Job Discussion Forums

Highlander.Mark · Joined: 29 Jun 2013 Posts: 55

Hello
I am very much torn and need opinions!! I traveled in Asia for 4 months in 2012 after graduating from uni and loved it. I returned home got a job and started ‘using’ my degree. However I have always had a desire to go back longer term so I applied for a Teaching job in China and now its time to hand in my resignation and go to China or stay and develop a career. I just dont know what to do !! Any advice ?!

rtm · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: US

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

teenoso · Joined: 18 Sep 2013 Posts: 365 Location: south china

"Working abroad involves... well... work."

- some teaching jobs in China are more or less part-time, so it can be a great way to experience the country , meet local people and then travel in the vacations. (many Uni teaching posts give 5 weeks paid vacation time in the winter). Bear in mind that for some public positions in schools and Unis you should have 2 years post- BA work experience, and be at least 24 years old.

Hotels , trains, and restaurants are becoming expensive in China, so an extended trip is only an option if you have money saved. China is not fully geared up for 'back-packing'/hostelling etc. (although some places like Yunnan probably see such travellers more than the developed eastern side).

" Are you considering making teaching a long-term career?"-

- sounds like the OP is not considering this; few teachers in China would suggest that teaching here is a good career move (because of the lack of professional development etc.)

Many young graduates come here for a year or two before returning home to study further. But if you plan on 'interrupting' your chosen career at home for a year or two out of the country , I would hesitate to do so, especially (as other posters have said) you have only been working a year.

robbie_davies · Joined: 13 Jun 2013 Posts: 133

roseannanna · Joined: 15 May 2013 Posts: 20 Location: United Kingdom

[quote="nomad soul"]

Old Surrender · Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 6:47 pm Post subject:

I was seven years deep in my newspaper career when I moved to China.

Four years later I feel like I made the right choice. I'm going to be honest: I'm very lucky -- I have a Western employer and 3+ of paid vacation. Most people don't get that.

Really... search yourself. I hated my life right after I graduated. I missed college. That merely last 1.5 years. I then got a new job in my field in a way better place and loved it. The only problem is that, well, newspapers aren't a growth industry and the recession was in full swing years later. I needed something more, well, stable. I had no children and wife who just wrapped up her masters, so we took the plunge.

What is your career and where is it going? If newspapers were still the rage I suspect I'd still be where I was four years ago, but, alas, I'm in China. I like it, but, I am very lucky.[/i]