Job Discussion Forums

Lucky707 · Joined: 04 Mar 2015 Posts: 11

Lets say you arrive in September to teach at a University. They give you the Residence Permit. Lets say you switch jobs after completing your contract. So your original school cancels your permit June 30th and your new school will issue you a new permit. When does the new school's residence permit start? Does it start in September? If so, what do we do in those two summer months? Can we not stay in China?

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

Assuming the new school is approved to hire FTs let them worry about this.
The thing is to talk to your new employer and sign up well before the end of Semester 2 which I assume in your scenario is June 2016.

Deats · Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 503

I'd actually disagree that it is the new school's problem, it is in fact the teacher's problem.

You signed a contract until June 30th.

Most teaching posts begin on Sept 1st.

The 2 month gap is your own doing, not your previous or future employers.

This is why you should never sign 10 month contracts. Insist on a 12 month contract with no summer pay. At least you can stay in country then and stay in your apartment. Otherwise what will you do with all your possessions for 2 months? Your new school/uni won't let you use their apartment for free for 2 months. And your current uni won't let an ex-worker use their apartment for free for 2 months.

Quite a pickle.

If you have unpaid summer vacation and find a new job, I'm sure your uni will happily sign your release papers as it gets you out of their housing.

Win, win.

bestteacher2012 · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 160

You will get a residence permit starting from the end of your old one (in your case July 1st) to the end of your next contract. Doesn't matter if your new contract starts on September 1st.

The real issue is if your job finishes a few days before your current RP expires and your new job is in another city. There wouldn't be enough time to renew, which means you would have to apply for a new Z visa.

bestteacher2012 · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 160

Deats · Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 503

OhBudPowellWhereArtThou · Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Posts: 1168 Location: Since 2003

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

I don't think this is a new issue Deats and I expect that few colleges would offer a contract such as you describe.
Why would this be?
Because the apartment and one or two months of summer calary are negotiating points if they offer a further contract.
There will be many new teachers on 10 month contracts who change schools and DON"T return home to get a new Z.
I do think though that OP is getting way ahead of him/herself. As I read it they haven't yet got a 1st job in China.
That is the issue that should be consuming them currently as we in the final weeks of the academic year.

Deats · Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 503

I agree Non Sequitur that the most important thing is finding your first job. But it doesn't harm you to have a little forward thinking. If the person is only using this first job as a stepping stone, then it is pretty important to know what they will do from June 30 - Sept 1.

I will begin my new job on Sep 1. I asked the uni to arrive Aug 14. They replied there was absolutely no chance. I will only be allowed to go there max a week before term starts.

So not all schools/unis will willingly put you up for 2 months in their accommodation.

Some institutes offer 12 month deals, so they don't even have spare accommodation as the current teachers will be using it.

So what should OP do for those 2 months? Better bargain with your first employer IMO.

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

In 2004 I lived for 2m in the apartment of the school I was contracted to for 1 Sept start. I did a summer school close by over July August and was really only in the apart over weekends.
There was no pay of course but they had a place free so they saw that as an inducement for me to sign and I had choices.
I think there is a factor left out in these discussions. In the case mentioned I was already in China and was interviewed face to face. This gave the new school a confidence level I think.
I take your point absolutely Deats about thinking ahead. But, I see too many new teachers apparently doing their negotiation on Dave's rather than with the schools.
Best

Deats · Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 503

Fair point Non Sequitur, it is probably easier to negotiate face to face.

I think one problem many people have is exactly what you said - they want to negotiate on here, rather than directly with their employer. What we say is often opinion or one event from our personal experience. Benefits vary wildly from job to job and there are no fixed rules.

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

A good process would be:
1. Register on SeriousTeachers or similar
2. Get into conversation with 2/3 schools
3. Do a search on this forum for the names of the interested schools.
4. If nothing comes up post an 'Anyone worked for ..'
5. Get answers to the questions suggested in the 'Job Offer Checklist Thread' from school or a forum source
6. Go for it!