Job Discussion Forums

[jimpellow]

I first came to China about seven years ago. At the time the government policies were not fun but doable. Get the visa, come and get a medical. Then my provence started to charge income tax. Then just before I left a couple years ago they started with the social insurance which is a laugh for the lack of tangible benefits it brings. Luckily my employer was badly in need of subject teachers so they paid all the tab on that. Couple years ago I got tired of the frustrations and illogicalness of life and work in China and decided to leave. Travelled around the World so to say and did six months in Saudi. Not a bad place mind you, but boring and the laziest students in the World. Put my resume up on the Internet a few months back with not interested in China on it. Of course, Chinese schools and recruiters started contacting me left and right. Hit it off with an English recruiter in Hong Kong and ended up interviewing for a very well paying subject teaching position. Was lukewarm on going back to China, but figured what the heck. Told them (three different people) I would be traveling in Southeast Asia beforehand and the date and to notify me if I needed to obtain a visa before I left as an old colleague said in Tianjin you do. They said no problem, I could get it overseas. So I get on the plane and when I arrive at my hotel and open my email is the coordinator telling me very casually that I would need to get my visa in America. I casually informed her that I would do what it takes to get it overseas but I would not fly back to America for it. Even offered to do the medical overseas (also ridiculous) and use a visa agency (not cheap). The principal sweetened the pot by offering to reimburse me for the flight back to the East Coast and back. I stuck to my guns and haven't heard back. I mean besides the typical Chinese "we screwed up, you pay for it" attitude, who wants to deal with all this? Sent me a link for the new resume building - tell us about yourself - psychological test - general knowledge - writing test then interview foolery. Pretty much see it for what it is; a way for the government to build up their own resume base for dubious reasons. Then the criminal background check and all the other stuff people complain about on this board like two years experience and no straight answers. Who does China think it is? It really gets to the point where it is hard not to see it as arrogance. And what does the teacher get in return for all this extra effort, time and expense they have dumped on us. No wonder why my potential salary is twice what it was before. They have to be losing more and more teachers and potential teachers at a time when demand is skyrocketing. If they ever get around to verifying credentials nationwide, figure that will kill off at least half of their supply of teachers. Hell I would have made about 24k a work month in a second tier city and give up. I don't know whether to pity or respect the teachers who are willing to endure all this for 6k a month. Well goodbye China. Thanks for letting me vent.

[kev7161]

"Endure" is a good word for what I do here. However, my pay and other benefits make the endurance worthwhile, for one more year. . . I hope! I've stated in another post that I've been able to bypass all that hoop-jumping because I've stayed with the same school. But yeah, I will "endure" one more year in this country!

[chinatimes]

In my experiences, if I stay with a school then I have hoops to go through (the longer I stay with them). They feel they need to change things to make sure I am "working".

When I teach for a few months and move on to another school, it's like surfing. I do what I want, go to work, come home, that's it. There are no special events or specific duties outside the norm. When the school decides to add and change what was agreed to before signing the contract, I bring this issues up and the school and I terminate the contract. In the past 10 years I have worked with 1 school for 3.5 years without any changes, a second for 1 year 1 month, and another for 1 year. So for 4 years, say 3 because I traveled and didn't work some months, 6 months at one school = 6 schools that didn't give me headaches until the final month with them.

The new school gets all the paperwork ready, so basically all the teacher needs to do is pack up and move to a new apartment.

[kungfuman]

[Non Sequitur]

China is and always will be the centre of the world (Middle Kingdom).
Part of what foreigners offer China is tribute. Payable just for the honour of being in the presence of the regime (Emperor).
Doesn't matter if you are a lowly FT, or a major international corporation, it's the same deal.

[it'snotmyfault]

[Non Sequitur]

My post is pretty much word for word transcript of of a long ago post where a Chinese was asked to give some background as to why they so readily take opportunities to exploit foreigners.
Read the history of Western contact with China via Shanghai and you'll see that the West expected a quid pro quo (if that expression isn't too elevated for you), whereas the Chinese saw it as one way traffic. The Westerners could not expect any consideration in return.
If It'snotmyfauxpas can add something original then please do.

[it'snotmyfault]

[Simon in Suzhou]

I can understand growing weary with China, but I have to say that living and working abroad ANYWHERE involves a number of hoops to jump through as an alien. I have taught in 3 different countries, and it is never "easy" or convenient to do so. In fact, when I hear the complaints here, I often think people have not taught in other countries with even more red-tape and mind-numbing stupidity.

China is not so bad, and the fact that the school tried to accommodate you by PAYING for your airfare home and back shows an extreme amount of effort on their part. I understand this is a place to vent. It takes quite a lot of flexibility to live as an expat over the long haul, and I think when one gets to this point where they can only see the negative, it is definitely time to get out and move on to a place where they can be happy.

[Non Sequitur]

[hochhasd]

[quote="kungfuman"]

[kev7161]

I don't know what a "BJs" is, but I've heard of Costco. Don't you think though that it would be just like Tesco, Wal-Mart, Carrefour, etc.? The name and logo on the outside, same old stuff on the inside.

[roadwalker]

[kungfuman]

[tangal]

This OP, he plays dumb
He plays blame game on his bum
With a mishmash balderdash
Give a teach a bone
This OP is going home

My latest job search in China was tougher than yours, jimpellow. I had to jump through the latest hoops (including age discrimination) and endure a wearisome mélange of two-faced recruiters and undervaluing HR managers before landing my best gig in China during my seven years here.

I for one appreciate some of the changes, including what you call the new resume building - tell us about yourself - psychological test - general knowledge - writing test then interview foolery.

Yes, I had to navigate an online interview and take the tests for the Evaluation System for Foreign Language Expert. But I like the idea of being tested, because it separates the men from the boys. It forces those who call themselves teachers in China to ante up and show what they're made of. The folks who gripe about this sort of testing and evaluating are often the ones who aren't up to snuff in the first place.

But I understand this kind of ranting. I've done plenty of R&R in my day. My advice to you is to be careful, as getting things off your chest often flirts dangerously close to playing the blame game.

Here are some inspirational quotes from Lao Tzu that help me when I'm on the bridge over troubled water:

To be worn out is to be renewed.

Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.