Job Discussion Forums

China Tesol · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 10 Location: China

It seems China need more and more teachers, a friend of mine would like to open a business recruiting teachers, what makes a good recruiter? Any suggestions appreciated.

MNguy · Joined: 01 Feb 2010 Posts: 129

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee

A good recruiter should have knowledge of the school that he's hawking to the prospective FT. A really good recruiter will stay in touch with the FT throughout the year and offer you summer jobs if they are available. An even better recruiter will read the Riot Act to wackjob FAO's who try to screw FTs.

One can help his recruiter become better. Report abuses to him/her. Believe it or not, some of the recruiters are actually competent and want to establish a good reputation for themselves.

On my first job in China, the recruiter lived a good four hours away, but she came to the school to help two of us newbies get settled TWICE. She helped us buy phones, and showed us around the city.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

I can't speak for other teachers, but a recruiter that works for the teacher and not the school is what I would consider a good recruiter.

Most recruiters whom I know make more money if they get a teacher to work for a lower salary. If this was reversed in a teacher's favour... I'd use that recruiter each and every time.

I had a recruiter like this many years ago in another unmentionable land, and she had a piles and piles of foreign teachers as a result.

China Tesol · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 10 Location: China

igorG · Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 1473 Location: asia

When I first came to China, there were no recruiters and either employers or their administrators spoke little if any English.

Today, there are scores of all sorts of recruiters and either employers or their administrators are full of themselves.

Recruiters depend on employers and/or their administrators, and therefore it is hard to believe that they can make it any better.

Amen

xiguagua · Joined: 09 Oct 2011 Posts: 768

Pretty much what GWoW said. A good recruiter needs to offer full support for the teachers. Many people coming here via recruiter are completely clueless about China, and lets face it, teaching in general. A recruiter should support and prepare the teacher for school and life in China. Not a full blown TEFOL course, but basic tools to get people started.

Of course, after the teacher is whisked away to their school, the recruiter still needs to be the back-up for the teacher should there be any problems and in worst case scenario, get the teacher out of there and a new school.

I came here through a recruiter when I first arrived in China and they were essentially this. I'm not with them anymore, but if I encounter a problem even now, and if I need a job ASAP I would give them a call.