Job Discussion Forums

[JamesD]

There are a couple of loopholes as noted above. I know a Spaniard who just got hired as a "Spanish Language Consultant".
Of course he'll be teaching English but we....(ahem, cough, cough, harrumph) .......THEY will have him teaching an extracurricular Spanish class to cover the paperwork.

[theoriginalprankster]

In the university in Xiamen, the "international school" in Guangdong and the training centre in Hangzhou all three had Filipinos, a Mexican, a Welsh girl, a few Africans (not South Africans) and then an American and Brit who didn't want to/couldn't get the work permit.

The Brit and American were (sorry, are) on 10 year business visas, the Mexican and Welsh lasses, and Africans are on student visas.

I've been told South Africans are not considered native speakers anymore.

It's good that China is trying to weed out the fakers and crims, but at the same time it's shooting itself in the foot - the cost of coming over now annd setting oneself up is getting prohibitively expensive, and TBH China is not now as welcoming as years gone, it's become a lot more expensive (3600/m for a tiny studio apartment in Hangzhou. I had a two story, four bedroom villa 5 minutes from the beach and mountains in Xiamen 5 years ago). The pollution is STILL bad compared to the rest of the world (I have asthma now after living here for 12 years).

There are other options, other countries, other careers, other livelihoods. If you work at a private centre, you're more than likely dealing with emperors and princesses (from age 2-50). Uni jobs just don't pay well, considering the cost of living in China these days.

That said I could go back to uni teaching + side work. However I might just throw in the towel, as I promised before, and head elsewhere. I have staunch beliefs about the conservation of animals, Sino-colonialism, sales of weapons to nefarious governments and groups, and general bullying of weaker Asian neighbours, so it doesn't sit well with me to be here really.

[Non Sequitur]

The big attraction of China has been low barriers to entry. when you cite accommodation cost you can't then dismiss uni jobs as low paid, since most provide on campus apartments - usually single-occupancy.
Since I started in 2004, the degree reqjuirements have certainly ramped up.

[theoriginalprankster]

[twowheel]

[IvanaShaanxi]

[Non Sequitur]

[Elicit]

Have to say that I fail to understand why anyone would take one of these uni gigs for peanuts irrespective of ‘package’. Package probably means 12 to 16 hours a week (I do only a little more than this), third rate health insurance, a dump of an apartment and the ‘opportunity’ to spend weekends and evenings working under the table to try and earn a decent monthly income.

I guess could be OK for young singles, a retirement gig, or possibly a first year out here.

[thechangling]

[Non Sequitur]

I take it that airfare, accom within walking distance of classroom, winter travel, access to subsidised cafeterias an 15 hours contact time per week were in addition to the 6500 which would be pretty much untaxed?

[thechangling]

[Elicit]

6500 is not a salary, it’s an insult.

Based on saving NZ$1000 a month it would take one 41.5 years to buy a 100sqm apartment in NZ by my calculations. Imagine how long it would take with the base salary only. The irony is, for the former, China will not let you work passed 60 (most provinces) so that’s a no go, and for the latter one’d still be saving to buy when one’s six feet under.

The only way to improve circumstances is ‘just say no’. And then salaries may rise. If one is still accepting bad jokes as viable salaries then one is part of the problem not the solution.

[Non Sequitur]

The real problem is that longer term your salary in China won't go up in the same way as you could expect in home country.
I live in NZ and luckily I own a home. Prices are rocketing and landlords are selling their rentals to cash out. This is forcing up rents as there is less rental stock.
The best option for FTs wanting better income in China is to do something entrepreurial. There was a thread on this a few years ago. I'll bump if I can find it.

[Non Sequitur]

Here:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=28310&highlight=entrepreneur

[twowheel]