's Beijing, and remember ... it doesn't matter where it is, you will be expected to LIVE-UP to that salary! Because the details have not been sufficiently explained, because there are still so many questions that remain ... I would be hesitant to accept the job. It's unclear how many other hoops you will be asked to jump through.
In my opinion, press for clarification and more specific details or, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I guess the popular word today is "transparency" ... you need more, or ask yourself what they might be hiding.
--GA |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Banner41
Joined: 04 Jan 2011 Posts: 656 Location: Shanghai
|
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
GreatApe wrote: |
I had a good laugh at the link that choudoufu provided up above! |
Same....spit my water on my screen at:
James,from the US, is young and dynamic. His class is vivid and diverting. James is good at encouraging and disinterring students� interests and creativeness, and applies them in English teaching, forming his unique teaching style. Students� English skills can reach a higher level in a relaxed and joyous learning environment.
Also the one about knowing how to cook Chinese food because it is healthy.....thanks for the chuckle! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Denim-Maniac
Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 1238
|
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 3:08 pm Post subject: Re: How does this job sound to you? |
|
|
mcloo7 wrote: |
I got an offer for a job in Beijing at a training center called New Power School. The pay is supposedly 12000-15000 rmb per month, with a 2000 housing allowance. There are 11 branches and the job seems to require traveling to those different branches as well as to businesses that have paid for the school's services. The recruiter says you wouldnt have to travel to more than 1 or 2 branches in a day though, and that the subway system is very cheap and convenient. Also, alot of the perks, such as paid vacation are all listed as "will be considered." What do you all think? |
Not enough information to make a decision upon TBH.
How many hours? When are the hours? Who will you be teaching?
These job could mean a class of kindy kids at 8.30am at the end of a subway line one hour from your home. Then nothing for 3 hours. Another subway ride at 3pm to teach adults in a company, and then another at 7pm - 10pm to teach primary school kids before you ride the subway home. Who knows?
There is nothing convenient about a subway though. If a city has a subway system it is because travel is actually very inconvenient in that location. Convenient by definition means 'close and easy to get to', which would eliminate the need for a subway. Granted the subway may be more convenient than taking the bus in that location, but generally .... nah. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
DirtGuy
Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529
|
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 3:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Beijing is HUGE and money doesn't go very far in that city. I'm working on a project up there and have to watch every cent whenever I go. For a really boring city, it's amazing how quickly your money can vanish. The subway is cheap and great, but the walk from a station to your destination can be killer.
DG |
|
Back to top |
|
|
mcloo7
Joined: 18 Aug 2009 Posts: 434 Location: Hangzhou
|
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for all the advice. Like I said, I' m not really considering this job, just trying to learn how to assess an offer.
Non Sequitur wrote: |
Can you clarify that these guys have the right to employ you and you will go through the visa process at home?
Unless you are committed to the language school market and/or need to start asap, I would wait until the public school hiring season gets going.
Good that you have an offer to mull over. Teach you more in a day than weeks poring over posts on Dave's. |
Do you mean universities, or just public schools in general, including highschools and elementary schools? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
mcloo7
Joined: 18 Aug 2009 Posts: 434 Location: Hangzhou
|
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 4:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
I have some more offers to run by the board:
2 university offers, one in Jincheng, one in Rizhao, both pay 5000 rmb, with the usual university amenities. The one in Rizhao is only 16 teaching hours per week.
1 at Shane English school in Changzhou. Pays 8000 rmb per month, but I think they include 1000 housing allowance in this, 78 teaching hours per month.
The uni jobs are not in areas that I was looking at. Changzhou is closer to where I wanted to go, I think Hangzhou is my first choice for now. I'm not considering the two uni jobs that seriously for right now, but would like to get an idea for how to asses the offers. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China
|
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 7:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
I'm gettin to sound like a cracked record but my vote would be the uni in Rizhao. I've not lived there but nearby Qingdao is nice.
My reason is that at a provincial level uni with low contact hours you get to learn the ropes and just living in China can be a shock.
The pm salary is about right as I'm led to believe that coastal Shandong pay less because of its perceived attractiveness.
Shane is a franchise and it's a crap shoot what kind of management/owner you get.
As long as Rizhao has at least 5 FTs and a history of legit hiring ie the full Z visa process, it looks the best in IMO. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|