Job Discussion Forums

[nellychess]

I have posted on here before. I know it's extremely late in the game, but I'm ready to go. I have been without internet access for almost 2 months, so I couldn't get anything lined up like I thought I would. I have been at a summer camp in Maine, and was told I'd have a wifi signal, but I didn't. I'm headed to San Fran this Saturday, and then hitting the internet pavement.

Does anyone have advice for reaching schools?

Thanks for any help.

BA in Sociology, 15 yrs tennis teaching experience, have my passport, and 2 passport photos ready to go.

No TEFL.

[dean_a_jones]

Schools will just be starting to come off of their summer holidays this week or next. Start getting a clear CV, highlighting any relevant teaching experience etc. to as many places as possible. Don't feel like getting a response and a bit of enthusiasm is enough--keep plugging away at multiple places until it sound like you have something (i.e. have shown them what they want to see so they can actually apply for paperwork). Agents may be helpful at this point. I know a lot of people here warn against them, but when you are pressed like this they might just find something that you have not seen or whatever. Just be extra cautious of contracts etc. when you do this, and make sure you are signing directly with a school they are putting you in touch with, not with them.

There will be some schools who are still looking, and come late August/early September, there will be schools who thought they had a teacher but the person backed out. A few things to consider:

1) At this point you want to be as diligent as you can about the contract and conditions at the school. If a school has yet to find someone, that might mean either a poor contract, poor location, crappy conditions or just general disorganization. Keep all this in mind.

2) Be wary of coming over on the wrong visa--schools, especially if they are short a teacher due to unforeseen circumstances, might press you to come over on a tourist visa and then make a run to HK or something. Assuming this is still possible, then it is not the end of the world (but is always a risk). But be wary of schools who are promising this but won't be able to get you the proper documentation so will have you working illegally. Also be aware that this trip may be expensive (depending on where the school is located) and they might just be expecting you to pay for it all--at least a few thousand RMB.

3) Make sure you are organised--get all your scans, photocopies, etc. in order. Get your medical stuff done, do a criminal background check etc. in case you need it if it is easy to do. Be familiar with the visa application form and process. At this point being able to get stuff done quickly might be a factor, and being able to show a school what they are looking for (in particular the medical check if needed) rather than waiting to be asked to do it might be the difference between landing a job or not. This is a call you will have to make, as every now and then we hear from people who said they didn't require a medical check done in their home country beforehand--but they seem a rarity to me. You might at least want to get the blood testing done if booking appointments and waiting for results might take a while, as that seems to be the test they are most interested in.

[roadwalker]

http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/china/index.cgi?read=29524

(Shengda College in Henan)

http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/china/index.cgi?read=29511

(Chongqing University of Technology)

Those are two universities in China that appear to be looking for last minute foreign teachers. There are more according to agencies advertising on the same job board. The jobs are out there. They may not be your ideal situation but they need someone or some ones asap and it's a foot in the door. Good luck.

[Non Sequitur]

This has been 'a long and winding..' OP!!
There is no reason why you should accept a desperation contract - apart from environment factors which could be unknowns.
I've worked at schools where the last FT didn't arrive until end September. Visa issues and family events to attend, being the main reasons.
'Not enough teachers hired in the pre holiday period' - situation schools will still be looking.
'Making up for no shows'- situation schools, won't be on the hiring radar until 1st two weeks of Sept.
The advice about having every document and test done and certificated is good.
Don't accept something that can't be verified on Dave's or elsewhere, although you probably won't have multiple offers on the table.
Please DON'T come on a tourist visa.
I recall that my local Chinese Embassy has a fast turnaround visa channel. More $$ but you can make haste once you have a pathway forward.

[Toast]

Go to echinacities.com and do a job search for "University" and "College". There's still many listed and being added to every day.
Make sure to do due diligence about why they are advertising so late in the game. Sometimes the fault of the foreign teachers, but frequently can indicate an incompetent or poorly run Foreign Affairs Office, in which case expect other aspects of the contract such as pays or requests for apartment repairs to be handled in a comparably half-assed manner.
Whether they can get your paperwork done, and your visa organized in time is anyone's guess. Check if you need a medical check done in advance for the embassy, download the form and do it ASAP as it may take a week to get the results.

[nellychess]

I was going back and forth with a sports Uni, and they asked me for passport scan diploma etc. I sent that and never heard back. I even resent saying I just wanted to be sure you got this, and no response after 2 weeks. I have heard that is standard procedure. I think a sports Uni would be so great to work for. I was only able to get contact emails from about 6. Someone on the past on Dave's gave me a list of 20.

I feel like if that's what I want to do eventually, the I have to get another Uni job now so that the dates match up for next school year.

I'm on cell phone 3G now, so I really have to wait til after the weekend when I'll be in San Fran with time and Internet.

Thanks for all the ideas and help guys.

[Non Sequitur]

Look after your own interests first. It's too late to muck around.
Don't burn your bridges though. The sports U may be a 'goer' in Y2 or Y3.
Be nice is what I'm saying.

[Sierra1903]

[Lord Bafford]

[Non Sequitur]

It's very easy to casually type such recommendations, not so easy in practice.

I can't be alone in feeling this requirement is utterly unreasonable -- especially the medical. It certainly wasn't necessary for my last position in China.

For me to get a medical prior to arriving in China would be prohibitively expensive, probably the equivalent of 3 weeks salary. And then there's the cost of obtaining the visa -- also an expensive process.

If a school insists on a medical before arrival they'll be told where to go! Twisted Evil Twisted Evil

Lord B.
Welcome to the ranks of the 'tried to get a job in China but failed' brigade.

[Bud Powell]

I don't endorse the following website, but it'll give you an idea of what is still available:

abroadchina.org


The listings run the gamut, and a lot of jobs go unfilled for various reasons, some of which are valid, some of which are just unfortunate. You might even find a job as a tennis coach.

I'd change the "tennis coach" to something more education management sounding like "sports team coordinator and private trainer".

[Lord Bafford]

[vikeologist]

[Non Sequitur]

[Lord Bafford]