Job Discussion Forums

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

I received a notice about this position today:

Markness · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 738 Location: Chengdu

Yeah, I wouldn't bother. Getting a better offer in a tier 2 city with less teaching hours and a much lower cost of living. I don't know why people flock to the big cities so much when it costs so dang much to live there, lol.

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

Markness, agreed.

Getting a position at a university in a Tier 2 city for slightly higher salary (5,000/6,000/more...?) with lower prices and ample opportunities to do extra work is the way to go in my book.

Warm regards,
fat_chris

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Still see lots of university positions in rural areas that pay 4600 or thereabouts, but in Beijing? Unbelievable.

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

Beijing's universities can get away with it perhaps, due to the large number of foreigners in Beijing. I've heard that they attract the spouses of expat big wigs or those of foreign service workers who are looking for something to do with their time. I have no direct knowledge of that, however, and I would think they also get ambitious people who want to polish their resumes/CVs with impressive schools. Personally, I think the Haidian area would be an interesting place to live for about a year, so I could be tempted to take the pay cut for a good job and an 8000 yuan apartment (must be incredible! Wink

) but not this time around. And I don't really have any reason to need a fancy or even a shmancy university on my resume.

Markness · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 738 Location: Chengdu

NoBillyNO · Joined: 11 Jun 2012 Posts: 1762

I work close to there and a number of teachers who have responded to these kind of ads are retired. Nice folks for the most part, (I have met two couples teaching there), but here with a sense of purpose and a desire to travel.

Ah the Golden Years, ......

Sinaman · Joined: 23 May 2009 Posts: 85

I find it amazing that people would work a full-time job for RMB5,000 ANYWHERE, heck even part-time...

I'm not bragging, but I am making RMB4,000 a month from one two hour class a week in a Tier 2 city, it boggles the mind that foreigners would work for RMB5,000 for 10-15-20-25 contact hours a week.

Why?

Why?

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY????

mw182006 · Joined: 10 Dec 2012 Posts: 310

Sinaman · Joined: 23 May 2009 Posts: 85

I know teachers employed with working visas earning RMB15,000 in Panyu (GZ), and even in Dongguan there are teachers employed for RMB10,000+. You add that up with privates and you can make RMB30,000 a month.

Heck I am making about that right now

It's no secret, even the crappiest English Training Centre here (EF) pays something like RMB8,000 a month and provides accomodation

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

Sinaman · Joined: 23 May 2009 Posts: 85

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Since the OP I have discussed the prestigious BJ uni thing with a friend who knows the scene well. His points:
He's done the 'smaller' cities at higher salaries but access to concerts, exhibitions etc is a big plus. After 10 years you've had your fill of pirate DVDs and other stuff.
Always relate salary to type of teaching. Teaching and marking writing is a lot more onerous because of the non-contact hours you have to put in.
He is not alone in preferring BJ for the culture and this in turn creates competition which in turn keeps salaries low.
Another factor is that 'name' unis attract PhD s who see that type of gig as good CV material that will assist in gaining academic employment back home. This in turn forces salaries of Bachelor's degree holders down.
A Bachelor's degree holder may be an equal or better teacher than a PhD but the uni can't boast about it and that's important in status-ridden China.
In spite of the prestigious 'name' many of these unis run adjunct or associate courses as money spinners. The entry for these is $$, not Gaokao results. Of course over time this waters down the perceived value of the name but aren't Chinese the ultimate short termers?
The ultimate decider for BJ on less than 5K is the free apartment and proximity to the commuter rail. No one could afford to teach on that money and enjoy a decent lifestyle without the free digs.