Job Discussion Forums

[PYT]

Hmm... Being Chinese-American myself, I can give you my own perspective on this issue.

All in all, yes... it's a ton easier getting a job as a white person. Nevertheless, it's still not that hard getting a decent or good job as an Asian-looking foreigner. For sure, you will get people who reject you for your race and others will try to low ball your salary. However, generally speaking, the better schools and jobs tend to be more color blind and more focused on qualifications (with your disadvantage minimized). Furthermore, when you consider how much damn effort it takes to get a decent job in the United States (all the prepping for interviews, following up, etc etc), getting a "decent" teaching job in China is a piece of cake.

For my last job search, I got tons of job offers right off the phone when cold-calling different universities and most of them didn't care I was of Chinese descent (as long as I was a native speaker).

Keep in mind though, I've never worked in Shanghai so I don't know how the job market is over there. I assume that the qualifications are higher for better jobs and being a newbie yourself, it may be difficult to land something decent. (My first job wasn't that great either and that was more because I was new and inexperienced rather than being Asian). Nevertheless, with persistence, you should be able to find something. Furthermore, I would try to focus your job search on mainly public schools as opposed to private universities and training schools since they tend to be more color blind.


One other thing I want to ask is "Are you a native speaker"? As in, were you born and raised in the United States and is English your mother tongue? This is an incredibly important requirement when applying for jobs.

Finally, yeah, I am going to echo what others have been saying. If you are fluent in both Chinese and English, why don't you try doing something else? While not a sure-fire recipe for success, a foreigner who is truly bilingual has so many more options than those of us who can barely speak (even those who speak at a conversational level).

[chinesearmy]

reading julianne.yue's posts, she sounds like a Chinese who knows English well... meaning she sounds like she predominantly thinks in Chinese but has an advanced level of English.

[drrjon]

I have hired American born Chinese and American educated Chinese. You are very needed here. It is just how we present what you have to offer. I have hired teachers for a very large school outfit for the last six years and now I am opening schools along with local investors. Do not let people tell you that you can not do well here. Actually you can achieve any thing that you wish. Good Luck! Have fun!

[Asiateacher]

I think it's harder for native speaking non-whites to get a job than it is for non-native speaking whites... Crazy place!

[Non Sequitur]

I think you're right asiat.
Which strips it down to its essential racism.
Interesting that Chinese in the West would scream at the top of their lungs if they were discriminated against on colour.

[NoBillyNO]

[Non Sequitur]

[MisterButtkins]

[NoBillyNO]

[Non Sequitur]

A Chinese American (female, new grad) took issue with our FAO declining an application from a Black American.
She said 'That's discrimination'.
'No it's not' said the FAO, 'It is just the way we like to do things'.

[MisterButtkins]