Job Discussion Forums

[rioux]

I've heard there are thousands of jobs that do not get filled in China. Does anyone know just how many. I know it's virtually impossible to get an exact number but a ballpark figure would do.

...and if it is true that there are so many job openings what is being done to try and lure more people here?

I suppose if China ever got real strict in terms of qualifications the shortfall would be immense.

[natjones]

I know that wall street English has a program to give teachers a tefl certificate with a monthlong course in Thailand for free because they couldn't find enough teachers with 2+ years experience and a certificate, and the authorities began cracking down.

Ef, disney, and web international are also gradually raising their starting salaries- I applied 2 years ago before I went to Korea and the ads then generally had lower starting salaries than now.

[chinatimes]

Where do you hear there is a shortage?

I could see a country that pays its people more than foreigners trying to get more foreigners interested in coming, but if they can get two Chinese teachers or more for the price of one foreigner then it would make more sense to do that.

Instead of a shortage, I think the schools are becoming more selective which shows the symptoms of a shortage. I have not seen "growth" in the typical language schools. Some students sign up, and then they eventually leave. New students sign up, and the cycle continues.

Now, for public schools or I guess company based students, it is possible to get waves of new students. You might be seeing this on a temporary basis. They advertise and bring in a lot of students. However, it will trickle down unless they continue to get students to replace the ones leaving.

China is not going to want to hire more foreign teachers overall, because that means more money. So, the costs would go up too, and then you would see a decrease in students making the extra teachers a waste of an investment.

A simple way to get around this is to allow teachers to teach at multiple locations and pay them more when needed. It won't be twice their salary, so they would save on 1 person and all the expenses that goes with hiring an extra.

[dakelei]

There is a public uni in Guangdong that has for years hired technically "illegal" FT's and rumor has it the place is now under investigation for doing so and some folks are facing some serious charges as a result. I taught at the place for one term and I swear of all the FT's there I was one of only two that was "qualified" to be there. There was a married Aussie couple, neither of whom had a uni degree, a "Canadian" woman who had a noticeable German accent, an American kid right of out of uni with no previous experience, a Bulgarian woman and another Aussie guy who freely admitted to having no education after high school. If the powers-that-be have decided to begin actually enforcing the regulations that school is going to be short 5 or so FT's alone. I've no idea how extensive a problem this is but if it's widespread there may very well be a shortage of QUALIFIED FT's here in China. There is no shortage of "teachers" per se. Finding a body with a foreign face to throw in front of a class doesn't seem to be any harder than it's ever been.

[Songbird]

Natjones, where did you hear about this? Because I worked for WSE up until August (left feeling burnt out) and never heard anything of the sort about a free TEFL certificate. And I went to Thailand on my own accord to get a CELTA just 2 months before applying to WSE.

They do now however have a referral program- if you refer a new FT to them which they hire you get 10,000rmb (I think).

[natjones]

Hello,

It was advertised back in April or May in the china jobs section of this site. I was offered the position but turned it down in favor of a uni job.

[Adventurer]

WSI doesn't offer Airfare, Temporary Housing, or Start-Up loans. I sincerely
doubt that they would fly somebody to Thailand for a TEFL course!

[Songbird]

Adventurer, just where exactly do you get your facts from? They offer ALL 3...

-didn't need the startup loan, so can't remember how much it is, but I know it's paid back in 1st salary.

-They give you a hotel room (and it's not a dump!) to stay for 4-7 days. I only stayed 4. They key is to come a few days early BEFORE the training to look for permanent housing while they put you up for free, because you certainly won't have time during the training to run around town. I actually looked at about 10 places and found what I wanted on the 2nd day, I just still hung out and got to know the city for the last 2 days.

-They don't call it airfare, but for a fulltime contract, they give you 7000rmb bonus. Don't know why it's called a bonus because as long as you finish the contract you'll get the full amount anyway.

Like I said, I only just finished working for them 6 weeks ago so I should know.

[chinatimes]

Let's take a closer look at WSI.

http://goldstarteachers.com/teachers/jobs/wall-street-english-jobs/wall-street-english-salary/

16,000 RMB per month (30 teaching hours + 5 office hours per week)

I am doing less without office hours and half of the teaching hours. I can however teach elsewhere part-time following legal procedures. So, I can put in more hours and get paid more if I want.

PRO: I decide
CON: If I am lazy (which I admit I am at times), I won't seek work elsewhere and work more and earn more. Maybe I need a master to whip me into shape.

Bonuses: Details will be discussed during interview

Which means, you won't get any unless you can convince them how to bring in more money. If you fail at this, you will be fired and replaced with a cheaper slave.

11 days Chinese National holidays + 10 days

I have been given weeks off at different times. This was either due to test taking or holidays. At WSI, I challenge the notion they would do the same.

4 to 7 days free hotel at beginning of contract and help finding apartment

Reality is starting to sink in. So, you will find an apartment. Guess who will be the lucky chap to PAY for the apartment as well?

On-going training and professional development

WSI alums, please entertain me with your training and development. How did you actually benefit? What % would you give? 75% 30%? .00000001%?

Mandarin Chinese classes

In China, I found it amazingly strange that Chinese spoke this Mandarin they speak of. Maybe I am lucky, but I don't need to be at WSI to practice Mandarin. They will give you free oxygen, Yippeee!!!!

Career development opportunities

Really? How does that work?

I like the 20,000 yuan fan the lady is holding, but they only said 16,000 before the deductions went into effect.

Can you say half truth? Why would they need to advertise with lies if it was such a good school?

PS: I didn't see airfare, training in Thailand, or free massages listed.

[natjones]

They did offer airfare to/from Thailand, paid visa, Free housing in Thailand during training (no free food), 7 days free housing and 10,000 startup loan. They provided me with several emails of current teachers who confirmed that they received these things- but they had all been hired recently. I have a good friend who worked for them for 2 years ending 1 year ago and didnt receive all those things. He really liked them except that he gained enough experience and familiarity to work for more money and less hours. He said that they were a good company to start with in china.

[chinatimes]

[choudoufu]

[Dedicated]

choudoufu,

[Shroob]

[chinatimes]