Job Discussion Forums

Winter · Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 9:43 pm Post subject: Vision, Shanghai

Does anyone know anything about this place? Besides the webpage linked from the ad (here: http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/china/index.cgi?read=28707), I can't find much info about them.

mmaattuu · Joined: 22 Apr 2013 Posts: 3

Their job ad does appear refreshingly in depth. Their website is apparently under construction, hence the lack of content. The company is a franchise chain under a different name. You will not work purely at one location, but most likely at a few of their schools within Shanghai. The teacher training and support sounds more supportive than many English schools and Joe the person you will be in contact is a pretty nice guy.

Rent reimbursement is included in the salary (which some may prefer, but it is worth noting as your final pay will be less). The hours include office hours which it better than it sounds too.
They ask that ask that you come over on a tourist visa and then you are interviewed again in person and they decide whether you get the job there and then. They 'promise' that the Visa will be converted within Shanghai without any need to go to Hong Kong (didn't know that was possible :S, though I'm a bit of a newbie). No contract is signed before as they said they do not want to commit based on skype interview.
So basically the question is whether you are certain you want to go to China on a tourist visa merely for a job interview. If you however are all ready in China or nearby, then much of what I said above may be less relevant.

Harbin · Joined: 19 Feb 2013 Posts: 161

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

so, um, joe is it? you tellin' me i can get the princely sum of 10K rmb
in shanghai, with "assistance" in finding an apartment? you sayin' the
housing supplement is included in the pay? so it's taxed? hey, ain't
shanghai one of those few places that deduct the 11% social security
tax? great, so i pay social security tax on my housing. how much
did you say housing in shanghai would be, joe? 3000 per month,
maybe 4000? wow! what a deal! base pay minus tax minus housing
might leave me around 5000?

so, joe....i can live on 5000 in shanghai, right?

ah, don't bother....pay isn't that important...cause i'll have my self-
respect.

nothing says self-respect like "peek-a-boo who?" sign me up!

---> http://www.vision-edu.cn/english/index.asp

JamesD · Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 2:28 pm Post subject:

So I'm going to take the chance of being labeled a troll and nitpick here.

From the Vision site.

Harbin · Joined: 19 Feb 2013 Posts: 161

Voyeur · Joined: 03 Jul 2012 Posts: 431

I can't see a housing allowance in the ad. So the pay is 10k-14.5k, and you have to get your own apt.?

I'm pretty new to the China ads, but it seems like I rarely see schools in Beijing and Shanghai providing their own furnished apartments like I see in ads for schools in other cities. It almost seems like net/net, newbie teachers will save less in the huge cities--pay for the privilege of being there. Of course, in time the opportunities for extra work are better there too, but fresh off the boat, a Shanghai/Beijing job looks like a lot of work and risk.

mmaattuu · Joined: 22 Apr 2013 Posts: 3

Sorry I'm actually just a newbie who had an interview with him. When I look back at my post it does seem like I'm being nice and naive/stupid which wasn't my intention.

When I said "promise" in inverted commas the intent was that people would read that as the common English mill promise (lie), though that was really vague, sorry! Even if I said he was a nice guy the fact I stated the multiple locations, lack of housing, lack of visa, company re-branded, lack of contract, all should outweigh the misleading tone of my post. Sorry, bad first contribution Crying or Very sad

mmaattuu · Joined: 22 Apr 2013 Posts: 3

Winter · Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2013 3:25 am Post subject:

I talked to him after I posted this, and will second mmaattuu in saying that Joe Moore seems very nice. I'm not sure why he doesn't realize that these terms are massive red flags. Maybe he does realize and is just putting a brave face on it out of company loyalty.

Voyeur · Joined: 03 Jul 2012 Posts: 431

Wow. This job is horrific when I thought it might be good (hoped for top of the range with free APT.)

So, not even counting apartment risk, you basically get a 5,500 assuming the Shanghai Apt. costs ~4,500. For that you teach 18 hours, work 12 more office hours, and work 8 hours on BOTH weekend days.

If the job had been 14,500 + free apt. I was STILL not sure I'd take it because of the weekend work. As is, it is horrible.

kungfuman · Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2013 11:11 am Post subject:

Apartments in Shanghai are expensive. Almost as bad as New York City. Consider a decent studio apartment will cost 4000 a month.

And you need put down 3 months plus security plus if you use an agent have to pay them.

And for 12000 a month?

Shanghai is not cheap - trust me I go there often.

Plus the standard of living could be considered horrid there- the worst air, so overcrowded, so over priced.

Shanghai is good to visit - maybe stay a day or two - then leave

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

i wouldn't worry about it......ole' joe's a nice guy.
he'll take good care of you.

Winter · Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 5:45 am Post subject:

On the bright side, I just realized how many terrible 'red flag' jokes I'll be able to make soon. "Man, that military base is sending up all kinds of red flags right now." So it hasn't been a total loss! Very Happy

kungfuman · Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 11:11 am Post subject: