Job Discussion Forums

amisexy · Joined: 24 May 2012 Posts: 78

After a lot of applications to universities in China, I have finally had some bites. Smile

I was wondering though about negotiating with Chinese universities. I know it is the done thing in China to negotiate to some extent. But, how do you do about this?

One university has a reasonable salary, while one is offering 4,000RMB and accommodation, and that's all!

Say for example, I wanted to increase my salary by 500RMB monthly and get a flight allowance of 8000-10,000RMB, would this be possible?

Thanks Smile

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

After you have established your reputation, and they ask you to return for a second year, then you can negotiate.

You can try to negotiate now, but if there are other candidates that are willing to work for less then you will probably not get any responses.

Denim-Maniac · Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 1238

^^^ this makes a lot of sense to me.

We have perhaps 9 or more foreign teachers signed up on contracts. Im not sure my boss would be at all interested in paying more for a total newbie or someone who is a total unknown quantity when he has a number of trusted and reliable employees already here on the same terms. Sure you can ask, but if they are willing to negotiate freely, Id be tempted to think something was up! I feel a half decent employer probably doesnt need to negotiate, and if they take a job, a half decent employee could probably get improved terms of subsequent contracts.

But thats just me. I could be way off the mark. My email has been passed to prospective teachers before, and the ones who email me about negotiating higher salaries never end up in employment with me. Could be that they pull out, could be my boss drops them. Not sure.

kungfuman · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 2:27 pm Post subject: Re: How to negotiate in China?

muffintop · Joined: 07 Jan 2013 Posts: 803

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

teachingld2004 · Joined: 17 Feb 2012 Posts: 389

There are way too many people wanting university jobs in China and they are all willing to accept the salary offered.

It is a set amount for the first year, and your pay will go higher next year.

MAYBE if you have a special skill, then MAYBE you can get some more money, but I strongly doubt it.

But then again, when the term starts, if a shool is short a teaher you MAY get some more money.

Usually you can not get a university job unless you have 2 years experience.

Yes, every rule can be broken, but if i were the one looking at resumes, if I saw some one who wanted more money, then that resume would get filed under "G".

Forgive me, I do not want to sound rude, but I do not think you can neg with a university.

muffintop · Joined: 07 Jan 2013 Posts: 803

You can negotiate with anyone offering you a job. They may tell you to piss up a rope though if they have others waiting to take the gig and you have nothing special to offer as you mentioned.

Same everywhere really. If you do not have some leverage you will not be successful negotiating. Even then, more than a few schools will not care about your skills or experience and only care about finding somebody to work for the lowest amount possible. Those schools are usually better to avoid.