Job Discussion Forums

[TommieJoe]

The contract that was sent to me states from Sept 1, 2004 to July 31,2005. That's 11 months in my math. States salary is 4500 RMB (before tax ?? ) Also asking me to pay for electric, phone and internet in room. ( however salary is OK at first appearancebut these takie outies" scare me ) No reference to semester break or time off other than three days in May and Oct.

This is a private vocational technical college in Guangzhou. GZ is where I want to be but I am getting a bad feeling. I have been sent other first draft contracts, none of which are this restrictive.

My desired location is GZ or Nanning or there abouts. Any sugestions of good schools will be greatly appreciated.

I am a newbie and I dont my first job in China to be a mistake. Help......

Thanks in advance.

[mike w]

This sounds about the norm for private schools in terms of contract length. Usually a 12 month contract means teaching for eleven months with one-month (usually unpaid) vacation at the end. Although unpaid, you can normally keep your apartment during that time. Private schools generally have different holiday periods than state schools/universities. The biggest difference will be no summer break. Usual holidays will be 3 - 5 days at the beginning of May and October, with 7 - 10 days in January/February for Spring Festival.
Surprised about having to pay for electric. My school is private - but we don't pay for electricity/gas or water, and we get 100 RMB/month allowance for the telephone. Internet access is free in the school.

[TommieJoe]

Mike

Thanks for the intellgent post. Prior to this I had no idea of the difference between private/state/univ schools. In that light doesn't look to bad. I can live with paying utilities to get the location I want. We shall see.......
Again Thanks

[nolefan]

You can always negociate the terms on the contract.... Tell them that most of the other schools will pay for your utilities and provide you with a communication fee ( usually 100 RMB) that goes towards local calls and internet access.

If this is your first time, I would higly suggest you consider a public school as the schedule is not as tedious. You can sign a 12 month contract and you will get roughly 3 months of paid vacation in that year. You can use those 3 moths to travel, to do summer campps.... not to mention that the work load at a public school is usually lighter than a private school (16 periods Vs. 25 or more)

[Roger]

How many contact hours a week/month?

Paid holidays?

Airfare?

Holiday travel allowance?

Bonus?

VIsa concurrent with your employment? Or twelve months, so you can tour the country during your unpaid holidays...

4500 is acceptable if your workload doesn't exceed 18 hours aweek.