Job Discussion Forums

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

Hi all,

I've been job hunting for the past few weeks now, with differing degrees of success. I've had job offers but turned them down for one reason or another, I have future interviews lined up and some jobs whose application deadlines have not passed yet. So far I haven't been blown away by what I've been offered so far (except one - one looks fairly decent), leading me to ask...am I being too picky/unrealistic?

Native speaker - experience in China (2 years) and the west (pre-sessional+college). Currently studying for an MA in Applied Linguistics.

The main issue, understandably, is that I don't have my MA in had, though by the time any jobs start, I will have graduated.

I'm just a little worried I'm holding out for something that may not appear. The offers I've had so far are standard uni/college offers e.g. 6,000 month,16-20 periods, accommodation etc.

Any thoughts appreciated!

Bud Powell · Joined: 11 Jul 2013 Posts: 1736

Pick out 3-4 job offers that appeal. Send the prospective employers/recruiters scans of everything they need. Substitute official transcripts for your degree and explain that the degree is forthcoming. If the school likes what it sees, it'll be willing to wait for the degree.

Graduation time is coming soon. If you've APPLIED for graduation and have been cleared and have received correspondence about the cap and gown or information about graduation day, chances are that the graduation day programs with graduates' names have been printed up, and your degree is being/has been printed too. Degrees usually follow within a month after graduation.

Your registrar's office and the graduate school should be notified that you need the degree ASAP for employment.

You may find it hard to believe, but colleges and universities want to get everything off their desks by the time the next term begins. (In your case, it's the summer term, and luckily, not the winter term).

Things should go well. Your degree should arrive a month after your graduation or sooner. You may want to call the graduate school to find out if the degrees will be distributed on graduation day. That happens sometimes.

Good luck!

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

depends....where are you applying? are you applying to specific job ads,
or just sending to schools that might look interesting?

your qualifications are nothing special in the world of legitimately-employed
ft's in china. graduation with honors means nothing, and your freshly-minted
ma should earn you an extra 100 rmb per month.

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

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

quote="Bud Powell"]Pick out 3-4 job offers that appeal. Send the prospective employers/recruiters scans of everything they need. Substitute official transcripts for your degree and explain that the degree is forthcoming. If the school likes what it sees, it'll be willing to wait for the degree.

Graduation time is coming soon. If you've APPLIED for graduation and have been cleared and have received correspondence about the cap and gown or information about graduation day, chances are that the graduation day programs with graduates' names have been printed up, and your degree is being/has been printed too. Degrees usually follow within a month after graduation.

Your registrar's office and the graduate school should be notified that you need the degree ASAP for employment.

You may find it hard to believe, but colleges and universities want to get everything off their desks by the time the next term begins. (In your case, it's the summer term, and luckily, not the winter term).

Things should go well. Your degree should arrive a month after your graduation or sooner. You may want to call the graduate school to find out if the degrees will be distributed on graduation day. That happens sometimes.

Good luck![/quote]

That's what I have now done. There are 5 employers that I have sent applications to that really interest me, I had an interview with one but that was only very recently and I haven't heard back yet.

thechangling · Joined: 11 Apr 2013 Posts: 276

With those qualifications why aren't you earning decent money in Saudi or elsewhere in the gulf?
In China the only qualification that gets the good money is a teaching certificate/licence as far as I can tell. Even a Phd in China pays bugger all unless you've got a teaching qualification.
Being fussy is good!

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

Babala · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1303 Location: Henan

What you need to do is find a university that understands a MA in Linguistics. Let's face it, many of them don't realize what that is.

The Chinese just see the degree, they have no idea of what is relevant. I remember when I worked for a school about 7 year ago. The CD came to me and said that she hired a teacher who had a higher degree than myself. She was convinced that the new teacher was so much better than me even though she had no experience and her MA was in math Shocked

At the time I had 7 years experience and I have a degree in English and a CELTA Evil or Very Mad

MisterButtkins · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 1221

If u want more than 6k, u can't work for universities. Maybe joint ventures, but that's it.

The foreign teacher is at a university in order to fill a slot in some bureaucratic, administrative scheme. Why would they pay more for an MA? Of course, they'll tack an extra 500RMB on just to look nice, but you're not going to see a serious increase in salary when there is no reason for the schools to offer one. Like I said, you are there to fill a slot

MisterButtkins · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 1221

coldcucumber · Joined: 21 Dec 2012 Posts: 114

Shotgun approach, 50-100 or so should get you sufficient quantities of JuJu, just remember BCC, don't CC.

Voyeur · Joined: 03 Jul 2012 Posts: 431

I can imagine Masters degrees will eventually start to matter more here in China. But not yet.

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

Just to give everyone an update, within a week of posting this thread, I was contacted by numerous universities, all of which I'd be happy to work for. I've narrowed it down to two.

The real trouble now is deciding!

Uni 1:
Fantastic ranking in China, top 50 in the world.
Beijing
10k/month
18x45 minute lessons, 16 weeks per semester
Apartment provided (utilities included BUT no kitchen...)
Flights

Uni 2:
Attention to professional development - conferences, research groups etc.
Guandong
12k/month
16x50 minute lessons, 16 weeks per semester
Apartment provided (teacher pays utilities)
Flights

I'm tempted by the first, just to see what it's like to work there. They both have clear advantages and disadvantages. I have less than a week to decide. Any thoughts?