Job Discussion Forums

101 · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Sydney

My partner and I have to leave Australia by the end of the year. We are hoping to find teaching positions in Taiwan or China in December or January. For China, we would be looking at Shanghai and surrounding cities, coastal cities or possibly Kunming.
How is the job market at this time of year? Are there many schools looking for teachers? We both have degrees, but no teaching experience or TEFL certificates. I speak Mandarin, although I'm not sure if this will make any difference.

Guest · Posted: Mon May 31, 2004 4:18 am Post subject:

Hi

I am from the Gold Coast and I have lived and worked at this School in China (3 hours north west of Shanghai) for the past nine months. I am about to sign my contract for the second year.

Your timing does concern me a bit as we break up at the end of December for holidays and do not return to School until about the 8th February. There was one teacher here who was employed at the end of December, but most School would probably not have to pay you for the month if no necessary.

As far as I can see there are ALWAYS jobs going here, no matter what time of the year it is though, so if you have to come in December, do not start applying for jobs just yet, as most Schools are only interested in people willing to commence on the 1st September. I would put it off until September if I were you (applying that is).

Best of luck

101 · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Sydney

Thanks. We have to be out of Australia before 8th December so hopefully we'll have enough money to last out till February. We'll wait till Oct or so to start looking for jobs then as you suggest.

august03 · Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Jiangsu, China

I started at this position with my partner in late November of last year. The school hadn't filled the positions yet for the first semester so we were lucky to step right in. We did begin 2 days after arriving in China though. I'd do as Rhonda has suggested wait until after September to apply and you will find the schools that are still looking for people, at this time they will also be less picky and so your qualifications will not be the deciding factor.

We were also lucky to get a years contract which means we are about to have 2 months PAID summer holiday coming up! Very Happy

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

just post your CV here on the job board and also apply to the job postings. I don't think you will have that much of a difficult time finding a job.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Why do you "have to" leave Australia??? On the run - ? !

Anyway, nspeaking Mandarin will hardly perk up your chances but it might be useful in surviving here. If you want to come in the new year, your chances are that only commercial employers will be keen on hiring you, and it's a bad time anyway because in the middle of that month begins the spring festival season which may last up to one month.
Kunming doesn't have ten percent of the vacancies that are in demand. Write that off! How about the coast between Shanghai and Shantou? Humid, yes, but high incomes and many jobs, relatively speaking.

101 · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Sydney

We have to leave Australia because my partner is English and his visa will run out in December. I can't go back to England and he can't stay here. So we will go somewhere inbetween. We probably won't have a lot of money so we're hoping to set up jobs before we leave.

shenyanggerry · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 619 Location: Canada

Usually during school break there are intensive English 'camps' run. They usualy pay fairly well and often include accomodation. That will tide you over until regular classes begin.

Remember TANSTAAFL. Those 'free' apartments and return airfares come out of your potential pay packet with a generous amount included for the extra work the school goes through to provide them.