Job Discussion Forums

vikeologist · Joined: 07 Sep 2009 Posts: 600

The children thing should be a factor though. Are you making the assumption that your child will receive free schooling at a Chinese school? How much knowledge do you have of what Chinese state schools are like?

The norm is for teachers with children to get jobs at international schools so that their kids get an education.

However, that's not really what the Op was asking about, so I'm presuming they've given some thought to that.

I lived in Ningbo for 5 years. The air quality there is pretty dangerous at times, but not to the extent where it should cause any immediate health problems for a child. Of course long term it raises the risk of problems (for all of you) but Ningbo isn't the worst place. If the place in Shandong is a lot worse than Ningbo though, you may want to factor that in.

I presume the job is at Ningbo University. It is probably the best Uni to teach at in Ningbo. Often Unis have overly strict contracts because they've been burned in the past. At my Uni (in Ningbo, but not Ningbo university) we had to devise and implement a procedure, for teachers skipping classes because of illness and not making them up, because of one guy. When we decided how to approach his actions, it then became our 'procedure' and I guess we theoretically applied that procedure to everybody. That doesn't mean we actually ever acted on it with anybody else. Shortly after introducing the 'rule' that you get fined or something if you're late for class, I was late for a class (for the first time in my time at the Uni, apart from one time which was totally my bosses' fault so doesn't count). I didn't 'report' myself. However many contractual rules we had, the only one we actually had was that teachers be professional, and as long as everybody was, the Uni were chilled. I'm just saying don't judge a Uni by its contract.

In a way the Uni are telling the truth about the summer pay; well sort of. Without getting into it, there's reasons for giving 10 month contracts; social security tax etc. The Uni could of course find a way of paying you for the summer months if they wanted, but I guess local foreign affairs bureaus tend to have their own ways of allowing Unis and employers to circumvent the different problems. Every FAO office has their won quirks and ways of interpreting the often vague national guidelines.

Or they could just be lying.

I'm not paid for the summer months, but then my pay the rest of the year is higher than a typical Uni that does pay (at least a percentage) during summer. You should just look at how much money you'll make in a year, rather than just the monthly salary. In this way the Liaocheng salaries are quite low, but maybe there would be other benefits.

JoeKing · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 519

I can not compare as I have never been to Liaocheng, but I lived in Ningbo for 5 months and liked it. Relatively clean(key word relatively) and big enough and enough expats to not feel isolated. Close enough to Shanghai by train for weekend getaways.

rayhigh · Joined: 24 Jul 2009 Posts: 14

You've given me a lot to think about, thanks. One huge question, where did you find jobs at universities paying 10k? I've looked all over the net - here, Angelina's, etc. - I don't see anything paying close to that outside of Beijing. How many teaching hours?

rayhigh · Joined: 24 Jul 2009 Posts: 14

International school would be great, unfortunately every one I've seen in China requires a teaching credential. I've got a J.D. and SIT TESOL cert, so nowhere near that. My wife has teaching cert from the Philippines, seriously doubt they'd hire here there either. We're planning on doing home schooling and tutoring, possibly some public schooling after a time.

The job is at Ningbo University of Technology, different place, no idea if it's any good, but I won't sign the contract there if those bizarre provisions aren't struck. Unless...that's where you were as well?

With Liaocheng, the thing is, the advertized salary was only 5000. When they drew it up, they gave me the extra 1000/month without my even asking, given my degree, as they said. They also have been very helpful in terms of staggering our schedules for childcare purposes, etc. I think what confuses me, is most uni jobs I see advertized pay around 6000, going up to perhaps 9500 for a lot more teaching hours. So is this pay really that bad?

I should add, I still have interviews for other places coming in, and yeah, many of those pay in the range of 8000-9000. But those are just for me. I'm not sure how to go about finding is jobs together.

Thanks....

rayhigh · Joined: 24 Jul 2009 Posts: 14

I'm curious, why is it a couple of months too late? Is there a 'hiring season' that is over now?

wuliuchiba · Joined: 07 Jul 2013 Posts: 61

Dianji University in Shanghai pays 10 K a month, but the hours are a little more than usual for a uni gig -- 20 per week. There may be other unis in some of the Tier 1 cities - Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing - that pay in a similar range. 10K is peanuts in those cities, though, you'll get much further on 5 or 6 K in one of the Tier 2 cities.

bestteacher2012 · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 160

Deats · Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 503

The best jobs I have seen were all advertised in early April.

If people start hiring in late May/early June, think of the time frame. They post an advert, it takes a couple of weeks to interview. Then they apply for your visa - another month - then post it - another week - then you must apply for the visa - another week - then you must book your flights etc and get to China. It's pushing it mighty close as they usually want you there a week before term starts.

Most organised companies began recruiting in April.

There are several uni jobs out there paying over 10k. And I have only been looking in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan. You have to trawl all the different job boards. There are a lot paying in the 8k range.

I have sent you a Private Message with links to well paid uni jobs.

Why bother taking a combined 11k, when you could just go and work somewhere for 12+k by yourself (could be a language school, or wherever)? Then your wife can look after your child - or do some private lessons on the side?

That contract is honestly an insult, even by uni standards. A combined 110,000RMB for 2 people for a years work.

nodgar · Joined: 20 May 2015 Posts: 7

I've been living in Ningbo for the past 10 months.

It's an okay city. The pollution here is not too too bad, it really depends on which way the wind blows. Winter was terrible.

My advice would be to not bank on any promises made that aren't in the writing of the contract and even the promises in the contract could be difficult to obtain. If it's your first time teaching in China I would recommend a teaching program or some third party organization that will have a contract with you in the states and in China. Ameson did me well when things got ugly you might look into them, I know they have a program for Uni teachers. The pay isn't that great with them, but both you and your wife could easily get a job I would think.