Job Discussion Forums

[mambawamba]

Thought I'd ask this question now as people seem to be leaving, there may be some bargaining power to up salaries at the low end if supply finally can not meet demand. Time people stopped selling themselves for cheap?

I know we need to take into account the total package, a 5000 per month with accommodation and airfare is actually better then 10,000 per month job with no airfare or accommodation, but apparently too many poll options. Feel free to add as much info as possible.

I know where this leads so please these are the parimeters, ESL teachers only and pay AFTER tax. Play nice.

Mamba

[Javelin of Radiance]

Good topic. My pay after tax - 8000. On campus housing. I see 100% of pollsters are in the same category as myself.

Good night.

[johntpartee]

[mambawamba]

I did consider a smaller spread and wanted to put to more options in but unfortunately not possible with the limited amount of fields available, will do another poll when we see where the majority of people sit.

[johntpartee]

You could also leave out the "Don't want to say". If they don't want to say, then.......

[johntpartee]

[Guerciotti]

What if one makes 5,000?

[johntpartee]

[mambawamba]

@johntpartee don't panic, no mass exodus but definite slow trickle movement, over thirty last minute moving tag sales in Qingdao since July.

[johntpartee]

[mambawamba]

Agreed

[Denim-Maniac]

Im on my own in the low salary band. Recently discussed bargaining power with my colleagues, but the problem we have is everyone keeps coming back and resigning contracts. 12 FT's at the time of writing, 8 of which are on 3rd contracts here. With so many old hands here accepting the package there is little incentive for the employers to change it.

Salary is frustrating for many of us ... but its very hard for us to justify the move to some of the jobs and locations I read about here. The people who have moved on from here (and Im still in contact with) tend to report a higher salary but a more negative experience in every aspect of their Chinese life. A lot of the posts I read here are quite unrecognisable to my Chinese experience TBH.

At the time of writing Im not willing to accept any of the following:

Teaching children, teens or students. Adults only please.
Not willing to work evenings or weekends.
Class sizes of 5 - 8 preferred. 12 maximum.
Classes can not be mixed ability students.
Not prepared to teach 'oral' English as discussed on the board.
Will not accept schedule changes or an employer that doesnt keep me up to date with everything.
Pollution is a no no.
Not willing to do any kind of commute to work.
Not really keen on living in a place where buses, taxis or metro is needed to move around the city or town.
Only interested in expat bars with reasonably priced drinks (10 RMB or less)

Find me a job like that and Ill accept Im underpaid in my current job. But when I read the recent threads about clueless students reading dialogues and the trainee teachers who cant understand any English, Im loath to swap. My students are great, incredibly generous with their time and money, and social interaction is positively encouraged. Its hard to give it up just for some extra coin TBH

[Toast]

I'm on 6,000, although the school's (a technical college) starting pay is 5,000 (I've re-signed a couple of times) , and even for some who've snagged reduced hours they've been cut back to 4,500. A few allowances have disappeared this semester, and the airfare has been set at a low 6,000rmb, which can get *me* home, but not most of those coming from Europe or North America.

They seem to be tightening the belt with regard to foreign teachers (everyone?) this year, and lost 10/12 FTs over summer as a result.

For what it's worth based on my personal situation I couldn't survive on any less than 6,000 per month without dipping into my own savings.

[johntpartee]

[Javelin of Radiance]