Job Discussion Forums

[hoyao]

I'm currently living in Beijing and looking for a new job. I know that it's an advantage when you're in the same city as the schools you're applying for, and I'm wondering what the best way to take advantage of that is. Would showing up in-person and dropping off an application be significantly more effective? Or should I just go the standard route of emailing my resume, with the added mention that I'm already in Beijing?

If I do go in person, does that mean I should show up dressed in a suit? I'm assuming I'd have to be prepared to do an interview on the spot, which would be a good sign if it comes to that, I suppose.

[xiguagua]

I'd email them and let them know you're in town and you can easily arrange a face to face meeting. No sense getting all worked up going over there only for them to tell you that the person responsible is busy and to apply through e-mail anyway.

[Opiate]

It depends on what your goals are. Obviously you can reach more prospective employers via email. If you have a specific city and/or school in mind it would be best to go in person if your schedule and funds permit. A suit is fine but I'd avoid a business type suit with a power tie and go for something just a bit more casual in appearance.

[hoyao]

Right now my goal is to find a school in Beijing. And I definitely have the time to apply in person if it's worthwhile.

Is there a website or directory out there for looking up English schools in each city? Sort of like the Chinese equivalent of the Yellow Pages? I'd like to find schools that aren't posting classified ads on job boards.

[Non Sequitur]

If you look at the Wikipedia entry for the city the sidebar normally has an 'Education' link which will take you to a list of schools in the locality.
I've cold called and applied by email.
My cold calls on three universities (Dalian) got me offers from two.
Take a Chinese speaker with you as once on campus locating the FAO can be a real chore.
Avoid the 12 to 2pm time slot as that's sleep time.
Tidy casual - not jeans or T shirts. No need for a tie.
Your timing is ideal as the hiring season for 1 Sept start is getting underway soon.
I'm speaking of unis and colleges in this post.
Best

[TexasHighway]

I have got a couple pretty good jobs just dropping by unannounced. However, if the schools are not located nearby, you can be wasting a lot of time. FAOs can be difficult to find. They are often out recruiting new students and teachers or working on their side businesses. I would also pass on the suit and tie and dress business casual. Sending out resumes is fine but after sending them out, follow-up with phone calls to the FAO and/or foreign language department. Many schools get stacks of resumes so if you call them, at least is shows you are serious.

[sainthood]

Be prepared, if you go to a school in person, they may want a demo lesson... if you're ok with that, have one prepared!! (it was suggested to us in our CELTA, that the perfect verb tense is a good choice, cos it's used so much in academic writing).

Depending on the sort of school (and position) you're seeking, a suit (with tie) may be the right choice... but, that's if you're looking to be a professor, or DoS... or similar. Anything else, just ignore this paragraph, and stick with what the others said ;p

Perhaps, shoot them an email and tell them you can be on their door in a couple of days - so that the FAO is actually going to be there!!!

[therock]

If you go in person this is how the hiring process goes:

1. Monkey....oops, I mean FT goes into school with guitar.
2. FAO checks FT's guitar (guitars need to be up to standard)
3. FT shows FAO his degree / TEFL / resume, but FAO doesn't care and orders FT to play a song.
4. FT plays some of his / her greatest hits.
5. Hired!
6. FT feels relieved and lucky to be given this opportunity.

[Brian Hugh]

In the rest of the world jobs are secured by newspaper advertisements(Hong Kong) You show up at a place in China and they look at you as a free class. You do a demo and don't get paid.

[dean_a_jones]

Agree that you might have better luck sending off your CV, some photos, a reference etc. to prospective schools rather than just turning up.

If they like what they see they may then ask you to do a demo or attend an interview (or both) which is not such a bad thing. Places that are just willing to hand out jobs on the basis of a piece a paper when the person is in the country raise my eyebrow. Even better if you do attend a demo/interview and have a chat with both Chinese staff and a member of the foreign teaching team or the head foreign teacher. That suggests (though of course by no means guarantees) that the place is taking things seriously.

This is as much a chance for you to assess them as it is the other way around. How they conduct themselves should (and what they don't bother doing) should be taken into account.

In terms of just turning up, I agree with others and would not dress too formally. Shirt, even suit but no tie, but nothing that makes you look like they can't afford you. Just look clean and professional. It may get you a few chances that you would not otherwise get, especially if the person checking emails is a bit lazy or crap.

On the plus side regarding this approach, the Chinese do seem to be used to doing a lot of stuff on short notice, so turning up may not always be seen as inconvenient. If you are a healthy, young, slim, attractive person that may also work in your favour in terms of turning up, as superficial as it sounds.

[Non Sequitur]

The 3 schools I cold called were within walking distance of mine.
With a hit rate of 2 out of three I didn't have to venture further.
I wouldn't go to another centre though to cold call - that's for emails.