Job Discussion Forums

[Volver]

This is my plan for the fall and I'd like to know if it is realistic.

1. Find a uni job in Tianjin that only requires 12-14 hours per week.
2. Housing and Z visa included,
3. Y5,000 per month.
4. Work side jobs in private schools for minimum of 10 hours per week. More hours would be better.
5. Teach only 18 and older - no kids.
6. Expected pay rate is a minimum of Y150 per hour.

I plan to start my uni job search in March and use a combination of recruiters and direct contact.

What do you think? Suggestions welcome.

Thanks.

V

[johntpartee]

Sure, it's realistic. Nothing really unattainable on your list. Whether or not you can pull it off is another story, but, yeah, it's possible.

[drjtrekker]

ha,

smart boy.

[buffalobill12323]

[muffintop]

I don't know Tianjin from a can of paint but your plan seems realistic enough. You *may* need to bump your potential working hours a little bit but also your salary may be higher as well.
You seem pretty well grounded...you're not looking for anything crazy. I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for or something reasonably close to it. Just be patient if you don't. Start looking in early March would be my suggestion...and don't jump at the first thing. Ask questions. Drill down on anything that is unclear.

[Bud Powell]

Volver,

You started talking about Tianjin back in October. You're still coming to the forum with questions that you could confirm elsewhere instead of rehashing the same idea over and over again. If I remember correctly, you were set on leaving China at one point:

Let me start off by saying I hate this country. I hate everything about it except the money I am saving and tolerating this country is the only way I can see to achieve a goal I have. I've been here 1.5 years and, at my current savings rate, I should have the money I need in another 2 years. Hating so much is not healthy and I need to learn ways to cope with the place and its charming people.

Were you being sarcastic when you referred to the Chinese as charming?

Then you asked FTs in Columbia for advice:

Currently working in China and really getting tired of the place. Good money, mind you, but the country is a pit. My biggest source of income is IELTS examination and I'm wondering if I can replicate my success/earnings in Columbia?

Is anyone currently doing IELTS examining in Columbia? If so, is the money good enough to put some away into savings but still be able to live a decent lifestyle? I plan to also teach English and do IELTS on the side.


It sounded like you were ready to leave:

I guess I am not leaving on good terms. So be it. I'll still try to get a recommendation letter out of them. I am from the US and have been doing your basic oral English classes plus aviation English since last year. No complaints from students. My goal is private work and IELTS but I will probably not mention anything about either.

Aviation English? Are you a certified pilot?

So now you're back to hoping to get a job in Tianjin.

Hope is not a plan.

[johntpartee]

[muffintop]

Bud....easy man.

I think most of us have had a 'China moment'...or 20. If he wants to stay we can at least offer our advice and thoughts.

[Javelin of Radiance]

It's New Year's Eve, let's relax and enjoy the noise and merry times together

[Bud Powell]

[Non Sequitur]

..and back to the OP
Plan seems doable and ignore the post about bidding up the salary.
That's fanciful and diverts energy from getting going.
That first job is more about avoiding any (or too much) downside, as it is about pulling off some salary/hours coup.
Also remember that it will take you the best part of a semester to come to grips with teaching and living in China in the day job, before you will be able to make a lot of progress on privates.
Factor in the commute time getting to/from your weekend job at the language school.
Commuting to the downtown on a Saturday morning can be horrendous.

[buffalobill12323]

[Non Sequitur]

My reading of OP is that he/she sees the day job as providing the basics, of which accom (and, I expect airfare) would be at least as important as the monthly salary.
The extra money is to come from privates.

[Volver]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I have been in the midst of getting some nasty and long overdue dental work done so I've been out of it for awhile.

This is my 2nd contract in China but in a small backwater and it is time to get into a decent city other than BJ. Plus my current job sucks and I am just gritting my teeth until June. My goal is to get a uni job that doesn't require many hours and then make my money on side work. If I can cut it on 150 per hour, then anything above that is gravy. My ultimate goal is Y20K on a consistent basis. I already get around Y10K per month from IELTS so the missing link is side work. From everyone's comments, it looks like I can hit my goal.

Tianjin is close enough so that I will check into every offer. I've learned my lesson about working in the sticks and I'm a lot smarter in dealing with unis compared to when I came here.

Thanks again.

V

[Spyro]

Shouldn't be hard at all. Depends on what the going rate for universities are in that city.

I'd Wikipedia the list of universities in Tianjin, find out their number, and call them directly. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_and_colleges_in_Tianjin)