Job Discussion Forums

[basbas]

I have a job already, it's ok not the greatest but it pays my bills.

I'm looking to the future a little and thinking I might want to switch what I'm doing, currently I'm teaching kids mostly... and that is where the bulk of my experience comes from (5+ years) although I do have a little bit of experience teaching adults conversational English...

As indicated in another thread I have an MA, it's in philosophy with a specialization in axiomatic systems and applied mathematics (I wrote my thesis on David Lewis' system of counterfactual logic). So in terms of credentials I think I'm good to go.

I have a lot of questions and I would be interested in hearing from people who are actively teaching in Unis right now or have done a lot of it. some of my questions:

what is the best way to go about the job search and making applications? What are good ways to make yourself a strong candidate for a position? Can I get a position in a dept as a permanent prof. or a guest lecturer, along with this question is the related issue of whether I actually have to be a pure and simple English teacher or can I teach other subjects (I am able to teach classes like the philosophy of science and logic). What are pay scales like, I'm doing pretty good now, not amazing out of this world but still pretty good given everything (working hours and stress level) could I do better? worse?

I want to admit from the outset (perhaps in the Socratic tradition) that I know next to nothing about all this and I am hoping for just some good answers and general feedback about the whole thing.

The choices I'm trying to make here are kind of important for me because my girlfriend may want to move to Japan (she lived there as a child and worked there in her early 20s so she speaks pretty good Japanese and still has some friends there). We're just trying to weigh our options a little. We live in Shanghai and would probably want to stay there, although not necessarily if the offer and location was right.

One final note don't be a douche, seriously, I'm being completely sincere here and factual in everything I am saying and I am not gloating or bragging or trying to up sell myself in anyway to the people on this board. I really just need info, I've been searching the net but it's a little disjointed and sometimes contradictory so more than anything I just want some info from the front lines. If you act like an ass I'm not gonna hesitate to ask the Mods to boot you. So don't waste your time. This is a serious thread for serious people. Maybe if we do it right it can be a sticky and permanent resource for other people.

enlighten me!

[xiguagua]

what is the best way to go about the job search and making applications?

You wanna stay in Shanghai, so depending on how long you've been there, you should have some connections or at least know some uni's nearby. Easiest thing to do is get the FAO's number and just call em up and say yo I want a job. If they're hiring then you go from there, if not, try another school. Although now is a little late, most schools would have found teachers by now. It's better that you're in Shanghai so you can physically go to the universities, but first give them a call.

For my school, I found out there was an opening and since I was already familiar with the school and the city I more or less just kinda said I was going to work there and they didn't say no, so that was easy for me.

What are good ways to make yourself a strong candidate for a position?

If you have the proper credentials which it sounds like you do, that helps, but you also gotta be personable and have social skills. It's just like any other job back home really, be respectful, show you understand the culture and what's to be expected and that you're experienced and organized. Universities like if they don't have to hold your hand for everything, so the fact that you're already established and obviously comfortable in Shanghai helps.

Can I get a position in a dept as a permanent prof. or a guest lecturer, along with this question is the related issue of whether I actually have to be a pure and simple English teacher or can I teach other subjects (I am able to teach classes like the philosophy of science and logic).

Depends on the school. In Shanghai this is probably easier than a lot of other places. The bigger and better the school, the more options you have. If you teach at (Making up a school) Shanghai University of Basket-Weaving, well, that's probably not a school with a lot of options for FT's. It depends on the school really, that's all I can say, you'd have to ask them. But yes, some universities don't need you to be teaching strictly English stuff. I have a friend that teaches AP History in Jiangsu.

What are pay scales like, I'm doing pretty good now, not amazing out of this world but still pretty good given everything (working hours and stress level)

Universities are usually lower paid than high schools. But with this comes a more lax schedule and an easier life with teaching. I've found much less problems with students in uni than in high school. So it's just a swap, you're sacrificing pay for an easier life.

could I do better? worse?
We don't know what you're making or how many hours you're working now so it's hard to say. Last term I worked at a Uni that was super small in a super small city and made 5k a month for 12 hours a week. Shanghai though, that's the complete opposite spectrum of salaries and living expenses from what I am used to so I can't help there. BUT, you can always do worse.